Suckers For Breakfast

WARNING: THIS POST IS ABOUT THE POTTY!!

I'm back from yet another blogging sabbatical. We lost the card reader for our computer and could not upload any pictures for a few weeks. Now I'll soon be updating the last month worth of posts including Owen's birthday and t-ball. Today, however, I could not wait to blog about. And yes, it's a potty post.

Our boys crawl in bed with us every morning to watch cartoons. Owen would lay and watch TV for most of the morning if I'd let him. Sam can't wait to starting running for the day. So when he wanted to crawl out of bed a few minutes after Brad left for work, I thought the little guy was ready for breakfast already and tried to make him cuddle with me for just a few more minutes until I could pry my eyes open for the day. Much to my surprise, he said "Mommy I go poopies in the potty!" I jumped out of bed and put him on the toilet and sure enough he went! Yea for me! He has been interested in the potty, more for recreation than business, for a few weeks now. He'll pee every time I put him on the potty and will sometimes hold it long enough to come and get me to take him to the bathroom. This morning he overcame his fear of handling the "other business" on the potty. I'm not sure that I'll be focusing on the whole potty training adventure with him for a few more months. He just turned two in March and I don't think he's ready to make this a full time endeavor just yet.

After the victory dance was done, we marched to the kitchen for a potty treat. He looked and me with one of the happiest looks I've ever seen on his sweet face and said, "Suckers for brefast?" The happy face didn't last long. Once the sucker was gone, I tried to clean up the sticky mess and that same sweet face growled at me and said, "Let me go you dinosaur!"

Sam has begun the road to diaper independence and I have hope for a diaperless future. I pray that the novelty doesn't wear off before we are successfully in big boy unders.

Lehi's Other Journey

When Owen got in the car today after church he promptly pulled out a picture he had colored in primary and began to tell us what he learned today. It went something like this:


Owen: Did you know that Lehi and his family left Jerusalem because it was going to be destroyed?


Us: Yes we did Owen. Then what happened?


Owen: They went to Hawaii.

Blog Issues

My blog has been having some issues, other than my lack of posting. Apparently some of our friends and family have been unable to log into it to see how amazingly out of date it is. So for a few days, I have made it public again. I'm just hoping we aren't contacted by any of Brad's online customers! I've made our blog private and have made phone number unlisted and have not had anyone contact us at home for a few months. Needless to say, it will be going private again so if you'd like an invite please leave your e-mail address in my comments....again. :)

Out Like a Lion....

As I have yet again slacked on my blog posts, I'll catch up with a "the month of March in a minute" post.

We celebrated St. Patricks Day with more green food coloring than Sam's little digestive track could appropriately handle. The "silly caun-cauns" managed to color everything from the milk to the bath water to the digestive by-products of my kids extremely green. (An entire container of food coloring was used for the occasion. )

Owen had his first soccer game of the season. Brad was the substitute coach and started snowing at about half time. I'm happy to say that the last two games have been cancelled so we haven't had to play in the snow again...yet.

Owen's game face

Owen's team picture since we were at the Instacare for the real one.

L to R: Walker, Mason, Owen, and Jacob. Anthony was missing that day.

"Everyone point to our goal!"

We visited the fire station with Owen's preschool class. Owen loved it. Sam, however, was having an "off day." I thought he would love it but he decided he loved his blanket and nap time even more. Sam is doing two with style!

I forgot that soccer was cancelled the week of Spring break and had promised Owen that we'd go to his favorite restaurant, other than McDonald's, which is Applebee's for dinner after the big game. When we went to the field and we were the only ones there, we went to Applebee's anyway!

Other than the previous post, our March was filled with preschool, errands, cleaning, yard work, a new church calling as the ward compassionate service leader, starting on our un finished basement, both Brad's and my mom having surgery and pretty much chaos in general. Brad's mom had a revision on her the new replacement she had done several years ago and my mom had three ruptured discs in her neck fused. Both mom's are doing well and are getting back on their feet. On a happier note, my brother Ryan and his wife Malerie found out they will be adding a little boy to their family in July. I think I've covered everything from March. Now on to April!

Sam Turns Two...The Belated Birthday Post!

