Archie and Grace Pre-Baby Fun!

I'm feeling the need to catch up on posting tonight. Perhaps that's because I'm pretty sure this will be the last post I do as a mother of two before the baby comes. 

In March, both kids participated in the annual children's art show held by Hunter's work. They worked really hard on their art. I was really disappointed Grace didn't get at least an honorable mention for her "An Apple Tree for Mommy and Me." She was happy enough with the participation award. Archie's Captain America really popped out of the canvas thanks to some cardboard and glue. I thought it was a creative idea. 

Grace had fun at one of her little friend's ballet birthday parties. She is not at all interested in taking an actual ballet class, though. She wants to go back to playing soccer.

Grace is obsessed with this new nightgown from Grandma DeJ. She loves matching her doll (who she also named Grace). Doll Grace has a twin doll brother named Archie (but he doesn't have any special PJs).

We hosted an Easter egg hunt today. It was lots of fun. We read the story Benjamin's Box and used the Resurrection Eggs to share the story of Easter with our guests beforehand. Here are Archie and Grace with two of their best friends.

Grace's school recently went on a field trip to the nature center. They were so excited to ride on a real school bus. Archie was a little jealous. She is walking beside another of her best friends, and her teacher, Mrs. Lewin, is leading the way.

Grace-isms

Grace says the funniest things!

Grace (while eating a PB&J she made all by herself): Daddy, when I'm done eating I'm going to fight you.
Daddy (playfully): Oh, Grace, don't fight me. I'm scared!
Grace: (giggly): Don't worry, Daddy! I'll fight gently so nobody gets vanquished!

Did somebody say vanquished???
Grace loves to latch onto a word someone says and ask the question "Did somebody say (insert word)?"

Earlier this year her two expressions that cracked me up the most were:

"Here goes nothing" (said before doing just about anything but especially funny when said before doing something daring like zooming down our giant, snowy hill on a by herself on a sled
)

"At your service"
Think I like this one. Pretty nice to call a kid's name and have them scurry to stand before you "at your service". Can I keep it?

A Visit to the Land of CHOCOLATE!

Fun and chocolate? Chocolate and fun?

That's what we had at Hershey Park last month. They had tons of kid friendly rides. Archie was disappointed that neither of his parents would take him on an adult roller coaster (even though he was tall enough to ride one of the smaller ones).

It wasn't a particularly hot day, but a quick trip down the log ride was still fun!

Tower of Terror miniature style? Archie loved it!

Nothing like shaking hands with a Hershey Kiss (unless it's eating one). Grace was hilarious when she ran over to this guy and kissed him.

My favorite part was the Hershey Museum. They had an "It's a Small World" style ride that taught all about the production of chocolate. Archie, my non-fiction guy, and Grace both loved it, too.

Afterward, they gave a free sample then funneled you into the store to buy more. Looking down and seeing the hoards of people crowding to buy the same things you can get for cheaper at Walmart reminded me of China.

Archie with the Rainbow Hair

While I must confess I'm chomping at the bit for spring, we've been having lots of fun this winter. Archie's three weekly highlights are Awana Club, soccer, and Church School. (There is a really great class for homeschoolers during my Tuesday morning Bible study. Grace loves her class, too.)

A few weeks ago, we had crazy hair night at Awana. I colored Archie's hair with washable markers. Grace was too afraid they wouldn't wash out, but she enjoyed her million pigtails. The kids have memorized SO much Scripture.

We've had snow a few times. They were calling for a "Snowquestration" storm yesterday, but it wasn't cold enough for the buckets that fell from the sky to really stick.

Archie is still entering art shows. He entered a clay sculpture called "Have a Ball" in an art show at Hunter's work. He didn't win, but he enjoyed getting his participation award at the ceremony. (Everyone enjoyed the punch and cookies afterward :)

Archie has run 23 of the 25 miles he needs to complete before March 16 when we head down to Virginia Beach for him to run the Final Mile 5-12-year-old race in the Shamrock Marathon. (A marathon has 26.2 miles and they do the last one together.) I didn't realize when I signed him up in December what a big commitment running 25 miles in one mile increments with a kindergartner was. Grace usually runs part ways then catches a ride in the stroller.

Bunk Bed Fun!

The kids have been begging for bunk beds for awhile, and we finally decided Archie was mature enough to sleep in a top bunk. They're great space savers, and we've enjoyed freeing up the rest of their room. They convert into twins if we want to use them that way later. Underneath, there's a large toy car parking lot nicely masked from sight by the dust ruffle.

 We also have a Lego table corner that the kids love.

A view of our third "extra" bedroom. There's not much in it now so it's a great play room for the kids. Dress-up clothes stay stashed in the rocket ship!

