Potty Training

I'm pretty sure this is the most frustrating thing I have done in awhile.

Andrew and I have been potty training Jackson since Monday.  It is now Thursday, so it has been three full days.  The update.  Jackson is wearing underwear only.  He's been pretty successfully at going pee pee in the potty and telling us that he needs to go.  On going poop, we aren't making a lot of head way right now.  He's sneaky and keeps going in his underwear.  Andrew and I are doing our best to stay positive.  I realize it will take longer than a few days knowing are stubborn, strong willed child.

On a good note, Jackson is staying dry during his nap and all through the night!

With that said, I'm still wanting to pull my hair out most of the time.  As easy as it would be to keep him in diapers, I know it is time for him to be out of them.  Perseverance and patience are definitely needed, so please pray for us.

Whew! That was Tiring!

You seriously underestimate how tired your parents were on Christmas Day until you actually have kids of your own.  Then, you truly realize how exhausting of a holiday it is!

Christmas in our household was nice, if not exhausting.  We attended Christmas Eve Mass at our parish the evening before.  Everyone looked very nice dressed in our Christmas church clothes.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time to take a picture after Mass because the kids were starving and tired.  After a quick meal and bathes, we only put the kids down a little later than normal.  Andrew and I were pretty happy about it.

Until, we were woken up at 6:30am by a toddler who was starving and wanted to play.  And, our Christmas day began.

After coffee and breakfast (because Andrew and I weren't about to function without coffee), we opened presents.  The kids were really good.  Jackson opened all of his presents this year with little assistance.  The unwrapping didn't take too long, but it was long enough where a second pot of coffee was needed by both parents.

The rest of our day was spent playing the kids and their new toys.  I made a nice dinner which Andrew claims would feed an entire battalion!  I like cooking, and I tend to cook for more people than present.  So, we have a lot of leftovers.  At least they're good!  I cooked a Christmas Pasta using Italian sausage, ground pork, ground sirloin, and ground lamb.  It was good!

We ended our day with very tired children who pretty much collapsed in bed.  Andrew and I pretty much did the same thing a little later.  It was a great Christmas day!

This picture captures the chaos of our morning.

It's Christmas Time!

I cannot believe Christmas is on Sunday!  I feel like it has snuck up on me this year.  All my shopping is done and most has been done for at least a month, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the feeling of warmth and family which inevitably wraps itself around me has finally arrived.  I think it is the simple fact I have spent the last week with my own family all being at home without work or school hanging over our heads.  Yes, Andrew still checks his work email and does things, but his head and heart are here at home.  We won't be spending Christmas with any extended family this year, but I have my own family that more than makes up for it.  My children are healthy and growing at a crazy high rate.  I think I have bought more food within the last two weeks than I have in the last month!  I'm very content and happy.  It's nice.

So seeing at it is so close to Christmas time, I thought I would share a couple of photos.  The first is the family picture we used for our Christmas card this year.  It was the very last picture taken.  I'm not sure how Andrew and I got both boys to look and smile at the camera.  It's a miracle!

The second is a picture of our Christmas tree.  I've only had about half a dozen ornaments break this year.  Cullen keeps taking them off.  Jackson then grabs them out of Cullen's hands, brings them to me, and tells me Cullen took it off.  And the tattle telling has already started.  The boys have only managed to try to unwrap one present under the tree.  I was able to stop it before any real damage was done.  Although, they do enjoy stacking the presents like their blocks.

A Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Graduation Pictures

Here are some pictures from Andrew's MBA Graduation. The first one was taken on Friday at the Hooding Ceremony.

The ones below were taken right after Andrew's Commencement on Saturday down in San Marcos.

Andrew and his parents.

This picture somewhat captures the wrangling of the children.

Andrew and I very happy his degree is officially over!

Outing to the Park

Andrew came up with a great idea this morning.  We were going to take the boys to the park for a walk and bring Jackson's tricycle and the Radio Flyer wagon for Cullen.  The park has a nice long trail through the majority of it.  We thought it would be great for take the 1/4 mile loop around which goes by the AAA Baseball Stadium.  So, we packed up the boys, the tricycle and wagon.  Off we went.

In theory, it was a wonderful idea.  However, Jackson did not want to tricycle around the trail.  He tricycled about 100 yards before he turned around and headed back to the playground.  Jackson decided he would rather run around on the playground than bike.


Andrew and I did try to coax him into biking, but he had his mind made up.  Really, what can you do?  Its not like he wanted to go play in the street.  In the end, we all went back to the playground to let the boys play.

Jackson and Cullen had a great time running around the playground, sliding down slides, and swinging.























On the other hand, Andrew and I had packed and planned for a walk.  Which meant us expending energy towing children around.  In general, moving not standing around.  Hence, we did not wear especially heavy clothes (although we did bundle the boys up).  We got a little cold after standing outside about 30 minutes.  We stayed a little longer, then headed home with two worn out children.

In the end, the outing to the park wasn't what we had planned, but it turned out to be fun nonetheless.  Although next time, Andrew and I will be sure wear layers in case plans unexpectedly change.

The pictures are just snapshots I was able to take of the boys.

Doesn't Andrew look a little cold?

I Like This!

This is always one of the sexiest things I get to see.  Andrew vacuuming.  The only thing to trump this would be a picture of him cleaning the bathrooms.  It's the simple things that make me happy!

Andrew Graduated with His MBA!

It has been a long time coming, but it is finally official.  Andrew graduated with his MBA from Texas State University!  He and I are absolutely ecstatic about this!  It has been a two kids and 2 1/2 years in the making, but it is done.

Andrew and I went to the McCoy College of Business's Hooding Ceremony Friday night.  Just the two of us were able to go because Andrew's parents came into town and watched the kids.  The McCoy College of Business did a nice job.  I didn't have one of these when I graduated, so I really wanted Andrew to attend.  I was able to say hello to a couple of professors I knew and a guy I graduated with as well.  After the hooding ceremony, Andrew and I had a nice dinner together.  I cannot express how wonderful it was to be able to go out to dinner with my husband by ourselves.  It so rarely happens that we definitely enjoyed ourselves.

Today, Saturday, was the official graduation ceremony.  Andrew's parents were there and of course, Jackson and Cullen were present.  I do have to say my kids were very good.  I was able to let Jackson run around Sewell Park before the ceremony to run off some extra energy.  The well planned idea of putting Cars 2 on an iPod enabled me to get through most of the ceremony without a fuss.  Cullen was good as well.  Andrew's parents left right after the ceremony.

By the time Andrew, myself, and the kids left, it was lunch time.  We decided to do the smart thing and find a McDonald's with a play place.  I have never been more thankful for an indoor fast food play place in my life!  Jackson and Cullen were able to run around and burn off all the energy they stored while sitting for the graduation ceremony.  After that, we headed home.

It turned out to be a good day for all of us.  I have no pictures to show for it currently because Andrew's dad took all of them.  Its hard to take pictures when constantly having to tote a kid around.  I'm sure pictures will be coming soon!

It was a long 2 1/2 years, and I've never been more thankful to have my husband back!  We both made sacrifices in order for him to complete his MBA.  He gave up family time, and I took the burden of raising the kids.  It was well worth it!  I'm so happy for him!

Congratulations on your MBA Andrew!  I love you!