Monday, March 10, 2008

February....a good month!

February was a good month at our house. I will try to hit the highlights for you, although they are not in order chronologically. Sorry. Anyway, we'll start with my birthday, which was the 28th. That whole week was a full one. I managed to go to a bridal shower the 25th, I hosted a Pampered Chef Party on the the 26th, (you will hear more about it later), and my birthday was the 28th.
I had one of the best birthdays ever. I had heard the Barnum Bailey Circus was in town, so I decided to get tickets for the morning of my birthday. Good friends, Jenn and Katrin Eckert, joined us. Since I was using a coupon from the Entertainment Book (LOVE that book) we had to purchase the tickets at the box office. I had originally planned just to get the cheap seats. However, when I ordered my tickets, they said for $2. more per ticket, we could get 8 rows from the front. I was thrilled....and we had GREAT seats. The kids had never been to a circus before, so it was VERY exciting to see them take it all in. I absolutely loved it and sitting there, I decided that at 33 (oops....I guess you know now) I couldn't be happier, than to be at the circus, with my three kids and friends on my birthday. (Except maybe if Chris could've been there too!)

We loved the tigers. It kept me on edge watching the trainer cracking the whip at them. I would have been so afraid of making them mad. But I guess that's why he's a trainer and I'm not! LOL!
My favorite blondie!
The kids found it a bit too loud. I kept getting so cracked up at them. All 3 with their hands over their ears almost the entire time.

The amazing tight rope walker. Scared me to death.
Bello...the main clown of the "Red Tour" of the Barnum Bailey circus. That really is his real hair. I know this because a lady from church told me that while they were at the Creation Museum one day while the circus was here in town and there he was browsing through the museum...hair standing on end!



One happy 33 year old Mommy!
Chris had to work all day on my birthday, so to make it more fun for the kids, I baked a cake(with their help) and then turned them loose with the icing. Colors of their choosing! They had a blast and it was yummy.
The finished product. Lauren was not very thrilled with the way Michael dumped sprinkles all over her writing. It said "Happy Birthday Mommy!"
Saturday Chris took me (and the kids) out to eat for my birthday to the restaurant of my choice! It was "Dewey's Pizza"....the new location in Kenwood. We drive by that location on our way to and from church every Sunday, every time with my stomach growling for Dewey's! It was really yummy....as usual!
One Saturday, early February, a lifelong dream (and prayer) became a reality for the kids. They had desperately been wanting a cat for years. (me too) But there was a long-standing policy here on campus that banned cats. Dogs are allowed, but the more we tried to interest the kids in a puppy, the more they wanted a cat. Finally.....the policy changed and two days later.....much to my surprise (Chris was keeping it all a secret) we were at the Animal Shelter picking out a cat. Chris brought along the paper stating the policy change .....just in case I didn't believe him. Here Lauren is with the paper! The look on her face says it all....they were jumping up and down and asking over and over "You mean they really will let us have a cat???!!!!" It was hilarious!



Here they are getting acquainted with "Pumpkin".

One of the cats we passed on we nicknamed "the hippo" for obvious reasons!


Pumpkin is two years old, and declawed. She tolerates all the attention amazingly well. And sometimes even enjoys it!




March is turning out to be a really good month as well. We immensely enjoyed the snowstorm over this past weekend. I LOVE to sit inside, all warm and cozy, and watch it snow. So relaxing! The kids, however, like to be out in it. I participate in a HUGE Kids Consignment Sale in Mason. So while I was busy with that all day Friday, Chris took the kids sledding in Eden Park.
But the biggest news in our house is..........
Caleb is Potty Trained!!!!! YAY! I'm so surprised. At 22 months, he's the earliest of my three to be potty trained. And this all happened in a week. I can't take credit for the "idea" of potty training this early. With my other two, I admit I listened to the "experts" and how they tell you not to start till they show interest in it, or wake up form naps dry and such. However, my friend Jenn began training her daughter Katrin (3 days younger than Caleb) and was having very good success. I decided "Why not try it and see what happens?" So as we home schooled in the morning, we brought the little potty chair into the classroom and "Voila!" He did it! Yesterday was our first full day accident free. He even cries in the night and Chris or I will get him up, he goes, and goes right back to sleep. You're right....this was TOO easy. But hey....I love the $$ saved on diapers!

9 comments:

Martha C said...

Happy belated birthday! Loved the circus pictures. I think the elephants are my favorite. I was fascinated by the stools on which they were standing! Makes me feel like they were going to tip.

Tamra said...

Happy Birthday! Now you are 33 right along with me! :)
Glad you guys were able to attend the circus. We took Bryson two years ago and enjoyed thoroughly it. We thought about going this year, but decided on Disney's Finding Nemo on Ice since we had never been to that show. It was good also.
Congrats on your new addition! Don't you just love making your kids smile with a surprise?
Way to go Caleb!! I'm looking forward to the "diaperless" days myself - even though I haven't started potty training Jillian yet, I've been seriously thinking about it. She just turned 20 months. Thanks for the inspiration!Time to get the potty chair out.
My word! I think this is my longest comment ever! :)

Carrie said...

Ooh! I've never been to a circus either, but it looks like you guys had a blast! Happy Birthday to you!

Congratulations on your new kitty! I'll have to admit (and whether Robert does or not), getting our cat was one of the best things our family has ever done. He's Brennan's best friend and just like yours, he's a "Pound Purrie"!

Wow, and potty training to top it off?! It's been a very good month for you! :)

Unknown said...

Ahhhh...You've given me hope! I've been trying to figure out if I can get Daniel potty trained before another one comes along. He'll be 24 months in September. I'll give it a try this summer and see what happens.

Kendall and Leanna said...

Congrats to Caleb! He caught on quick. :) Isn't the circus fun! We missed it this year but it's one of our favorite shows. I'm not surprised the kids covered their ears after trying to set off fireworks around them. :)
Liked the pics of Pumpkin with the kids. She seems as good of a cat as you said she was.

Maggie said...

Hi Nancy...I am really late on the Happy Birthday...Sounds like you had a nice time. I took the kids to circus two years ago. I enjoyed it more than them...well, I really liked it. Have a great day!!

Greg & Stephanie said...

Greg and I went to the Barnum & Bailey there in Cincy during our 1st year of marriage. He got free tickets through the hotel where he worked. I can't imagine how much fun it would be to take the kids now! Congrats on the cat! Looks like your kids are thrilled. I personally can't stand them, but since we've had two dogs up and run away on us, we are totally petless!

Anonymous said...

Hey Nancy, your Dad would have had to scrape off a LOT of frosting from that b.day cake!!! Much, much too sweet~~~~~but it was sweeter than ever too with all the love that went into it.
Mom

Brenda said...

Love the cake and circus pictures.