Mommy's Little Helper

I decided to take advantage of the time Owen and I had to ourselves, while Max took a morning nap, to get the sugar cookie dough made. Owen was quite the little helper. He poured in the measured flour and sugar like a pro. Then, I got out the baking powder, I should have had out the measuring utensils before the ingredients, but I guess now I know for next time, because while I was getting the teaspoon out of the drawer my little helper took it upon himself to dump some in! I was able to spoon some out, but I am a little curious what will happen to the cookies that have too much baking powder in them. I guess time will tell.

He really enjoyed getting his hands dirty when we had to add in the oleo and didn't argue when I told it was time to wash his hands. I think he is really going to enjoy rolling out the dough and decorating the cookies this afternoon.

Rocker Hair

Last night while getting Max's PJ's on after his bath, I spiked up his hair in a mohawk. I walked down to our bathroom where Owen was brushing his teeth. When Owen looked in the mirror and saw Max's hair, he said, "Max a rock star!" Then he reached in the drawer to get the comb out. I think his original train of thought was for me to fix his hair so he didn't look like a rock star, but instead I showed Owen how I could make his hair look that way. We wet the comb down and I successfully go Owen's hair to stick up in a mohawk too, which really isn't that easy with his hair. Anyway, when he finished brushing his teeth he asked for his "rock star guitar," so Gavin went downstairs to get it, he jumped around his room playing his guitar for a minute or two, then Gavin told him it was time to stop and read his bedtime story. He then turned off his guitar, patted his hair back into place and said, "all done being a rock star!!"

Happy Thanksgiving

• This is our first Thanksgiving without any of our family. So the first thing I am thankful for this Thanksgiving is for our "Vegas Family." We have been so blessed to have friends who treat us like family. We have spent every Easter, except our very first Easter with them, we have spent every Christmas Eve with them, Halloween, Labor Day, Superbowl, ect., but this will be our first Thanksgiving with them.
• The secong thing I am thankful for this Thanksgiving are my two little boys. They are my life and I can't imagine my life without them. That being said....
• I am thankful that Owen is potty trained and truly embracing his role as a "big boy," complete with growing some "listening ears!" I can't believe he is ready for preschool!
• I am thankful that Max is such an easy going baby. He is such a happy little guy, he loves to sleep, and I am thankful he did not start crawling at six months like his brother!
• Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for my wonderful husband. I am thankful for the fact that he allows me to play with my kids every evening and not worry about putting dinner on the table. I am thankful that he is a very involved, Daddy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Track Break Ending

I am sad to report that today is officially the last day of my track break. Since Owen has been about 16 months, he has been so active and hard headed, that being home alone with him is so much more work than going to work. Past track breaks he liked to wake up at 4:30 in the morning and not nap and that made for a very long day. Let's not forget, this time last year, when he stuck a noodle up his nose! Just one of the examples of how he certainly kept me on my toes!

This track break I decided to start potty training. I fully expected to be homebound the entire month trying to get my child to potty train. To my surprise he picked it up in just a day or so. Refused to poop in the potty until just two days ago, but still, much easier than anticipated.

Since we did not need to be stuck at home close to the potty, I worked up the nerve to take both boys out in public by myself. We started first with the park, that is nice and fenced in so Owen can't escape. Then, a friend invited us to story time at the library, where Owen even went potty! We went to the store to get ideas for Christmas, Owen went out to breakfast with Uncle Tobie, and we treated ourselves to In-n-Out Burgers one day.

We have had a nice laid back track break, Owen playing with his race cars and Max trying desperately to crawl across the room. We have slept in, by that I mean close to 7 am most mornings and it has just been a nice change of pace from our normally hectic days of trying to get out the door in the mornings and then dealing with cranky tired boys in the evenings! Of course, there have been the occasional melt downs, and Owen still does not take a nap, but he does relax in front of the TV for a little while and have quiet time.

Track breaks are always weird for me, I spend the first week not really sure what to do, feeling like I need a "to do" list and not feeling busy enough. The first week is usually spent checking papers and not knowing how to take a vacation from the classroom. Then throughout track break I master the art of being relaxed and I pick up some novels from the library and start to forget about the unchecked papers that are still sitting on top of the fridge, so that when track break ends I find myself not really looking forward to going back to work.

But it's only three weeks and then we will be on Christmas break, and Gavin will home too and we can relax together for another two weeks!

Race Car Obsession!

Yesterday, I took Owen to Toys R Us to get some ideas for Christmas. This backfired a little as he really wanted to take home some race cars. In the process of him running away from me in the store in his attempt to have his way about taking the race cars home (which isn't very good reasoning, what mother in their right mind gives in to buying something if the child runs away in the store), ANYWAY, he happened upon an aisle dedicated to the movie, Cars. He spotted a McQueen toddler lounge chair and immediately asked to sit in it. I took it off the shelf and he sat down. First, he sat back like he was settling in to watch a days worth of Word World, but then he put his hands at the end of the arm rest, sat up in the seat, and made a race car noise. A saleslady walked by and said, "I think he likes it."

Thankful

This morning Owen mentioned the name of a family friend. I told him that we were going to see her for Thanksgiving. He repeated excitedly, "Halloween!"

I replied back, "no, for Thanksgiving, when we eat turkey,"

"Turrrrkeee," he repeated.

"Yeah," I responded, "and we say that we are thankful for our family, and our friends, and wearing underwear (tying in the recent potty training)."

"And ice cream," Owen added with a grin!

Music to My Ears

I have never been more happy to hear the sound of pee hitting the water in the toliet, than I was on Tuesday morning, when Owen did it for the very first time!!:) The "potty" dance that people talk about, does not have to be faked, it is completely natural. At the moment that I heard that noise I just couldn't contain my excitement and I danced around clapping.

Tonight, he even pooped in the potty!!!