Emma's Homework

I am trying to start a little more educating for Emma. We have decided to not do a formal preschool this year, so I am going to get creative. Lucky for me my sister-in-laws (and sisters also probably, I just don't live close to them to find out) are very creative with their kids. Jill especially, her girls are super smart and I think she has to stay creative to keep them from getting bored - she is great!

This is one of her ideas - get a work book, whatever you want your kid working on and tear out the pages, place them in sheet protectors and use dry erase markers to work on it. This is a great idea, because those little work books are not cheap and Emma would just scribble through them in no time - this way she can practice as much as she wants and actually get better. Thanks Jill!

Here Emma is working on tracing some letters - she is getting better already - you can see how proud of herself she gets when it turns out how she wants - already kind of a perfectionist - so funny!

PS if anyone has any ideas for home preschool ideas - let me know please, I would love to hear everyone's suggestions!

The Photos are Here!

I love it! We got it last night.

It is a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT Special Edition - it has power everything, DVD, sunroof, full stow-and-go, leather and everything I hoped to get in a car.

I love it. I love the way it drives, the way the seat warmers feel on my bum and I love the room between the kids and my seat, as well as how far they are from each other.

I can't wait to drive it more, because of all the snow and a sick little girl, we didn't get the drive time I was hoping for, but we have a PLENTY of time, because I am pretty sure this is my car for the next decade of so... wish me luck!

PS: Did I mention I love it!?

It's Here!!!

I am not going to talk all about it now because I still have a lot to learn about it, but coming soon - all details.

I have no pictures because we got it last night and it was raining, so that wouldn't work. So they are soon to come.

This just an announcement - I will no longer be grumpily waiting (I am not a patient person) - it is now here!

If you are wondering what I am talking about - we haven't talked in a while! This is mainly for those who have been waiting along with me - thanks! Especially to Sherri and Melissa, who had to hear me complain every time we talked that it still wasn't here.

Stay tuned for more pics and info!!!

A Big Milestone!

It has taken about a year but I think (knock on wood that I am not jinxing myself) Emma is finally, totally and completely potty trained! She has gone the last week or so with nothing but her panties!

We started the last part of May last year - we had early success and thought it was going to be super easy, but then we went to Alaska for vacation, she did pretty well there, but when we got home she started regressing and it was like starting over. Then we went though all the weird stages... her being too busy playing to actually go in the potty, her going in the potty but a tiny bit in her panties first, then we went a LONG time (like 4-5 months or maybe even longer) when she was perfect in the day and even during her naps but then at night time she would use a pull up and wake up totally full. But the last week or so she just randomly started being dry at night, in the past when this has happen and I try the panties it's like she gets stage fright and goes that night. But after a few nights of a dry Pull Up we decided to give panties a try at night... IT WORKED!!! So we of course had a big celebration that morning and it has continued!

When I told Jared that she is officially potty trained, he thought I was silly because she really has been close to perfect (during the day) for a long time and he thinks that she has been potty trained for a while. But in my eyes there was still one more hump to get over and I think WE DID IT!!! Not a moment too soon either - we have done it in the past so I know we can do two kids in diapers, but three was NOT going to happen! So lucky for everyone that she finally got it before Baby arrived.

I think it is funny how every baby is so different - I mean my friend Janelle just blogged that her 17 month old (Carson's age) is starting to get interested in her potty and is being successful - Carson on the other hand we are still trying to find a good night time diaper he won't pee through - not to mention I don't even let him in the bathroom most of the time, because he likes to "play in the water". So to me it is even funnier how my kids love to be on the difficult side of that "different", but I will say that... it makes success even sweeter!

Good Job Emma Lou Lou - you are the best, my big girl!!!

Selling Our Car

We have finally out grown the Altima! We have recently purchased a MINIVAN!!! I am so excited - I know there are plenty of people who will freak out over the next comment, but... a minivan has been my dream car since before Jared and I were first married! We should get it Monday or Tuesday and I will post all the fun details about it then - I promise!

Until then - we are selling the Altima! So if you know anyone that is interested in a reliable, inexpensive car - send them to this post, it is also posted on Craigslist and KSL.

It is a 1997 Nissan Altima, it has 168500 miles on it and is has a manual transmission (stick shift). It has power locks, power windows, key-less entry, CD player and new front tires. It is a clean car inside and out. We have had it for about 9 years and it really has been great for us. I think it would be a great 1st car or family car! We are asking $2300 obo. Let me know if you know anyone who is interested!

