Waiting for the Flowers

Lucas has definitely changed his tune about Kindergarten. It is amazing, really. A few months ago, he would say, "No thanks, I don't want to go to Kindergarten." This "No thanks" line has been well used throughout preschool, to steer clear of all kinds of crafts, writing, and singing activities with much success. The real harsh world looms ahead, however, "No Thanks" doesn't get you out of Kindergarten.

Jake and I have been trying to decide where to have Lucas go to school next year. Do we keep him at the Catholic school where he has attended preschool so that he is at least familiar with the faces and routine there or do we send him to the public school? There isn't a bad option really but after attending both informational meetings, we have decided to send him to the Catholic school for this year. It was Lucas who really made the decision for us. Some unexpected funds came in making the tuition no longer an issue (it was a big deterrent at first), so then it came down to what would be the best fit. Lucas walked into the Kindergarten Round Up at the Catholic School gripping my hand and feeling very nervous. The teacher came over and put him at ease and i was able to leave for the 2 hours. I came back to a different kid. He was literally bouncing with excitement. He had the best time and has talked about Kindergarten several times since.

During his time there, the kids planted seeds in a cup and the teacher told them that after their plants had flowers on them, it would be time to come to Kindergarten. I totally ate that up. I don't know why but it was just such a simple thing that made my heart melt. I know this whole Kindergarten thing is way more emotional for me than him, and that plant growing in our windowsill is a symbol to me of the growing he is doing now and the blooming he will continue to show as he starts this new stage. It is also a reminder to me that my time with Lucas at home with me all the time is quickly coming to a close. There are days I don't want that plant to grow, I want to stop watering it or hide it from the sun to slow down time (when you put it that way, it sounds abusive, oops). I would be lying if I didn't have moments that i want to add a ton of manure and build a greenhouse for it to speed up the process. But, as with Lucas, it will bloom when it is time, and all I can do is enjoy the days as we prepare for this new season of life...school.

Let Spring Begin!!!

I can not begin to tell you how much this change of weather has improved my demeanor. Weeks of gray skies and cold weather really took a toll and I didn't totally realize it until the sun showed up and it was like someone slipped me a happy pill. There is just something amazingly therapeutic about being able to work out in the garden and play with the boys outside. It even looks like we will have sunshine for Easter!

I have been dying to get outside and start planting!! This year, it looks like I will be going just as crazy and planting anything and everything. Here is the plan for this year's garden:
In the main garden, we will have
Strawberries
Garlic
Onions (red, yellow, and white)
Asparagus
soy beans
peppers
tomatoes
lettuce
carrots
In the extra garden:
seedless watermelon
gigantic pumpkins
lemon cucumbers
red and yukon gold potatoes
New to the flower beds around the house:
lavender
salvia
iris
zinnias
poppies
asters
I am sure I will add to the list after going to the garden sale, but I am really looking forward to seeing if all this will grow and how all the new plants around the house will look. Seeing that we had NO plants whatsoever when we moved in, I am just throwing whatever I can get my hands on in the ground and will see what grows and what I like. We may have a jungle in the end, but at least it will be green! I am tired of all the bareness and rocks.

So, let Spring begin!! I am heading outside!

Prayers and Meditation with Young Boys.

We have been talking about meditation a bit at church, looking at the Buddhist practices and how we can find great insight into our own meditation practices. The kids have been learning a great little chant to sing and everything. Anyway, Lucas decided to give it a try the other night. He went into our guest room, rang a bell (not a calming meditation bell like our pastor uses at church), and turned on our classy electrical candle. He came running back in to me and says, "Nothing happened, it's not working" (it must have been the subpar bell and artificial light, right?). I told him to try again and this time, take some deep breaths. I explained that it is just a time to be silent and relax. It helps us to be calm. So, he runs off again, I hear the loud bell clanging away and then some silence. Practice makes better, right?

Sometimes I wonder what exactly toddlers are thinking when you pray with them. Ben's prayers tonight are as follows:
Ir Digis (Dear Jesus, I think),
then he launches into a play by play of his day, followed by a "Help us to be kind".
The prayer finishes with me saying a little prayer for him. Tonight I mentioned something about God helping Ben learn to go peepee in the potty (since we are on week 2 plus and still no pee has made it to the potty). Ben stops me and says, "No, help Ben to have Potty Power".

Well Ben, may the force be with you and your bodily fluids. God help us all.

Potty Training Update

Day 4... No action in the potty yet but he will sit on the potty for the most part. I think he is just waiting until nap time when I put a diaper or pull up on him to go. He hasn't had that many accidents so I will keep going with it and see if something will click for him. Thanks for all the comments, it is nice to know there are others on the same ride right now. I guess there is one good thing about all these snow days- we can be home A LOT for this potty stuff.

Glutton for Punishment

Let it begin...
I have decided to start potty training with Ben. A big part of me feels I need to throw in the towel and just wait until he is three. The problem is he turns three in May and we have way too many trips and things to interrupt any potty training. Right now, we are home for days on end with this weather being so bad. It seems like a better time to try. Ben is not so into the idea. I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle. Is that just what potty training is??? I am so not a fan. I am pulling out all the stops though. We keep reading this book, You Can Go To The Potty, we went to the store and picked out a potty and underwear, I have him sit on the potty every 30 minutes, and he gets a chocolate chip (I know, so generous of me, a WHOLE chocolate chip) when he sits on the potty.
I am going to give it the old college try for the weekend and then reevaluate things. Hopefully, he will start thinking it is cool to not pee himself. One can dream!
Any ideas or advice? It was a totally different ball game with Lucas!

The Deck

The Before Photos:


It may have taken me several weeks to complete but the deck is finally done! For those of you who didn't see it before, it was stained an opaque rusty color, with an orange tint to it. it just didn't look that great with the house and needed to be sanded and redone anyway. We went really dark this time, but I really like the way it turned out.

The After Shots:

Fruits of my labor

The garden is producing food!!! Really, it shocks me every time I go out there. I have been eating the cherry tomatoes off the vine as soon as they are red (hence not many left for salad. Tonight though, I made a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion that came from my backyard! I even picked a carrot to see if they were ready. The onions were not big yet, but I just couldn't resist! I wish the two of you who read this lived closer because I have a TON of lettuce! I think I might try to bring some home in my suitcase in a couple for weeks! I know I am going over board, but I just never thought I could keep anything, that didn't cry when it needed food, alive!