This month, in glimpse

I thought I would give a recap of what has been going on in the Partridge household.

Let's see, working backwards...
Today was a great day. I woke up at 7:00 am instead of being awaken at 5:30 am. I did some pilates and then Stephen and I worked out in our gym downstairs. After that I was off to go walking with a friend. When I got back Stephen and Mason were outside. Apparently, they were locked out because Mason locked all the doors. I did not have a key so after checking every door and down stair window, we called a lock smith. While I waited for the lock smith Mason and Stephen started a water gun fight in the back yard. It did not take long for them to team up and come after me. Cold and waterlogged, we decided it was time to come in and get dried off. After naps we went on an outing to feed the ducks at the duck park. Mason was happy to have found a friend to play with at the park. Soon it was time to come home, get dinner on the table and the kids ready for bed.

Last night Stephen had a game night. A few of the officers from the police department came over to practice for the big game against the IT department. Usually they play Call of Duty but this time they wanted to try out Gears of War, which in my opinion is a better game. The house looked like there was a Game Expo going on with two projectors, screens and X-BOXes in each room. One of the guys had never played XBOX before and another one only plays when Stephen has a game night. Despite my not playing Gears in the past year I got a false sense of expertise playing against them.

This week we got a belated Christmas package from my sister-n-law Jennifer. She sent us a hot chocolate maker. It also makes other hot drinks. It is the coolest thing ever. It is so kid friendly Mason can use it. He loves hot chocolate. Just like his mommy.

Monday was my belated Mother's Day present. Stephen took the kids to his mom's leaving me to have a day to myself. The first thing I did was make a list of all the things I needed and wanted to do that day. I laid in bed for a little while. Then decided to clean and organize. That did not last long when I convinced myself this is my only day off I should relax. So I climbed back in bed until I noticed it was almost 8:00. I jumped out of bed to get ready to go walking. When I got back I got dressed and went shopping. I got home that afternoon and took a short nap. Then cleaned the house and by the time I was done Stephen and the kids were home. One day was not long enough. I needed a week.

Sunday, the kids sang for the moms at church. Everyone was standing still looking at the chorister. Then Adelin decided she wanted to sing. She ran up there before we could catch her. Well when you get Hansel and Gretal together you end up with Viva Pinata. Adelin started swaying. Mason decided he should get to make his debut performance too. He tried to sing but did not know the words very well so it sounded more like yelling. I few times I thought he was going to fall over the ledge because he kept jumping up and leaning over it. As a mom I was mortified. It did not make me feel better when friends would comment how cute they were.

A couple of weeks ago our gazebo flew over the fence into our neighbors backyard. The wind gets fierce here. Luckily, nothing was broken but we are left debating what to do about shade this summer. We have been using a cheap gazebo from target because the builders claim they were using new technology when they built our house. Instead of using plywood on the outside the only thing between the studs and the stucco is plastic sheeting material. If we drill or attach anything to the house we void our warranty. Looks like the next step building our own permanent pergola.

As for the kids:
My kids definitely love to have fun. I had them in a gymnastics class called tumble time. Mason might have done well but Adelin just wanted to run around. I did not think it was worth the money I was paying. I could take them to the park and let them run around for free. Instead we started going to this place an hour south of here called Pump it Up. They have three rooms with blow up jumpers for the kids to play on. For the price of gas and the fee to get in, it is cheaper than gymnastics and the kids love it more. I was shocked when Adelin kept wanting to go down the huge slide. She convinced me to go with her a few times. It was comical climbing up there with a baby in my arms.

Last month Everett got his first two bottom teeth, learned to sit up on his own and started crawling. It was so cute to walk in his room and see him sitting up in his crib. Now he is getting his top two teeth. He can pull himself up and he thinks he can walk.

Adelin is potty trained. Yea! Once she started there was no stopping her. I saved $100 this month. She is Everett's second mommy. She loves to take care of Everett. She always makes sure he has a pacifier, his toys and a blanket. I love to listen to her talk. She told Everett the other day, bye I have to go now, see you later, kisses.

Mason is growing up too fast. They all are. Last month he convinced Stephen's parents to buy him a police coupe car for kids. At least now Adelin can have her car back. Mason is getting better at drawing. His imagination is the limit. He has a very active imagination. So there is no limit. He comes up with the wildest things. The other day I traced the kids bodies. The first thing Mason did was draw his brain and other organs in his body. Then he drew a soldier helmet to protect his head and a bullet in his leg. Mason also has "friends". There used to be just one friend. Her name was Jenny. Now it sounds like there are several.

Life is always an adventure. I never know what the day is going to bring.

Ode to Nemo

Nemo was a happy fish. Never complained. She loved to swim around her tupperware bowl and blow bubbles that would collect on the surface like a frothy mist. Our poor dear fish died this morning. I do not know how long she suffered in the the hot water pouring out of the sink faucet. The pooling water swirling around dragging her to the black hole of the drain, and her ultimate demise. Goodbye fish.

Hallelujah

Around the time that Adelin was turning two a miracle happened. All of a sudden she had an interest in going potty on the toilet like her big brother. She was doing great. Every time she needed to go she would tell me. This went on for a few days so I figured it was time to pull out the underwear. She was in them for a couple of days when I did the dumbest thing a mom could do while trying to potty train their kid. Like clock work, she would report to me that she needed to go potty right when I was in the middle of feeding the baby. I made the choice that feeding the baby was more important. As a result, she lost interest.

But all was not lost. Last week she started taking off her diaper. If she spilled water on herself or sat in sand she had to remove the diaper. I was frustrated because I saw wasted diapers that cost money. So I pushed the issue of going potty in the toilet. She refused. Absolutely did not want to go. Did not want to wear panties. Nothing was compelling this girl to use the toilet. Until I pulled out the arsenal.

Candy. Adelin loves candy. I thought, if this does not get her then I am doomed. The first couple of days she spent screaming because she wanted the candy. But because she would not go in the toilet she could not have it. Then to my surprise she accepted her fate. Now for the past week I have had two wild kids running around the barnyard. Mason defended his right for candy by reasoning that he too was going potty in the toilet.

Tonight is the first night Adelin is sleeping in her underwear. Will the victory be hers? Find out next time, when the potty training saga continues.