Randomness

Hey lookie . . . it is the long awaited, blah blah blah, update post!  Woo-hoo!!

 > Potty training is officially over.  We have been diaper free since Jan. 8th.  I wish I could say it was all roses and puppy dogs and cotton candy, but well, yeah it wasn't.  All I can say is THANK GOD FOR ASHLEY!!!  Because if I hadn't had her support I would have totally caved about, oh, 3 days into it (when, ironically enough, several authors swear it "clicks".  Yeah, maybe if you do it when you're *supposed to* at 22 - 24 months).  My new advice is to do it sooner than later!!!!!!!  Seriously.  The older these kids get, the smarter (and more stubborn) they are.  B&K were "ready" months ago -- we were the ones who were too lazy to deal with it.  But honestly, now that we're through the first couple of weeks it really hasn't been that bad.  Sure I haven't eaten a hot meal since New Years (b/c I swear as soon as we sit down to eat everyone has to go potty.  Even though we make them try to go BEFORE we sit down).  And I'm pleased to say they are in big kid undies 95% of the time (we bought pull-ups for overnight, but once we're out of them we're done.  They wake up dry and pee for 10 min when they get up so we really don't need them).  I'm also proud of our friends who have decided to give this PTing thing a try. ::and you know who you are:: It is sort of cool to be the "role models".  Ha!

 > I'm not gonna lie - Tim's travel schedule has sucked major balls.  He hates it, I hate it, and B&K (and Tabasco) turn into major basket cases with all of the back & forth.  The first trip Tim was on this year Kendyll was the drama queen when I left for work (I'm talking almost stop breathing crying fits and screaming "I NO LIKE MOMMY GO TO WORK!!" -- even at night before bedtime.  Yeah fun).  This trip it seems to be Bennett's turn.  I'm not sure what else to say.  Just know it is tough and we're hoping something changes soon.  Very soon.  I used to like to focus on how being a "single" married mom made me stronger, proud I could do so much on my own, knowing I could handle this without any help.  Yeah, at this point we would LOVE to just have our family all under one roof.   Makes us long for the days when Tim would just be gone for a few over nights or week -- at least he was home on the weekends.  So instead we're now trying to focus on how we're going to take a kick ass vacation FOR FREE at some point thanks to the airline &  hotel points.  Heh!

 > Speaking of work crap, it isn't a secret  but I also don't think widely known -- I'm looking for a new job.  My company was purchased by a humongous company last year and in Oct. my department (as well as the department I support) learned we would all be losing our jobs at various points over this year.  The first "wave" of reductions happened last Monday.  And thankfully most of the people who were let go had already found other jobs.  But it still sucks being left behind.  My office is a walking depressing zone and it is only going to get worse as more & more people leave.  My "transition date" is the end of September, but I'm hoping to land somewhere before then.  And in the meantime things are REALLY slow at work, so that has lent some flexibility to spend more time with B&K as Tim is away.  Honestly, I hope we BOTH land something different soon . . . but before all of this junk starts to take a toll {whatever that means}.

 > In happier news, B&K are in a very funny "did they really say what I think they just said??" stage.  For example, one day last week I was doing something and I said "Oh goodness" to which Bennett replied "Oh Jesus!!".  I quickly reminded him we say "Oh Gesh!!" (because all I need is for him to go to his preschool -- AT A CHURCH -- and say "oh Jesus" about something bad). 

 > I have no idea when these things occurred, but for a long time B&K have been able to say & recognize shapes and colors (which surprised their teachers, since they are just now learning about colors at school and apparently B&K are rock stars in their class.  Thanks again, Ashley!).  They are also now really starting to recognize their letters -- for example, if you put down a flash card of the letter "X" and the letter "M" and ask which is the M they point to the right one and know an animal or object that starts with that letter. 

 > B&K are getting really excited for their birthday and "big party", as Bennett refers to it.  We've planned a themed party at a local joint and B&K are so very geeked to see their friends.  Like, every night they recite who all will be there.  Hopefully we all stay healthy and don't have any ice storms and everyone has a fun time!  The other night I was asking Kendyll what she wanted for her birthday and she responded "A Football".  Hmm, interesting. 

Ok, enough words.  Check out the post below for some cute new videos of the little people.