Potty Training and Pregnant

It was literally the very day that I found out I was carrying another child 

that I had it in my mind to potty train John. He was ready and willing and I certainly was over changing diapers (at least for 9 months of the past 6 years). Ella and Peter were on board and excited to help as well. For Ella, the reward was chocolate chips, for Peter it was race cars after so many successes, and for John, he wanted matchbox airplanes. So I bought a few and made a chart. He only had a few accidents the first few days and was eager to be like his siblings. 

They sat by him and read him The Potty Train, they cheered him on, as well as informing me of any mishaps. Which, thankfully were minimal. I only had to throw away one pair of undies the whole time. I'm not a saver of poo-filled underwear. My gag reflex was at an all time high and a few dollars in the trash was worth keeping my lunch. 

John was a trooper and earned himself a handful of airplanes before proving to us that he didn't need rewards anymore, not wearing diapers was good enough. 

As you can see, the book got a lot of face time and I am one glad mama. I don't have any fancy tricks and tips for potty training. All three of my kids, once they were ready were pretty much a breeze to train compared to some of the stories I've heard out there. The first go around with Peter was bad, but he wasn't ready, it was just out of convenience for me that I thought we'd try. It lasted 6 hours and we were done. 6 months later, he did great. So I guess the best advice would be to wait until the kid has the ability to convey his/her need to go, and be ready to hit it hard until it's down. I've not had to buy diapers or pull ups for almost 3 months and it's great. I am soaking it up until January, when diapers will once again soak up most things in our house. 

Who doesn't want a smoothie while "sitting and waiting?"

Grandma's Here, the Beach, the Parade, and turning 30.

Back to catching up with my summer, I figured that I couldn't be able to post many more pictures without explaining the fact that we are adding to our family because I'm starting to show in some of them or at least enter that "is she pregnant or just gaining a lot of weight?" phase. So yes, from here on out, I am pregnant in my pictures and had been since the end of May. 

When my mom got here at the end of June, the heat was intense and we tried to find things to do to keep the kids occupied. We took them to different pools, played in the sprinkler in the yard, and eventually we just ended up out at the beach. The funny (well, not so funny) thing was, it was just as hot there, unlike the west coast, where you go to the beach and cool off. The water was nice, and we had a good time, but it wasn't the place to get away from the heat. It was our first time to Rehoboth Beach, a popular destination for many friends we know. We ate good food, rented a bike to get around the town on the 4th, and enjoyed time away. Our hotel was in Dewey beach, just down the road and we were able to see 4th of July fireworks there too! It was also a trip to celebrate Andrew turning 30! 

The 4th of July Parade in Lewisburg was great, as it always is. It is sad for us to think that everything we did after June will be the last time we experience those things out here. We are trying to fit in as many types of local activities as we can before next summer. 

Handmade donuts from the "Fractured Prune" in Rehoboth. It is a must-visit
little place. 

Strawberry Pie with a buzz lightyear candle. Happy 30th Andrew!

Pretty Biggish News...

As I have mentioned before, I nap when the kids nap. I rest when the kids play happily. I use any down time I have, as down time. I'm behind on everything. 

There is a reason...

Those of you who are saying to yourself, "Uh, I thought they said 'Third and Final Fritter," with John Lewis, well, it just goes to show, never say never. (unless something is permanent) I really didn't think at any point before my little man turned 2, that I would look around and say to myself, "Boy, I miss having a baby around here." Raising three small children all at once has had its ultimate challenges. However, now that they're all older, all able to clothe and shoe themselves, have the ability to tell me in words what is actually going on, and we can see their little lives blossom before our eyes, I can't imagine not having the chance just one more time for all those "firsts." Thankfully, God allowed for us to have this opportunity and we are due again with another boy in late January. I will say, poor Ella cried when I told her she was getting another brother. She will tell you each time you ask, that she wanted a sister. She even went so far as to ask if I could go back to the hospital and have them change him to a girl. I told her God made her a special sister to have three brothers, then I realized internally that He must have given me some super mom powers I have yet to discover to be able to raise three boys. (way to go, mom friends who are there already!) We are excited to share this news as I am 18 weeks now. Lord willing, we will get to enjoy tiny babyhood all over again and I'm pretty sure even Ella will come around to the idea of a baby boy and be thrilled when he's finally here. 

