Name that Peony

HERE IS A PIC I FOUND ONLINE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY MY 'MYSTERY' PEONY, THIS IS TITLED 'RED CHARM', LOOKS, IN MY OPINION, QUITE SIMILAR TO MY PHOTO BELOW, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK...

My Mothers Day

I don't know how most of you Mom's out there celebrate Mother's Day, but 'round here, not much different goes on from everyday life. With 4 kids, and rotating work schedules there not time for making every calendar holiday a major celebration. However, I spent my Mother's Day with my parents. We, my dad, myself, my Mom, and my dtrs planted annuals for my Grandma, and barked all of her flower beds for HER.

No time to sit around and sulk that my day was just like any other, getting up and being bombarded by 3/4 children with varied breakfast demands, and wet diapers, soaked bedding...yeah, just a normal day. But, I love my days. Every morning, my Son says, 'Hi Mom' to me like he hasn't seen me in forever. And, Leah Lou, she plays peek-a-boo in the crib for about 30 minutes before she finally give in to allow me to remove her from it. Beau always asks for 'cinnamon toasties and juice' for breakfast. Drew always comes walking every so wobbly down the hall, eyes half open, hair a matted mess asking, "What time is it Mom?" Grace is usually off to school by the time the youngest 3 awake, so she is pretty independent anymore in getting up and at 'em. But, she does make sure to leave a trail of pj's from her bed to her dresser, and the towel on the bathroom floor for Mom to pick up.

I know they need me, no matter how much they grow, no matter how much they begin to on thier own. I still have that need in me for my Mom. I don't know what I would do without her. She is only 50, and is going through a tough time right now, she has a cyst on her spinal cord in her neck. She has a dissintegrating vertabrae, and is in alot of pain. She has seen a neurologist, but still doesn't know what they can do, or will do. This has made me think more and more about what life would be like without my Mom. I just can't imagine it. I don't want to. Please take time to pray for my Mom with me. Miracles happen everyday!

A Mommy's Day Gift from Daddy

I most always receive flowers of some kind or another for Mother's Day. This year, I chose my flowers since we are in the middle of redo-ing our front yard, and I chose PEONY'S. I love them! The top photo is of my 'pink hawaiin coral', only one bloom this year...the second is my mystery peony...I'll have to compare the final bloom to photos online to see what it's called. When I got it, it was not yet showing any color, and the nursery had few they were unable to identify, so they sold for a steal! They become very full with age, shrub like, love the sun, and clay soil, which we have plenty of!

A Mommy's Day Gift from Drew

THANKYOU DREW!

I LOVE YOU TOO!

Picture Fun

Drew, laughing 'cause Leah would NOT sit still!

"Leah, where's your belly button?", "It's right dar!"
Girls can play monster trucks too!

Excited, but can't remember why...Mommy brain!

Grace trying to kiss Beau, he wasn't havin' it!

Ohhh! My first girly girl, and my only handsome!

Park Pics

I purchased this truck while Beau Michael, my first and only son was still in utero. I just fell in love with it, picturing him pushin' this oversized thing around all over our house, and yard. And, well, I done good, 'cause my Handsome loves this thing! He pushes it everywhere, it goes everywhere with us (yes, even the grocery store!) Money well spent!
Leah Lou, being very careful on the stairs. She would rather go up and down those stairs than to swing and slide!
Beau, my son, is a Monster Truck maniac at this point. He loves them! He gets so stinkin' worked up just talking about them! Our park has a big huge sand volleyball pit, and so tons of kid always play in the sand. We always take our sand toys, (I have learned I cannot forget them!) and now, we always take atleast 2 monster trucks so that Beau can make a 'race track' and a 'jump' for them in the sand! Ahhh, BOYS!

Something Beautiful for my Mother

I was browsing a nearby "mom & pop" nursery for a pot to hang on my front porch. I found THIS! Sad thing was, my porch receives tons of sun, and this beauty needs full shade. It was the only one of it's kind, and I found it to be so intriguing, so BEAUTIFUL! I wracked my brain trying to think of someone that has shade! I finally remembered, my Mom has tons of shade in the front of her house, and has this big tree with many limbs that could hold this. So, I got it for HER, early Mother's Day gift. I just could not pass it up whether it was going to be mine or not. It is a moss pot, with absolutley gorgeuos begonias, orange and bright pink as you see. There is something, to which I have already forgotten the name, also planted around it that will fill in and trail down the sides. I can't wait to see it mid summer. I just love this flower pot!!!

