Everybody Out Of The Pool

I'm going to put this disclaimer up front. This post is about p00p. I really try to stay away from this topic on the blog but today I am making an exception. So if you are not into hearing about or reading about p00p, please move on to another website at this time.

Potty training is just one of those things that every parent has to address at some point. Whether they do it at age 2, 3 or sometimes even 4 depends on the parent and the child. We trained Fletcher at about 2 1/2. He was pretty easy because he is very predictable. P00ped every morning after breakfast. I could count on it. Plus he really liked to be read to so we could bring a stack of library books into the bathroom and read while he took care of business (try not to think about that the next time you check out library books).

I'm not sure what to do about Luke. On the one hand he seems young but he is actually the same age as Fletcher was when we trained him. He also goes to preschool and several of the kids in his class are either already trained or currently training so there's some positive peer pressure. But I worry it might be a little early. However, as kids gets closer to 3, they seem to develop minds of their own and can be a little more stubborn when it comes to the potty. We've been talking about Potty Day when we will say "Bye bye diapers" and "Hello big boy underpants". We've also talked about getting M&Ms for going to the potty. So he know it's coming.

Wednesday just Luke and I were home after lunch. He acted like he was about to p00p so I said, "Are you getting that feeling in your bottom? Let's go sit on the potty." He willingly went so I grabbed a stack of books and we started reading. We put his little potty in the hallway because their bathroom is somewhat small. Well, it took about 4 books, but he took care of both items of business. He either didn't realize it or wasn't sure what to do because he continued to sit. So I said, "Let's look in the potty."

Remember this post?

Yeah.

Not quite the same reaction but very close. He said, "That scaring me" while I am trying be all upbeat and positive saying, "Good job, buddy. High five. You p00ped in the potty! Now you get M&M's." We had to take the removeable bowl and bring it to the bathroom to flush it and then wash hands. He kept saying, "What that brown thing? I don't like that brown thing. That brown thing is scaring me." (I warned you not to read this.....) While I am glad he is displaying his knowlege of colors, I was surprised he was scared and not excited. So I'm trying to clean everything up, get his pants back on , explain what the brown thing was all while trying to be excited. And I couldn't help but think of the pool scene in Caddyshack.

He had his M&Ms and we called Dad at work. Of course, he kept talking about the brown thing and I think Kevin was in a meeting (oops). Let's just hope no one else could hear the conversation.

I'm thinking we are going to have to get rid of the little potty and go directly to the big toilet so the brown thing can be flushed immediately.

The verdict is still out as to whether we might do potty training over spring break (the week after Easter) or wait a few more months at the end of May after preschool is over. If I wait, then he doesn't have the benefit of seeing other kids do it and "practicing" with them. If we do it now and he catches on then we can be done and not have to worry about it this summer. He has to be trained by the time he starts preschool next fall. They don't let kids in the 3 yr old class if they aren't trained.

Decisions, decisions.

C'mon Get Happy

We are the proud new owners of this:

I use the term "we" very, very loosely.


Perhaps we could become the 21 century version of The Partridge Family with Luke on vocals, Uncle David on ukulele and well... you get the picture.

Irrational

Almost everyone I know has at least one irrational fear.

When we lived in Florida our neighborhood streets had these weird open gutters along the edge of the curb ever so often. I would not let Fletcher walk near them when we went out for family walks around the neighborhood because I was afraid he might slip and fall into them. Then we'd have our own version of baby Jessica (remember her?). I'm not even sure he could have fallen into them, but they looked HUGE to this first time mom and my 2 year old looked so small.

I also don't like to go into banks or convenience stores because I am afraid they will be held up while I am in there. I know. Remember the title of this post. I don't think I could ever work in a bank. If my banking can't be done online or in the drive thru, I'd rather skip it. Or just have Kevin do it.

Enough about me.

But we have a wee bit of a problem.

This has happened twice so far. (The first time I wasn't home so Kevin just told me about it. The second time was almost an identical incident.)

Bathtime at our house is mainly Kevin's responsibility. Always has been because I'm usually cleaning up the kitchen from dinner.

Kevin got all of Luke's clothes and socks off an put him in the tub. Luke starts freaking out. Crying. Screaming. Trying to climb out of the tub.

Is the water too hot? No.

Did he get soap in his eyes? No.

Kevin asks him what is wrong and he points to the water.

Let me insert some background info here: When we were in Louisiana I bought Luke some new socks. He normally wears plain old white athletic socks. These new ones were colorful with big machines on them. Dump trucks, cement trucks, excavators, etc. He loves them.

Some colored fuzz from his feet from the socks is floating in the water.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Fuzz.

Harmless fuzz.

But Luke says, "It scaring me."

Kevin drains the bathtub entirely. Ridiculous? Maybe. But don't judge unless you've been in a very small room with a hysterical two year old. And I don't mean hysterical in a funny way.

He just keeps crying and saying, "Fuzz, fuzz." It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Have I mentioned that it is absolutely impossible to reason with a two year old?

There is a small black spot on the bottom of our tub in the boys' bathroom. It is just a spot where the paint has chipped off. It is most definitely not fuzz.

Luke thinks it is fuzz. Both mom and dad can't convince him it is not fuzz.

More screaming and crying.

He adamantly refuses to get into the tub.

Kevin drains the tub again. He is such a good dad. I can only imagine what our water bill will look like if this keeps up.

