Christmas with Mom

The "Eye Phone" that Tom created! (the kids had a blast playing with this old phone, played with it more than their new toys!)

The "bra purse" that I made!

Jody's Homemade "sandals"!

Robbie, Cora, Brianna, Kelsie & Blake


Blake & Kelsie

We celebrated Christmas with Mom a little early this year due to everyone's busy schedules. We had a Chinese dinner prepared my mom, on Saturday, December 10th. We did something different this year - a white elephant gift exchange! Some of the gifts included flip flops made out of feminine napkins, an "eye phone", and a homemade bra purse! We had a great time!!

Definite Success!

Well, I think it's safe to say that the potty training was definitely a success! Only one accident in the last seven days!!! She still wears a diaper overnight but often wakes up dry. I am so proud of her! Some milestones are bittersweet, especially with the last child, but this one is simply sweet! Her personality has blossomed so much in the last couple of months, that I am not going to miss the "baby" stage all that much. She is such a hoot these days, always surprising us with the words that come out of her mouth and with her actions.

Blake has been really testing us lately, it seems. He just seems to have a hard time slowing down and listening. I really hoping that improves over the next few months. Otherwise, I think he is as smart as a whip and impresses me with his knowledge almost daily.

Did I mention my little girl's obsession with apples lately?

Success

I believe the potty training was a success! Cora has gone two full days with no accidents!! We are so proud of her!!!

We enjoyed the Bad Axe Christmas parade last night. It was actually almost 60 degrees out!! The kids enjoyed the evening.

Day 3

So far so good! Cora didn't have any accidents today!!! She even told me a few times that she had to go, and even pooped twice!! If you have not gone through potty training, you have no idea the excitement that this brings!!! We dropped the kids off with grandpa and grandma Lynn so that we can have a night out, so hopefully the success continues!!

Avoided the stores and did my black Friday shopping online today. I got some awesome deals and am pretty much done. I just have to even things out a bit and get some stocking stuffers. Thankfully I have lots of time for that!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We ended up having dinner here today which worked out very well. Since it was a last minute decision, I didn't have time to stress about it! Tricia brought about half the food, and helped with the clean up which made things go much easier! She is going to be a great addition to our family and I am glad Jeff found her!

As the picture shows, our Christmas tree is up and the elf is here too! I just love this tradition and can't wait for the kids to see him in the morning. Hopefully it improves their behavior for the next few weeks. This is a first...I have never put the tree up on Thanksgiving, usually it would be that weekend, but Blake had been bugging, so we gave in.

Potty training, day 2. Not bad overall, only one accident that she didn't tell me about. A few times she would tell me as she is going, but a few times she told me first. Overall, I think a couple more days of hitting it hard and she will be trained! Although she is reluctant to poop on the potty. It will come though, I'm not too worried about it.

Well, I am off to bed now. Going to do a little shopping tomorrow, late morning. Hopefully I can be 100% done after tomorrow!!! That will really be a first for me!!

Potty Training-day 1

Ugh.....this is NO fun at all! She knows when she has to go, she knows to tell me and knows that she needs to go on the potty. So what's the problem....the gene that she inherited from her momma.... STUBBORNNESS!!

Hopefully it will be easier tomorrow. I am not ready to give up, although that would be the easy solution.

Thanksgiving tomorrow at our house with mom, Jeff and Tricia. Hard to believe it is that time of the year already. Fortunately, my Christmas shopping is almost done!! I will probably head out for a little shopping Friday morning in Sandusky.

My little sleepwalker

Cora has gotten up in the middle of the night a couple times within the last week. The one night I heard her yelling "momma?" repeatedly. I finally found her downstairs wondering around looking for me! Then last night she wanders in our room about 1:00am saying, "read book please?" I sent her back to bed, and after a few tears, she was sound asleep.

Excited to report that I am about 70% done with my Christmas shopping!!! Yah!!!