The one I got for myself, well, it's not ready to be photographed yet. It needs alot more sun and heat, and so, I will post a photo later. I did also find some delphinium plugs, and I only paid $2 for 2 of them!

LOVE THIS BLOGGIN' MOMMA!

Found this blog through another blogging friends blog...She is so talented in her blogging, and comes through as such a wonderful loving Mother! Check her out!

Growing Closer...again

I have been getting back into church, no excuses, I know, but it was very hard to do it with the two youngest so little, and so clingy! But, now they enjoy the interaction with other children, Leah made it to the last 10 minutes this past week! She made a butterfly, and she was so proud of it, she told everyone about it that came over! Too cute!
I really enjoy church, my husband won't go, and with his rotating schedule, he often couldn't anyway, but it is important to me, and I feel so much more peace within when I do go. I will admit, I don't pray everyday, we don't bless every meal, but I am working on it. Life got so busy the past 2 years for me, and so I fell behind. I feel terrible for this, and long for a much stronger bond with God. I grew up in the church, Christian, and now attend a Non-denominational, but primarily Christian church. I adore the pastor, and have gone to him a few times in the past 2 years for prayer to help me get through some things that were very hard on me. But, one thing I do not understand, is that when I go to church, I find that I am on the verge of tears throughout the service, as well as on the drive there in the morning. I try to hold back, but it's like I just want to let go, completely! I don't get it! Is this common? Is this normal? Just wondering if any of you have any idea why I might feel this way...
I find sometimes on my way home from work at near midnight, all alone in the car, quiet, time for me to think, which I hardly ever have truly this time to myself other than this time of night, I start to just ball, just cry all the way home. I am not a depressed person, I am so happy with my life, I love my job, my family, my kids are my pride and joy. I just don't get it :(

SWEET-A-LICIOUS PINK

I finally finished painting Leah's room yesterday, took me all day practically, but DH helped me out with the kids so I could lock myself in the room and just do it! It turned out so cute! Leah surveyed the room once I was all done, and she said, "Oooohh! 'OOK! It's geen! 'OOK! Buttpies!" (her word for butterflies!) The butterflies, BTW, are simply removeable wall stickers, and WALLIES mural. Very easy to put up, and easily removable!!!

A Loss

Drew had her 4th soccer game of spring season today, and unfortunately her team lost. This year she is on a team of some older girls, and the teams they are going up against are made up of girls that seem to have played longer than Drew. This is seeming to upset her, I can see the dissappointment, and frustration in her face while she is on the field. Today, it really showed. She was very short with the coach, and was not playing her best. I try to explain to her it's okay to lose, and that it's not all about winning, as does the coach. But, she is getting to the age that it matters to her, and to friends that she talks to. Specifically a close neigborhood friend, that she has played against a few times, and this little girl likes to really rub it in Drew's face if our team loses. How terrible, for girls this age to be so mean, and spiteful.
Drew is such a very driven player, I just hope that she gets some satisfaction in atleast one of the last 3 games coming up. I know she can do it!

My testimonial

So, I went ahead and orderded some FREE DERM and I am so very happy to say that it's working to heal Beau's exzema! I cannot believe it! I have only used it on him 3 times so far, but it is a miracle cream! I also recieved a bar of soap, and I used it for the first time last night, I love it! I have exzema on my hands, and so giving him a bath is not a dreaded task anymore when it comes to my hands breaking out, since I am using this soap on him, it is also helping my hands! I am so impressed with this product, and highly recommend it to anyone with excema!

I am thankful...

