random pics...

Mother's day at Mattix's preschool

Keia's field trip to the Wild Animal Park

SURPRISE TRIP TO DISNEYLAND WITH BABA AND GRANDPA BOB

Next up, Summer!!!! Can't wait....

Victory.

There are two things I find the most challenging as a mother: #1-Being woken up in the middle of the night (not good with that) #2-POTTY TRAINING. I hate potty training. I already have my own issues with sitting on toliets, and I don't like messes- especially those containing pee or poop- therefore it really is not a good combo for me. Potty training was a complete disaster with Keia- I did it all wrong- yes we got her potty trained at 2, but it brought out my worst side as a mother. Mattix basically trained himself and was going to a preschool full-time- so a lot of the training was done there. So when it came to Ms. Kalli- I prepped myself by starting her at 1, learning to tell me if she had poo poo in her diaper. I felt it would help for her to recognize that something was in there, eventually she would tell me on her own. Then at 18 months I started getting books from the library about the "potty" and would ask her (usually right before a tub when she was naked) if she wanted to sit on the potty- totally up to her if she wanted to. Okay- so we set the foundation... I told myself to be patient and that I would be nice if she had an accident... we achieved Victory folks- Kalli was potty trained in 3 days and has only had 4 accidents total. She is going poo and pee in the big potty. It was not a fun week of staying home and running to every call for the potty or complete stress in the car when she insisted on wearing her "undies", just prepping myself that she was going to pee in her seat and that it would be okay (luckily she never did). I feel so free knowing this is the last time I will ever have to potty train again!! Way to go Kalli, you are lucky to be getting the nicer, calmer version of me (sorry Keia).

Bud

Mattix is officially 5 (last week). Matt took him mini-golfing and to the movies on his birthday. Things I am loving about this kid is his love for reading, he loves to play games (any game, right now UNO is his favorite), and he loves sports. He is probably my most quiet child and for the most part really easy-going. When he isn't mellow- he is the complete opposite: super hyper and SILLY. He thinks everything is funny (unless in a mood), and he has a great sense of humor. I am happy to see him wrestle with his friends and be a boy, he was so shy for so long, he has really come out of his shell. However, he still has his "ticks"- the current ones are smelling everything and licking his fingers (gross I know!), or you can hear him making a Mmmm sounds every couple of minutes. At this point, I feel grateful that other kids don't recognize it yet, but that day will come. I love this kid and sometimes he blows my mind at how thoughtful and sensitive he is to my feelings- way more than my girls! Happiest Birthday Bud- and of course I am posting this a week late because you are my middle child- sorry!!