These are the days!

You know how people tell you these are the days you will look back on and long for... Well, some days I seriously don't think those people actually remember what it is like to have a toddler (and a strong-willed one at that!) Grace has really been pushing the boundaries lately and in the process wearing me out. Here is one example. Last week we desperately needed to go get groceries. This is one of Grace's favorite things to do. I had picked this particular day because it was 50 degrees and that sounded like a lovely time to get out. When we arrived at the store I gave Grace her cart to push. I then instructed her to come close behind my cart. She refused. I gave her several chances to obey then I took her cart away. She then threw herself on the floor of the Aldi and began to lament (loudly I might add) her distaste for my decision. I ended up putting her cart and her into my cart and leaving without getting a single grocery. What a bummer! Everyone was starring at me with that, "You poor thing" look as I attempted to push my screaming toddler out of the store. But she did much better when we attempted the same task the next day (thank you Love & Logic). Although it wasn't nearly a fun for me getting groceries when the temperature was below freezing! I have found that Grace tends to go in cycles. For example last summer was a very difficult season. Then things will improve and I start to think I was crazy for thinking she was strong-willed at all. (almost). And then she gets back onto a defiant kick and I seriously have to punish her to get her to do everything! So I once again am searching for a good discipline book and hoping my next pregnancy (whenever that is) coincides with a more lovely part of the cycle!

If you would like to read about our holiday I blogged about it here.

Jo Jo's Birthday Hat

Faith LOVES cake!

Earlier this month was my sister's birthday. We went to visit my parents to celebrate. That morning I asked Grace if she wanted to make Aunt Jo Jo a picture. She said, "No, I want to make her a birthday hat!" And so together we made her a birthday hat. I marveled at how specific of idea she had about how the hat should be made. She wanted to use my scrap booking scissors to cut it out. She also thought it had to have ribbons. She worked very hard at it. And Jo Jo graciously wore it for her and oohed and aahed over her creation.

Reflecting on this little project I realized how much I enjoyed seeing my creativity come alive in Grace. If you know us or read my blog you know that most people attribute Grace's strong-willed personality to me. And I'm not saying that it is a totally negative attribute. But its really fun to see something positive and realize she got that from me!! (Yes, Jeremy is also very creative-but he is not crafty so I'm taking credit for this one!)

Sisters, sisters there were never such devoted sisters...

Does anyone else love the Christmas classic, White Christmas? I do! It is one of my favorites. And when I sat down to blog about my sister, Josie's recent visit the lyrics from the famous duet came to mind. My sister is the best. I can honestly say I've loved her before she was born. When my mom got pregnant I was seriously hoping for a sister. I influenced the choosing of her name, wanting a "J" like mine. And from the beginning I was SO excited to finally have another girl! 

On Sunday she came and stayed with us while she was on break and it was great fun. I love getting to spend time with her. Although it takes a little more effort now that I have two girls of my own. Sunday night my husband was a dear and kept the kids so we could go out to eat Mexican. It was so nice to just visit and eat our favorite white cheese dip. Then we headed to Walmart so I could pick up a few things I needed. I had been wanting to paint our upstairs bathroom for about six months. After Josie weighed in I finally choose a color. And we ended up painting the bathroom after nine o'clock. She was a great help (thus the devoted part). After 11 we ended up at Sonic to go get a soda. The next day we also rearranged my living room which I have REALLY been wanting to do but needed some input. It is a challenging layout. And then she went back to Sonic to get us Cherry Limeaides. (I have converted her to the greatness of Sonic drinks & ice!) She joked with my mom that she could only stay one night or I might have her painting the outside of the house.

I had so much fun and am so glad she got to visit. I am so thankful I have such an amazing sister. And I pray for my girls that they will have the same blessing. By the way, I once again forgot to take a before & after of the bathroom. But, it is only part way through the renovation. Jeremy still has to tile the floor. But the paint is a big improvement!! 

Potty Training: The Saga Continues...

So back in my pre toddler days of parenting I remember having a really naive thought. I was talking to Lindsay and she referred to potty training Addy & putting her in panties. I thought to myself, "I thought she did that when they lived with her parents like 6 months ago..." But I didn't give it much thought. I just figured they had moved a lot. Lindsay, I formally want to apologize I had no idea potty training was such a process. (If you are the parent of a child who was potty trained at 18 months, or potty trained in 24 hours just feel blessed- or at least e-mail me what book you read!) Well, at the end of February Grace will turn three. We officially started potty training when she turned two!!!! Yep, a year ago Grace started wearing panties. And she did pretty good. By the time summer came around she was stringing days together with no accidents & I thought we were making progress. Then Jeremy started traveling, we lost our schedule, and Grace decided she was no longer interested in the potty. (When I say not interested i mean she would kick, scream, and refuse to sit on the potty.) So I did what I said I'd NEVER do as a parent. I put her in pull ups. Pull ups are expensive, very expensive especially since Grace basically used them as diapers she could remove. (I should mention from the beginning she has always pooped in the potty so this was a big bonus!) Oh, I didn't give up completely. At some point Grace expressed a desire to have a fish. So we made this fish poster together and put it on the bathroom wall. She received stickers for using the potty. When all the fish scales were full she could have a fish. This still did not motivate her to actually use the potty. She simply found the pull up way more convenient. So as Christmas approached I decided it was probably time to try tackling potty training again. On Monday we went back to panties. It has been a bumpy road. She has already had way less accidents then when we first attempted panties. But she did wake up from her nap on Tuesday and refused to put on panties. She simply stated, "I don't want panties, I want a pull up!" I didn't give in and neither did she. She spent 45 minutes in her room screaming, kicking, and crying. (Okay, I did go in at some point and pray for her and try to calm her down-it didn't phase her!) Now I have heard parents say that if they hadn't gotten a second child they would have thought, "this parenting thing is pretty easy." I personally have not had this experience. If this is easy than, have mercy! But there is another part of me that understands Grace because she is so much like me. And I had no idea I was hard to potty train (but my mother has since assured me I wouldn't do it until it was my idea). So I continue on with this in mind- my mother was successful!!! 

