Potty Training Twins

For months now, Caleb and Matthew have been going “potty” occasionally, at convenient times when they are already sans clothing : before & after a bath or a diaper change.  They have shown some interest,but not overwhelmingly so.  I am not a fan of changing diapers…but, I also know full well the challenges that potty training brings.  I have not been in a rush to get the twins potty trained.  Sam and Luke were both potty-trained just a few months shy of  their third birthdays – and it was effortless.  In just one day – SHAZAM!  We had success!  Only one or two accidents in the following days.  So, I was comfortable waiting a bit longer if it meant an easier transition.  I have heard so many stories about potty training that takes place over a period of months.  I wanted no part of that misery.
Potty-trainers get really fired up about their new-found skill and want to “go pee pee” in every possible location…each restaurant, store, or home you visit – and for my boys, each tree or bush they find along the way!  Potty-training also involves a bit of OCD on the parent’s part: repeatedly asking(as if your life depended on it)  if they have to “go potty?”  It also involves remembering to bring an extra change of clothing (or two in our case) everywhere you go…just in case!  However, the process doesn’t last long and the rewards are well worth the effort.  Perhaps the greatest blessing has been the reduction in diaper changes around here.  For nearly seven years, we have been changing and wiping the bottoms of at least one of our sweet boys I have tried to erase the brief period when three were in diapers from my memory. 
With all of that said, I must admit that I am a bit sad.  My “baby’ boys are growing up.  I am choosing to focus on the freedom that this new phase brings…and to celebrate that God is growing my boys up just as He should!  I just wish that it didn’t happen so quickly.  {sniff}

Caleb (left) and Matthew (right).

Isn’t the difference in their skin tone remarkable? Matthew isn’t more “tan” than Caleb – all natural coloring.

Toothless

Sam has reached another childhood milestone…losing his top front teeth.  Several months ago, he lost both of his bottom front teeth within a matter of days.  So, we’re waiting patiently for the other top tooth to come out.  However, Sam prefers to allow nature to take it’s course rather than aggressively move forward on his own (read: he allows the tooth to fall out…really, fall out.).  He doesn’t enjoy wiggling or moving his loose tooth…I think he’s fearful it will hurt.  My man Sam does not enjoy pain.  So, for now we enjoy his sweet little grin and talk about how cool it is to have a “window” for his straw to fit into when he drinks.  {grin}

Can hardly believe he is about to be a first-grader.  {gulp}

Where to Begin?

I think I am suffering from a severe case of “I-am-so-far-behind-I-don’t-know-where-to-begin-itis.”  I have at least a million blog posts swirling around in my mind…along with my grocery list, a reminder to ask Brad to trim the boy’s nails (the is the chief mani/pedi man around here), an ever-growing list of thank you notes to be written, and the list of phone calls to return.  This blog is read by a few friends my mom….but, it’s real purpose is to be our family’s scrapbook.  So, I have these major events that need to be chronicled here for the sake of our family history.  Things like: Caleb and Matthew celebrating their second birthday, Brad celebrating his 29th birthday again, Luke celebrating his fourth birthday, Sam finishing kindergarten, my mom retiring from her job, and great conversations had with the boys that left me in fits of laughter and with tear-stained cheeks.  I am so far behind that I find myself overwhelmed …unsure where to begin.  So, I have decided to blog on, as if I never missed a beat (or in this case, a major life event).  So, tomorrow is a brand new day …and a fresh start in my blogging mind.  {grin}

 

The Big News

Okay, so it’s not really big news in the traditional sense.  No need to interrupt regular broadcasting for this bit of news.  No, I am not pregnant.   That would be more dramatic news than simply “big news.”  My parents are moving to Kentucky, however!

