Potty Training Breakthrough!

Wahoo! Today was a FANTASTIC potty training day for Jonathan!

I had a dream a couple of nights ago that I was so tired of trying to potty train that I made Jonathan run around naked... in my dream it worked! SO...today I tried it! I took off his pants and diaper and told him to go to the potty if he felt like he had to wet his diaper- since his diaper was gone! AND HE DID IT! Every single time he had to potty today, he did it in the toilet. I say that ... but for a couple of hours, he was in a diaper because I had a dentist appointment and didn't want Tami to have to take him potty every 5 minutes! LOL... I'm sure she appreciated that! Otherwise, he went potty on the pot all day long! Don't worry, he wasn't naked ALL day, I put him in underwear after a few hours of knowing he would actually go in the bathroom! AND... he managed to keep the undies dry! He was so proud... I AM SO PROUD! Yes, I did bribe him a little bit. For every successful potty trip, he got a penny and 3 M&Ms! Yes, I realize that over the course of the day, he had A LOT of candy... but ya know what?? I don't care! Nope, I don't... whatever helps him go potty, I'm 100% in favor of it!

Bella is still 100% NOT interested. In fact, she used to tell me when she was wet or stinky, but now she won't even do that! It's quite annoying... but I figure that as long as I am getting one of them done, we're doing good! AND...as long as I don't push her when she doesn't want to do it, she'll come around on her own time schedule...she's quite stubborn that way! LOL...


Here's a picture of the twins NICELY sharing a Sprite today:
And a picture of the pretty cream colored (with red tips) roses that Tim brought home today:

My Star Student

Xander got recognized at school this last week as a Star Student... I was so proud of my little man! He makes a momma proud... such a good kid and a great BIG brother! To the left, his homework assignment was to pick 4 words from his list of "sight words" and write 4 sentences for those words (1 word per sentence). The first time he had this assignment, he had a REALLY hard time figuring out how to form sentences. This time around, he had it made! The first word on his list was curious... so, in case you can't make it out, it says, "I like Curious George!" I love that! I think it was really cool how quickly he formed that sentence...and he was SO proud of himself!

Below is a picture of our ice cream cone craft...when we finished, we, of course, ate ice cream cones! Great fun!!

Funny Bella moment today...
she was drinking her milk this morning and decided she didn't want it anymore.

Jonathan said, "you have to drink it to get big and strong!"

Her reply, "If I get big and strong, can I have the remote so I can turn on Dora?"

Yes, yes you can!! LOL

Better day? NOT!

Cute pictures right?? I think so!! Bella is wearing her cute new outfit she got from WalMart today and the super fun hat that my mom crocheted for me... carrying my Coach purse! Cute Right??? And Asher is ignoring her... that's what brothers do, right? Sister talks and brother covers ears...typical!

Anyways....

I was determined that today would be a better day than yesterday! It was NOT!

SO... TOMORROW MUST BE BETTER!

I woke up around 3 am with a horrible migraine... laid in bed crying until I went back to sleep. Then, at 7 when I woke up officially, it felt like my head was going to implode! UGH... HATE when my day starts off with a migraine!

Got the kids up to start getting ready for our day. Bella was just kinda standing there looking at me like she was in a trance. I repeatedly asked her what was wrong, but she wouldn't answer. I tried to hug her and she wouldn't reciprocate ... NOT like her at all! It was very odd. So I told her to lay down so I could change her diaper. (sorry, this gets gross) When she laid down, the explosion of diarrhea that was IN her diaper, poured out into her pjs. Oh My GOSH! Ewww... So, I stood her back up and sent her to the bathroom. Gave her an impromptu shower first thing... no wonder she didn't look good! After I got her all cleaned up and dressed, she was fine! She was back to acting like herself again- wanting to know what was for breakfast! I happened into her bedroom and discovered that her bed was covered in vomit! UGH... stripped her bed and put everything in the washer.

FYI... in case you didn't know this, extreme smells are NOT good for a migraine...especially when you're already nauseous from the migraine anyways!

