...and there you have it.

It's another report of random notes, rich with personality and obvious highlights in our life! Enjoy the cliffnotes...

Our sweet Kaitlyn has no fear. Snakes, reptiles and the like were a part of her summer program at school in early August. She was quick to volunteer for holding one of the visiting reptiles! (Photo was taken by a teacher and sent to me as she was overly impressed by Kaitlyn's curiosity)!

The sun was beating down with great intensity. The MOMS Club took a hike in August up the street from our home to really just wear out the children. We didn't get too far, maybe a quarter of a mile...but the energy expenditure did the trick! Naps for all, including myself!

Sassy by daylight, and even sassy by nightfall.

Driving by my brother's neighbor, and here you go, the community Bison making his friendly way to the front garden for mid-day grazing. West Yellowstone was such a highlight to our summer, this is just one of many photos...the wildlife is surreal.

She drew this mermaid and said Grandma would like it because of the blue and peach. The hair is supposed to be long and flowing like Rapunzel (her latest craze....it's lasted well over a month, an obsession with wanting long hair).

Us girls celebrating our friend's daughter, Brylie, first birthday.

Hanging with Papa for National Grandparent Appreciation Day...

And here is Grandma...

Great Grandma, we love you! PS. The monkey body art is from the earlier celebration at our neighbors party!

Dylan at the LA County Fair-a bit serious for this riding horse!

Raspberry picking with our friend, Daniel, at the end of September up at Riley's Farms. Not one raspberry made it to the car. We were at the end of the season, but still picked quite a few!

I thought they were in bed, sound asleep. I heard laughter and when I peeked in, this was worthy of a photo. Notice Dylan in a tutu? Real fun night, for them at least!

Kaitlyn is our house artist, she crafted this one fairly quickly and titled it Bread. Must be influenced by Grandma's bread baking!

Can't let this go unnoticed! 80's night for Steve's CEP conference in Vegas, early October. He went preppy, complete with the pegged pants (see below). I went classy 80's if there is such a thing and sported the worst ever rayon pleated & tapered elastic waisted pants. But, make up and hair....not so bad despite how bad the photo is!

Hanging at the park in God's biggest tree in Rancho Cucamonga, for sure!

So, there you have it. A few highlights of the kiddos and even a shot of me, despite the transformed blue eyes! I will leave you with a few statements made by Kaitlyn today:

"I won't pick my nose and eat my burgers any more mom." She said this as I was painting her fingernails. It was always my rule, I won't paint her nails if I see her eat her burgers. I've noticed a great improvement, so I offered to paint them tonight. This is her style: Big Toe is hot pink. All four other toes are purple. Fingers: Thumb is hot pink. All four other fingers are purple. Interestingly enough, her 17 year old cousin, Talia, paints her ring finger a different color then the rest of her fingers. I just learned this last week...are these two girls related or what!

She came whimpering out of her bedroom tonight saying that no one was in her room to protect her. We go through this almost nightly. I told her that Jesus and Mary will protect her because they are everywhere, in fact, they are even in her heart. And...without a missed beat, she launches into"But mommy, my heart is broken."

Dylan is pooping consistently in the potty. He asks for it and then once situated on it, he's a pooping machine. I think having an older sibling is helping as every time Kaitlyn has to use the potty, he cries out of frustration that, he, too, has to use it and doesn't like that she is occupying it!

Krammie the Caterpillar

Kaitlyn has a love for all things tiny that slither, slide, hop, roll or crawl in the comfort of our yard. Today her adopted friend was named Bella, then a series of other names as the day progressed, until she finally was satisfied with Krammie the Caterpillar. This little bugger was given royal treatment. She carried him faithfully around the yard, made a bed for him, gave him exercise opportunities (let's just say the intention was good but the method was painful to watch-she was banging his bowl that was his 'bed' onto the window repeatedly....oh my). At one point Dylan got a hold of Krammie and this is where his life began to fail. Dylan pinched life out of him literally and so as the afternoon fell into nightfall, Krammie was found limp and already into the preliminary stages of gangrene. Kaitlyn didn't care, in fact she still held him with high regard and such care. Finally she was convinced he would be better off on his own and that she would find another friend. Well, that didn't last long, either. Within minutes she was holding him and providing him such love as if this force of energy would perk him up once again. In bed saying prayers, Krammie was included!

