Graduation Day

Today was the first ever Pre K Graduation for School 4!!  It was to be from 2-4pm and we invited Ammy & Paw Paw to come too.  The kids walked in to the room, with their caps & gowns, Henry bringing up the rear!  Then they sang a song about a worm and yes, you guessed it, Henry played the worm.  Then Ms. Clara talked for a few minutes - mostly about how fast the last 6 months had flown by and how she'd never forget her first class.

Henry & Ms. Clara go way back - she used to work at the first daycare he ever went to when he was 10 weeks old and she a senior in high school... and since she lived one street over from us, she baby-sat him a couple of times - once calling us to come home because he wouldn't stop crying!  I wonder if he'll remember her.  I mean, he questions where she'll be when he goes to Kindergarten... he tells me that he loves her & will write her letters every day from Kindergarten... he counts the days until she returns from her vacations... I'd like to think he will.  I know we will!

After they got their diplomas, we had cake & then Henry asked if he could give Ms. Clara hug.... and by 2:45, we were done.  Henry's first graduation ceremony & celebration over in 45 minutes and another milestone in my son's life over.

Well, tomorrow we are off to Rochester, NY to visit the family.... back on July 6th.  Until then!

Picture Day

Yesterday, we had some pictures taken - trying to get a 2 year old & 5 year old to both smile at the same time is always much harder than I think it will be.  At one point, the photographer asked me if my kids were always this silly at home!  Hmm... wonder what she meant by that.  It was hard, but we were able to choose a few, to include the family photo to the left.  Here are a couple of other favorites!

Happy Belated Father's Day!

On Sunday, I had high hopes of letting the kids make their Daddy breakfast - I thought it would be so fun to see what they came up with... however, I really didn't want to get out of bed and instead let Brad make us all biscuits.   Oh well - at least I had 2 cards waiting for him & a chocolate chip cookie cake that Henry had chosen the night before... the kids were very excited when their Daddy let them have some cake for breakfast!

We spent the afternoon at Ammy & Paw Paw's - celebrating cousin Jessica's 8th birthday and eating some fried fish that Paw Paw caught on his last fishing trip.  It was delicious!!

Here are some pictures from our day!

Hydrangeas

I love hydrangeas.  They are one of my favorite flowers... Brad bought me a hydrangea plant after I had Henry - brought it up to my hospital room.  Sadly, it did not survive long once we took it home (thankfully, Henry fared  much better).  I'll admit, we do NOT have a green thumb.  We've killed a glorious ficus tree, a thriving rosemary plant, and countless house plants.  So when we moved to this house 4 years ago, and Brad wanted to plant hydrangea shrubs (or bushes?), I was skeptical.  I was sure they'd never last... but Brad actually loves to plant stuff outside - true the crepe myrtle in the corner of the lot aren't faring that well, but I haven't given up hope on them just yet.

To my surprise, the hydrangeas have flourished in our back yard!  Each year, the flowers multiply, turn more purplish-blue than the year before and the plant continues to spread... 

I'm trying not to give up hope on my parenting skills either - hoping that I'll be equally surprised at how my children turn out.  You see, they have seriously tested me all weekend long!!!  Henry gets mad when told not to do something, or when games/toys don't go his way and he spits, throws & bites things (thankfully, he only bites the toys).  The spiting, throwing & biting happened at least 3 times in a 24 hour period.  Kyra destroyed Henry's Disney autograph  book... she also refused "quiet time" and in protest, removed her diaper and went #2 in her crib!  Neither child used good table manners at dinner and were caught jumping on the bed at least 15 times throughout the day, despite being told twice as many times NOT to!!  

Maybe it's the heat and I was cranky?  Maybe they are just being kids?  Maybe I've watched one too many episodes of A&E's Intervention & am paranoid that what they'll remember is my yelling at them all weekend and eventually turn to drugs...  Or maybe learning to listen and use good manners is just as hard as learning patience and good parenting skills?  Hopefully we'll all do as well as the Hydrangeas outside.

Potty Training Weekend; Day 2 - 2:10pm

Subject continues to use potty when asked & has only had one accident.  In unrelated news, we finally found someone to fix our shower doors (in the newly tiled master bathroom, of which we still have been unable to use).  Mr. Lopez just installed the doors - we'll be able to use the shower tomorrow!!!  HAPPY DAY all the way around!!!!

Potty Training Weekend; Day 2 - 9:25am

Subject woke at 6:30am in a rather pleasant mood, which was expected given her 11.5 hours of sleep.  When asked if she wanted to wear her panties, she said yes and chose a lovely DORA pattern.  

Subject then played for 1/2 hour... when asked if she had to go potty, she responded yes & went!

After breakfast, Subject was asked if she had to go potty; she responded yes & went!!

At 9am, Subject was asked again if she had to go potty;  she responded yes & went!!!  Subject was then rewarded with a new Cinderella chapstick in recognition of her accident free morning....

