The Day That Potty Training Clicked

Anna- this is to remind me of the day that potty training seemed to click for you! We were at Preschool Mother's Prayer Group and I helped out with childcare that day. All your little peers were using the potty and clearly in potty training mode. We had given up a month or two before b/c you just didn't seem to get it. My friend Kristin shared how she was just going to put her daughter in underwear while they were at home and see how it goes.

I decided to do the same thing after nap that day. I figured we'd try for a week or two again. What could it hurt? You did AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I asked you if you wanted to wear underwear and you said yes. I asked you if you would tell me when you have to go potty and you said yes. And then I asked you please to not pee on the floor. That Tuesday you peed twice in the potty and were dry all day! The next day you peed several times and pooped in the potty. You only had one accident right before bedtime! On Friday same thing most of the time you made it to the potty on time!
MOTIVATORS: Stickers & marshmallow or piece of candy.
So hopefully we can look back on this when it's time for Autumn to potty train to give us hope b/c I was feeling kinda hopeless about you several weeks ago...Anna was about 2 years 8 months when she began to undrestand the potty training process :)

Roomies

We have 6 more weeks until our next little bundle joins the clan. We have been busily preparing our home for this transition. We painted the kitchen a washable blue color so it's easy to clean the little ones' messes :), picked up microfiber(supposedly easy to wash)couches we can all recline on together which we love, love. We have added organizational items like the storage cubes and shoe cubby...fun times.
Last week we painted Emily's old room Sonic Lime green. Saturday night Anna moved in!!!!!! Anna we put you down for bed a half hour before sissy so as to cut down on night time girl chatter...We were so proud of you. You were wonderful bedfellows! Emily told us in the morning that Anna said she was scared so she sang her a lullaby and proceed to recite a Hush Little baby remix that Emily put her own personal touches into :)
I am so thankful for you girls and your daddy and so happy for this sweet time that the Lord has allowed me to take care of you! Love , Mom

Firehouse

Monday, we took a trip to the firehouse. We went to station No.1 in downtown Gastonia. As usual we were running late so mom forgot the camera but maybe I will get some pics from Emily's teacher, Miss Donna. Emily & Anna both enjoyed it. It was much needed and educational. I told Emily she can just jump out her window since we have a ranch house but she seems to think this is inappropriate maybe we will have to go have another talk with the firemen...

Date with my Daughter

Last weekend I had a date with my daughter, Emily. It was the perfect date, her & I drove to Hunting Island Beach, SC for my dear friend, Kimbo's wedding. It a weekend full of travel, sun, sand, princes, and princesses everything magical to a four year old. For some reason my kids LOVE hotel rooms: low budget, high end it doesn't seem to matter to them. I think it's just the sensation of 'we are sleeping somewhere new tonight HOW COOL!' For the rehearsal we practiced outside in a park downtown where Emily got to roam and explore with all her friends. Then we ate at a restaurant aptly named Emily's :) While we had to wait for a quite a bit the steak was truly yummy!

The next day at the beach was neat Kim & Mike we married by Kim's Father and Brother what a neat ceremony giving glory to our AWESOME creator~the Lord Jesus! We saw the bride and groom off in our swimsuits and finished the day playing in the sand. This was a memorable trip for me and my sweet Emily~

Birthday Bonanza Part I: NC

This year was FULL of celebrations for the Triple Kratt birthdays. For those of you who don't already know: my daughter Emily was born on September 26, my daughter Anna was born September 29, & my husband Bill was born on September 30th. so 3/4 of the birthdays in our house are celebrated together. Bill is VERY thankful for what he calls the two best birthday presents in the world!

This year we started off the festivities we NC friends & family. First off there was a scare on Thursday, Emily threw up for no reason just once and a whole bunch...I freaked out, cancelled, and told, everyone not to come... Well, all day Friday she seemed just fine. So, encouraged by my cousin Shad and Aunt Alex we decided the show must go on! Friday night Shad, Mary, Tyler, & Chloe Rayner arrived! This is my cousin and his family~they live just a short drive away in Fayetteville,NC. Shad had a hockey tournament.

Saturday, Bill ran his first half marathon! He finished this in two hours and five minutes! I am very proud of him )after two miles I would have stopped off for ice cream and/or donuts).

While he was doing this Mary & I prepared for the party! Thank the Lord for Mary(who is really more like Martha wink wink)She helped me organize and I prepared the cake~ Miss Anna picked this theme: Minnie Mouse. This was my first cartoon character cake decorating experience...Anna B.~ the Martha Stuart of our region gave me some advice and I was off and decorating. It was worth the smiles from Bill & the girls(I think Bill actually liked it the most!) It was such a joy to have so many friends and family to share this special day with!

Depravity and evil lurk in every corner quietly poised to rip and tear. Desconcerta convenes waiting and yearning on her throne in the center of the castle. She wants to be a dove: soft, docile, and peaceful. However, she shrieks like a Pteranadon seeking battle after battle. Will she sit and wait? Will she choose the honourable path? No, not always! Desconcerta rocks back on her throne thankful for His grace.

Plans

I was so excited this past week. Bill & I were going to go on a date to Arts' Night. I would get to share my pieces with others and see and hear new artwork and poetry. For me it really doesn't get much better than that. Not to mention all in a place that has ice cream & coffee!!! I looked forward to it all week.

Well, Saturday finally arrived. We had made a lovely dinner for our neighbors and were enjoying good food and fun times. Finally, as we were all finishing up; Anna climbed up into her booster and projectile vomitted not once but three times. What a show!!!!!!!

I washed my little muchkin up, Bill cleaned off her chair, and Nanc busily put everything away. My sweet husband said, "You go on to the Arts Night and I will take care of Anna but I couldn't. I could not be anywhere except holding and praying for, and loving on my sweet little lady.

I am sharing this with you because mothering does not come naturally to me, just as puting others first doesn't, and being a wonderful wife. But the Lord in this moment gave me His heart for what should be top priority in my life. He has made it clear to me: Lord, Husband, then children. I am not going to tell you that I don't struggle with dreams of personal career goals. But the Lord has sent me these special gifts for a short while, sometimes they drive me crazy and give me fits. But I pray for the strength to care for them as He would have me care for them. And I thank Him that He is enough! He is all that I need, His grace is sufficient! I will rest in the peace that no matter the plans I have His are the best!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11