I'm aware that I'm an exceptionally inconsistent blogger. When I get behind at all, I feel overwhelmed with what I haven't blogged about which keeps me from blogging even longer. I made a resolution that I'd keep up on it as, like 95% of blogging mommies, my faltering attempt at keeping a journal. So here's to smashed New Years' resolutions! (I haven't been exercising regularly or going to bed earlier either it you really want to know.)

Sam is actually 2 years and 1 month old now. Our little man celebrated his second year of life on March 1. We try to have some sort of family outing to celebrate each birthday in our house. Sam loves airplanes so we took the kiddos to the Hill AFB Museum. Brad has wanted to take our boys there pretty much since the ultrasound tech told us we were having a boy and it did not disappoint. The boys loved it, the biggest boy included.

Sam woke up Sunday morning knowing it was his day. Owen fulfilled his brotherly duties by opening the presents while Sam was busy playing with whatever he'd already opened. Little Sam sang "Happy to! Happy to! Happy to Sam!" all day giving his sentimental mommy something I will remember about his birthday for the rest of my days.

That night we had a spaghetti dinner with the grandparents and had the rest of the family over for cake and ice cream. I made a sad attempt at kids' party games which Owen loved so it counts right? Pin Thomas on the train track turned into Sam wearing Thomas on his shirt for the rest of the night. The fish pond over the kitchen counter was not very exciting either as the only kids under the age of 4 in attendance were my own and my niece Hadlee who is not yet two. It was worth a try! I'll have to figure out some "cool" kid games for Owen's birthday in May. Suggestions are welcomed. :)

So here are a few things I love about Sam:

• When Sam is happy, he is happy from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He has a light about him that is contagious. As long as his basic needs are met (food, sleep, his blanket, he's healthy, more food) he's a pretty happy kid. However, the top of his head to the tips of his toes state also applies for his more indignant moments also!
• Sam has a mischievous little laugh that cracks me up even when he's doing something naughty.
• Curious only begins to describe our little guy. Every day is a new adventure. He loves to dismantle things just to see how they work and is in to EVERYTHING! He can tear up a room in two minutes flat!
• Sam has no fear. When he was younger he was much more timid but now he's a regular Evel Knievel! He makes friends in the most random places and flirts with pretty much anyone in the grocery check out line.
• Sam is very much in his own little world and we all get to live in it. He loves to explore. One of my favorite things as his mom is to sit back and watch him discover the little things of life. Everything is new and exciting to him, even things he's already experienced before. Every time he sees an airplane or a puppy you would think it's the first time he's seen one!
• Sam is so independent! He has to do things for himself and gets very frustrated by his little body's limitations.
• When he is angry with me, he growls at me. Like a dinosaur. It's really hard not to laugh at that!
• Sam is a blanket boy. He hauls his "my baby" all over the house. Whenever he gets hurt or is sad he comes to me saying "Momma I hold you." Once I pick him up, he wants his "my baby." I guess when I wrap him up in the blanket I say "I'll hold you my baby," and it has stuck. I know that as he grows this will be one of the things from his baby days that I'll miss the most.
• Sam really knows how to have fun. He's the life of the party and thinks he is the funniest kid around. He laughs at himself all of the time and makes us laugh in the process.
• Sam has been learning to pray by himself. In every prayer, he prays for food, the blankie, "jump" and "runnin"and usually food again. I think it is what he's the most grateful for!
• Sam loves dogs. He pretends to be a puppy for at least half of the day.
• Sam loves his brother. When Owen is in trouble, Sam sits in time out with him. When Owen cries, Sam cries too. At night, I hear them talking and laughing together before they fall asleep. He's Owen's little shadow and his best buddy.
• Sam is a huge daddy's boy. All day he looks for Brad asking if "Daddy's workin?" He is the first one to the stairs when he hears Brad's car pull up. Sam looks just like Brad did as a little guy.
• In the morning Sam crawls into bed with Brad and I and says "Daddy. Hi. Momma. Hi." every single day without fail. The day hasn't begun without the 6:00 a.m. greeting from Sam.
• Sam carries around a Lego Star Wars clone trooper pretty much all of the time. It's his "guys."
• Sam's favorite foods are bananas, apples, pasta in any form, pizza which he calls "choppies," cheese, soy milk, and fruit snacks.
• Sam is very coordinated. He can climb, jump, and run with the big kids and hold his own. He runs from the time he wakes up until he runs to his bed at night. He throws a ball like he was born to do it.
• Sam is one of the most determined kids I have ever met. He wants to do things his way when he's good and ready to do them. He will try and try something new until he gets it. He doesn't give up easily. (You can imagine the power struggles that go on around here!) I am excited to see what this little guy will accomplish in his life and what he will be driven to do by his will and determination alone.
• Our life wouldn't be the same without our Sam. I could go on and on about him (I kind-of just did :) He is a joy to be around. He has taught me so much in his two years in our family and I am so grateful to be his mommy. He has really helped me to let my hair down and live in the moment. The world is a better place with Sam in it. We love you Sammer! Happy Birthday!

