Potty training and housebreaking DO go hand in hand

One should never potty train a 2 year old and house break a puppy at the same time but if you find yourself ever being stuck in this predicament....well...
1. Pet stain and odor remover works equally well for 2 year old messes.
2. Don't laugh when 2 year old pees on the kitchen floor ('because puppy does it').
3. Let 2 year old know that when puppy pees outside like she is suppose to she does not get an m&m.
4. Stock fridge with coffee creamer and cokes (frequent visits to Starbucks are equally good!).
5. Don't confuse 2 year old with puppy and rub behind the ears while cooing "good girl" after a job well done.
6. Carpet cleaning projects should wait until after both 2 year old and puppy are trained.
7. Popcorn for lunch is definitely okay when overwhelmed with laundry-add craisins if it makes you feel less guilty.
8. Treats work well for both child and pup. However, with child 1 m&m for pee and 2 for poop doesn't really last long. You may need to encourage child by upping the reward to a Hersey kiss, AKA BIG chocolate, for pooping in the toilet. Again refer to number 3.
9. Prepare yourself returning home after running errands. 2 year old and puppy will both have to GO at the same time.
10. Whether your rushing a squatting mutt outside, or holding a 2 year old on a public toilet, chances are high that you will get peed on.

It's a GIRL!!

We weren't expecting. We weren't planning on expecting. We weren't really planning so why tell anyone that we were expecting. Actually it was only something that we had talked about. Contemplated all the pros and cons. So many pros. So many cons. Then all of the sudden without really much more thought. Guess what its a girl. It took a while to come up with a name. Honestly through some confusion, it took some time to realize that it was a girl. But her name is Paisley. She is cute. She needs to be house broken.So just to give you the story: We went to a football game to see my nephew (he rocked by the way). Then late on the dirt road at just after 11pm we almost hit something. As we were driving past we realized that it was a puppy. So of course you can't leave a little thing like that there it will get hit or eaten by something larger. We pulled over picked it up, brought it home. None of the farm houses claimed her, actually said it was a common thing to get them dropped off out there. Waited awhile to see if anyone was looking for her and no one was. So took her to the vet and claimed her for our own. The vet said she was probably 7 weeks old. The joys of being a dog owner. I am still figuring them all out.

Accomplished

There's a lot to learn in 9 years. Reading, writing, math skills, motor skills (both large and small). Social skills, learn to ride a bike. Learn to play video games. Trying to figure yourself out. Yup, she is 9 already. She is still working on some of those things. Has figured out some. Has donated her hair to locks of love 3 times. (figure that the amount of hair she has given is equal to the height of my 2 year old!)

She is a terrific kid to have around. Glad she is mine!

Finally

Finally after weeks and weeks of watching over her. Telling her not to rub them, fighting about goopy Vaseline type meds that had to be squeezed into her eyes, weeks of no water in her eyes...pool or bath. Finally the blood red is gone, the hints of infected yellow have vanished completely. The hole in her eye that should have taken 5 days but took weeks is finally almost gone its probably only the size of the period at the end of this sentence now. yup, that's about all we have left to close up before she done. It feels good to be on the healed side of things. This has taken way to long. But in spite of it all she is still Joy. And all the other things mentioned in the previous post. Oh if only you could hear the battles over eye meds. But you didn't and so you are blessed. She is healed so we are blessed. And life is good and continues on.

Her name is Joy

Joy can be found in many things.

Roller coasters, ice cream, bike riding, scrap booking, hiking, Popsicles, enjoying a good book, sleeping in late, snow days, gifts, chocolate cake, going out to eat, being with friends, snowshoeing, hand gliding, cliff diving, snorkeling, a good pair of running shoes, a new purse, Starbucks. The list could just go on forever. I have 4 kiddos. My third, part of her name is Joy. Now, I am sure that when we named her that we (meaning Jim and myself) are not the ones who really came up with that name. I am sure, absolutely positive that God Himself gave that name to that child. Don't get me wrong, she is still a child and tests her parents patience to the max often time. But mostly she brings Joy to me. I could be having it out with her over some issue, then she'll say to me "but all I want is a hug". Now, what better way to end an argument then that?! Anyway, all my bragging on this sweet girl of mine is for a reason. Out of my 4 kiddos 2 of them have had to have eye surgery. Now it is Addy's turn. We were told a year ago this was a possibility. And next Wednesday she will go in. They will do both eyes, they will have her go to sleep. Then they will use what looks like a torture device to prop her eyes open. Then they will remove the muscle on the side, re-stitch it further back to have her eyes looking straighter. All of this to help her with her depth perception. Each time we have had to go through this I question if it is the right thing to do. I mean we could argue that God himself put that muscle in her eye and God Himself does not make mistakes. But that's an argument I'll save for someone else. Right now I am just concerned for my child. She knows she has to have surgery. She has no clue at all what it's going to be like when she wakes up. As long as when this is all over, when she is healed completely. As long as she still has her joy.

