Good Times!

Last night we went to a baseball game to sort of celebrate Father's Day. Of course it never rains here unless we have plans to be outside! The rain did hold off until after we though, so that was really nice and a shocker. Anyway, he had a lot of fun. Ian did really well right up until the third inning. He was getting board at that point so we got up to walk around. I bough seats in the stands because I wasn't sure what they meant when they said "lawn", Well, we will most likely buy seats again since the price isn't that different, but we will be taking advantage of the lawn again. Because of the nice place for him to run we were able to stay until inning 7. They (the home team) were really winning so we didn't feel the need to stay. In addition to there being a nice grassy area for him to run, they had a really cool playground area. We took him to slide and run with other kids and it was great. The kid has perfected his climbing skills by the way and can climb with the best of them! Before we went to the game we had pizza downtown at our favorite pizza place. Of course it was good and my fears about Ian not eating enough were erased! Th kid can eat some pizza!

Today we are going to paint some pottery that Ian and I made a few weeks ago. I wanted to get Christmas out of the way early, really early, so we went to the pottery studio that frequent and made our own stuff. Usually we just do "paint your own" which is where you can buy premade stuff and paint it. But this time we did a 2 hour session where we got to make stuff and now we get to paint it. It was actually a great deal. I got 3 people out of the way, plus a few necklace beads for myself, and we made 20 fish ornaments. The fish alone would have cost me over $100. It was a great deal and I am so happy with the way everything turned out. I plan to do it again, just maybe not with Ian. He loves being there, but he likes to do things he isn't supposed to. And since the place is an actually pottery studio with wheels and people making really fragile stuff, you can't turn your back for a minute.

Well, I hear the boys moving around upstairs and that is my cue to get my butt off the couch and get dressed. Hope you all have a great weekend. Happy Father's day to all the Father's out there, especially my Hubby and my own Dad, 2 great men who I love very much!
Love, Kristen

Potty Time!

I am so excited that I just had to make a post. Ian peed and poop (one really strange turd) in the potty this evening. I am so proud of that little man. At first he was totally freaked out about the potty. Eventually we got him to accept sitting there while reading a book. Now, for the first time ever, he did it in the potty! I realize that this is a small step towards being potty trained, but it is a step, and I am seriously so happy!!!

While he was taking a bath he looked at me, then his "boy hood" and said "mommy poop". Well, he didn't poop he peed, but he knew something was about to come out of there. After he did it I explained to him that peeing in the tub was not nice and if he need to do that again he was to tell me so that I could get him on the potty. After I got him out of the tub I asked him if he wanted to try again on the potty. He said sure so I put him back on. He sat there straining for about 5 minutes or so while I read him a book. When I asked him if he wanted to get off he said no and kept right on trying. I think all that straining is what made the strange poop occur. Anyway, while I was reading the book for the second time I heard that beautiful sound of pee hitting the water. It was only a little, but he and I both knew what happened. Of course I started screaming and happy dancing and he started laughing and smiling. After Lance and I both gave him hugs and kisses and bumps, he was done for the night.

Anyway, I realize that this post was a very long post about bodily functions and if you got through it, thanks for listening to one proud Mam ma!
Love,
Kris

Low Key

Today was sort of a low key day. We went to S to get a price correction on a bra I bought yesterday, went to Zumba practice, then to Burger Kind and home. Ian asked for Burger King and since I was hungry I as really in no position to say no. Plus, Lance wasn't coming home for lunch and there was no point in cooking lunch for just Ian and I. Anyway, after he gets up we have to run out and get diapers and then that should be about it for the day. It is raining outside, or it has been most of the day, so no outside time for us.

The Monkey Pool is so cute. It was really too cold for him to get in and enjoy himself so he just stood next to it and splashed in it. In any event, I don't think it will actually er get warm enough for him to use so it may end up in our basement as a ball pit.

We had a better day today then yesterday. Yesterday Ian told me "I hate you" which no doubt he took from me telling Molly " I hate when you do...". I seriously cried for about 20 minutes yesterday after that. Once I got over it and braced myself, he did get into trouble the next time he said it. Today however, he loves me and wants to give me hugs and kisses and feed me food. I am sure he didn't understand what it meant, he just knew that mommy says something similar when she gets mad at Molly. By the way, we were fighting and that is when it happened. In any event, he seems to love me today, so I guess we are good.

