Hoppy Easter

The Easter bunny

All of the kids just loved the bunny. With the boys we had a long wait with Chloe none at all. We are so lucky that the local bunny is awesome.

Egg Decorating
You want to have lots of fun.... Try dying eggs with 3 kids under 3. The loved throwing the eggs into the dye to make a big mess. After of all the splashing the bottom of my right foot was pink. BUT we did have some very beautiful eggs. The kids had so much fun and we will be sure to do it again next year.

Easter day
As soon as the boys woke up Erick took them to the bathroom. While he was getting them out of diapers I set up. I got into position and filmed.


They loved their baskets. It was awesome to see their faces and the magnets are a hit.

Later in the day the family came over for lunch and an egg hunt for the kids. We do money in the eggs because god knows the kids dont need more candy and it builds their savings.

AND for your viewing pleasure.....My first belly picture this pregnancy...23 weeks

Hoppy Easter

Paccy and potties

I know, know I, I always have an excuse as to why I havent blogged lately. BUT truth be told a few big things have been happening in our house the last 2 weeks. They involve two very important things. Paccys and potties. I know sounds so exciting but really it took some work.

Paccys- Many of you know I have attempted to kick the paccy habit a few times and FAILED with a bog fat F. I knew the boys were ready but very strongly attached. I kept making excuses as to why I needed to put it off. First I got pregnant and was so tired I was napping when they napped, then I was to busy, after that came the potty (more on that later) and I didnt want to many changes at once. Lastly we got sick (10 days of coughing no fun). We were already down to only getting them in bed. I spend a lot of time in Target (we are there at least once a week). Well the boys BEGGED for pillow pets every time they saw them. So we started talking about the paccy fairy. We told the boys all about how one day she would come and leave a gift for them and take the paccy away forever. That she only comes to big boys and girls. When they started telling me this I moved on to asking them what they wanted and pointing out the pillow pets in Target telling them that one day soon the fairy would bring them one if that is what they wanted. The whole process took about two weeks. We knew it was time when we would put the boys down and they would take their paccy and tell us about the fairy.

This last weekend we were at Erick's mom's and we told her about our plan. We were at Target to get toothpaste and showed her the pets. She decided to get them and let the boys pick the ones they wanted. When we got back to her house I went and tossed the paccys.

Owen and Wim the turtle

Ethan and T-bone the dog

We had the boys name their own pets and whenever they asked about the paccy we asked them right back. The boys always responded with "the fairy came and took paccy forever". We had about 5 min of crying/asking for the paccy the first nap and about two days of asking without crying. They are doing AWESOME without it.

Potties- We have been working on using the potty for some time now. Not forcing but letting the boys know it is there and putting them on it when they want. We were only making them use it before bath. In the last two weeks we have stepped up our game and the boys are rising to the occasion. I am extremely proud of Ethan. Im sure Erick will agree that when we started this we thought that Ethan would train last. He proved us wrong. He has decided he no longer wants the rewards. If I have him in a diaper and tell him to use it he has and will cry. He hasnt pooped in underwear in a few weeks and we are able to take him out in underwear without accidents. He even made it the 2 hr drive to and from Erick's mom's house dry. Owen is totally in it for the jelly beans. And he knows how to work the system. If we are home they are in undies for the most part. We keep the undies in the bathroom under the sink. Accidents arnt a big deal and the boys pick their own undies out. So far so good.

My boys are growing up at a rapid pace. Yes I know that doing this now could mean doing it again after the new baby comes but I am glad we are laying down the foundation now. It isnt hurting the boys and they are loving the attn and praise.

I will try my best to keep you updated. PS No new news on the pregnancy. We still dont know the gender and are looking forward to finding out at the party. Lots of movement and kicking going on.

Infertility HURTS

Infertility is a heart-wrenching, faith-questioning, relationship-testing, life-altering experience. April is Infertility Awareness Month. Whether a friend, a family member, a colleague or yourself has fought through this difficult fate that MILLIONS of women are fighting day in and day out. They are walking or have walked to hell and back for the chance to be a MOM. It is not an easy road to walk and it sticks with you for a lifetime. You never forget the sting that was created. And even when you have a child the sting still burns. You are never quite whole and you never forget it. Every time a friend/ family member gets pregnant you think "did they have issues?" "why me?" "why so easy for them?" It not only hurts you but hurts the people you come in contact with and tarnishes relationships (sometimes to the point they are beyond repair). It challenges families, and pocket books. And so much more.

This pain is made worse when a company, group, or person uses these feelings. PETA decided to have a contest to honor Infertility Awareness Week. What is the prive you ask....a vasectomy. It is completely insensitive! When called on it PETA is saying...

"we're not exploiting infertility, we're bringing awareness to overpopulation".

When told they offended a large community of animal lovers and were losing support. They reply that it "remains to be seen" and "the contest would go on as scheduled whether its offensive or not."

"The response has been positive and they havent gotten many calls from people that are offended."

The last one is the one I URGE you to change.

If anybody wants to call PETA and tell them they are insensitive please do 757-622-PETA (7382)

Infertility hurts and it is real it is not a joke or a topic to be used for political gain especially from a group that doesnt care that they are hurting people in order to push their own agenda.