...that I have been blessed with 4 beautiful, healthy children. They truly are a gift from GOD. I cannot thank him enough. When I look into thier eyes, I melt. Every giggle makes my heart flutter. I don't know what I would do without them. I dread for the time to come that I no longer have these 'little people' to keep me going every day. What will I do with myself?
...that I have a safe home to raise my children in. I love that my children have a huge yard to run and play in. I love that I feel confident that my neighborhood is a safe place for my children to explore. I love that I have room to plant flowers, and a garden. We are truly blessed to have our own home.
...that I have a faithful, and devoted Husband. I know he loves me unconditionally. I love that I have nothing but trust in him. I thank GOD for this man!
...that I have a job, and that it is a job that I love and look forward to. I love that I work with the elderly. I love that I can see in each and every one of them, my Grandmother, whom I so dearly love, and miss.
...that I have family that live very near to me. I could never imagine having my parents live in a another state or country far away from me and my children. I love that we can just hop in the van, and go to Grandma's house any time we choose.
...that we live within driving distance of the ocean! I love the beach, as do my children! I could never imagine not being able to drive to the beach in a couple of hours or less, or not at all!

I could do this all day...

A MOTHERS PROMISE

"I will let nothing hurt you,"

She told the child asleep

And wept because the promise

Was one she could not keep.

"But I will never hurt you,"

She said again and wept,

Knowing it a promise

No mortal ever kept.

"Life has deep hurts," she whispered,

"Which no one can avert.

God help me teach you strength and love

For conquering the hurt."

By Jane Merchant

GOT TUNES?

I finally, with the help of a fellow blogger, added some TUNES to my blog. A few are meaningful, a couple others are just plain fun! So turn on your speakers and listen while you read!

T.A.G.

Drew brought home an envelope yesterday containing a letter to my husband and myself. We were wondering what could be up, but thank goodness, it was nothing bad, nothing bad at all. In fact, seems Drew has been indentified as being TALENTED AND GIFTED with emphasis on being INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED. I was so amazed by this! I guess the schools give a test to all students called the RAVEN, and if your child scores above the 90th percentile, they are then added to the list of T.A.G. kids, that from what I understand will be tested more times, and will recieve more opportunity for advancement, she won't be jumping up a grade, but she will be given more challenging work at times. I am so proud of her! Who would've thought? What with the drama last year of her teacher being worried that she was lagging behind...LOOK AT HER NOW!

Something to think about...

This came from my most recent FAMILY FUN magazine:

Stop and Reflect

"The best advice I received from another mom was to imagine that each of my boys has a mirror on his forehead so that I'll always be mindful of what it is he's seeing. Times that I'm frustrated by the thousandth request or fight, I remind myself of that little mirror and check to make sure that my sons are seeing a face of patience and love." (submitted my Nicole Maki of UTAH, FAMILY FUN, MAY 2007, page 93)

I love this!

FALL/WINTER BOY LOT UP FOR SALE

Here are a couple photos of a huge lot of Beau's past fall/winter summer clothes I plan to ebay in the fall, bottoms are 24m or 2T, tops are mostly 3T. I thought I'd post for any of the blog browsers that may be interested, if you see something that sticks out for you let me know, and I can email you a photo of that piece or outfit alone. Lot of TCP, some GAP, OLD NAVY, carters, levi's, cherokee, sprockets. Most are outfits, 2 or 3 pieces for layering. There are 3 pair levi's, dark/antique, and camo. And, a few pair play pants, in great condition, but I call them 'swoosh' pants, call me crazy, and a pair of fleece pants, don't think they show up in the photos. Anyway...let me know if you want to work a deal!

I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT...

MAGIC ERASERS

Once when Grace was 3, she decided to draw huge mural on her bedroom wall with green red and black crayon. It took me hours to clean it up using a sponge and soapy water! This was way before goo gone or even the magic eraser!

We recently got a 31ft. trailer so that we may begin camping again with all these kids. We got a really good deal, and part of the reason was that it was not clean inside, so it has been my job to clean it all up. There were greasy, dirt smudges on alot of the interior appliances and wall, even doors, and the magic eraser just wiped them all off without any effort! I am so greatful for this invention. It saved me so much time!

It's also great for juice or food stains on your white countertop, which I have in my kitchen. Crayon on the kitchen floor or walls. My front door is white and so either side becomes quite dirty and so I just take a magic eraser to it and I'm done in minutes! This in one invention that every Mom should have!