SO...since she was acting fine and all was well with the world, AND because I needed some groceries, we went to WalMart. All was great until we went up to Subway (on the way out the door). A couple of my friends were in there eating and it sounded yummy. Well, it SOUNDED yummy until halfway through the lady making my sub, Bella puked ALL over herself and the cart and the floor! UGH...AGAIN! My friend went back and got her a clean outfit while I waited for someone to come clean up the floor.

Now, it's almost 5pm, she hasn't puked since 9am at WalMart. She even ate lunch (a very bland one) and kept it down! I am hoping that was all she's gonna do... but in spite of her acting and feeling better, I STILL SMELL PUKE! I think the smell is ingrained into my nostrils... EWW!
Oh, and my headache is still here... BOO!

TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER!!!

Kiddo Funnies

Xander at bedtime: Mommy, I want a drink
Me: No, it's too late; I don't want you to have an accident.

30 minutes later...after already in bed....

Xander: Mommy, my neck hurts.
Me: What's wrong with your neck?
Xander: It just hurts
Me: Show me where
Xander (points to throat): Here
Me (thinking "oh no, not strep again!"): Okay, let's go get some Tylenol
Xander: Well, actually, my neck doesn't hurt, my throat is just dry because I need a drink SO BAD!

UGH....


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Jonathan: Is today trash day?
Me: No, yesterday was!
Asher: Right, so the next time it's yesterday, it'll be trash day!

(love the logic)

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Sometimes I need a reminder that they're just kids... sometimes I feel like I spend more of my day "correcting" than cuddling. By the end of the day I feel like I'm exhausted just from saying,

No, don't do that! No, get out of there! Please listen the first time I talk! Why aren't you listening, mommy said...!

Today was one of those days where, I'm sure if you heard my tone, you'd wonder if I'd had a rough day... the frustration came through today... a lot! I felt bad after the kids went to bed because I was so quick to get them in bed ... to give myself a mental break ... that I forgot to hug the big boys! How does a mommy FORGET that?? Ugh.... I KNOW they need correction. I KNOW I can't just let them do whatever, whenever, regardless of rules... BUT, I really wish it was easier on the enforcer... ya' know? So... today, I started my blog with a couple silly kid moments .... a reminder that they're so sweet and cute... even when I'm stressing! If only us "grown-ups" could be so goofy as often as they are!

Hope your day was terrific... I'm certain my day will be better tomorrow!!

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Side note, in my frustration today, I managed to clean my kitchen (thoroughly!!) and crochet a couple new things! The first project is an ear-warmer headband... with a soccer ball! It's always so cold at the soccer field that I decided we need this!!



My second project was a "boobie beanie"... I guess that is what it's called. I found the pattern HERE and made it for a friend. Not only is it a great pro breastfeeding item it would also be good for Breast Cancer Awareness!! A friend of mine posted a picture of it on Facebook and asked if anyone could make her one for her 1 yo breast-fed baby... I was SO excited to do it! I think it turned out nice... for a breast! Can't you picture a woman sitting on a bench nursing her baby...with the baby wearing this hat!? Too funny!

10 on 10

10 pictures in 10 hours on the 10th of the month... YEP, that's today!!

This is probably one of my most funnest posts! (yes, I know, bad grammar) I really do love doing this 10th day of the month post... it's really hard to remember to take pictures EVERY hour for 10 hours, but when I get all the pics together on here, it's fun to look through our day!

So....enjoy a glimpse into our day!!

815am:
Dropping Xander off at school


915am:
Asher in Tami's Ball-Pit
waiting for her to get ready for the mall playdate


1015am:
Jonathan drinking my *free* Starbucks
(love gift cards!)


1115am:
So telling of their personalities...right?
Bella- prissy
Jonathan: Goofy and stubborn
Asher: bored, but appeasing me!

1215pm:
"This is what I want for lunch!" -Asher


115pm:
Asher coloring


215pm:
Jonathan watching Caillou on TV
Me snuggling close for a picture!

