OPERATION: Potty Train Jack

And so we begin.....

Yes it's true. Jack is almost 3 1/2 years old and isn't fully potty trained. He has got to be the most stubborn child when he comes to using the toilet and has just made hurdling this developmental milestone the HARDEST thing as a parents Tim and I have had to endure (beyond having sick children and not being able to help them).

Jack has been using the toilet at school to tinkle for MONTHS and does it very willingly. At home, it's like pulling teeth but he does it begrudgingly eventually. We tried to entice him with Pull-ups but he just treats them like diapers and tinkles anyway.

Last night, I picked up the boys at school and Jack's teacher, Miss Meredith, was there (she's normally gone by the time I get there at night). She told me how good he was doing and what did I think about sending him to school with underwear to try and see how he does. My response to her "What ever it takes to get him to go, I'm all game!" So she told me to send him with lots of undies and extra pants and that Yes, there would be accidents but that we'd give it a go.

So........we hooped it up with Jack and I unpacked all of the big boy underpants that he had picked out (another ploy that we used to get him more interested in potty training) and sent him off this morning with EIGHT PAIRS of underwear (Thomas, Cars and Spiderman designs) and FOUR extra pants (just in case).

At lunch today, my cell phone rings and it's KinderCare. Everytime I hear my special ring for KinderCare my heart just sinks and I think to myself Who's hurt? Who's sick? What's wrong? and it was Miss Meredith calling to tell me that as of lunch time Jack had had NO ACCIDENTS and had used the potty 2 times already today!

Hip Hip Hooray! I'm not going to get overly excited because I know this is only the beginning and that we will have set backs but it's a start.

Guess I'm off to Target tonight to get MORE underwear so we can keep this going.

UPDATE: Well....Day 1 passed with only ONE accident in big boy pants. We had given Jack some laxative yesterday morning because he was fighting through another one of his wonderful constipation bouts due to what the Pediatrician referred to as "Stool holding" and it kicked in while he was at school and he pooped in his Spiderman undies. He was very distraught over it and I just had to keep telling him that accidents happen and that it was okay. Potty treats (aka Hershey's kisses) are acting as a good incentive for him at home and we had two successful trips to the bathroom last night while we were home before bedtime.

Day 2 - he went to school with Spiderman undies on this morning and stayed dry (in a diaper) all night long. Hopefully hopefully this is a good sign. Picked him up at school tonight and his teacher said he had an accident during naptime because the covering teacher didn't know to put him in a pullup for his nap. Had a small accident at home but I think it was more intentional in order to put on a pair of his new Diego Undies but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and calling it an accident.

Brotherly Love OR A Headlock - You Decide

The Going To Bed Book

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Caroline Is Coming, Caroline Is Coming!!!

Caroline (far right) with my niece, Sarah (center),

and nephews Peter (far left) & Jack (front)

We've been trying since last summer to get my youngest niece, Caroline, here to St. Louis from New Jersey for a visit and it's FINALLY going to happen!!! I'm so excited!!! We haven't seen her since Tim and I got married in 2002 and she's NEVER met Jack and Mason. She will be staying with us for a few days and then with Hank and Tricia (my brother and SIL) during the week because of a business trip that I have to go on (unfortunately).

Hip Hip Hooray, Ro, we can't wait to see you!!!

Sarah and Peter - you two are welcome to visit anytime as well - just say the word!!!

"Project Redo" has begun

Here we go!

Phase one - Day one - the wall between what is now the family room (New Kitchen Area) and the living room (New Family Room Area) is coming down today. I'm excited but nervous at the same time.

This is a HUGE project that Tim is undertaking for us - I have all the confidence in the world that he will make it beautiful when all is said and done but I've never been on the CUSTOMER end of his work. I'm not sure how well I am going to handle the chaos of it all.

We shall see......so check back often as I post pictures of the progress of "Project Redo".

He's 21!!!

21 Months that is! Where is the time going!?!? Seems like just yesterday I was miserably large and couldn't wait for him to be out of me & now look at him. He's not a baby any more!

Sometimes I wish that I could turn back the hands of time to when my boys were soft little babies that I could fit in the crook of my arm and snuggle with them and fall asleep with them on my chest. Now they are two VERY ACTIVE little boys who rarely slow down and will sit for only minutes at a time to snuggle with me. Someday they are going to be taller than me and have busy lives that will include sports, friends, and much to my dismay....girls!!!

Oh well................guess this is just all a part of being a Mom. They have to grow up sometime.

Enjoy Your Coffee

Nothing major going on in our lives right now - just the standard winter colds and what not so I thought I'd share this bit of inspiration with you.

- Enjoy!

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help
themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering. 'You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems.'

He continued, 'Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups. Then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!'

The happiest people don't have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak
kindly. Leave the rest to God. And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

During the year, we are thankful for the special flavor everyone in our lives add to our coffee.

Happy Birthday, Bear!

Jack has a special Happy Birthday wish for his Bear!

"At Least He Didn't Turn On The Water Yet!"

Ugh! Jack was never quite as adventurous as Mason is. Sometimes you can't take your eyes off of him for not knowing what he'll get himself into. The other night he had babypowder spread all over one side of their room, others, he'll just ransack the bookshelf and pull all the puzzles and books off and sit in the middle of them and read.

Well....this morning, Tim and I were both in our room getting dressed. Jack was watching TV and Mason was floating back and forth between the family room and our bedroom. He left our room and a few minutes later we hear this "Bang Bang Bang" coming from somewhere other than our room. As Tim went to investigate where the noise was coming from I hear a laugh and then a "Lib.....come here please!" and this is what we had found.....