Looking Back: Last Sunday in Blacksburg

Hard to believe the kids and I have been staying with the Grandparents nearly a month now! Hunt came up for his first visit last week, and it was so good to see him. He also brought with him my camera which, due to poor planning, I left with him in Blacksburg. I found these precious pics of my princess taken in our church garden the last Sunday we were in Blacksburg. I wish I'd made more pics because you will seldom find a church with a lovelier garden.

Our last Sunday the kids also sang two songs in the Chinese church. They sang "Jesus Loves Me" in English and a song called "I Lift My Eyes Up" in Chinese. How sweet! We will miss being a part of Blacksburg Chinese Church!

The Joys of...HIBERNATION!

OK! We're not exactly hibernating through this not-very-cold-winter over here, but I have managed to catch a few moments of the kids' shut eye on camera.

How funny! Grace climbed out of her bed one day at nap, and I found her sound asleep on the floor.
Archie prefers napping on our bed when he naps (usually only 2-3 days/week). He always burrows under as many blankets as possible. No worries about him staying warm.

What do we do before bed? Bath time, of course! (Well, OK, not every night...)

Art projects:
Bedtime snacks:
And teeth brushing. (No, Grace doesn't brush by herself, but she insists on having a turn.)

Happiness is a Balloon Creation

We waited in line last weekend almost one hour to get this cool penguin on a stick, but I think it was worth it. Archie waited with a friend and was so happy! Doesn't his grin just show pure joy?

Grace just wanted a pink bear but the clown surprised her by putting her pink bear at the bottom of three cascading hearts attached to a pink and purple swirly balloon stick. Pretty cool! She came up with her outfit ensemble herself and it is complemented by a yummy red snowcone residue spilled everywhere. Ahhhh...happiness.

The Good Samaritan (According to Grace)

Archie's class studied the parable of the Good Samaritan at church last week. I love that wonderful story where an injured man is passed over by a priest and a Levite but finally helped by a despised Samaritan. Hunt decided to share the story with Grace. Here's how it went.

Dad: Once there was a man that got hurt on the side of the road.

Grace: And did the policeman come help him?

Dad: Not the policeman exactly. A priest and a Levite came by but didn't help him.

Grace: That's not very nice. Santa's not going to bring them any presents this year.

Gotta love a two year old's perspective! Let's try to do a little better at helping our neighbors this year!

A bit demanding? Funny vocab stories

Grace is getting a little demanding at Mamoo and Papa's house. Tonight, she told Mamoo (Grandma DeJ) "More juice...QUICK."

I do appreciate her concern for authority. While visiting overnight at a friend's recently, we told Archie he was only allowed to come downstairs if he became very afraid. Grace must have taken the message to heart. We overheard her tell Archie that she had an accident and ask him if she could go downstairs. He granted her permission :)

Grace is progressing in the use of more complex sentence structures. When Archie told us he didn't want to do something a few days ago, she called out from the other room, "I don't want to EITHER."

Archie's use of the words "excuse me" is also amusing me these days. The other day, he ran up to me in McDonald's Playland and told me, "Excuse me, I can't find my friend." Guess that's the right way to get my attention. It just sounds so funny with that sentence. Happy to report we located "friend in the orange shirt" a few minutes later in another slide and they went back to playing.

Dream diet

Archie's dream diet is expressed in this cute dialog. (He loves hot dogs almost as much as his Mama. Aren't they a food group or something.)

Me: Peeling carrots in a quiet kitchen

Archie: Rushing in "I don't want to eat carrots; I just want to eat hot dogs..."

Can a boy live on them?

Grace, meanwhile, would scarf a giant can of baked beans down by herself if you'd let her.

Something just happened that never ever happens...

And it's GREAT!

My kids fell asleep in the car on the way home from the eye doctor's in Salem and they are STILL sleeping in their beds. If Archie falls asleep for even an millisecond in the car he won't go back to sleep at home. But, he did, and it's GREAT!


Don't have a pic to go with the sleeping children so I attached one my friend made at Romp 'n' Roll yesterday. She invited me to her kid's gym and it was lots of fun!

A day with CARS!

I took my kids on my first solo car trip and survived it. We had fun at Memaw and Papa's the other week week. Mom met me halfway, and we took the kids to a mini-amusement park in Gatlinburg for the day. Archie loved all the stuff to ride. He rode the train, plane, teacups, pirate ship, ferris wheel, and probably other stuff, but his favorite was definitely the race cars.

Archie loved it, but didn't quite get it so this nice grandpa-type attendant helped him quite a bit.

Planes are another favorite. He has decided he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. (No space shuttles available at this theme park...)


Grace liked some of the rides, too, but she mainly just liked being cute and the attention from Memaw!


The Ferris Wheel didn't go over as well as the swings, and they had to get her out before she even got started good. Maybe next time...

The itch police!

Whenever Archie gets a bug bite, I always tell him, "Please don't scratch." He's pretty good about refraining - maybe better than me. Now, whenever I get a bug bite he always says "Please don't scratch, Mommy, please don't scratch." Didn't know I lived with the itch police but maybe it will help save my skin (literally).