315pm:
Xander arriving home from school. Thanks to my GREAT friend Towana, I don't have to pick him up two days a week! Thanks, Towana :)
(that's his best buddy, Austin, in the background)


415pm:
"Mac-o-cheese" as my kids call it! Dinner for them tonight!


515pm:
Mommy and Jonathan again... he was SO snuggly today!
Mommy doesn't mind :)

Grandma's Peach Cobbler

1/2 stick butter
2 large cans peaches
1 1/4 C flour
1 1/4 C sugar
1 1/4 C milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

*Melt butter in bottom of 9X13 baking dish
*Pour peaches & juices in pan
*In separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk thoroughly; pour over top of peaches.

Bake at 350 for 60 minutes!

This was my grandma's recipe! My mom has ALWAYS measured everyone's cobbler against her mother's!!! And, of course, nobody stacks up to grandma! SO... I made it for the first time tonight and LOVED every single bite!

Teeth and Rebellion

Xander had one of his two front teeth that was SO loose that it was hanging sideways in his mouth. I have been asking him every day if I could pull it; he'd run away crying... whining... and saying no! He kept saying, "I want it to fall out by itself!" The first of the two front top teeth fell out at Halloween when he bit into an apple- this tooth was loose even then! So, yesterday at school, his mouth hit someone's head and it fell out! WAHOOOO! Now I don't have to look at the icky tooth hanging funny! Xander was excited too... he was gonna get a dollar from the tooth fairy! YAY!

He was awake this morning EARLY... so good thing Tim woke me up at 6:20 and asked if I remembered to deliver the dollar!! OOPS...completely forgot last night! SO glad he woke me up! I can only imagine how upset he would have been to wake up and still have the tooth there under his pillow! Anyways, he got his dollar... then RIGHT as I was falling back to sleep, he woke me up SO EXCITED to tell me he got a dollar! He asked if we could go shopping after school so he could buy a dollar toy at WalMart! LOL.... SO, after school, the first thing he said when he got in the van... "Can we PLEEEASE go to Walmart??? We did!

Here's where the rebellion comes in... and NOT from Xander!!! Jonathan has been such a pill today... it's been one of those days that I would LOVE to fast forward the clock to 7pm and put the kids to bed! Jonathan has run away from me every time I say "come here"... he screams when I say "be quiet" ... he throws blocks when I say "time to clean up"... I don't know what to do with him sometimes! He has that cute little smile that melts my heart EVERY time he uses it, but along with that sweetness comes a handful of rebelliousness! He is my "challenge" ...I MUST pray harder for him.... and for me!! LOL.... I need to breathe ... if I were a drinker, I would say, "I need a glass of wine" ... but that won't work so I suppose that praying and breathing will just have to do! You are more than welcome to pray for me too! (and Jonathan....LOL)

I'm still here!

Last night I went out with my TMOM family! We had our monthly meeting... then afterwards we went out (15 of us) to Applebee's for our "post-meeting"! It's become a routine to go out after our general meeting AND after the board meeting! And that's quite all right with me! While eating, a couple of the ladies started talking about their blogs... and I was quickly reminded of how I've been slacking! See... this is why last year's new years resolution was to blog daily ... that way I wouldn't let SO long go between posts! Instead, this year, my resolution was to not get so bogged down by feeling like I HAD to post daily... and as a result, it's been 15 days since my last post! So...somehow I need to make some kind of compromise! LOL....


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In my defense... in case you aren't on my Facebook... the last two weeks have been a little overwhelming and exhausting- both physically and emotionally! On Monday, January 9th, we received news that my grandma was diagnosed with Leukemia. The dr. said that with her other existing medical issues and with her age, she wouldn't be able to do chemo; he gave her AT MOST 3 months to live. She is in Colorado- so immediately, my mom and I began making plans and arrangements to get up there to spend some time with her before she would pass away. We had it all worked out... Tim stayed home with Xander so he wouldn't miss school. Mom and I loaded up the three littles in her car and we left for Colorado on Wednesday afternoon- Jan 25th. Thanks to some fun activities found on Pinterest and thanks to my friend, Misti, letting us borrow her portable DVD player, the kids were surprisingly well behaved! We drove halfway on Wednesday, then the rest of the drive was Thursday morning (12 hours drive total).

