Today

First we did this:

Then we did this:

That's hot chocolate, in case you were wondering.

Thank you snow, for finally gracing us with your presence!

MIA

I've been MIA on the blog as of late.  Here's the rundown as to why:

• Jim has been having back issues again.  He walks around like a 90-year-old man, and I'm usually the one running around getting him things since it takes him 13 minutes just to stand up.
• The kids have been sick.  First Tralee and now Hunter has started with the same symptoms.  Ick.  I've been chief nose-wiper, temperature taker, and kiss-it-better-er around here.
• I have had food poisoning the last two days (curse you gas station food!!!!  Why did I do that to myself?) It's hard to take care of my three favorite people when I feel yucktastic.

So, to sum it up, we're a sad broken down group of people right now.  I'm sure I'll get back to Blogland as soon as our health improves.  Until then, have a great day!

Tralee's Future

The other day I was looking at Tralee's baby book with her.  We're approaching birthday number five, and I'm not loving it.  My Stinky Tralinky is growing up too fast!  I was in the middle of thinking about how hard it will be to see her off to school this fall when she said this:

"Mom, I'm so glad you have this baby book to look at, because you're going to miss me when I grow up and move to California."  That wasn't all, she continued with, "And I'm glad you have Daddy's baby book, cause we're going to move to California together, and you're going to stay here, and when you miss us, you can just look at our baby books."

According to Tralee, she's going to marry her dad when she grows up, they're going to move to California, and play with their friends on the beach all day.  It's up to Hunter whether or not he wants to tag along, but I have to stay in Idaho and look after their baby books.

Since this discussion I have decided that Tralee is not aloud to turn five.  In fact, I've decide she must Benjamin Button herself and start aging in reverse.  She has to stay my baby forever.  That's all there is to it.

Valentine's Day Printable

I updated this blog post once more (as of 01/10/2014).  Now, just click on the image, and it will take you to a download link. I've sized the image to 16x20 in JPEG format, but you can also print it as an 8x10.  16x20 and 8x10 are compatible dimensions. . . or whatever mathematical terminology makes sense.

I was informed by a reader that there was a typo on the free printable.  Thanks for letting me know!  I just fixed the typo and the printable is back in business!!

Is it too early for Valentine's stuff?  If yes, then ignore this post.  If no, here's my latest printable!  I think it's cute.  

Enjoy!

My Boys

Oh how I love them!

That's all.

Two New Things about Hunter

We started potty training this week.  I don't think I was 100% ready (wearing diapers was the last thing keeping Hunty a baby), but the diapers ran out, and I told myself once they were gone, it was time to start training.  I saved one to have Hunter throw away when I explained that, "diapers are for babies, and Toy Story undies are for big boys" like Hunter.  We're now on day three of the three day potty training method.

Day one was the worst.  We went through about 11 pair of undies.  Hunter seemed oblivious to what we were trying to accomplish.  He peed in his bed that night.  Not fun, but I stayed positive and upbeat.  I encouraged with love.  Lots and lots and lots of praise was given for dry pants and any attempt to go near the potty.

Day two started with success!  I was on him from sunup, watching and waiting.  Finally I saw the tell-tale signs that something was about to happen.  I rushed him to the potty and HE DID IT!  We had more success on day two.  We also had lots of wet big boy pants, but progress was made.

Today is day three, and I would like to say Hunter is 100% trained, but he's not.  It's partially my fault, I haven't been right next to him 24/7 like I'm supposed to be.  The times Hunter has had accidents were when I was taking a shower, fixing lunch for the kids, cooking dinner, etc.  However, now he's starting to tell me when he's about to go.  Yesterday he told me, "Mommy, I hear the pee pee coming."  Today he told me, "Mommy, I'm ready to shoot at the Cheerios!"  So, we're doing it.  It'll probably take a little more time for him to get it down, and I'm okay with that.  Progress is being made everyday, and I'm proud of my big boy!  I'm also proud of me.  I'm not a fan of potty training, but I'm committed to see this thing through.  Also, Hunter looks really cute running around in his Toy Story briefs he picked out, and the boxer briefs I  chose.

Another thing about Hunter is he developed a transient tick.  I noticed it a few weeks ago when he started blinking his eyes a lot.  After talking to his doctor, and following up with a little google search, I was informed that sometimes kids around Hunter's age develop this kind of tick.  Their little minds are taking in so much, that it's kind of like an outlet for them.  We're not supposed to mention it, or bring attention to it around Hunter.  It should go away on its own.  It does get worse when he's tired.  When Jim and I are talking about Hunter now, and his little transient tick, Jim usually asks, "So, how is Blinky?"  The other day after he asked me about our blinky little son Jim said, "I just thought of something.  Our kids' nicknames right now are Stinky and Blinky."  If we have another one, I thought of a few more nick names we could use:  Pinky (for a girl that likes pink), Slinky (if we have a flexible child), Clinky (for a noisy boy or girl), and Minky (for a child that likes fur?)  Eh.  I'm tired.  I'll have to come up with more later.  :)

Ready. Set. Jump!

My little Hunter is a jumper.  He's constantly jumping on and off of things.  It really doesn't matter what.  He'll take the couch pillows and cushions and set up a little jumping course for himself in the living room -- leaping from cushion to cushion.  Sometimes he just hops around the house telling me, "Mommy!  I'm a jumping bean!"  He's a little daredevil.

We're pretty used to Hunter's antics around here, but sometimes we forget that other people aren't.  There's usually a gasp when our company visits and sees Hunter leaping from the furniture.  They usually ask, "Is he okay!?!?"  He is.

Sometimes I have to stop a jump from happening.  They're just a little too dangerous at times, like when he thought jumping from the top of a flight of steep cement stairs in Park City, UT was a great idea.  I saw him prepping for the jump -- I swear this all went down in slow motion --  I screamed, "H U N T E R  N O O O O O !"  I frantically reached for the little turkey, but it was too late.  His legs were already set in motion, my finger tips barley grazed the back of his t-shirt as the rest of his little body flew down the five or six cement stairs.  In that one second, while Hunty was plummeting towards the landing, images of an ER visit filled my head.  In reality, Hunter landed perfectly, and just kept on walking, no doubt searching for his next stunt.  That flight of stairs was more than twice his height!  How on Earth did he land it perfectly?  No scratch.  No bruise.  No blood.  I'm pretty sure one of his angels helped him out.  Thank goodness!

I wonder if Hunter has a future as a stunt double.  I can just see him jumping off of buildings, out of airplanes, and doing any other number of things that will make his mother cringe.  Just as long as his angels will always be there to provide a soft landing, I'm okay with it.

Tralee wanted to show off her jumping skills too.