It's Potty Time

I know I posted back in May that we were starting the potty routine, but after a week he stalemated. We have not been into it ever since....but thanks mostly to Ms. Dele, we have been using the potty (to peepee) 5 days in a row!!! We have yet to master the pooping part, but small steps are being made. Ms. Dele takes all the boys to the potty together and has been asking Christian to try and Tuesday HE DID IT. We were so excited and decided to run with it. Of course there have been accidents (KayKay has dealt with them all so far b/c she took him to KY for the rest of the week), but he has pressed on. He even asked KayKay and Tex to pull off the interstate so he could go--progress- progress- progress!!! We are just happy that he is interested in doing it period. I know we have a long road ahead of us, but I'm happy with the progress of the moment.

P.S. We're hoping to have a crawling update soon--She is soooo close. We'll keep you posted.

My sweet husband

This is what was delivered to our door today. My sweet husband sent me flowers just because:) It made me smile. I was actually taking a nap when they were delivered and my sister got them and arranged them all pretty for me. The picture hardly does the vase justice b/c it is so beautiful...Jeff picked it out because he said he knew we didn't need another 'plain' vase. Thank you sweet husband...you made my day. Don't we all love to know we're appreciated?

Fishing for the first time

I had hoped Jeff could get on here and recount his experience with Christian, but he hasn't had the chance. We went fishing with the Braggs over Labor Day weekend. They have a pond in their neighborhood and fish there often. Ty has no fear of worms or hooks. He picks up the worms and casts his own line--Rusty puts the worms on the hook for everybody. He knew everything to do and showed Jeff and Christian. It took Andrea and Ty no time to start catching them, but it took my boys a little while to get the hang of it. I think they had a really good time and we hope they get to do it again soon. Baylor and I had fun watching--she watched until she fell asleep and I had video and regular camera out (of course) to capture the event.

Blogger won't let me put anymore pics right now...I'll have to try again later

Military Appreciation

I also have a new appreciation for all the military that are trying to protect us here and others overseas. My sister is engaged to a future military man--a cadet at the West Point Military Academy. He could be shipped anywhere after graduation--I don't want him to go somewhere that could be harmful. But I'm also thankful that there are people like him to protect our country. We need people that are willing to go wherever their country sends them to do whatever is needed.

Thank you to all the soldiers who sacrafice their lives everyday...thank you to the families that are left behind, you make just as big a sacrafice. I'm thankful and I pray for you.

Where were you?

Today is the 5 year anniversary of 9/11...where were you? I was teaching in a fourth grade class. We had a break in the morning while the kids were at P.E. I called my mom for no real reason and she asked me: "Have you heard?" I had no idea what she was talking about and she then told me about the first plane that hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. I couldn't believe it and I felt an empty spot inside...how could anyone do that? why would they do that? I got off the phone with my mom and went to the office to make sure they had heard. The secretary had a small T.V. on her desk and several people were crowded around watching the live coverage. I watched until I had to pick up the kids and then tried to go on with our day 'as usual' since the principal decided we should not tell the children. We wanted to let the parents give them the first news. Any spare second I was calling Jeff, my mom or going to the office to see the updates. I slowly learned about the Pentagon and Flight 93. I wondered if it was ever going to stop--the numbers seemed to keep growing. After school I went home and watched more coverage, held my husband and gave thanks to God for the blessings in my life. The next morning I had a long talk with my fourth graders. We talked about what they knew and how they felt. We prayed for all those that had died or been injured. I kept clippings from newspapers and made a scrapbook of the day.

Looking at live coverage today and reliving that day is surreal. Not that people haven't talked about this in the past five years, but you just get busy with everyday things. Since it did not personally impact us, we don't have close reminders. I feel for those families that have spent the last 5 years grieving for loved ones lost. They wake up and have to go through every day without that father, mother, husband, wife, etc. I pray that nothing like this ever happens again. I wish the first one had never happened. I still don't undertand the hatred for our country. Why do people dislike the USA enough to kill so many innocent people? My family is quite patriotic--it wasn't hard for us to break out the red, white and blue after 9/11. I loved to see so many americans come together for those in need. As a christian, I also loved seeing the mass return to churches after the attacks. Unfortunately none of it lasted--people began to forget what happened and did not feel the need to give thanks to God for being a survivor. I feel like all of are just that--survivors. We may not have been there but we were only saved because it was not our time. God has a time for us all--I try to remember that and live my days to enjoy what He has blessed me with.

I hope you take a moment to remember what happened and pray for those that died and their families that are left behind.

Where were you?

Day Out with Thomas

This was our second year to have a Day Out with Thomas. It was so much fun--for Christian. Nana and Papa came to share in the experience and to celebrate Papa's birthday.

There were so many fun things to do there--Christian got to meet Sir Topham Hatt, listen to stories about Thomas, got a tattoo, took a ride on Thomas and we were able to buy anything we could have ever wanted that carried the Thomas and Friends label (we of course DID NOT buy everything we could have).

We almost didn't make our train ride because we were running late--our Explorer had a very low tire and we had to quickly switch cars and we were the LAST people to board. The important thing is we made it:) Nana and Papa enjoyed watching Christian enjoy his 'special day'.

Christian Funnies

I said I had some funny conversations from Christian so here they are: In the car ride home from Atlanta, Christian says "Baylor's squishy" We laughed and said "what?" "Baylor's squishy, mommy". We asked him what he meant and he said "her arm-her arms are squishy, mommy". Poor Baylor all that baby fat has earned her a title of being squishy:)

The really funny one happened after church that Sunday as I changed Christian's diaper in the bathroom before lunch. Background: I'm a very "picky" mom-literally...if I see something in my kids eyes, nose or ears that I think I can get I try to pick at it. Christian is of course getting to the point he can fight me on it and let me know he doesn't want it done. Well I was about to change his diaper and decided to use a wipe to try and clean his nose.

Christian: "No, mommy. Don't wipe my nose"

Me: "I need to wipe your nose." I want to make sure it's clean" "We don't want any bugers in it, do we?"

Christian: "I pick it"

Me: "Mommy has told you I don't want you to pick your nose" "Please don't pick your nose"

From here on out Christian begins to have a conversation out loud with himself. I'm changing his diaper and just laughing the whole time.

Christian: "I like to pick my nose, Mommy tells me not to do it, but I pick my nose. I pick my nose in the morning. I pick my nose every morning. I like to pick it. I pick my nose in my room. I pick my nose and then I hide it"

I take a break in my laughing long enough to ask "Where?"

Christian: "In my room."

Me: "Where in your room?"

Christian: "I pick my nose and I hide it in my room."

I never did get a straight answer as to where he "hides" what comes out of his nose. By the time we came out of the bathroom I was crying from laughing so much. I had Christian retell the story to Jeff and he asked the same question: "Where?" and got the same answer: "in my room." Who knows where this 3 year old has decided is a good hiding place. That night when we got home I looked and found one buger"hiding" on the wall, but I don't know where else he "hides" them. We thought maybe on the bottom side of the top bunk, but did not find anything there--yet.....The things little boys do?!?!?