One of THOSE posts...

I always laugh at some of the things parents choose to share on facebook, blogs, texts, phone calls. And even though I am well aware that the amount of people curious about Beck's potty training is population 0, I'm going to share anyways.

Attempt #2 started Saturday morning with an all or nothing switch to undies (minus nap times and long trips out of the house). I figured it was a perfect weekend since we didn't have too much going on and the weather was so horrible that I knew we'd be around the house much of the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday were filled with many dirty towels, loads of laundry and tears. He was VERY unhappy any time he would go in his pants (Which I am actually grateful for because if he had happened to be one of those boys that didn't care, well...lets just say I didn't have a plan B) He kept saying "undies not working mommy" over, and over, and over. At the end of Day 1 I looked at Jason and asked if we were just wasting our time, at what point he reminded me that consistency and patience is what would get us there. (not sure how I landed such a smart man) but it was just what I needed to hear to get me through Day 2.

By Monday evening I felt like he was starting to connect the sensation to the idea. He would begin to pee in his pants and then run to the potty. And although he was still very upset each and every time, we did get 2 successful potty trips that day, resulting in a new hot wheels car around bed time. Then, for some reason, he woke up this morning, at which point I took him straight to the potty and put undies on. After telling me he had to go, he peed around 7:30 am. and then again around 3:30 pm...yeah, what 2 year old goes 8 hrs. without using the restroom. I kept putting him on the potty periodically throughout the day and he kept saying he didn't need to go. Around 3:30 he came running in, I sat him down, and the rest is history. He went the rest of the day telling me when he needed to go and had not a single drop in his undies all day. Now, there were MANY false alarms, at which point I started to realize that he just enjoyed running in saying "hurry mommy, hurry, pee pee, hurry" and watching me bust out my super hero speed as we made the mad dash to the living room.

The next step will be moving the potty to the bathroom and then getting him use to the regular potty, then I dare say, we can leave the house?

I know we have a long ways to go, but we're making progress. The idea of having only one kid in diapers is within reach, and this makes me one happy momma...

MUST HAVE toys...

With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season upon us, a good friend asked what toys my kids have used the most over the last few years. I know the list is different for every family, but I've learned there are just a few things I know the Alcorn clan could not do without:

-trampoline: My kids live on it regardless of the weather. In fact, the times they enjoy it the most is when its wet (because they can slide around) or covered in fall leaves (because they love to get dirty) Luckily we've had no bad injuries yet, and hoping it stays that way!

-sandbox: inexpensive and well worth the mess as long as you keep it covered when not in use. Ky loves to use the buckets and shovels to ''explore'' the backyard and Beck loves to move sand in and out of the dump truck.

-sidewalk chalk: whether it is me drawing cars or Ky creating a town, we have multiple pails and they are permanently placed on the front porch and in the strollers. My favorite is when I run into neighbors and they comment "oh, we saw beck was at the park this week, as evidenced by the road and trucks drawn all over the place''

-foam bath letters and numbers: they can get gross pretty quick if you don't put them away after every use, but at the cheap price, who cares...nothing like learning colors, number, letters, spelling, and phonics sounds while having fun in the tub.

-Easel: Kylie received one for Christmas three years ago, and both her and Beck still use it regularly. Having an accessible place for kids to practice their writing skills while playing school or restaurant is wonderful!

-play kitchen: I'm surprised ours is still standing after all the abuse the kids have given it over the years. What a great way to learn vocabulary and work on hand eye coordination. (and the fact that there's multiple drawers and cubbies to store more toys in is an added bonus)

-playdough: I can't stand it. It is smashed into my floors and carpets in almost every room. And I couldn't even guess how much my children have attempted to ingest over the years. But the possibilities are endless as you can use it as a teaching tool for just about anything. As much as it drives me crazy, it has also saved my sanity on many rainy days and I couldn't live without it.

-Library and Park. Yeah, I know, these aren't really things, but rather some fantastic places that I could not live without. Books and fresh air are a mom's secret weapon, and with both, children everywhere smile!

Playtime...

Stratton got to hang out with his good buddy Miles this morning. We try to snap a shot of these two each time we get together. Even though they're only two weeks apart, Miles is leaps and bounds ahead of Stratton in terms of moving, but I was reminded by watching Amanda chase Miles around the living room, that stationary is right where I'd like Strat to stay...at least a little longer....

I added my own commentary on this string of pictures I took.

"Really, you're really taking our pictures AGAIN?"

"What do you say we skip outta this joint?"

"Hold on I gotta make an important call to my milk man"

"Alright, we out"

Just in case you need a reminder of one of the first times we got these two together...

Fun in the backyard...

This afternoon it was actually warm enough to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, which is exactly what we did. I took my camera out and just snapped a couple shots of the kiddos hanging out.

This first one is a pic of Beck's feet. While in Pittsburgh he decided he HAD to get his toes painted since Sissy did. We have yet to take the polish off (he's been to gymnastics class twice and I'm fairly certain his coach noticed) but I love the mix of the dirt with the polish, makes me laugh. Just like him: sweet, sassy, and a mess all at the same time....

