Some Weekly Highlights

So, I have read the articles in NGJ before. The ones about potty training your infant. I always thought to myself that it just seemed impossible. I mean, the theory seemed sound - that we train our children to go in their diapers - but the practice of not training them to do that seemed like a challenge I was not ready to undertake. However, their last article about it got me thinking. I certainly don't feel in-tuned enough to Adia to know when she is peeing - but we've all seen the funny faces our infants make when.... well, you know. So, this week I decided I was going to give it a try. Yesterday morning when I saw the funny face start to come - I quickly jumped up and said, "Wait!" It must have startled her enough to stop because when I ran her into the bathroom and took off her diaper she hadn't gone. So I sat her on the toilet and you'll never guess..... she pooped! Steele and I were both thrilled. Steele even thought she needed to get a candy corn for her accomplishment - she didn't, although I am considering giving Steele one every time she succeeds. I'm certainly not putting any pressure on myself to do it all the time - but hey, if I can get her to do it sometimes it saves a sore bum and certainly a few wipes. So here she is - cute as a button. I wish the second one would have turned out more clearly.

I also had my twice yearly class manager meeting for Jazzercise last night. I decided to host this one at my house and treat the ladies to some yummy food and a little cozier atmosphere than the studio. It gave me a good excuse to rearrange my living room and put up my fall decorations. I'm really pleased with the fact that we moved our love seat back upstairs - it adds a little more seating room.

Here is my dining room table centerpiece.
I think I got the idea from Martha.
Every year I can't wait to bring out the corn.

I did this photo wall a while ago but thought I would post a picture.
I'm still looking for two more family photos to add.

In the past I have had a mental struggle over decorating my house. I used to spend far too much time, energy and money over making my house look nice. After Justin and I moved to Sammamish and lived in a 650 sq. ft. apartment I learned that simplicity is a good thing. While I do think that God created beautiful things and gives them to us to enjoy - I often have a hard time spending money on things that just sit in my house and look good. I can't help but think that my money might be better spent elsewhere. After all, there really are starving children in Africa (and everywhere else in the world) and you just cannot eat candles, or pictures frames... you get my point. So, after living in our current house for two years and not doing much more than choosing paint colors - I'm getting in the mood to decorate again. Home is a wonderful place and I want my family to enjoy being here. So I'm approaching it with caution, creativity and simplicity (and frugality).

And finally, Justin is getting the kids geared up for ski season! Steele will (fingers crossed) be up on skis this year. Justin is getting a season's pass so he can take Steele up for half days and not feel guilty. Justin has been on-line researching ski instruction aids for toddlers to his heart's content. (I am, by the way, thrilled that Steele is going to ski but as I typed "toddler" the thought crossed my mind - toddlers? on skis? toddling?) These will be Justin's glory days - teaching our kids to ski. When Justin and I got married his mom told me he would bug her non-stop about skiing from the time his first ski magazine arrived in August until ski season ended (in the spring) and mountain biking began. He even had Steele watching rockin' ski videos today. Steele was grinning from ear to ear.

Adia will probably go on Justin's back a few times this year.
Here she is with Steele's goggles on.
Can you see the grin?

Here's Steele last year on Justin's back.
You should have heard all the "Hey look! Cool!" comments he got.

Briefly, before I go. I chuckled at this realization the other day. Every day, at the same time - I hear my computer notifying me that I am receiving e-mails. Some e-mails are telling me they had a nice time at our house for lunch. Others, comments on my blog. I thought to myself, "Wow. These are all coming at the same time." And then it hit me...... NAPS!