Saying My Prayers

Mommy and Daddy pray for me every night before I go to bed.  About six weeks ago, they started asking me if I wanted to pray, too.  I jumped in with both feet.  This was my bedtime prayer for about two weeks straight:

Father, thank you for our food.  Bless it to our bodies.  In Jesus' name, amen.

I'm not quite sure why, but that little prayer caused chuckles to rise in Mommy and Daddy's throats every night.

That prayer became so routine and predictable that it really threw them for a loop last week when I switched things up with these new nightly words:

Father, thank you for this day.  Please help me to learn and grow.  And learn and grow.  And honor you.  And play.  In Jesus' name, amen!

I'll also throw in the occasional prayer for the two Elmo dolls that I sleep with.  They need it, you know.

Easy, Peasy, Yummy in my Tummy

Last fall, when she was busy learning how to cook, Mommy picked up this little cook book/magazine on a Walmart whim.

After thumbing through the magazine several times, she made lots of mental notes of 'fun' recipes she wanted to try...and then she promptly forgot about each and every on of them because she discovered recipe blogs and allrecipes.com.

Fast foward a year and a half to Mommy's Spring Break.  She decided to glance through some of her old recipes to see if she could discover anything that our family needed to give a try.  Mommy was more than happy to come across this super easy recipe for pizza burgers. 

Daddy, Mommy, Auntie, and I were also more than happy to eat them Sunday night.  I thought you may want to give them a try, too.

*******

Open-Faced Pizza Burgers

(photo from tasteofhome.com) 

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground beef (Mommy used ground turkey)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce

1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained (Daddy's allergic, so we skipped these.  Mommy and Auntie both thought they would be a great addition, though, so we'll have to seperate batches next time.)

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

6 hamburger buns, split and toasted

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the pizza sauce, mushrooms, sugar and oregano; mix well. Spoon onto buns; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Place on ungreased baking sheets. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted (it only took about 1 minute for us).

*******

Everyone in our family gave this dish two messy thumbs up.  Daddy's not a leftover man at all, but even he said he'd heat up the leftover meat for one of his regular 9 o'clock snacks.

My Statty Stats

Last week I popped into Dr. Hull's office for my two year well child (not baby) appointment.  Here's what I found out:

I weigh 24.6 pounds (20th percentile).

I am 35 inches long (75th percentile).

Dr. Hull was quite happy with my 16 percentile jump in the weight area.  I think she was beginning to become a teeny bit concerned about me when I saw her 6 months ago.

I've also got a few status updates regarding my Potty Training Progress (because I know you are all just dying to get this information):

Wednesday- One pee-pee accident, zero poo-poo accidents

Thursday- Zero pee-pee accidents, one poo-poo accident

Friday- Zero pee-pee accidents, zero poo-poo accidents (because I didn't go at all)

Saturday- Zero pee-pee accidents, zero poo-poo accidents (because I didn't go at all, again)

Sunday- One pee-pee accident, zero poo-poo accidents (I finally decided to go right before bed)

Everyone in my house is pretty happy with the developments above...especially the two times I managed to get my poo-poo in the toilet!  Mommy recently read that kiddos cannot truly be considered potty trained until they have been accident free for 6 months, so I still have a loooong way to go.

Then again, Mommy remembers wetting her pants twice in the 2nd grade (both times in PE because she was too scared of her PE coach to ask him to go to the restroom). 

She also wet her pants/skirt a couple of times at work after I was born...but that was for a completely different set of reasons!

Hmm, I guess that means Mommy wasn't potty trained until she was 26ish?

Sunday Best

Ever wonder what I look like before Mommy gets me dressed and ready for church?  Well, here you go:

I pulled that pair of comfy striped socks out of Mommy and Daddy's dirty laundry.  Nice, huh?

And here's the dressed and polished version of me:

I love those two ponies!

Today was my first diaper-free day in the church nursery.  Considering that I hadn't had a pee pee accident since Wednesday, Mommy was feeling pretty comfortable about putting me in there. 