Gotta Love It!

Happy New Year!

Tim, Jack, Mason and I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We didn't do anything special to ring in 2008 - in fact we were all in bed asleep (which is a GOOD thing in our house) when the clock struck midnight.

We hope that the new year brings our family and friends much happiness and good health.

We love you all!

The Gardenland Express

Taking a cue from the great lodges and landscapes of America’s national parks, this year’s Gardenland Express features a rustic “wilderness escape” theme, with a replica of Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn and the Old Faithful geyser as the centerpiece.

Gardenland Express is a temporary installation at The Missouri Botanical Gardens, created afresh each year. Horticulturists use dwarf conifers, shrubs, succulents, and moss to create rolling hills, valleys, and mountains. Exhibits are surrounded by hundreds of poinsettias. Daily watering keeps everything green throughout the six-week show.

Thanks Moots & Big Top for taking us! We had lots of fun!!!

The Big Guy Arrives

The tree all ready for Christmas Morning

Cookies, Milk & 8 Carrots Left For Santa Claus

Merry Christmas From The Four Of Us!

From Our Home To Yours.....

Getting Excited And Counting Down The Days

Sled Ride

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

First Snowfall

We woke this morning to a beautiful snow falling. We're expecting 4-8" and hopefully it won't hinder our traveling out to Hank and Tricia's tonight for their annual Jingle Belz party and a visit from Santa himself.


Okay...so Jack was a little anxious to go out an play in it!



The boys has a blast riding in the sled that Tim ran out and bought last night at 9pm at Target in anticipation of the snow. I have video too and will post it soon but just had to get these two up today. Enjoy!

The School Christmas Pageant

One of my favorite things about being a Mom during the holidays, other than just the sheer excitement and anticipation of Santa's big visit, is the annual school Christmas Pageant. They start prepping the kids as soon as Thanksgiving is over and start teaching them their Christmas songs that they will sing.

For weeks, Jack has been singing Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Santa Claus is coming to Town like he's known them all his life. He even has hand gestures to Santa Claus is Coming To Town (it's a hoot). He's been so excited about it!

Well Wednesday night was the big night. I was stuck at home recovering from my hellish week of two surgeries, so Tim bundled up the boys and braved the Christmas Pageant on his own. So that I wouldn't miss anything, he went with digital camera in hand. This is one of the videos that he returned with. I was so excited! (Mason is sitting on his teacher's knee and is kind of hidden so it's hard to see him but I LOVE the reindeer hats! He kept his on the whole time!)



The boys were on opposite ends of the room and they sang at different times so he struggled to get both of them and Jack got stage fright and didn't sing until the very last line of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (which was the last song). I was sad that I couldn't go but seeing the videos made me feel like I was almost there.

Thanks Honey! I appreciate you going for me!

A House Fit For A King....Or A Gingerbread Man!

One of my goals as a Mother is to create traditions in our home around the holidays that I can share with my boys and that they will remember when they are older. This year, I decided to do just that and make a gingerbread house with them that we can look at and enjoy throughout the holidays. It took Tim, Mason, Jack and I to all put the house together but then Jack and I decorated it while Mason was sleeping one afternoon.

These are some shots of our "decorating session". Yes, Mommy had a hand in the final product but Jack was the "design/build man" and told me where the icing needed to go and then he put the candies on. We were both very pleased with our final product and Mason's reaction was a great big "Woah!"

Breakfast With Santa

Saturday morning we headed to The Gatesworth (aka Mimi's house) to have breakfast with Santa. We had a great meal of scrambled eggs, french toast sticks, grapes, donut holes, sausage, bacon, yummy potatoes and much much more. After we filled our tummies, we sang some Christmas songs and welcomed Santa!!!

Tim and I weren't quite sure how Jack and Mason would handle the man in the red suit so we were prepared for just about anything. We'll as we possibly expected, Mason was scared to death and screamed as soon as Santa got close. Jack was very reserved and watched Santa's every move to see what he was all about before making a decision if he was a good guy or not.

Presents were handed out and the boys both happily accepted theirs from Santa as he worked his way around the room. Jack even slapped him a "High Five"! A Mr. Potato head for Mason and new "Cars" characters for Jack - both a HUGE hit!












Before we left, Jack wanted to take a minute to have a heart to heart with Santa and make sure he knew what else was on his list. They had a nice conversation and ended it with a hug and a promise of cookies and milk to be left on Christmas Eve for Santa.



A magical day for all of us! Thanks, Mimi!!!

"When I Grow Up I Want To Be A......"

In Jack's class at school they have been talking about occupations. One night we got a note from his teacher saying that they had been talking about what their Mom's and Dad's did at work and that Jack didn't know what Tim and I did. It really made me stop and think about it.....what DOES he think that Mommy and Daddy do when we say we go to work every day?

So Tim and I talked about it and tried to decide what was the most rudeamentary way of explaining to a three year old what we do for a living? So we came up with this.......Daddy builds things with his hammer and saw and Mommy helps people find jobs. It seemed to make sense to him and stuck. If you ask him now he seems to understand what "going to work" means and what we do all day long while he and Mason are at school.

During the same unit, they also started discussing what THEY want to be when they grow up. Tim and I dream about the boys becomming professionals in some sport and making TONS of money or just becoming so successful in whatever they do so that they can take care of us when we are old and gray (yeah, I know.....don't hold my breath, right?). Well, if you ask Jack what he wants to be when he grows up he will tell you.....

...... a cook!

Not just any cook though. He wants to be a cook that makes COOKIES! Tim and I are perfectly fine with that as long as they are GOOD COOKIES! So we have a future pastry chef on our hands (at least for now).