Gymnastics

At the beginning of the fall we made the decision to sign Grace up for gymnastics at the YMCA.  I was hesitant because I really want to protect our children from being too busy, too early.  But with the cold weather coming and less time time to be active and because she was asking to do dance (gymnastics was cheaper and more convenient so we just sold her on that) I felt like maybe it was time to sign up for something besides swimming lessons.

It has been great!  Another 4.5 year old boy is the only other person who signed up for her class and they are the only class at that time.  So she gets lots of attention and lots of time on the equipment.  Today the little boy didn't even show up for class so she had a private lesson.  Afterwards, she said she loved it because she always got to go first.

 

Potty Training Caleb

A week and 2 days ago we started the adventure of potty training Caleb.  Prior to last Tuesday Caleb had shown very little interest in the potty.  He would sit on it for fun once every week or two.  He'd had about 2 or 3 actual pees in the potty and he just didn't seem to care.  I had read in a book that if you just leave a kid potty out one day your child will decide to potty train.  I 100% didn't believe in this method but the funny thing is I think it's working for us.

Last Tuesday Caleb told me he wanted to start wearing underwear so I said sure and thought why not.  He had a handful of accidents the first couple of days but right away showed me an amazing ability to hold his pee.  His accidents greatly reduced and he would tell me when he had to go potty.  The problem was he would tense up on the potty and not have success and cry with fear.  After some internet searches I came up with the idea of putting the little potty in the bath for Caleb while running bath water.  This allowed him to relax and actually pee on the potty.

After a day or two of bath potty time he started having success out of the bath.  Now he does great when he sits on the little potty.  Monday morning we had three accidents (maybe because we had company) but he hasn't had one since!  He hasn't even peed in his pull-up while we are out.  He does ask to go potty while we are out and then clams up on big potties and then just holds it until we get home.  He's also been wearing underwear at naps with no issues (although he's been generally dry during nap time for a while).   Another big success is he tells me when he needs to go and I don't really feel like I have to be on his case.  After lunch today I went upstairs and found him going potty because he had to go.

We do have a long way to go because poop is another story.  He has not done poops on the potty and he waits to get a diaper or pull up on and then poops right away.  So I'm happy he is holding it but I'm ready to work on doing it in the potty.  We will start tackling that soon I hope.  Overall, I'm so proud of Caleb's progress!

O yeah, and the whole aiming situation (even while sitting because I'm not crazy and teaching Caleb to stand) is very different with a boy.  In that sense girl's are sooooo much easier.

First Snow

I was awoken this morning by children jumping on me and begging to play in the snow.  Apparently there was a dusting of snow last night right before I went to bed.  So since I love getting the kids outside I obliged and got them all bundled up.

We weren't quite ready with winter gear but we survived.  Caleb's snow pants were too short, his hat and mittens were size 6-12 months and he wore Grace's boots from last year. I guess he will be wearing short snow pants (or too big ones rolled up that I know we have as hand me downs) and pink accented boots all winter.  We did eventually find some not so warm mittens and a hat that fit.  Grace had to wear her tennis shoes but everything else still fit fine (although she chose to wear the too small hat)!

After a half an hour or so they declared they were cold and came inside to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.  What a great start to the day!

Dentist and Haircut

A couple of cute Grace pictures from her recent dentist appointment and haircut...

Brave girl who sat in the chair by herself for the second half of the appointment!

Looking cool with shades

Just the length she ordered and oh so east to maintain

Happy Halloween

We had a pretty fun Halloween this year despite the rain.  We started our celebrations the day before by going to an Awana Carnival.  The kids had fun playing games and entering in a costume contest.  Caleb actually won his category.  We think it was because he called himself Superman in the microphone when telling everyone what he was dressed as.

On Halloween we were able to be in costume all day.  Grace had gymnastics in the morning so the kids wore their costumes to the YMCA.  Then after nap time we went to Matt's work to trick or treat at people's desks and eat pizza and treats.  We immediately returned home to have chili for dinner with my parents.  Then headed out to trick or treat.  The rain held off most of the time we were out.  And our friends' happened to trick or treat at our house right as we were leaving so it was fun to end up going around the neighborhood with them.

And just over a week later our candy is almost gone:(

Pumpkin Carving

This year the kids got to carve a pumpkin for the first time at my parents' house.  And by carve pumpkins I mean watch my mom and me because they were grossed out by it.  So the plan to carve several turned into carving one.  Grace did end up designing the face on the pumpkin and we enjoyed having it on our front porch for a couple of weeks.

Wedding in Wisconsin

The last weekend of September we got to visit Matt's Dad's side of the family and attend his cousin's wedding in Wisconsin.  On Friday, after a slightly grueling almost 6 hour drive we were happy to be there.  We were able to visit Matt's grandma and uncle for a bit.  Then we hit up the local Pizza Hut and Wal-Mart.  I had forgotten my swimming suit so I pieced together something weird off of the sale racks at Wal-Mart so I could swim with the kids in the fun very small water park at the hotel.  We also managed to spend $80 on Packer gear for the kids.  When in Wisconsin....

Saturday we got to swim all morning and have lunch with Matt's parents.  Then Matt and Grace went to the wedding while I stayed at the hotel so Caleb could nap.  After the wedding we all headed to the reception for some good food and fun dancing.  The kids were super cute out on the dance floor with their second cousins.

Chicken Dance

Caleb spent a lot of time rolling around

Sunday we spent some time with Matt's family and then hit the road around 11.  We stopped for a late lunch at a mall food court.  Then we happened upon a Build-A-Bear store so we stopped and got the kids teddy bears (Sleeping Beauty and Andrew) before completing the drive.  Caleb spent a large amount of the last 3 hours crying and telling us he was tired but never sleeping.  So, we were happy to be home!