I'm posting late today only because I was down at the indoor outlet mall in Mesa/Tempe.

I have noticed that the longer I keep the kids away from the house, the longer they nap during the day and sleep in later in the mornings. This can be both good and bad.

You see, I have set these goals (I have yet to keep) you know: wake up at 5:00 am, yada yada yada. I have woken up at 5:00 am two days in a row, I just have yet to get out of bed that early. I like to sleep in and lately "O" has been waking up a few times in the night. Luckily she isn't really awake, just crying. So when I go back to bed I change the alarm from 5-6am and then don't get out of bed till 7.

I do go to the gym 2-3 times a day. I do cardio, yoga, and a group exercise at those times. Tomorrow I am going to do a cycling 101 class to see if I like it. I did meet with a trainer yesterday who use to be a trainer at the crap hole gym I used to go to (PureFitness). I got some pretty good tips and if I do what we talked about I should be around where I want to be by the end of July, 2007. I also go to bed earlier now too.

A nice tip I am going to share with you about when you buy your vegetables, clean and chop them as soon as you get home. If you spend the hour (or less) doing it and putting it away, you're more likely to actually eat it at meal or snack times. I started doing that and I waste a lot less food. The kids eat healthier because I just grab a few things from each container and off they go.

So now I am going to two gyms. I signed up with the one in Surprise yesterday and now I am finding myself going to this gym two to three times a day. I go there for Yoga, Kataflex, Tai Chi and things of that nature. I like it a lot and starting tomorrow I am going to wake up and go to a 6am spin class.

I am getting really excited about this. I know, you say well you've only been going for 24 hours. Yes that's true but I actually get a good feeling when I go there and I feel good about the kids because they have things for the kids to do according to their age.

Today I meet with a personal trainer which I'm getting excited about. I think "The Hubby" is getting annoyed though because now I no longer will be home at dinner time since I have two hours of yoga at that time. He does have to watch the kids a little bit more but it's just in the evenings.

At this gym, the kid care area is open all day which I think is why I like it because I can take the kids anytime throughout the day and not have to worry about if they are going to be closed for four hours during the day like most other places.

I am trying to get "The Hubby" into playing tennis with me. Since I go to the gym a lot we don't always get to make it to the other gym to play racquetball. I figured that since we live about 5 minutes walking distance from the park that on the days we can't play racquetball, we can play tennis.

I never see anyone there so there shouldn't be a problem with letting the kids play around in the tennis courts while we play a little game. It's a kind of family time but it's active and the kids get to play kickball and fun things like that.

I know that the newness will be over soon but that's why I'm not over doing it and for right now just really sticking with the yoga. I'll be adding in the spin class and core training soon.

The really great thing about this place was that they give three different options for payment. You pay a little higher monthly payment with $0 down and if you put $55 down the monthly cost goes down $5 a month and with $99 it goes down $10. Of course I did the zero down since we will be moving home shortly and it's all month to month.

A little trick, this place was pretty cool because I signed up two days before the end of the month so I was prorated the cost and since you have to pay first and last month I was only out $43.00 (it's $40 a month), how awesome is that?

It's been a really off week for me. I just could not focus and just was in a bad mood and a little bit depressed. I took it out on the family and I feel so horrible because "N" thinks he has to walk on eggshells. "O" is just as obnoxious as ever.

Over the weekend "The Hubby" and I joined a gym that has racquetball. It was the first time I ever played and boy did I suck! I was afraid of being hit by the ball. How dumb is that? We ended up playing for 1 1/2 hours (we had the court for two hours but I just couldn't play anymore). I felt fine and then this Sunday I was pretty darn sore.

If you're looking to burn some major calories and a great workout, go try racquetball. At the gym we joined they actually have a league (I will join it after I get better). I just wish that this gym and another one I like could just merge into one because I really want to focus on doing yoga and the gym in Surprise, AZ had something like six hours a day of yoga BUT they don't have a racquetball court. That's all they have to add and I would totally join.

Anyway. I've been a bad mom, frustrated, unsure and insecure. I'm bad because I have a have no patience right now with anyone. I'm frustrated because I need to figure things out. How can I save up money faster so we can get out of here? How can I be a better mom? I'm unsure because you just get that way after a while. You get stuck in a rut and you just can't get out. We haven't been able to get out of this rut in about a year and a half. I'm sure that it will not be as bad once we move back to Michigan.

