Success!

We’re calling potty training boot-camp a success.  I started with Jack last Thursday (Thanksgiving) and today we purchased some Thomas undies and are calling it good!  There was one day in there where I think he peed on every surface of the house (including me) but he turned it around the next day.  I was really worried since he is a boy and I’ve heard they take longer, train later and are just much more difficult.  I couldn’t be any more pleased with his progress though. He’ll still wear a diaper at night (because he’s still in the crib and will be until he decides to escape or turns 5, whichever comes first LOL!)  The real test will be this weekend, as we are traveling and are going to be away and busy having fun.  Wish us luck!

Oops

I made a mistake on an event date and we showed up at MSU one week earlier than we were supposed too.  Oops! Oh well, we had some ice cream instead so all was good.

Oh Pinterest

You slay me.  My projects never look as good as the originals.  This one is fun and larger than life (as evidenced by the sleeping bean in the corner.)  Oops, bigger is better, right?  It needs a layer of mod podge, it’s on my list.

Ring around the Lauren

I tried a new braid around beanitude’s head today.  It was fun but I haven’t quite perfected it yet.  She looks crazy enthused for the photo, but she just wanted to go with Daddy to the grocery store (baking supplies!)
Here are my Dad, Mom, Kevin and Lauren posing at the Holiday lights celebration.  It was so cold out we left immediately after the parade and didn’t even see the pretty lights.

Poor Jack, he still needs some winter boots.  I’ll add it to my never ending to-do/buy list.

Happy Thanksgiving

I know I took a photo of my beautiful bird, but now I can’t seem to find it (on any of my 3 cameras or on my computer) so it’s apparently gone for good. :( It sure was pretty!

After we gorged ourselves it was time to decorate for Christmas (poor Thanksgiving, only get’s half a day before we move on to the next big thing.)

A gorgeous November day

It was such a beautiful November day that the ‘icus and I had to get outside and enjoy it.  It was fantastic to feel the sunshine on our shoulders and be able to play at the park wearing only a sweatshirt (or a sherpa lined hoodie for Jack.)  We just picked up this outfit for him at my favorite little podunk clothing store in Worthington, MN. The company is called Mayoral and they make the cutest stuff.  We bought a pair of jeans there last year and they wore so well (and were crazy long, so he can still wear them.)

Then, tonight we did some bell ringing for the Salvation Army.  We do this every year and enjoy it immensely (minus the crazy behavior from the kids, but they are kids.)  It’s funny how they really help to bring in the donations.  Even just having Jack there too helped.  Kevin and Jack went to the bathroom and were gone for about 15 minutes.  When they came back, our donations tripled.  Now, I’m not the statistical genius of the family and since Kevin was gone he can’t give us some crazy percentage breakdown, but it was definitely a noticeable improvement in money donated when both kids were there versus just the 2 of us.  After the bell ringing, we rushed home so we could drop the kids off and get to Lauren’s first parent-teacher conference.  It was exciting and went well.  She’s not perfect (boy don’t we know it) but she’s pretty darn good, pretty darn good!

The Children’s museum

Poor Lauren wasn’t feeling well today and had to stay home while Jack and I got out of the house and played at the Children’s museum.  They are improving more and more every year.  I’m quite excited for the permanent location to be built, it looks like it will be fantastic!

Long ago day

Here is Lauren all dressed up for her “Long ago day” at school.  Here is Jackson nom’ing a cookie tonight at the Christmas festival thingy.

Occasionally…

They do occasionally get along.  I discovered them voluntarily sharing a chair while I was doing laundry this afternoon. 

Word practice

Lauren and I were practicing writing words tonight with her glow writer (in the dark.)  It was super fun and after we were done I remembered this fun shot where you leave the shutter open and make a word or shape…voila!

A new ‘do

I thought I would try a new color, I have a feeling it won’t last long.  Red is so fickle!

Vote Sprouty

I prefer this choice!

Baking beanitude

I can’t even remember what we were making?  Oops, I guess I need to update more frequently.

A busy day

The morning started out with the home depot project and quickly turned into a day at MSU.  It was family weekend so we decided to try taking the kids to the movie (Brave) and then bowling in the CSU.

They even had cosmic bowling with black lights and a dico ball for half of our hour of free bowling.

Gobble gobble

See? They occasionally like each other.

Nighty night!

Here is Jack saying goodnight while snuggling his Bamboletta snuggle baby.

Matchy matchy

Matching winter penguin jammies?  I couldn’t resist, I mean they’re fleece.  The kids love fleece pajamas!