Spring Cleaning

I have LOVED my new home, but my only complaint is it is soo much easier to see the dirt, scratches and dings on the walls, doors, etc, when everything is new! So I decided I needed to stop procrastinating & tackle this (never ending) battle. I am starting in one room and wiping the walls, baseboards and doors, then moving on to the next room. I figured if I tried to get 2 rooms done a day, it would only take me a few days (if I'm lucky).

The blinds really need a good wipe down, but I decided to start

with the easier job first!

Here is what one of the wall (between my kitchen and family room) looked like

BEFORE:

AFTER:
This guy works magic on all those black marks, crayons,
and pretty much everything!
Thanks Mr. Clean

Flossing

So how many of you parents FLOSS your kids teeth everyday???

I mean we are lucky if everyone gets them brushed twice a day!

I have to admit I have only done it a few times with Ame. She has some pretty big gap between her front teeth, so I thought (to myself) it wasn't that necessary. BOY WAS I WRONG! We visited the dentist today and got some shocking news...cavities!!! I am too embarrassed to say how many. In my defense, because I really do feel like it is MY fault, the kids haven't been to the dentist in over a year (no insurance for a while) and even worse they have Quinn's Horrible Teeth Jeans (is it hereditary?).

I guess this mom got a rude awakening about the importance of

flossing her kids teeth too!

recent challenges

Who would ever think a cutie like this could cause soo much frustration? Well let his mom just tell you.

Since he turned one I have been trying to wean him from nursing. We are down to a feeding when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. Only because we are having a battle with M-I-L-K in a sippy cup! I have tried every idea I can come up with-mixing it with various flavors, also yogurt drinks, pediasure, several different kinds of cups and have had little success. He takes one or two swallows and then wants nothing more to do with it. He drinks water fine with a sippy. I am not so concerned with the nutritional aspect, because I offer a lot of cheese, yogurt, etc. I am hoping for the "comfort" and "convenience" of it all! This is so different than his siblings because they begged for more milk. I mean what am I suppose to do with Ash when he wakes up at 5 or 6 AM. Without the comfort of a drink of milk, how else am I suppose to get him to go back to sleep (and ME for that matter)? That is why I am still nursing. I am at a loss as to what to do. Quinn isn't all that concerned with it,

but that is because it doesn't really affect him all that much!

So HE doesn't have much in the way of suggestions.

If ANYONE has had a similar struggle and can offer some advice

PLEASE send it my way. I have got some advice online, and have

tried them (mentioned above).

With this Big Boy
Potty training is coming along, MOST days! We still have our occassional "accident". Even though I constantly ask if he needs to go, he still pees on the floor in front of the TV or playing with his toys, or just doens't quite make it to the toilet and its on the bathroom floor. So we are getting there ! And mommy is trying really hard to "keep her cool" and gain some more patience.

It does take a lot of patience with #2. He does it fine IN the toilet, but I just have not brought myself to let HIM do the wiping. Just the thought of CLEANLINESS makes it hard for ME to not take charge. I think boys are just WAY to curious. I wasn't concerned that AMe would PLAY, if you know what I mean. I know I don't want to be wiping his bum on the toilet forever, but for now... we will just take this one step at a time!

stuff

I guess we haven't been up to very much cuz I haven't felt a real NEED

to blog anything lately. But here are a couple of things to share...

Mommy has been giving Ame some VERY BASIC piano

(or I should say keyboard) lessons. I can't believe how quickly

she catches on AND retains was she is learning.

Way to go sweetie pie!

I actually quite enjoy doing this with her, when we MAKE the time to do it.

Not too professional of a set-up though. Do you think that is the proper way for a pianist to sit? I really need to find the stand for that thing and a chair.

And here is one of the spring dresses Ame has been DYING to wear.

We bought it a while back during one of our warm spells, but it seems like

every Sunday we get a cold spell, and it is NOT short sleeve weather.

Not this past Sunday...it was gorgeous!!!

So she finally got to wear it!

correction

I was just reading my last post, from Ash's birthday and noticed a few mistakes (maybe I should save my blogging for the daytime, when I am not so tired).
One mistake I would like to make a note of is the website I visit for cake ideas:
www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com