Potty Boot Camp - Day 1

Yes, I know I'm a little crazy - but why not make potty training (cold turkey mind you) a little more exciting? So this banner is hanging up in our living room right now. I'm dancing around singing potty songs (the good kind!), and we've got loads and loads of laundry going on too.

Here we have Team Pink - aka Megan. She's the most agreeable to this little endeavor I've decided to impose on our family this week. (Thank goodness it's vacation week!) For the most part, she doesn't complain when I "encourage" her to go sit on the potty every 45 minutes or so.

(Though I did get "Mommy, I don't want to go potty anymore" a few times....she's just going to have to get used to it, everyone has to pee sometime, right?)

The end of Day 1 meant a bunch of stickers on her little pink chart, a promise for a Happy Meal because she pooped on the potty 1 1/2 times. (Don't ask about the half...believe me...), and about 3-4 changes because this whole routine is new to her. Luckily, "something" happened every time she was on the potty, so we're moving forward, I hope!



Here we have Team Blue - Ryan. He's the whole reason for this cold turkey event. He's 4. He refuses to go to the potty and would rather just wear a pull-up all the time. (Notice the mis-matched clothes? We most of the others were in the laundry!) We've gone around and around on all the theories as to why. Here are just a few...

1) He's just stubborn
2) He's lazy or too busy to take the time out to go to the bathroom.
3) He scared of something. (I would be too - have you seen our turquoise toilet?)
4) He really can't tell when he has to pee - maybe he's just not aware of it until it happens.
5) It's a power struggle and he's trying to remain in control.

We have no real answer yet. It's been REALLY frustrating though. He does show embarrassment when he does have an accident, does that mean anything?

I think something else happened today too...though I don't have all the details. He did go out to play with some of the boys down the street. Somewhere in there he had a small accident and ran home to change. When he went back out, the boys had gone inside and wouldn't let him come in with them. That makes my heart hurt, but maybe it's what he needs to learn and pay attention. I don't know. Maybe not.

Anyway...my day looked like this.:

And Ryan ended up like this:

Snow Shovels, Snow Flakes, Snow Angels and Snow Balls!

Snow Shovels

Snow Flakes

Snow Angels

 

 

 

Snow Balls

 

Disney's Nemo On Ice

The day after Christmas we went to the Civic Center (Dunkin Donuts Center for those who are new to RI) and watched Nemo on Ice. The kids LOVED it, and it was cute. Here are just a few pictures, some are blurry because my camera doesn't like to take dark photos very well. But at least you'll get the idea of how colorful and fun it was. (Not to mention sticky cotton candy faces too!)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

For a vacation, the past two weeks have been packed with things to do! In just a couple of days, Ryan and I go back to school and we'll be back into a routine of some sort.

The Saturday night before Christmas, we were expecting a TON of snow, so before the first flake fell...we got the call the Church was canceled. It was a good thing because at about 10pm, it started to snow and when it was all over in the morning, we had almost 22 inches! It was a nice day off for all of us.

Christmas Eve meant only a half a day of work for Ric. (Of course, he's forced to take vacation time for the other half! Grrr...) and he had promised to help the kids make a snowman that day. His idea of a snowman is filling up buckets and stacking them up. The kids LOVED it though!
He's pretty cool with his shades, don't you think? We changed his hat to a Santa hat the next day after Santa stopped by our house. Unfortunately, the day after that, he was melted and gone. :)


Megan was so pooped after the snowman that she completely crashed on the floor afterwards. That night, we joined some good friends for dinner. The kids were all off the wall with their friends while the four parents, just sat back and watched.


Our Christmas tree and stockings this year were all made with paper (of which I have PLENTY!) because we packed our decorations and everything into a storage unit to make room for the garage remodel. Of course we thought we were going to be a lot further with that little project. So rather than dig into the back of the storage, we made everything. Do you like our poster board stockings? :) You can see the tree on my business website.



Somehow that night, Santa made it to our house. We had a nice Christmas morning with Orange Rolls and tons of wrapping paper. One thing that I wanted to do was to go see a movie - so we chose The Chipmunks, Squeakuel. It was cute, and the kids liked it. That night was Chinese Food at one of our favorite restaurants and then home again. It was a REALLY busy day, and I don't think we'll pack that much into one day again...especially since we were going out the next night to see Nemo on Ice! (Tickets courtesy of Santa - I'll put up a separate post about that one.)

So that was it...I leave you with a crazy Christmas greeting...

Sugar Cookies...

...and what happens when the KIDS control the colored sugar sprinkles! :)

More Snowy Snow-Day Fun!

