Thankful Thursday

Today i am thankful that my husband doesn't travel for his employment. My job is 24/7 (parenting) but it is leaps and bounds easier with both of us. I am also thankful that my husband is home to help with evening/bedtime routines. I give major props to the women (or men) that "single parent it" always or when their spouse is gone. When my days get long, I have my relief parent to lean on, wear the kids out, etc.
I am also thankful for the massage Jon got me for mothers day that I am using this afternoon!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Growing like weeds

I feel like the last (almost) 6 months has gone by SUPER fast!!
Kalyn is 5 months 3 weeks and wears 9 month clothes. She is getting a tooth on top. She loves her jumper. She LOVES her food. She is still breast fed. She has so many rolls and is SO happy all the time! She coos and giggles at EVERYTHING! She loves bath time and swimming and swinging.

Nolan is 25 months 3 weeks (2+ yrs) and wears 18-24 month clothes-LOL- he is completely potty trained-day, night, naps, traveling, etc. he loves to climb and jump and run. He needs a trampoline! He also recently took a liking to our slip n slide!! Having only one kid in diapers is fantastic!!!!!

Brayden is 47 months 2 weeks (almost 4). He weighs approximately 56 lbs and wears size 6/7. He recently decided to be a fish. He loves swimming and playing in water. He loves riding his bike and spiderman/toy story/lightning McQueen.

Jon is a month and a half away from turning 31---yikes!!! :)

.... I won't be 30 until November so I am going to enjoy my twenties for a little bit longer!!

First trip to the pool this year

Quick summary.... Jon loved it. Brayden loved it. I loved it. Kalyn loved it!!! She is a little fish!!! Nolan LIKED walking around and getting his picture taken on the way home!

Preschool

Yes I know it is summer, but I decided to post a little something about preschool.

Brayden ha a great time this past year at Gloria dei's tiny treasures preschool. We debated sending him since he is a middle of July Bday but we did. He went two days per week and this upcoming school year, he will be going to WDM Methodist pre-k program.

We had been on a waiting list since it is paid for by the state classes fill up fast. We chose a preschool in urban dale originally bc our in home daycare was there and I was working and running around to take Brayden to and from.

We are within walking distance of his preschool and hoping he loves the extra time there. New preschool is four days m-th 8:45-11:45.

Here is Brayden's last year's preschool pic!!! Great memories!!!

Sexy and he knows it

Courtesy of Brayden photography

Thankful Thursday

I am SO thankful for cold pop tarts especially on days that the boys wake up before I have their breakfast made!

I am thankful for rainy pajama days!

I am thankful for bath night and underwear pictures!!!

My clean little monkeys before bed

I snuck a picture at the movie theater

Give credit when credit is due

Although I like holidays such as father's day, I would like to give my husband the praise he deserves every day!

Jon is a fantastic father. The best that is out there as far as I am concerned. It doesn't matter what time of day or night it is, he always helps with the kids.

When I was pregnant with Nolan, I was sick. Jon definitely pulled more than his weight around here. Brayden adores Jon and they have a fantastic bond. If Jon doesn't have a shirt on, Brayden doesn't.

Jon does bath time most nights, definitely more than I do!! The boys love playing tackle and wrestle with him. Brayden even does the dishes with Jon-as in they are doing hem right now as I feed Kalyn.

I have a couple friends that have kiddos that don't see their dads everyday. Jon is more than happy to teach them how to punch with the sockos or catch lightening bugs.

He is awesome!

Jon gets up with the boys at night when hey need to potty and he changes Kalyn's poopy diapers. He takes all three kids to the farmers market when I am busy at pampered chef parties and takes the boys fishing when it is raining because he Promised them that he would.

He let's them be a part of his life- isu football games, I cubs games, fishing, camping, swimming, grilling, running...

There isn't anything that he won't include the kids in!!! I can't wait for dance and ball games and all the fun stuff to come!!

Jon, I love you!! I want to have lots of babies with you so that I can ensure all those kids have a great DAD!! Doing everything you do with and for the kids doesn't take away all that you do for me!! (yep, I had a long and exhausting week with the kids and my amazing husband brought ME flowers and a massage scheduled!!!)

Love you!!!
Brayden, Nolan, Kalyn, and Jennifer

Madagascar 3

On father's day, we took the three kiddos to the movies!! My friend malissa and her five yr old son came along and so did uncle josh and at the last minute my mom was able to join us. It was interesting. Nolan is two and watched some but then wanted to run wild!! Kalyn was an angel and Brayden did alright.

Brayden was 3 when he went to his first movie. I think we will wait until Kalyn is three!! The movie was fantastic and I am sure we will add I to our collection once it comes out on DVD.

