Sledding and Santa...

Today while I was at class, it was a beautiful 50 degree day. Some of the snow was melting, but that didn't matter. Colette and the kids took advantage of the great weather and were outside playing in the snow. The video below is a shot Colette took of Brayton pulling Lauren in the sled.

After I got done with class, Colette and the kids picked me up and we went to play at a park. It was a little cold on the kids hands because the playground equipment was cold, but they still had fun going on the slides and climbing on the equipment. Of course we very close all the time, holding on to coat tails to make sure slippery wet shoes didn't provoke a fall.

We went to supper at Hy Vee, and then proceeded to Jolly Holiday lights. We knew Santa would be there, I used to volunteer to be Santa a few years ago, and Santa is free at Jolly Holiday lights. Whereas if you go to the mall, you have to stand in line for a very long time and pay $10.

We used the opportunity to reinforce being "nice" rather than "naughty" to Brayton over the past few days. We knew that if he knew he was going to see Santa, we could leverage that into good behavior, and for the most part it worked well.

There was a long line to see Santa today, but the kids waited in line very well. They never fussed. Brayton we could tell had to really go potty, but there isn't a bathroom there. When the time came to talk to Santa, Brayton was very excited. Lauren cried and didn't want anything to do with him. Neither would sit on his lap, I don't think that was a surprise. Maybe next year.

Potty School Begins...

Well, here it goes....I haven't written in the blog yet. Not because I haven't wanted to, nor that I don't have any good stories (being blessed to be able to be home with my babies has aforded me so many wonderful stories that I could fill a book!) The main reason is that I usually do scrapbooks for my children, I am the one who is always behind the camera. and I am not as good at the story telling as Daddy is.

But.....I think that I have a few wonderful stories/pictures/videos that definitely need to be archived. As you may know, Lauren is now 19 months. She has been showing interest in the potty and always wants to do what her brother is doing. I started the "official" potty school yesterday. We went to Target and after looking at all of the pretty little panties for Lauren, she chose Hello Kitty ones. She looked at Dora, Tinkerbell, Princess ones, and low and behold said,"Kitty, moew!", and pointed to the Hello Kitty panties. She was so excited when we got them home.

We got them out of the package so that she could check them out. Well, being the accesorizing guru that she is...(she loves shoes, necklaces, bracelets, bows, bowls, buckets...whatever she can put on her head!).....they did not go where everyone else puts undies.....she proceeded to put them on her head. Granted they were quite adorable, even on her head~,kind of like a do-rag really. I can already tell she is one of those girls that looks good in anything! Not to mention...a real trend starter. After the family had witnessed this stunning new look, we all had to try it. So now not only do you have a 19 month old who has Hello Kitty undies on her head, but a 3 year old boy, a young & beautiful girl....... whose age will remain undefined, (let's just call her....Mommy:), and then we also have a 34 year old male sporting Hello Kitty trousers as well. Nothing says fashion like a 6 foot 4 inch, 250 pound male adorned in his daughter brand new skivees!

Next, the training. I put Lauren on the potty about every 30-60 minutes in the morning.....nothing happens. We'll I guess not really "nothing". A couple of times Lauren was perched up on the thrown, then her brother comes barreling in with urgency in his voice,"I need to got potty....now!" Well, considering Lauren had been perched there for a few minutes, I figured we'll let Brayton go and then try again. Well, as soon as I got her off of the potty and she stood on the floor.....she peed! I honestly wonder is she is just trying to be like her brother and doesn't understand that girls don't pee standing up!

The day continues and after her nap I get her up and perched on the potty once more....and.....aaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa! Here comes "big poopy"! She looks at me with her big browns sparking (as she new her hard work would pay off in the best thing possible for a little tyke....Jelly Beans!) She enjoyed her treat, we went about our playing..... and 10 minutes later, she's back in on the potty, grabs her toilet paper, wipes, and then says,"Jay bee!" Of course wanting a reward. Did I tell you yet that she didn't do anything?? The joys of Potty School!

But truly, you are doing a great job on the potty honey! You've peed and pood both days of Potty School, and we are so proud of you!

As you finished a nice piece of work in the toilet this after noon Brayton came over, gave you a hug and told you,"I am so proud of you Lauren, you're a big girl!!", with all of the excitement a 3 year old boy can muster (and that's alot!), you looked up at him adoringly with a smile a mile wide! Be still my heart! These are the most precious days!

Old sunglasses and party favors...

Tonight I decided it was time to use some old party favors as a playtime toy. Colette bought these things (not even sure what to call them) for Brayton's birthday party. We never used them, so I decided tonight was as good a night as ever.


We sat down in the living room, and Brayton was wearing a pair of my old sunglasses that Lauren had broken some time ago. The frame cracked and the lenses had popped out long ago. Brayton wears them because both Mommy and Daddy wear glasses.


We proceeded to have a great time with the party favors and Brayton's glasses made this an extra fun night.

Braytons Stories...

Tonight when I was putting Brayton to bed, we were sitting in the recliner with the lights off in his room just rocking getting in a little snuggle before I put him down. We normally say our prayers and he tells me a little story about his day.

Since the kids went to Mom & Dad's this weekend, I got a 3 year olds rundown of the entire weekend. It became obvious to me that you can't sneak anything by him anymore, he takes it all in and then you can guarantee that he is going to tell someone about it.

Tonght as we were sitting there, Brayton proceeded to tell me all about his weekend. It went something like this.

Dad: "Brayton tell me about your weekend at Grandma Cindy's."

Brayton: "I helped Grandma Cindy bake cookies." "I told Grandma Cindy, NO, NO, NO no eggs Grandma."

Dad: "Did Grandma Cindy put eggs in the cookies?"

Brayton: "Ya, she did." "She gave me chocolate cookies and said there was no eggs in them."

Dad: "Did you like those chocolate cookies?"

Brayton: "Ya, but Grandma Cindy said I could not eat them all we had to save them for Christmas."

Brayton: "I have five Grandmas"

Dad: "No, you have four Grandmas"

Brayton: "I have Grandma Coke, Grandma Cindy, Grandma Bernie, and Grandma Dorris."

Dad: "You are a pretty lucky boy to have four Grandmas."

Brayton: "I got to sleep in Grandma's bed. Lauren had to sleep in the baby bed. I am going to eat Grandma's chocolate cookies at Christmas."

Dad: "Did you get to see Uncle Nick and Uncle Dustin?"

Brayton: "Yes, we watched 'Wiggly, Wiggly, Gremlins' at Uncle Nicks house. We could not find that movie. Can I watch a movie now?"

Dad: "No, It's time for bed son."

Then I put him in bed and he proceeded to tell me good night four times. As I was walking out the door he was still yelling "Good Night Daddy."

I learned once again, that there is nothing he can observe that he cannot go and tell someone else. Not that I'd do anything I wouldn't want him to repeat, but I thought it was funny the way he told me how Grandma put the eggs in the cookies.

2nd Thoughts about going potty...

Lauren has been getting more and more interested in going potty.


She see's Brayton going potty every day. She is kind of his fan club, Brayton goes to the potty and Lauren follows to cheer him on.


She tells us when she goes "poop" in her diaper. Usually after disappearing for a few minutes behind the chair. She's somewhat secretive about it.


The other night, she said she needed to go "poop". So, Colette took her to the bathroom and asked if she said she wanted to go sit on the potty, she said "yes".


The second Colette got her up there, she changed her mind. Evidently it was too real.


Maybe it was the fact that Dad ran and got the camera as soon as she got up there.


December 1st is the date of the video.