Only two year olds...

Only two year olds

1. Ask to take a picture of the air when you go outside...

2. Get ridiculously excited about being able to push the start button on the dryer.

Gotta love 'em.

Grace: Already an artist!

Grace did her first art project the other day. But, if you have a weak stomach you might want to skip over this post now before I start talking about the medium with which she finger painted. Yep. Poop. Massive diaper failure. When I went into her room to get her the other morning, her diaper was laying neatly beside her bare little bottom, and she had poop in pretty much every conceivable place. Sheets, hair, nose, probably some had been sampled as a cuisine. Gross!

While we're on the topic, Archie fell into a squatty potty the other day. Thankfully, it was just his foot...

Archie's "predicament" and other funnies!

One of the things that keeps me sane while caring for and loving both a toddler and infant with all the craziness involved is the hilarious things that they say and do.

Funny 1:

Conversation on Day One of Potty Training.

Daddy: Archie, do you need to pee pee? (While working to keep Archie on the toilet)

Archie: (While trying to get off the toilet) I'm...PREDICAMENT.

Something is just too funny about hearing a toddler use that word.

Funny2:

Archie knows how to make a deal. The other day he decided he wanted the toy monkey Grace was currently playing with so he snatched it just like that. Then, without a word from anyone disappeared into his room to give her not one but TWO of his favorite little cars. Two for one. Grace made out like a bandit, huh?

Funny 3:

While I think that Archie's pretty much all boy and Grace is pretty much all girl, they seemed to get the traditional gender rolls reversed a bit today

Grace with her car:

Archie being a good daddy to his doll. This weird looking creature is the favorite dolly in our house, and I'm glad I've finally convinced Archie to call it WaWa (doll) instead of Grace.

Archie's actually doing really well with potty training. Today marks Day 5. In the past three days, we've only had 1.5 pee pee accidents. Way to go! Archie is a bit scared of his poo poo so we're still working on that but he always tells me as he's in the process of going and we rush to the bathroom. Archie earned his big boy underwear on Day 2. (Day 1 was bare bottomed.) And, he is now wearing pants as well. I have discovered he does not pee pee much. He only goes every three hours or so. I tried giving him lots to drink at the first, but he's just not a big drinker and even stopped drinking juice (his favorite) after awhile. He is quite proud of himself with each success. I wish I had a dollar for every time I told him he'd get a sticker and candy (gummy bear) for every time he goes pee pee in the potty. I would be rich :) This is probably the longest he's ever been without going out of the house. I am planning to take our first outing on Sunday to see how he does while out and about.

My exciting day spent in one room of the house!

Which room? The BATHROOM! Why? Thankfully, no one has a stomach bug. The draw to this room is because today was Archie's first day of potty training. We are using one of those crazy methods that's supposed to get your kid toilet trained in three days. (Honestly, I know folks it's worked for and one family that successfully trained their sixteen MONTH old using it.)

Basic principle: If the kid doesn't know what it feels like to need to go potty, no problem. You teach them by frequently putting them on the potty and catching "accidents" in the potty. You make a huge deal out of success and they figure it out pretty quick. Oh, and no pants or underwear so I'm thankful for no carpet. (This is only possible because they have FINALLY fixed our heat and we're not freezing all day.)

Here's what I've learned.

Modify the version for you.

Extremes of this method having you setting a timer and taking your kid to the potty every 8-10 minutes. I just can't take it. We have concluded Archie goes pee-pee every 1.5-2.5 hours so taking him to the potty before that is pretty much a waste. We started taking him for huge blocks of time around the 1.5-2.5 hour block and think that'll work much better.

This method must have been designed for younger kids who pee-pee more frequently. We only had a total of five bladder releasing sessions today (one during nap, two on our floor, one on our chair, and one in the potty). So, catching the accidents will take longer than if the bladder releases every thirty minutes. No poo poo today. I'm eager to see how that works tomorrow.

Even though there was only one session with pee-pee in the toilet, I think Archie might be catching on. Right before his success story (which was his last pee pee of the day) he told me he needed to go and went immediately afterward. WAY TO GO!

I feel a little sorry for him. He asked to wear pants several times today and even brought me a pair from his dresser drawer once. What kind of mother doesn't grant a reasonable request like that? Tonight, I drew him the chart below. I told him he gets a smiley face sticker for each success in the toilet and I will start letting him wear his brand new big boy underwear after three smilies. (After that, I'll probably make a few more boxes so he can earn the right to wear pants, too.)

A favorite recent pensive pic of my boy:

No, I haven't started this method with Grace yet, but when I changed her clothes I had to put her on the floor for a few minutes while I tended to Archie half way through, and she just looked so cute...

Potty training advice, stories, suggestions welcome. Leave a comment with your wisdom or encouragement :) I want to get this done soon because I can't really leave the house for the next few days (which is why I picked this week because this is my last slow week until sometime in August!)