Ogden Fun Days

We headed up to Fun Days on Friday. After the kids went to bed, we had a great time with Sarah and Lance at Jim and Sue's. Saturday we watched Layla and got a taste of what it would be like to have twin two year olds!!! We went to the parade and then had lunch and napped. Jon and I headed to my 11 yr reunion while my mom took the boys to see some model trains up at the middle school and ride a few rides. Nolan did some bounce rides and Brayden drove the train!!

Potty training wrap up

I am a little behind in posting about our newest BIG BOY, but Nolan has thrown away his diapers and put on his toy story underwear!!

We started last Friday the 8th of June and from that day on we have only had one diaper wearer and she is five and a half months old!!

It was certainly not glamorous but totally worth every minute of exhaustion!!!

Nolan we are so proud of you!!

Day 4

Short .... He had one accident but is doing well!!

Day 3

Well, I would love to tell you that day three was a magical day and Nolan will just walk into the bathroom and potty and poo all by himself, but no such luck. HOWEVER, he has made huge progress. He has had some accidents today, but he has also pooped for the second time on the potty and lead us both into the bathroom when he has had to go. Progress! I couldn't be prouder!!!! Day four, I am on my own and I would be lying if I said there was enough of me to go around. It will be interesting but we will get through it!

Day 2

Day two of potty training went....well. Started off with Nolan waking at 1:50am, took him in to potty and nothing. By 2am he wet the bed. It's to be expected when potty training. Then back to bed unroll 6 or so I think. Some time around 9:15, Nolan pooped on the potty!! It took Brayden 6 days before he pooped on the potty for the first time!

Day two was a success bc even though it was a long and exhausting day for Jon and me, Nolan didn't cry on the potty and actually took our hands and ran in there!

Onto day 3...

Working out/project "lose baby extras"

Just a quick update for the people who are oh-so interested in my fat/exercising habits. Well, I have been at the gym regularly since march, so three months or less, and have conquered my first ever 5k. It was not as great as I wanted it to be because I kind of wanted to train for the 20k next year, but as it turns out, I still don't like to run. However, a certain friend who shall remain nameless talked me into doing another 5k (with her) so being the good friend that I am, I signed up and built a team!!! The des Moines color run better get ready for team "can't Dutch this!"

My body fat percentage is decreasing, my effort is increasing and my weight is roughly the same or a little less. I don't know about inches but my clothes are growing so I think that means inches are melting (very slowly) off too.

Day One

Today was day one of three potty training Nolan. We have seen some great progress. I am not going to romanticize this so if pee and poo make you want to barf, stop reading for the next few days!

We used this method with Brayden and it worked well!! Brayden was 2.5 years old and completely potty trained during the day and night with NO accidents. Not even when he was SO SO exhausted.

Nolan started off not having any interest at all in the bathroom. He likes to brush his teeth in there and that is it! He is 25 months old. He talks but doesn't say a ton though he understands A LOT!

The method of potty training that we have used and are using is VERY SPECIFIC AND MUST BE FOLLOWED EXACTLY.
Www.3daypottytraining.com and buy the ebook for $24.

Nolan peed 4 times mostly in his underwear before he peed in the potty without wetting his underwear. By the end of today, he walked into the bathroom to go before bed. No we aren't putting him in a pull up or other diaper for bed, just his underwear. Nights can be hard, but there is a section specifically for overnights.

Well, I will write about tomorrow (day2) at the same time tomorrow night.
*side note. I threw my back out. Feel free to offer a massage or bring pop as I am not sleeping very well!
:) thanks!!

Kalyn is five months!

I cannot believe my baby girl is five months old today!! Five months ago I went in to have an amnio and came home days later with a baby girl!! I just love her so much!! Somebody told me that they didn't know what I would do with a baby girl... Well we have fun!!! We cuddle and watch chick flicks. We talk ALL THE TIME! I hope she looks up to me the way I look to my mother!! I love you sweet little punkin!!

Dam to Dam

For the last few years we have celebrated my father in law's life by getting all of our family and friends together! Jon runs the 20k every year. The kids and I head downtown to watch him finish. This year I ran the 5k. It was my first ever 5k. For not running at all to train and just having a baby five months ago today, I didn't think I did sobad. Brayden also did his first race this year. Jon said he mostly just jogged instead of sprinted. After the festivities downtown, we have our family and friends over for a cookout. There were lots of kids, food, family, and fun! Thank you everyone who made it!

Rick enjoyed the outdoors and he enjoyed being downtown with sue and josh to watch Jon finish the 20k. He enjoyed spending that time with his family and I can only imagine that he would love that we all get together in his honor every year!