Happy Easter!

Just wanted to wish everyone a fantastic Easter! Hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy!
I unfortunately am still sick! I'm starting a third round of antibiotics so hopefully this type will work! I'm tired of being sick! Friday, Benjamin awoke at 2 a.m. with an earache. We took him to the doctor and decided to take his little brother too. It turns out that they both have ear infections! Ben's infection is a little more progressed and Alex's just started! So we're all not feeling too well this Holiday! At least my husband is healthy and can take care of us all!

The above photo is the photo I gave away to friends and family for Easter! My husband says they look like "deranged Easter Bunnies" a quote from the Christmas Story movie! I actually had someone else say the same thing!

I wanted to do the photo shoot outside, but because I was sick and the weather was crappy- I did the shoot inside.

Here are some outtakes from the photo shoot!

The following two photos- they were laying down, I took the photo from above! In this photo it looks like Alex is praying for me to stop taking soo many photos! lol
Have a wonderful Easter!

Hugs,
Ruth Ann

Interview With A Three-Year-Old

This past week I decided to interview my oldest son Benjamin. At three-years-old he has a wonderful personality full of imagination and humor! I really got a kick out of what he had to say, so I thought I'd share it with you!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
No!
2. What makes mom happy?
When I make funny faces.
3. What makes mom sad?
Breaking Cups. (I guess I must have broken a cup at one point in time and he thought it upset me).
4. How does mom make you laugh?
Smiles.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Like Rory the Racing Car. (It's one of his favorite cartoons)
6. How old is your mom?
89! (And I thought I looked young for my age)! lol
7. How tall is your mom?
This tall (he held his hands apart as a measurement). I asked how big is that? And he said "that's big!"
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Projects. (He's referring to the craft projects we do daily).
9. What does mom do when you're not around?
Sewing.
10. If you mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Driving Cars.
11. What is mom really good at?
Making apples. (It was a craft project we did last week).
12. What is mom not very good at?
Making bunnies. (It was a cotton ball craft project we did last week. I thought it was cute, but apprently he did not)! lol
13. What does you mom do for her job?
Gas cars up.
14. What is mom's favorite food?
Sandwich.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Driving cars. (Like most men, he's car obsessed)!
16. How do you know mom loves you?
Gives me kisses and hugs!

Too cute! Make sure you get the chance to interview a little one! It'll really make your day!

Hugs,
Ruth Ann

Potty Training-FINALLY!

Warning!!!!! This post will be about the Joys of Potty Training. I will be talking about many potty issues, so please do not be offended!

I forgot to mention in my lengthy post yesterday that we've been busy with potty training the last couple of weeks! FINALLY! Ben will be 4-years-old on July 31st...I was beginning to lose hope! I thought he'd be graduating from High School in diapers! But I am one who doesn't believe in pushing him. That was alot of the advice that we got from others. Every child is different, so I waited it out. We tried and tried, he just was never ready. I was never pushy about it, we just talked about it often.

There was one day a few months ago that he said he wanted to wear "big boy" underwear. Well we let him wear them and told him that he needed to get us if he had to use the bathroom. Anyway I was right there watching him and all of a sudden he said: "I have to use the potty." I looked and by this time he had already gone! It was like he didn't realize that he had to go until after he had gone! Anyway we put another pair of underwear on him and this continued several times that day until he got frustrated and asked to be back in diapers. I felt then that he just wasn't ready. He's a smart boy and if he was ready he would be the one to know.

So he wanted to try again about 2 weeks ago. This time we told him he could wear "big boy" pull-ups. Well it worked! He had an accident free first day! It was so exciting, and he was so proud! The second day was a disappointment, he had several accidents but that was due to his laziness. He didn't want to stop playing to use the bathroom, but that has finally passed! He has even conquered standing up to go, which was exciting especially since public restrooms are usually dirty.

The only issue we are having is going #2! For several days when he started potty training, he didn't have a bowel movement. Well when he finally had one it was in his pull-up. And this has continued for over a week! We've tried everything! We tried taking away his privileges like his computer games and cartoons. But nothing so far has worked and we have been consistent with the punishments. But I don't like punishing him over it because I don't want him to regress back into diapers. Today I was so frustrated because I have been so sick and my patience was running out. I wanted so badly to stick a diaper back on him, but like I said I don't think that's a good idea. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do?

I thought about the book called "Everyone Poops!" But it was sold out at Barnes and Noble. I did however find the following book called "Where's the Poop?"But this book didn't really help like I thought it would! Believe me I am desperate, especially when I'm buying children's books about "poop!" So any advice would be greatly appreciated!

