Could it be?

Scott met with another ME student today to see if he could find the bug in his code by running it through this other guy's code. Well, no luck finding the bug, but his data looked GREAT in this other guy's code! So, this guy is supposed to work out some things and then e-mail the code to Scott. Scott says he might be able to get everything finished on the plate data by the end of this week! He still has to fix some things on the cylinder data, but Scott says that doesn't need as much work. Yea!

Walking...in another way

Scott and I have decided we need to start walking as much as possible. So, that's not that often, but we walked to church today. It only takes about 10 minutes, and so it's definitely doable. I'm also going to hopefully only run errands 1-2 times a week instead of every day like I used to. I would go out every day just because it can get a little boring here at home. We're really hoping to see a decrease in the amount of gas we need for the van. We won't make much change in the car, because Scott can't very well walk to work. Neither can I. However, hopefully these other efforts will help. 

So, instead of going out, I guess I will have all afternoon to make a more involved dinner! Fun for the family! Any suggestions of fun things to do with a toddler and preschooler? We currently play games, play outside, play at the park, cook, color, stack dominoes, play with toys, and read books. Any other great ideas since I'm doing my best to limit time in the car?

Walking

Scott walked! He wasn't able to make it to the University commencement yesterday because of work. However, we spent all day today doing graduation stuff. My parents, two sisters, and another sister and her family came to help us celebrate. One of those sisters also graduated today and so it was a double celebration.

It was FREEZING yesterday. We faced horrible winds trying to get to campus and then it started to snow. The kids were troopers and Richard ran with me the whole way to keep up so we could get there faster.

Surprisingly, Richard and Audrey were GREAT both days! They were so cooperative! Audrey didn't get a nap today, but she was really pretty happy. Both of them made it through the university and Scott's college ceremonies. We left my sister's ceremony early rather than tempt fate because even Scott and I have a hard time listening to 1000 names. We were very pleased at how happy they were.

I'm so proud of Scott for coming this far. Now, he just needs to do a few final things so he can defend his thesis and be offically done!

Inspiration to complain

So I read about a friend who hates her dryer. I hate my fridge. It came with the house and so we were excited we wouldn't have to buy a new one once we moved in with all the other expenses of buying a new house. However, it won't stay closed. You have to make sure you don't close it too hard or the freezer will bounce open and vice versa. If you swing it closed, but don't do it hard enough, it won't close and will sit about 1/2 inch from being closed. Audrey can open it. Problems! She opens it constantly and has decided it's one of her favorite places to play. The other day while I was taking a shower she emptied butter out of the paper and took bites out of it, rearranged the shelves, and scattered all the little packets of sauce from restaurants. Also, she doesn't know that when you close the fridge you have to make sure the freezer is closed. How do you solve this problem? Get a new fridge. Grrrr!

Another success!

Last night Richard really wanted to wear his underwear to bed. I was hesitant, because I know it can take some children a lot longer to be potty trained at night. However, he's kept his diaper dry for about 4-5 nights now, so I decided to go ahead. Richard did tell me that he would need to get up and go potty and I couldn't get mad. I usually immediately tell him to go back to bed and removed toys-in-bed priviledges if he keeps getting up.
Anyway, I did hear him get up a couple of times, but they were both within 1 1/2 hours of putting him to bed. He woke up this morning dry! Yea! He may just be all done with diapers!
Now I just have to work on Audrey who already is showing interest....

Potty Party!

Yes folks, the day is here! Richard finally is potty trained!!!!!!!! What did I do? Well, actually nothing new. I think Richard finally just decided to be potty trained. He's had 4 accident free days and so got his long awaited potty party!

We bought this truck almost a year ago as a bribe. It sat on the cupboards in our kitchen up until about a month ago when Scott finally just put it in storage out of frustration. Richard was so excited to finally play with it and pushed it around the island in our kitchen and loaded up the bed with a bunch of toys.

We went to Toys R Us and got Richard some "Cars" cars. He has had his eye on those for months and I promised him he could get some if he was potty trained. Unfortunately, the selection has really dimished in the meantime and we couldn't get some of the cars Richard wanted. So, we got a pack that had The King, Lightning McQueen, and the Piston Cup pace car.

We went to Richard's choice for dinner, which was McDonald's and then went to Albertson's and bought donuts. Those were also Richard's request.

So, Richard is finally potty trained and we had our long awaited party that has grown due to the various bribes we came up with to try and convince him it was worth his while. Yea!

My boys

My mother-in-law was here last week and picked up these glasses. Richard immediately wanted to wear them and was asking us to play with him.
This picture was taken with a pair of the glasses in front of the lens.

Focaccia bread

I'm so impressed with myself! I made focaccia bread and I think it turned out pretty well! It certainly wasn't the prettiest loaf, but it tasted good and that's what matters. I also spent about two hours making dinner, which is rare for me. I like cooking and the cleaning up part really puts a damper on my desire. However, Scott was fabulous and basically cleaned everything up for me. So, I think I need to be more adventurous and start cooking more "fancy" breads. Who cares if they aren't as pretty as a restaurant's or a bakery's bread?

