Quote of the Day

Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.

-- Albert Schweitzer

Peep, pee pee, and poopy please!

I can't even believe it's time to start thinking about potty training Tripp. He's not even two yet. I'm excited to think about no more diapers, but I shudder at the thought of having to take two kids to a public restroom. Ew.

I haven't mentioned here yet that Tripp has been going potty on the potty since about 18 months. Not consistently, of course, but the first time he went peep on the potty was at about 18 months. Ms. Monica, one of Tripp's teachers, calls pee pee "peep". I think it sounds much nicer, so I now call it that as well. Ms. Monica asked me about the time Tripp was 18 months if we were potty training. She was surprised when I looked at her and laughed. Why would I be trying to potty train a boy at 18 months? Hadn't even crossed my mind. Apparently he is very interested in the potty at school so she started putting him on it. He hadn't gone at school, but she encouraged me to put him on the potty at home. So I have been.

I decided to start putting him on the potty after bath since, in typical boy fashion, he likes to try and pee on the carpet when I take him out of the bath. To my surprise, Tripp would peep on the potty 50% of the time. Then he started telling me he had to peep. The first few times I put him on he didn't go. But then jackpot - he went! Then he told me he had to poopy. That was fun. I put him on the potty and he didn't go. I gave him a little while to gain his composure so he could keep trying, after all M&Ms were on the line, but he told me "ah dun" (all done) so I took him off and proceeded to grab his clothes. I turn around and what do I see? Tripp pooping on the floor ... running across the hall pooping. Yep! Tripp pooping all over the floor. Awesome. It was then I learned I had to be smarter than him, but also that he knew when he had to go potty. I find this amazing.

First poopy potty (as he would call it) - Tripp told me he had to pee pee so I took him to the potty. He was taking a long time so I was trying to coax him off thinking he probably had already gone in his diaper. But, to my disbelief, he ended up pooping ... it was hilarious ... he was laughing and yelling and getting a big kick out of it. He was trying to stick his head between his legs so he could see down in the toilet - yes, I know, nice - it was hilarious. I should've videoed it. That would have been something fun to pull out on his first date. I started yelling for John and he came running in ... so did Sophie. We had a big party in the bathroom celebrating Tripp's first poopy. We ate M&Ms by the potty. lol Sorry for TMI, but I have to write this down since my child is a potty training prodigy. Ok, not really, but I am excited that he's poppied on the potty a few times since and he's not even 2! And, btw, I've brought up M&Ms a few times. That is the "prize" he gets for going potty. It worked for Sophie and it seems to be working for Tripp.

Let me just say that I am not getting my hopes up. I'm not pushing the potty training thing, partly out of laziness (sad, I know), partly due to my fear of having to take 2 babies to the public potty, and partly because I'm not sure if Tripp is ready. But some days I wonder if I'm doing enough, if I should be encouraging. Tripp moved up into the big kid room at school last week and he has been going potty every day. Sometimes he has a dry diaper, sometimes not, but he is going. Ms. Monica was so excited to share that news with me. Tripp really likes going potty. I told John today maybe we should buy some underwear for him and see how he does. Maybe he won't like being wet in underwear and will start using the potty. Maybe this will be the beginning of the end of diapers. I guess only time will tell.

Quote of the Day

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

— Muriel Strode, American Author "At the Roots of Grasses"

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Sophie has been saying some very funny things lately. You know, those type of things that you read in magazines that make you spit out your milk while you are reading because you can imagine what that mom felt like as her kid says something crazy to a stranger? Sophie is turning into quite the little comedian. Obviously she doesn't know what she is saying is funny, but it is. I've been meaning to write a list of the things she says, but I keep forgetting. I'm going to make this my master list and update it when she says something that I feel like I must remember. I can't remember anything other than what she told me a few days ago, but it's classic. I'm sure John thinks so anyway!

1. Tripp was pulling Sophie's hair and the conversation went like this:

Me: Tripp, don't pull Sophie's hair. That's naughty. You'll have to go to time out if you do it again. Say you are sorry to your sister.
Tripp: Hugs Sophie, but I notice his hands are clinched in fists.
Me: Unclenching Tripp's fists. Great. Tripp! You actually pulled Sophie's hair out.
Sophie: He pulled my hair out?
Me: Yes!
Sophie: Starts crying. Mommy! Tripp is going to pull all my hair out and then I'm not going to have any hair and I'm going to look like daddy!!
Me: Awesome!! John, did you hear that!! She's crying because Tripp pulled a little hair out and now she thinks she is going to be bald like you.
Me: Still laughing as I type this!!

Quote of the Day

The abundant life does not come to those who have had a lot of obstacles removed from their path by others. It develops from within and is rooted in strong mental and moral fiber.

-- William Mather Lewis

Happy New Year!

We wish all our family and friends a wonderful, healthy, and safe New Year. We know 2010 will be an amazing year!

Christmas Eve

Tonight is Christmas Eve. I've been looking forward to this Christmas, because I think the kids will really enjoy unwrapping their gifts. I thought this was the year I'd be able to pull the old "Santa isn't coming if you are naughty, only if you are nice." But, nope! Nobody seems to care about that. Tripp, well he's too young, not even 2. Sophie, on the other hand, is nearly 3 1/2. Shouldn't she get it? That child. Phew. She is becoming such a handful lately. Sassy, talking back, telling me no. I have been telling her she should be nice and not naughty or else and she just says "no!" I'm tempted to tell Santa not to come tonight.