The sticker chart at the top of this post is a really cool system that I found at Dollar General for $2.00! It's a coloring book with a potty poster inside and a fold out poster like the one pictured about that you can put stickers on each time they go! It really helped with his pottying success! It also came with 100 stickers! As you can see Week 1 was such a hit! This past week (Week 2) he's been pottying by himself alot and can't reach the chart...plus, the sticker novelty has worn off too! So every once in awhile you'll see a sticker, but he's done so well this past week- it should be filled up as well! Maybe I need to make a special "Poop Sticker Chart?" I don't know I need something...I'm running out of ideas! But I'll keep you updated!

Oh, and I did promise a special "Potty Party" after he has completed Potty Training. This is a pizza party for a couple of relatives. From the beginning he's know about this party as well as a gift that he gets to pick out himself....still no pooping success! Maybe I need to revisit the store where he seen the fireman outfit that he wants!?

Hugs,

Ruth Ann

I'm Finally Back!

Hi everyone! I'm finally back from what has been one hectic month! I don't even know where to begin! Let's see... it's been crazy because I have two toddlers...not to mention that one is going through the wonderful "terrible twos!" And yes, I'm being sarcastic..there's nothing wonderful about them!

A couple weeks ago I was in the bathroom when my two-year-old (Alex) came up to me and said: "I sorry Mommy!" I said: "What did you do?!!!!" He grabbed me by the hand and took me downstairs only to find a half dozen eggs broken throughout the kitchen and dining room! He emptied the entire carton! Thank goodness there was only 6 eggs left!

Then a few weeks ago I came down with a horrible ear infection. After about four days, when I started feeling better, I stopped taking the antibiotics. Well it's back with a vengeance! I started getting extremely sick this past Friday and went to the doctor on Saturday and the ear infection has returned, along with bronchitis and a sinus infection! This past weekend was horrible! I do not remember feeling soo sick in my life! I had a high fever, I had chills, I threw up! And it lasted for days! I still feel really sick today, but at least my fever has gone away! It was so bad that I told my husband that I would go through childbirth all over again than to be this sick! It was horrible! I was very fortunate, he took care of me and took two days off of work. He watched the kids since I remained in bed for two days, and cleaned the house! He totally took care of me!

Lets see...last week Dixie started Puppy Training Classes. She is also going through the "terrible twos" if there is such a thing for puppies! She doesn't listen, and she's is getting gigantic! I think she's part dinosaur or moose! Anyway, the day before training I had to take her to the vet. I feed her several hours before the trip but that didn't matter. She threw up all over the floor in the back seat area of my van!!!! And I'm not talking about just a little either...and in five places!!!! On the way back Ben started yelling: "Dixie...please don't throw up on my side!" LOL

I was laughing hysterically, it was just one of those moments! So apparently Dixie now gets car sick! It figures, she never throws up when she travels with my husband! lol I think I'll just drive his car next time!

So her puppy class came and I decided to only feed her very early in the morning and when her class came that night she wouldn't get sick. Well you know what? She got sick anyway! But I kept her in her crate with a throwaway pad inside for easy cleanup! Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do? I will be making this trip with her once a week for a couple months. It's about a half hour trip each way.

Oh, and today she ate my new cell phone! I have a cute little LG-NV and now 1/4 of it is chewed up! I swear she knew what she was doing, and did this just to make me mad! lol

She always destroys everything! She ate my phone charger, she ate about 100 pacifiers and hundreds of toys! But my phone of all things she left usable! It's like hey if you're going to eat it, eat all of it, so I can get a new one. But now I have to carry around a chewed up usable cell phone. It's very stylish! lol And also, she pulled a box of Kleenex off the table today and pulled them out one by one and chewed them up!

My kids have been one main reason I haven't been blogging lately. I decided to give homeschooling a try (at least for preschool). And we're learning alphabet recognition among many other things right now. It's really neat to be out and about and my son will notice a letter he is familiar with on signs. It's exciting to know that I'm teaching him things and he's loving it! But we're seriously thinking about homeschooling him in the future as well, but that's another post!

So that's been my month wrapped up in a few paragraphs! lol

I also wanted to share with you a photo of the wonderful package I received in the mail from my swap partner Tangee. I was in Lori's for the Love of Birds Swap. I was partnered with a very creative lady, Tangee from A Sparkly Messy Life. Look at all the wonderful goodies she sent me.
A very vibrant colorful tote on the left (which is my absolute favorite), a shabby Easter Bunny holding a glitter egg, a French flour sack, a barn star, a couple shabby chic decor books, a Love photo frame, potpourri, a stuffed bunny, a shabby iron bird, and some beautiful jewelry! Thank you soo much Tangee, it was great swapping with you!
And one more shout out to my BBF (best blogging friend) Kristin over at "The Goat" who sent me a letter that was in my mail today! It was such a sweet surprise, and really made my day! Thank you Kristin! You are so creative and I am so glad that we met through blogging! Well everyone I should get some sleep it's almost 1:00 am! I just wanted to catch everyone up on my life, and I will catch up reading my favorite blogs soon and I'll start posting again! Thanks for your patience!

Hugs, Ruth Ann