Day 6

ok, I meant to chronicle this weeks events, but of course I managed to find other things to do, so I am going to summarize this past week...

MONDAY: Monday was the 1st day of potty training.
7:30 am: We woke up and headed to the potty with new underpants for Ellis and Jack. Ellis sat on the potty, did nothing, put on her underpants and proceeded to pee in them. I put Jack on the potty, he did nothing, put on his underpants and also proceeded to pee in them. I changed Ellis. I changed Jack. She peed. I changed her again. She peed.
7:35 am: I put Ellis in a diaper and decided, she isn't ready. Jack stayed in his underpants and we were off and running. I had a day full of accidents and way too much self doubt about this being the right time and his readiness.

Summary of MONDAY:

• One successful pee in the potty! YEAH!!!
• 8 accidents.
  
• One pull-up at nap time and one at bedtime.
  
• No poops; at all.
• A full load of laundry; full of little boy underwear, pants and 3 pairs of little girl underwear

Summary of TUESDAY:

• Three successful pees in the potty!!!
• 6 accidents.
  
• One pull-up at nap time and one at bedtime.
• One poop in his pull-up
• Another full load of laundry

Summary of WEDNESDAY:
Grandma here! YEAH, finally I have some help!!!

• Five successful pees in the potty!!!
• 4 accidents.
  
• One pull-up at nap time and one at bedtime.
• One poop in the potty and on in underpants.
• No laundry tonight

Summary of THURSDAY:

• Only one accident!

Summary of FRIDAY:

• No accidents! Not even in the pull-up.
• We even used someone else's bathrooms
  

SATURDAY:

• Our first day without wearing a pull-up.
• No accidents!

It is an amazing thing, to teach your child to use the potty. Everyone has his or her theories and stories. Everyone has an opinion about how you do it and when. All I can say, is that after six days, I just proud of him for trying SO hard and being so excited about his successes. And I'm proud of me; for sticking with it and not giving up on either one of us. So far so good!

Ellis' first day of school

This morning Ellis started her first day of 'school'. It is really a class at the local Rec Center for 2 year olds and NO MOTHERS (Jack was at his school). I got to sit for 45 minutes with no one saying, "Mommy" and "I want...". I read a book in a comfy chair and drank a hot cup of coffee. It was heaven!

Something you shouldn't start when you're 40

Erica on a snowboard

We spent the weekend with our cousins in Winter Park. It was an awesome weekend with beautiful weather, free beer, drinks, snacks, skiing and snowboarding and perfect company.
Thank you Amy and Jon for inviting us!

So for the first time I decided to go outside and participate in snow activities. I have always said that I would ski or snowboard when my kids did, well Paul rented skis and boots for Jack and snowboard boots for me. Saturday afternoon it was a beautiful 40+ degrees and Paul and I headed to the easiest hill in Winter Park - after the magic carpet hill. Paul gave great instruction, that I could even understand - in other words, he broke it down to the 3rd grade level. I got up and decided to show off my rad moves. My rad moves consisted on falling right on my *ss; more times than I care to admit. I fell and Paul encouraged me to keep trying - I did. I fell again and he kept encouraging. I finally fell so many times I was crying, he was still encouraging and understanding. I finally made it down the hill and decided to get back on the tow rope and go again. My second trip was much like the first. I fell, got up, repeat. I went down a few more times before I called it quits. He said I did something called connecting a turn, but I don't know what that is. After hurting my *ss so many time I called it quits, plus it was time to pick the kids up and it was Jack's turn.

Paul pulled Jack up to the top of the ski school hill, pushed him down and away he went. No falling and with a great big smile on his face. I think having his own cheering section helped. Jack went down a dozen or so times before he decided to trade in his skis for the sled near by. It was the perfect afternoon, except for my butt. I think I need to have it amputated.

I am very proud of my son! Maybe even me too.

My How Times Change

A time ago (before kids), a bunch of us spent our winters in Vermont skiing, drinking and playing adult games, such as *sshole, Drinking Jenga and Truth or Dare. This group of friends included Toby and Jenn. Friday night Toby, Jenn and their kids Anna and Evan came over for dinner. After dinner we were all sitting around and decided to play a game with the kids. Since we didn't have our special Jenga game we decided to play "Duck, Duck Goose" or "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck" (for those from Minnesota). It was a funny sight to see four adults and 4 kids sitting on the floor playing a game for kids. I will admit, the excitement and anticipation of being picked is still the same as when I was a kid. We all laughed about the how times have changed - no longer doing Elvis impersonations and running around parking lots naked - now just running around the circle and hoping to sit before being tagged.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our friends Darrin and Tanya as they welcome their first child into the world. Reid Jeffrey was born at 12:50 am on February 14
8 lbs 8 ozs and 21"; via c-section.

Welcome to the World.

An amazing day

With a high in the mid 60s we spent the day outside, after dancing with Kate. We played t-ball, soccer, basketball and catch. You would think Jack and Ellis have athletic parents - NO SUCH LUCK. We swung on the swings and slid down the slides head first. It was great to feel the sun on our faces and feel too warm in a fleece pullover. Jack is so tired he fell asleep on the sofa watching Dora, as we wait for Paul to get home. Another boring day at our house. Tonight and tomorrow morning it is supposed to snow and only a high in the 20s (back into the 50s by Friday). Goodnight my family and friends.

All's quiet on the Western front

It has been a slow weekend. Paul arrived safe and sound Friday morning at
1 am. Jack went to school and both kids got to hang out with Daddy. Saturday we went to Boulder with our friends Toby, Jenn, Anna and Evan. Sunday we played Scientist, Mommy did a little babysitting for the dolls and the kids went for a bike ride with Daddy. We hope everyone is staying warm in the Midwest and we are looking forward to Spring.