My life really isn't that bad. I'm able to stay home with my kids. My kids and husband love me (kids don't have much respect but we're working on it), we have nice and safe cars. We are healthy (we could be healthier) and are pretty good off.

Do you ever notice that a lot of us are never happy with what we have? It's sad that we as a society are that way, no matter who you are.

Sorry about the rant.

Yet again I have not blogged in a few days. We are looking into joining a fitness center and the kids have not been napping lately so I haven't been able to get anything done on the site because of it.

I will write more tonight after the kids have gone to bed. I'm so sorry about being neglectful.

Sorry about not posting lately. Monday "The Hubby" had off as a holiday and yesterday he was finishing up rewiring a jack at my desk and I was just plain lazy.

I saw that Merck, the manufacturers of the HPV vaccine, has finally stopped lobbying to make girls have the HPV shot. Makes you wonder how much they paid the Gov. Rick Perry doesn't it? It goes to show that no matter who you are, you probably can be paid off to do what big business wants. Ok, I'm getting off my political rant.

I also saw this amazing story about a baby born at 22 weeks in Florida and has survived. That baby really wanted to live. She was actually able to breath when she was born by C-section back in October, 2006. She should be going home in a matter of days but are keeping her a few days longer because there's a chance she could be a little ill. She is actually the smallest baby born to date. When she was born she was 9 1/2" long and weighed less than 10 ounces.

Also, yet another recall and this time for baby food, cantaloupe, and cooked chicken. Makes you wish sometimes that you could produce your own food when so many are being recalled for salmonella and now botulism. Please read the recall to see if you have bought any items that are on the list.

We have been trying to lead a minimalist/zen life lately. We have gotten rid of the TV (biggest waste of a room), rearranged everything, been trying to keep a clean home, and instead of TV I have the iPod going all the time with different types of music from Enigma, Loreena McKennitt, etc.

We have also tried to cut back our spending habits and have tried to become more healthy. Since getting rid of the TV, I have found we have spent less money and I eat a lot less than before and am slowly losing weight from that. I am trying to get into yoga more and found 5 different yoga DVD's that I will be buying. I still can't seem to motivate myself to get on the elliptical machine though.

We are eating healthier. I now make "N" eat a salad (never did before) and I eat a salad everyday with lunch and dinner. I use only two leaves of lettuce and put some fresh veggies on with very little dressing and I'm all happy inside. It's surprising how much you get with just two leaves. We try to eat salmon once a week.

It's been hard in other ways. I feel bad because I have been under some stress and I've been taking it out on my family. I let the house slide and didn't clean as I dirtied and man did it feel small and gross in here. I'm all caught back up now and will continue to be on top of it.

In the way of health, I have gotten of my office chair and now am using a balance ball to help with posture. I really want to be a good, healthy role model for my family. I did let myself go after getting married and I don't want to be that unhappy person anymore. I know that once we move home that I'll be even more motivated because all of our friends and family are there so I can have people to go out with more often and just get away from the house without kids and be able to go out with friends.

If you need help with Zen like habits I recommend this web site:

zen habits

For help with lifestyle:

LifeHack

And if you need help with saving money:

One of my previous posts.

Hope you are able to enjoy a life of minimalism and zen!!!

There was a study done by Univerisity of Arizona and commisioned by the Colorox Co. to see who had less bacteria. It was found that women had four times more bacteria on their desks than men. The reason being, we eat at our desks so food harbors bacteria, we deal with children (which can be sick), we clutter up our desks with trinkets that we don't clean, we keep makeup at our desks which is a huge haven for bacteria.

Men on the other hand are bacteria filled as well. Their wallets since most men sit on them, they keep the heat to help bacteria grow, cell phones, PDA's and things of that nature hold bacteria well too.

So just to keep it safe that we are all full of good and bad bacteria and that's just the way of it. You can reduce the bacteria by not eating food at your desk, clear off the trinkets, put your makeup on at home, and wash your desk down with some cleaner every now and then. And don't forget to wash your hands!!!

Here's the complete article here:

Fox News

I read this article that the state of Texas is requiring all six grade girls to get the HPV shot. I don't know where the state gets off thinking that they need to stick their noses into my business about my kids. I just don't like it when there have been little study done on a vaccine, has been approved by the FDA then later on found out that it's harmful to my children.