Request for directions

I have received a request on how I make jam. I did not forget. I've just been negligent. So, here it is.
I buy the MCP (which says from the makers of Surejell) pectin. You can usually find it by canning stuff. It's different in every store, but I found it at Walmart in the baking aisle. The recipe for any type of jam you want is in the box.
Here's what you need so you don't have to open the box to find out what else to buy. For strawberry jam you need:
approx 1.5-2 lbs of berries (to equal 3 1/4 cup of crushed berries)
one box of pectin
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup of corn syrup
4 1/2 cups of sugar
freezer safe containers (if you want to make freezer jam. there is also a recipe for cooked jam to bottle, but I've never made that)

however, if you buy a different brand of pectin it will have it's own recipe, but it will probably be similar.

He speaks!

Richard gave his first talk today in primary. I was so worried he'd not say a word once it was his turn and that I would end up giving his talk. Richard is just so timid. We've practiced his talk several times a day for the past week or so to make him as comfortable as possible with what he had to say. He could say it by himself when he wanted to. So, today I went in to primary to help him. He was sitting on a chair at the front of the room and he got a huge smile on his face and waved when he saw me. When it was his turn, I started to walk up and he got on the podium. I whispered what he had to say just in case he forgot. However, he said it all and said it into the microphone! I don't know how well people could understand him, but who cares?! He gave his talk! I was so proud of him and he seemed pretty proud of himself.

Jam

I made strawberry jam last night. I much prefer homemade jam. Thanks to me dear friend, housewife, I was converted to homemade vs. storebought. I think it's quite tasty, even though I'm perfectly aware of how unhealthy I just made all those strawberries. I have made raspberry before but last night was thinking I might venture to other flavors. The kiwi sounded a bit too strange for me. Kiwi and peanut butter sandwhich anyone? However, if someone has tried it or any other flavor and thinks it's FABULOUS, let me know. I would love to try a new flavor!

Mixed success

Richard finally pooped again in the potty! Yea! He was so proud of himself! However, he'd peed on the carpet 3 times before 12:45. I guess I can't have both...

thought this was cool...

JUST A MOM?
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'
'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.'
'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,'housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myselfin the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.' 'What is your occupation?' she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid air and looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,'just what you do in your field?'
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' And great grandmothers 'Executive Senior Research Associates?' I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts 'Associate Research Assistants.'

Admiration

I have a good friend that is unable to have children. She and her husband have adopted a couple of children, but she and her husband were just approved for the foster-care program. I don't think that's something I could do. She just got a baby who was born early due to the drug habits of the mother.  She'll get to care for it for about a month and then will give it back to the family. I think it's wonderful that she's willing to care for children intermittently until they can go back to their family. However, I think it would be extremely difficult to bond with the child and then to be pretty much cut out of their life. I know much of the bonding that occurred with my children was in the middle of the night when I had nothing to distract my attention from them. So, to have those middle of the night experiences and to bond with a baby but then to have to say goodbye forever would be extremely difficult. You know that child will never remember you. I admire my friend for caring for children. I don't think I could do it. Hurrah for all those who make that kind of difference to children all over.

Potty training update

I can pretty much keep Richard in underwear all day if I remind him about every hour he needs to use the potty. Occasionally he'll actually tell me he needs to use the potty, which is great. However, he has yet to poop in the potty. Today, he told me he needed to go, so I put him on the potty. A couple of minutes later, he told me it wasn't coming and he wanted his pants back up. Five minutes later, he'd gone in his underwear. At least we seem to be making progress in one department, but I just don't know how to overcome this last hurdle. He cleans himself, so I'm hoping that will be a motivator, but it's not happening as quick as I would like. Any suggestions?

Prepare to be astonished!

I am not crafty. It's just not one of my talents. I try to be creative and see other people's work and realize how UNcreative I really am. So, I'm OK with this. I realize we all have our talents.

On that note, I got a cute frame for Richard as a baby shower gift. Ever since I knew I was pregnant with Audrey, I've wanted to copy this so she'd have something. So, realize, she is now over 18 months, so it's taken a little bit of time. However, it's finally done! It's mostly copied, but I had to make adjustments since I couldn't find the exact things. So, not much creativity on my part, but I'm rather pleased with myself. Now, I just need to wait for Scott's mom to come and write the stats, because she did Richard's and Scott thinks they ought to look similar. I don't have pretty handwriting, so I'd prefer to not do it. Fortunately, she comes next week and I'll be able to hang it! Only 18 months late. Perhaps I'll be better next time around...

Hair!

Audrey now has enough hair to do more exciting things than just comb it! She's pretty cooperative, too. She leaves it alone pretty well while she's awake, which means I only have to redo it after her nap! So, I know you're all amazed that I can fix a little girl's hair since it took me until I was a teenager to look slightly respectable (and that could be argued). I just think she looks so cute!