Miss YA

How could we stand to leave our beautiful son for an entire week you may ask?

Well it's quite simple really, we're going on a CRUISE!! Finally, we're really going this time, no backing out, no change of plans, we're going!! My parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, Gary and Shellee Lewis, their 6 kids, and spouses are all going!! We're leaving out of Miami, going to Belize and some other random islands and we're going to have an AWESOME TIME!! I'm really very excited about it. In fact, I went outside today trying to get a tan, you can never prepare too early for these things.

ARGH

I wrote this yesterday, it wouldn't post so I saved it until today, when looking back at it, I feel really bad about complaining!! But I decided to put it up anyway, because honestly we all have these days.

I wish the Goblin King would come take my baby away, RIGHT NOW!

Ok, not really, but that's how my day's been. We're on day 6 of the 3 day potty training(only three days, REALLY??), and so far it's ok, not 100% successful every day, but most of the time we get to the toilet.
Today though, Damen, my sweet sweet son that I love very much decided he didn't want a nap so I tried EVERYTHING from bribing, yelling, sweet soft talking, singing, threatening, he peed in his bed, pooped in a pullup, went to the "bathroom" 6+ times, laid down in my bed, laid down on the couch, switched up his nap time toys, took off his socks, and finally, after three hours I gave up!
He was really awful to his buddy this afternoon and has been in time out 3 times in the past hour. Right now he's having some quiet time in front of the TV and I'm having my own quiet time on the computer. Much needed quiet time or else this Mommy just might have wished for the Goblin King to take Damen away!

WOOHOO, way too early I know

Ok, so I should probably wait to celebrate for a few more days, but Damen peed 4 times in the toilet today!! YIPPEEEEE, once it was for the 13 year old babysitter, we weren't even home. We've been working on potty training for three days now, with little successes here and there but mostly accidents, so today was very exciting. I was inspired by the past few posts from Allysia, my good friend growing up, she was attempting to toilet train her 22 month old daughter with the 3-day method she found online and shared with me. So far, it's been more successful than sitting him on the toilet every 20 minutes expecting something miraculous to happen.
Is it crazy that we get so excited about peeing in the toilet??? YES IT IS. Let's face it, changing diapers is an awful practice that is unfortunately unavoidable, so WOOHOO!!!!

More Snow

Here's a few pictures of Damen sledding down the driveway with his cousins, Zack and Kaden and one with Nana(aunt) Traci. He really loved it!

Why do we make plans??

So our plan for Christmas was to drive up to my parents house on the Friday/Saturday before, sing in church with all 5 of my sisters on Sunday, visit with my High School friends and go shopping for a few last minute items Monday and Wednesday and spend Tuesday at the mountain sledding with the kids, then of course Christmas on Thursday, relax and hang out on Friday then head home on Saturday/Sunday.

This is what actually transpired: The drive was great, pretty uneventful until we were about one and a half hours from their home, it started to snow and snow and snow. Three hours later we got to the house, slid down the driveway on a combination of snow/ice/snow, and realized we weren't going anywhere at all. The weather forecasters kept saying that by Wednesday, all clear melting snow, warming temps. no problem. Unfortunately, they were wrong and it continued to snow until Thursday night. Just so we're clear, there aren't many snow plows in the great northwest because this NEVER happens and everyone is usually content to wait for the snow to melt, a day or two max. This was the most snow EVER recorded in the area since they've been taking records. It was a lot of snow. Church was canceled, and our car remained impacted in the place we left it until the day we left. We did manage to go into town and do some shopping at the Bi-Mart, Rite Aid and Safeway, thanks to the snow tires on my Mom's minivan and the chains on Traci's car. We also got to take the kids sledding, in the driveway. Christmas morning still came, it was really fun to see the nephews Christmas morning and to share in our family traditions. And I did get to see my friends Friday morning for a bit and go shopping later that day with my Mom and sisters. Two of my sisters that don't live with my parents were also stuck with their kids at the house for a few days so the cousins got to play more than they would have. I got a lot of talk time with my sisters and Dustin got a great work out shoveling snow for most of the week (almost all day on Friday just so we could get out on Saturday). All in all, the things that were important still happened, just not the way we planned.

Damen decorating our tree

Blake and Zack Monday morning

Damen getting ready to go sledding

The cousins, back row-Nick, Kaden, Robert, in front Zack and Damen

Me and my sisters

Christmas morning, Damen was REALLY excited about the train set


A few shots of the snow, Christmas eve and Christmas morning.




PS staying indoors for 6+ days with LOTS of baked holiday goods, not a great idea, I'm still working off the last three of the 8lbs I took home!! Wait, that sounds like Thanksgiving too. . .

And a Happy New Year!

Happy 2009 everyone!! I hope you're all looking forward to a great year, I know I am! Some advice from the all wise me: make some changes, smile more, give love and service, bake something, make something, and say your prayers. That's my plan anyway.

PS I'll post about our snow-filled christmas ASAP, which might not be for another day or two.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I'm so excited for Christmas!! We're heading up to Washington to stay with my folks for a whole week! We get to play with the cousins, sisters, parents, friends, etc. . . And I hear in the snow too! Can't wait!! So just a quick reminder, if you happen to be visiting the area too and want to meet up, my parents number hasn't changed, only their address.
Merry Christmas everyone, be safe and have fun:)