3 days....maybe 4.

I mentioned in my last post that we decided to take advantage of an opening at the pre-school and sign Graham up for the three year old class in the fall.

Minor details including he is a long way from three and would need to be potty trained.

So....

I dread potty training more than most things.

The only good thing being that I didn't get out of my pajamas all day.

We spent all day within arms reach of Graham and the words, "Keep Lightning dry", and "tell mommy/daddy when you need to go potty" about a gagillion times.

We're following the 3 day method (except I refuse to do the night thing), and so far...after a rough morning, progress is being made....this kid may just be able to start pre school in September after all.

Addison's been quite the encourager....ready with red Starbursts and big words of celebration....and then there is of course plenty of bribery taking place.

I have no qualms against bribery.....especially when it comes to saying goodbye to diapers FOREVER.

My Youngest

I was clearing some pics off my camera the other day and found some that mostly centered around my youngest kid.  

He is a total puzzle prodigy.  This one he's doing in this pic takes him about 45 seconds.  

When I get up in the morning and come downstairs (because I might catch a few more minutes of shut eye after he wakes up), I find 3 or 4 48 piece puzzles completed all before breakfast.

Addison just likes to watch him, but will sometimes join in.

When he asks me to help him, I try, but he usually ends up saying, "no mommy, not there, right here", and takes it from me to complete it on his own.....all from upside down.

 He lights up whenever he sees his daddy and wants to help him with whatever task is at hand.

Like fixing Addison's chair......which is still unfixed by the way....even though I've got two handy men at home, I think I'm going to have to hire that one out.

 We've been working on riding bikes and scooters a little bit.  

Addison is awesome on the scooter, and Graham is catching on quick.

She's trying to get the hang of the balance bike now so she can go faster on her other "big girl bike".

 check out that determination

After doing the math the other day, I realized that "little man" is now older than Addison was when we moved out here almost 2 years ago.  I wasn't going to start him in pre school until next year, but have started to consider lately just how far from now that is.

When I picked up Addison from a little camp at the school on Monday, I decided to go ahead and get him on the wait list for January.  Well as it turns out, there was ONE spot that had opened up in three year old class at the same time slot as Addison.

After talking it over with Andy we decided that getting him in now could only help, and it would also give me some "office hours" so I'm not up editing photos every night (I think he wants his wife back)....
so I signed him up on Tuesday for the 3 year old class on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-2.  That means that he'll actually be in school longer than Addison was this year.

There are a few "hiccups" in this plan.

Graham is not even close to 3.  Nor does he really act like 3.

He is a total wreck without a nap by 12:30.

And maybe the biggest hiccup of all.....

he will need to be potty trained before starting in September.

Let potty training boot camp begin.

a few pics for Nana

Part of my Mother's Day gift to my mom was to get her a few pics of the kids.

Then life got busy.

She kindly reminded me last week that she wanted to cash in on her gift.

I grabbed a bag of jelly beans for bribery and tried to do a quick 10 minute little shoot.

Nothing ever goes as planned.  I should remind myself of this daily, but I also have a 2 and 4 year old that do that for me.  Here were some of the rejects that made me laugh all the same.

and maybe my favorite shot 

Luckily because I continued to hold jelly beans over their heads, I got a few to tide Nana over.

Backyard Campout

About a month or so ago I made one of those summer bucket list things that you saw floating around Pinterest.  I love summer for exactly the opposite reason of something like this.....having NOTHING to do, but knew if I didn't put some "to do's" on the fridge to stare me in the face each day, these three months would fly by all too quickly.

One of these activities was backyard camping.

I'll be the first to say that I am not a camping girl.

Why would you want to sleep anywhere else but your comfy bed?

But I'm married to someone who loves to camp and we both knew the kids would LOVE it.

So last Saturday we broke out the tent and our little camping adventure began around 4pm with tent construction.

During these two hours (not that it takes that long to put up a tent, but honestly I wouldn't know it since Andy, Addison & Graham did all the work.....)

Andy and I "discussed" whether this had really been a good idea after all.

I'm sure the neighbors got a real kick out of listening to some of this discussion of these All-American stellar parents who were just trying to do something fun for their kids.

Once the tent was finally up, and Andy had made a trip to Sports Authority for an air pump for the air mattress that actually worked. (Yes they slept on air mattresses....this was kind of "glamping").....then the fun really got started....and it was actually, FUN.

   ****Quick disclaimer in the interest of being real....

after yelling at the kids for "please just listen to us for once, stop yelling.....don't hit your brother....now get in that tent and pretend you're having fun"....they actually really did start to have fun.

  

then it was time for floating the river....or swimming in the spa. 

  This guy started swim lessons about 3 weeks ago (just once a week) and is the happiest swimmer dead weight in the water.  I'm so glad he's enjoying himself, but it's let's just say he has a long way to go.

Campout food = take out pizza

 As dusk fell it became time to break out the dollar store flashlights and glo sticks.

Then we tried to attempt another Pinterest item of S'more cones.

We were not huge fans of these.

Next time, we'll do the real thing.

After dessert, we took the kids on a star walk, which was actually great and so peaceful.

When we got back, we read some bedtime stories by flashlight in the tent.

and finally around 10 pm, it was.....

Fireworks and a new toy

June gloom has carried over a little bit into July this year.

It made for a different Fourth of July as I spent part of the day bundled in a fleece and our backyard waterslide plans were put off until a warmer day.

We did get together with a few friends for fireworks that night, because what is 4th of July without fireworks?

Sunday night Andy and I discovered that we could see the La Costa Resort fireworks show from our bedroom window.  

We woke the kids because we thought we'd be the cool parents getting them up, but they were not impressed and asked to go back to sleep.

They were impressed on Wednesday though when we took them to Solana Beach with friends to watch the San Diego Fair show.  It was really fun...and the kids did think we were pretty cool for letting them stay up so late.

Addison declared it the best day ever....better than Christmas.

I have been busy with photo sessions and scouring Craigslist for a new lens that I've had my eye on for some time.  I finally found the perfect seller and lens last week.  This time, I feel like it's Christmas.

I haven't gotten to use it on a "real" session yet, but had a chance to start playing around with it last week and LOVE it.

 I also love that Addison doesn't hate the camera anymore.

Or at least she'll let me take some pictures of her if I promise jelly beans....and I'll take what I can get.