A REAL MONSTER TRUCK

Daddy took Beau to see a real live Monster Truck today at a local car sales lot. Apparently, it is for sale, but also for advertisement for a new movie 'DUST TO GLORY'.

EXZEMA CURE?

Beau has exzema, and it seems to be getting worse as time goes by. I give him a bath only every 2 or 3 days, in warm not hot water, and don't let him stay in too long. I use AVEENO lotions and bath wash for kids with exzema, and sometimes oatmeal bath. But, lately it is just flaring up anyway, and I hate putting Hydrocortisone on him since he cries and it stings him so badly. So, last night I was browsing the web and found this website with testimonial that it is the only cure for exzema. The product is called freederm. They make a soap, lotion, and healing cream. I believe a pharmacist created it. I am debating on trying it out, there is a 100% satisfaction gaurantee, so I can get all my money back if it doesn't work. I am a little skeptical, but at this point, I don't know what else to do. I have suffered from exzema my entire life, and don't want to see him suffer as I do. I just may take the risk and try it out!

FREEDERM

CHUBBY LOU

Leah had her 2 year well check today. She is a big girl! Her height is 36.5 inches, which is in the 95th percentile for her age, but her wieght went out of the charts at 32lbs. Dr. says good thing she is for the most part proportionate, but is sure to be a big girl! So, now they recommend skim milk, no more 2%. Changes every time I have a kid! She also recieved her first of 2 doses of the newly recommended vaccines.
Read about it here:
HEPATITIS A

Preteen Woes

My oldest daugther is nearing the age of 12. It is a very difficult time for me. She entered middle school this year, and over the course of the year has changed a lot. New friends, and more opportunities to be out and about. All the kids her age seem to have cell phones, and it doesn't seem to me that a lot of them are monitored over who they talk to, or when they talk. I refuse to give in to this. I have had this discussion with my dtr many times, she has no need for a cell phone. I will not get one for her. And, another big thing is MYSPACE. Been there with my stepdaughter, not going there with my daughter. However, many parents allow thier 10 11 12 year old children to start an account and post indecent photos of themselves online. It is simply insane! Recently my daughter had a day out of school that the elementary kids didn't. She wanted to go 'hang out' with a friend, whose mom is a bus driver, which meant that she would not be home most of the day. Now, I have 4 kids, which makes me mostly a SAHM, so I rarely ever have Grace at home alone, and if I do, no friends, no phone unless emergency. Well, I did emphasize to Grace she could not go 'hang out' unless a parent was going to be home. Then, I spoke to the Mom, she said, and I quote " Well, I could have them go on the bus route with me when I leave, but it's really up to them" I paused...up to them???? NO IT'S NOT UP TO AN 11 YEAR OLD WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. I may be on the stricter side of todays parents, but today parent's are so non-chalant, so ignorant and blind. I just don't understand it. So, everyday I wonder what she may be learning from these other girls/boys she goes to school with. It is a very stressfull time of parenthood. I am a wreck most of the time. I try to keep it under control, but you are the black sheep when you are the one monitoring your childs phone calls, internet use, etc. in todays world. I have to make a comment on Drea's blog of recent, the clothing they create for children these days is so over the top, I agree! I took Grace to get some shorts and a few tops, and she wears juniors sizes now. It was a nightmare, a simple shopping trip turns into a battle over what she wants vs. what I will let her choose. But, WE HAVE TO KEEP SOME CONTROL. I sure hope I can get through this!

TIME FOR PLANTING

Look at these gorgeous heart shaped flowers, it amazes me how they look just like a heart!

BLEEDING HEART

My 8 lonely little strawberry plants!


I am getting really anxious to start working in the yard, and flower beds more, but we keep having this terrible rain and wind and cold! I bought some strawberries this last week, and haven't been able to plant them where I want them yet, since Jack has yet to burn and till the garden. I bought 8 plants, tri-star, supposed to produce well into the fall starting in June. The kids love the strawberries and so this will be great for them to help with. I plan to try out using old coffee grounds in the soil, supposedly it will help to yield larger, juicier strawberries...we'll see!

