POTTY PARTY!!!

Well, I am SO happy to announce that Dylan is potty trained. We have been trying to get Dylan to be potty trained for a little while now. Dylan would do everything right and then just say, "I want my diaper now. I'll be potty trained tomorrow." And then refuse to try to pee in the potty. So we would try and then if he resisted, we would wait a month and try again. I have always thought that when Dylan is ready, HE will make the decision. AND HE DID!!! Yesterday morning, I noticed that Dylan hadn't pooped in his diaper yet and so I threw the question out there...not knowing how he would react today. Should we try to go poop in the toilet today? He responded, "YES!" And he walked up stairs and sat on the toilet and went! Brooks is my potty training helper. He told Dylan that when he goes to the bathroom in the toilet, he will give him a penny. I was happy, but did not want to get my hopes up because he has done this before and it did not end well. We put some underwear on. We brought his little potty down stairs and before I knew it, Dylan was going to the bathroom without even telling me. He would just GO! He didn't put up a fight. He WANTED to go to the bathroom like a big boy. So he had a potty party. When Jake got home, he took Dylan to Walmart to pick out ANY underwear he wants. He picked spiderman and friends. Then, they went to McDonalds for a kids meal. There were no accidents and as soon as he got home, he said he had to go potty and went without any coaching. He wore a diaper to bed and woke up with a dry diaper. And today he has continued without a fight. He even pooped in the toilet without even telling me...he just went. So it is official! It's a done deal!
He asked me the funniest question today. " Mom, why do I have a crack in my butt?" ha ha!

Now THAT'S going on the resume!

When we were at a restaurant the other night for Brooks birthday, Dylan discovered a new talent. He put a spoon on his nose and...IT STUCK! Now, when he does his new talent, he has to put both hands up and stand on one leg. It's so funny!

CHECK THIS OUT!

Remember the cute pictures that my friend Jessica took of our family...well, I want to share some more of them with you. EVERYONE needs to check out her photography blog and you can get a great deal going on right now if you are one of the first 5 to put a comment on her blog. She is tring to get her name out there. Don't wait! Check it out! http://www.bella-rose-photography.blogspot.com/ I couldn't be happier!

SUPRISE!!!

Brooks is turning 5 onthe 11th. And he has always told me that he wanted a suprise party. So that is what he got!!! We tricked him SO GOOD! On Saturday, I said that I had to go to the doctors and I was going to take Dylan with me. Brooks and Jake were going to go pick up his BIG BOY bike that we were getting him for his birthday. But shoot! Jake "forgot" his wallet at FatCats. he he! So while Jake and Brooks were "going to pick up his wallet," Brooks cousins, Me-mas and Grandpas and friends were all waiting for him to arrive at FatCats for a bowling and arcade party.

He was so shocked and happy that all of this was happening for HIM! He kept saying that this was the best party of his life.All of the kids had a blast bowling! Way to go Brooks!DylanEllieNoahMasonHere is Brooks and his cousin Noah!Brooks wanted a Venom party so I made his a Venom cake.This was Dylans venom face. Look at the similarities! ha!

Brooks wanted trick candle...and that is what he got. And it took him awhile and with a little help from his cousins to finally blow them out.

Brooks wanted to eat the venom tounge.

Brooks had a great birthday. He kept telling me after the party how he got the coolest gifts. So thank you everyone for coming and making Brooks the happiest kid ever! Happy Birthday Brooks! We love you!!!

"OH THE PAIN!"

So we are registering Brooks tomorrow for kindergarten...I know, I can't believe it either! Brooks received his kindergarten shots late last year, but he still had to get a physical and a shot that he never got when he was younger. Brooks HATES shots. I mean...HATES shots. So I tried to prepare him for today hoping that would help. IT DID NOT HELP! The first thing the nurse did was check his eyes. She made him go all the way back to the wall to see if he could see the little pictures far away. Brooks did pretty well until he came to those really small shapes. He kept saying, "But I am all the way back here." She tried the other eye and asked him what the small shape was. He started to get frustrated and said," I can't see it cuz I am all the way back here!" It was pretty funny. He has 20/30 vision. Lets hope his vision doesn't suck like mine! Then we found out that he is in the 75% for height and is perfect with his weight. Then it was time to go in the little room and prick his finger. This was a DISASTER! I was by myself with Dylan...who had already had one breakdown in the waiting room. Brooks was SO terrified. He was screaming and wiggling and saying "NO NO NO NO." The nurse was even shocked at how strong this kid was and how much of a fight he was putting up. I tried to tell him that if he did not get his shot when he's 5, he couldn't go to school and his response was.."I was to stay 4 years old forever!"After me AND the nurse were HOLDING HIM DOWN, we got it. But this was only the beginning of the fight. He was really upset after his poke and wouldn't stop cring and saying that he wanted to go home. At the end of our appointment, it was time for that ONE last shot. It was worse than the first. The nurse asked if I wanted to get someone in the room to help us. She tried to get his legs while I held his arms and wiggly body. But he kicked free. And here is the part that is SO FUNNY that the nurse and I couldn't help but laugh. While we attempted again to give him the shot, he was yelling,"OH THE PAIN. OH THE PAIN!" He was yelling this over and over again. We finally got it. But Brooks kept complaining that his leg was broken now. We have to get one more shot in 6 months and I have learned that I AM NEVER GOING TO THE DOCTOR TO GET SHOTS FOR THE KIDS BY MYSELF AGAIN!!!

Road Trip to Idaho

We took a road trip to Twin falls Idaho. My little sister Mary had her sweet little Hunter James on Saturday evening. So we stayed in a hotel and made a little vacation out of it. Brooks was SO excited. My kids LOVE staying in a hotel. That alone is a vacation for them. They had an indoor pool and an YUMMY continental breakfast. Brooks was so excited to go to Idaho that he had to tell everyone about it. He even answered the phone like this..."This is the Binghams and we are going to stay in a hotel and swim in an indoor pool." Thankfully it was Jake that called when Brooks answered. ha!

I laugh so hard every time I look at this first picture. We got in the hotel about midnight and Brooks was bouncing off of the wall with excitement...can you tell he is excited?

The kids had so much fun at the pool. It has been awhile since we have gone swimming .

Hunter was 8lbs 3 ounces and 22 inches long. He is such a good size baby. I know he is my nephew and you are suppose to think they are the cutest things ever...BUT HE REALLY IS! He is just perfect. Mary and Gary did such a great job!

Mary is such a trooper. They stayed in the hospital 24 hours and then came home. She was walking around like she didn't just have a baby. Jake kept saying,"Marys a tough chick." He is used to me and how I am a big baby after I have a baby. Ha! Mary IS one tough chick!

The kids always say the funniest things...here are a few. "Brooks, Marys water just broke and that means she is going to have her baby today." "How come she beat you mom?

"Brooks, Me-ma just called and Hunter was born." "YOU MEAN WE MISSED IT!"

Dylan, for some cute reason, calls Hunter, Honker. So he would pray that Honker would get strong like him.

WE LOVE YOU MARY, GARY, AND HUNTER!!!!