Random Stuff

Since Fall quarter is DONE, I can finally breathe a little! It's been an INCREDIBLY busy 10 weeks with so much to blog about, yet so little time. In no particular order (and what I remember)...here we go:

1) It's going to snow today in RI. The same storm that's causing all sorts of blizzard conditions in the Mid-Atlantic is on the way. This means PANIC at the market! (And possibly a Church cancellation tomorrow!) Don't get me wrong, we always enjoy going to Church, but a break once in a while is always welcome because we're both so busy at Church too - it's hard to enjoy it sometimes!

Because the snow is coming I moved about 5 wheelbarrow loads of wood from the back to the front by the garage so we could stack it inside. That way we just have to go to the garage for wood when we need it. It's cold (19 or so degrees) and the kids were out with me for a little while, but got too cold so they came in for Mary Poppins (A regular feature at our house lately - Megan practically has the entire 2 hours and 22 minutes memorized!) Anyway...when I was finally done, I came in to see this:

Two kids, on the couch, with the Cheesy Poofs, watching the movie. What a life!

2) I went to Ryan's FIRST Christmas singing concert yesterday. It was cute! Details and video in another post to come!


3) I think I broke my toe. About 2 weeks ago, I tripped in my office while trying to get something away from Megan (she's a little "swiper" lately!) and I caught my foot on a shelf. Yes, it was graceful. I initially thought that I sprained it. I had a really pretty bruise for a while. But now it just hurts - all the time. Soooo...in addition to taking the kids to the Pediatrician on Tuesday (regular appt - no vaccines for us!) I'm going to try to sneak in an appointment with the foot doctor who happens to be in the same building. Lovely...


4) Megan - has been REALLY fresh lately. She'll look us in the eye and do just what we tell her not to do. She's quick too! I can't tell you how many times she's gotten the camera, a permanent marker, food, mom's craft scissors, and other stuff she's not supposed to have. She's also acquired a BAD habit of waking up in the middle of the night and coming into our room. She doesn't say anything anymore, she just climbs into bed with us. Of course Ric and I are always exhausted or half asleep and don't realize that she's there until the morning. *sigh*

Oh, and she also bit Ryan on the cheek the other day. He most likely deserved it because he'll hold her down and won't let go even if she's screaming so the only thing she thinks she can do is bite! He has some nice purple teeth marks on his right cheek. The joys of siblings!


5) Ryan - what can I say about this kid? He's grown SOOOO much, but still refuses to go to the potty! We've all but given up and are just encouraging every once in a while. Neither of us have the energy anymore to force him to sit/stand in the bathroom. At least he wears them... somewhere!


6) Ric has been coming home mentally and physically exhausted every day for the last few weeks. First, let me state here (and Ric would agree) that the people who run the Post Office are a bunch of idiots who don't listen to anyone who actually works with the general public.

At the end of November, two jobs in Ric's office were abolished. Then one was relisted for bid. (This happened at many offices around here.) Ric's coworker decided that she had had enough of the "public" and bid out for another behind the scenes job, so luckily, Ric was able to stay in his office.

Now...there are only TWO people in his office and one part timer. His office is EXTREMELY busy all the time. Think about it...just two weeks before everything starts to heat up for Christmas and they cut one position in a really busy office, PLUS hire someone brand new to it all part time that has to learn everything while people are lined up in the lobby and out the door? (sorry for the run-on sentence!) It does mean a little bit of overtime pay, but SO isn't worth it when Ric comes home and he looks like he's been beaten up!

Of course, today he's working and has to deal with not only the people who procrastinated and are rushing to the post office to mail Christmas stuff, BUT the people who HAVE to buy their one or two stamps because the snow that's the way! (And we all know the panic that happens when even one flake is mentioned here on the news!)


7) Take a look at this. My 14 year old fat cat, SuziQ. She's a permanent fixture in front of the fire lately. I think I just might join her while I work on Christmas Cards that should have been sent out WEEKS ago! (By the way...we actually didn't have to turn up the oil heat until just this week because of this fire insert!)

Crazy Kids!

Please mom...no more pictures!

I had to post this one separately... too funny!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2009! The kids are still young enough that I can pretty much dress them the way I want to. :)

This year, Ryan was a magician and Megan was the bunny he pulled out of his hat. SO CUTE! Here are a couple of pictures, we did have one taken, which is currently at Ryan's preschool. When we get that one back, I'll add it to this post.

Megan wasn't too sure about trick or treating, but she got the hang of it pretty quick and had a ball at the Trunk or Treat at the Church and going around the block with Dad. (Would you believe we still have candy left today? I sealed most of it up in jars to put away for later. LOVE my jar sealer!)