We had a good few days in CO... my friend, Jeri, helped watch the three littles while I visited with grandma. My mom was over at grandma's house pretty much all the time! The kids got to see her, but since she was in bed most of the time, I left them with Jeri ...didn't want to exhaust her more having the littles running around! We had planned to leave to come back to OK on Monday, the 30th, but it was SO hard leaving. Mom knew (along with the rest of the family) that it wouldn't be long before grandma would go meet the Lord... it was SO VERY HARD knowing we had to leave. So, mom was at grandma's house... I loaded up the car and took the kids to play at a park (trying to allow them to expend as much energy as possible before driving 6 hours that evening). I told mom I'd be over around 230 so we could say our "good-byes" then hit the road.

Well, the kids were having fun, so I didn't end up leaving the park til about 240... 10 minutes later than I should have been at grandma's house. Right after pulling out of the park, my mom called and said, "When you get here, don't bring in the kids- grandma just died." My first thought was DANG IT!!! I was going to be there at 230... if I had been there, I would have been able to say good-bye... I would have been there for her final moments.... but then the reality of my three sweet, naive children in the backseat hit me.... I realized that HAD I been there at 230, THEY also would have been there! That would NOT have been the best place for them! So... I am glad we were at the park. I called Jeri and she left work to come take the kids for me (doncha just LOVE good friends??) so that I could go be at the house with the rest of the family! Obviously we didn't jump in the car and hit the road. We spent the next couple of hours making the necessary arrangements to be able to stay through the end of the week for the funeral. I KNEW that we needed to be there, but I so badly missed Tim and Xander!

Until the day she passed, grandma was taking care of everyone. From the exhausted days and nights in her bed, she was still making sure everyone in the house had a drink or food. She wanted to be sure that everyone had a place to sit. Telling family not to be quiet... be loud and "don't shoosh anyone!" She was sending out "get well soon" cards to people the week before she passed away- she was ALWAYS thinking of everyone else...taking care of everyone! She apologized to me every time I saw her that she was so tired and in bed. I assured her that she had nothing to be sorry for... that after a lifetime of her taking care of everyone, it's our turn to take care of her... and we're happy to do it!

The next few days were a whirlwind of emotions. I desperately wanted to be involved in the funeral plans, but obviously the kids couldn't be there for all of that... so instead I sat at Jeri's house feeling sorry for myself! I felt bad asking her to keep the kids, but I felt bad NOT being over with the family helping in any way I could. In hindsight, I needed a nanny! LOL...

Anyways, the family came in from all over for the funeral..... it was a beautiful service. This may be a TMI moment for you, but the funeral home made her look AMAZING! I'd post pictures, but that might be too much! She looked healthy... like she did 10 years ago... like she was just laying there resting. I'm so glad too; I didn't want my last image to be how I saw her 10 minutes after she passed away. Her spirit had left her body... she was just an empty shell! I love the comforting knowledge that when she breathed her last breath on this earth, she was immediately present with Our Father! She is no longer in pain... she is healthy... running and dancing on the golden streets in front of the house prepared for her in heaven!! I will see her again one day... I'm so glad!

I love Virginia Ruth Messick SO very much! She will be greatly missed! Our loss is heaven's gain... heaven sure did gain an AMAZING woman!

So... after this LONG blog post...if you're still with me, THANK YOU for reading about my last couple of weeks! You can imagine, I'm sure, why I'm so tired! I wish that I had lots of pictures to post on here of our time with grandma last week, but it just wasn't do-able. Anyways, I promise to post happier blog posts after today... just really felt like I needed to share about grandma! Thanks again for hanging with me through this long and heart-felt post!

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Also, in honor of my grandmother, I cut my hair yesterday to send to Locks of Love! It was a little scary- my last REAL haircut (not a trim) was in August 2009... so it was pretty long! I like my new do though!!