Take a Guess

What do all these things add up to?

If you guessed this...

...chances are you know all about pee-pee treats, poop rewards, throwing away underwear, cleaning out underwear because you can't afford to keep buying it, carpet cleaner, etc...

Yes, Max is potty trained...well, mostly. #1 took about 3 days for him to figure out. He does better standing than sitting (amazingly). He is still trying hard to get #2 down, but we are having more success lately. I've learned that whenever he asks me to leave the room, I definately should not leave the room. Yeah, some things you have to learn the hard way.Max enjoying his Ki-Lan bubble machine (his first '#2' reward)

Lessons Learned
Kids will pee in the pot for Starbursts & poop for Scooby Doo. Who knew?

Underwear first, then Pull-Up over top for sleep times.

"Enduring to the End" means something totally different now.

I'm going to invent self cleaning carpets and make bajillions.

Give it at least 72 hours before you decide wearing diapers until they're 5 is totally acceptable.

Little potty seats & Pull-Ups--don't believe the hype.

Believe them the first time.
Another miracle happend in the toilet training week. Max decided he was okay with going to sleep in his own bed, by himself, for nap time. This is a HUGE breakthrough for our family. Now he prefers his bed for all sleeping over ours, but he still needs Dad to help him get to sleep at night. This is a TENDER MERCY for sure. Everyone is sleeping a little better around here which is PRICELESS.

SunBeam

Max is a SunBeam. He became one in January and I don't even know how that is possible. It seems as if we just got him settled into nursery. He is one of just over 40 Sunbeams in our ward. He is in the 4th of 6 Sunbeam classes. That should give you a pretty good idea of our Ward make-up.

Last Sunday a good friend of mine told me that whenever singing time starts he goes up to the front of the Primary room and stands right beside the chorister to lead the songs. The lady who plays the piano also told us that he claims the same chair on the front row each and every Sunday, the one right by the piano. Whenever she starts to play the music, he gets up to inspect the piano and her skills, then makes his way up to the front to assume his chorister position.

Apparently he isn't shy. Ryan was out in the hallway with Luke on Sunday and said he saw Max turning off the lights in his classroom at one point and then he ran out of the room another time.

Points to note: (1)Max needs to have his love of music nourished, (2)his inability to sit and listen must be addressed. Dually noted. That will be the lesson for FHE this week.

SHINER

We have no idea where or how he got this...(okay, let's be honest, we have a few ideas) but Luke woke up one morning with this beauty.

And this picture doesn't even show how bruised he really was!

When He Isn't...

It seems lately that Max is suffering from a serious case of

"IT'SMINE-YOUCAN'THAVEIT-NOIWANTIT"

Symptoms: outrageous tantrums, occasional physical aggression, mimicking threats one's parents use, and pouncing on individuals smaller than oneself

See Also Boy-Age 3

When Max isn't pouncing Luke, this is what we get...

and thankfully we get to enjoy this scene a lot.

IT MUST BE SOME CRAZY GENETIC THING...

Remember how Max likes to pick things...in particular my eyelashes to soothe himself to sleep? Well, I thought that it was just a weird picking thing that he did. We still have to remind him when he gets tired or anxious not to pick. (He tries to trade the eye lashes for picking the mole on my chin, as if that is somehow going to be allowed.)

Well, one of my fears as become a reality. Luke has started to try to pick...my EYES too! What in the world is up with my weird kids? He tries to start with the eyebrows and then make his way to my eyes. I have been a lot more stern this time around. We are breaking this little habit early...before he is three and asking "Picky eyes Mom?"

I have decided it must be a weird genetic thing and I am blaming the Loveless side because it's my blog and I can. The more I can blame on Ryan the better because there are already definite behaviors that I know come from their mother. So this one is on him.

Oh, and I am going see if this woman would like to come and live with us. It's the only solution I haven't thought of yet. Perhaps she can give me some relief.

'Twas the Morning of Christmas

'Twas the morning of Christmas,

all thru Nana's abode,

all the grandkids were stirring,

their parents out cold.

The mountain of presents,

nestled under the tree,

awaited terrorizing by

6 children and a baby.

16 stockings were hung

on every available hook,

A name on each one

to avoid candy crooks.

Santa brought a red slide

to one very good girl,

While their parents slept on,

The kids gave it a whirl!

After much prodding and pleading,

the parents awoke!

Only a few hours of sleep

seemed a cruel joke!

Aunt Jolea made order,

the deliverer of gifts--

a special position for sure

it was our Dad's favorite!

A tool set for Max,

For Luke busy gears,

Dad got some new runners,

keeping tight what's in rear.

