Flashback Friday

Since we'll be gone this weekend (Disneyland!) I'm doing the flashback early.

This is 5 years ago. Chloe slept in our bed for a year. She was a bed hog. We changed our ways with Stella and Fred. We trained Stella to go to sleep on her own. It was so awesome 99% of the time. But she could only sleep alone. This made plane rides and hotel stays miserable. Fred is also a good sleeper. We are hoping Fred does well this weekend. He takes two naps and sleeps from 7:30-7:30. Both Stella and Fred had/have pacifiers and comfort objects. I am not good at keeping a schedule. When I notice that Fred is grumpy I lay him down. But sometimes he is tired without being grumpy and then he goes to his crib and gets his pacifier and horse himself. Those signs are easiest to read. (Side note: all my kids have hummed while sucking on their binkies.)

Also in the above picture is my blankie. Dan was jealous of it for years so I finally got rid of it when we moved to Idaho. I miss it. It kept me warm. I'll have to make a new one.

Flashback Friday

I better write this down before I forget.

In our church we fast the first Sunday of every month and instead of our usual meeting we have a testimony meeting. Anyone in the congregation can go up to the pulpit and share their testimony of the gospel--what they believe is true. A couple of months ago Chloe whispered to Dan that she wanted to go up. I was a little hesitant to let her because I don't think a parent whispering to their kid what to say is considered a testimony. I would have liked to coach her a bit. But there wasn't time to protest and off they went. Dan went up on stage with her but not to the microphone. I was afraid she would freeze up and look back to him for help. But she didn't. She spoke clearly and calmly. She said, "I'm thankful for Jesus. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for the temple. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." I was very impressed. I didn't share my testimony in sacrament meeting until I was in college. I was way too shy when I was a kid. So when she sat back down by me, I told her that she did a good job and asked her why she decided to go up.

"I like talking in the microphone."

"Uh, I think you are supposed to do it because you love Jesus."

"And because I love Jesus."

Potty Time

Anyone want a free trip to Boise? All you have to do is potty-train Stella. I think she might have peeing under control but I still don't dare test her at night or at preschool. She is not a fan of duking on the pot. My mom called me last night with an idea she read in a book. You are supposed to lead the kid to come up with the solution. Something like this:

Stella, is Fred a big boy or a baby?

Baby

Is he very good at feeding himself?

No

No, he makes a mess. And he has to sleep in a crib. Is he good at talking?

No

Can he ride a bike?

No (laughing)

What would happen if we didn't put diapers on him?

He would pee and poo all over.

Yeah. Gross. What about you? Are you a big girl or a baby?

Big girl.

Yeah, you can ride a bike and....(talk about all the big girl things she can do). And what would you do if I didn't put a diaper on you.

Go in the potty.

Then I explained how diapers are expensive and I don't like to buy them and I ask her what she thinks we should do to solve this problem. It is the ol' missionary resolving doubts tactic. She is more likely to go along with the solution if it is her own. In the story my mom told me the little girl said, "I could stop using diapers and start peeing in the potty." Stella's solution to my problem? "Make Dad buy them."

October Fun

Decorating cookies at Chanell's.

Preschool parties and fieldtrips. Costumes. Cornmaze with my mom, Rachel and her kids.Carving pumpkins (and eating candy) with the Reichner's.

Halloween Costumes

Stella the Dragon

Fred the Knight

It looks like the dragon is kissing the knight but she is actually blowing fire. Princess Chloe

The King

The Royal Family

A peasant