The begining of a new era.

Well.... maybe calling it a new era is a bit dramatic. But today does mark some very big changes around our house.

As I stared through the chain link fence at my new first grader I fought the tears that welled in my eyes. Not so much of sadness..... far from it... I am THRILLED to have my oldest in school all day (terrible I know). Tears of pride, of joy, of the knowledge that there is no going back, those are the tears I fought this morning.

My sweet little girl is growing into a beautiful young lady. She is strong, confident, and well mannered. I am not worried about her in school. I know she will be one of the best students in the class at following directions. I know she will make friends, and likely be the most popular girl in first grade, that is her personality. I know she will learn quickly, stay on task, and be on of the top in her class. I don't want to sound braggy.... I don't think any of these things can be attributed to me, or anything I have done. That is just her personality, to be the best and most popular in everything she does. I am so proud of my little girl.

What am I scared of? Public School........ Satan scares me. I know the influence he has in this world... and he is starting young. I hope and pray that I have taught her to listen to the spirit. That she will know when something is not right, that she will listen to the spirit and be strong enough to change the situation. I don't know what hard lessons await her this year... not academically... but lessons of life and righteousness. I pray she will pass these with flying colors! I also pray that I will be in tune enough. In tune with the spirit, and in tune with my daughter. I hope to recognize a teaching moment, and especially recognize when it is needed.

Good Luck Miss A. I know that you will do wonderful, because you are so strong in so many ways. Take care of my precious child... for you can never be replaced. I LOVE YOU!


Next post... next change.....

Potty training.......... oh yeah.....

Since Miss A. is starting first grade there are some other big changes going on around here too. I decided that it would be a good time to get my act together. I have a plan! No really... I DO! I have a written schedule! Each day I have time allotted for specific things. I have exactly 14 more minutes of blog time... then it is off to preschool activities with Braden! Yes I scheduled myself blog time.... lame?? Maybe... but that is something I wanted time for in my day... so I wrote it into my schedule! So look for more updates more often... either on this blog or on my new craft blog.

Another big change has to do with Mr B. (Hey, Miss A. and I can't do all the changing!)

I know that when it comes to potty training opinions are as vast as the sand on the beach.... I debated blogging about potty training at all... in the end I came to this conclusion. This blog is MY journal... no one else's . I want to record this for my future referance.

Here is my disclaimer......
I RESPECT ALL other potty training opinions!! I strongly believe that all children are different, as well as each parent is different. To complicate matters even more each parent child relationship will be different! Potty training has to be INDIVIDUAL because we are all individual. All I ask is that you realize this is my personal approach to potty training Mr B. I don't ask for anyone to agree with it... and I accept that some will not agree with it. All I ask is that if you DON'T agree with it.... please keep it to yourself! lol. I don't mean that snotty at all.... sorry if it comes off that way. I just want to make it clear that I am doing things my way.. and hope for understanding in that.

Enough of the 'legal jargon'

I thought that it would be an opportune time to start Mr B. potty training! Since sis isn't around I have less to demand my attention, what a great time to focus on Mr. B. I had planned on starting today... but Mr B. decided that Saturday would mark the comencement of our potty training! So far he has done GREAT! (I am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way!!!)

The action plan-

SHOPPING! To get Mr B. excited about our new adventure together I took HIM out shopping to get our gear together!

New potty seat - $10 at Walmart

New potty chart $3.50 at Walmart

The Potty kit!
Interactive books - 50 cents each at DI
Kit bucket - $2 at Salvation Army
New undies- $7 at Wal-mart
And the SECRET WEAPON...

The SECRET WEAPON-
A suction dart gun - $5 at Walmart!

When we bought all the stuff Mr B. knew that is was for use in the bathroom only! The minute we got home he stripped off his pants and ran for the bathroom! He LOVES to sit on the toilet and shoot his gun! WHO WOULDN'T!?? Even an adult could be entertained for a while with a dart gun! He has had a BLAST shooting the darts in all directions.
His favorites -
Straight up to the ceiling where they stick and mom has to use a hair brush to hit them down.
At the shampoo bottle which knocks off the shelf into the tub
Out the hall into his room... sometimes they even stick on his far bedroom wall!

This little activity gets him to sit on the potty without me forcing him in there! The unexpected perk... while I gather the darts he has to really concentrate on putting potties in the toilet before he gets another round of fire arms.

So far...... We are on day 3 and we have had only 2 accidents!!! He even told me yesterday when he needed to POOP! HALLELUJAH! Now let's just hope that he and I can both keep our hopes up and spirits high!

The one thing I need to add to my potty kit.... a cushion for mom to sit on!!! The hard little bath stool just isn't cutting it for me!

Silly Braden

My little son never stops making me laugh. Yesterday he was complaining about an ouchie on his elbow. It was an old scab but it wasn't bleeding so I told him I was sorry and wrote it off. I guess he decided to take matters into his own hands. Next thing I knew he was coming to show me how he had taken care of it himself......

His solution???

A soaking wet thin maxi pad....... nice.

I DID IT!!!

Yes... I am crazy.... but at least I am happy being crazy RIGHT!???

I started yet another blog! Stop rolling your eyes at me will you!! lol. This time it is a craft blog! I am having SO MUCH FUN with it!!! What a blast to have a place to share my project ideas and post links to all the other fun projects I can find on the net! Check it out if you want to!

http://herhobbyaddiction.blogspot.com/

(p.s. as for my 'flying' blog... it is dead. I can't even remember my password to get back into it! lol.) But my craft blog WILL NOT die!!!! (I hope)

Uh.... yeah....

So I have about a BILLION things to blog about.... yet I sit here mostly wordless. How does that work? Well it doesn't 'work' I suppose. At any rate I am going to try and blog a bit. How about a list of what I have been doing the past month? Sounds exciting eh!??

1. Got some new medication from my Dr. for my fatigue. Turns out it is related to Attention Deficit! lol... who knew! The meds are working GREAT and I am SO HAPPY to feel awake and alert again! WOW what a difference!

2. My sister came to visit from AZ.

3. we ran around SLC for a week and had many adventures.
Organic Ice cream.... YUM... thanks kids for the help!


4. Got Marie a wicked cool hair cut and color! Then I took some 'model' pictures of her



5. Mom came for the weekend and we went swimming with my Dad and half siblings

6. Mom took Marie back to Idaho, and I stayed home to do laundry, clean up, and have Amalyssas final Kindergarten evaluation. (All in one day)

7. Went to Idaho to play with Maire AND Mom for a week! Had a TOTAL blast crafting, laughing, and eating ice cream at midnight! (not the organic ice cream.... it ended up with metal shards in it.... YIKES!)

8. Left Amalyssa in Idaho while Braden and I ran back home for 2 1/2 days to do laundry and re-pack.

9. Went up to Girls camp for the Hike. That was just WONDERFUL!


10. Left for Pocatello.... again.... To go with Scott's family to Yellowstone, Cody Wyoming, and Jackson Hole for a week.

11. stayed one more night at my moms house then brought my sister and her kid-o's back with me to Utah.

12. Got up at 3:00 am to see my sis and her fam fly out for home.

13. died...... but only for a few days..... lol

Now I am back into the swing of home life and getting ready for Amalyssa to start 1st grade!! She starts back in just over a week! YIKES! Crazy crazy...... that is year round school for ya!

Believe it or not I think I even managed to leave a few things out of that list... oops! Oh well... that is the best 'catch up' I can manage for right now. Maybe later I will have a chance to get some more pictures up of the last few weeks... cuz you know I have em!!!!