I was also noticing today that the only plant at this time really flourishing is my 'BLEEDING HEART'. It is gorgeous, it is so full and has many more blooms on it this year than any previously. I just love it!

DISNEY.COM

I came across this great website for Drew to make her own disney fairy. There was an advertisement about it in my latest Family Fun magazine, so we checked it out right away, and made a fairy. It's very easy for her to do, great for girls 5 or older! Take a look at the one I made for Drew...

Buttercup Pearcloud

MEEZ

My oldest daughter is frequently coming home with new website addresses to check out. One that she recently showed me is a pretty cool site where you can sort of make your own e-paperdoll. It's very cute! Great for the preteen aged girls I guess, but also fun for Mom!
You can make your meez animated, dress him/her in many different fun oufits, and there are really great hairstyle to choose from too! Most of the choices are free, but some cost a small amount of coinz which you can earn just by referring friends to the site. Try it out!

I'm mommydearest!

This is the 3D me.
Make your own,
and we both get Coinz!

EBAY

I, as many other mothers do, sell my childrens clothing on ebay. I recently listed a denim baby gap ribbon jumper dress with a white slip dress to go beneath it for starting bid 2.99. It never sold after 2 and 3 times of relisting it. So, finally, I decided I would just list the slip dress starting bid .99 cents, and low and behold, in the final few hours it ended at 15.50 (yay for me!) Does this make any sense?? Why did it sell alone rather than along with the jumper? You just never know with Ebay!

LEAH LOU IS 2

GET PAID TO BLOG?

I fellow blogger has recently signed up with payperpost.com, and is already making money blogging. I had to check it out, so I signed up too. I am still trying to figure out how this works, but I am determined to get it working, and make some money too! You should check it out: just go to... WWW.PAYPERPOST.COM & sign up yourself! I can't wait to have the extra money coming in!

~THIS IS A SPONSORED POST~

DEAL OF THE DAY!

Beau Michael is sooo into dinosaurs right now, and I have been wanting to get him one of the Melissa&Doug giant plush dinosaurs for awhile now, preferably the TREX, but hey, any one of them really. They run about $29.99-39.99 plus S&H, and so I have held off. Well...today at my local goodwill, I was perusing the toy isle and low and behold...there in the middle of the toy isle was a giant Melissa&Doug plush Stegosaurus for a mere $5.99!!! Needless to say, I bought it!

How on earth???

I don't know where or how she got it, but she did. Not once, but twice...

WIGGLES

Leah did so well sitting and watching the wiggles when we went to the show. She was so good! Once we got there, she was in awe, she said, "Giggles, big!" Luckily we were on the outside of an isle very close to a bathroom for a quick diaper change, I forgot to change her before the show started, and she leaked a little, on me ofcourse. Greg, the yellow wiggle, apparently has some heart problems and can no longer perform with the crew on stage, so they have a sub for the shows, his name is Sam, and he was quite good. I highly recommend THE WIGGLES for young children to go see live. They are so energetic. Anyway...got some pics.

"It's just like a MONSTER TRUCK!"

Jack finally got a new truck, which he has wanted for some time. The boy was sleeping when he brought it home, and so once he woke up I took him out to see Dad's new truck, and him being into monster trucks as much as he is right now, his eyes lit up and the first words out of his mouth were, "DAD GOT A MONSTER TRUCK?!"

THE WIGGLES!

You may think me quite crazy, but I am sooo excited! The Wiggles are making thier way 'our way' this month, and I got tickets to take little Leah as one of her birthday presents. I just cannot wait to see her face! I took Drew when she was about 2 or 3, and it was 'WIGGLY SAFARI' I think, this time it's 'WIGGLES RACE TO THE RAINBOW'. Hopefully I will get some photos...if they let me take my camera in!

FREE COFFEE???

Okay, so busy here lately...no time to blog, but had to let you all in on this if you didn't already know it. On March 15th, starting at 10:00 AM, Starbucks will be giving out free tall coffees. I think it only last for a few hours that day, and not sure why they are doing it, but hey! Mark your calendars and take advantage of it! I know I am!!!

