Potty Training!!

No pictures. How boring. His cute little bum in undies is pretty adorable.

Keith is a rock star. Just sayin'. After One week of wearing underwear he goes 3-4 hours just fine, and even wore the under wear to church without a hitch. Last night he was fussing in the night so I went to see what was up. He asked me if he had a diaper on. I said yes. So he asked if he could pee in it. I said he could, unless he wanted me to take him to the bathroom. He said no, he would go in his diaper (all of this half asleep). He relaxed, and went back to sleep. So hey! It woke him up! Awesome!

I'm not pushing and there have been a couple days that he has wanted to wear a diaper for awhile to have a break (I can imagine this training stuff is stressful for a kid), which he can whenever he wants. He does request to use the bathroom on his own, but if he goes awhile without asking then I take him. Today it had been probably nearly 5 hours since I had taken him (errands and birdhouse painting and such) so I sent him to the bathroom, stopped to talk to Belle, and followed him. By the time I got there he was standing next to the toilet with a super sad look on his face, all wet. "I sorry Mommy". Oh. sweetie. We gave him a bath and that was that. He just didn't quite make it.

All in all I am super proud of him. The neighbor boy has even taught him a few essentials. Like how to go outside, on a tree. The other day he went 3 times outside the little stinker. I am trying to tell him to come in. Unfortunately, as it has been discussed before, our only trees are out front. And the 3rd time he had an audience. The neighbor to his wife while watching out the window: "Come look at this! You've got to see this!!" And them cracking up about it. They are great people with a good sense of humor, so they just laughed. But really...I saw it too. From about the point he had his pants down. I just calmly went over and helped him pull them up, gently reminding him that's it's better to use the toilet. The neighbors at this point opened their window and laughed with me. "Hey, Mom, the underwear is dry and the tree is happy!" she laughs. Oh, BOY.

I let the kids use acrylic paint today. Yes I am crazy. No we didn't have any major issues (for once). Belle bought, with her own money in nickles, dimes, and pennies, two wooden birdhouses from JoAnn's (the small ones--with my 40% coupon they were .60 each). One for herself, and one for her brother. So we painted them. Tomorrow when we hang them in the tree out front I'll try to take a picture to share.

I had fun with them, and it was so cute for Belle to put her stuff up on the counter at the store and pull out this wad of change from her "purse" and have me help her count it. "how much did she say, Mom?" And so sweet that she was willing to get one for her brother, too. It was so priceless.

She now wants birds to move in to the birdhouses. I explained that it's fall, the birds aren't really looking for houses--but if they don't they will be cute decorations and we can try again in the spring. "How can a birdhouse be a decoration, Mom?" Because they will look pretty. I doubt they are big enough for any birds to LIVE in, but next time we're out we might buy some birdseed to lure them in for a visit. :)

The tease

 

We are still getting to know Keith, and we are quickly learning that he is a big tease. He is always asking us "Is that funny?" and saying things like "Am I funny Bella? Laugh, Bella, Laugh."

The fam

 

Here we are!

One petal at a time

 

SO here's pretty Belle, being the flower girl, one petal at a time. It was precious.

 

Beautiful girl

 

One of the most famous/favorite pictures of my Mom as a little girl is taken about half a mile or less from where this picture is taken. At about age two. Sitting on a horse. I. love. it.
Ok so, my Mom's horse didn't have a saddle and was a small colt sitting on the ground. But who cares? I am so grateful for my heritage, and for the beautiful place we have to celebrate it.

 

How cute it that??

Stay tuned for wedding, vacation, etc. Lots of great stuff going on around here!!

 

 

 

So we had a great family reunion two weekends ago. Despite a few mishaps. Including this one. Car broken down in Fillmore. We had some really great 'tender mercies' to get us all home, and the car repaired. This semi with car carrier pulled in to the gas station across the street as we were trying to decide what to do, and my father-in-law walked over there and asked him which direction he was going and if he could take our car. How awesome!! David rode with him, and Mark and Deborah drove several extra hours in an already long day to get us home. And of course, the awesome D.H. who fixed the car.
Thanks everyone! We feel very blessed!

Snow in July??

 

Belle dress up in shorts and T-shirts all during Feb. pretending it was summer. Now she's in THIS on July 30. She "shoveled" the sidewalk down about five houses, me following her all the way, then she couldn't make it back without taking it off. She was too hot. imagine that!