Potty 101

Potty 101: We bought a potty for London last week. She has had NO interest in it at ALL. We would just causally ask "do you want to go in the potty" - London's response "NO" and run off. She even quit coming into the bathroom with us because the potty was in there. So, we decided to just let it go - she isn't ready.

Potty 102: Today London wanted a piece of licorice - I told her to go ask daddy. Russ decided to us it as a potty "training tool". I said that was fine since he has done this 3 times and I have no idea how to go about this. I will just do what he thinks is best.

He told her that she could have a bite if she sat on the potty - after a little whining she finally would sit on the potty. Okay, we accomplished something here. She seemed to feel comfortable doing that. Next thing I knew - she had her PJ's off and was sitting on the potty trying to go. After trying and trying she never did go. We gave her some stickers for trying. She decided to decorate her potty with them. So, it seems her potty needed a little bling. I have a feeling that instead of them going on the chart they will be going on her potty.

Later on London told me she had to go potty and wanted me to come to the bathroom with her. So we hurried into the bathroom - I expected her to pull down her pants and take off the diaper and go but London had other ideas - she took off her shoes, then socks, her pants and wanted her shirt off and then finally the diaper came off. Well, as you can guess by then she had already gone in the diaper. But at least she sorta has the idea of what to do. Some how we are going to have to get it across to her that you don't need to take off ALL your clothes to go potty.

We will see how this progresses. I would love for her to be potty trained in 1 week but I am sure that won't happen since she doesn't seem to have much interest. But one can always hope.

Take Advantage

Friday was going to be our last day of nice weather - they were calling for possible snow or rain for the rest of weekend. We decided to take advantage of it. After I picked up London, we went and got Russ and spent some time at the zoo.

The animals were very sociable this evening. We hit our favorites - giraffes, elephants, tigers, lions and the penguins. I think London could watch the giraffes all day - I love the way her face lights up when she sees them and runs over to the fence. I asked if we should take the baby giraffe home and she said "YES". I think he would fit in our home since we have 10 ft ceilings.

Water for Christmas

Today is a day where bloggers everywhere are joining in a campaign to buy water for Christmas.

4500 mothers bury their children EVERY DAY due to contaminated water. The lack of access to clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations and it doesn't have to be. As we get ready to start searching for the perfect gifts . . . . lets pause for a moment.

Today. . . November 13 . . . . lets buy clean water

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years

Your money can change and possibly save someone's life

A REAL life

Let's do this together

One day

$10

Let water be the first gift you buy this Christmas

A village could be changed because you read a blog that encouraged you to give . . . and you did. Click - Water for Christmas to be directed o the secure donation site of the highly recognized, nonprofit chart: water. All donations are tax deductible. 100% of the profit goes directly to clean water solutions in West Africa. Jody just came back from Africa and got to see first hand the wells that are being built in communities. Click here to scroll through her recent blog posts and see first hand what your $10 can do for others.

Leaf Raking?? or Taking Breaks??

I don't know if there was more leaf raking or breaks this day.

We have plenty of leaves at our house. The other week Russ, Keyton and London raked them up. I wished I would have taken a picture of the bags lined up. I think they had 13 bags full and to think that two trees still haven't lost their leaves. In Newton you can't put them in your trash and since the street cleaner NEVER comes by our house - it doesn't work to put them in the street.

Ours were hauled off to a pumpkin patch for mulch. I can't wait till next fall to see what kind of beautiful pumpkins our leaves helped to nourish.

London helping Keyton smashed down the leaves.

The kids taking a break - hmm this seemed to be the scene every time I went out to check on them. You are probably wondering why I wasn't out there? I had laundry and other housework to do.

For Lisa S in OK

My co-worker told me I needed to get this on my blog so her daughter-in-law could see it. I told her to give me Lisa's email and I would send them to her. Well, somewhere between work and my house I lost that little sticky note.

Lisa, this is London's Christmas stocking I made for her. It is out of left over scraps from a Christmas blanket I made last year. The cuff is from an old chenille bedspread. Kathy thought you might like something like this for MacKenna. She was hoping you would see it before you come to Kansas this week.

To everyone else, I haven't done any posting this last week - I have been sewing. I will post later the different items I have made. (I can't post all of them since some of them are Christmas gifts.) This stocking has a matching quilt and pillow for London and I have enough of the angel material to make a skirt for Christmas. I have had a fun time taking left over scraps and making something fun out of them.

Need a GOOD laugh?

Last night I was going through some pictures and came across these. Christmas 2005 in Ohio. We drove straight through the night (15+ hrs) - the kids slept most of the way. When we got to dad & mom's house - Russ took a nap and my dad entertained the kids. He had this neat camera on his computer and these are a few of the 60 plus pictures they took.

I had forgotten them - they just make me laugh every time I see them. The kids had so much FUN taking these. Hope you enjoy them.