Potty Training Day 1

So, here we go!  I have been putting this off for some time and just decided to dive in head first this morning.  Jacob has already gone in the toilet, so that helped.  Step 1 what do I do in the toilet--success.  We're still waiting for that first bowel movement, but he has been telling me when he is poopy for awhile, so I'm hoping that will help.  He has enjoyed going and getting a fruit snack when he is done.  He still struggles putting his underwear back on when he is done, but there are worse things.  Step 2  First accident.  I decided that this is actually a very important step.  He will never know what he is supposed to do unless he knows what not to do.  I'm actually surprised he had an accident since he was going every 10 - 15 minutes but I am glad he did.  He thought it was yucky and I hope he didn't like it.  Step 3 Identify when he needs to go potty.  I don't think we are there yet but we still have time, so that is where we are.  He is drinking water all the time, so at least he gets to practice a lot.  

I must admit it has been awhile since I have had to do this as Joshua is now almost 5 and feel out of practice but we're just taking it in stride.  He has been good about it and willing to do what I ask which is nice!  If anyone has great advise let me know.  The best advise I've been given is just to not give up, so we are in this until it is done.  I'm hoping it is as simple as it was for Joshua; just two days of torture and then it clicked and we were done.  So, pray that he gets it soon and that I survive!  :)

Farm Day!

Today we went to the MU South Farms Showcase and enjoyed a plethora of activities including wagon rides, animal petting, fish feeding, corn mazes, cockroach races, Border Collie training (for sheep herding) and wool spinning.  It was wonderful beautiful, and free.  This photo is from our edible insects stop on the tour.  One of the big time entomologists from MU (and a member of our Stake) had a great booth on edible bugs and Jacob, Joshua and I all had one.  They were meal worms, purchased from our local pet store.  They are nutritious, high in iron, and pack a healthier calorie punch than wheat or corn.  Mine were also coated in cinnamon and sugar.  The queasier members of our group abstained.  Michael likes to be with animals, not eat bugs.  Here's a couple of bug eating shots for you.

Date Night

Liz and I have recently realized that we are blessed.  I know, it seems a rather simplistic and absolute idea, but it's true, and we feeling it again and again.  This time around we're coming to understand our financial blessings.  The Lord has carried us through many strange things, and while we haven't done it without some big mistakes and some angst-filled nights, we are nonetheless blessed for reasons we cannot understand.  We have made several plans to pay off our debt, and it seems that each time we get close, other things steal our money away, and our greatest plans fall through.

We were tired of this cycle, so we decided to crack down and do whatever is necessary to make some headway in this process.  We slimmed down our monthly budget (again!) by carefully planning our grocery shopping, bulking up our savings, and slimming down wherever possible.  One of those slimming spots was our date nights.  Now, we are the only people we know who have a mandatory, consistent Friday night date, and we were not about to give that up.  Unfortunately, we also removed our babysitter and date money from the budget so that we could follow another, more debt-related commandment.  So then we went to work.  Liz traded babysitting with her visiting teaching companion, and after we shipped the kids off for the evening, we settled in for a nice meal at home together.  That's what I did while she was dropping off the kids (and for an hour beforehand.)  I had the option of boiling or steaming the artichokes, and I chose steam.  Good choice, although I let the water all boil out and my garlic and bay leaf burned to the bottom of the pan.  It happens.

It wasn't too shabby, methinks: roasted pork and potatoes, a white pear-infused balsamic apple slaw on top, and steamed artichokes.  Yummy.

Neither of us have ever had plain old steamed artichokes, but we were both pleasantly surprised.  It involves a lot of tooth scraping, and then a bunch of fluff that you're not expecting at all, but they're great, and the hearts are, of course, worth the wait.  If you're interested, I can let you in on how to prepare them.  They're amazingly simple, and surprisingly pleasant.  After dinner we left the dishes on the table for our server to clean up, and changed to go play tennis.  Because the boys weren't with us we could go to our favorite courts and we had a wonderful couple of games (6-3, 6-2 for James!) and sweat enough to burn off the butter into which we dipped our artichokes.  I decided a pre-game photo was best, since we were all wet and slimy and sticky after the game!

