It's that time again...

So I think potty training is the hardest thing I've had to do as a parent so far... hands down. If you are appalled by this statement then please let me know your secret. Our sweet little Auggie is 2 yrs. & 4 months & I am more than excited to be done with diapers. Wish me luck! It's going to be a long and messy road. I will have to consult my favorite parenting expert again - Jo Frost aka " The Nanny" ( besides my Mom.) Supernanny - How to Get the Best From Your Children is the best, most realistic parenting book I've ever seen. Just wanted to share with you my Sunday night reading material. ; ) Here we go little Miss!

Check it out----->
Supernanny - How to Get the Best From Your Children

"Shot through the heart...and you're to blame..."

So I think getting shots is just one of the saddest things. Your kids trust you with their lives and you hand them over to someone with rubber gloves & a long needle. Of course I would never trade the benefits of immunizations I just wish the kiddies could somehow comprehend it a little better. TODAY - we went for a well child check to meet our new Doctor. Thought it would be good in case we get sick that he will have seen us before. I don't know how long I had spent reassuring Jack that no shots were due this visit. Much to my dismay he had 4 due plus a tb test & Audrey had 2 plus a tb test. Apparently CA gives certain immunizations earlier in case all the friends that arrive here - wanted or unwanted have Hep. or other nasty infectious diseases. anyway So ON TOP OF SHOTS - he requested lab work too. All to be done today. ARE YOU SERIOUSLY JOKING ME? I felt so bad. I could have croaked. Jack and Audrey had done so well during their check-up. And Jack hears the word "SHOT" and he looks straight at me and said "Mom, he said Shot. We're not getting shots today." Shots are bad enough and then you have to watch your sibling go first. Jack was yelling at the nurses. "That's my baby sister!" We were a sight.

So after I carried them both out of the Injection Dept. at the Pediatrics facility- all of us crying mind you, we drove over to the hospital for blood work. Jack in his prayers always blesses our hearts, our skeletons and our blood. He is very aware that these things are IN our body. So what does the nurse say to us when we arrive,
"We're just going to take your blood." AHHH! -- As Jack and I shift it into panic mode. He thinks she's a vampire and I think she needs to brush up on her pediatric vocabulary! We survived, barely. I don't know when to break the news that we have to go back in 2 days for them to clear his TB test.....

Happy 50th Birthday Uncle Don!

Happy Birthday! I hope my 50th birthday is half as exciting as this one was! Luau complete with a roast pig, tiki slushy bar, live band and fireworks to top it all off. It was a great evening.

p.s. every now and again while swimming Auggie insists on topping off her floaties- "all by herself."

4 to go!

So our little man turned 4 last week! This is a picture of him at his STAR WARS party. He greeted all of his guests at the door and even had a speech when it came time for the cake. He is such a great kid. He is so full of life & love. He loves books, and drawing. He loves when Daddy has a day off and still likes to snuggle with me. He says sincere prayers and always tries to be a gentleman. Tonight we were at In-n-Out and Eric asked me to get a refill on his drink 'cause he was holding Auggie. So Jack said, " I'll come with you Mom, I will guard you." I tried to hold his hand but he insisted on walking a couple feet behind me, arms crossed, eyeing the other customers. Needless to say I made it to and from the soda bar without being attacked. It's a good thing too, Jack is quite into Star Wars these days he's practically a Jedi. ; ) So back to being 4 -exciting, but I think he was expecting a little more from this new age. He tells people " I'm four now, but I stilllll can't drive yet." He also said that since he is 4 now he doesn't need his floaties to swim anymore until we tried it -so we are working on that since it just didn't seem to happen when he blew out the candles.

We love you so much bud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Play ball!

So Jack started tee ball this week. I think I was just as excited as he was. He is so out-going and LOVES sports just like his Daddy & Mommy for that matter. So I am banking on this being a good experience for him. He was a little hesitant at first but by the end he was right in there giving the 6 yr. olds a run for their money. ; )

All because 2 people fell in love...

My Grandparents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. They had a big party on May 24th which just so happens to be our Anniversary! We celebrated our 5th and the day after that was Kelly & Talmage's 6th! So Happy Anniversary all around! Most of the Valk Family was able to be in town for the celebration. It was so great to see everybody and have the great grandkids run around together. There are 13 "greats" - 5 and under, with 2 on the way. Good work Grandma & Grandpa!
p.s. I'm not sure why that pic turned out sideways and it's really bugging me but I can't justify any more time trying to fix it.