Instead Kevin gives him a "shower bath" with no water at all in the tub. Luke is standing slightly shivering because he won't sit down. Just an occasional cup full of water straight out of the faucet to rinse the soap off.

I dry him off and put his pjs on.

He tells me, "I not wike fuzz."

Thank goodness sandal season is almost here.

So what about you? What is your irrational fear?

Let The Games Begin

I really love Fletcher's kindergarten teacher and his little class. They have had such an incredible year. They are going "around the world" studying various countries and Fletcher has learned so much about the world God has made.

Last week they studied Scotland. Kevin was excited to explain to Fletcher that our last name is Scottish. They looked up our family (clan) crest and our family plaid.

At school the kids had The Scottish Highland games including the hammer throw. Did I mention how very brave these two kindergarten teachers are to even think of having something called a "hammer throw" with 5 and 6 year old boys?

Here are some pictures from their fun day. Fletcher said he won the ball toss.

This is Mr. D (Fletcher's teacher's husband). He is starting the games with the Caber toss. At least, I think that is what it's called. Don't the kids look so cute in their kilts?

This is the ball throw. Look at the concentration on those faces.

Posing for the camera. There are no photos of the hammer toss for obvious reasons. I think the big blue circle was for something similar to a discus toss.

Showing off their muscles. And apparently Fletcher is showing off his Billy Idol Rebel Yell. Maybe he got a little confused and thought they were studying England.

Say You, Say Me

I love a good deal. I don't like to pay full price for anything if I can help it. In the fall and in the spring several churches in our area hold these mega consignment sales. I didn't really understand all of the hype until I went to one last fall. Lots of stuff. Usually great prices. I went to one a few weeks ago and these are some of my bargains (and the stories that go with them).

This is a Pottery Barn Kids touch on lamp with lampshade. PBK no longer sells this one, but a similar model costs $69 for the touch base and $30 for the lampshade. I was nervous about buying it because it didn't have a light bulb in it for me to test it to see if it worked. But then I thought, "Who would put a broken lamp in a church consignment sale??"

I bought this one for $10. It currently resides in Fletcher's room, but will most likely end up in Luke's room since he has some PBK bedding that matches the lamp.

This backpack and lunchbox are also PBK. They looked like they had barely been used. I washed them and they look brand new. A similar backpack on their website is $29- 39 and the matching lunchbox is $19.

I bought this set for $8 for Luke to take to preschool.

At the last sale I bought Fletcher a raincoat. This time I found Luke a raincoat with all kinds of big machines that he loves. The fabric is more like a waterproof coated cotton instead of vinyl. It was $3.

This little purchase is going to need some TLC. Can you guess what it is? I've been looking for a bookshelf for the kids books that held books at an angle so they wouldn't fall out or over or off the shelf. The only one I could find was $85. I asked Kevin and my brother-in-law if they could make one but they said it would be difficult. So when I spotted this at the sale I had a feeling that most people would not realize what it was and with a little TLC and paint and wood glue, we'd have a cool new bookshelf.

Here it is with books on it so you get a better idea. It was only $8 and it is solid wood!

The last purchase just makes me smile. I don't own an ipod. Kevin has one. I think they are cool, but I just haven't been able to justify purchasing one. I occasionally download songs on itunes and make a cd for the car. So when I saw this box that said "Digital Player", I threw it into my basket. (Blogger is being difficult and I can't get these pictures to rotate correctly).

It was only $3 so I figured it might be a fun toy for the boys or a cool mp3 player for me. I got it home and opened the box. This is how small it is. Yes, that's a post it note and a quarter on each side. But it gets better. I continued to unpack the box with the headphones, USB cable, and charger. I opened the manual for the directions. And....all the directions were in Chinese (or maybe Japanese). See above picture. I laughed outloud. No wonder it was only $3 and looked like it had never been used. I was determined to figure it out anyway. The player already had a few songs loaded on to it. You guessed it. Two or three were in Chinese (or possibly Japanese) and the only English song was "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Ritchie. That took me back to high school prom...

You will be happy to know that I did not learn Chinese (or Japanese) but I did figure it all out and even found some free mp3 downloads of kids songs so our 1 GB mp3 player now has some songs for our listening enjoyment. Now to find more free Lionel Ritchie songs.

Visualize Whirled Peas

I've mentioned the Seeds Family Worship cds on this blog before. We have several in the car and lately our music boy (Luke) has been asking me, "What dis song sing?" In other words, "What is this song singing about?" I try as best as I can to explain them to him.

There a song called "Take Heart" which is John 16:33 set to music. The verse says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

You can probably guess where this is headed, right?

Luke: Mommy, they are singing about peas.
Mom: Well, Luke they are actually singing about peace (emphasizing the word). The peace that Jesus gives us because he is bigger than our problems.
Luke: No, it peas!!! (emphatically)
Mom: (silence - I've learned to pick my battles).
Luke: (singing from the backseat) You may have peas, you may have peas.

You can hear the entire song if you go here http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/media_listen.php
Then click on the drop down arrow and choose Power of Encouragement then track #4 Take Heart.
It won't let me link to the song directly.

Every Family Has "That" Uncle

Meet ours.
Where to begin?

The Star Trek Shirt?

The foo man chu moustache? Or is it Foo Manchu?

The ukulele?

Or the fact that both of my children are sitting front and center waiting for the concert to begin?

Not the greatest video. That girl will just NOT stop singing, talking and generally ruining every video I take. I need to find a mute button for her!

Happy Birthday, Uncle David! We love you!