He should be waking up from his nap soon and hopefully he will be in a good mood. In any event, I do need to get going. Hope you all have a great day.
Kristen

Pool Time!

After last weeks incident at the pool(I'll get to that in a minute) I think we have decided not to do swimming lessons with Ian again until he gets a little older. They really didn't teach him anything that I or Lance can't teach him. Plus, they only have outdoor lessons for his age group (previously we did indoor)this session and since we still get down to the 50's it may be a waste. Anyway, with that being said, I went ahead on got him this cute little pool from Meijer since he does like to play in the water. Buying the pool also means that I don't have to take him to the pool down the street which costs money and has probably way too many older kids. I didn't get a deep one. Just a cute little one with a monkey head that spits water and has a banana for a slide. I'll try and take pictures later. I sure hope he enjoys the slide.

Anyway, last week was the last week of swimming lessons at the Community Center. I was a little sad because he was finally starting to let go a little which is a pretty big step for him. I was a little pissed at the instructor though after the slide incident. They have this huge water slide that drops into what I now know is the deepest part of the pool. She took us all to the top and we waited until she got back into the pool and told us to go. In addition to lying about how deep it was, she told my pregnant friend that it was up to her if she wanted to take her little girl down even though the sign clearly said "No pregnant women". This poor girl tried so hard to get pregnant. Luckily she ignored the woman and did not go. Anyway, Ian and I did. Now if you know me, you know I can't swim really well. I was expecting to go down this slide and be able to stand up in the pool with my head above water. She told me I would be able to. Yeah, not so much. So Ian and I both go under. Thankfully he was wearing a life jacket and came right back up. In addition to that, since I can't swim well by myself, it made it really hard trying to do it with a child who is screaming his head off. Thankfully there was an older lady who held him, still screaming, while I pulled myself to the side. And yes, I know, I should have checked myself. I guess that goes to show that you must trust but verify, especially with things like that.

In other news, I went to the Victoria Secret Semi-Annual sale today. I got 2 great and much needed bra's and a handful of pretty undies. Apparently I have gone down a size. Not sure how that happened. I haven't lost that much weight. In any case, they do fit much better then my old ones. And really, I did need them. I haven't gotten any new ones since right after Ian was born 2 years ago. I had to make that statement because Lance will always ask "do you really need that, or do you just want it?"

Well, I guess I had better get going. The babe should be waking up soon and I really want to try out the new pool. Hope you all have a great day.
Kristen

Finally!

It is finally nice outside! It hasn't been that way in a while. It gets nice and warm for a few days and then, BAM! It gets cold again. Seriously, I had my heater on 2 days ago.

Anyway, other then the ever changing weather, things have been OK. The babe was sick from Tuesday to Friday, but he is better now, and we are very thankful for that. He was running a fever of 104.5 in the ear. It started to go down on Friday and he has been fever free for 2 days! Thank God! Not sure what was wrong with him. I guess just a virus.

I think I have come to a realization that I need to actually do something with my "almost degree". I say almost because I have yet to take that test that finally give me my degree. I am super scared to take it and I really, really need to. It isn't like I want to leave Ian at daycare or anything. I think he needs me, and I am happy to be needed. I just think that maybe the time has come for me to start looking for a stay-at-home job that will help me to become ready for working life once he goes to school. Now, if we decide to have more kids I realize that working outside the home will be put off a little longer, and I am ok with that, I just need to do something with my almost degree to make all of that money we spent on it seem worth it. Plus, I am not really enjoying my gym job due to a lot of different things and it was supposed to be my fun time.

My parents are coming soon, and for that I am super excited. They should be coming around the end of July and are probably bringing my cousin Cassie. That girl is growing up so fast I hardly recognized her anymore. Not sure what we have planned, but they will be here for over a week so we should have a lot of fun. Lance's parents will be making an appearance in early July as well. Looks like a lot of house guest for us.

You know, I never realized how accident prone I am. Today I busted my knuckles on a brick wall while trying to pick up a box. Wondering how that happened as well, aren't you? I also have this crazy scratch on my arm that I still can't figure out how it got there. Seriously, as bad as it looks you would think I would remember how it got there, but nope, Nada.

