Terrible twos... you have met your match!!!!

Now I know what they say about a 2 year old... "the terrible twos"!! They are irrational, irrefutably horrible little creatures, but boy are they cute. You can't get rid of them. The only thing that separates these little creatures from the animals at this point is the fact that at any moment they could quite possibly kill themselves!!!

Well I think my 22 month old is in good practice for his "terrible twos". In fact I think he must be super intelligent because he seems to have read up on every silly, ridiculous, and will break-down-mommy behavior known to man!

Have you ever been stuck in a tornado with things crashing down all around you?

Well this "bad weather" can strike at any time with my little almost 2 terror! Food, glass, folded clothes, and yes even his very own toys are not discriminated with his wrath! At any moment these things can end up across the room! (Hence the broken glass, I so happily found in my foot this morning, that I so happily cleaned up while I was making dinner last night; better my foot than his!)

Oh yes... even as I am writing this... he has managed to break past my "child proofing barrier" and get some cereal for himself, serve it into a small plastic bowl... show me how proud he is of this accomplishment and then proceed to dump it... alllll over the floor! I am leaving it there right now... why?? Because in 5 minutes there will be another spill on the floor. How do I know this you ask?? Because its all part of his master plan. You see, this little one, not yet 2 has an older brother, and the older brother has told him of the wonders of being an only child for 9 years and all the attention you get as an only child (they must have this secret sibling language). Now since right now, technically, I have 2 only children!!! Two kids in there own world, with there own wants and needs, and desires. Both on two TOTALLY different pages that never seem to match up, it is only logical I would want another little one for my second only child to play with and grow up with. This is where the plan has begun. Now that my not yet 2 year old has caught wind of the wonderment of "only child-dom" and the shear torture it brings their parents; this .... this little one is trying to break me down... make me say it... well... I am not gonna say it... I am not falling into "that" trap, because you know where I will be... 5 years from now in the same position but with 3.... 3 ONLY CHILDREN!!! This is ludicrous!!!

So I need a plan.... BREAK the 22 month old!!

Give him the "time outs" he deserves and let him know... I am the boss... not him (what he doesn't know, won't hurt him). Keep my broom and dust pan out within arms reach, a back up of paper towels on hand at all times, and give him away to anyone who will take him, at least once a week, for that much needed "mommy break" (love the nursery at church for this!). I will adore every little act, and see it as cute, because one day he will be running off, jumping in his friends car to "hang out" and not even want to throw cereal on the ground, or coat my unfinished coffee table with milk or unfold all the clothes I spend an hour folding. Oh no! Terrible twos my foot!! This is just when they are old enough to understand the conspiracy behind it all... he is just figuring it out, all too soon (I blame the much older and just as difficult older brother).

You can't break this mom!!! Just you wait!!! I will make another little terrorist that will pull your hair, and steal your toys, and I will insist that you have to "share"! hahaha! You can't break me! Glass in my foot, makeup smeared, sweat on my pits, and food on my floor!! I will have the last word... Look out terrible twos!!! This mommy is full of determination, and remember... I have been playing this "mom game" since I was 17. You can say I am an "old hack" at this game... you can't break me. If anything... I kinda like it!

Stick that in your bottle and drink it!!

Hunter is growing up; physically & spiritually

Prayer...
It's all I am depending on these days. With Hunter rapidly approaching his "official" teen years, noticeable not only by his age, but development, actions, attitude, and overall adversity to just about everything he approaches in his daily life.
I am not worried about the things he is exposed to everyday, but I am worried about the influence all these "temptations" will have on him as he is learning and developing into the man he is going to be one day.
Hunter has made some good choices though. He decided under his own admission he would be baptised in 2008. A day that made me so proud to be his mother, knowing that the Lord was indeed, working in his heart. Last year Hunter went to Junior camp with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and went forward at an alter call, and asked Jesus to be in his heart. Which I found to be incredibly endearing, and shows that he feels that gentle "tug" when God is calling him to serve and submit. This year Hunter has becoming more involved with our churches youth ministry. He has recently volunteered as a leader in peer ministry which involves guiding younger believers in a life with Christ, making new members feel welcomed, membership in the drama team (songs, slide shows, lights, set-up and take down), and band help (sound tech). Hunter has really embraced this ministry which warms my heart immensely.
The sad thing amongst all this wonderful behavior and desire is a child grossly enamored with the world. He has involved himself with shows, games, friends, and Internet inappropriateness. Now I understand every child will come up against these types of exposures and have to choose whether they will obey what his/her parents want... or disobey. My heart breaks when he disobeys. I know from my own experience, the choices that you make as this age could very well effect you the rest of your life.
Hunter will be leaving for another camp experience with Calvary Chapel this Sunday. What I ask for is prayers for Hunter. That he would make a decision to keep choosing life, and keep that eternal perspective. And even though sometime we (his parents) are not there to witness what he is doing or seeing; God is there and he is ultimately accountable to Him. Also prayer for us, his parents, to have wisdom in dealing with these difficult situations, and have patience with these daily "challenges" that are being presented.

Dale's surgery

Today Dale is getting much needed surgery in his mouth to extract the tooth that broke off at the gum line. Dale is in need of a lot of dental work. I read last night in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God's grace is sufficient for us and his strength is made perfect in our weakness.
So even though we have no idea how we will be paying for all these different procedures; God will carry us through it and give us wisdom how to go through it and where to find the impossible funds. Even though God hasn't taken the trials away, His grace is sufficient!
In the meantime gonna try and beat the heat by sneaking into the Ladera Ranch water park! This weather is crazy hot!

New Venture...

So I have decided to start a blog. I don't really know why. Maybe I feel that I can update family and friend with our family news without using a large social networking site, or sending out text messages. Whatever the reason, here I am.
Most people close to us know that our family has been going through a lot of trials lately. I don't think that the Flores-Jansson bunch has ever had it easy, there has always been something going on, with health or jobs, or housing, whatever, we have lived it.
Update or lack there of: I (Kayle) am still looking for full time work hopefully with benefits, and our house is still on the market. But just being the few things we are dealing with our days are filled with cute little babbles from Chase, and sweet laughter, and sometimes challenging conversation with Hunter.
Chase is completely fearless now with the water. Today we were at the beach club here and he was jumping up and down letting his "rear" hit the water. He was also neck high in the water without fear at all, walking and jumping and occasionally his feet coming out from under him. I wouldn't rescue him right away so he could figure out how to get his feet under him again. But mommy came to the rescue after a few seconds and he came up laughing and coughing.
We will see how his learning to swim progresses through the summer.
Tomorrow the electrical company is doing some "routine" maintenance so the power is supposed to be out from 8-4! Yikes! We will see what we end up doing.
I know I am mostly writing to myself but I wanted to see what this was like.