Potty Training Update and According to O&O

Day 6 = Accident Free!  I was so excited to hear they had a great partial day at school today and were completely accident free.  We had a great afternoon and evening.  Their faces still light up each time they go.  They are very proud (and so are we!)!

Now onto some funny things they've said recently:

Olivia has been introducing me:
"This is my Mommy, Windsay". "I am my Mommy's Olivia".  (We met another Olivia recently, so she has been clarifying)

Owen in bed at night:
"I need my present car with my present people" (He's referring to this car, which was a Christmas gift from Uncle Justin.  But, he refers to all Christmas presents this way)

Olivia at bedtime:
"I need to say about my day" (I started asking about her day before prayers.  It gets her calmed down, and then she can attempt to focus on prayers. Usually followed by "I went to school.  I played with Tyler!")

And a few random pictures:

Drum Sharing

Full fireman gear for his favorite fire truck

Is Owen a hoarder?  Should I call the show?  He usually picks up his cars and puts them back in his green basket.  Apparently, too tired to clean up at this nap. 

All of the kids were cranky at family dinner this weekend, so Papa came to the rescue.  While the remaining adults ate, he watched shows on the ipad with all 4 kids. 

Potty Training Day #1

We planned weeks in advance to start potty training today; mostly out of convenience.  Justin and I both had a time off work and with all of the kid's new toys, it's not a bad time to stay home for a few days.  Plus, we (and their teachers) thought they were ready.  Here's how our method goes:

• Stay Home
• Remind them 100,000 times to "Tell Mommy and Daddy if you need to go potty"

That's about it.

Of course it started off with accidents.  Well, actually it started off with no one going potty at all.  We were practically begging them to get the party started.

Our goal was to leave m&m's out of the picture, but that changed, and now we'll probably have to feed them m&m's every time they go until they are adults.  

But, neither Owen nor Olivia had an accident since before lunch!  Both took great naps and woke up dry.  They both cried when we rushed them to the bathroom, I think we scared them with our excitement!  But they had successes about 30 minutes later. 

I'm sure tomorrow will be a completely different day.  I hope we can stay positive and keep the momentum going!

I will refrain from very many underwear pictures, but we need at least a couple....

Coloring the cardboard train 

Singing her favorite Fresh Beat song "Cheer"

Christmas Recap 2012

We started in McPherson last weekend.  We missed the Manners family - they all have RSV!

Now, in case you didn't want to watch Justin's video he posted this morning, here are a few select photos...

Playing a duet with her Daddy

I was horrible about taking pictures from Kokoruda Christmas.  We got together last night and the 4 kids quickly determined present opening would be first.  It was craziness for about 20 minutes; when my kids started whining that they wanted more presents.  Awesome.  And Greedy.  But really, they were thrilled with all of their new toys!  I'll come back and add pictures when I get a few from Kelsey. 

Christmasgedon

Merry Christmas

Polar Express 2012

Tonight was our annual Polar Express reading at Mimi and Papa's House.  I cannot believe it is already Christmas again!  And sorry for all of the blog posts in one night.  I'm catching up after I had a week of bronchitis and sinus infections!

Climbing on Daddy

Group Picture.  3 out of 4 kids - not bad, right?

After Lola wouldn't participate in picture time, Papa Russ got her calmed down with the iPad.  Always a favorite of all the kids!

Owen teaching Hudson about cars

Olivia playing with the playhouse that was mine at her age!

Owen and Olivia actually sat still through the entire story

Snow!

We had maybe 2 inches of snow on Thursday morning, but after school, Owen and Olivia couldn't get outside fast enough. 

Union Station at Christmas (x 2)

We made two visits to Union Station in December, once with the Manners and once with the Kokorudas. 

Elle cuddled with me :)

Mickey was the only one to ride the train!

On our second visit, we got to see the Christmas Train!  We saw Santa and Mrs. Claus, and then toured the Holiday Express train.  I must have a bunch of these pics on the other camera, so this will have to do for now. 

God Watch Over S M East!

I grew up a Lancer.  Well, I was only a small child, and I didn't actually attend high school there, but I will always have a connection to Shawnee Mission East.  Tonight was a reunion for the basketball program at East and my entire family attended in support of my Dad, who coached there for about 8 years.  What an amazing evening!  To see former players and coaches all gathered around old team pictures; joking about those short shorts they wore in the 80's.  It was awesome! 

Olivia is serious about watching the game

But during timeouts, she's serious about her drumming.

My goal after seeing this pic: find a picture of our family from the same gym back in the '80s.  

The best attempt at a picture with all 4 grandkids!

My Dad and former players

'Tis the Season

Christmas is going to be so much fun this year!  It has already started around here! 

2 new events in our household:

1.  I joined instagram.  So I apologize in advance if I overuse in the coming days

2.  Our elf on the shelf arrived!  This is the first year of our elf (who has yet to be named), but we are having fun so far. 

First Hot Chocolate!  

We took a walk to the mailbox and needed to warm up.  Owen loved loved loved it.  Olivia was much less interested. 

O&O are very excited about Santa.  We have never gone to visit him, but they have seen pictures of Lola from last year.  They ask every morning to go sit on Santa's lap.  And then Owen reminds me that he would like 2 fire trucks (a pumper truck and a ladder truck).  And that Olivia would like a fire truck too.  She says "No Owen!  I don't like a fire truck.  I want dress up". 

This time of year is just magical with these two cuties!

Thanksgiving 2012

We road-tripped to Parsons and McPherson for a couple of fun, family-filled days! 
 

Owen learned to play baseball!

The best attempt to get 4 cousins together

Visit to the Farm

Video to come eventually!

Sharing.  And Owen dictating which direction to go.

Other than some difficulty at bedtime, O&O did pretty well on our little adventure.  Now as soon as they sleep in real beds, it will be even easier! 

Photobombed

Last minute family photo shoot today.  And this is pretty much how it went....

Justin and I trying to get everyone to sit and smile and instead we got an Owen photo bomb!

Preschool Thanksgiving

Justin and I both attended Thanksgiving at daycare today.  Feeding 10 2-year-olds, plus their parents, in under 30 minutes was just crazy.  But so much fun to spend time with all of their friends, parents and teachers!

I feel horrible for the staff that had to deal with the 10 meltdowns that occurred when it was time for all of the parents to leave after lunch, right before nap time.  Hope they survive the rest of the day! 

Still 3 more Thanksgivings to go.  I'm glad we are spreading them out over a few weeks this year!