Country living

Okay so it has been a crazy busy summer. I have been so wrapped up in packing/unpacking, traveling, schooling, working, potty-training and everything else that seems to eat up my time, that I forget about the important things of life.

Like why we decided to move out to the country.

Fortunately, I have three wonderful little people in my life to help me remember.

This is how they started their day this morning.

It started with Maddie's peach at breakfast. We had a major discussion about the seed inside which reminded them of one of their favorite books James and the Giant Peach.

They decided to plant the seed out in the yard. They spent all morning digging in our Central Texas clay and dreaming about their future peach orchard. As you can see they enjoyed every minute of it.

They were so filthy that I had them strip down in the yard and spray them down with the water hose, followed up with a little skinny dipping in our pool. (them, not me)

What a way to spend your day.

I consider it the best part of an education to have been born and brought up in the country. ~Amos Brunson Alcott~

A Whole Lot Of Pottying Goin’ On

Cade has been begging me to potty train him for about a month. With Maddie we started at about 19 months, I was eager and ready for her to be out of diapers. But I soon realized that it was a lot of work and very messy. I hate going to public restrooms with small children!

So with Kinley , we waited a little later. Both girls did great and were trained within a month or so with a few minor mishaps.

The "experts" say boys are harder so I kept putting Caden off. Finally, I gave in and let him wear "panties". (We are working on calling them undies, it is hard with the influence of two older girls he adores!)

So we pulled out the potty and a pad full of stickers. And ....

He did fabulous! On his first day, he had no accidents and pooed in the potty three times! He even tells me he needs to go potty! He even woke up dry and went potty the next day before breakfast. Wow, that is it?

What will I do with the extra money I have been spending on diapers for the past almost seven years? One thing is for sure, I will not be buying a book on parenting.

I've learned to never listen to the experts!

First day of First grade

I can't believe Maddie is in first grade already! It freaks be out a bit because I remember a lot about my first grade year. It just seems so old!

Maddie was most excited about:

* Being in the big building at Sterling

* Seeing all of her friends

* Having Mrs.McDaniel as her teacher. (She is wonderful!)

* Taking Reader's Theater- she is my drama queen!

Here is Maddie with Melody, her best friend.

Mrs.Pam, one of our favorite people at Sterling, smiling with Maddie.

When I picked Maddie up, she told me that Mrs.McDaniel is the best teacher ever and she just makes history"come alive". She also shared that the kindergartners on the playground were "just precious Mom, you should see how little they are." What a difference a year makes.

So, you might wonder what happened with the other two while Maddie was at school? Well.....

Let's just say we've decided Maddie deserves a raise.