Thanks!

Discount Concert Tickets

David Archuleta

E-center-Friday March 27, 2009 @ 7:30 p.m.

Special Guests: Amie Miriello and Benton Paul

David Archuleta’s management is offering over 100 concert tickets available on a first come, first served basis. I saw this concert this past weekend and it is an amazing, very family-friendly show. The seats are in the upper bowl throughout several sections and rows; however this concert will only be half-house, so you should still be able to see the stage just fine. If you were to buy these seats via Ticketmaster, they are normally priced at $39.65 ($25.00 face value fee + $9.55 convenience charge + $5.10 order processing) but they are being offered through David’s management for just $30.00 each so you will save about $10 per ticket. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please email Becky Strasburg at beckys@kengarff.com by noon, Thursday 3/26.

Sleep Tight

One of my most favorite things to do is to tuck the kids in at night. I love sneaking into both of their rooms and covering them up with blankets, tucking them in and making sure they are comfy and perfect for their night sleep. They are so peaceful and quiet, which is not a usual state in our house.

Emma is always on her side, turned away from the door, most of the time she is hidden under the blankets (she sleeps like her dad), and she breathes deeply - not a snore but a cute deep breath. She is so sweet, sometimes when I go to bed early and I check too early, she will turn to me with her eyes closed, smile and tell me she loves me or good night, it is such a great moment after any long day.

Carson sleeps everywhere in his crib. Sometimes I find him with his head where his feet belong or curled up perpendicular with the crib instead of parallel. He makes me laugh. He usually doesn't have any blankets on him (because of his excessive moving) and so I cover him up, place his tag close by (in case he wakes up and looks for it) and turn down his white noise (I keep it louder when Emma is still awake and then softer through the night). He is such a cute little guy, but I really can see how big he is getting when I see him sleeping in his crib, it isn't this big space around him anymore... he is growing into the space very quickly. I love that little buddy!

I will say I have found it is not easy being pregnant with two little ones who need so much attention still. But I have some really awesome kids, who even after a crazy day of praying for me to keep my patients, still make it easy to be so in love with!

It's A .......

So today we went for our sonogram. The kids came with us and the party was on! We announced our final guesses to the Doctor (both of us thought "boy") and then he got started. We had a very detailed look at lots of funny angles. We took a few pictures, but no great ones of his face, he was hiding! Then down to "the area", and the first angle showed a site that made HIS father proud! Before the Doctor even announced the sex both of us giggled and joked, "well there he is!" We are going to have to work on modesty from the beginning with this guy.

Yup, we are having a Boy! We are very excited! We also think logistically a boy is a little better too. I think because Emma is a little territorial that it might be easier for Carson to share a room with the baby. Also, Emma is used to a boy so we didn't think any jealousy would come with another, but we weren't sure with a girl. Another thing is that this baby and Carson will only be about 20 months apart, so it might be nice for them to both be boys. We are really happy!

As for a name, we really don't have any yet. We really like to see our babies before we name them, so we have a while before we finalize anything.

So there is the news! Good job for all of those who guessed right!

Update

I am sorry to tell you we are 0 - 3 nights on potty training.

Although if you want to look on the bright side we are 3-3 on her demanding before bed that she is a big girl and she wants big girl panties - not a diaper, 3-3 on waking me up to take care of her, 3-3 on sheet changes, and my accomplishment... 3-3 on me being patient and optimistic - I have decided because she is trying this on her own, I have not pushed it, that I will be positive no matter what the turn out - so she get's a "too bad, but good try" or "it's was an accident, you can try harder tomorrow" - I don't want her to think it is okay, but I do want to encourage her efforts. I did however, talk her into a pull up tonight with a promise that she could wear panties tomorrow night if she didn't go pee pee in her pull up tonight. We'll see.


PS: watch for tomorrow's post, we go in for the sonogram and hopefully will get to find out the sex of the baby!

Big Step Towards Being a "Big Girl"

Tonight Emma went to bed without a Pull-up on. We did not plan for this to happen tonight, because I have to work in the morning and would rather wait for a night where I can stay in my PJs the next day (if we are up together a lot). But she has woken up the last few mornings with a dry diaper and tonight when getting ready for bed she REFUSED a Pull-up, insisting she was a "Big Girl" and she would not go pee pee in her panties. After a quick deliberation with Jared, we decided we wouldn't fight it and let her give it a try... we'll see how she does.

Wish us luck and I will keep you posted!