4th of July

We had a pretty great, laid-back, fun-filled 4th of July weekend. Aunt Nee Nee came to spend the 4 days with us and we kept it crazy for her!
Friday:
We kicked off the holiday weekend Friday night with a swimming birthday party for Sadie's friend Mikenna. The kids had a blast! I was glad Stephanie could go with me to help b/c Marc wasn't home from work in time.

Kinnick spent a lot of the party like this.

Macey loved that the water was shallow enough for her to walk around. She had a great time!

Saturday: We made a quick trip to the library Saturday morning and then spent most of the day swimming at Ms. Jennifer's pool. We packed at picnic lunch and ate on her deck. (She was gone for the weekend but we were taking care of her dogs and instructed to use the pool as much as we wanted!) After swimming we came home for naps and then had the Shinkey's over for a cookout. After our cook-out we headed to the HS ball field to watch Streator's fireworks display.

Driving to fireworks... the kids were excited!

We had to park several blocks away and walk. Between our two families we took a double stroller, a single stroller, and a wagon!

We took popsicles for the kids to eat while we were waiting. When it got dark another couple from our church invited the kids to do sparklers.

Still waiting...

and waiting!

Kinnick LOVES to hang out with Carson--they are such good buddies!

Kinnick didn't move the entire time--he was in awe. Macey also really loved watching... however, Sadie wanted to go home minutes after it started because she was "tired". (Yep--she's our little drama queen!) She laid in the double stroller but then started complaining because it was too loud for her to fall asleep!

Sunday:After church we headed "down town" to get a spot for the parade. We packed a lunch and ended up sitting by some friends that have three little girls... the kids had a great time playing and waiting for the parade.

Poor little Macey was a hot sweaty mess before the parade even started.

A couple floats were passing out freeze pops--those were a big hit! The kids loved waving and collecting candy. We had a fun time.

After naps we took NeeNee out for ice cream to celebrate her (may) birthday... just a little late!

Kinnick always gets "Superman" ice cream!

We did some more swimming that evening and ended our Sunday with homemade pizza and family movie night.

Monday: was a relaxing day. We had to do some yard work in the morning, then more swimming, and we cooked a big meal for lunch... bbq ribs, corn on the cob, potato salad, and watermelon... YUMMY! Marc also made homemade ice cream so we could have patriotic sundaes.

The kids had fun making their sundaes with red, white, & blue sprinkles.

Stephanie left after lunch. That evening we invited Todd, Jennifer, & Kyra over for s'mores on the fire pit and sparklers. The kids had a blast. I sat them all down to try and get a group shot in their red, white, and blue and my camera finally died (it's been pretty pathetic for awhile!) Marc went the next day to buy me a new camera b/c vacation was coming (and he knows I can hardly go a day without my camera... )

Cars 2

The weekend before 4th of July, we took the kids to see Cars 2--this was Kinnick's first movie in the theater!

We went with our friends--the Shinkey's (minus Macey and their youngest!) The kids had a great time. The popcorn, soda, and candy were a hit. We made it through the movie with 6 bathroom breaks and MANY seat switches! As we were walking out, I said to Marc, "That was fun... maybe we'll do it again next year!"

Saying Good-Bye

Thursday, June 30th was Dr. Tieman's last day working in Streator. We met Dr. Tieman 5 years ago (around this time) when I was pregnant with Sadie. She delivered Sadie, Kinnick, and Macey and has been their doctor (as well as mine and Marc's) ever since. She became a part of our family in a way I never imagined possible. I have high hopes for any future doctors (that I'm quite sure won't be lived up to). Dr. Tieman is leaving Streator to begin a teaching position at another hospital. Streator won't be the same, but we (along with many others) are excited for her exciting opportunity and know she will be amazing! We were able to help in making a good-bye/good luck video back in Feb. to help surprise her for her 40th birthday. (Her birthday is the day before Macey's and she was convinced during my pregnancy they would share a birthday--that's just how she is--excited to come deliver a baby on her birthday!)

We took these cookies to the office on her last day to celebrate--this is how most of the staff looked! We were able to see her Sunday at church to say good-bye. (I will admit--the fact that we're moving sometime has made this much easier!)

Girl's Day

A few weeks ago, Ms. Jennifer took Kinnick for the day. Sadie was bummed that she didn't get to go until I told her we would have a super-fun girl's day. She was able to get on board with that idea... Because she is my child, she of course wanted to make a list of all the fun things we should do (who doesn't make a list to have fun?) Anyway--here are some of the things we did: Baking pop-tarts in our hand-me-down easy bake oven...

