Happy Birthday, Apollo!

My sweet Apollo is four today. And we made our goal!!! I sure love this boy. We are taking all of the kids to The Rainforest Cafe to celebrate Apollo's birthday. I hope it goes well.

Adventures in Pottyland

My parents had all four of our kids over the weekend. It was SUCH a blessing!!! I've been a much more patient, loving mom since I had a break.

My parents had six kids, so they are pretty good at all things parenting. I have been working on Apollo's potty training since I last set my resolve to have him potty trained by his 4th birthday (late, I know). It was going ok, but he was having a few accidents throughout the day. My parents kept him AND Parker dry the entire visit, and we have not had an accident since they have been home. Apollo even wore undies to school yesterday and today and has come home dry in them both days. THANK YOU Mom and Dad!

Curious Minds part 2: Shy Girl

We took the kids back to the Pacific Science Center because we had such a good time last time. We worked our way from the exhibits from last to first because we usually end up missing the last ones when the kids start melting down and we have to leave. Apollo enjoyed watching a ball that was suspended in the air by a force of wind ~ until he discovered that he could slap it down and then go chase the ball. That was more fun until he had to wrestle some kids for the ball, but he is quite a fierce competitor. Bryce's favorite was watching the naked mole rats in their city of tubes. There was one that was trying to barricade himself (maybe herself) in the very furthest tube by digging up the paper fluff that they live in and blocking the entrance. We watched and laughed as this NMR would dig frantically just to have another NMR barge through. It was hilarious! Parker enjoyed the mechanical things. He liked watching the robots and took off once to escape to the dinosaur room. We left shortly after that. Halea loved playing in the water with the fountain and the the toys. She also warmed up enough to start enjoying to toddler toy room until some bigger girls came, and then she became shy again and sucked her thumb observing them. I LOVE that I have a shy girl.

45 days...

'Till TIARA TIME!

Apollo's progress on the potty

It's going great! Not an accident since yesterday at noon, and he even woke up dry this morning! I wanted to start over the weekend when we don't have to go anywhere, so we can just focus on the routine. I'm taking him and Parker every 1/2 -1 hour and they get a small treat if they pee or poo on the potty. Halea gets a treat too, for giving moral support. I don't agree with rewarding my kids with candy, but I hate changing diapers more, so the candy wins.

Independent Apollo

Ollie has been dressing himself again. I love the sweatshirt that he put on backwards, but still had the good sense to pull his hood around and put it on. And the second outfit

of

the day was two shirts: one on top and one on bottom.

I think this independence is a good thing since he's almost four ~ it's time to

get serious with the potty training. My goal is to have him potty trained before

his birthday. I have 3 1/2 weeks. We'll see!

Haircut

I finally got the nerve up to cut my hair. I've been toying with the idea for a long time but didn't want to give up my length. Each time I have a baby a lot of my hair falls out and as it grows back in, the ends become thinner and the top becomes thicker. So, after taking my week 5 progress pics I saw just how thin those ends have gotten and decided to take matters into my own hands. It's one of those things that I had to do myself or I would resent whoever I had do it. Of course I'll miss my length, but it looks so much healthier and fuller now.