HPV is an STD and I know that most kids don't talk to their parent about sex BUT instead of running out to get the shot because you're afraid to talk to them, maybe take them in early for an obstetrical appointment. It's for people on Medicaid, and this vaccine doesn't protect against all forms of HPV.

Yesterday, my case and point, RotaTeq Rotavirus has been linked to causing intussusception which is a serious condition where part of the bowel collapses.

I don't know about you but after this I'm not a big fan of states requiring certain shots before my kids go to school. I want to see the long term testing of this HPV shot before I give it to my daughter. Who knows, this shot may later in life sterilize her or cause her to have a hysterectomy.

I won't stand for it AND to top it off 18 states are trying to get it passed as well. If I find out my state is trying to get it passed, I will fight as hard as I can to not let that pass. I'm not going to risk my daughter's life like that just so the government can put their two cents in about the parents who don't either care about their kids, talk to their kids, or don't want their kids. There are more parents out there like me who want to raise my daughter my way and not have the government telling me, "Well, there is a chance she could be sexually active, so since we don't know, here's the shot anyway."

I don't think so Uncle Sam. Read for yourself, decide, make your voice heard!

Here are the articles:

The Cavalier Daily

Center For Disease Control (CDC)

Texarkana Gazette

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Last night "The Hubby" and I decided that we really are going to try and lose some weight together. We aren't going to waste the hundreds of dollars and do the gym thing BUT we did go out and spend a good chunk of change on a really good scale (since we have the elliptical machine and some yoga stuff here).

Many sites that I have read say that you need to spend money on a really good scale that can measure your body composition. It's been said that the Homedics kind flat out is junk and the ones that are in the $35-50 range aren't good either. We have done our research and found that the Tatita Innerscan is pretty good. It does cost $99.00 but if you use the Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupon.

Since we got it last night it has motivated us more to lose weight than using the old school scale. This tells you how old your body acts (which I won't tell you mine since I'm so embarrassed), if you're drinking enough water, and your body fat. I have played with it a little and found that I like the numbers better if I don't have any clothes on, it adds about three pounds. What's really nice about this is that you can see ounce for ounce what you lose compared to the old scales.

It's also been said not to spend the $130.?? on the Iron Man scale because it's the exact same as this scale except that it can hold your past 20 weigh-ins compared to 3 or 4 with the $99.00 one.

We also have gotten into drinking teas. Not the Lipton stuff, good teas. "The Hubby" has been drinking tea for about a year now and I just started a few weeks ago. We go to Cost Plus World Market and really like The Republic of Tea, there are different kinds of teas for all kinds of people. The white teas are supposed to be the healthiest followed by the green teas.

Enjoy and let me know if you decide to buy the scale ot teas.

I have touched on the subject of needing family around. It's true, we have decided that we are moving back to the mid-west but just don't know when. Parenting can be very frustrating to me. I wished it wasn't but life in general can be too.

"The Hubby" and I haven't had a night away for just us in about a year and a half and it just seems that right after we would came back from a night away things were very nice between the four of us. No matter what anyone else thinks or says, you have to make quality time for just you and your significant other. I didn't realize until today just how frustrating it is.

We have made a lot of changes in our family in the last month and a half and just everything together has come down to I just need a break. I can't wait to move back to Michigan because that's where our family and friends are and we will be doing so much better because we will be able to leave the kids once every couple of months. Plus most of our family is between Michigan and Ohio that have kids. We have family all over but this is where most of the kids are.

I realized that we needed to move home late last year and then it hit me again hard on January 31, 2007, because that was my due date if I hadn't miscarried back in 2006. There was just so much going on and I just couldn't deal with it. 

I'm still figuring out how to deal with things as a parent and wife. I think that's something I will always be learning about.

Lately I have noticed that I still think that I am 24 years old. I'm a few years older than that now with two kids and a husband. I have been married through most of my twenties and just have hit a figurative brick wall.

I don't know why I still think I'm 24, I don't know if it has to do with that's when I had my first child or what. I'm trying to think of myself as a woman in her late twenties and trying to change the way that I look.

After I gained all of the weight I couldn't bring myself to buy the Misses sizes because they looked like things my grandma would wear and I was way to young for that. So I tried to stay in Juniors as long as I could. I didn't go crazy to the point of embarrassment or anything but I now realize that not only have I grown up but now my clothes need to match it too.

