Potty Trained - YEP!!

OK - So I have not posted about Mr. Braydon in a while.... Well we have some GREAT news - It finally CLICKED!!!! Braydon is potty trained (at least during the day!) This boy has not had ANY interest in using the potty, wearing underwear, NOTHING.... Taking privilege's away, like no new toys or no chocolate until your trained, meant NOTHING to him! He did not care....



Well about three weeks ago, his sitter was talking to me about him staying dry during quiet time and then going potty for her. So we said OK , Let's try underwear. So we started putting them on him and while he was with her, he stayed dry and went potty all day, but then he would get home and the stubborn little boy came out and he would wet and stinky in his underwear within 30 minutes of being home... Even when I would go with him and sit him on the potty!



So, at home he wore diapers and at the sitter he wore underwear, this went on for about three weeks.... Then last Thursday (7/24) We got home and he took off running up the stairs all the way to my bedroom bathroom and went potty..... Yep, all on his own!!! Then about 30 minutes later he ran back upstairs and did the big poo in the potty! He has not had an accident during the day sense!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!!



Now last night he wanted to wear underwear to bed. So what the heck.... Just means I have more laundry if he wets the bed. Well, at about 2am he woke up did not want to go back to his bed, so I sent him into the bathroom, which I heard him go in, heard him go and then flush. He then walked over to Dougs side of the bed and finished going.... He just did not stay in the bathroom long enough to empty his bladder. So we just put a diaper on him along with dry pj's and we will try again another night!

ASPiRE

Once you decided you wanted to try for the ASPiRE program, there was an application you had to complete. This application was three essay questions. The answers were required to be hand written and had to be turned in on time. So, after a few weeks of thinking it over, talking to other co-workers about it, I decided to take the plunge! I started by typing out my application and edited it, had my neighbor read and edit it a bit more and then started the grooling task of hand-writing it out..... I asked what the reason for hand writing it was, because if they were grading on hand-writing - I would not have been a contender. I was told, that if a person has to take the time and actually hand write it out, they are more likely to put more of themselves into the program than if it was just typed out. Anyone can take a few minutes and type something and turn it in.... But handwriting takes some dedication. OK - So I agree a little on this, and I am not running the program, so I have no say....

Anyway - Below are copies of my actual application that I turne in. I hope that they pull through so you can see my masterpieces.... I had to answer Who I thought was a great leader, What I think I will learn in the ASPiRE program and then to explain a time I was in leadership.... So before you read on, could you answer these and have a decent essay? Because another thing I learned, that if you only answered in a few short sentences that you were not high on the list....

Tag - You're It....

OK - Since Jessie wrote this so well (& tagged me) - I am plagiarizing most of her post!

Have you ever been tagged before? No, well, consider yourself tagged then. If I have to suffer and do it, so do you? What does it mean, you wonder? Apparently, when you are tagged in the blogosphere you have to share 6 random things about yourself and then tag 6 others. Jessie tagged me and verses complaining about it, below is my randomness. So, post your comments with some randomness about you or just post some comments so we can link to your blog and read your randomness there. And I have no idea who all reads mine, so you are on your honor!Onto my 6 things...hmm....

1 - I played the flute from the 6th grade thru my Senior year with also playing auxiliary percussion my Jr. & Sr. years too.

2 - I have worked for Americo on and off now for 18 years (with more on than off).

3 - Doug & I met on-line and were married six weeks later (that was a joyous Five & 3/4 years ago).

4 - Photography is my passion (hint, hint http://www.snapshotbycasey.com/).

5 - I wish I had more time to spend with my family, as they mean the WORLD to me.

6 - I currently was accepted into the ASPiRE program at my work. This is an 18month Leadership Mentoring program that has one heck of an application process, that out of 29 applicants I was one of 14 that was accepted into the third class. I will post my essay application later as well as some of the details as it goes along....

Just a fun tidbit of info...

I just remembered that I did not blog about what Braydon said at the Royal's game a couple of weeks ago.... Doug & I were laughing so hard, I just do not know how I forgot!!!

So anyway, we get to our seats and are sitting down and the game is already underway, so Braydon looks out onto the field and says "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk; Go T-Bones!"

Doug & I just started laughing along with the other fans that heard him.... And of course, we corrected him and said "Go Royals!"

Small Group Swim Party

Our church small group had our monthly meeting at James & Patsy's on saturday. We had quite the spread of food and a lot of fun sitting, chatting and of course cooling off in the pool!