We returned home, found that the server had not cleared away our dishes, took back the tip we had left (what lame service,) showered up, and prepared for our real treat: frozen custard.  We had some debate about where to do our dessert, and had I been more prepared, we would have enjoyed it at home.  Alas, I wasn't, so we jostled about a few ideas, and I finally conned Liz into making a decision that landed us at Culver's.  We haven't been to Culver's in a while, and I was ready for it.  Liz enjoyed the chocolate custard with peanut butter and cookie dough, and I went all out for the pumpkin pecan Concrete.  It was easily 20 points, but it was worth every bite.  I almost tossed it out about half way through, but it wasn't worth it.  I wanted it.  Next time I'll just make a pumpkin shake at home for 4 points, but this one time it was awesome.  We chatted, enjoyed a little political conversation, looked around and expressed gratitude for our current health (Look at the people at Culver's—wow!)  It was then, unfortunately, time to go pick up the boys.  They were not happy at our arrival, but they managed, and went straight to bed when we got home around 9.

Then came the best part of the date.  We sat down on the couch, cuddled up, and promptly fell asleep with the TV on.  I woke up, turned off the TV, and went back to sleep.  Just before 11 we mustered enough strength to pull ourselves off the couch and head to bed.  Free date.  Awesome time.  So now the new question: Who's going to watch the kids next week?

After the camp out

Well, the "camp out" was a smashing success, but left us all a little fatigued for the remainder of the weekend.  Jacob is currently in that "can't nap, but is unbearable without one" stage, and Joshua's fever peaked just over 102º sometime during the mid-afternoon.  We did our grocery shopping this morning and scored another amazing cereal deal, and I think we're now fully stocked for breakfast for at least 8 months.  Cereal is good.

As the rainy afternoon wore on (thank you, IKE!) I almost locked myself in my room for good measure.  Finally Michael asked to play outside, and I figured warm day, no rain at the moment, and I need a break.  He rode up and down the street, enjoying the wind in his hair, and finally being outside with at least a moment of reprieve from the inside of our abode.  So, out he went.

Within three minutes the heavens opened and I ran outside to call Michael in, because those open heavens know that Michael does not come in just because there's a flash flood warning.  He came happily pedaling back through storm, raced into the garage, dismounted in a flourish, and asked if he could stay outside and play.  I figured warm day, warm rain, and I've got towels—go play!

Jacob joined him, reveling in the wetness and the newness, and Joshua even ventured out for a minute to taste the rain before joining me again in the garage where he quietly informed me that "It's too wet."  At least he tried.  Here's a little taste of the wet fun.

Camping indoors

I had the best of intentions.  I fully intended to camp out on the back lawn with the boys this evening.  I had the sleeping bags, tarps, and s'mores ready, but Hurricane Ike is sending the foul weather our way and thunderstorms throughout the evening rained on the best of our plans.  In truth, it has yet to start raining, but the radar says it could happen any minute, so indoor camping it was.  We grilled hot dogs on the grill, spent an hour or so at Going Bonkers to wear them down and have tons of fun, then came home, removed the grills from the grill for easier access to the flame, and roasted marshmallows than we promptly sandwiched with dark chocolate between surprisingly soft graham crackers.  Weird, but still gooey and delicious.

After treats we rolled out the sleeping bags in the office and watched All Dogs Go to Heaven as night fell on us.  They're now rolled up in their sleeping bags sleeping soundly while I catch up on every single thing I didn't do because we were having so much fun.  Fun is so good.  Here are some shots of camp all set set and ready for bed!  Too bad they're a little camera shy.

Cave Art

I was very sad when we did a unit on the ice age, prehistoric animals and anything else related to learn that the boys already knew everything I could think of to teach them.  So, we got several books at the library and they had fun looking over them--we have upgraded to the J section in the library since they've read all of the Easy NonFiction books.  Then, just because I was out of ideas I asked them to draw pictures of the animals etc on a large sheet of paper.  James came home and was so impressed because it was like Cave Art.  Yea, I wish I had thought of that myself but in the end the result was the same and we have some great cave art!  It makes me wonder who really created cave art--the adults or the children?

Now we're going to learn about Ancient Egypt and I just pray they can learn something new!  :)