Another weekend behind us...

We had another busy weekend, but a nice one since Ron was home on Saturday, and I was off on Monday. It was so very nice to be able to spend a good chunk of time together as a family. On Friday night we had Russ, Heather and Grayson over for a little play date. Once we got the boys to sleep, the adults had some time for conversation. Saturday started with a trip to the Minneapolis Farmer's Market for some tasty food purchases, and a trip to a local park for some free-play time.

Saturday afternoon Ron and I helped my Dad put a railing up around his deck, while Jackson slept soundly. After that, it was off to Como Zoo to see the animals. Jackson roared with the lions, and was amazed to see the three giraffes (his favorite animal, as of late).

Sunday, the three of us took a bike ride to meet up with my Dad's family for breakfast. Jackson seemed to have a good time riding in the go-bug, and managed to fall asleep on the way home. Sunday afternoon we spent some time with family at my Mom's, barbecuing up some pork chops, hamburgers, and dogs. We were in the garage chowing down when the tornado sirens started up. It's a whole new ball game when there is precious new cargo in the family. Just 15 miles north of where we were, a two year old boy was killed in the tornado, an awful sad news item to learn about that evening.

Monday morning brought us to another local park, where Jackson had a blast going down the slide all on his own. And after nap we piled in the car, picked up my mom, and headed north to Fawn Doe Rosa. Jackson "baaaa-ed" with the goats and got a kick out the elk.

What a great way to spend the weekend. I just love getting Jackson out in the world to see how he reacts to all the new things.

It's potty time (updated)...

We have big news!! Jackson used his potty for the first time. For the last two nights, we've added sitting on the new potty chair into our bath routine. Jackson sits on the bathroom rug and takes off his shoes and socks, while mommy or daddy fills up his tub. Then we help him take off the rest of his clothes and his diaper, and then he gets to sit on his new chair while we encourage him to go potty. Historically if we left his diaper off too long before his tub was ready for him, Jackson would pee on the floor, so mommy thought this would be a good time for him to "try" the potty. Well tonight, he sat on the potty and believe it or not, he went!! We cheered, he clapped, we dumped the potty, and Jackson got to flush the toilet!

I had done some research on how to introduce the potty, read books that told me to put the chair in the bathroom for months, so your kid gets used to seeing it, then have him sit on it with his clothes on. Next on the to-do list was to have him watch us use the big potty and finally, get him to try his own. I thought we would be on this last step for some time, so I didn't research beyond this point. I'd better start... what to do after he pees in the potty?

An Update (5/27/08): After Jackson finished his breakfast this morning, he was doing a little tooting. He started pushing and look up at us and said "poop". So I asked if he wanted to poop on the potty. He said something back that I couldn't understand. I looked up at Ron and we both shrugged our shoulders, let's give it a shot! So we took Jackson into the bathroom, and sure enough, Jackson pooped in the potty!

A happy discovery...

"One of the advantages of being disorderly
is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries."
                        -A.A. Milne

I ran across this quote today and found it very agreeable. I am not a disorderly person, I'm not nearly as orderly as my mother, but not as disorderly as a lot of you out there. However, isn't it nice when you run across something you forgot you had?

I found a perfectly good lip gloss this morning, unused and still in the wrapper. It was in a bin that I keep Jackson's bathroom stuff. I'm not sure how it ended up there, or even when it ventured off course, but it was quite refreshing to zip off that plastic liner and smooth on some scrumptious smelling gloss!

The compactors...

Have you heard of The Compact? It's a group of people from San Fransisco that started a social movement of sorts, last year. In 2007 they pledged to not buy anything new for one whole year.

The objective of the group:

To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc.

To reduce clutter and waste in their homes.

To simplify their lives.

The main principles of the group are:

1. Not buy new products of any kind (with exception for sanitary and health reasons
2. Borrow, barter, or buy used

I've been thinking that this is something I would like to try, and for the past few weeks I've been trying to convince Ron that this is something we CAN do, and might even have FUN doing. I'd like to add to my objective list, to save money. I imagine myself rolling around in a pile of dough like Scrooge McDuck after this year!!! Think we can do it?

I've been giving it a try for a few weeks now, and have done well. The only thing purchased new by our family were Mother's Day cards. Ron had not agreed to the project yet (he still hasn't, but I'm working on him) and was convinced that the added stress of making cards was not something I needed to do, so he made the Target purchase.

Here is a story from the Star Tribune about a family from Waconia that gave it a try.

Sandtastic

My Grandpa found a sandbox marked free (or so he says) on the side of the road this weekend. I had a blast playing in the sand! I tasted some, but it didn't taste so good... maybe it's an acquired taste.



Here are some photos of me in my sandbox:

Photos from the last couple days...