As I enter Subject's progress, I hear the familiar grunting of an impending "movement."  I rush to her and discover that while she'd had a liquid accident, I am able to get her on the potty before a non-liquid accident, if you catch my drift.  Subject & I look through the STAR magazine while she "does her business" and Subject takes an interest in pictures of Angelina, Shiloh and Jessica Alba.  Subject has no problem "doing her business" in the potty and even comments that it is disgusting.

Potty Training Weekend; Day 1 - 5:55pm

While I went to the store, Kyra had two back to back accidents... given that Daddy was trying to cook, he ended Day 1 of Potty Training Weekend.  Maybe not so priceless...

Potty Training Weekend; Day 1 - 3:50pm

Number of Successful Trips to Potty: 5

Number of Required Outfit Changes: 3

Feeling that this MIGHT be Working: Priceless

Potty Training Weekend - Day 1; 9:40am

According to Kyra's teachers at school, she is ready to be potty trained.  Let's bear in mind that she is only 27 months old.  I personally think the teachers don't want to change diapers, but I concede to try.  They want me to buy pull-ups;  I do not want to buy them.  They are way more expensive & do not help a child learn that wet sensation.  So on Tuesday, I sent her to school with her new panties & plastic pants - 3 pair.  Tuesday evening, all 3 pairs of plastic pants came home, along with clothes to go with it.  On Wednesday, I asked Kyra if she wanted to put on her panties & she said NO.

Her teacher said the plastic pants were too hard for Kyra to manipulate and we should get pull-ups (I'm wondering if the school gets a commission on the sale of pull-ups).  I decided then that I would spend all weekend at home with Kyra - in nothing but her panties & clothes... my plan is to put her on the potty every hour and if she has an accident, let her feel what that is like.

So this morning, we put her in her brand new Princess panties and off she went to the play room.  Twenty minutes later, I went in to check on the kids & found that she had gone #2 in her Princess panties... We talked about where you go #2 and promptly threw away said panties... I then put her in her WalMart brand panties as I could see where this was headed... I'm willing to clean up a lot, but not that!!!

At 8am, after breakfast, I put Kyra on the potty & she did it!  We clapped, we cheered - we were all so excited!!  At 9:15am, I was on the phone & thought she'd be fine for a few more minutes... I checked again at 9:20am and yes - she had peed her pants... and was playing happily, although walking funny.  

Now, granted, it's only 2 hours into my Potty Training Weekend... but after she went in her pants, don't you think she would have told me, if she were in fact ready for this??  I'm not optimistic for what the weekend holds... wish me luck!

Memorial Day; part two

So remember I said we spent the day outside riding bikes?  Well, Henry got a new bike recently... while preparing for the Trike-A-Thon, an event he unfortunately missed because he had his 5 year check up, we realized he had outgrown his bike.  So we bought him a new one and gave his old one to Kyra.

Henry took to his new bike, complete with a hand brake, like a champ!!  He loved it!  He was a bit afraid to take corners, but found that riding into the grass & near the tree worked very well in avoiding them.  

Wanting desperately to be like Henry, Kyra put on her bike helmet (another hand-me-down from her big brother) and got on her "new" bike.  Here's the thing - she doesn't really know how to ride a bike... or a big wheel for that matter.  And it's funny - I clearly remember my uncle teaching me how to ride a bike without training wheels - but the concept of pedaling is not one I remember ever learning... or even ever having to teach Henry.  Now, she is only 25 months old, so maybe I'm being irrational here, but try as I might, I could not teach this child how to ride this little bike.  I was walking all bent over, trying to push her feet against the pedal and talking her through the motions, but she either didn't get it, or had no desire to do it.  Luckily, she became bored with the bike at about the same time I was about to give up on my teaching efforts.

I'm glad I have this blog though... because I know in a few weeks (or months? UGH) - she will figure out how to pedal... and I'll be able to remember every little detail of her accomplishment.

Memorial Day

What a beautiful day it has been - the weather has been perfect!  Not too hot, great breeze - we've spent all day outside... riding bikes, blowing bubbles, and singing...  I think we finally figured out how to post a video, so we'll just make this a short post so you can hear the next American Idol!  HA!!

Carowinds

Yesterday we tested out the Season Passes we bought to Carowinds.... an amusement park here in Charlotte.  Our goal was to get there right at 10:00 when it opened, stay for a few hours & get back in time for the kids to take, what we hoped, would be a nice long nap.   

First, we got there around 10:30 and had to activate our passes... there was some sort of gospel concert going on there, so every church group in a 100 mile radius was there as well.  The place was packed - a factoid that we had not anticipated... lesson #1 -  check the schedule for concerts!!!

