Guess what Chase said...

This is going to be short and sweet, but I have always wished that I had written down things my kids say to remember them. So... We were all doing situps and push ups the other night when the commercials came on. Chase said, "look, I can do applejacks!" He was actually doing jumping jacks. haha! He is so funny and brings lots of joy to our family.

My Baby is 9, Are You Out Of Your Mind!!

I can't believe Trey is 9! He was soooo anxious for his birthday to arrive because he wanted to trade in his DS for a DSi. I wasn't especially excited for that because I just don't see the need for a video game that he can get on the internet with, but he couldn't be swayed and had everything figured out how he was going to pay for the difference, when he was going to get it, etc.

Trey had 2 of his friends spend the night Friday and then when they left Saturday morning he was off to Game Stop with his Dad to get his DSi. I have to say, it actually is really cool and he isn't into the internet so much as the camera and the way you can morph the pictures and add bunny ears or a funny nose to the picture. He also loves the video part of it and making flip video shows. After they returned from the mall we headed north to Altoona, Pa to Slinky Action Zone. Did you know that Altoona, Pa is where the slinky was invented?? Well now you know! They have a huge indoor playground that is sort of like a huge hamster cage for kids. They loved it. We finished the day with dinner at Chilis, yum!

In honor of Treys 9th birthday, I wanted to list 9 things we love about Trey...

1. He loves the gospel and knows more than I do.
2. He is very protective of his brother and sister.
3. He gets obsessed over things and will focus on that thing and nothing else. Right now he is into Japanese Anamation called Naruto.
4. He is a great friend and at his young age, really cares about his friends and is protective of them too.
5. He is so trusting of his Mom and Dad
6. He is willing to share the gospel with his friends and family and is not embarassed.
7. He is so comfortable in his own skin, a true leader.
8. He loves to draw and is really amazing at it for a 9 year old. I will have to post some of his pictures later.
9. We love him because he is our son!

from this......


to this

Don't you wish you were here???

So at the last measure, we were at 27"!!! I don't think I have ever seen this much snow! We headed out this morning to shovel and the snow was literally up to my mid-thigh! We almost lost Chase a couple of times and we are very sore from all the shoveling.

Don measured this morning at 9:30 at it was at 21"



So the forecast is for more snow, maybe 6-11" more on Tuesday and then another snowstorm next Friday!! I am now regretting making fun of all the people at the grocery store with a cart full of toilet paper, haha. I guess I will see you all in the Summer!

Happy 5th Birthday Leah!

Leah and I have always had a love/hate relationship. In the last 6 months we have really started to mend our relationship. We were able to go to Utah for my sisters wedding this past summer, just the two of us, and to be able to spend time with her, without any distractions from my other children, was really special. I really enjoyed and had fun with her for the first time in a long time.

I felt really guilty because Chase was born so close after Leah that I unintentionally pushed her away. I needed to take care of Chase and the stress of having a newborn baby was just too much to handle. Over time it just seemed that things got worse, not better.

Eventually I realized that she was the child and I was the adult and needed to act like an adult. I have really tried to be more patient with her and all she ever wanted was attention. Positive attention.

So on this milestone 5th birthday, I want her to know how special she is to me and to our family! We love you Leah!

Potty Training 102

Just when you think you've got it down, don't be surprised if you find something like this...

Sorry, this isn't for the faint of heart! Let me explain... Chase was in his room having 'quiet time' while I was posting the last blog, I had just hit 'publish post' when I heard someone crying. I went upstairs to find Chase standing in his room with his pants down saying, "don't spank me!" All I could do was laugh at how ironic this was. So from the expert on potty training, your kids will have accidents, take it from me!

Potty Training 101

So I get alot of people asking me how to potty train, when to potty train, etc. I guess having done it 4 times doesn't really make me an expert, but I know a few tricks. So I thought I would do a post about potty training and the joys and eventually successes that will come from it.

Some things that you need to gather together before you get started:

1. A couple of months before you start, read potty training books to your kids and watch videos for potty training. Also, bring your child in with you while you use the potty and talk to them about what to do. Let them flush the potty for you to get used to the sound, so it won't scare them. (if your like me, I don't remember the last time I used the toilet without one of my children in their with me!) (I kind of have to laugh at this picture, because that VHS is so old! We bought it when Trey was being potty trained, and all my kids have watched it. The picture didn't come out too good, but it is called "Once Upon A Potty")

2. You will know when your little one is ready to be potty trained. Some of the signs are pulling on their diaper; asking you to change their diaper when they are wet; hiding somewhere when they go pooh(and getting mad when you catch them doing that!); also if they are staying dry through their naptime.

