COOLER WEATHER

Last evening, it was finally a little cooler outside, so we jumped at the chance to take the boys down to the basketball court so they could ride their bikes. Marc decided Luke needed to wear a helmet, so he got my helmet and tightened it as small as it would go.

(and no, Luke did not Pee his pants. He was playing in the water table before we left.)

It was a little big, but it seemed as if it would do it's job. However, when we got down to the court, it immediately came off.

Since he got the tricycle from Santa this past Christmas, he has only tried riding it around inside the house or out on the deck. Basically, he was only able to go in a straight line, and he hadn't really gotten the hang of pedaling yet. Being out on this huge patch of pavement, was a little daunting at first. Rather than going in a straight line, he just kept going in a tight circle.

Eventually, he got the hang of pedaling, and he was able to go straight AND make turns. "Porkchop, you had better watch out!"

While luke was perfecting his riding skills, Grey was busy giving kisses...

and walking, walking, walking.

The weather was just absolutely perfect, and the boys really enjoyed being outside. Daddy was even having fun.

I truly hope the hot weather will be ending soon so we can have a lot more evenings like this. Better yet, we can have them enjoying our new Yard.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Luke's First Outdoor Pee

A BIG BOY NOW

Potty Training is Complete!!!!

Well, almost.

We started on Tuesday. By 8:30am, Luke was sporting his first pair of Big Boy Underware. By 1:30pm, he was on his 18th pair of Big Boy Underware.

The concept of this Program is that you consistently remind your child to "let you know when they have to go potty". Then you have to try to catch them having an accident and then scoop them up and run them into the bathroom. Eventually it "clicks" and they understand their body's signal of when they are about to release.

The first three times that he released, he was startled because he didn't know what it was. After that, he would tell me that he had to go "Pee", but he had already wet his pants. I had a REALLY hard time "catching" him having an accident even though I literally sat and watched his crotch for four hours that first morning. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've said..."let me know when you have to go potty, okay?"

Around lunch time that first day, he got really upset and was acting like he was in a lot of pain. He was holding himself and when I would take him into the bathroom, he would cry and cling to me. I felt so bad for him - almost to the point that I was ready to give up and put a diaper on him. I could tell he was just holding it and was about to pop. Eventually, I coaxed him to pee in the potty. He got so excited and was SO proud of himself.

About an hour after that whole episode, we were sitting on the couch and he started to grab himself. I asked him if he needed to go - he said yes - we ran to the bathroom, and he peed in the potty. YEAH LUKE!!!!

Just like the Program claimed, it "clicked" for him.

The next morning, he did wake up wet, but he only had one accident that entire day, and he woke up dry from his nap.

Day Three dawned nice and dry and was dry all day long - no accidents.

This picture was taken at dinner time the first day. Learning to pee on the potty is exhausting work.

Day Four... this is where the "Well, almost" comes in. Yesterday was horrible. The first time we went into the bathroom, he acted like he was completely terrified. ALL DAY long he would tell us that he had to go pee, but when we would get in there, he would just scream NO. I can't even remember how many accidents we had yesterday, but basically it all boiled down to him being constipated.

Needless to say, his room was pretty smelly when I went in to get him this morning. But today was better. He had no "pee" accidents - he even went potty at someone else's house, but there were a few "poo" accidents. Learning to go #2 on the potty is a Whole other thing from #1, but he'll get it eventually.

We are SOOOO PROUD of him!!! Following the Program was exhausting, but it worked just like it claimed. Definitely worth the effort. I'm sure we will still have accidents in the weeks to come, but it can only get better.

ROCKING HORSE & BASEBALL HAT

For the past three days, while I've had all my focus and attention on Luke and his potty training, Grey has kept himself busy...

He's so low maintenance.

SOMERSAULTS & ROCKING HORSE

BIG... I MEAN HUGE, PROJECT ON THE HORIZON

Marc and I, have now lived in our house for six years, and have had children for three of those years. In the years that we've been here, we've done NOTHING to the yard. Our house is situated on a one acre lot, that is mostly wooded. We have some grass, but it's at the top of the driveway which is near the main road, and at the main entrance to our neighborhood. Basically if we do anything outside, it's ALWAYS on our deck. Now granted, our deck is quite large, but there is only so much you can do on it - especially when there are now two toddlers running around. Also, our house is built up on stilts (we live in a lake community - if the lake ever floods... we're set), and you can drive under the house - so that's were we park our cars; tandem style. When we were first pregnant (and actually still up until about 4 months ago) , we had this grandiose vision of enclosing the underside of the house and doubling our living square footage. However, due to serious lack of funds and knowing deep down it would be ridiculous to put that much money into this house, we've let that vision drift away.

But now, we have a NEW VISION! One that is Totally Doable. One that will get us up and off the deck. YEAH!!!!!!

We are creating a Yard more accessible from the house.

This is what the immediate area around the house currently looks like - the "Before".