I'm not all for spending loads of money on clothes because I wear them into the ground. Like today I found out that all of my jeans I can no longer wear in public because they are all ripped in the same place (down the back pocket right to the underwear). Luckily I found that out before I went out or else I would have felt so stupid.

When "The Hubby" had to go to LA a week or so ago he needed new clothes and I figured I should get a shirt and a pair of jeans too. I stayed away from the Junior section and looked through the Misses and I found jeans that don't make me look old and still have the bootcut. Now that I know I need jeans I know where I can go to buy them and what kind to buy. Tops are a whole other story.

I'm not into wearing stuff that shows anything off because there's nothing to show off anymore besides stretch marks and saggy breasts from breast feeding two kids. So it's hard for me because I know the style I like but just not willing to shovel out the money for it.

I don't know how many of you ever feel like this but when I remember how old I am I actually have to calculate it because I just can't believe that much time has gone by. I also have noticed that my memory skills aren't much better either. Man I feel sometimes like I'm getting older than I really am.

If any of you feel this way, let me know so I don't feel so alone.

Like most people, I'm trying to save money. I have found little tricks that can help you with saving money.

Take away the TV. If there is no TV then there is nothing there to tempt you to buy or eat something. Plus I think it makes you a little more active. Since you're not snacking then you won't be wasting money on junk food and going out to eat.

When grocery shopping, don't go when hungry or tired. If you go at those times then you are more likely to buy more sugary expensive junk foods. Always go with a list and try to plan out the meals so you know exactly what you're going to eat for lunches and dinners.

Ask yourself, "Self, do I really need this or do I just want it?" The difference between needing and wanting can mean a lot of money. Like food for instance. Do I really need these $50 pair of shoes or would I rather be able to eat? It's up to you but I would rather eat and if I need shoes, shop around to find them cheaper somewhere else.

Try to set a budget. I have a monthly budget to where we are trying to save let's say $2,000.00 a month. Go through all of your monthly bills and see what ones you really can't change the amount on, which ones can you just pay off and how can you make the rest cheaper. We know that we can't lower rent so that one stay the same but "N" doesn't need to go to daycare so I just saved us $400.00 a month right there. We canceled some of the extras on our cell phones and now we're saving another $50.00 a month. I canceled our cable and that saves us $40.00 a month. And so on.

It's hard at first but once you get used to it then it's not so bad. Try to break up your spending habits into categories. If you want to do something fun, check to see your if your budget will allow it. Always try to have savings too, just in case an emergency comes up you're not struggling to find the money for it.

Here are some helpful sites:

I Will Teach You To Be Rich

Get Rich Slowly

Investments & Loans - Simple Living

MSN Money - Little Splurges

Reformed Consumer

Brown Dress

A book you may want to also look into:

Not Buying it:My Year Without Shopping

So I had this other blog planned out about the Wildflower kidtivites but it just didn't hit me so well so I decided to try again.

I'm really at a loss today for things because I am working on a bunch of stuff and just can't focus right now. I'm getting all excited right now because a girlfriend of mine I haven't seen in about eight years or so just moved out here and I ran into her at a store near my house.

She's really sweet and it's nice to finally have someone from back home to talk to and be able to see. So I have that going on and "The Hubby" working from home and doctors appointments, just no time today to think or focus. I'm not complaining. I really think it all has to to with it being another super nice day, warm and sunny. So I'm packing up the kids and going to head to the park for a little bit.

I'm guilty (of a lot) but stay focused on staying in shape is one of my worst things. When I was young I never had to worry about it because I was always skinny and at times I guess I was considered underweight. But either way I got used to not having to work for it because I was single and a lot of free time to go line dancing or roller skating.

After I got married I went up in weight fairly quickly and I totally lost it and was totally unhappy but yet I did nothing about it. I was working at a dog kennel and I lost about 20 pounds or so and went to a more manageable weight but not back down into the low 100's. I got pregnant and put on a lot of weight and after my son was born I was working out on the elliptical machine a few times a day and I was down to a size 8 (which was very nice for me).

Basically, I have struggled with my weight since I was 21 years old and have fluctuated between 95 pounds (pre-marriage) and I topped out at 150 (after two kids and six years of marriage). Right now I sit around 136-140 pounds and still not liking it.

I'm trying to keep myself motivated but finding it very hard. I joined a gym a year ago and I liked it and then they did some internal house cleaning and my trainers were either fired or sent to a different location. I got a new trainer but every time I had an appointment he would blow me off. So after all of that I quit going to the gym. While that was going on we were in the process of moving (among other things) and then I miscarried and I was devastated for quite some time.