Of course that won't happen. I'm too nice of a mommy. But I think I need some tips in getting my kids to calm down a bit. Tripp has also started the "no!" bit while shaking his head somewhat violently. He has also started to throw food and hit drinks off the table when he's mad. Today we went to a restaurant with some friends. Sophie ran around like a wild woman asking for candy (there is an arcade with candy machines in the back of this restaurant) and Tripp screamed and cried when we put him in his highchair. Still hates being strapped into anything. While we were eating he just decided to smack his chocolate milk right off the table. So frustrating! We had to move tables because it made such a mess. It's embarrassing when the kids act like this. I've gotta think of something and something fast. They went from being sweet angels just a few months ago to holy terrors in restaurants. If anybody has suggestions I will totally welcome them!

Enough about the ranting, let me tell you about Christmas Eve! I'm taking Sophie to see Princess and the Frog when she wakes up from her nap. We tried to go earlier, but we were late (lunch took longer than expected) and Sophie was falling asleep. Have you ever tried to explain to a 3 year old why you aren't going to the movies but that you are going 2 hours later after nap time? Doesn't work so well!! Anyway, she was so tired she fell asleep in the car. She had a late night last night. She was out shopping with daddy for mommy's gift last night (yes, the night before Christmas Eve). Daddy is out with Tripp finishing that shopping now. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!! Anyhoo, Sophie and I are going to the movies. When we get home we'll eat a lowkey dinner, probably sandwiches and the rest of the hashbrown casserole we have and then we'll try to put the kiddos down a tad bit early.

I have a lot of wrapping to do tonight. I haven't wrapped one single gift. John and I have a tradition on Christmas Eve. We pop open a bottle of wine, light the fire, sit by the Christmas tree and wrap gifts, and watch "It's A Wonderful Life." I'm looking forward to that tradition tonight!

Sophie's Sweet Face

Sophie hamming it up at Cooper's Farm. She rarely lets me take pictures of her so this was fun! She's just a sweet soul with a beautiful spirit. I love my little girl!




Cheesy pose but I love it!


I just find this one to be so sweet an innocent.


Me and Soph!

More from Cooper's Farm

Tripp wouldn't really let me take a good picture of him, but Sophie would. She was hamming it up and I loved every minute of it! Incidentally, our Christmas card picture is from Cooper's Farm. Last year and the year before were from Berry Patch.

Christmas card picture ... aren't the two babies so cute? I tried to get one of them sitting looking pretty and smiling at the camera. Who am I kidding? That never happens. lol This is true to them so I think it made the perfect Christmas card picture.


Here are the cut your own trees.


Tripp's chasing daddy again!


Did I mention there was a Dora Santa? Sophie probably thought this was a bonus and in her book Cooper's probably went up a notch, quite possibly market higher than Berry Patch solely because of Dora. Why don't you give her a little hug, Soph?


This picture just cracks me up. Tripp is licking his lips and trying to decide if he should eat the berry. No Tripp! Stop eating everything you see ... including dog food! lol


Did I also forget to mention there was a small petting farm? Well, that's what they call it. It was more like a pen full of bunnies, a cow that you couldn't touch (but it was cute), and some chickens in a cage. The kids loved the bunnies. Tripp just about dove in.




Where is Sophie? Oh there she is ... in the middle of lots of pretty Christmas trees!


Two cutest kids ever.

Christmas Tree Pickin'

This is a serious topic for me. Growing up we always had a fake, um I mean artificial, Christmas tree. Nothing wrong with that and I didn't know any better, but since moving out on my own I have had a real Christmas tree every year. Just the smell alone is worth paying for a tree every year.

My Christmas trees in Florida were purchased at Home Depot. Even my first few trees in Atlanta were too, but for the last five years we have been buying our trees at Berry Patch Farm. I absolutely adore that place. It's a family run farm in Woodstock. They have trees you can actually cut down yourself. How cool is that? We like the Fraser Firs best and those aren't grown there so we don't get to cut it ourselves. However, they do have them all set up looking pretty out in the farm. You take a little hay ride out to where the trees are and walk through them until you find the perfect tree. I always go for the sad looking Charlie Brown tree because I feel sorry for it thinking that nobody will buy it. Yes, it's just a tree and yes, I'm weird like that. John generally wins out and we buy a nicer tree, but it usually still has some type of flaw. The flaw can always go against the wall!! Anyway, we have been going to Berry Patch for 5 years. It's a Goodballet tradition now. We get our tree, buy a wreath, wander through the trees, take pictures, and drink hot chocolate. Last year the kids were old enough to play on the little swing set they have. It's just very quaint like I always imagined a Christmas tradition to be. But this year, because we moved, we had to find a new tree farm.

I did my research. Don't get me wrong, I checked around. I found two tree farms near our house. After pouting from Thanksgiving until that Sunday I gave in and agreed to skip Berry Patch this year since it is an hour drive now. John vetoed the first tree farm pick and said it was too far. So we packed everyone up and headed to Cooper's. Oh Coopers. Such a disappointment. To their credit, they were an amazingly nice family. I really did like the people working there. They had a nice selection of trees and I do believe we got the nicest tree this year that we have ever had. And, as a bonus, it was less than smaller trees in previous years. But where was the hayride? The hot chocolate? What about the sleigh for us to take pictures in? Or the farm to walk around? **sigh** Oh Berry Patch how I miss you so!!

Here are pictures from our "new" tree farm. I feel bad talking about Cooper's this way, but once you've been to Berry Patch you'd feel the same. John says we are going back to Berry Patch next year. I won't argue!



Wait for me guys!

Where did you go? Don't pick one without me!

All this running is making me tired.

I like this one!

This is the one! Sophie & daddy picked a beautiful tree.