I did have one leetle accident while I was nurserified, though.  Guess that's what happens when you're in a new (meaning not at home) place with a new potty!

This whole potty training business has me one part proud and one part plastered-to-Mommy's-side. 

Proud because I am 'a big geel' now and don't have to mess with that bulky diaper.  Plastered to Mommy's side because...well, I'm not totally sure. 

What I do know is that I have been super clingy to Mommy this past week.  I guess it could be because she's been home with me all week long. Taking into account the fact that she was home for a week at Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas without me feeling this way, though, I'm inclined to believe that it has something to do with potty training.

It can be a bit stressful, you know?

Potty Training: 2 Days Down, 625 To Go

Well, I just capped off my second day of potty training.  I know my family is only two days into this thing, but here's what we have learned so far:

1.  Even girls can have wild spray.

2.  My Baby Bjorn potty is easy to use, easy to clean, and does a great job of containing said wild spray.

3.  A toilet training seat might be even easier.  It would eliminate (giggle, giggle) the extra step of cleaning out the potty.  Mommy and Daddy will probably get one of these the next time they're potty training someone (and no, that is not a hint).

4.  Character panties are way more motivating than solid colored panties! 

I thoroughly enjoy looking down at Dora/Snow White/Kai Lan/Spongebob and telling them that they are still dry.

Telling pink that it's still dry? Not nearly as much fun.



 5.  According to Mommy's calculations, learning to go pee-pee in the potty is roughly 40 times easier than learning to go poo-poo in the potty.

6.  I should not be asked if I have to go potty.  I should be told it's time to go potty.

7.  Stickers have no hold on me.  None.

Mommy started out Day 1 by setting a timer for 5 minutes and letting me choose a sticker each time the timer went off and my panties were dry. 

You can see how long that worked for.

8.  Juice does have some hold on me. 

Today I got to have a drink of juice every time the timer went off (10-15 minute intervals) and my panties were dry.  Juice is something I normally only get at birthday parties, so that was a huge treat...and it gave me more opportunities to practice going potty.

Here's the bottom line of the last two days:

Monday- 5 pee-peed panties, 1 poo-pooed panty

Tuesday- 2 pee-peed panties, 3 poo-pooed panties

Not too bad, if you ask me (or Mommy, or Daddy)!

Family Dance-Off

Get Healthy as a Family, Dance!

Submitted by Emily Patterson on behalf of Primrose Preschools

Dance can be a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's daily routine. As a provider of educational child care, Primrose Schools has recognized and is actively fighting against the childhood obesity epidemic. Your family can join in the fight- all you have to do is dance!

The Family Dance-Off supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

Families are encouraged to record and submit a 30 second video of themselves dancing to promote fitness and strengthen family ties.

Participating in the Family Dance-off is easy:

1. Record a 30-second video of your family's best dance moves. Don't be afraid to let loose and be silly!

2. Visit The Family Dance-off site and upload your best take by March 19th.

3. Share your video with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

4. View and vote daily (you can place five votes per day) for your favorite family dance video!

What would a competition be without prizes?

Primrose Schools is providing prizes that aren't only great for your family but for your whole community, with $65,000 in donations to local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals:

Grand Prize: $5,000 and Primrose will make a $30,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

2nd Prize: $3,000 and Primrose will make a $20,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

3rd Prize: $1,500 and Primrose will make a $15,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

All 14 Finalists will also receive a FLIP camcorder

Visit The Family Dance-off site for details on how to take part in the fight against childhood obesity, participate in the competition, and view past competitors.

Wish Us Luck!

Tomorrow morning marks the beginning of hardcore potting training at my house. 

Mommy was beginning to doubt her choice of timing, but when I managed to keep my diaper dry for a little more than 6 hours today (including a 2.5 hour nap), it was confirmed to her that right now is the right time.

The above mentioned dryness did require about 8 trips to the potty...but isn't that the whole point of potty training?

Personally, I'm feeling pretty good about this new endeavor, too.  This evening, I proudly told Poppy that "I'm gonna go potty trainin' tomorrow!"

