Jaxy Used the Potty!

This is too funny. Boys..... wow.... they are just silly little fellows. I really haven't even attempted to potty train Jaxson. He showed some interest very early, like right after he started walking, and I guess I should have done it then, because now, not so interested. But, Channing has been trying to work with him (she's 4!), and he has decided she can come in with him, but not me (you know, because I am just the dorky mom who is not nearly as cool as big sister!). Anyway, this actually happened when she was gone, and he told me, "You get out, momma!". So I did, and of course he squatted, but on the floor. So I snuck back in and quickly put him on the potty, and he did it! I was so excited, I was clapping and cheering. He looked in the toilet and started yelling "ewww! ewww! ewww!". That night, he pooped in the tub when Paxton and I weren't paying attention and started swatting it with his rag yelling "BAD POOP! DIRTY POOP"! Hasn't gone on the potty since, but has done some dramatic grunting and pushing. This could take a while!

Channing's Gymnastics/ PE presentation!

It was a blast getting see my little Chann in action for her end of the year performance for Tendercare. It was really nice.... they had it at the middle school gym and there was a big group. I was AMAZED at what all they are doing!!! She was so cute... got a little nervous at first (a little stage fright I guess!), but once she got going, she was really getting after it!!! She loves "skin the cat" on the bars. Jaxson had fun watching and kept yelling..... sissy!!!!!! You can see her peeking her head out of the big parachute. All the other kids were underneath..... such a little rebel! Not sure where she gets that!

Instead of Austria....

As usual, hardly anything has gone as planned lately, but that's okay. We found out a few days before heading to Vienna, Austria that Paxton's Grandmother passed away. What a wonderful way for her to go.... 93, not sick, went peacefully in her sleep. She was a really sweet lady, and the funeral was very upbeat and made you think about your life. We will miss her, and know that she is in a much more happy, and more comfortable place (no more bad hips or knees!). While we were there, news starting coming in about the volcano. Well, we waited on pins and needles to find out if we were going.... found out the night before, no we were not going. So SAD, let me tell you. But my wonderful mother-in-law offered to keep the kids for a few days, so off we went! We had 1 nice relaxing day at home, and then headed to some friends' house, Heath and Laurie, in Kerrville. We had a BLAST!!! And I love it out there.... I could move out there in a minute. So pretty with all the green trees and rolling hills. You can see us in the beautiful Indian Paintbrush field we found, and Paxton was so embarrassed that I made him stand next to the road in a field of flowers and take a picture! We went to Heath's Dad's weekend house, and went to some neat downtown restaurant and bars, and then hung out in Fredericksburg on Friday. On Saturday we decided to go to Uncle Ed's ranch to meet the kids, so we spent a night there, and drove home last night. But while we were there, we enjoyed getting fresh air, and the longhorn cattle were so pretty.... I love cows, don't know why. They were so friendly, I even got to pet one! Chann and Jax were scared to death!!!

Happy Easter!

We were so homesick and ready to see our family this year, especially with the arrival of baby Grayson! Channing had so much fun seeing her cousin/ best friend Jade, and we just all had a very relaxing, fun, peaceful time. Jaxson was still determined to eat every parcel of candy as he opened his eggs during the hunt, and Channing was determined to gather the most eggs!!! She was sweating and red faced by the end of the hunt!

My birthday weekend with Stac and the girls!

I think I blogged a little about this, but didn't have pics to upload. We had a GREAT time, and it was so much fun to get away. There were about 8 of us I think, but my camera broke halfway through the night so I only got away with a few. Friday night we met Meegan for sushi (yum- I was craving it!!!), Saturday we had pedi, mani, and massages, then out for dinner. It was so good to see Jessica too, who also went with us to Mexico for b-days last year. Stayed up WAY too late and Sunday was a struggle, but so good to home with my family that afternoon!

Jaxson's first "real sentences"!

Wanted to type this up really quickly before I forget.... Jaxson has been putting 2 or 3 words together for a while, but tonight, out of the blue he said "Me eat too, mama". Usually he just says "EAT!". And when I put him to bed he said "Me out!" instead of his usual "OUT!". Yesterday, for the first time, he said "I wuv you too, mama.". MADE MY DAY!!!!! Channing and Jaxson, if you read this someday, I love you!

Dave Ramsey- Again???

Okay- this time we are serious. It is time to make some big financial changes. I am tired of going on the budget, off the budget, on the budget, off the budget. This time, we are doing it, and I know Paxton is committed so I am trying to get 100% on board so we don't have a battle everyday! I thought of something this morning.... if we would have been living like we should have been living back when we were making very little money (financially.... instead of buying houses and cars that we didn't need) we could be easily able to be living the way live now without stress. BUT- we didn't- we made some bad decisions, and now, even with the pay increase we got when we moved here, we do not have the luxury to continue doing what we want when we feel like doing it until we take care of business. And it could all be so much worse.... we are so blessed.... but I think we laugh in the faces of our elders who warn us about the things we do thinking we know everything, and then you start to grow up and realize you don't know much at all. This is a private matter that I am making very not-private, but I think many people have done the same thing, and I don't think it is necessarily embarrassing, just reality, at least for us. I think it hard to live realistically and within your means, especially in our society. But I also think people are waking up to this, and that lots of people are making changes. I am making a pretty firm schedule for me and the kids that has organized playtime, learning time, etc.... so that we are not so tempted to mindlessly spend money on entertainment. I am going to take them to every playgroup session I can, every story time at the library I can, and Channing is not just going to get her daily sonic drink after school (that's just one example)-- we are going to cut back on that, and she is going to start doing some chores to earn those treats. Yesterday they got ice cream at Dairy Queen- which they do once or twice every week, she didn't say thank you, and even went so far as to throw a big fit when we got back in the car because she couldn't have a piece of candy. Part of it is being 4, but part of it is that she is just plain spoiled. And so many kids are. My dad said to jump, I said how high. I tell her to jump, and it is a list of 30 questions and at least 50 reasons why she can't. It is my own fault, but I need to teach her these lessons now, or we'll all be sorry later! Oh- my one big contribution to the budget this morning..... I saved $20.00/ month by eliminating HD channels, and then downgraded to the Dish "family plan".... some might argue that if I was REALLY SERIOUS I WOULD ELIMINATE CABLE ALL TOGETHER..... but seriously.... I haven't gotten that good yet, and it was a $30.00/ month savings! But the family programming.... not much to choose from.... but Paxton is fired up because we get the channel that has the "Smurfs". Oh- and by the way- I think I want another baby. Yes- I am brilliant.