Heart-shaped pb&j for lunch...

Girl's movie day with popcorn (and of course some candy!)... we watched Enchanted.

A girl's bath for Sadie & Macey...

Some princess card games...

We ended the night with a storm and no electricity. After the storm passed we were able to go outside and enjoy a beautiful rainbow.

Father's Day

Hiking with an Old Friend

Rachel is a dear friend of mine who dates back to my elementary days! Our friendship began when our preachers wife (at the time) introduced us at a sleepover at their house (she was brave to have 4 elementary girls over for a sleepover!) Our friendship continued to grow through HS-mostly during our weeks spent together at LaMoine Church Camp. As life does, it took us in different directions, we were both married and started families. Recently her family moved into the Chicago area and (thanks to facebook) we reconnected! Rachel was able to go to Hearts at Home conference with some friends and me back in March. Last weekend we got to meet her husband Scott when they met us at Matthiessen State Park to go hiking. Rachel, Scott, & baby Ned

Sadie & Kinnick--Cheesin' it Up, they loved walking in the water!

Our Happy Hiker--she did great the whole time, even took a 20 minute nap!

The kids loved climbing up here. Kinnick called the little hole a "lion's den". (Good thing they had their "guns" in case they saw any lions!)

Rachel & Me

Sadie always likes to get to know my friends (especially when they have kids!)

Kinnick loved Ned.

We had a great time and plan to get together again in the future!

Potty Training Encore

I had been waiting until summer to potty train Kinnick (I figured more time outside, less accidents to clean up!) As I looked at my summer schedule I realized that we didn't have a week all summer that we could be home bound for 3-4 days in a row... so I decided to go for it anyway.

Two weeks ago (June 6th) I got out the Mikey Mouse undies (from his Eater Basket) and started my kitchen timer. I was more than a little bit nervous b/c up until this point my little boy had NEVER gone pee on the potty (despite me putting him on the potty every night before his bath). It didn't take too long... after 5 tries of putting him on the potty and nothing, he yelled "My pee's coming out!" and we ran to the bathroom for his first success. I kept giving him juice and water all day to try and have more potty experiences. I put him in a diaper for rest and he kept it dry. After rest, we headed to the Y for Sadie's swim lesson and I put him in a pull-up. He kept his pull-up dry and even went potty while at the Y. We finished day 1 with 5 successful potties and 3 accidents. I was definitely encouraged enough to keep going! (And for those wondering, he did start out by sitting down. I didn't really plan to do that, but when we got out the baseball potty seat, he was SO excited to use it! We have now transitioned to standing up.)

Day 2 was somewhat less eventful--2 successes and 2 accidents. We also spent a 3-hour block of time swimming (and he wore a swim a diaper.) Day 3 was our most successful day yet, 5 successes and 1 accident. Day 4 was similar, 8 successes and 2 accidents. By Day 5 I was somewhat worried that he hadn't pooped on the potty yet. He usually does #2 every day (or multiple times). So far during the week he did one poop over night and one during nap time. Day 5 was the day--he did his first poop on the potty... I loved watching him smile and show so much pride in his "big-boy" accomplishments.

I had been putting him in diapers for nap/bedtime... until he woke me up two nights in a row at 4 in the morning to go potty! I decided a pull-up would be a better option for when I'm half asleep. I'm still using pull-ups over night (and under ware at nap time) but I'm ready to let him try his under ware soon. I believe we're going on 10 nights in a row dry. He still has occasional accidents (usually when he's too busy playing to stop) but he's doing so well! He even made the 3-hour trip to my parents in under ware (I wouldn't have dreamed of trying that with Sadie this soon!) I'm so excited--between the diapers, pull-ups, and swim diapers that I will no longer have to buy, I just gave myself a raise!

I love watching this little boy... he would make this face right before he started to pee: Followed by this face:

This time around was SO much easier. I'm sure there are many variables involved: him being older, his personality, my experience, my LOW-er expectations, me being more laid-back, not having a nursing infant... I'm glad I got this easy experience, but I'm not holding my breath for take 3!

Quote from Kinnick: "When you feel the pee coming out, you have to say "POTTY!" and run to the bathroom. You have to make your pee go in the potty, not in your underwear."