It's been over six months and I'm slowly getting back on the health wagon. I have a few goals (that I have yet to do):

• Be up by 5:30 am.
• Run on the elliptical machine for 45 minutes.
• Do an hour of yoga.
• Get more work done throughout the day from all of this.

I don't think those goals are too ridiculous. That's one thing I have found is to set realistic goals, if not then you will fail before you even start. As you reach your goals then set a little higher one.

Since we got rid of the TV we eat healthier (but we can always do better). A few things that I have found really taste good and it's good for you. I'm hooked on Garden Burgers (both soy burgers and the veggie burger) and I love Morningstar products. They have really good chicken patties and burgers too. They can be a little pricey but I think it's worth it. I try to fix vegetables twice a day with meals and let the kids snack on an apple or something sometimes (I'm not a big fan of letting kids snack). Also, don't go to the grocery store when you're hungry, you'll buy more junk food than healthy food.

Once in a while I mess up and I'll eat a bag of microwave popcorn or if someone brings over a cake I'll snack on it. I'm trying to buy a nice air popper because at least then there won't be as many calories in it. I have stopped drinking all espresso (both the canned and from coffee houses) and started drinking healthy teas. Right now I'm hooked on White Tea Orange Blossom from The Republic of Tea.

I try to drink a few glasses a day of that because it's good, it's all natural and it has low caffeine (I don't know if it's ok to drink while pregnant or nursing so please talk to your doctor before trying anything new).

I try to set a time each day to run on the elliptical machine and do my yoga. It hasn't worked these last few days but I did well last week. What I do is run on the elliptical machine for about 20 minutes and then do my yoga abs and regular yoga afterward. I try to do my regular yoga twice a day to help stretch me out. I really do love doing yoga and would rather take a class to be around other people but it can be expensive and I don't have sitters during the day.

Like I said, I am a work in progress. My goal for now is to lose 20 pounds before the end of June for my girlfriend's wedding. If I can get to that, then my goal is to make sure I don't gain it all back again and just to maintain.

I mess up a lot. For instance, yesterday I watched my neighbor's son and she bring me over a small plate of cake. Instead of throwing it away I ate it and beat myself up. You will mess up too, when you do just deal with it and work harder to not do it again. Try to keep busy so you don't snack. Before I got rid of the TV that's all I did was snack, now if I want to eat something I grab and apple or an orange out of my fruit bowl and eat that.

I also have found out that while my husband is away, I do better with exercise and eating. I feel bad saying that because I love my husband and would rather have him here than in LA. When you find what works for you, stick with it. If after a while it gets hard, change it up. I have found that I get really bored using the elliptical machine here in the house but I know that I would look pretty funny outside running, plus I don't need a sitter when I do it here and I can do it anytime day or night.

I have bought my share of parenting books and read some of them. I have even been tempted to call Super Nanny just to help me figure things out. The parenting book to me are a waste of money. If you want to read them, rent from the library.

Super Nanny I think would be cool because she's an outsider and will help you get a handle on things. You can call me weak but I think she's kind of cool. I have only seen three episodes but what she does I think helps. I have found that my kids don't listen to me. Kids go through this and I think with the Super Nanny she's there to help you get confidence and also help you see things differently.

One episode I remember was a SAHM and I think she had three or four girls and couldn't leave the house with them because they were just so bad and by the time Super Nanny was done, she could go anywhere and have those girls behave. I guess I should look into my own temporary Super Nanny just so I can have some help.

Things have been a little tough for me lately and it's not like I need someone to watch my kids as much as it is to help be better relate to them. With my kids being two years apart can make things a little challenging with how to divvy up my time with them and still have time to clean and work.

I think we all need a little help with this even though we really don't want to admit it because we'd feel like failures. Call me a failure then because I need help. Sure our parents did it and some of them raised four or five kids. Things have changed a lot since we were little and now you have to find away to punish your kids BUT you have to figure out how to do it in public because if the wrong person sees it, they can call social services or whoever and go through the whole Britney Spears thing.

Never been through it, don't want to. Wouldn't you feel better knowing you could be the best parent you can be, even if you need help? I read somewhere that parents' parent better depending on the age. I have found that I did pretty well with the infant stage and I do well with the preschool age but since I have a toddler and preschooler I have a hard time with it. I think that I will do a lot better with the kids as they get more into the school age. With that they also have found that as your kids are doing their homework and you help them, that you actually will learn more everyday with them than if you don't help them at all.

