Big Steps for a Toddler

Okay, so this isn't the most mannerly post, but here goes. Ella has been potty-training for the past 4 or 5 weeks with great success. She's been staying dry during the days for at least 3 weeks and mostly dry nights. She's great to run to the potty when she feels the urge to tee-tee, however, she's been so scared to do #2 that I haven't pushed her until today.

When she was learning to use the potty early on, she would get to the point where she knew she had to pee in the potty but was scared. She also didn't want to wet her pull-ups so she would freak out a little and didn't know what to do. She no longer has the fear to pee, but we're back to square one with doing #2. Today, she had her freakout moment. She had to go. She didn't want to dirty her panties, but she was terrified to use the toilet. I sat her down on the toilet, sat on the floor myself in front of her and wrapped my arms around her in a big hug. Not only to secure her place on the potty and keep her from moving off, but to hopefully reassure her that it was all going to be okay. After about 5 minutes of screaming hysterically and kicking and sliding around (her not me), she did the deed. I praised her so big, jumped up and down, clapped my hands and made myself to look like a real idiot, but it worked. She was proud of herself, and so was I.

I said, "Now, Ella, that wasn't so bad afterall, was it? Next time you have to go poopy are you going to go on the potty?", to which she replied "NO!"

Well, we're almost there. I'll be so glad to get rid of pull-ups and put her in big-girl panties.

Boosterthon

Kelsey's school recently participated in their annual Boosterthon Fun Run. She raised $122 and ran so hard. It was 80 degrees outside but felt like 90. There was not a cloud in the sky and very mild breeze every now and then. What a trooper. She never gave up and kept a smile on her face the entire time. The school she attends is a K-2, so they did the run by grades. Her grade started at 9:00am. In this first picture, all the classes are lined up, and getting ready to run. The lady with the white brim hat is her teacher, Ms. Redding. She's a very fair-skinned red head. It doesn't take much to burn in the South.

The first lap they did was the pace lap and they just walked. This picture is of her first running lap. Each lap is 1/16th of a mile. She ran 34 laps. Amazing! They cap them at 35, so I think she did pretty great!
Hot and tired.

Finished!

Each time they made a lap, a teacher marked it off their back.

They were treated to popsicles afterwards.

Soccer Season Has Begun

Soccer Season has begun in our neck of the woods. Kelsey was all dressed and ready for her first practice. Sadly, though, we didn't get Cole in his getup because he was doing double duty. He had to go to his Boy Scout meeting before his practice. By the time he got to practice, I had already left the field to get Kelsey bathed and ready for bed. This is how our Fall will be. Between Daisy (girl scout) meetings every other Monday night, Boy Scouts the first three Thursdays of every month, Wednesday night church, two soccer practices a week per kid plus two games on Saturdays, and Chess club the first and third Wednesdays of every month, I think we will stay pretty busy. Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But, alas, we must get through these illnesses first. It has hit us early this year. I just hope the Winter isn't going to be that bad.

Isn't she cute?!

My birthday gift

Mother's Day 2008, the kids gave me these ceramic plates that they made at a local store. Cole's plate is square, has his handprint, name and "Happy Mother's Day" painted on it. Kelsey's plate is a heart with her handprint, name and "We Love You" painted on it. Ella's plate is a flower with her footprints (she was 11 months old), name and year on it. I love these gifts but never had anywhere for them so I used them as burner covers/stove decor for the past 15 months. For my birthday this year, however, my precious husband bought me a plate rack and hung it just 2 weeks ago. I love my new kitchen decor and also love the fact that my stovetop is free to use whenever I please now.

Birthday Boy

I cannot believe it, but Cole is now officially "10"! These ten years have flown by so fast that it's almost unfair to a parent. His birthday fell on a school day, so we celebrated as a family and then let him have a sleep over a week later. Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture with all the boys here. I know...sad parenting on my part. Cole has been asking for a Nintendo DS for the past 2 years.

And, instead, we chose to give him the newest version...the DSi. He was thrilled beyon belief!
And to start him out, we thought we'd give him some brain challenging games to keep him in tip top shape. He's since purchased Ben 10 with his own money.

We went to Iguana Grill for his celebratory dinner.

We surprised him with the Under Armour sweatshirt he picked out when we were at the beach. We told him he didn't need it. When Jason took him to another store to continue school clothes shopping, I went back in and purchased it.

A new soccer ball in the size he needs for this season.

The waiters put the sombrero on his head, sang their version of Happy Birthday, and then served him cinnamon pita chips with whip cream and proceeded to paints his cheeks and chin with the whipped cream.

Here he is taking a picture of himself with his new DSi.

Back home, we had cupcakes and ice cream for dessert.

Yes, there really are ten candles on that cupcake.

First Day of School

I know it's been almost a month since school began, but I'm just now getting these posted. Sorry. In case you can't tell by the fingers they're holding up, Kelsey started first grade and Cole started fifth. Can you believe it?! I get emotional every time I think about Cole going to middle school next year. It scares me a little, to be honest.

And, yes, they do actually like each other most of the time.

The Last Days of Summer Vacation

With less than a week before school started, we decided to head to Huntsville one last time to visit my sister and her kids. My friend Karen, who lives up there, has taken many wonderful photos at Bridgestreet and so I just had to see this place for myself. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures, and the ones I did take didn't reflect the uniqueness of this place. But here are a couple of pics with the kids and my sister. Morgan and Kelsey loved this bubble-blowing machine.

Missy with all of the kids outside of the movie theater.

After these pictures, we took a ride on the carousel, had ice cream at Maggie Moos (YUM!), and then headed over to the Chocolate Crocodile for some tasty treats to take home with us. Ella cracked me up while in there. She walked over to the glass window protecting the tasty confections, leaned up on it with arms stretched out on the glass over her head, took a deep breath in and said "mmmmmmm". Yes! She's definitely my child with a love for chocolate just like her momma. We had a great time during our visit.

Ella vs. the stairs

Two-year-olds and stairs just don't mix well. Especially when that 2-yo is too confident for her own good. Ella has pretty much mastered the stairs in the house, but I prefer she sit on her bottom and scoot down them when there isn't an able body holding her hand. She, however, has a mind of her own and chose to walk down the stairs just a few days after our arrival home from the beach. Not only did she fall down the stairs, but she hit the baby gate at the bottom and then the hardwoods after that. Poor little girl.:( She had a black and blue cheek for 2 weeks.

As if that weren't enough, one week after falling down the stairs, she ran into the corner of the wall and had an exact replica of the first bruise only on her other cheek. So, she had matching cheeks for awhile. We got some crazy looks from people we didn't know, and those that new us, just laughed and hugged her because they know what a clutz she is. That's my Ella! A real go getter.