Photobucket Album

Click to view all pictures

Dew's Summer Bash II

Photobucket Album

This past weekend by Braydon

Friday night, Mommy & Daddy went out and left me with a sitter, Emily. Emily & her family are SOOO much fun, and I am sure that I had WAY more FUN than Mommy & Daddy!!! Emily's Daddy tried to get me to eat Frog wings and Fly Whiskers for dinner, but I told him NO, that’s disgusting! So he made sure and asked again, but I stood firm. We had mac-n-cheese instead and I think it was a much better choice, or at least for me, they can eat whatever they want when I am not there! I then played and played and had a wonderful time until Mommy & Daddy got there and took me home. I can not wait to go back and visit with them!

Mommy had to work at the Barry Road Social Suppers on Saturday, So Daddy took me to this airport (New Century AirCenter). They were supposed to have this cool air show, but it RAINED! So we just walked around, looked at a lot of cool airplanes and Daddy bought me some new toy airplanes. We had a lot of fun, I like spending time with Daddy! Daddy also said that when I get bigr we can look into The Civil Air Patrol I think that this would be TONS of fun, but Mommy looked it up and I have about 9 years before I can join them.

Off I go!

Can I sit here??

Flying my Schnook

Is this a gun Daddy?

Posing for the camera

Later on Saturday night Mommy & Daddy took me to another KC Royals game. I was a tad grumpy to start off with, but perked up a little during the game. I had a good time while I was there, but those baseball guys would not hit me a foul ball! I took my glove and everything, but they kept hitting them fouls to others in the seats. Mommy & Daddy were tired out, so we left early. On the way out we saw Slugger I do not know why Mommy & Daddy insist that I have my picture taken with this scary looking lion, but they did. I really did not want to go near him, but as you can see, they got me right by him. I kept my eye on him as much as I could. You know, he ended up being tamer than I thought, he gave me a high five and he let me stay on my Daddy’s shoulders. So when we got to leave, I was waving and telling him bye. But You know, I don’t think that the next time I see him, that I will want to get close again, but we’ll see......

Daddy & Braydon at the Royals game

I Don’t Think So....

Well OK.

But I am not taking my eye off of you!

Well maybe for a second for Mom to take a picture – HURRY Please!

OK – Bye now

Mini KC reuinion for class of 1984

On Friday night Doug & I got a sitter for Braydon and met up with some of his High School classmates that now live here in Kansas City. Doug went to Southeast High School in Wichita and graduated in 1984. . We met at Lucky Strike Bowl in The Power and Light District, they had a good little turn out and everyone seemed to have grown up and no matter what social group you were in at HS, it did not matter tonight. Doug’s classmates have put together their own webpage and then within it there are links to see what other classmates are doing. It is really a fun site to browse through, as people have some then and now pictures and what they are up to and more.

We got there early, since I work Downtown, and it was not worth me going home to turn around and come right back, so we went to Gordon Biersch for a drink and appetizer. I had a Pomegranate Margarita – VERY YUMMY!!!! And Doug had one of the restaurants own brewed beers and he said it was good, don’t ask me, I do not like beer! We had their calamari, and it was nothing to oooo and aaaa over but it hit the spot. Now Lucky Strike lanes , were a blast and if you get a chance to go, I suggest going! They have a nice bar area with lots of seating that is cushy and fun! Then at their lane area, they have more cushy seats and digital art work that is scrolling on the screens at the end of the lanes. Now note, that this art work is a bit distracting and seeing the arrows on the lanes to aim the ball is almost impossible when there are images with brighter colors. So if you are a serious bowler, know that these are not the lanes for you do any competition at during their open lanes time! They also have some good drinks and appetizers here too. Now I will rave over their Bacon wrapped Parmesan filled Figs!!! Not a huge dish, but plenty of them to enjoy! I think that I am going to have to look into learning how to make these. There was a good turn out, but only six of us bowled... I did OK overall, but I did bowl better than Doug!

The Crew and some spouses that were there
Some of the Guys
Doug showing off his bowling skills

A Live visit from the Toy Fairy....

Yep, you read that right, Toy Fairy. So what is the Toy Fairy? The Toy Fairy came into existence at our home back in April thanks to my Mom and Dad while Doug & I were in California. My Mom was struggling with Braydon to pick up his toys when he was done and to clean up before bedtime. So she came up with the Toy Fairy. The Toy Fairy comes and picks up toys that are not put away and gives them to little boys and girls that will pick them up and keep them put away...

It was bedtime on Monday and I asked Braydon to pick up his toys (which were everywhere) and lets go to bed. Well he told me “NO”... So I told him again to pick them up or that Mommy was calling the Toy Fairy and that she was coming to get them tonight before he would be asleep and his response was “OK”....