Basically A LOT of freakin' Gravel!!!!!!

This is what our new Yard Utopia Oasis is going to look like - the "After".

There are 3 main objectives:

1. Build the Pole Barn - this will now be where we park our cars

2. Clear out the underbrush in the Woods

3. Plant Grass

The secondary objectives are:

4. Jungle Gym play area for the boys

5. Extending the Lower Deck

6. Building the Privacy Fence

I cannot even begin to express how EXCITED I am that we will very soon be able to go outside and the boys will be able to play and run wild, like all little boys should be able to do. How wild can you get on an 8' deep deck? Not very, let me tell you.

Things are supposed to get under way this week. I will be sure to post pictures as it comes along.

3 DAY POTTY BREAK

This is a BIG week here at the Faucheux household.

This is the week that Luke gets potty trained. Yes, I said "week", and actually, it's only going to take all of 3 Days.

I've got everything ready to go....

Potty Chair, Big Boy Toilet Seat Cover, Flushable Wipes (in "Cars" container of course).

Instruction Manual and 20 pairs of Big Boy Underware... "Cars, Toy Story 3, and traditional Tighty Whiteys... only they're red, blue and camo. As far as Tighty Whitey... well 2T was the smallest size they had... they will by no means be "tight" on my 23lb, almost 3 year old.

Plenty of Fluids...

and PLENTY of Treats and Rewards.

I am going to start on Tuesday, and if all goes as it should (according to the manual), Luke should be Potty Trained by Friday. The really great thing about this, is that the manual recommends doing this training starting at 22mos. (just a Little behind with Luke), which means I can Potty Train Grey in March, and be done with Diapers in 8 Months.

So for 3 Days, I will be UNAVAILABLE. All my Focus, Dedication and Love will be on Luke.

There will be no working out, sewing, being on the computer, talking on the phone, or housework (YEAH!!).

I'll be online only briefly tomorrow because I've got to catch up on my domestic duties and chores, and then completely off the radar until the end of the week.

Wish me Luck, and I'll let you all know how it went next weekend.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE CUTEST THING EVER!!

So this morning, I'm trying to watch the end of "So You Think You Can Dance" (which I DVR'd from last night) to see who go kicked off, and I keep hearing "Cheese" in my peripheral hearing. I turn around and this is what I see...

My oldest son, Luke, has made a Camera out of his Clippo Blocks, and he is holding it up to his face (like he's seen me do a Thousand Million times) to take my picture.

Can I just brag about how smart he is? Is this not the cutest think you've ever seen?

WHAT'VE THE BOYS BEEN UP TO?

As I'm sure you all have noticed, I haven't posted anything here in a while. Sorry about that, but I've been busy getting my new Blog set up... and sewing A LOT of Purses.

I thought I would take this opportunity to catch you all up on the latest goings on of the boys.

Luke is ALWAYS dragging his table and chairs out into the living room. Not sure what he is telling Grey here.

Last week, Grey discovered the joy of "Connect Four"... and yes, he does have a bloody nose in this picture.

His bloody nose came from falling with the end of an umbrella in his mouth. He came out of Luke's room carrying the Small Paul Umbrella, and before I could get to him ('cause I could see what was coming), he stuck it in his mouth and fell. Hence, bloody nose. Luckily that was all that happened and we didn't have to take a trip to the ER.

Sadly, later that day, Luke broke the "Connect Four", so it is no more. Well at least Grey got to enjoy it for one day.

Grey is still all about climbing.

He loves walking around making "Indian" noises...

and clapping.

Luke likes jumping off the patio furniture...

and the boys enjoy playing in the water table. Currently there is about 1/16" of dirty rain water in it, but that doesn't stop them.

I promise to be not so lax with my posts.

MITTENS

No, those aren't hands... they're feet.

Four days ago on Monday, Luke starting wearing his winter mittens on his feet. I'm not sure if he's trying to make a fashion statement or trying to tell me it's cold in the house.


Since he starting wearing them on Monday, he's worn them 24/7...even to bed.

NEW FRIENDS

Luke has some new friends. He's moved on to "Toy Story". " Cars" is still a favorite, but he's becoming quite fond of Woody and Buzz.

THE VOTES ARE IN...

... and a WHOPPING 9 of you voted. Seriously? Only 9?

Anyway, Thank You to the ones who did. The voting helped me make the decision to start another blog.

Like I blogged about earlier, this blog will remain as it is, with it's main focus being on the boys and the family. The new blog will be about ALL things creative... Photography, Crafting, Sewing, Cooking and Decorating.

So Please, head on over and check it out...

... and remember to always believe in...

The Magic of Ordinary Things

If you follow me here on this blog, please become a "Follower" of my new blog.

FIX-IT-FRIDAY

Before

After

Using Picnik:

1. Cropped photo

2. Reversed Black & White

3. Applied Boost

4. Softened slightly

Go to iheartfaces to see all the other great "fixes".