THANK YOU!

I just wanted to thank everyone for your responses to "I NEED HELP" and tell you that things are going much better already. I don't think it is an medical issue- but I am grateful for the 'heads up' and for the signs to look for. Because of your advice, I am NOT FREAKING out and it was just so nice to hear that many of you are dealing with the same thing.  Thanks for showing me again that I have fabulous friends and family- hope all your kids' beds are dry in the morning :)

a good day

Today was just a good day:

-woke up and went to the gym (left the kids with Dave and had a great class)

- did some grocery shopping for some new recipes

- went to  lunch at Chilies with the fam and had an awesome Shrimp Salad

- stopped off at Costco and got choc./vanilla swirl ice cream

- Dave helped carry everything in and arranged the freezer and fridge with all the new stuff (I hate doing that!)

- went and got my legs and underarms waxed- no, not fun- hurt like crazy, but I like the results :)

- came home to find Dave and the kids sleeping in a fort they had built- cute stuff.

- did some Relief Society Computer stuff

- made pancakes and peaches for dinner

- and even blogged a little

the kids are going down now and we can just relax. it was a nice productively, fun family day.

I need help!

So, sometimes life is full of movies and dinner and games and happy times, and sometimes life is full of poop! 

here's a little run-down of the last couple of days with James:

Monday night-- James wets the bed, so I wash all his sheets and jammies-not a huge deal it happens every once and a while

Tuesday day-- when I pick James up from Joy School I notice his pants are all wet again! I march him home (this isn't the first time it's happened) and am annoyed that all the "pee clothes" from the night are all nice and dry waiting to be folded.  I take away all his cool spiderman underwear.

Tuesday night-- James wakes up in the night (1:00am) and his pants are all wet!!  What??AGAIN?? another bath and back to bed (sheets were not wet yet)

Wednesday night-- We have finished dinner and are having fudgesicles and James sets his down, says he doesn't want it anymore, gets up from his seat and his chair is soaked! He's done it again and I am starting to LOSE IT!

Thursday night (tonight)-- He's had an accident free day, and then right before bed he poops his pants (I'll spare you the details) but what is going on? another bath and night with no stories or songs.

 I am sooooo tired of washing out underwear and pants so I just threw them away and sit here wondering what to do?? He's has been potty trained for about a year, so is this a relapse? nothing big has changed in our lives- is this normal? I have taken away all his favorite things and put him in a diaper at night ( which he doesn't like) but nothing seems to be working. Now, we are wondering if there is a real problem or just a weird regression that will hopefully end SOON! So, any tips, advice, funny stories would help, 'cause I am at a loss and TIRED of the clean-up! 

Hotel for Dogs

On Saturday we met up with one of our favorite people, my cousin Jess, for a fun night out with the kids to celebrate Zanna's birthday

We saw "Hotel for Dogs" in Times Square and loved the big poster outside the theater where Jess and I had fun on all fours pretending to be dogs- we got some good looks :)

Jess then "just happened" to stop in the Hello Kitty store where she spoiled the kids- again- and we saw some pretty $$$$$ Hello Kitty merchandise- I had no idea you could spend that much on Hello Kitty stuff. Zanna got a very cool lunch box and James got a leash to be a dog.

We then ventured to TGIFriday's to get the kids traditional meal of Chicken Fingers, fries, broccoli and smiley face ketchup. I had an awesome Steak Sandwhich with fried platanos.

It was cool to be up on the 4th floor in Times Square and although the service was less than par- we still had a great, silly time!

We ended with birthday sundaes for everyone and the restaurant sang to Zanna. (their caramel is sooooo good!)

