Trip to Madison and Potty Training

Waiting for the Tug Fest Fireworks 

OH boy....time has gotten away from me but I don't have to tell you that. We have just been busy with life and parenting and I just haven't been able to get to the blog. I"m on potty patrol right now as Kennon just woke up from his nap....DRY....and refuses to go potty so this is going to be quick.... but I'll try to get it posted!!

Friday August 9th we kept the kids up late to enjoy the Leclaire Tug Fest fireworks. They have come to LOVE fireworks and the Tug Fest display is the best in town.  It is like a 25 minute show with all kinds of cool different ones. We had a great spot to watch them at the Illinois Interstate 80 rest stop.  There is plenty of parking, clean bathrooms and lots of space to run around. We kept the kids entertained with snacks until the show began.   We will try to keep this activity on our calendar every year. A great event. 

'Would you like to play with my truck Oliver?'

The weekend of August 11th the kids and I headed up to spend some time with Aunt Brooke and cousins Carter and Reid. Eric and Tyler were both out of town for work and fun respectively so I decided to get to the kids together for some cousin time.  We enjoyed ridding bikes, going to the park, visiting the Madison zoo and going to Brooke and Tyler's neighborhood pool. The weather was unusually cool but that didn't stop us from hoppin' in the water!!  It was a good time had by all.  Thanks Aunt Brooke for the great hospitality as well as the adult conversation!! I would have gone bonkers with the kids at home all by myself.  

Maddox on the carousel at the Madison zoo. 

Enjoying Aunt Brooke's homemade strawberry ice cream!! YUM!

Carter and Maddox in the neighborhood pool.

The weekend after Eric got home from his trip we decided to potty train Kennon.  We used the same 3 day boot camp program that we did with Maddox and generally speaking he is doing really well despite being YOUNGER than Maddox and a boy! We struggled the first 2 days with many accidents but oddly enough it was almost like a light switch on day 3 he started to get it....FINALLY!! It was a stressful 2 days. We each took Maddox independently for some solo time on Saturday and Sunday to get her out of the house, to allow the other parent to focus on Kennon which is really what it took. But, with sticker charts, MMs, tractors and match box cars I think we are finally on our way. He is waking up dry from almost all of his 2 to 3 hour naps and has in the last week had one morning of being dry. Definitely need to work on the nighttime deal but I am just happy to be without diapers!! No pull ups around here either....which means a bit more laundry but that's ok!! I am really proud of him. He is telling us when he needs to go and is happy to get his reward.  Such a big boy!! We finally, this weekend, ventured out of the house and he did pretty well. Actually had 2 poop accidents while we were out, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. He poops just fine at home but when we are out and about the potties are sometimes a LONG WAY away from where we are. Again, a little more perfecting in that area.  But we are so proud of you Kennon!!

Kennon and his undies!!

Kennon's reward for filling his potty chart full of stickers ....  a Melissa and Doug tractor and barn set complete with a pig and a cow. He loves the thing and was quite pleased in his reward for filling his chart!! 

We decided to take advantage of the almost freezing Family Museum today given the seriously hot weather outdoors!!  It was pretty quiet in there as the older kids are back to school. A ton of mom's with toddlers which was just perfect for Maddox and Kennon.  This is the last Monday that we'll have our morning to frolic.  Starting Wednesday BOTH Maddox and Kennon will be attending Our Savior Church School from 8.45 -11.45 on Mondays and Wednesdays.   Kennon will be in the Mom's Day Out room...the same as Maddox last year and Maddox moves up to the 3 year old program. We, including Grandpa Jim, went last Wednesday to the Open House and got to meet their teachers.  We were happy to have Grandma Jim along to see their great school.  I had commissioned Grandpa Jim to come help me with the kiddos last Wednesday given the keen eye I was still needing to keep on Kennon during the potty training process. Eric was also out of town that night so Grandpa Jim stayed all the way through dinner/baths to see that the kids behaved and didn't give me any trouble :)  They behave great when someone else is around....especially Grandpa Jim...he knows just what to say to get 'em whipped into good behavior!! 

Kennon drove to the fire while Maddox put the fire out. 

Working very hard to get that fire IE light out.  When you wave the hose in front of the fire filled windows the light 'fire' goes out!! 

Kennon driving the Model T at the Family Museum

Maddox and Kennon are growing. I swear both of them have shot up in the last couple of weeks.  We are having a bit of trouble with Maddox's behavior....very stubborn little girl...but we are working through the rough times. Still a work in progress. She has become very proficient at ridding her red bike and her coloring skills have really blossomed in the last 3 weeks or so. She is starting to draw people with eyes and hair a nose and a mouth. She has moved up to the 4 year old room at Kindercare.  Kennon is an outdoors man and loves to play with any type of ball...most commonly golf and basketball.  Despite wetting the bed at night he sleeps right through it!! So we are still getting a good nights sleep for the most part. I check on him during the night a couple of times and parade him to the potty and change out the sheets if needed.    He is the only boy in his class at Kindercare that is potty training which posed a bit of a problem last week.  He had a lot of accidents because he didn't want to leave his toys to the rest of the boys while he ran off to the potty. Finally Friday they let him take the toy he was playing with to the potty door for safe keeping while he went in to do his business. NO accidents on Friday!!  Have a great week everyone and stay cool!!