Big Girl Jenna

So for about a month now I have been telling Jenna that they just do not make diapers for 3 year olds. Three year olds are supposed to pee and poop in the potty. Turning 3 makes you a big girl and you get to wear big girl underwear. Jenna caught on to this really well and would tell you "I pee and poop in the potty when I 3 in July." Well, that July day came and instead of a fight, she has taken to it with great promise. I wasn't going to push it on her birthday since we were at the water park, but she didn't want to wear a swim diaper, so with that her potty training began!! She did super at the water park - peed in the potty twice. Did great the rest of the day, too. No accidents. The next day, well, it wasn't perfect, but I never thought it would be. She had one major accident and two minor ones (starting peeing but was able to stop herself to get to the potty). Our biggest hurdle was overcome that night, however, when she pooped in the potty. We all clapped and cheered and she had to go and get Daddy and Alex and show them. The pride in her eyes was priceless!! Today, it's going well. One accident but two successes and one long walk dry! I'm glad I waited. I'm glad not to have the battles I had with Alex and all the starts and stops and ok, we will try again in a few weeks. It is the wisdom gained as a seasoned parent and the benefits the second child inherits. And though I was fine with Alex turning 5, it is Jenna growing up, or maybe the combination of both, really, that is tough. As Joe said to them the other night, "What, Alex your riding a bike now and Jenna's peeing in the potty. Don't grow up too fast, now!" Like I have always said, it's just in the blink of an eye.

Riding a Bike

Joe and I bought Alex his first "big" bike for his birthday and Alex LOVES it! We just wrapped it in the box so that Joe and Alex could assemble the bike together. Right after it was finished, they headed out the door to try it out. Alex fell once, but said he was fine. Today, I took the kids for a walk (yes, even though it is 94* and 100% humidity!). Alex rode like a champ! He, again, fell twice. But after each fall, he just got right back up, jumped back on the bike and took off again. I was so proud of his behaviour because that reaction is so un-Alex. Alex is one to storm off and give up if things don't go his way. I guess he really is growing up. The age of 5 really makes it seem like he truly is a boy now. He is not a baby, not a toddler, not a preschooler, but a kid, a child, a big boy. And you know what, I am OK with that. I thought I would have a hard time with this birthday, but it was wonderful and I truly enjoy watching my baby grow up!

Happy Birthday Alex and Jenna!!

This past weekend we celebrated Alex's 5th birthday and Jenna's 3rd birthday. We wanted to do something different this year. So instead of just having family over for a BBQ, we went bowling!! I think it was a hit! The kids really like bowling and it is something everyone can have fun doing. The party was on the 14th. We had about 17 family members in attendance and just about everyone bowled. I made special t-shirts for Alex and Jenna for the party and they loved them. I also made a bowling lane cake, and though it did not look anything like the picture I followed, it was still a fun cake. The kid's thought it was the best. And for the first time, I did not get upset about not having the "perfect" cake. Yes, it really did look homemade, it was lopsided and had way too much frosting to hide the cake crumbs. But while I was decorating the cake, I just thought, I am not a professional cake decorator. I did not go to culinary school. I am just a mom showing my kids how much I love them by taking the time out, and most importantly, trying to make something special for them, to show them how very much they mean to me. For me, it's not about spending the most money to get the fanciest thing, it's about showing my love from my heart. This year, with each mistake, rather than bursting into tears, as I have in the past, I just laughed and I had fun with it - that's what it is all about!!

On the kid's actual birthday I took them to the water park for the day. We met up with some friends and had a great day of water fun. Their favorite thing to do, by far, was the kiddie water slides. I think they could have done that all day!! I loved watching them come around the corner and say "Hi Mom!" Alex can come down by himself, but Jenna needs me to catch her at the bottom or else she'll go under. We finished off our water park adventure with a snow cone and then headed home. Once Joe got home from work we headed off to one of the kids favorite restaurants - IHOP - for a funny face pancake dinner. We all had a great time! Once again, it was like Christmas in July and I am still trying to figure out where to put all the new toys they got! Overall, I think this was one of the happiest birthdays yet!

Summer Fun

Long time no blog!! It's because we have been having too much fun this summer! It is hard to believe that it is July already, and only 11 days until the Alex and Jenna's birthday...Yikes!! Back in January Alex went to a birthday party at the bowling alley and had a blast. He asked if he could have his birthday party at the bowling alley, too. Since it's Alex's 5th birthday, Joe and I were up for something different, something fun. But of course, we had to run this by Jenna. So, on June 22nd we all went bowling and had a great time!! We all bowled on a lane with the bumper guards - Joe and I needed all the help we could get since we haven't bowled in ages. Jenna's verdict..."Let's bowl!" She whipped Alex and I!! My little girly got two strikes in a row and ended with a score of 118. Despite the all-needed assistance of the bumper guards, I still only scored an 88. Alex finished with a score of 77 and Joe beat us all with a final of 129. So, a bowling party it is this year! The kids and I have been doing the "pool" circuit this summer. We have been to our friend's pool twice. We have been to the water park once (where I got sun burned for the first time in years...ow!!) And we have been to another friend's pool club. Each time, the kids had so much fun!! They are really into swimming and Jenna is determined to do everything by herself. So, I got her arm floaties and off she goes, with a big proud smile on her face. Alex is so cute in his goggles, that he must wear at all times, and beams with accomplishment when he puts his head underwater. We are off to yet another friend's pool next week. We have a small pool set up in the backyard that the kids love, but there are no water slides, and that has been their favorite so far! We had a nice quiet 4th of July. The kids and I went to visit my family for a few days before the holiday and made it back home for our town parade. We were asked to be the "Rochester Family" for the parade - ride on a float and throw out candy - but our kids declined because they wanted to get candy rather than give!! It was really nice and it was actually Jenna who had to hold her hands over her ears more than Alex this year. But they were both in agreement when it came to the fireworks...No Thanks!! So, we skipped them this year and just watched the Macy's Fireworks on TV. Even that didn't hold them to long. Hopefully, they will enjoy the fireworks at Disney.