Pick Your Seat

Aunt Heidi came to visit in April. That was lovely. Very nice. Wonderful. Stupendous. But my blogging has taken a hit. Yes, Aunt Heidi, I did just blame my lack of posts on you. No it's not entirely true and no it's not fair, but I'm pinning it on you anyway. I know you won't mind.

Operation Potty Training Gavyn began in April. He's four after all. He didn't get it right away. And we had a few accidents along the way. Including this one at a Cracker Barrel visit in late April with some good family and friends. Always good to pick your seat while your picking out your toy, dontcha think?



And are those are some good looking legs, or what? To answer your question, yes, we let him wander around in public looking like that.



After all, his mother wanders around in public looking like this:



Or at least Trader Joe's anyway. But I digress... back to potty training. Potty training is one of the more frustrating parenting ventures for me. I don't have the patience or the consistent parenting skills or the focus to actually succeed very quickly at it. However, I do think we've done one thing right and that is to let them learn at their own pace. What I've found (knock on wood! please let me not have spoken too soon!) is that when they sort of potty train themselves, they are potty trained for good. Accidents are rare and usually upsetting to them which makes future accidents even rarer. Kekoa gets up in the middle of the night and goes himself. Jury's still out on Gavyn.

With all that in mind, I am proud to announce Gavyn is officially potty trained! It all happened last week. He filled out his potty training chart with enthusiasm and purpose seven accident free days at a time with one oops in the middle - boom, boom, boom, minor accident, boom, boom, boom, POW!

My Cuppy Cake

You're my honey bunch... sugar plum... pumpyumpyumpkin... you're my sweetie pie...



Happy Anniversary to my Cuppy Cake! 14 years went by in a flash.

My Mom, She's Beautiful

I've wanted to write a post about my mother for a long time. I haven't for two reasons. Number one is I find it impossible really to capture what I love and appreciate about my mother in words. Number two is not wanting to embarrass my modest mother. I tend to do that from time to time.



I think one of the things that I love and appreciate most about my mother is that she creates this:



She's a baker. She makes sure everyone sits down together around the same table three times a day. She's a peacemaker. She's able to laugh at herself. And when those things come together, you are in for some good food and happy visits complete with lots of laughter around the table. Sure we love her homemade bread, but it's not so much about that. It's more about some good old fashioned, high quality family time. (Don't get me wrong. The good food helps. Heh.)

Things my mother is:

1) Modest
2) Sensitive
3) A peacemaker
4) Giving
5) Unconditionally loving
6) Forgiving
7) God-fearing
8) Considerate
9) Gentle
10) Kind
11) Long suffering
12) Meek
13) Good
14) Trustworthy
15) Gracious
16) Forbearing
17) Patient
18) Creative
19) Comforting
20) Strong



All of which make her one of the most beautiful people I know. May I be as lucky to be as lovely a person as she is some day - always busy with her hands doing what she can for others. I have never in my life ran across anyone who is as unselfish and giving as my mother. See? She brought me orange flowers on Mother's Day. I can't think of a time when she has ever put herself before another. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I aspire to be as good a mother as you some day. I'm so glad you're mine.

Lucky Me. Lucky Times Three.

My handsome little man playing the game at Cracker Barrel and proving he's no "ignoramoose". I think this is my favorite picture of Gavyn from the last little while. It somehow captures who he is.



And then there's the older one... always with a flair for drama. Here Kekoa is stabbing himself with a butter knife.



But lately? (beware, it's about to get sappy around here) I've really been loving and appreciating my husband. Last night I woke up several times in the night. Every time, he was still holding my hand as we slept. I love what our relationship and love has grown in to. It comforts me.

So there you have it. Lucky me. Lucky times three. Just taking a moment to count some of my blessings.