I rarely get the chance to photog Leah before she ever so urgently removes all items from her hair that I have worked so hard to place. But, today, I was ahead of myself. She became distracted in play, and so sweetly leaned out and said 'CHEESE!', which gave me the chance to take this adorable picture. Soon to be 2, she is quite the little handful, but such a sweetie!

Ah, Leah!

The terrible two's are most definitely full speed ahead in this little one! Just in the past few days...she was holding the kids toothpaste in the shopping cart, and her and Beau were in the 'car cart', so sitting right next to eachother, as I was putting groceries onto the counter she wacked Beau in the head with it, not once, but twice!...Then we were at my parents visiting a couple nights ago, and Beau was playing with toy tool box things, with a toy hammer, it's hard, but it's a toy, and once he put it down, she walked right up and picked it up then hit him smack on the top of the head! That girl!!!...Then yesterday as I was cleaning up the kitchen, and also talking to Beau, I see Leah's reflection in the picture window and call her name, she comes running around the corner with a pizza cutter rolling it around on top of her palms! When did she sneak that? AUGGHHH, I have no recollection of her ever even opening a drawer or being in the kitchen with me! Just 30 minutes later as I'm toting laundry to the washer, I go by the kitchen and see my purse on the floor, but cannot find a Leah anywhere! I notice that there are gum wrappers on the floor too, and you know she isn't even two yet, but once I finally found her, she was chewing a piece of GUM!!! I discipline this girl, she gets placed in her crib for quiet time when she gets in trouble, and I firmly tell her NO, but she is so hard headed, so mischevious, so awnery! I just don't know what to do anymore! It's always something, always the one thing or things no other child ever even thought of doing! Why is this???

???

Beau Michael has totally regressed to constantly wetting his pull-up or diaper AGAIN! He recently became sick again, and was having alot of loose stools, not getting to the toilet, so we started putting a diaper on him most of the day and night. Now, he makes no effort, even though he is no longer sick, to go potty on the toilet. It is so frustrating to me, and I try to hold back my dissappointment, not making a big deal of it, and today bought a bag of rolos, which are his fave candy, to give him some incentive again. I just don't know what to do. He is 3, and I feel like I have failed in potty training him, any pointers would be great!

Braggin' Momma

Yeah, I've got some super smart girls here...not sure where they get it, ha! Grace brought home an amazing 3.72, 5 A's and 2 B's...brains do not lack in this house! Drew did equally as well, with the teachers comment making my day..."Drew works hard to do her best. Her skills levels and confidence as a student have increased. Drew is a wonderful friend to all and a delight to teach." This is me...BEAMING! Love those girls!

When it rains...it pours...

So, finally, in over 3 years, me and Jack got away for the weekend to the coast for our Anniversary. It was so nice, no kids, great weather, just calm, and quiet mostly. However, ofcourse, we were ready to get back home to the kids, isn't any Mom or Dad?
Beau and Leah had been exhibiting cold symptoms, and Leah's have pretty much subsided, but the boy is still ill. So,yesterday, I had some errands to run, and I get them out the door, run back in for something, and run back out to find the boy with his pants down peeing in my flower bed! I figure, atleast he's not peeing in his underwear, right? So, I run back in again, this time as I came back out the door, I see a big turd laying on the ground behind him, poo on his rubber boots, pants, and underwear as he still stands pants down trying to pee in the flower bed! I was horrified! Get that cleaned up, ready to go, "babies" in carseats, and the van won't start! Great! The nieghbor was home, and luckily helped me out. What a day!
Today, we were leaving to go to meet my friend in town, and I forget my cell phone, had to run back home to get it to running late. Beau started to cough like he was coughing up something, but seemed okay, we pick up my friend, next thing I know, he's projectile vomiting in the carseat! Augghhh! So, we ran to her house, she had some hand-me-downs, and got Beau changed, and cleaned up, I assumed this was a gag reflex due to the cold and mucus build up. We get to the store, I got him some sprite, he drops it all over the floor of the store, and ofcourse we weren't even supposed to have a drink in this particular store, so the lady hands me paper towels and takes off leaving me to clean it all up! Then, we suddenly smell poo, and he had diahrrea all out his underwear and down his legs. Took him to the car, fixed him up yet again, get home, and it continues as I am trying to spray off the vomit clothing and carseat outside with the hose. Get him all cleaned up a few more times, and set them up for chicken noodle soup, leave the room for one second, just one second, only to come back to a kitchen floor covered in chicken noodle soup from lovely Leah! I swear this is payback!

