Instagram Monday!

I finally learned how to post a collage of instagram pictures to my blog! How exciting. It's the best way to snap everyday pictures, and I don't take my big camera out as often as I should. But this way you can all get your Wesley fill. I know that's the only reason people ever read this thing. Haha. Well anyways, here's whats been going on lately.

Top Right: Kris and Wesley playing cars (this is all Wesley wants to do unless he is swinging). Right before this Wesley said I want to sit next to my best buddy, and asked dad to move his chair next to his. Next, Wesley swinging. He does this thing where he runs and jumps onto the swing with his belly and swings. When it's done swinging he runs and jumps on the other swing and goes back and forth. Soccer season is here, Wesley and I will spend many a nights watching Kris. Wesley loves to cheer for his daddy. 

Second row, we have a pass to the children's museum here in town. We usually go every Friday with our friends the Samuelson's. This is Wesley and Leia. Next, Grandma and Grandpa had sparklers. Wesley is usually terrified of fire. But he held this for a few seconds and I was super proud! And Granny turned 80!! We love Granny!

Third row, We were out walking around our neighborhood, We had been to see the tractors working in our neighborhood and on the way home we spotted this guy. Wesley was scared of the snake he says. Wesley loves to eat his cereal in the morning. He must drink his milk after just like dad. And this was a sweet moment, Wesley was playing the piano right before this. I hope Wesley loves music just like his dad. 

Soak it all up...

Lately I have been trying harder to just enjoy Wesley. Sometimes I get so caught up in organizing this, cleaning that, straightening this so maybe it will be a little more functional, but in a month, or five years, or twenty years when Wesley is coming home from a mission, that won't really matter.  What matters in enjoying this journey where I am at right now with Wesley. Whether we play cars for hours or trains, whether we watch a movie every afternoon even if it is the same one everyday, we are spending time together being happy and doing what we love. I get sad thinking about Wesley trucking off to school or sleepovers at friends house, I am a little attached i want him right here with me always, but that isn't going to happen so I need to live in the moment while I can.

I am always trying to find something to make things easier, help things run more smoothly, or mostly a schedule of sorts or a routine to settle into with Wesley.  I wanted a schedule where we do the exact same thing everyday at the same time,  And that just doesn't happen with kids.

Then yesterday I read this article

 http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2012/03/poyel-examining-our-daily-routines.html


How true it was. 

Peace isn’t a place with no stress, but a place where you take the stress as it comes, in stride, and don’t let it rule you. You let it flow through you, and then smile, and breathe, and give your child a hug.

I love that quote. I think so often as parents we can get caught up in  to necessarily the wrong things, but things that aren't quite as important. Good, better, best! I need to always strive to do whats best.

Wesley Kristofer

Wesley... He is so handsome, smart, wonderful, can throw awesome tantrums now, has gotten a little attitude, pushes his limits, but can be so sweet and kind as well. I guess that's part of "terrible twos". Some things  he is up to.. just to remember them..
-He has quite the vocabulary, and speaks in sentences almost always.
-He loves his friends, and asks to see them daily.
-Loves his puppy, and climbs all over her.
-Can recognize some letters and numbers.
-Loves trains, and Cars characters. He carries them everywhere we go. He even sleeps in bed with them.
-Still loves to read books. We could read books all day.
-Loves his Grandma, Grandpa, Meemaw and B-pa
-Really likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and dances around too it.
-Enjoys watercolor painting and coloring.
-Knows his colors and loves telling me what colors are which.
-Is great at matching things and doing puzzles
-Every morning when he wakes up he asks where daddy is.
-Washes his hands constantly.
-He can undress himself mostly, put on his slip on shoes, puts his dirty clothes away, clear the table, and helps me put the silverware away from the dishwasher.
-Is now scared of monsters, but loves to read books about them.
-We have started going to story time at the library. He loves it because they read books, sing, dance, do rhymes, and a craft.
-Has just recently wanted to help me cook. He likes to make pancakes.

Catch Up...in Pictures

Here is Thanksgiving, Christmas , And a few things that happened in between.

a thing to remember.