Grace,

I'm sure there will be a point in your life when you read this and wish I didn't blog. I know, I know its embarasing. Sorry. But just hold that thought for about 10-15 years. Then maybe you will have a little toddler running around and you will be glad I did- I promise. I love you sweetheart!

Christmas Wrap Up

I have been working on this post for quite some time!! I know Christmas has been over for almost a month but this is my "scrapbook" so I still wanted to post some memories.

Christmas at Grandpa & Grandma's:

We went to spend the night at Grandpa Rick & Grandma Leeanne's house & opened presents the next morning. The girls big surprise was a puppet theater. Grace was very excited as she is very into puppets and pretend play. Grace helped pass out the presents & Faith even showed interest in opening her own gifts. Then we went to Jeremy's grandparents house for a huge meal & white elephant exchange. I actually got something good-a Christmas card holder. Jeremy won an old lamp (dust included!). But he snuck it in Aunt Shawn's van so we didn't get to put that one up at our house.

Christmas Eve:

On Christmas Eve we went to our church and then arrived at Bowen just in time for the end of the service at my home church. Jeremy and I make this a priority every year. My home church has a tradition of taking communion as a family on Christmas Eve. It is one of my favorite moments each year. Our entire family on my mom's side takes communion together. It is a really awesome visual reminder of my grandparent's legacy of faith. It is a moment Jeremy and I are dreaming about for our family someday. After that we headed to my parent's house for one of my favorite meals of the year. It is entirely finger foods & really yummy. We always play Bingo instead of doing a gift exchange. This was the first year Grace was interested in participating. She actually enjoyed marking her card and picking out prizes. She still says, "I said BINGO for this," when we use something she won as a prize. We also got to meet the newest member of the family, baby Elise.

Christmas Morning:

 It was really fun waking up at home with our girls for Christmas morning. Grace came in our room to wake us up. But still didn't really "get" Christmas morning. She wanted to know when she could see Santa. We go pretty simple on gifts since we are VERY blessed with generous grandparents. Grace and Faith got a tool bench (Grace likes to hammer my walls-so I thought it was time she had her own tools!), a set of alphabet letters for the fridge, & play dough. I opened up my first official Christmas gift from Grace jingle bells. Grace also picked out a purple ball for her sister. Jeremy & I had exchanged our gifts to each earlier because we wanted some "us" time. Jeremy totally surprised me with this awesome frame. I LOVE it!

Christmas Day:

We  headed to my grandma's house for brunch & presents. It was fun spending time with family, but different without my grandpa there. I think we all just keep waiting for him to show up. Faith got a baby doll & Grace enjoyed dressing magnetic dolls. Later in the day we went to my parents house for our "Christmas Morning." It is one of my favorite times because everyone sits around and we take turns opening presents. The girls got LOTS of really nice gifts. Grace got one of those video game bicycles from my brothers. They were quick to point out that it won educational toy of the year.

Christmas with Nana:

Jeremy's mom came to stay with us for our Christmas. It was lots of fun. Faith received her very favorite present. A  Zebra she can bounce on. She bounced on it for 20 minutes before getting off. She really loves to bounce. Grace & Nana tried out her puzzles & new dress up shoes. The girls also got a new dress up trunk to hold there expanding dress up collection. Later Jeremy, Charlene, & I watched home movies from Jeremy growing up. It was pretty entertaining.

We had a great Christmas!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This Christmas has been the most fun yet. We had lots of fun celebrating the season with family traditions. Grace really got into Christmas this year. Here are some of the fun things we have been up to.

-Grace enjoyed helping decorate our tree and hearing the different stories about her ornaments. (We give the girls one each year)

-Having family movie nights. We did a movie night & made "hot" chocolate. Grace got to try it for the first time. One night we watched the Muppets Christmas Special on TV. Jeremy loved the Muppets when he was little and Grace does too. My favorite comment, "Where did the waubi go?" She doesn't know what a comerical is, we only watch movies & the Disney channel.

-Making special homemade Christmas gifts. This year we were "green" and made reusable shopping bags for the grandmas.

-Grace was so excited about the snow. She wanted to go sledding. She also made a snow angel.

-We made a Birthday cake for Jesus. Faith checks out Baby Jesus on top.
-For the second year we made cookies for our neighbors. This year we all bundled up as a family to deliver them. It was freezing outside (literally, the temperature that night was in the teens!)
-Each year I have expanded my candy making. This year we made Tiger Butter, Peanut Butter Balls, Toffee, & Christmas "Buttons." Grace made the buttons herself.
-One night we all loaded in the car in our pj's with blankets and went to look at Christmas lights. The girls both enjoyed this. We went out to Mark Twain Cave to drive through the lights display.

-Reading LOTS of Christmas books. We have a collection of Christmas themed books we only get out at Christmas time.

I LOVED having so much family time in December. It was a lot of fun seeing both the girls enjoy some of the same things Jeremy and I did as kids. I am looking forward to having a little more time to do all these fun things next year (Since we were gone for 5 days in December this year).  And I am hoping to add some type of Advent/Countdown activity to our celebration. More on Christmas soon...