Reverence Begins With Me...Or At Least It Usually Does

Sunday morning we attended my cousin Suzie's baby's blessing in Alpine bright and early at 9:00 which happened to be the morning after daylight savings. In our rush to make it on time, I fed my kids dry cereal and sippys of chocolate milk in the car on the way. They happily chugged them and asked for more. We rushed in to the building just as the meeting was starting with Sam tanking yet another sippy of milk. (Whatever it takes to make it through the meeting. You want to drink a gallon of chocolate milk Sam? Sure! Just be quiet and don't puke.) As the opening pray was said, Sam let out a belch that reverberated off the walls. A belch that would put a seasoned trucker to shame. Brad and I were trying be reverent and not laugh while Owen was cracked up as he always does in the presence of bodily functions. We are just smiling and hoping that no one realized that the "little slip" came from our child when Owen leaned over and said, "Man that was so much funnier than any of my jokes!" It was over for me. I had tears rolling down my cheeks and my face in my hands trying to regain self control in silence. How do you tell a four year old that that was "not funny" and stop laughing when I couldn't pull it together enough to get a single word out. Again I say, ah little boys...

By the way, Sam turned two last Sunday. Pictures to follow soon!

I Spoke Too Soon....

Two weeks ago while talking to a friend about all the illness that seems to be going around, I mentioned that my little family has managed to make it through this winter pretty much unscathed. Did that statement ever come back to bite me! Within a few days Sam developed what I refer to as chronic crankiness with a little runny nose and cough. He wasn't sleeping well but I attributed it to the fact that he's teething and Brad happened to be out of town which usually throws the kids off a little. Then last Monday morning, we woke to the sound of Owen barking like a seal. Yeah for croup! (Insert sarcasm here.) By mid-morning Monday, Sam started running a fever that continued through Tuesday as well. Since both kids were under the weather, I asked my mom to ride with me to pick up the dog who was at the groomer's so I wouldn't have to take them inside with me. When she heard Sam's now not so little cough, I heard the not-interfering-but-if-I-were-you words from my mom; "That doesn't sound good. Why don't we run to the KidsCare and I'll stay in the car with Owen and the dog." Brad had to work late so off we went. After an hour wait in the lobby, I had the pleasure of holding my two year old with a 101.5 fever while he's in backboard sort of contraption for chest x-rays. Miserable. I hate that look in their eyes when they have to be put through thing like that. The "I know you can do something about this but you're just standing there telling me I'm okay" look. The doctor came back with lovely news. My little Sammy has pneumonia. All the while my poor mom is waiting in the car with croupy Owen and a dog who as been pent up in a kennel at the groomers' all day. I think good ol' mom deserves a metal for that one.

By Tuesday morning, Owen's croupy cough had gone to his chest and it was back to the pediatrician's office for us. Owen now has bronchitis and border-line pneumonia as well. We're officially sequestered from the outside world which doesn't seem so bad considering my next door neighbor has RSV and a few other kids in the neighborhood have the stomach flu. I'll gladly stay home and let my little guys recuperate!

I have made a few discoveries this week on a more positive note. My favorite of which is the Vick's Vaporub on the feet trick to help stop a bad cough at night. One of the nights last week, Owen was coughing so hard he was waking up screaming and altogether too near the puking point. We were doing everything we knew to do. Humidifier. Elevated bed. Vick's on his chest. Lemon-honey drink. Nothing worked. We started looking online and saw hundreds of posts saying to put Vick's on their feet, then socks and they'll settle down to a coughless sleep in just minutes. The first night, this wasn't the case. Owen was MAD about how hot his feet felt and proceeded to vocalize feelings all night long. The next night, we had nothing to lose (but more sleep) so we tried again. WORKED LIKE A CHARM! Owen fell asleep within ten minutes or so and slept through the entire night. Hallelujah!