Will my enthusiasm and cooperativeness remain throughout the day? 

Only time will tell!

If any of you mommas out there are contemplating potty training any time soon, you might want to check out Gilt's website right now.  They just put up a Potty Time themed sale, which includes the Baby Bjorn potty pictured above for only $18! 

They also have this Leslie Patricelli board book for $5. 

I haven't had the pleasure of reading this book myself yet...but if it's by Leslie Patricelli it's got to be good!

Look at these characters!

Friday was Character Dress Up Day at Mommy's school.

Considering the amount of time that Mommy and her teammates spent talking about and preparing for this day, I'm sure that the teachers were every bit as excited about the day as the students!

Here's Mommy in her Fancy Nancy getup.

Another teacher on her first grade team dressed up as Fancy Nancy's mom.  Her daughter (a kindergartener) was Fancy Nancy, too.

Purplicious and Pinkalicious! 

Mommy called them the Liciouses. They are both named Ashleigh/Ashley, so she could have called them the Ashleys, too.

Bet you didn't know that Harriet the Spy is Batman's mommy.  It's true!

Corduroy's owner, Lisa.

Aren't those first grade teachers clever?

The kindergarten team is quite clever and creative, too.

Just check out Thing 1!  Look closely, and you can see 'Mother's new dress' hanging behind her.

The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Ms. Frizzle.  Take a gander at those earrings!

Dora the Explorer.

Did you know that 'Aunt' Tara and Mommy teach at the same school this year?  They do! 

Tara looked fabulous as Camilla Cream from A Bad Case of Stripes.

Mommy's students looked fabulous, too!  Every one of them spent a lot of time and effort on their character costume.  Mommy can't show their pictures, but she would like you to know that Madeline, Fly Guy, Greg Heffley, Katie Kazoo, Horton, the Cat in the Hat, 3 Fancy Nancies, 2 Junie B. Joneses, 3 Skippyjon Joneses, a princess, and lots of other characters inhabited her room for the day.

Leila's First Birthday Party

Guess who turned one last week? 

This little, cutie...that's who!

My family had a blast celebrating Leila's first birthday at her family's house on Saturday.  Leila's mom, 'Aunt' Michele, did a fabulous job of making everything beautiful and fun.  And by 'making' I really do mean 'making'.  I think Michele made just about every little decoration you'll see in these pictures!

Well, except for maybe these balloons.

Michele just started sewing a few months ago, but she's already quite the seamstress. 

She used her machine to make all of these banners (which she would brush off as easy, peasy).

 

She made the adorable tutu outfit Leila wore to her party and these super cutie party hats, too!

And, of course, Michele made the ever clever birthday cake.

Those glittery red circles were delicous, by the way.  I ate several of them all by myself.

Isn't this trail mix bar a great idea?!  There was something for everyone here.  Leila's Aunt Danielle (who I also think is my Aunt, too) spent hours picking out these goodies at Whole Foods.

And here's one of the gifts I gave Leila.  It's Mary Englebreit's "Mother Goose" anthology.

'Aunt' Michele and 'Uncle' Ryan gave the same book to Mommy when she was pregnant with me.  It has been one of my favorite books for at least a year now, so Mommy knew just what we needed to give Lei when she recently found out that Lei didn't have it in her own library.  I just know she's going to love it!

Happy Birthday, Leila!  You sure know how to throw a great party!

Grown Up Party

Last week, my family headed over to "Uncle" Oscar and "Aunt" Tara's house to celebrate the birthday of our friend, Tammy.  

You may remember Tammy from a post I wrote last winter.  At that time, she was the director of a faith-based women's rehab center in Ireland.  Well, she's living stateside now.  And she is once again following the voice of God as he leads her into a new endeavor...rescuing victims of human trafficking in the Dallas area. 

Suprised?  Mommy was, too, until Tammy told her that the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is one of the fastest growing battlefields in the fight against human trafficking.  Please pray for Tammy and her team as they allow God to work through them to build this mission from the ground up!

Happy birthday, Tammy!  We are so glad that you are back in Texas!