Fall Leaves in Our Back Yard

Before time slips completely away...I've got to catch up here! We've been WAY too busy, and it's time to slow down a little bit. Between my Stampin' Up! events, FOUR New England Tech Classes, Church, the Post Office, the garage and the KIDS, we're just plain exhausted!

Anyway....

We've had to rake our back yard about three times this year. Not only because of OUR trees, but our neighbor behind us has a HUGE oak tree that seems to only drop it's leaves in OUR yard!

There's no way we can bag it all up without spending a fortune on the leaf bags, so we just dump them all into the trailer and haul it off to the Warwick city compost pile. This picture was taken on one of those leaf raking days - and one of the 3 or 4 trips we had to take to the dump! :)

Look at those two blondies!

Oh...and here's the official "leaf jumping of 2009" video:

Cheap Entertainment

Who needs expensive toys? Just pull out the Easter baskets!

Naked Bellies!

One of Megan's FAVORITE things to say and do...run around without a shirt on, pointing to her belly, saying "Wook at dis naked belly"

Of course when paired with a sombrero and wizard's hat, it's even better!

I love these pictures!

For Your Listening Pleasure...

There's usually a lot of singing going on at our house - mostly Primary songs, and a lot of made-up songs too. For once I managed to get some of it on tape. This one's for you Sister Coates - after you've "painfully" taught the kids this song, at least it sank into Ryan's brain! :)

Wipeout!

As long as I'm playing catch-up, here's a little something that happened a few months ago.

Apparently, I either wasn't paying attention, or these two stinkers were too quick for me. Because while I wasn't looking, they pulled every wipe out of the package and threw it around their room! ALL 100+ of them!

I couldn't believe where they ended up, but also couldn't let this go by without taking a few pictures. In case you can't tell where the wipes are, I've circled them for you. :)

Not So Cheap Entertainment

It's kind of hard to see, but this was the view out our kitchen window a few weeks ago. See the "Monster" digging in our back yard? :)

When there's nothing to do on a Monday, might as well watch the guys hook us up to the sewer line, right? So that's what we did....allllllll dayyyyyy.

The kids LOVED it - the digger machines, the deep hole, and the pipes. (Who needs toys? Just get a couple of 6" PVC pipes and let them play!)






I have to say that I'm REALLY impressed with the precision this guy had while using the digger and what he could do with it! I guess that's why he's the one doing it!

All in all, it was a great day - and $1500 later we're now officially "flushing" to the Warwick Sewer System.

(If only the grass would grow back - not weeds! It looks like we gave the lawn a "bad haircut!")

When Ryan Takes the Pictures

This is the result when Ryan gets his hands on the camera. LOVE the last one!

The Newport Kite Festival

While Ric was working last weekend, we joined some friends (GiGi and her daughter Kerri and two grandkids) and took a trip to Newport.

Usually, I avoid Newport in the summer because it's just so crowded. But that's in the shopping area - not at Brenton Point Park! Sure there were a lot of people, but it wasn't so crowded that we didn't enjoy ourselves. In fact, the kite festival was the kind of event that we could drop our blanket and lunch on the ground and then walk around to see the fun things that were going on. Where can you really do that these days?

These are a few pictures of the incredible day we had. The kites were so pretty - all different kinds. Some were huge (and probably expensive) and others were simple. All Megan kept saying the whole time was "Wook at Dat! Wook at Dat!"

(Even Mom was a little awed by what she saw!)







The kids really had a great time - Ryan and Dylan chased each other all over and wore each other out. (BTW, notice the t-shirts they are wearing? Ryan's says Red Sox, and Dylan's says New York Yankees. Hmmm....)

At one point, Megan found the girls with the bubbles. We couldn't get her to leave! Once we did, she slipped out of our sight in a split second and luckily, we knew where to look! Whew!

We'll definitely be doing this next year - it was definitely a grand time!

Sunday Best?

Just a couple of pictures taken a few weeks ago. Notice the FABULOUS choice of footwear! :)

It's actually WARM outside!

OK...warmer would be a better way to describe it. We might even be in the 50's tomorrow! (Break out the suntan lotion!)

It's definitely warm enough for a walk to feed the horses.

The white and brown horse is the bully - he's always sticking his nose out for more carrots and pushing the others away.

Ryan really like the brown one - it's a little smaller, and nicer.

Megan loved seeing them, from a distance. The only way she would get close to help me feed them was if I was carrying her...

The reason it's difficult...

...to make anything in our kitchen. First, this picture shows the only "real" counter. Second, every time we pull out the mixer, two chairs "magically" scoot across the floor and two little ones climb on top of them!

(Just one reason why you'll see chairs on the kitchen table most of the time!)