Summer

It is almost officially summer. I am almost officially insane. That's really just a joke. I love summer, mostly because I enjoy tan lines. Right now I am working on using sunscreen to create an interesting design on my arm. Of course its been rainy the past couple days and now the lines are almost gone. So this means that I need to be outside right now lines in place reading a good book. Here is the problem, I can't seem to find a good book. I have re-read The Princess and The Goblin. I have re-read At The Back of The North Wind. Both great books. I have also just finished a Koontz book that was mostly good until I reached the end and then became completely disappointed that I spent that much time on a book only to have it end that way. SO, if you have an idea for me I'd greatly appreciate it. Otherwise I'll be forced to watch sponge bob square pants inside with the kids while my tan line completely disappears!

Whats grosser then gross, let me tell you a story

Once upon a time there was this mom. She was so excited, she was caught up on laundry. Of course this feeling is only short lived due to the fact that there is always more laundry waiting. So this mom took a couple days off from laundry. Which means the loads quickly accumulated. They grew and grew. So the mom decided it was time to get back to her work room and get some washing done. As the week went on mom thought the laundry room smelled a little musty. Not thinking more about it she went about her task. Then one long day she washed and washed and washed. Finally reaching the bottom of the white load she came across some towels and wash clothes....they were wet, they stunk, they were moldy. Oh yeah, it was gross they went of course right away into the trash. This mom moved on to the darks. After several more loads she came across a little green plastic bag. realizing that this bag was from a week ago she became quickly worried, she knew what was inside. Opening the bag the overpowering musty smell filled the room. The mom dumped out the contents, they were of course a shirt and pants (luckily just some play clothes that had been handed down from a friend). They had been played in a good week ago at Memaw's house. These clothes had gotten wet and covered with mud. So the little boy went home in just his diaper, his clothes in the bag. Now of course the clothes not only still wet and covered with mud, were also stinky with mold spots.
Now I ask, which is grosser? I go with C. All the above.
Do I even post this and admit that I don 't get everything done like I should?
Do I post this and let the world know how disgusting my laundry was?
Well, let me add, my laundry room is now organized and cleaned, and laundry...well, its almost caught up!

Swooooosh, there went a year

Wow. The school year is done. That was really fast. The last week was also kind of a blur. Which is probably why I feel the need to sleep more and make up for the chaos that consumed our home the last week of school. I can't believe Addy is heading into her last year of preschool. Brennon will be a first grader and gone from me all day! EmmaJean will be a third grader, WHAT?!?! Oh my gosh what am I to do...... I don't know. I'll worry about that next year right now I have the summer to get through.

SO, the last week of school went something like this:

Tuesday: Dairy field trip with Addy's preschool class.

Wednesday: Same Dairy field trip but with Brennon's class.

Ooops, someone messed up, so we stayed at school, got ice cream from the dairy, run to the store to get sundae toppings and spend the day playing with the other Kindergarten class. Oh well, its not school work so its fun right!

Wednesday evening the kids have an award ceremony for all their hard work at church memorizing tons of verses:

Thursday: Off to the next state over for a Buffalo Ranch trip with EmmaJeans class.

Thursday I get to pack and get ready to go to Nebraska for a quick weekend/day to Celebrate my Great Aunties 100th Birthday. and NO this woman does NOT dye her hair. She is lucky, I hope I get that gene.

Return home for the last day of school for the kiddos. Which means FIELD DAY!!

WHOOHOOOOO!!

Flashback

Close your eyes and pretend with me that it's February 6, 2010. Yes, I know Brennon's birthday is Feb 5th. I however would never be fast enough to actually create a post on the day the event happened. We are however, really stretching our imaginations to even pretend that I posted the party the day after the event!