Another little discovery. When Sam doesn't feel well, he doesn't take the time to tell me what is wrong. He walks around the house and hits things instead. The cabinets, the walls, the dog, me. It's then my duty to figure out what the *@#& is wrong and make it right. Quickly. Good for me to keep in mind for next time he's really sick. (Please don't let there be a next time...At least not for a long while.)

Next little discovery. When you have seen Space Buddies at least three times in one day it becomes completely mind numbing. I knew I was in trouble when I started wondering how Charlie would do in space....



Our assummed position for the past week and next few days. I'm not even going to think that this will be to last of it for the year or that they're on the mend. I'm feeling a little suppersistious these days and am not about to jinx it again.

Love Day

I have never been a huge Valentine's Day enthusiast. I have fond memories of heart shaped pancakes and pink milk from my childhood and loved decorating my Valentine mailbox for school. As I have gotten older, I would rather spend my Valentine's night quietly at home with my sweetheart. Something about sitting in a crowded restaurant with 500 other lovebirds waiting for hours for a table just doesn't have that romantic appeal for me. However, this year Brad and I ventured out to lunch. Brad was in California last week for an eBay meeting and it was nice to spend little kid-free time together. (For the record, lunch was the way to go! There were only a few other people in the restaurant with us.)

Since our little guys have come into our life, Valentine's Day feels like it did when I was a kid once again. I love to see Owen write his name on all of his Valentine's for his buddies. I love to make them a special breakfast and give them our traditional Valentine's book and treat. I love to see both boys excitement throughout the day each and every time the door bell rings. I really (really) love the sugar cookies we make for our families. I love to have dinner with our little family. Owen and Sam love to help me bake. While Sam was napping, Owen helped me roll out the cookies.

I think this year I received my favorite Valentine ever. I always love the flowers and little sweet things from Brad but this year in addition to that Brad helped the boys make me a homemade card in which Owen wrote "I love you Mom. Love Sam and Owen."

A little brotherly love at the breakfast table.

Valentine's from Grandma that are bigger than they are!

The day ended up being just a fun family day with a little extra candy involved.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spreading the Gospel...Criminal Style

Last night, we went to Dee's in Bountiful with my parents for a little hot fudge sundae. After loading our kids up with their sugary goodness, we headed back to our car. We got our kids all buckled in. I went to get in myself and heard Brad saying "Someone smashed the window!" Our passenger side window was shattered leaving glass everywhere and our diaper bag was gone. Might I add that it was our SUNDAY diaper bag. The only thing the jerk took home on this particular theft was a bag full of the following:

1 Book of Mormon Reader

1 I Am A Child of God picture book

2 Feel and Learn Animal books

3 coloring books

1 set of crayons

A few Matchbox cars

1 bag of crumbled fruit loops

1 dirty sippy cup

A few stray fruit snacks that we picked up off the floor after sacrament meeting

Serves them right! :) They didn't stick around long enough to find the cash I keep in the center consul or the i-Pod in the glove box. Just a bag full of stories about Jesus. I believe that is referred to as "bad karma!"

This morning our window is fixed and I'm loading up a new bag for church which I won't be leaving in the car again anytime soon.

Happy Birthday Grandma Cindy Price!

Monday was my Mom's birthday. That's right she's a groundhog. If you're wondering, she stuck her head outside the front door that morning and concluded that Punxsutawney Phil is a big liar. She says that she's done with winter and spring is on it's way. Just so you know.

I have a great Mom. I never realized how great she is until I had kids of my own. My siblings and I had great childhoods. We spent every summer camping and boating. Now I realize how much work that was. She is a great cook. That's not an easy feat with four kids waiting for dinner. She always planned fun things for us to do and encouraged us to try new things even if it required additional sacrifice on her part. We were always doing something or headed somewhere and I now realize how tired that makes a mom and really appreciate the experiences. She taught us to "say it like it is" and that it's okay to laugh at ourselves. We had a happy home to grow up in. As an adult, she's my best girl friend. I truly cherish the time we spend together. She plays on the floor with my kids and when they are with her, they feel like they're on an adventure. We have a lot of fun together. We laugh. We vent. We talk about anything and everything. She's always there for us. I don't know what I'd do without her.

We love you Mom!

Happy Birthday!!