I wonder what will be in store for us tomorrow. My feeling is that Krammie died many hours ago so he'll probably be right where she left him.

A refreshed outlook....

Sometimes growing pains are really just that, growing pains. I would summarize the blur of recent months as being rich with growing my two growing pains, but then I'd dismiss the actual moments of joyful expressions, the heartfelt sentiments and general tender sweetness that both Kaitlyn and Dylan possess regularly. Like so many other areas of our lives, the negative encounters cloud all blue skies. When you no longer see that beautiful monochromatic azul throughout your horizon, or even speckled here and there, you are in trouble. Thankfully I was re-grounded a couple of weeks back and seem to only celebrate the blue coming at me from all angels directly from Heaven! Lovely, really. Just lovely.

So on that over the top note, may I shed some light on moments worthy of celebrating!

Dylan has pooped a few times in the potty and lets me know daily when he needs to poop prompting the opportunity to sit on the toilet, pretend pushing as if he is really pooping, flush and say goodbye to all the make believe poop and pee. It's quite the routine. He has skipped using any potty training seat/device and sits directly on the toilet that you and I sit on. Yes, he is a big boy. For the record, there is an occasional push that does produce a poop, like earlier today!

Kaitlyn, after making her a cheese quesadilla that had a little apricot preserves spread like butter within, said to me, 'Mom, you are just the greatest. This is the best.' Is this really my child? Last week at Costco, as if struck by the Kindness Bolt, she wrapped her arms around me and said, 'I just love you so much mommy.' Makes me think some child at school does this to their parents regularly and thus she is adopting this practice??? No matter what the inspiration, the mere fact it is verbalized made me swell within...I felt like my insides just might burst from an overload of warm fuzzies.

Dylan tried putting on his own shoes the other day. Just like his sister. Today he did put on shoes, but not his own...her mini high heeled pink princess shoes with feathers and faux diamonds (along with her teal sunglasses and hot pink/silver purse)-it was a sight!

Kaitlyn can really test boundaries, and she does so frequently! However, she has begun this new phase of obedience...at least I'm classifying it as such. When I hold firm on my stance for something simple like telling her to wash her hands, head upstairs for the bath, etc...it may take three times for it to register through that I'm not succumbing to her 'pretending to not hear you mommy' behavior. She will all of a sudden state, "Ooooooooohhhhhkaaaaaay Mommy," and head to her task. I must say it gets me boiling sometimes but the second she launches into the "Ooooooooohhhhhhhkaaaaay Mommy" gig I'm fully satisfied and officially accomplished!

"I wanna help." Dylan. This is his mantra right now. It's borderline annoying so when I feel this angst creep inside me I take a breath and give thanks that I have a child who wants to be so engaged with what's happening in my world and around. His favorite tasks right now are: vacuuming, doing dishes, mixing things in a bowl at the counter, sweeping and loading the wash. Kaitlyn is completely opposite. I will ask if she'd like to help with something and very frank she will respond with, "I cannot help today. No, maybe tomorrow." I count my blessings-at least one of two is eager!

Needless to say there is much to celebrate despite Kaitlyn chucking a baby walker toy down a flight of stairs while Dylan was on the stairs; the two of them tackling each other like opposing football teams complete with bite marks, face scratches and hair clumps; the indoor screaming matches and the all time favorite....grab the toy from the other and run....run everywhere until crying is heard and either someone has a bruiser or blood is shed. It's a jolly life over here at the Patterson household. I'm lucky I somehow stay out of the crossfire-and truth be told, I am really lucky. These children are such little gifts, I'm constantly reminded at how precious they are, how beautiful they are, and how blessed I am for being their mother!

Vintage GLAM

Her school had this photo session one day back in June...I wasn't there for it, but wish I could have been that fly on the wall. These are ADORABLE!

Phantastic Photos

Dylan walking Cosimo. He's such a helper.

Summertime in the back yard. Look at air-born Kaitlyn!

Music tour with our MOMS Club, Kaitlyn gets to play the violin!

My two helpers doing dishes. Start them young...right?

Look at that concentration...and the mini Steve side profile! Steve actually does this same thing, tucks in his lips when concentrating!