My dad retired several years ago and has adjusted quite nicely to his life of leisure.   My mom retired from her job at the end of April.  She has served as the director of a senior living apartment complex in my hometown.  It’s a lovely historical building that was once a hotel (as a matter of fact, B and I spent the first night of our married life there) and has found new life as a home for folks 55 and older.  My mom has done amazing ministry during her time there and accomplished so much.  We couldn’t be more proud of her.  In an attempt to show her how proud we are, we loaded up the minivan and pointed it north to Indiana to attend a retirement reception in her honor.  It was a lovely afternoon of meeting her friends, the lovely people she has loved and served,  and to listen as people spoke of her tremendous impact on their lives.  Many tears were shed as folks told me how much they will miss her.  I am so thankful that my mom is the sort of lady who values people and not things.

Because of her great love of people, she and my dad are moving to Kentucky in just a few short weeks.  My family and I are all eager to have them here…just to live life together.  For nearly 17 years, I have lived more than 2 hours away from my parents…nearly six of those years a four hour drive from them.  So, at best, our relationship with them has been a weekend at a time.  I realize that this is not a huge distance compared to some families, but we are excited to spend more time with them.  You know, “normal” time – not holiday visits or special events.  We’re all looking forward to the luxury of sharing meals together, enjoying some of Gran’s good cooking, playing with Pa in the backyard, loving on George (their cute dog), having time to enjoy long chats after school and reading books in the rocking chair.  Just enjoying one another.  Lots of sweet memories to be made between my boys and my folks.  I know we’ll all be the richer for their being here with us. 

  This picture was taken at Caleb & Matthew’s second birthday party.  Note Sam and Luke’s lovely facial expressions.  I love them dearly in spite of the the fact that they ruined an otherwise great photo.  {grin} B

Knock, Knock

Who’s there?  It’s me!  I haven’t blogged in over two months.  I have missed writing the memories of my days…the wonderful and the frustrating…and marking the milestones of my little men.  There have been a lot of distractions that have kept me away:  the hard drive on our computer died, we celebrated 4 birthdays (Caleb, Matthew, Brad, & Luke), had lots of company visiting, some of us battled a virus, and other sorts of busyness.  Brad, Sam, & Luke at Shakertown Creative Boys at Work

Oh yeah, we’ve also been busy listening to Matthew’s new knock-knock joke and pretending that it’s hilarious.

Matthew :  Knock-Knock

Us: Who’s there?

M:  Baby crying.

Us: Baby crying who?

M:    (big grin)

So, there are blog posts about birthday celebrations, Easter celebrations, and family/friends visiting coming in the next couple of days.  Oh yeah, there is also a big change in store for our family in the near future… {grin}

Back At It

Wow...I think I have been struggling with some writer's block, some serious lack of motivation, or just feeling overwhelmed in how far I have gotten behind here at the ol' blog.  But, I think I am  ready to get back at it.

As promised in the last post, I gotta few things to cover from the holiday season.   We'll do it bullet point style!

• We hosted our second annual “Johnson Gingerbread Party.”  Sam and Luke each invited a friend over to decorate a gingerbread house one Sunday afternoon.  It was such gooey, sugary, sweet fun to watch our boys and their friends be creative.  Much fun was had and much candy was consumed.  {chuckle}
• My sweet little Sam certainly has his mother's blood coursing through his veins.  He suffers from the same excitement and anticipation issues as I do.  {grin} I can vividly remember being so excited for Christmas to arrive that I would lay awake for hours before finally falling asleep on Christmas Eve...only to awaken a few hours later and then trying to convince my parents that 3:30 am was a great time to begin the celebrating! The Lord used these sweet childhood memories to help me give Sam the extra grace he required on Christmas Eve.  He woke up at around midnight (just minutes after I had finished placing the gifts under the tree and stuffing stockings) and asked me to snuggle with him because he was having trouble getting back to sleep.  I called upon my own childhood memories and mustered the strength to stumble to his bed with him.  We lay in the dark whispering and giggling...I am so thankful that God caused me to be gracious to Sam...I could have missed making that sweet memory with him.  Did I mention that he finally fell asleep at 4:30 am?  Oh yeah, he was awake again at 6:30 am ready to go!
• Christmas day was simply sweet.  It was just the six of us enjoying the day in our old Kentucky home.  We sang "Happy Birthday!" to Jesus and enjoyed some of His birthday cake for our breakfast.  This tradition began back in 2004 and it's one of my favorites...and I think the boys enjoy it, too.
• Luke sang "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" for weeks on end, both before and after Christmas.  It made my heart smile to hear his sweet voice singing this song of praise.  {grin}
• Matthew was so excited about his gifts on Christmas.  He is a man of few words, but is always expressive.  His eyes open wide, his eyebrows raise, and his mouth forms a perfect little "o" shape as he says, "Ohhh!"  and "Wow!"  and "Ahhh!"  Such a sweet boy who truly appreciated each gift.
• Caleb took on the job of reminding me to turn on our outdoor Christmas lights each evening.  He’d run to the love seat in our living room and look out the window while instructing me to   “Turn on, Mommy!”
• Sam used his allowance money to buy gifts for each of his brothers.  We did our shopping at the dollar store - lot's of options for a boy with $5 in his hand.  He thoughtfully chose a gift for each of his brothers and took great pride in wrapping them himself.  

