Promised Playgroup Post

I promised a post of playgroup, so here it is. If I had to use one word to discribe what our playgroup means to me it would be...priceless! There is no amount of money, no family member, no event, bribe or trip around the world that I would trade for my playgroup! Now, let's be honest, the real playgroup belongs to the mommies! We have become like a little village of women, with our objective being to survive this insanity we call motherhood. I have no doubt that I could call any one of these amazing women and they would drop whatever they were doing to help me or my family! That is something that is not promised to any of us, and yet I am blessed to have half a dozen friends that love me and accept me for who I am, even the stubborn, strong willed, sarcastic part of me! (Wait, am I talking about me or Cooper?) Anyway...the fact that our kids love each other just as much is like icing on the cake! Today Cooper asked me..."Mommy when's playgroup?" I told him it was today and that we had to miss it because he and his brothers were still sick. He immediatly started crying saying, "But I miss my friends!!!" As much as I was annoyed by his crying, I must admit, I was crying on the inside too, because "I missed my friends, too!!!" WAAAAAAHHHH!

So, ladies, I love you and couldn't make it a day without you! Can you believe our kids are almost starting kindergarden? I'm glad we can all cry together, it just sucks that I have to go first...all by myself! But, I've always sort of been the "go first" girl, so here I go again. The blessing of having the oldest kid in playgroup. I guess once all of our kids are in school we might actually get to finish a sentence, a thought, a meal and an hour without one of our kids throwing a fit! Hey...something to look forward to! Thanks for always being there for me!
I tried to put the pictures in order, but I'm sure it's a little off. All we care about is our cute kiddos anyway, right?

Bodily Fluids...

Okay, so I'm officially sick and tired of cleaning up other people's bodily fluids! It started Friday night with Conner throwing up at Hawaiian Falls, followed by a full day of diarrhea. I felt so sorry for the little guy. On Saturday morning he was laying in my bed and he asked me, "Where does throw up come from?" I explained that it comes from your stomach, and whatever food is in your tummy when you throw up, comes out. A little while later, he had "the look" on his face, so I went and got him a bucket to throw up in. I asked him, "Are you going to throw up?" and he says..."I think I just threw up out my bottom." Thus the beginning of more bodily fluids. Carter came down with it on Sat. night and his lovely fluids of the #2 persuasion lasted until Monday night. And as of last night...Cooper was in my bathroom when I heard..."My poop is coming out like water. It's like swoosh, splash, sploosh!" Boys and poop do sort of go hand in hand. Only a boy would think diarrhea sounds were cool. Thankfully none of them have actually acted like they feel too bad. Which sort of makes it harder to make them take it easy.

Needless to say, we've been stuck at home all week and I'm losing my mind. We've missed out on playgroup today and who knows what else unless we can all get well. I'm shocked that neither Day nor I have gotten it yet. Is it sick that I was sort of hoping to get it just to shed a few pounds...yes, very sick. Day did have a good point that at least they're getting sick this week before we leave for Florida next Friday. Vacation can not get here fast enough!

Lifelong Friends...

I came across the first picture in this slide show and couldn't help but blog about the lifelong friendship that Cooper and Trinity have shared. It doesn't seem possible that five years have passed since they've been friends/born, but in some ways it seems like they've been in each other's lives as long as I can remember. It seems that the older they get, the more they tend to gravitate toward their friends of the same gender, but my hope is that their friendship will last a lifetime. Thankfully they have some awesome mommies who also happened to be best friends, and if we have anything to say about it...they don't have a choice:). I'm so greatful and blessed to have so many wonderful friends in my life, who in turn have been blessing to my children. This post has sent me to the fact that a need for a playgroup post is upon me, so stay tuned!

A Fun Filled Fourth!

We had a busy and fun filled Fourth of July this year. We started out the day with a trip to the movies with the older boys to see Wall-e. It was a little slow for Conner's taste, but overall it was pretty good. Then we headed over to my grandparents assisted living place for lunch. We had a nice visit with G.G and Dede then we headed home for naps. After nap and dinner we went out to the "country" a.k.a. Phillip and Angela's house to shoot some fireworks. Cooper decided that he would be more brave than last year (last year he sat in a chair with a pillow over his face the whole night because he was terrified of the fireworks). This year he did get a bit scared at first, but warmed up to some roman candles and sparklers. Carter was totally freaked out and cried after each one for about the first 15 mins, but slowly began to warm up. And after seeing Cooper and Conner hold the roman candles, he did one too! Pretty brave, I'd say! Overall, a great and celebratory day!

Potty Training...Day's 2 & 3

I'm totally blown away at how awesome Conner is doing! Yesterday we went to play at a friend's house and while he was playing in one of the kids rooms, he came out and said..."The poo poo's coming out mommy!" and off to the potty we went! He did have one accident while with the babysitter last night, but other than that...no other accidents. He even went into the bathroom this morning, by himself to go poop. WHOOO HOOO! After I came in to check on things, I asked him if he'd already flushed. He said, "Yes mommy." Then I asked, "Are you sure you pooped?" (There was no overwhelming odor this time:) To which he replied..."Yes mommy, it was a BIG POOP, a YONG(long) BIG POOP! Too bad daddy wasn't there, he'd been so proud!

As funny as it may seem to say...I am so thankful to the Lord for granting me this one blessing of an easy potty training experiance! I can't thank Him enough! Also, thanks to you all for praying and cherring Conner on! Let's hope it keeps up!

Potty Training Day 1! (Attempt #3)

I just had to take a second and cheer for my sweet Conner. Apparently he and my mom had a little chat the other day about how he's a big three year old now and he needs to go potty like a big boy, etc., etc. I'm not getting my hopes up too high, but it seems that this may have been the motivation we've been waiting for. He woke up this morning and I asked him if he wanted to wear big boy underwear...he said "Yes, and I'm gonna stay dry." And belive it or not, he DID! ALL DAY LONG! I even sent him outside this morning, knowing that in the past, this has been his pooping place while potty training. I told him that if he felt the poo poo starting to come, to run and get me. He had been outside about 10 mins, when he came in and said..."Mommy, the poo poo is comin' out!" So we ran to the potty, he asked me to leave and made a grand deposit in the potty! Not only that, but he flushed all by himself. (I didn't need to see the evidence, the lovely oder gave it away!) He went on to pee all day, and even stayed dry for naptime! We went over to my moms and while playing he ran to me and said, "Mommy, I need to go pee pee!" This is a huge step in the right direction! So, all my bloggy friends, please pray that this time it will stick and I will finally have only one child in diapers!! If someone had told me that someday, I would be beside myself excited about bodily fuctions from a 3 year old, I would have thought...Lord, I hope not, that would make for one pathedic life...but oh the joy I have found from a little pee and a little poop! Not to mention, there is nothing more pathedic I would rather do than devote my life to these precious boys...poop and all!