I think that's very true. My mom who I always thought of the smartest person in the world actually became more smart because she helped me with my homework. We would work on it until we both figured it out. Plus I think that's an awesome way to bond with your kids.

Real life with kids. I find mine very frustrating. "N" will be 4 years old next month and "O" will be 2 years old in May. I love them but they can drive me crazy with the fighting and screaming.

We had "N" when we lived in Columbus, OH. It was nice because we were to close to family but close enough that they could drive to see us when they wanted. We didn't use a sitter (unless family was watching him), when we went out, all of us went. We took cool weekend trips over to Pittsburgh, Frankenmuth, and different place like that.

In 2004, just after "N" turned 1 year old we moved out to Phoenix, AZ. We used a friend of mine to watch "N" once in a while but really didn't go out much without him. We still took cool weekend or day trips. We flew to San Francisco for Mother's Day weekend and had fun. Rented a car and went up to Sedona, AZ for the day.

After we had "O" our whole life was turned upside down and not because of her. After she was born "The Hubby" got a promotion with the company he worked with at the time. Pretty much we really didn't see him again until June 2006. We even moved out the Palm Springs, CA so we could try to be with him more which we saw less of him. That was the hardest year of our lives I think.

In June 2006, "The Hubby" gets a job here in Phoenix so it's nice because we see him a lot more. I still get very frustrated though because I think we need a vacation. Just me and him NO KIDS. Well, we are only a 7 hour flight to Hawaii but we have no one close to us to watch the kids so we can just have time for us. I think the last time we had a night away was a year and a half ago.

All that they like to do now is fight. "O" will pick a fight with "N" just by going into his room. It seems like that's all I hear is them screaming all the time and it just gets old. They used to get along so good but I have no idea what happened.

No matter what anyone says, you need those few nights away a few times a year. If not, you start having some real bad problems. It does put a very big strain on the family and since I pretty much stay at home with the kids I really don't get a break and it's just a whole big mess.

Real life, kids are hard. As they get older it seems to me that their goal in life is to see how hard they can push your buttons. Right now it doesn't take much to push my buttons and then it's all over. I love my kids dearly though no matter what. You do have to make time for yourself, time for you and your husband and then time for family (not necessarily in that order).

A little advice for those who have yet to have kids. Stay near family or really good friends. There will come a day when you just need to get away and you won't have to worry because someone will be there to help you. Even if you don't like your family, stay near them anyway. We thought we were doing good for our family by moving to Phoenix when all it's done is just cause problems. We are trying to figure out a way to get back the MI so we can just be a normal family.

Remember that this is real life and once you have kids then your days of being selfish all the time are over. We do try to get a sitter once a month just so we can go out with out kids and worry about screaming and rushing through a meal. You can still be a little selfish like wanting those once in a while weekends.

When you get one of those, it can be as easy as asking grandma to take the kids for the night. You come back home, have a romantic dinner that you guys cooked together, have some nice wine, and then maybe just stay in bed the rest of the night and into the next day. Just to not have kids around for one night would be so great for me. Or you could go all out and make it a quick little getaway. We had on in Vegas for our anniversary a few years back. Either way, time away is nice quiet, relaxing time away.

Enjoy it when you get it!!!!

We are still trying to figure out the best way to do the Blog page and I'm sorry that I didn't post anything earlier today.

Well, I wanted to let you know that "O" is in the process of being potty trained and I think she enjoys it. She has yet to go on the toilet but likes it just the same. I hope that she is easier to do than "N" is took me almost 9 months to get him all squared away.

My kids are growing up so fast. "O" is in a toddler bed and being potty trained. "N" will be going to school in a few years and are looking into a pre kindergarten class for him. He's been in a twin bed for over two years now. He loves to fly in airplanes and he can't wait to see his family.

"O" is growing up more because now she's into playing with baby dolls, hot wheel cars, Thomas, and just anything she can get her hands on. "N" likes to pick fights with her and now they are learning to hit each other. I'm learning to take that kind of fighting in strides.

Sorry for the weird post yesterday. You know how it is when something bad happens and the anniversary comes around you just kind of weird out.

If you have any suggestions on how to potty train a little girl so that it goes smoothly, please let me know. I can use all the help I can get.