            Caleb opening his well-wrapped  gift from Sam.

 

• The sight of my four boys in matching pajamas on Christmas Eve thrills my heart.  I know that this is not normal...but, as a mom of all boys - there are so few "clothing related" joys! {giggle}
• As an afterthought, I bought a very inexpensive gift for the boy’s stockings.  A package of 4 silly glasses/nose things (what are they called anyway?) for one dollar.  These turned out to be the “hit” of the day.  We laughed at one another and really got our money’s worth of them. Luke and Sam…so stylish. 

 

Is that Peter Pan in disguise or Matthew?

 

• The boys and I all enjoyed having more time with Brad during the holidays.  Things are always better when Daddy is home.  {grin}

I think I am on a roll now….getting excited about getting caught up.  So many more good stories to tell about how God is restoring Caleb’s health, time with our extended family’s over the holidays, and the twin’s second birthday celebration!  I really am back at it!

Overwhelmed...and Overdue

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed these days.  It's all sorts of good things that are making me feel this way.  We've hosted both sides of our families at our house over the past few weeks.  Some dear friends from out of town came to visit us, too.  Most recently, two of our former youth ministry students (siblings, who are now in college- eek!) came to spend a few days with the tribe.

It was wonderful to have so many people that we love in our home...and a blessing to be "loved on" by so many, as well.  Our boys seemed to understand that something special was going on...to soak up every minute spent with our visitors. They knew that something extra special was happening.   There were extra hands to hold babies, extra plates set at our big table, extra people to read books in the comfy rocking chair, extra people to laugh with, extra people to make us laugh (Wii fit is a riot as a spectator sport), extra giggles, extra hands to change diapers & wash dishes, and an extra special feeling that comes from being surrounded by people you love and who love you in return.  All of the excitement has left our boys a little bored now that we've returned to our normal life - with just the six of us. 

I am having issues uploading photos again...and I find myself coveting cameras.  That is a miserable feeling.  I know that I am blessed beyond measure, but there always seems to be just one thing that I am lacking.  I am so thankful that God is so patient with me.  {sigh}  Anyway, I have lots of fun pictures to post...I just can't get them uploaded from my camera to the computer.  I am working on it and will hopefully have a little "eye candy" for you soon.  Golly, those boys of mine are adorable.  {grin}

In the meantime, you can look forward to hearing all about:

• Sam's insomnia on Christmas Eve.
• Luke's joy in singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.
• Caleb enjoying Jesus' birthday cake immensely.
• Matthew's infectious joy as he opened gifts...saying "ooh" and "ahh" repeatedly.
• The wonderful way God is restoring health to our Caleb.
• My nieces, Ashley and Morgan, bringing my Mom & I to tears.
• The sweetness of our simple Christmas.
• Details of our visitors...and the fun!

It's coming...I promise! {grin}