Handsome, holding up his first snowball!

Lulu

Leah Lou, or as I lovingly refer to her most of the time, LULU, has an extreme shoe fetish. It doesn't matter who's shoes they are, or how hard they may be to put on or walk in, she has to wear them. Here is a picture of her so proud after putting on Beau's dress shoes. Silly girl!

He's 3!!!

Train Cake Topper from www.birthdayexpress.com

Beau Michael is officially 3 today! At exactly 3:53 am, if I remember correctly. And, he is also fully potty trained to the day, but not night time yet. I don't even have to tell him to go, he goes all by himself, and it is so nice not to be changing 2 diapers at a time every day! We had his birthday party yesterday at the Pizza Parlor. I made him a choo choo cake as he once again requested. He loved it! I wasn't as pleased with it as I wanted to be, but I did not have the time or the know how to use fondant. So, I just iced it and used M&M's to decorate, along with a train and chocolate rocks. He got some new trains to add to the collection: thomas and the jet engine, annie and clarabel, ice delivery trucks, gordon, harold the helicopter (his broke), and travis the tractor, also james goes buzz buzz as well as some wacky track, the fishing dock, and cranky the crane. Then there was ofcourse some dinosaur items: doodle dinosaur (like a doodle bear), a melissa&doug dinosaur puzzle, dinosaur play and store, dinosaur doodle pro, and an imaginext Brontosaurus, a Monster Truck, and a blue camo outdoor set with tent/water bottle/sleeping bag, etc.

He is having a blast playing with his train table today! He goes back and forth, TRAINS to MONSTER TRUCK to DINOSAURS, then back again! I still cannot believe how the time has passed so quickly. As much fun as this age is, I sure wish I could have my baby boy back again!

Good Bye Baby Boy, Hello Big Boy!

Beau Michael will soon be 3, the 21st of this month. How time flies by! I just cannot believe my lovely little baby boy is now a full blown 'kid', not a baby anymore. With this in mind, I am trying to get him going on potty training, which I have postponed this past few months. I am using a similar system to the one I used for my last daughter. For everytime he uses the potty, he chooses a sticker, and I try hard to find one's that relate to his current interests, such as CARS, or trains. At first he was able to choose a sticker and get 3 M&M's from the 'potty jar'. But, Daddy messed up and gave him a whole custard bowl of M&M's when I was working one night, and that threw that out the window! So, now, once he goes potty on the toilet 5 times, and collects 5 stickers, he is able to choose a prize...which are CARS die cast cars at this point. I suppose I should be giving him gems, or tickets to turn in for the prize....Hmmm, I may have to adjust that a bit. I also let him choose his own underwear, and he chose MONSTER TRUCKS, ( he is so into that new cartoon Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks) telling me all the while, "I will not pee on those monster trucks Mom!" But, he did. And today he did have one accident, but we stuck to pull ups today after that. This evening he did go to the toilet all on his own incentive, not telling me first, but coming to tell me afterward that "I pee'd on the toiwet Mom! I did, I did!" And, he did! All alone, AND his pull up was still dry after hours from the last change. I honestly feel so alien to this, being my first boy and all, but I am finding it so much easier to just let him kind-of explore it all, without hanging over him every hour asking if he needs to pee, and is he sure??? Now, I suppose once he masters this I will have to let him out of the crib too, boo hoo. I still just cannot believe my baby boy is soon to be 3!

Go away cold wet winter!

This cold, rainy winter we are having this year is just such a downer! It is so cold, and wet. We are inside all the time! Not good on my Mommy Brain, taking in all the running and screaming that goes on IN the house this time of year! We need a nice little break, a slice of sunshine to break it all up, and let those kids run around OUTSIDE for just an hour or two of ONE day! I simply just cannot wait for spring!