Wesley said his very own prayer all by himself Monday night before bed. I was such a proud momma and had a huge smile on my face. I almost cried. It was very sweet. He was thankful for blessings, and daddy, and he wanted to sleep well, and bless the soldiers.

A little vacation..

This past weekend we had the chance to go to the Beach with our friends the Mowry's from Tuscaloosa. They invited us to tag along as they were going to a car show. We headed down for four days and had a great time relaxing and just hanging out. We loved seeing all the old cars, we went to a car parade and the kids got some beads and toys, we ate good food, and of course played in the sand and took family pictures. Ashley took some of us and I took some of them. It was  a good trade. Here is her awesome work!!

Trains, planes, and Automobiles

We got a pass recently to a Children's Museum here in Huntsville, With that pass you can go to the museum, train depot, or constitution village. A few weeks ago we went to the train depot with our great friends the Koerners. The boys had a blast.

These boys have been friends since infants. They really enjoy playing and exploring together. Glad we get to share our adventures. I got to do some pictures of Carson and his little sister not to long ago. They are adorable and I have loved watching them grow. 

It's Potty Time

A few weeks ago we decided to potty train Wesley. We had been thinking about it for a while, but decided the first weekend in October would be the perfect weekend to start. It was a three day weekend for Kris, and we didn't have church because of General Conference. So we could stay at home and focus on Wesley.

We read the potty training in 3 days method and decided to follow that. We woke up Saturday morning. Ate some breakfast, drank some juice, and put on Undies! We let him run around in his undies, socks and a shirt. We had an elmo potty that we put in the toy room and just let him run around. We kept reminding him to tell us when he had to potty. Needless today, the day was horrible. We went through no joke like 20 pairs of underwear and my house smelled like pee. Not fun!! I was ready to give up, but Kris said no lets keep going. Sunday was much better. We only had six or so accidents. HUGE IMPROVEMENT! And everyday kept getting better. We go pee pee in the potty almost every time. We only have an accident if he isn't being watched for signs or outside. For some reason he just thinks he can pee in his pants outside (it'd be much nicer if he would just pull them down and pee on the grass but i guess we haven't grasped that concept yet).

Also, what helped us was a sticker chart and treats. He really enjoyed his sticker charts.

Poo is a whole other story. He still does that in his pants. Daily. It's terrible. I know it's a hard concept for most kids. He will sit down and go a little in the potty but doesn't get the concept of all of it. I think it's easier to do it standing up for him. I am sure we will get there. Everytime it happens I make a huge deal of how gross it is. So maybe he will understand soon. Let's hope.

For those who have yet to go through it, just make it through day one and two! After that it gets easier.

Wesley's 2nd Birthday

I still can't believe I have a two year old. That just seems crazy to me. We celebrated with a Cars theme. Wesley is a little bit obsessed with the movie Cars. We put up balloons and a happy birthday banner. I didn't get any pictures. I was too worried about making sure everything went well and Wesley was having fun. All the food had Cars names. We had Mater's Tater Chips, White wall tires, black wall tires, sheriff's stoplights, Organic Fuel, Lightning McQueens Pit Crew. I made him a race track cake with cars on it. He loved it.

Wesley really enjoyed it, and of course he got spoiled. We got tons of awesome presents and We are in the process of getting him a swing set for our backyard that I am sure he will love.

Here's a few pictures.

These pictures were taken by Kim. And Most of the party ideas came from this blog : 

http://craftyteachermom.blogspot.com/2012/03/disney-cars-birthday-party.html

Che

Meet Che. Our new puppy. Or Wesley's puppy. (Wesley always asks, "Where is Wesley's puppy") She is about five months old. She is a  weimaraner and lab mix! and we love her. She has been pretty easy so far.

Wesley and Che go on adventures all around the back yard. It is awesome. They entertain each other as long as they can go outside. The last few days it's been raining and they can't go outside. Cooped all day inside makes me a little crazy I have decided.

Thanks to Kim for taking these pictures.