Jackson's ears have not been doing well lately. After four tries and three different doctors his ears are too swollen and full of fluid to tell if there has indeed been a perferation of his ear drum. We are taking drops, antibiotics, and chiropractic adjustments to see if something can help our poor little guy. Next on the list of things to try is to cut out dairy, a hard thing to do for a bunch of milk-drinking, cheese-eating folks. I'll keep you posted. Besides Thursday, when Jackson was full of tears, the last couple days have been fun.

Mom, Dad and Jackson went garage saling on Friday. We found this great playset for only $5. After some cleaning up, it was as good as new.

We also found this little table and chairs set for $5. Jackson got a few other toys to keep him busy, a dumptruck, a puzzle and some books.

"I bet if I take all those shoes down, I can climb up there reach that!"

I'm sure I started something here, but I couldn't NOT laugh when Jackson put this piece of ham on his nose.

Just plain awful...

That's how I would describe dropping Jackson off at childcare, awful, just plain awful. Ron is taking a class near Bandana Square today and tomorrow. He has to be there at 8 a.m. so it leaves Jackson and I alone in the morning to get the day started. As Ron was leaving this morning Jackson waved and said "bye" clear as a bell, what fun!

I dropped Jackson off a little earlier than his normal time, so I could still get to work before 9:00. His favorite teacher Nicole has started back after a year at St. Ben's University. Though, Jackson doesn't remember that she's his favorite, I'm sure he will soon. The second we walked in the door Jackson clung to me and started crying.

I left Nicole holding my screaming, crying Jackson in her arms, in the hopes that it wouldn't take him too long to get reacquainted and enjoy a day playing at school with his friends.

I thought to myself as I left: If I had to do this everyday, I'd quit my job.

Hope woman dies in crash...

Who wrote this headline? I was looking over the Star Tribune online today and came across the headline: Hope woman dies in crash. What editor let that headline pass over his desk?? Come on people, sleeping on the job, are ya?

Daddy got a new pair of shoes...

My Dad now has one of those fancy PDA phones, that costs an arm and a leg (or so Mom says). It's attached to his hip literally... and now he can answer emails, text and phone calls from work, at all times. I'm thrilled, can you tell? Anyway, here are some photos he took with his new little gadget.

Mom trying to teach me to take one at a time, but I prefer a whole hand full of Cheerios at a time

We all piled in the chair for this family photo, Dad kept complaining about Mom's butt bone, but I had fun!

Weekend photo upload...

This is what Jackson made for me at school for Mother's Day

While Jackson's face was turning a nice shade of red the other day, I asked him what he was doing. Jackson's resonse: "Poop" We decided to break out the potty chair, so he'd get used to seeing it around.

This backhoe (our $3 garage sale find) kept Jackson busy the remainder of the weekend.

An evening with Dolly...

Last night, after a rescheduled date, I finally got to cash in on my birthday present from my Mom. Fifth row Dolly Parton!!

It was worth the wait, my mom and I had a fabulous time. Seeing Dolly was as good as I dreamed it would be. I have always thought Dolly was amazing, and she is. While I do believe she lip-synched the first song she ever wrote, Puppy Love, the rest sounded genuine and wonderful.

I was afraid that she would sing more of her new stuff from Backwoods Barbie that I didn't know, but she got in EVERY hit I was dying to see her sing. She came out singing Two Doors Down and I clapped my hands and sang to all of my favorites, 9 to 5, Jolene, Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That, Here You Come Again, and Islands in the Stream. And as usual, a few tears fell during Coat of Many Colors.

As we arrived at the car I realized that my Top 5 Concerts of All Time had to change.

Old Order:
1. Pavoratti
2. Cyndi Lauper
3. Neil Diamond
4. Guns and Roses
5. Garth Brooks

New Order:
1. Pavoratti
2. Cyndi Lauper
3. Dolly Parton
4. Neil Diamond
5. Guns and Roses

Double take...

Today when I picked up Jackson from and put him in his car seat, I did a minor double-take. "Is this my kid? I thought." For some reason, today more so than any other day, Jackson looked like he had grown into a little man from the time I left him in the morning, until the time I picked him up. For a split second, I wondered if I took off with someone else's kid, an older, wiser, smarter kid that wasn't my own. But nope, his smile gave it away, this was my Jackson that I was straping in, he just changes incredibly fast.

Loads of weekend photos...

Another weekend behind us. Here's what kept us busy.

We built a tunnel in our living room that Jackson and mom played many games of hide and seek in:

Grandma Horwath found this great car up the road at a good garage sale price:

Dad spotted this Little Tikes picnic table in someone's yard with a free sign attached. (high-five dad!) I also got new shoes that you can see in this photo (thanks Grandma Leier):

And because our Texas friends were coming into town, and we wanted to be able to drive them to the zoo, we purchased this minivan:

Our Texas friends, Steve, Mason and Rosera (Waverlyn is in the carrier):

We took in a dolphin show at the zoo:

Jackson had fun pointing to the wolf's nose:

And Wavy came out to visit at lunchtime: