Diary of a Potty Training Mom

So, I think I'll leave this up today as we make yet another attempt at getting Murray fully potty trained. I know he's young, but I also know that Lucy was potty trained by this point, and I know he gets it because as long as he's naked he's successful. Alas, fall is upon us and so is chilly air...so between colder weather and my tiredness of his naked behind, we're giving underwear a try again. I'm setting the timer for 20 or 30 minute increments and having him sit.

It's 10:30 in the morning and so far we've been fairly successful. We had 3 successful potty breaks, and then a poopy accident, however he screamed for me as it was happening and cried about it. This is a step forward...he's never seemed to care about an accident before. Hooray...maybe we'll get there in the next few days! (We'll see if this optimism continues throughout the day). He just sat and didn't go...so we'll see what happens in the next 20 minutes.

10:58 am SUCCESS!!! dry underpants and pee pee on the potty!!! Now it's time for some painting before lunch...well, at least 25 minutes of painting before we try again.

Success again!!! dry underwear and pee pee in the potty!!!

Well, we had 2 more accidents. I ignored the timer and let him go a few more minutes and he was slightly wet. Then he sat and did nothing but while eating lunch he had an accident. Thus ends the morning. He's in a diaper and taking a nap now....we'll give it another try this afternoon.

This afternoon was an epic failure. We went through 4 pairs of underwear in less than an hour. I guess he had told me he didn't want underwear and he proved it! So, he's back in a diaper. We'll give it a go again tomorrow morning...maybe we'll wear underwear in the morning and diapers after nap for the next few months? This boy is certainly throwing me for a loop!

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for quiet moments in a busy house, and folded laundry put away in drawers. It's nice when you can enjoy the end of a busy day with the task you hoped to accomplish actually accomplished.

I am also thankful that my dear friend Lisa had a healthy baby boy today. God blessing a family with a child is truly a magnificent gift and truly something to be thankful for.

and now...back to my silence...it's been a busy day!

From our Garden to our Table

What an adventure we had at the Koschmann house tonight. We had picked over 4 lbs of tomatoes out of our garden this week (from only 1 plant) and just didn't know what to do with them. After discussing it for a few days we decided we would make an attempt at making some pasta sauce. So, we researched a few recipes online and found one that was simple and to the point. We picked a night where we thought we had nothing going on and planned to make a family event out of cooking dinner. So, when Nick arrived home we all went to the garden to get the last few red tomatoes. We then boiled water and I carefully dropped the tomatoes in while Lucy and Murray watched closely. After 2 minutes we put them in ice water and began peeling the skins off. I thought Lucy and Murray would have loved this...they did not! They thought the tomatoes were slimy and gross. So Nick and I enjoyed peeling and cubing the tomatoes, Lucy and Murray played with the ice and water. Then we all went out to play while the tomatoes drained.

Lucy helped with most of the recipe while Murray played. What an adventure to let her mince garlic and cut basil. She also added the red pepper flakes to taste (a bit too much for me...but I guess that's how she likes it). The house smelled delicious as the sauce simmered for 30 minutes. We all were able to enjoy our dinner...although Nick took his to go because he had a last minute meeting to attend. Delicious! Lucy says that tomato sauce from the store is much better than from our garden, but Nick and I strongly disagree and will definitely be making sauce again sometime!! (maybe soon if all those green tomatoes turn red...). I just enjoyed being able to show Lucy and Murray that we can make our own food. Something that I think is lost by going to the store to buy everything we need...not that I mind going to the store and buying what we need...but, it's nice to make things from scratch now and then!

Here's a few fun pictures a little closer...I think if you click on the collage it will allow you to view the collage bigger.

Lucy's First Day of Preschool

Well it's here...a new school year. As much as I'd love for summer to last forever, the start of the school year brought cooler breezes and the promise of a changing season. I'm excited for Lucy to be in the afternoon class this year because it means that we still have the morning to play. This morning we did lots of projects to keep her excitement at bay. We colored on large cardboard and made a giant "toodles" (a character from Mickey Mouse). She also created her own American Flag and used craft sticks for a giant pole. Murray thought it was a pretty great flag and wanted one of his own...so Lucy helped create one for him. When he saw the finished project he said "beautiful". They marched around with their flags for a good 20 minutes.