As for as my gym job goes, well, it doesn't seem as fun as it once was. I love the work-out I get when I teach, but our class size is going down and there are some other things going on that I don't like but will not mention here. I did get some good news the other day though. I asked if I could start a Hip Hop class and was told to get something together for a demo because they would like to start one. Try not to laugh people!

Anyway, I seem to rambling so I guess I will go. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Kristen

Twice in one week!

That's right, I am posting twice in one week! Go me! I was sure hoping that we would have a nice weekend since Lance is off for 3 days, but as in true MI fashion, it was nice for 3 days and now it is raining and cold yet again. We didn't really have any plans so nothing was ruined or anything like that. Well, we possibly have friends coming over on Monday to grill, but that isn't set in stone.

I think we may go to Saginaw today to get dog food. Poor Molly. She is on that special kidney diet and we can only get her food in one place here in town. Unfortunately Lance forgot to tell me that she was running low and that one place is probably closed today. Oh well. The drive is nice and it gets us out of the house.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but we have a farmers market here in town that is neat to go to. I think that is one of the things about MI I like the most. New things. Some of the new things that we have been able to do are apple picking, going to the farmers market, and in the summer, blueberry & strawberry picking. I know it doesn't sound like much but we enjoy it. I think we try and go to Canada one day as well. I have never been out of the country nor do I really have the desire to, but I would like to go to Canada since we are so close. Seriously, we lived close to VA Beach for 2 years and never took Ian to see the ocean. Canada we need to see.

We have a house guest coming soon and he will be staying for a week starting next weekend. Lance has a fiend at work who has a Lab puppy and he and his wife will be going out of town so they need a dog sitter. With new carpet and a toddler who likes to chase Labs with push toys makes me a little less then excited, but I am happy that we are doing it. Hopefully next time we go out of town we will have a free dog sitter!

Anyway, I guess I had better get going. My nose is telling me that someone needs to be changed. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Love,
Kris

Hello out there!

I had not realized how long it has been since I've been here and blogged. March??? Really?? Anyway, I guess I do owe an update since a lot has gone on.

I really would have thought that once we finished the house that things would finally slow down. Apparently we were really busy people even before we had a house that required daily attention and renovations. Ian is doing a lot more activities now, so that and play dates keep us busy during the day. We do swim lessons once a week and art projects at a pottery studio once a week. We also go to the gardens sometimes. Go figure, the one morning that I am up early enough to actually make it to story time at the gardens it is raining. Anyway, the kid is talking up a storm now and has some pretty interesting things to say. The other day I told him it was time to leave and he informed me that he was "not going" and took off the other way. He wasn't mean about it or anything, he was just not going. He knows all of his animals in his books, has started singing with me sometimes, and likes to be able to push his own stroller when we had decided he has had enough of riding. I am also trying to teach him to say countries. So far we have managed America, Russia, Cube (his favorite)China, and Poland. I have to say, those are really funny words coming from a 2 year old!

Since I haven't been here since March I missed Ian turning 2. He did by the way! Since we were unable to make it home for his real birthday Lance and I took him to the water park and had a nice big party with just us at the house. In late April we were finally able to get flights on the company plane and when to Louisiana for a long weekend. It was so nice to wear shorts! Anyway, we had him a little party at Burger King with lots of kids, which was nice.

As for Lance and I, things are going great. I think we may finally be adapting to life in MI. We know that when we lay down at 2200 that it will still be daylight outside and we know that it will be fully light again by 0500. It isn't snowing anymore which is a great thing. I was seriously ready to start a petition to get Mother Nature fired! SO for the spring has been nice. We get to take Ian outside finally. The boys stay outside a lot. When I work at night I come home to find that they had just walked in the door right before me.

Oh, I work now! I think I mentioned that I teach Zumba. Well, now I teach Zumba sometimes twice a week as well as another class, and then I have practice twice a week. I am assuming that all of that has accounted for my 5 pound weight loss on the scale yesterday. Watch, I will gain it all back now just for saying it out loud! Anyway, I really like it.

Well, I guess I had better get going. My coffee is getting cold and my little man may be waking up soon. I hope you are all doing well.

Love,
Kristen