 

Thank you Jess for another Fabulous night in the city and for always being so fun and full of great ideas-We love you to pieces!!!

my new favorite pork recipe

I was craving pork tacos the other day (and, no, I'm not pregnant) and I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and haven't stopped talking about it!  I used 4 0r 5 pork chops(the big ones from Costco) instead of a roast, and just lined a pan with foil with a little water under the foil, rubbed the chops with "the rub", covered it and baked it for about 4 hours on 350. It fell apart when I shredded it- It was so easy and we have had pork tacos, burritos, nachos, and i was going to make enchiladas but we ate it all so maybe next time :)

click her for the recipe: PORK TACOS

sorry, another funny kid conversation...

tonight at bedtime we were talking about what we are going to do tomorrow since Zanna doesn't have school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Zanna said, "James, do you know who Marther Luker Kings is?" 

James, "No."

Zanna said, "Marther Luker Kings is a guy who said 'it doesn't matter how skinny you are, how fat you are, how tall, how short, skin, or anything- everyone can play at the playground.'"

these kids crack me up, I went and wrote it down so I wouldn't forget.

Enjoy Marther Luker Kings Day!

"can't we just talk?"

Just a little story: the other night James couldn't sleep because he had an itchy rash so I went into his room to lay with him to try to help him fall asleep.  I sang him a  song and right after I finished he looked at me and said, "mom, can't we just talk?"  I could've been sad that he didn't like my singing, but I was actually really happy that he wanted to chat and I could tell he was really happy to have me there. We talk about Power Rangers, going to school next year, and spiderman- it was a very deep chat:) I am grateful for my kids and for the little expressions of love they give me everyday that make all the day-to-day chores a little easier.  I am a lucky mom.

a fun family night

This past week as been a little rough around here so last night Dave was actually home and we had Pizza/Movie night as a family and it was so nice to be together for a meal and bedtime (that hasn't happened for a long time)!

We used gyro pita bread (the big thick ones that we love) for the crust and then had chicken, olives, peppers, tomatoes, onions and cheese- I also made a b-b-q chicken pizza for myself and it reminded me of the good ol'days at the PF :)

we "decorated" our pizzas and the kids had fun wearing their new aprons that they got for Christmas

While the pizzas were baking we started our movie "Peter Pan" which the kids had never seen-- by the way, that movie is pretty politically incorrect and one that I'm a little on the fence about now that I've seen it again-- but anyway, we got to eat pizza, watch our movie and have jello parfait desserts and it was a really good night together as a family.

Our Nursery Grad

James is an official Nursery grad! His first day in Primary was a little rough, but luckily Zanna was there to give him a hug and tell him "just lay on my shoulder James."

He did a lot better today (I have spies in Primary that keep me updated) and his teacher is GREAT so now both kids are in Primary- I'm getting old!

rockin' new year's

I know I'm behind the times but I have just recently played "Rock Band" for the first time and i just have to say that it rocks! I couldn't figure out how to "play" the guitar at first and the drums require some rhythm that I'm just not sure I have right now, but overall I can hold my own. Dave, on the other hand LOVES the mic and as many of you know will karaoke anytime and any place. So, needless to say we had an awesome New Year's Eve Rock Banding and hangin' out with friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA MUMFORD!!!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This video has a hilarious ending- so don't think it's just your normal birthday song! Enjoy- we love you so much mom, and are very grateful for the great GRANDMA you are!!

Christmas Cheer

Our first tree purchased Home Depot

decorating on Sunday night

the first BIG snow storm (4 inches :)

zanna butterlfy, santa clause, jameson spiderman

Christmas Eve family gift giving

snow storm day

who doesn't love hot chocolate- and James' face!

Zan's cute new apron from Kim & Steve

doing Tinkerbell's hair and another awesome face from James

pretty much how Dave looked over the 4 days of Christmas break

Christmas Eve jammies and buddies

Santa came to town!

gooey, gooey Christmas morning breakfast

(here's the recipe- it's AWESOME!)

FLOAM- way cleaner than playdoh!

Leapsters!

the fly

Yesterday we had a fly in our house and the kids decided to catch it as a "pet" in Zanna's bug catcher.  So, we did and then Zanna asked me what flies like to eat. I said "germs" and then this morning I heard her telling James that she sneezed into the fly catcher a couple times in the night when she thought the fly was hungry to give it some food- I started laughing out loud and love the good nurturer she is (even to a fly)!