Mom loved all her gifts,

the accessories for hair,

who new that burnt yellow,

was so popular this year!

What took hours on end,

to buy and make pretty,
took only minutes to unravel,
sometimes it seems such a pity.

Empty boxes and paper

made quite a large stash,

How would it all fit

Into Nana's trash?

After it was all said and done,

the kids stole out of sight,

Devouring the new toys

Santa had delivered last night.

All the glassy eyed parents

Longed for a sweet Christmas slumber,

But dinner needed fixen',

This crew is not few in number!

The turkey, the dressing,

The potatoes and yams,

Too many desserts,

Added a pound to my gams!Family time is for sharing

stories, time and of course games--

Jim taught us Texas Hold Em'

Skittles were lost and some gained!

Nana's place was just perfect

For our Christmas retreat, We miss our dear family

Counting down till we again meet!

Christmas Eve at the Hassman Home

This year we mixed things up a bit and Jim & Christine were very gracious to host Christmas Eve dinner and festivities (including Max's Birthday) at their beautiful home in Idaho Falls. The dinner(Mexican!) was delicious, the kids were precious, the games were fun, and the company was great. The Nativity scene was pretty funny, as it is every year. Ashtyn did such a good job of organizing the play with all the costumes this year. She is getting so big. Jim and Easton were the big winners of the jars of skittles for their impressive guesstimates! We were all hoping all the commotion would put Christine into labor, but I guess we weren't rowdy enough to stir the little guy. We missed having Cory and Ashley and their families this year. One year I hope everyone of us can be together for the Holidays. The kids opened their Christmas PJ's and we put them all in them so that by the time we got to Nana's house, they would be asleep and we could tuck them in for the night. In true Christmas Eve fashion, their were many of Santa's elves up wrapping until the wee hours of the morning. There was even a wrapping tutorial given by Nana Elf to a frustrated Mr. Loveless Elf. The spectacle of presents cascading out into the middle of Nana's living room was telling of the 7 grand kids that were there to open gifts on Christmas morning. What a sight it was!

LOOK WHO'S 3!

MAX (n); boy, boy, boy

(adj); tough, stubborn, soft hearted, dramatic, spirited, playful, loving, full of life

Favorite Things: Any game involving a ball, SOCCER, singing, DANCING, playing GUITAR, watching SHOWS (scooby doo, wiggles, dora, diego, curious george), play-dough,coloring,MOWING the lawn with dad, cooking with mom, playing with Luke, READING BOOKS, Jumping off things
favorite places: HOME, Aunt Jolea's, nursery class, OUTSIDE, Grandpa's house, Nana's place, McDonalds playland, Park, mom's bed, TOY ROOM, swimming pool
Beloved Toys: Wiggles guitar, balls, vacuum, lawn mower, stories bookCURRENT CATCHPHRASES:

'what are you talkin' about?'

'i'm talkin' about you'

'OOOH MMMMY GGGOSH'

'Dad, Don't Do That!'

'I Love You'

'Lukie, No, No, No, No, No!'

KNOWS: Most colors, how to count to 10+, how to count to 10 in Spanish (not always in order), can recognize a few letters, many little songs, most shapes, how to draw a circle

We love you Max... you have brought so much joy to our lives!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

i SAY it every YEAR. having a child born on CHIRSTMAS EVE is a wonderful BLESSING and a blessed CURSE. By the time that Christmas comes MAX has already eaten so many sweets and opened so many GIFTS that I wonder if he thinks CHRISTMAS is three day CELEBRATION all about him. Oh, well. We were going to be at my brother's house in Idaho Falls on Christmas Eve, so we decided against hauling this ginormous gift up there and Max got to start his birthday bonanza a day early.

This kid is way into PRETEND play. He always pulls chairs up to my counters and uses my big spoons, pans, etc... to 'cook' us up some special dishes. He loves his new KITCHEN, especially the microwave part of it! Uncle Jim and Aunt Christine were so kind to host Christmas Eve and MAX's BIRTHDAY!

For 2 months he has been talking about his 'Sooby Doo' Birthday cake. Dad had to handle this one as Mom had no time to run to the bakery, and I must say, he did a pretty darn good job albeit the printer was out of yellow toner.

Loves blowing out candles...finally these ones are for him!

One of the favorite gifts...the very NOISY band in a box from his NANA.

I didn't have to provide much in the way of birthday activities as Max was with many of his cousins on Christmas Eve. He loved just being with them at Jim's house and playing together.

I might also mention that Luke turned 10 months old on Christmas Eve as well.