Above are the pictures of Lucy and Murray with their flags....below are some of Lucy on the porch ready for school. I can't believe she's 4 and headed off to school.

Lucy was all about posing for pictures this year. 3rd year of using the

apple backpack and it's holding up great!

Lucy really wanted Murray to come up and say goodbye to her...he really wanted to go with her to preschool...and apparantly didn't want to stop to pose for pictures.

Lucy was a pro at school. While they asked us to stay with them for the first day...she really didn't need me. She was excited to check out the dress ups, although strangely she didn't want to try any on. We spent lots of time reading, building with the giant waffle blocks and playing playdough. She sat great at circle time (which was mostly information for the parents) and then sang 2 songs with much gusto. Made me glad we decided to stick with the same teacher from last year so songs and routines would be familiar. I'm excited to see what the year will bring as we make decisions about kindergarten.

Skip to My Boots

It's a quiet night...the kids are in bed and Nick is at work doing some counseling. So, I thought I'd give it a go to put some pictures in a blog. Nick came home from work tonight and asked the kids if they wanted to go on a puddle hunt. Of course they eagerly agreed. So after finding rain boots and getting all set we headed outside. Lucy marched down the sidewalk singing "Skip, skip, skip to my boots" she thought this was quite entertaining.

The above pictures are of them hunting puddles. Below I'll post a few of them enjoying the puddle jumping.

I know I have more pictures of Murray, but for the first few pictures the camera was out of focus...and let's face it, Murray's a boy so he just enjoyed it a bit longer than Lucy did...once Lucy had water in her boots she was more concerned with that. Murray jumped until his diaper was saggy and his pants were falling down they were so wet! All in all it was a fun pre-dinner activity.

(and I posted pics in a blog for the first time!)

Thankful Thursdays

In an effort to continue blogging I'm going to strive to write about something I'm thankful for each Thursday. As I sat through a huge rainstorm and pondered what I was thankful for I ended on this...having the ability to stay home full time with my kids.

I tried the part time work thing last school year and it wasn't for me. I am so incredibly thankful that Nick and I were blessed with being poor the first few years of our marriage which taught us how to live on next to nothing. God is good and HE has provided for us in ways we would have never imagined. After deciding to stay home again this year I will now have a full house on Tuesdays and Thursdays watching kids of 2 different friends. What a blessing! I love a full house and the joy of being able to be the one near my children is truly a gift. I realize I will never get these days back and I love being the one to answer all of Lucy's random questions. Just today she asked "why does God want fire to come to a house?" what a perfect opportunity to talk about our fallen world and God's ability to bring us back from something that hurts us or makes us sad, we also talked about God providing. So glad I was around to answer that one. So today I am thankful for my home and the ability to serve my family in it. I'm thankful for being able to answer Lucy's questions and hear all the giggles and let's be honest, the whining. What an awesome career choice I've been allowed to make to stay home and be a mother and a wife.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

This past week this verse has been on my mind. A friend of ours from college lost her spouse unexpectedly leaving her with twin 2 year old girls to care for and a void in her life that I can't even begin to imagine. Needless to say I have found myself in the midst of my daily life with a prayer on my lips and in my mind. Prayers for her peace and comfort, prayers that the girls will grow up and know that they were loved by their dad. Prayers that this family will find strength in God to continue on.

I've pondered this verse at various points in my life. When I was younger I remember thinking...what a ridiculous thought, no one can pray continually...without ceasing, it's impossible. When I was in college I remember meditating on this verse and striving to do just what it said. Praying as I walked between classes and praying at every moment of decision, trial or triumph...I had a lot more free thoughts in college. This tragedy has brought me back to this verse, brought me back to the realization that while most days at most moments my thoughts are not my own...they should be. While I give so much of myself as a mother, my thoughts are one thing I can take back as my own. Yes, I do still need to think about the laundry, where my children are, what day it is, what's on the calendar...but while making lunch or changing a diaper I can be praying. So that's what I have been doing. I've found myself praying more this past week...yes, praying for my friend and her family, but also for my own. Praying for my children as they assert their independence or obey what they're asked. Praying for my wonderful husband and our still young marriage

While my heart has ached this past week for my friend and her family, I have found renewed joy in praying without ceasing. It's amazing the peace God offers...if only we ask...if only we listen. I challenge you to begin your prayer...and then continue without ceasing.