Blue & Gold Banquet...or "The Army Party"

Tonight was the Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet. For church I have helped in primary for the last few years and have been part of the Cub Scout program. The boys LOVE being able to go to the big events like this one and the Pinewood Derby every year. The theme tonight was army and military stuff. They were in heaven. Every year there is a cake contest (ours is a cake auction to do fundraising for the scout program). There was a really cool tank cake, an aircraft carrier, a battle scene, etc. The boys were really bummed that we didn't get a cake, but they sold for between $50 and $120. Maybe next year I'll make a really ugly cake and then buy it for $10. It was a fun time anyway! This picture is for Uncle Jeremy...they got Navy stickers that are now stuck proudly on the wall by their beds. Go Navy!

Thank you for pink jelly beans...

Well Savannah has decided she wants to be pottytrained...HALLELUJAH! On Saturday I asked if she wanted to wear her "big girl underwear". She had accidents all day but would go whenever I asked her. So I put her in a pull-up and she was doing okay. Well yesterday morning we went to Walmart and she saw a bag of all-pink jelly beans (for Easter). She held onto them like they were gold...and they became her "potty treat." Since then as long as we're at home she has been almost completely dry. She was dry when she woke up this morning and has been dry all day!!!!! (On a side note, she's been potty-trained for #2 for almost a year now...she's a little backward.) Hooray for pink jelly beans!!! Now if you've never potty-trained a child please bear with me, but this is a very exciting day in my life. Also if you know Zach and the fact that it took over a year and a half to potty-train him...well let's just say this time around is 100% better. She now refuses to wear "baby diapers" and I'm very happy about that.
Update: Today (Sunday) Savannah woke up dry and has been dry the entire day...100%!!! She's even worn My Little Pony "panties" all afternoon and is pretty excited about that. Yeah!
Thank you so much to whoever invented pink jelly beans.

Austin Nature & Science Center

Today we spent the afternoon at the Austin Nature & Science Center (I think that's what it's called). It's in Zilker Park in downtown Austin. The kids had a blast. First we went on the walking bridge over Town Lake (the Austin skyline is sort of in the background).

Right when you walk in there is a beehive that is behind glass for you to see. Just to the left of Savannah's head is a tube that goes outside. You can watch them go through the tube to the stacked layers of the hive. It was really cool to see. Zach was quite disturbed though...if you know Zach you are really impressed right now that he is this close to it. He is terrified of anything that flies (even trapped in casing).

The definite highlight of the day was the "dino pit."

They have "dinosaur fossils" buried in big sand pits for the kids to dig up. They all loved it...and made me promise to bring them back for longer next time. Zach was more excited than I've seen him in quite a while. He got so into it. One quote was "I ABSOLUTELY need that brush right now so I can see these bones." He now wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up. (On a side note...I asked the others what they want to be. Savannah wants to be Dora when she grows up and Jacob wants to be a race car driver.)

Connor was so good and mellow...just kickin' back watching everything going on around him.

There was also some exhibits of local animals...a coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, opposum, etc. Indoors they had some frogs, fish, spiders, and such. It was a fun time!!! Zach insisted that we have to bring Grandma and Grandpa there when they come so that they can help him dig for bones. "And Grandma needs to pack her M&M's."

Jacob's medal

Today was Jacob's last basketball game. He was so happy because they actually won (for the second time this season)! He also made his first basket during warm-ups...granny-style. But he was so, so excited. After the game each boy got a league medal and he wore it the whole day when he was at home...even with his pajamas. When he went to bed it got a place of honor in his "special basket," at least until he wakes up tomorrow. He asked if he could take it to school on Monday to show his friends. I'm happy that he's so proud of his accomplishments!

I Not a Monster!

Zach: Ahhhhhhh! (Running away from Savannah because he doesn't want to play with her.

Savannah: (Thinking Zach is scared of her) "I not a monster Zach. It's okay! It's just me, Nana. I promise. I not a monster. Come play with me."

Bye-Bye Bottles & A Trip to the Dentist

Well Connor had his last bottle of formula last night. The formula is gone, and so are the bottles. I've been giving him milk in a cup for a couple of weeks too , and it hasn't even phased him. So the bottles are gone...now I just need to get rid of the pacifier. The funny thing is that he likes to walk around while he drinks it. I thought this was cute. Connor saw Savannah's cup on the table and came over and sort of tossed his cup up there too.

Connor almost always has some sort of rag or blanket hanging out of his mouth. That's his favorite thing to chew on. The thing that's so adorable is that he doesn't hold it with his hands. He likes his hands free to get into stuff...so the blanket just hangs there.

Today I took all 4 kids for dental cleanings and check-ups (I got Jacob out of school and then took him back after). They all did really good considering they were short-staffed and we were there for 2 hours during lunch and nap-time. Connor had his first "cleaning." I think it's hilarious that they do babies, but it's covered by insurance...so why not?

New Cousin!

Dallin's sister Amy had her baby this morning! They named him Talmage Elkins. The kids now have 10 cousins on Dallin's side (and the oldest is only 8)...so there are 14 grandkids all together. It's quite the party when we all get together! Congratulations Amy & Rob!

What a morning...

5:05am - Connor is crying because he heard Jacob eating breakfast. I come out and Jacob is fully dressed and almost done with breakfast. Why is he up 2 hours before light? Because the tooth fairy came of course. We have a new rule that he is not allowed to get out of bed before 6:00am. I'm buying a clock for his room TODAY!!!
5:15am - I send Jacob back to bed and get Connor calmed down in his bed. I go back to bed but can't fall asleep.
5:45am - Connor is up for good so I go get him (he never fell back asleep...neither did Jacob). Jacob and Zach both come running out of their room. Savannah is asleep on the couch. We manage to be quiet and keep her asleep until after 6:00.
6:15am - We're all eating breakfast while Jacob plays computer (to keep quiet).
6:30am - I figure since I'm up I might as well start the laundry.
7:00am - Well hey, why not clean too. I vacuum the kids room and dust the whole house. Poor Dallin who's still "trying" to sleep.
7:10am - Give Jacob a second breakfast so he won't be starving all morning.
7:25am - Take Jacob to school.
7:35am - Finish getting kids ready for day (Too bad we're not leaving the house this morning...I do need to go to Target. Maybe I'll give up cleaning and we'll go there.)
7:45am - Break toothbrush holder while cleaning bathroom and totally slice open my hand.
7:50am - Zach and Savannah decide they can't be in the same room together...oh the joy.
(Funny side story - a couple of days ago Zach sits down to eat breakfast and starts sniffing the air, then the table. He says "Was Savannah sitting here...because I don't want to sit here if she was.")
8:20am - Dallin leaves for work. I decide to take a break and read some blogs. I feel much better.