However, my kids didn't even notice how crowded it was!  Henry was super excited!!  Carowinds is Nickelodeon based, so they have rides featuring Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo, Rugrats and the beloved SpongeBob Square Pants.    Henry begged us to take him to the Scooby Doo Haunted Mansion ride first, where we waited in line for about 15 or 20 minutes.  We got to the front to enter & he nearly freaked right out... it was after all, "haunted."  He didn't want to go in!  The girl working the front reassured him it wasn't scary and he finally got on.  We rode the carousel, planes, helicopters, boats (the dullest ride there, which Kyra and I waited in line for 30 minutes to get on) and Henry even got on a kiddie roller coaster which he loved.  We then waited in line for about 30 minutes to "drive" an antique car!  

So with all this waiting, I think you can figure out that we didn't leave in a couple of hours - more like 6!!!  We didn't get home until 5pm and the long nap I hoped they'd take?  Not so much!!    Oh well... here are some pictures from our day.

Biker Week at the Beach

This past Wednesday, we drove down to North Myrtle Beach for a long weekend.  Granted it was Biker Week, but that was OK.  We had a GREAT time!  Henry absolutely LOVED the ocean!!!  He would run into the waves & then run back away from them as they came crashing towards him - laughing the entire time!!  Kyra was a little more apprehensive about the water - she liked to stand close to it, and she even let the water touch her toes, but she was squeezing our finger the whole time!  Oddly, her favorite part was letting the hose rinse off her feet before we headed back in!

We also took the kids miniature golfing - something they have the most fun doing, even though they have no desire to actually learn how to play.  Brad and I also got to enjoy an evening out to dinner by ourselves and on Saturday night, we all went to a Myrtle Beach Pelicans game.   As we drove home on Sunday, the kids said, "Bye Ocean - see you in August!"

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip.

Mother's Day... a week later... and My New Bathroom

I can't believe I haven't posted a blog in over a week... granted we were at the beach for most of the week (more to come), but still!  I didn't even tell you about my mother's day.  It was nice... no gifts, mind you, but nice.

We spent most of the afternoon at Brad's grandmother's house in Lincolnton.  His aunt & uncle live next door & they have a bunch of cool toys for their grandchildren (their daughter was pregnant for her two kids at the exact same time I was for mine).  Anyway, one toy was the Gator.  I think that is what he called it anyway.  Henry was able to drive it himself!  He loved it, although mostly just kept going in a circle & even then, almost managed to run me over!!!  

While I don't have any 'before'  pictures to show, here are a couple pics of my bathroom 'after' it had been tiled.  Looks nice doesn't it?  Too bad we haven't figured out how to re-install the shower 'walls' yet so I haven't had the pleasure of using it entirely, but it sure is nice to look at!!!

Just Because...

My kids picked out their own outfits this morning & wanted me to take their picture while they held hands!  Could they be any cuter???

Meanwhile, it is Mother's Day weekend and when I asked Henry what Daddy bought me, he said nothing.  I'm rather concerned I'll be getting the shaft this year!!  Wish me luck!

Bike Day

This coming Friday is "Bike Day" at Henry & Kyra's school.  They are raising money for St. Jude's and having a "Bike-a-Thon."  So yesterday, Henry said that he needed to practice riding his bike.

Now, he hasn't wanted to ride his bike in over a year and a half... we had gone for a walk one morning, Kyra was still in a stroller and Henry was on his bike.  Even with training wheels, he was not the best bike rider.  He couldn't stop or get up any kind of hill.  At one point, towards the end of the walk thankfully, he started going pretty fast.  I can still see the scene in my mind - he was speeding down the sidewalk, screaming & crying like a girl, because he couldn't stop and Brad was chasing after him.  I was behind them, pushing the stroller & I admit, laughing my you-know-what off!!!  I know I should not have been laughing at my son, but you should have seen and heard this site!!!

I'm very happy to report that yesterday's practice session went great!  Daddy had to adjust the seat, but Henry could turn, brake, go up hills - everything!  I was so proud!  Here are a few pictures from the day... Kyra, as you can see, did NOT want to be left out of the action!  

Now, who wants to sponsor my son?

Lazy 5 Ranch

Today we took Grandpa to the Lazy 5 Ranch.  We took Henry there about 2 or 3 years ago... he HATED it.  The emus came up to the car window to get some food, and he freaked right out!  Started screaming & crying!  This trip was MUCH better!  He LOVED it!  

The first thing he wanted to do was feed the donkeys and then the goats!  He was so fascinated by this - he loved the fact that the goats went wherever he went & he even let them eat the food right out of his hand!!  Kyra, on the other hand, wanted NO part of feeding anything.  She didn't cry, but she was very leery of the animals and wouldn't really get too close to anything.  Then we drove through the "safari" and saw all kinds of animals - pot belly pigs, rhino, deer!  Kyra only wanted to see the zebras & Henry wanted to see the giraffes.  Both wanted Grandpa to feed everything - even the emus!!  It was so much fun - I can't wait to go back!