Seems I've already used "What a Week!" as a title of one of my posts...but if the title fits, blah blah blah.



My dad was here for 2 weeks, just left Monday. It's always a good time when he is here. The kids adore him and we always have fun! We went to see my 96 year old Grandma when he was here and it was a wonderful experience. She is an amazing woman, just had surgery for yet another cancer and is recovering fine. They managed to get all the cancer. It's amazing to me that they would even do surgery on a 96 year old, but the surgeon said that was no reason not to. She's in perfect health! She was thrilled to spend time with the kids. I haven't seen her smile so much in a long time.



I've started working out at the gym, determined to lose some weight. With my youngest 4 years old now, I can no longer use the excuse "baby fat" . Time to get busy. Wish me luck.



I started my volunteering for the year at Rachael's school today. I've been rather anxious about it, ready to get started. I've felt so disconnected and being there, meeting her classmates and being a part of it made me feel better. I only do an hour a week, but it's so worth it! Rachael enjoys having me there and I like knowing the kids that she's talking about everyday! I've already been to Matthew's school a few times, so it was good to go to hers.



So, it's almost time to head to the gym. Wednesdays are my busiest day I think. Kids to school, volunteer, gym, pick up Matthew at 11:30am, shop for Nana, laundry, clean house, Rachael home at 3:00. Get the kids settled, fed, bathed, etc before I have to go to choir practice tonight. Who says I don't have a full time job? :)



As of right now, I've got 2 blogs going. I haven't decided where I will hang my hat. So in the meantime, I'm double-posting. I'll see which blog seems to work better for me (and you).



Having a great day, I hope you do the same.

Well, I'm moving my blog. Moms Buzz has been good to me, but it's time for me to move on. I will see you at http://mommyblogging.blogspot.com/

See you there!

You know those crocodile toys that scoop up the legos? I need a super-duty one that will pick up all the toys in my floor! This house looks like the toy fairy threw up all over it. What started in the play room/family room downstairs has worked it's way up the stairs into the kitchen, dining room and living room...then made it's way on up to the bedrooms and even the bathrooms, scattering a toy or two in the hallway.

You'd think I'd get the idea that MAYBE they have too many toys. Everytime we go to Walmart, they beg for a toy in the 88 cent aisle (which they so lovingly refer to as the "88th percentile". A friend of mine told me the other day that her future ex-husband (having a nasty custody battle right now) said he was going to prove her an unfit mother because she brings home something for their daughter each time she goes to Walmart. And he was serious! Get in line buddy, that makes me and several more moms I know just terribly unfit!

Gotta clean, never know where to start. I spent an hour on the living room yesterday afternoon and I swear I think one of the dear children was walking behind me, leaving toys everywhere I had picked up! It's neverending.

Tomorrow is Matthew's "Preview Day" at school and my first choir practice for the year. I've sort of got my music together, but I really have so much to do before tomorrow night. I'm hoping to run to the church while Matthew's at school to at least pull music for the choir so I'll look somewhat prepared!

Wish me luck!

Yup, he did it....yesterday afternoon actually. I was so proud of him. Of course we had to make another 40 gaZillion trips to the potty, but finally he couldn't hold it any longer. He was shocked, I think, that it didn't hurt. But oh so proud of himself. So we packed it up and headed to WalMart where he got his Imaginext Castle. He's been playing with it ever since.

It's super hot here again today, back up into the 90's. About an hour ago the front door opened and in walked Rachael. I had NO clue that schools were letting out early today. They went all day Friday, so I didn't think about it. We are so fortunate that we live so close and she walks home from school anyway, but I couldn't help but think about all the kids who are picked up. What if their parents didn't know. And what if I hadn't been home? Rachael said it was on the radio, but I never listen to it around the house. Gotta figure out a plan. At least I KNOW that they will get out early tomorrow, they sent a note home.

Tomorrow is school pictures and Rae's first day of dance for the year. She is so excited! She loves dance and misses it so much in the summer. But the girl just won't stop growing! Time again for new ballet and tap shoes. She's outgrown everything from last year! But it's all worth it, she's learned so much and it's so good for her health AND her confidence.

So many successes. Feeling pretty good today. :)

I meant to mention this the other day. So funny. At preview night (at Rae's school) I overheard one of the moms telling this to the new teacher. "My son is just a genius, I don't know where he get's it! He was the best reader in the entire kindergarten and the highest scoring child in his class in ALL subjects! He's just amazing. You'll probably have to give him more challenging work than the rest of the class."

OK, first of all. What's up with that? Who says that? Does she not think that the teacher is aware of her kids scores from the previous year? And that she won't figure this out within the first few days of class anyway? But the best (or worst) part of it is that it's not true. The top 4 readers in kindergarten were all girls! (Not to mention my daughter and one of her best friends were 2 of them ). And even though Rae was one them, did I mention this to the teacher? No. I'm proud of Rae, don't get me wrong....but the teacher knows how she did last year, I don't need to tell her. PLUS, I don't want to be one of THOSE moms. I will be supportive, helpful and answer any questions that the teacher might have about Rachael. But what a first impression!

OK, just had to share...if I ever become one of those moms, please slap me.

OK, day 2 without pull-ups....I think we've made 40 baZILLION trips to the bathroom. Upstairs, to the BACK bathroom (getting our exercise as we have to run everytime). He sits, says "ok, I don't need to go" and runs out of the room. He never went yesterday.....and he REALLY needs to go. I've resorted to giving him apple juice, which I typically don't give him,  but in THIS case, maybe it will make him go even if he tries to hold it, right?

I'm at a point where I really want a pull-up too (no, not for myself!), but I keep reminding myself that if I give in now, then we'd have to start all over again. Plus he'd think if he holds it long enough, I'd give in everytime and physically, that wouldn't be so good (or comfortable) for him.

So here we go, another day of 40 baZillion trips to the potty. I'll be strong, although a little grumpy I'm ashamed to say. Rae is being so supportive, our little cheerleader. She keeps reminding him how easy it is, how big he is and how much fun his new toy will be. We've looked up the Imaginext dinosaurs online to tempt him.

I know you all are SO interested in this anal update....but hey, I gotta vent. Seems with Rae it was easier, but then again, maybe potty training is like childbirth. You forget the pain because the reward is so great....OK maybe not JUST like childbirth, but you get what I mean.

Hopefully I'll have an exciting update...VERY soon! Of course I won't be able to update until AFTER we make our celebratory trip to Walmart. I reminded Matthew that Walmart is open 24 hours a day, so just keep trying!

My dear son and I had a conversation the other day. When this pakage of pullups is gone, we will not buy anymore. He is a big boy and he can go poopie in the potty. He laughs and me and says "I'll go to Walmart and buy some more".

Ok, ok, so I'm bad. He's been peeing in the potty for a year now with no problem. But poop? That's a different story. I was of the school that "when they are ready, they will do it". It worked with Rachael, and it worked with Matthew (for the peeing part). But now it's just becoming manipulation and laziness. Yes, he's 4. I reminded him that his nephew, Ian (happy birthday Ian!) is 3 today and he's pooping in the potty....wouldn't it be cool to be doing it just like him? Matthew agrees that it would be cool. PLUS, I've promised him that once he poops in the potty he can get one of those huge Imaginex dinosaurs....bribery usually works!

So theres one more pull-up left. We can do it! Right? Yes, we can! I can't imagine, we've had some sort of diapers in this house for the past 6 1/2 years. But at this rate I'll be in diapers before he gets out of them! So I must persist. Rachael is in school, Daddy is at work. We can do this together.

Wish me luck.