Spelling Tuesday

The weather has really been nice this summer.  Last night the kids and I rode bikes and scooters for a while.   Roman's new catch phrase when you tell him no is "JUST ONE TIME!" So when I told him we weren't going in the neighbors driveways I got a lot of that.  I said something about him being a speedy driver and he said, "no, I Moman!"   This girl has been a little under the weather lately.  She has an ear infection so we are pumping her full of antibiotics before the kids get dropped off at Grandma's house this weekend. Ps- roman has suddenly become potty proficient.  We can take him places and do stuff and he hasn't had an accident in days.  Also he's done some #2s in the potty.  TMI?

Roman, the Pants-less wonder, has been doing pretty good with his potty training.  He has been pee-accident-free for several days, and he has learned to hold his poo for naps and bedtime (when he wears a diaper).  We got brave and took him to church yesterday and that didn't go well.  He peed through two outfits in an hour.  Apparently too much distraction.   Miss Loralie got to pick out a toy at the dollar store for reading me all of her Bob books.  She is going to do great in kindergarten!   Caleb was honored at a dinner with his former TACT team to recognize his years of service. He was presented with a huge picture of his team (where will I put that???) and a fancy new gun.  So proud of my Mister. So everyone in the fam is doing exciting things except me.  😕

So I have been dreading potty training due to the fact that it took FOREVER with Loralie.  But Roman has been ready for a while.  Last week he told me he only likes the diapers with the four on the butt, and when I assured him these other diapers were also size four he took it off and peed on the floor. So I decided to try "The Three Day Potty Training Method".  You clear your schedule for three days and your kid runs around pants less.  It forces you to be consistent and not go back and forth between diapers and undies. So at our house this week there has been a lot of naked puzzle time, naked coloring, and naked outdoor time. I've let him wear underware if he asks to but that's when he's had the most accidents. The last two days he has only had two accidents but we still haven't had a number two in the potty, so that's rather concerning.  Either way, I'm done buying diapers (except for nap and bedtime). Woo hoo!

We took Lenny out for another trip to Watkins Mill with the kiddos and our good friends Curtis and Candy.  We had a much smoother trip with nary a mouse turd flung from the ceiling.  The kids enjoyed playing in nature and fishing with Daddy.  Adler and Roman are close to the same age so they ran around together like two peas in a pod.  Our amazing friends Curtis and Candy!  Vacationing together since 2003!  We explored the old Watkins Mill Museum and Historic Site.  I love learning on vacation!  I would love to go back sometime and take the tours, but we passed due to our smallish and loudish children.  A fun weekend!  I think we are starting to get the hang of this camping thing!

 Happy Fourth of July from these little patriots!  These hugging pictures brought to you by heavy bribing...  We had a big backyard picnic and celebrated our nation's birthday by blowing stuff up in the street!  Nee Nee and her friend Mike came for the festivities.  Matt and Becca were back from their honey moon in Ireland, newly married.  Roman was not a fan of the fireworks, especially at first.  He kept saying "I don wike it!  Its too WOUD.!"  Loralie liked it though.  The Chamber's girls came over too!  And our good friends Curtis and Candy were in town from Florida.   They have an adorable little boy named Adler whom I managed to not get a picture of.... Nobody does Fourth of July like Auburndale!  We know how to party with a BOOM!

My very bestest friend from 7th grade on was my across-the-fence neighbor, Stacey.  Then, darn her, she moved to California, married a cute guy and had an adorable baby, so our visits are few and far between!  That's why I was super excited that her fam was going to come out to visit me! As an added bonus my other high school bestie Tiffany (who had the nerve to move to Colorado!) was also in town so we had an all-out reunion!!! Sunday afternoon we met up with MORE Park Hill Trojans and their kiddos.  From left to right:  Rachel Wink, Stacey Specht, ME, Nichole Melby and Erika Waldenstrom. We got to take the Carroll's for some yummy barbecue, and by "take" I mean show them where said BBQ was so that they could buy us some.  Thanks again guys!  It was so much fun seeing Stacey and Brian and their adorable baby, Asher!