Potty Scotty anyone?

I have been looking into the program "Potty Training in One Day." Does anyone know about this? I've heard quite a few things about it, and all good. Normally I wouldn't entertain the thought of potty training in one day, but since Kendall is home and could take the girls, I would have the opportunity to try it out with Talmage. Unfortunately I don't have an extra $50 right now to spend on buying the package. I found that the library has the book, but I don't have the Potty Scotty doll. So I thought I'd check and see if any of you have done this and either have the doll, or if you think it could be done without the doll. Any suggestions? I'd even be willing to buy it off someone if they are done with it and don't want it anymore. I just don't have lots of spare change right now. I don't know how wide spread they are, but I thought it was worth a shot!

Building Lasting Relationships

Kendall and I have discussed "our family" many times and tried to crack the mysteries of exactly how to have a tight-knit family forever. We have decided that one of the biggest factors (aside from staying close to the Lord) lies in the time that you spend with your kids. We feel that not only quality time is important, but also the quantity. And I've never thought this more than now. After having Kendall home for 2 weeks Avri has become an entirely different little girl. In the past couple of months she has been going through a mean phase with him. She is grumpy whenever he has been around, she makes mean faces at him and is just nasty. Well, in the last two weeks they have become very good friends again. I leave the kids home now to do my visiting teaching or any number of other errands and when I get home Avri and Kendall are laughing and playing. Kendall really isn't doing anything differently, it is just the way that Avri views him, I guess. And the amount of time that they are able to spend together. But I'm really considering myself lucky that the timing was so perfect for his layoff. Mercedes has always loved her Daddy, but now she only wants him when he is in the room. They have both really gotten attached to him and it makes my heart go all soft to see it. I feel like I have been able to talk to Kendall so much more and really catch up with him on our lives. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Maybe he knew that this would be a great opportunity for us.
Here is my funny little family. The morning routine is a bit more laid back lately. Avri gets into the crib with Mercedes every morning and plays with her. This particular morning she also "helped" Talmage get in. I'm glad I wasn't around to see how that played out. Don't you love the bed-head look?

Out of the mouths of Babes

Talmage is at that age where you get a little nervous about what they are saying while they are in nursery, or at the grocery store, or anywhere but the comfort of your own home. These are a couple of the latest funny sayings.

I frequently tell him to sit flat on his bumm. Guess that is the teacher in me coming out. Well, his interpretation comes out sounding like this: "Sit on your fat bottom." I can just imagine him saying that to his nursery teacher.

This is a conversation we had the other day.
T: Mommy, you are a girl?
M: Yes, I'm a girl. And what are you?
T: I am a boy.
M: What is Daddy?
T: A boy
M: How about Avri?
T: She is a girl.
M: What is Sadie?
T: Ummm...a lady bug?

Maybe it is time to change her nickname. We've had a really hard time convincing him that she is actually a girl and not a small bug with black spots.

Now Looking

This week has been rough. I've had some family issues going on that kind of turned my life upside down. That started on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday eServ laid off almost everyone in the office. So Kendall is now looking for a new job as we are unemployed. We will be okay for a while. Kendall got severance pay for roughly the next 3 months. We will be able to go on unemployment, but it is only like 1/3 of what we make, so it definately isn't enough to get us through, so the search is on. There is still a good chance that IF the economy picks up and eServ starts getting more contracts they could hire Kendall back, but I'm not too hopeful for that.

I've been very proud of Kendall through it all. He's been very optimistic and has turned all of his energy into putting in a new yard, which I'm very happy about. He has been tilling up a huge garden, and tearing out the entire yard. I had no idea how tired it would make me, trying to keep up with the kids AND the yardwork! But the yardwork has been the thing that has really made me feel like a homeowner instead of a renter. Having something to change and make my own feels wonderful! And while we won't be able to do everything we want because we don't have money, it is very rewarding. I'll post pictures later, but for now I need all my time to get it done before the rains come next week! We hope that you are all well. We know that these are hard times for all. We will keep you all in our prayers and hope you will do the same for us.

Much better

I feel inclined to write a positive post. I've been totally down lately and I think it has shown through in pretty much ever aspect of my life...my house, my kids, my personality, my blog... Anyway, things are going much better, and I wanted everyone to know that! We have had many blessings lately. We are all feeling much healthier (hooray!!), Kendall's crazy Scoutmaster weekend is almost over, we got our tax refund and paid off the van (YIPPEE!!), and the sun is shining with a weather forecast of many days of warm and warmer weather and sunshine. I am going to go to the park every day this week I think. Anyone want to come? I have spent the past two days cleaning my house and going through piles of junk and spring cleaning, and that feels stupendously wonderful! I love cleanliness. I can see why they say cleanliness is next to Godliness. Anyway, just a little update to say thanks to everyone for caring and showing love and support and especially to my sister who comes over and helps me so much and my mom who came and gave me some sanity and the motivation to wash all the sheets. I love you all! Hooray for feeling better, physically and emotionally.

6th Picture Tag

I've been tagged. And now I tag you. Post the 6th picture in the 6th folder on your computer. This is mine. This was Christmas 2007. My Dad made this toybox for the kids that year and drove it all the way across the country. They still just LOVE it! They play in it and then when it isn't in use it holds the toys. Great fun! Don't they look so little? I think so.

Surprise!

Last night Kendall and I did our normal bed-time routine. Put the kids to bed, turn off the lights and head downstairs to exercise while we watch a movie. There were a couple of variations though: The kids got to bed at 9:00 instead of 8:00, Avri came downstairs (we have no idea why), and I didn't exercise, I instead laid on the LuvSac trying not to throw up. At 11:30 when the movie was over we went up to go to bed and I could hear Talmage talking. I went to inspect. Surprise! Avri and Talmage were both still awake and "reading" in the book nook. What kind of irresponsible parents let their 2 and 3 year old read until 11:30 at night?

Next surprise: This morning at 5:00 I woke up to Avri crying in her bedroom. I went in to calm her down but instead got hit by the overwhelming stench of puke. For the next 45 minutes I bathed her, re-dressed her, pulled her bed apart, made up a new bed on the couch and got her all settled in. I got to bed just in time for Kendall's alarm to go off for work. Ugh.

So today we are taking things easy. We've all been sick, again, and I'm getting very tired of it. But there is a bright side. I've lost 5 pounds since Thursday and I took this funny picture:(Avri with the bowl that I gave her to throw up in.) Glad that I can still laugh when I feel so yucky!