The Red Cape

June 2012

Ella is becoming quite the artist lately. She drew a picture of Andrew and I. You may wonder what the red item of clothing happens to be that her Daddy is wearing? It's A CAPE. He's a SUPERHERO. 

the pink circle is supposed to be a heart I'm pretty sure.

I'm really excited that she's interested in art and being creative. She asked me the other day if I could please check into some art classes for her. I am doing just that. She said she wants to paint and color and make things. She's great, and we are enjoying watching her grow up.

Father's Day~Lake Style

Getting the kids all geared up. Andrew was able to fish, waterski (he may have needed a large dose of Motrin after), and relax.
All great things to do on a Father's Day weekend.

For Father's Day this year, our friends invited us back out to their family house on Lake Wynonah. As we have in the past, we enjoyed our time there very much. Good playing, good food, and great company. It was the last time we would see my friend and her family before they moved out to Oregon after living on the same coast as us since we moved here. It was a great get away for all of us and the kids each caught their first fish. 

The kids went out on the boat and the older two ended up also going on the big raft behind it!

Little John was so tired before the ride even started that once he got comfy he almost fell asleep!

Wish they didn't live so far away now! It will just make our Oregon visits all the more exciting.

Strawberry Picking

June 5

I happen to find strawberries one of the most fun berries to pick, now that I've finally done it. Growing up in Alaska, we didn't pick strawberries. We picked low-bush cranberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  Each of those are also great, but come at a price when picking in the woods of the wilderness where the bears also love berries and raspberry bushes have thorns which are usually surrounded by bees. I once picked some wonderful blackberries by my college in OR and made jam with my roommate. We fought off bees for an hour, but it was well-worth it. 

Picking berries in PA, well, not a problem. Pull up to the giant field, ask for a basket or bring your own, they direct you to a row, and have at it! Weigh and pay, it's amazing. The kids had a great time. I'm hoping strawberries are in season before we move next year because I'm all geared up to make more jam already :). 

I told my kids to take a good look at the berries across the counter because in the morning...
"Wham, Ka-Bam...Jam!"

“Are wild strawberries really wild? Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child? Should you pet them, or let them run free where they roam? Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home? Can they be trained to not growl at the guests? Will a litterbox work or would they make a mess? Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows, or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows, or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse, or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house, and though they may curl up at your feet oh so sweetly can you ever feel that you trust them completely? Or should we make a pet out of something less scary, like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry, Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed.”

― Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

Catching up with May: Graduation Edition

Among other things I am so behind on in my house, the blog is one of them. I've taken to napping while the kids do instead of writing,  knowing that once school starts again and my routine kicks in life will be different. This summer has been so busy, while enjoyable and relaxing at the same time. How that is, I'm not sure. I'm going backward and starting up with May, where it ended, which is with Ella graduating from Lutz Preschool. That weekend before we took a bike ride with some friends and had a picnic dinner out by the lake. It was a great night for it and it had been way too long since I rode my bike. We all had a very nice time. 

Ella's class did one last outing at the Montour Preserve, one of our already favorite spots to visit. I was alone with the kids, some kids had both parents there as well as a few less siblings :). Every one of my kids managed to get hurt in some fashion, resulting in my asking myself why I didn't go with my gut and get a sitter for "The Brothers."We stayed after and threw rocks in the pond which calmed us all down and made for a nice ending. 

The Graduation was at the preschool this year. I guess in years past it had been at the middle school on the stage where there would've been much more room, but the flood took out the middle school so there we were. In a small room with lots of kids and parents, but it was fun anyway. They sang songs and said a poem. Ella did a great job and made all of us laugh during the "Tootie-Ta" song. I'm so glad I got that on video. It was a bit surreal knowing we would soon send her off to the beginning of her 12 year school career by September, but she is so excited and really loved her teachers and class. 

So amazing how much she changed in less than a year.

Cameron and Ella. They were best buds at school.

"Tootie-Ta!"

Getting her diploma :). Ella said she wanted to be a construction worker.
A few days later she told me, "I should have said something else. I don't really want to do that."
I told her she could change her mind as much as she wants at her age.

Proud Daddy.

Us.

Graduation Poem
Original Author Unknown

Do you remember way last fall
When I was only just this tall?
Now look at me! I'm up to here!
And my, I've learned alot this year!
In fact, you think I'm really great!
That's why I get to graduate!

(The poem the kids did for us)