Don't you LOVE our 70's cabinets? That's a Spring project that I'm REALLY looking forward too! Anyone out there have experience painting varnished doors?

We call this...

...playing by "rear" :)

(Please pay no attention to the junk piled up on top of the piano - nowhere else to put it!)

Snow Pictures - a little late!

So I'm trying to catch up with stuff and realized that I hadn't posted these cute snow pictures. Good thing I took them, because Christmas morning, we woke up and it was all gone! The rain had washed it away overnight!



Here you go - snow cuties!

Of course I'm a little biased...

...but aren't these the most gorgeous kids you've EVER seen? :)

Watch your mailboxes Aunties, Uncles, Gramma's and Grandpa's! Your copies are soon on the way!

Bathing Beauties

We only had one chance to go into a pool when we were in Florida. Even then, it was "COLD" for Florida natives - a whole 78 degrees! The kids didn't care!

G-Wiz!

Early in our planning to go to Florida this month, we had planned to spend a few days at Disney. After thinking about it, researching the cost, and thinking some more, we decided to wait until the kids were older so that they'd enjoy it (and remember it) more! Unfortunately, we had already booked our flights to Orlando, rather than Tampa, but it wasn't too much of an inconvenience since we were able to drive quickly to Lakeland to see Ric's sister.

So...instead of Disney, I started to check out what was around the Sarasota Area for kids and found this GREAT hands-on science museum called G-Wiz. It was PERFECT! I think that if the kids were just a little older, they would have enjoyed the "science" behind everything, but it was still a great place for them to play for a few hours. Even better, since they are both still under 3 years old (for a few more weeks anyway) they were FREE! Yippeee!

Here are a few pictures of their adventures - and the cutest video of Megan wanting to spin around more and more!

Suckers!

Yes, I know it's 5:00 pm.

No, we haven't had dinner yet.

Just nominate me for Mom of the year! :)

Labor Day - a Month Late!

I just realized that I didn't put these pictures up! So here go you - Labor Day Festivities, one month late. (Also known as "How dirty can these kids get?)

Two cute kids in a little wagon - it didn't last long though!

Megan enjoys her ice cream cake...a little too much!

At this point, we didn't care. She was headed straight for the tub as soon as the mosquitoes came out!

Ryan decided to move piles of dirt from the garden to other places in the yard.

His hands and feet were filthy! But he had a ball!

Just a little sibling abuse

cute dancing.
cute kids.
cute video.
how quickly things can change.

Happy Birthday Daddy! (a.k.a. Dead Elvis Day!)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

(Disclaimer: No children were harmed in the making of the official chocolate birthday cake! Oh...and the cake survived too!)

Play date!

Last week we had the chance to get together with some friends. You've already seen these cute little girls before!

Maddie and Ellie are almost exactly Ryan and Megan's ages, so we've taken pictures together as they've been getting older.

Ryan finds that going to their house is a new adventure - because they have ALL GIRL TOYS! So he spent his time having "tea", curling his hair, and eating monkeys from the "barrel."

Megan was just happy if she was playing with a doll, dishes, or their little piano.

It's so much fun to see how the kids play together as they get older! Thanks for inviting us to visit! (Lunch was great too!)

Hazy, Hot, & Humid!

It's WAY too early for this kind of weather! Doesn't Mother Nature know that I positively melt in this stuff? *sigh* Thank goodness that Ric put the window units in yesterday - I would have been a puddle of sweat! YUCK! :)

On the lighter side... Ryan and Megan experienced running through a sprinkler for the first time.
It was too funny, Ric turned on the sprinkler and showed Ryan how to run through it. The first time he did, he said "Daddy, I'm all wet!" and started to cry like it was a bad thing! But soon enough he got the idea that getting wet was the POINT of running through the sprinkler!

Then there was Megan's first experience. Dad made her walk in the grass, where she instantly turns into a stork - or even better, lifts both her legs so her feet don't touch the grass!

Her reaction with the sprinkler? I think that the picture says it all! :)

Too much fun! Of course Ryan is already asking to go back out and run through the sprinkler again!

From Blue's Clues to Blue Man

I've been lucky enough to see Blue Man Group 5 times. Twice when I was living in NYC, twice in Boston, and once in Las Vegas on our honeymoon. I LOVE them! If you haven't seen them, it can't even be described - you have to see it yourself.

Anyway, Ric has a Blue Man t-shirt that he picked up in Vegas - it's Ryan's favorite. A few weeks ago we pulled out the Blue Man DVD that we have (from their traveling show they did a few years ago.) and played it for Ryan. Guess what? Megan is a HUGE fan too! She sits through the entire show and just bounces around!