It's Her Party, But I'll Cry if I Want To...

A few week's ago, I helped my friend, Emily Kate, celebrate her 3rd birthday.

Emily Kate and I have gotten to be good friends this year at Miss Toni's house, but our parents have been friends for a long, long time.  My daddy and Emily Kate's daddy were even roommates for a while!

Here's a pic of the birthday girl playing "Pin the Hat on the Polar Bear".  EK was really great at that game!

I wish that I could say I was more than happy to jump in on the party-gaming fun...but that would be a lie.  While the other kids were playing their hearts out, I was glued to Mommy's lap with the occasional tear streaming down my cheek.  Anyone who tried to cheer me up was met with a quick grumpy-brow-furrow!

I did perk up a little bit when I noticed this super fun Fisher-Price dollhouse...

but I didn't really become myself until the cake and ice cream were served! 

It was at about this point that Mommy realized I hadn't eaten lunch that day. I went down for my nap earlier than usual so that I wouldn't have to be woken up mid-nap to go to the party...but when I did wake up Mommy completely forgot to put a little yummy in my tummy.  Think that explains the teary eyes during game time? 

I was finally getting warmed up right when the party came to a close.  Thankfully, the warmup came just in time for my mommy, EK's mommy, and EK's grandparents to snap a few shots of the two of us playing a little duet on our 'flutes'.

Happy Birthday, Emily Kate! 

Maybe next year Mommy will remember to feed me before your party.

Party Animals!

I have been one crazy party animal for the past month! Mommy, Daddy, and I have been to one party just about every week (including my own) since the beginning of February.

Instead of sharing these super fun shindigs with you, I've been secretly hoarding them all on Mommy's PC. They really are just too exciting to keep to myself, though, so I thought I'd spend this week blogging about each of them.

First up is the owl themed first birthday party of my good friend, Karsyn.

Karsy's Aunt Brooke sent this birthday banner all the way from Colorodo.  Brooke is a very clever crafter. 

And check out this cutie outfit Karsyn's mommy ordered for her from Etsy.  This is the shirt...

and here's the fun and full tutu!

When "Aunt" Brandi was wondering how they would be able to find room in their house for all of their party guests, Mommy reminded her their garage would make an ideal place since "Uncle" Adam keeps it clean enough to eat off of the floors. 

(Seriously, he does.  Mommy thinks that they miiiight store 7 noncar items in there.)

Doesn't this make a great extended dining room?

"Aunt" Michele created this adorable owl cake to go along with Karsyn's party theme.  Isn't it precious?!

 My family thinks that Michele always knocks those cakes out of the park! 

Karsyn clearly agrees.

Brandi made sure to include the kiddos and the grown ups in the party favor corner.
 

 That yellow basket held goody bags for the little ones and the vase was full of yummy cake balls for the older set!

Here's a picture of me showing off the owl clippy that was in the girl's goody bags.   

Happy Birthday (+1 month) , Karsyn!

Stay tuned for more pics from our party-full month.

Hooray for Dr. Seuss' Birthday!

Even though this is not a teacher blog, I thought Mommy would appreciate it if I showed you some pics of the fun her class had in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday.

They started the day out by reading a whole lot o' Seuss.

After reading Green Eggs and Ham, Mommy's students practiced collecting data by asking their classmates the question below.

 Then, they determined how the data they collected could be organized,

and worked independently to display their data in a graph.

Please note the use of a title, key, and numerical labels.  Hooray for learning!

 At the end of the day the teachers read Oh, the Places You'll Go!  As a response to this great story, the students wrote a letter telling about some places they would like to go.  The letters were attached to a red or white balloon, and each first grader sent his or her balloon afloat as part of a big balloon release.

The letters included the address of Mommy's school and the email address of one of her teammates...so if one of the letters happens to make it your way please know that 150 first graders are eagerly awaiting your reply!

Here's a snapshot of Mommy's team on this exciting day. 

Can you tell that someone we know quite well forgot that she was supposed to be The Grinch? 

Oh well...there's always next year!