So what’s a Mom to do when a child calls you out...? Call the neighbor and ask for help! Yep, I got the phone, called next door and when Heather answered, I said, “Help”, she answered, “OK”, and I said “just go along”. I said “Hi Toy Fairy, Braydon has left a mess of toys and you can come and get them right now, I have left the back door unlocked for you.” Of course Heather asked, “what is the Toy Fairy?” I answered “OK, Braydon, remember when you do not pick up your toys that the Toy Fairy comes and picks them up and takes them away to other children” (of course at this point she was “OOO, OK”). I continued, “the back door is unlocked and you can not miss the toys that are all over the floor by the black bucket and that you can just take it too.”

I hung up and as we were getting Braydon’s PJ we heard the door alarm beep and a little bit of noise from the clean up... I finished with Braydon and could tell Heather was out with the toys (this is where it gets FUNNY!, well at least to me as I was laughing so hard I had to look away from the little guy! Sorry sweetheart, you were just too cute!) So I told Braydon, “lets go see”, he said “NO”, I told him I was going with him, so he hesitantly went with me down the stairs, saw the toys were gone and BOLTED back up the stairs. I followed (a bit slower) and met him in his room and said ok, time for bed. As I was sitting with him his eyes were very wide and he was asking is she gone? Is she going to stay in her fire truck? (??No idea where the fire truck came from), but I told him yes, she is gone and that she only takes toys and that she will never come where he will see her.

He is lying there, still very wide eyed and I know that it will be quite a time of sitting there with him to get him to sleep, so I ask him if he wants to go rock with Grandma, and he said, yes and up and off he went. About 45 minutes later, I picked up a sleeping child and put him to bed. & I am still giggling about it today!

Now on Tuesday night, he again did not want to pick up a few toys, so I told him the Toy Fairy would be coming once he was a sleep tonight. He was lying there and asked if she was out in her fire truck and I assured him she was and that she had other stops right now and would be by later. He then asked, can I go pick up my toys so the Toy Fairy doesn’t come? Well, of course you can... So he ran down stairs, picked up the few things that were out and then was off to bed, and went to sleep much easier this night!

Thank God for The Toy Fairy!!! – You know, what ever works!

Current Happening's.... Including the 4th of July!!!****!!!!

Good Day to all.... I have several different things to share today to bring everyone back up to speed....

One about two or so weeks ago we were saying bye to my parents who had come over and when we looked out we saw a rainbow... Yes I know, a rainbow, we see a lot of them, but this one was unique as it was a full rainbow from left to right. We usually only see half of it, but not this time. We say the WHOLE thing. So I grabbed my camera, put the fish-eye on and took a few shots. I have to say it was the coolest rainbow I have seen in a long time!

On June 30th, my Grandma (Dad's Mom) who lives with us turned 90 years old. We actually celebrated it twice with her. Back at the first of June, her Niece (Linda) & her church threw her and another friend who turned 90 as well a double surprise birthday party. Then on Saturday June 29th, we as a family had a family dinner in honor of her birthday as well. For one that is 90 she is doing fairly well. We love having her around and it is awesome that her great-grandchildren have gotten to know her like they have. Below are pictures from both parties.

Surprise

Grandma, Braydon & her friend Robbie

Grandma & Linda

Gma, You’re how OLD?

Blow them out...

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Now onto July 4th....
We only spent $10.00 on a small bag of fireworks for Braydon to enjoy & thankfully so! As he absolutely HATED them! He tolerated a few things, but when they went “BOOM” he was screaming and heading for the door to go inside. Even watching from an inside window frightened him. As I took him to watch some pretty fountains from a window and he was doing well at first talking about all of the colors and then “BOOM” from a neighbor’s house and he ran from the window and wanted nothing more to do with them. So he stayed inside with Grandma and Papa was inside a good part of the time with him. So they enjoyed their time reading books and watching TV.

We did spend a majority of our time over with the Russell family which lives next door. We had a wonderful time watching them set off their fireworks. Doug did help in setting off a blue smoke bomb that painted their driveway, and so, never fear they got us back, see the picture below, it is actually quite humorous.

Heather pulling a confetti popper

Braydon telling Daddy “NO”

Hiding behind the truck...

Making a run for the house!

Ashley & her favorite – Poppers!

Someone else that does not care for the loud noises

Ashley giving Doug some confetti hair

And the finished product, Good Job Ashley.

And we can not forget the Birthday Boy – Marc!

Hey someone actually took a picture of me...!

Confetti Popper Fight!

More...

Gonna get you Uncle Chad!

Yep, they got me!

This would be a smoke bomb payback....

Braydon came back out...

Nope, still don’t like it.

DADDY!!!!!!

Take me IN!

Mama will take you...

OOOOOO

AAAAAAAA

Cool!

Neat to actually see bright colors

Ashley with a sparkler... Looks like she is writing her name.

See the Flag?

Birds???

Pretty

Hope everyone had a FUN & Safe 4th!