Dylan was born for the outdoors...already in a Davy Crocket raccoon hat and fish in hand.

Kaitlyn's curls, up close and curly!

Kaitlyn and Kendall bumping noses during a dance at her friend, Luke's birthday party (he's the boy right behind her in the blue wet suit).

Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn

For a brief moment I was saddened that I have not posted since just over a month ago. I had secretly vowed to myself that I would blog more frequently and truth be told I've had the time but not the desire. For most of this past month I've had a sour taste in my mouth. My sweet Kaitlyn will be the one to give me a stomach ulcer, premature gray, high blood pressure, acne, extreme cramping and quite possibly unhealthy stress lines over laughter lines. Oh well is what I say to it all tonight. She's a kick in the pants and sometimes has an attitude I wish I could kick away by whatever healthy discipline tactic there is. I've come to realize she's an over the top sassy, independent, highly smart/brilliant, overly stimulated child that knows my number all too well. We butt heads more than I'd like to admit and while I may feel like a confident mother, it takes her one phrase, screamed, mind you, to get my floodgates highly strained from holding back the tears. Her aggressive moments of screaming phrases come about at the most random times and are no appropriate conversation starter.

"I don't need you mommy. Go away."

"Get me out of here, I am not looking at you."

"I want to kill you." (Don't fret, this phrase has been verbalized twice-and while it did kill me for the moment, I've moved on, worked through it).

Yes. It's heartbreaking, it makes you wonder where these phrases can come from within one little mind. I actually am not certain that spelling out some of my examples are even worth making public, but in reality, I know I'm not alone and what I've come to conclude in my quest for healthy discipline is that no one talks about this stuff. I need to talk. I'm driven by connecting and finding resolution and when my daughter and I butt heads as often as we do, it's been an edgy ride over here.

Now, what I realize is that I'm merely at the beginning of this life long relationship with over the top sassy, independent, highly smart/brilliant, overly stimulated Kaitlyn. I wonder what's in store for me with each passing year...so far, I cringe. On the flip side of this dark side, I am learning so much about myself. Why do I get into such a head spin when she acts out? Why is it just with me and not with Steve or anyone else? How can I more effectively set boundaries with her while also maintain a nurturing sense? My answer as of late is loaded. First and foremost, I'm not aggressive by nature. I sure feel like I've emanated this more often lately, but in becoming aware of myself, nothing works when I allow my emotions to spiral and control me. Montessori practices in her current preschool are my saving grace. Very simple redirecting has it's place in my mind. I'm not yet highly effective with this, but I see I get better results, faster, when I employ a more calm, affirming tone with her while removing her from a situation to diffuse really me, but by default, also her. Next, these emotions I get as a reaction to her animated contrary statements and the like, are currently taking me on an analytical roadmap of my brain. I'm sorting through emotions from past experiences in my life that are similar in emotional response and figuring out how to resolve it. One could say I'm doing some self-improvement over here? Talk to me in a month and see where I'm at...

Because Kaitlyn continues to love me, express her love to me and with those around her; because Kaitlyn does eventually listen and does act obedient when in the 'older sister, teaching younger brother' mode...her love over rides any ill addressed verbiage she may push my way. It still hurts. I'm still sour at times. But, I, like every other mother out there, is on a learning curve. We don't have all the answers and we sure don't have the template to follow, the one size fits all handbook. That would just be too easy, now wouldn't it?

Words Worth Writing

Dylan was found straddling his crib this week.

Kaitlyn loves brushing her teeth and having her hair combed (I told her that if she didn't take care of her hair daily then it would end up looking like Uncle Garrett's...we both gasped at the thought)!

Dylan has officially annoyed me when shopping. I've reached my limit, shopping with both kids no matter the time of day is just too much testing of my patience.

We experienced a store walk out this week as both kids were in the throws of tantrum hell. Time out was had by both on the store's sidewalk....a mere 3 minutes later I had angels in my cart. Hmmm.

Kaitlyn's chores now include adding a new trash bag to the trash container in the kitchen and feeding Cosimo, I like how this is progressing. Dylan, on the other hand, continually loves to vacuum, sweep, and take the trash out (all but the trash is done solo)!

Off to slumber...photos of our trip are next....I do promise this, I do!