It's hysterical how she gets into it...this is just a sample. Enjoy!

PS- She's definitely got Rock Concert Movement #1 mastered! If you've seen Blue Man, you know what I mean!

A New Favorite Game

Peek A Boo - through the gate! At least they are out of my way when I'm in the kitchen!

(Megan just squeals when Ryan plays with her.)

Peek-a-Boo!

We took this video about a month ago, of course it took a WHILE to get it up here! Enjoy!

Peanut butter in the carpet???

So....I wasn't able to take a shower until this afternoon. I know that ALL mom's can relate, am I right ladies? :)

Finally, just as Oprah was coming on, I plopped Megan down in front of the TV, gave Ryan some bread with peanut butter, and I jumped into the shower for a quick one. Usually Ryan comes in a couple of times and pulls the curtain open just to make sure I'm still there. He turns on and off the bathroom fan, just because he can, etc.

As I'm drying off....I ask Ryan what Megan was doing...

Ryan: Eatin' P-nut Butter Bread.

WHAT????

I dash to the living room, (buck naked and dripping, I might add...) to see Megan with peanut butter all over her clothes, peanut butter and bread pieces mashed into the carpet, slobbery bread pieces on her chin, and the smiley-est blue eyes you've ever seen! She was so thrilled that she was eating "big kid" food!

Now...I have no idea if she's allergic to peanuts, because this is the first time she's had anything close! Hopefully she doesn't take after her Auntie Stacey and have to worry about even smelling peanuts! (Hmmm....maybe I should be watching Megan instead of typing THIS! I can still hear her playing...so she's still breathing! Whew!)

Anyway...I guess I should get the carpet cleaner and vacuum out... *sigh*

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By the way...we've started a new thing in the mornings. When Ryan is ready to get up, we take his diaper off and put him on the potty for a few minutes. Whether he goes or not, we don't care, we just want him to start the habit of pee-pee on the potty first thing in the morning! Who knows what will develop from there. (He does get a "chocat kisth" though if he goes!)

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The other thing that was kind of funny today.... We're watching Blue's Clues Shapes and Colors (for the 1000th time!)

Ryan turns around and says: My favorite color is maybe purple.

Okey dokey then - whatever you say son!

Play Date...sort of

I had the opportunity to watch a friend's daughter for a few hours the other day while my friend went to a funeral. Maddie is barely 3 years old, and quite the cutie! We had been telling Ryan since the day before that Maddie was coming over to play, and that's all he talked about - he was so excited!

OK, maybe he was a little TOO excited, because as soon as she arrived, he was her little shadow! She'd sit on the floor, and he's sit right next to her. Then she would scoot away from him, and he followed. It was too funny to watch! Eventually, they would roll the ball back and forth for a minute, until Ryan decided that he wanted to be close again and we'd start the scooting away thing again.

Maddie was very protective of her little doll and pocketbook - even when she went potty! (Hooray for mom - she's potty trained!) Other than that, they played really well "together" - or side by side anyway.

Maddie especially loved Megan. She wanted to sit next to her and hug her. Meg didn't always cooperate, but I was able to get a cute, but blurry, picture of the two of them.




By the way...this is what happens when girl and boy toys are mixed together! I guess "baby doll" needed a little dental work! hehe

Thanks for coming over Maddie! You are welcome any time!

Aren't These Kids Gorgeous?

(says Mom who isn't biased at all!)

The Sweetest Thing

The ride home from Church is only 10 minutes. (Twelve if we get stopped at red lights.) But both kids are usually asleep in their car seats by the time we get home.

It can be a good thing - but also a challenge when we have to get Ryan from the car seat to his bed without waking him up. Sometimes we're lucky, sometimes we're not.

Today when I opened the van door to take Megan out, I noticed the sweetest little thing. Take a look at the middle of the picture - Ryan is holding Megan's hand. Yes, they are both asleep. I couldn't pass up this photo opportunity, so I asked Ric to run inside to get the camera.

Don't you love this? Now I can PROVE that at one time, Ryan did love his sister. A few years down the road, at least I can pull these pictures out to show him! :)

THANKS Chace Family!

We LOVE our new towels! At least now we can tell which towel belongs to us because they're labeled with our names! :)




How quickly things change - Ryan's hair is EVERYWHERE, and Megan's got "boogies". Oh the joys... :) (Gotta get those pictures quick before something else happens!)

Rub a Dub Dub...

...two kids in a tub!

Just the Kids

Just a couple of pictures of the kids in the morning. Ryan loves being next to Megan...and stealing her "B" from her.

Eventually, Megan gets it back though! :)