I have to say that Brennon's party this year was one to remember. I do mean that since Emma said she wants a party like his next year. I need to remember all that we did. I need to remember not to make the scooby doo cake myself. I need to remember that we did a monster mash (balloons tied to ankles, keep yours safe but pop the others). I need to remember to save up on toilet paper for a mummy wrap contest. I must of course remember that Jim is great at coming up with clues as to where the hidden presents disappeared to and having kids search all over the house finding clues to get the birthday boys gifts. And of course Jim needs to remember how to draw a scooby doo on felt so we can have a pin the collar on scooby doo game as well. Since my brain is low on memory, I am hoping that Emma will pick another theme!

Perhaps

Perhaps I should just start with today. Keep moving forward. Not revisit the past. But what fun is that? I know Dale is dying to get the Thanksgiving and Christmas updates. I didn't disappoint, it is after Valentines day. And oh my goodness, how dare I forget Brennon's birthday. Well to sum up the major holidays.

Thanksgiving is all about the Pie:

Christmas is about long car trips, in a really packed car. Being able to spend time with family and hanging out at Chuck E. Cheese with close friends and their kids (and hanging out again in the middle of a snowstorm sitting in her car for over 4 hours reconnecting, man that was good times!) Going sledding then returning to Grandmas house for hot chocolate and cookies. Its about meeting a nephew who is turning one for the first time. Its about presents, and roasting marshmallows in the fire place. Braving the Minnesota cold to sit outside and enjoy the Hollidazzle. New Outfits that are needed to celebrate the birth of my Saviour. Yup, Christmas is a good time.

Next would be Brennon's birthday. But since he is a pretty special kid, I'll save that one for a later date. Maybe combine it with next year. Come up with some quirky line about how a year has gone by so quickly and he is grown so much. But since were on holidays we'll move on to Valentines Day.

Valentines Day, is a simple day. Really it should be. But what fun is simple? Its so ORDINARY to do the flower, chocolate, dinner thing. And well Jim and I like to not be so ordinary (yes, I am admitting to the weird gene here). So we decided to get some friends together and hit the slopes. Well, the little kind, the kind that kids can go down on sleds then head into town for some pizza grub. Turned out to be not so simple. 9 kids and sleds on a hill....Never simple. But definitely a fun day out.

Why I need Caffeine

I had a good 45 minute conversation with my 4 year old this morning. Of course my side of the conversation was probably 5 minutes total but if I summarize it. It goes something like this:

Mom, I'm awake now. I am drawing a picture, see here is you and you have long hair. Here is daddy and he is a boy. I am not a boy but I have short hair like a boy. Stella Blue has squiggly hair like this. But my hair was long once, when we went to the park it was long and we saw fireworks and it was long but its short now like a boy but I am not a boy I am a girl. And I can burp see watch *burp*. I am going to Stella Blues house for her birthday and I am going to get her a present okay mom. Tonight is her birthday. Mom let me trace your hand here. See here is your hand and watch me trace my hand. See there is both of our hands and I can put them together and they are on top of each other and our hands together means I love you. Did you know that mom? Did you know I love you. And I love daddy and brennon and emma and I have a cat and her name is Olive and she is silly. And I love Dylan too. Mom let me trace my foot. You can trace your foot too. Oh mom when we go get emma are we going to the store. I want to go to the store and buy something with my money. I want a princess. I have a princess but I want another princess so they can play together and mom when are we going to eat breakfast I am thirsty for some milk. Can I have some milk. Oh and I think I want waffles can you make us some waffles. Ethan likes waffles too and so does dylan. And you can eat one if you want but don't eat them all so emma and brennon can have some after school. Or maybe we should make pancakes. I like oatmeal but only your oatmeal maybe we should have oatmeal. Hey mom your eyes are getting purple mom do you see that your eyes are purple why are they purple (because i'm tired and need Caffeine). My eyes aren't purple but I have purple lip gloss but I can't find my purple lip gloss anymore from Stella Blues birthday party do you know where it is mom, maybe its in the washer......

And your tired from just reading it!
Can I have someone deliver a coke please?

Halloween

Last Year. We had a, not so great, idea to let the kids pick their own costumes. (except Dylan of course). So when Emma insisted on a mummy, I thought great. Brennon could be king tut, addy could be cleopatra, and dylan could be the pyramid.....great idea except Brennon insisted on a pirate, and Addy insisted on a princess witch. ugh, so we went with a VERY traditional non-creative form of dressing up the children this year. Or I guess, last year.