Stratton found a new favorite toy in the empty watering can, he was a pretty happy camper...

Family Pictures

Before heading to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving, I booked a mini session with a neighbor whose also an ex teacher and just so happens to know something about little kids seeing as she has three of her own. I'm saving the family shots until after Christmas cards get mailed out, but since I didn't use these on the card, I thought I'd share.

Beckham

I know he's not smiling, but the fact that she got a shot of him doing something other than squinting his eyes is impressive to me...

Kylie

If only she would have given one real smile in the entire c.d. of pictures...

Stratton

This is my favorite of all the pictures, even the family ones. It just makes me smile because this kid is such a goober...
Pics taken by: Mandie McMurdie Photography

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

This weekend we pulled all the Christmas boxes down and decorated the house. I'm actually doing a scaled down version this year. With our house already feeling a little crammed with too many people, I decided to keep all the nicknacks stored away and just put up one of the trees and decorate the mantle. And of course, Ky has her tree in her room. We put the big tree up in the living room this year instead of the front window. With the addition of the train table from Beck's bday, the playroom is about to pop all on its own, and since this is the room we're in most of the time, I figured putting my snow covered tree with very fragile ornaments smack dab in the middle of that wouldn't be the best move. I actually like the combo of the tree and mantle together!

I know the colors aren't very traditional, but neither is my family!

If my house was on fire and I could only save a few objects (besides my family and pets that is) it would first be the kids scrapbooks, and maybe second this tree. It was love at first sight 5 years ago and every year I put it up we fall in love all over again!

Beck playing with ky's snow globe. I'm very excited to see how he will take in Christmas this year. I really think he's the perfect age for it. In fact, we even wrote his list to santa and I was amazed at his comprehension level. Among the regulars like cars, trucks, legos, he also had me write bubbles, pig, and money. Interesting choices I think..
Getting ready to help decorate the tree in ky's room...

Putting up the beads, love these two weenies...

Yeah, the tree is leaning, neither of them would let me touch the tree to fix it. =) they were too proud!

Much to be Thankful For...

This past week we packed up all the kids (and what seemed like half our house when all was said and done) and headed to Pittsburgh to spend Thanksgiving with Jason's family. Although the time spent on airplanes with potentially screaming children is never fun, this is a trip that always turns out to be more than worthwhile. The kids did fantastic on the flights and during the trip. Its amazing that not one of them ended up sick (I seriously think this is the first time we have traveled anywhere without one of them fighting some sort of illness.) And although we spent a good bit of time indoors thanks to the rain and cold weather, no one can deny how beautiful this place is.

Here are some shots we took from the front of Jason's parents house.

The creek and "J's tree" that is right outside the house he grew up in.

An accurate picture of their closest neighbors...and there isn't another house to be seen from any direction.

End of their driveway. I was amazed at how green everything was since I was so used to how bad/brown this summer was in Texas.

Dad and his mini-me playing outside. She could care less that is was 45 degrees out.

Checking out memaw's planting and trees around the house...

Kids of "the loop" to date. Gavin, far left, is the most recent addition to what was thus far our family clan. J has a group of guys from back home that we're very close to and we've been waiting for everyone's lives to catch up to ours..its finally starting to happen. We can't wait until Pat and Chris's baby boy joins us next year!!!!

Playing WII dancing games in the basement. No one was more excited than beck. notice he has a ''fake'' controller because he couldn't be trusted with a real one with all the thrashing and dancing he was doing...

Papap and Ky in the wood shop working away on a bird house.

J's grandma with Keith, Jason, and the grandkids. She was so happy she cried when we surprised her with a visit once we arrived.

Uncle Keith and Beck jamming out on the guitar...

Memaw and Beck

Uncle Keith got to meet Stratton for the first time!

Ky and Jacob, these two were inseparable the entire time we were there. here's their ''pose for the camera'' pic.

We even got a chance to drive the 2 hours up to du bois to see my grandma and some of her sisters. Its always neat to go back to places I remember visiting as a child...

Kylie riding papap's tractor. She's always been too afraid....its amazing what a daredevil little brother will persuade you to do...

Stratton with his indian hat hanging at the window trying to keep warm during tractor rides...

Beck LOVED every minute of the tractor. And I'm pretty sure if papap told him he could drive it, he wouldn't have hesitated a single moment..

Beckham playing with the cars his daddy and uncle played with growing up. This was really neat for me. I love sentimental things like this...

With the introduction of over 70 new (rather, old) cars, you can probably imagine beck was very busy and very focused all week.

All in all, we had a blast! I wish we could have stayed longer, but I'm not sure we've ever left thinking that we were there for enough time. We both got to see our grandmothers, spent time with family and friends, and even got to play a little pick up soccer one evening (something I'm still trying to recover from thanks to the soreness).

In fact, Beck did great on the flights home (not taking a nap which he has every day since he was born) until we landed in Dallas and we got off the plane and he asked where memaw was. You can imagine the fit to followed after I explained that she wasn't with us and that we were headed home....

What a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving, hanging out with family whom you're so thankful for!