3. So what to use when potty training. I have never and don't think you should use pull-ups on your child during the day. They don't help your child 'feel' the wetness. Even the ones that say they do. They are too much like a diaper. I buy the training pants that have a thicker material through the crotch area.(I hope you know what I am talking about, I don't have a picture of them)So when they have an accident, they definitely don't like the feeling, and you don't have to worry about a puddle of pee on your floor (win-win situation!)Once you start the potty training, DO NOT put another diaper on your child! At night use the pull-up.

4. You need some sort of bribe for your child to use the potty. With Trey, I got a roll of pennies and everytime he used the potty he got to put a penny in the jar on the back of the potty. Once he was completely potty trained, we took the money(plus some of our own)and when to the store and he bought a toy of his choice. With the rest of them, candy in a jar in the bathroom seemed to work. But they only got the candy if they 'told' me they had to use the potty and then were successful on the potty. For you child, you may want to go to the Dollar Store and get a handful of cheap toys, put them in a basket on the back of the toilet and when they use it, they get to pick out a toy, or if they stay dry all day with no accidents they get to pick a toy.

5. I almost forgot...you will need a potty chair or seat for your toilet. I like to have both. In the beginning you can put your child on the potty chair in front of their favorite show and see if anything happens. Once they move on to using the toilet, transition to the potty seat that sits on top of the toilet seat.

So lets get started...You really should dedicate one whole week to this process, maybe longer. Find a week where you can just stay at home and let your child run around naked or in his training pants (less laundry to do!)

You have been watching the movies and reading the books and your child should be excited about being a 'big girl or boy' If your child has older siblings, you can enlist them in helping their sibling get excited for this new adventure.

Start with sitting your child on their potty chair while they watch their favorite episode of "Dora". If they use the potty, reward them in some way. The rest of the day, take your child to the potty every hour. I sometimes had to set a timer, because with other children in the house, I would easily get distracted and then my child would have an accident. DON'T scold your child when they have accidents. Try to stay calm, even when you are cleaning poop off the floor.

At night time, have your child use the potty before they go to bed, then put on the pull-up. If they wake up dry, reward them again. Usually by day 3, your child will be doing this...

all by themselves!
Success and happy potty training!

What else? New Years Resolutions

So we sat down on New Years Day to make some resolutions. Don and I already know what we wanted to do, lose weight!! We are planning a trip to Utah this summer and I don't want to be the fat sister anymore! We are trying the Atkins diet and this is day 4. Going good so far, I am down 5lbs and Don is down 10lbs! Why is it that men always lose faster than woman, just wondering? The first 2 weeks we can have no carbs at all and the the first day was downright lousy! We both had headaches from the lack of sugar. We both commented how we didn't realize how addicted our bodies were to sugar and carbs. Each day it is getting a little easier. After the first 2 weeks, or induction phase is over, we slowly introduce good carbs, like the ones found in fruits and vegetables.

Treys resolution is to be quieter about everything. For those of you who know Trey, you know what I am talking about. For those that don't, he is a really loud child and has to do everything loudly. If he is brushing his teeth, he is usually banging his knee against the vanity at the same time. He never just walks up the stairs, he gallops up the stairs on his hands and feet, sort of like a monkey, and really loudly. So needless to say, I was excited about his decision, but I also felt a little guilty because I know I am constantly telling him to be quiet.

Emma said that she would eat the same things that Don and I are eating to help support us. I thought that was sweet. She is also our child who will try all kinds of food, so she will be up to eating fish, steak and chicken.

My other resolution is to complete the LDS church literacy program for 2010. The first goal is to pray to my Father in Heaven twice a day. I am not good at praying in the morning. The next goal is to read the scriptures daily. And lastly, to smile more! Seems silly, but I am looking forward to peoples reactions when I am constantly smiling. This resolution is really going to help me grow spiritually closer to my Heavenly Father. And I hope in turn, will help me be a better wife, mother and friend.

School starts tommorrow and I am pretty excited to get back into a routine. I hope you all have many resolutions this year that will uplift and inspire you to be a better person! What are some of your resolutions? Also, does anyone have any food suggestions for the Atkins diet?