1.  We're learning about insects and spiders this week, but maybe I should have checked out weather books and found weather activities instead.  Our part of the state (especially where my in-laws live) got hammered by torrential rains, and a lot of people had significant damage to their homes.  My in-laws had to take up most of their flooring and will have to redo the lower sections of walls soon.  Here are our frontyard and backyard after just a few hours of rain . I can't imagine what it would have looked like had we gotten what they got :/ 2. Ella is doing a really good job of telling me when she needs to go to the bathroom and of keeping her undies dry. We're very pleased :)

Today, I'm thankful for the giant stack of hand-me-down undies The Bestie gave us for Ella.  We're on day 4 of our potty training adventure, and we've used probably half of them. This is what's left. *side note -- little girl undies are the cutest thing! When she has accidents, I just throw them in the diaper pail, and they get washed when the pail is full of nap and nighttime diapers. Handy :) I'm thankful for having TONS of extra undies to help us out as she learns to do her business in the toilet and not on my floor. 

1. This kid got a haircut from his Pop-pop and The Husband earlier this week. I LOVE it, and we think it makes him look like such a little man :) And, this girl has started potty training for reals! Two days and a few accidents later, she's also had a few successes! 2. I decided to take a break from lesson plans this week. I chose some books by one of my favorite children's authors and some books by my most favorite children's illustrators. We'll read and enjoy those, and our learning times will be a free time to paint or color or mold or lace as the day calls for it. Jack gets a kick out of me saying, "and this book was written by the same author/illustrated by the same man as this one!"  (I seriously ADORE David Catrow's illustrations and have for years and years. So funky and adorable.)

1. Ella is still doing well with potty training. I'm only focusing on bm's right now, which makes things easier. She applauds herself, and I make a big deal every time she's successful.  2. She also has decided that sleeping at night is not for her. I'm so grateful that The Husband gives his two nights off to take care of any issues that may arise with them while I sleep (usually) interruption-free.  She sure loves her daddy. And yes, he shaved his hair off. And no, I'm not thrilled.  I miss that gorgeous red hair :/ I am getting used to it though.  3. I love my quiet moments of nursing her, but her ice-cold fingers in the morning sometimes are a shock! :) 4.  Jack is as sweet as ever. He really enjoys coloring pictures now, especially  ones from his Batman book, and tells me they are pretty when he's finished.  5. I love coloring, too. 

I'm still working on getting Ella used to sitting on the potty each morning. She's doing well at sitting patiently and "trying."   Day 4 Day 5 During breakfast this morning, she made her "concentrating face." As I rushed her to the toilet, I told her that she needed to have her bowel movement in the potty. She said, "yeah." I put her on and a few minutes later I heard her tee-tee. We all clapped for her, and she got excited and clapped for herself. I went to lift her off and realized she had done something else, too! It was just a little bit, but we cheered her on. I showed her what she had done and told her she did well. She was happy, but she was even happier to get back to her breakfast :)

So I started introducing the concept of sitting on the potty to Ella three days ago. Each morning after breakfast, I place her on the potty and explain what needs to happen. I read "potty" books to her while she sits.  She has not accomplished anything on there other than sitting patiently without needing to hold onto me, which in itself is great.  Day 2 Day 3 This afternoon after lunch, I had her sit on it again for quite a while. Jack needed to go, so he did his business on the little potty we have for emergencies. I applauded him in front of her for telling me he needed to go and for doing it in the potty. She clapped for him.  I gave up and took her off. She walked to the living room and promptly peed all over the rug and the lower level of the coffee table before I could get in there with a diaper. I don't know how she managed to pee on the coffee table. 

Milky Memorial Day This guy is ROCKING potty training. He rarely has an accident. He wears underwear except for naps and at night. So proud of this not-quite-two dude! She's so, so sweet and is quite a character with that one tooth on top :) This was the closest I got to them both looking at the camera with semi-smiles as I tried desperately to get their attention. 

1.  We have been in the throes of potty training the last three or four days. I didn't set out to; it started out of necessity (he had a spot on his bottom that wasn't healing properly while in wet diapers all day).  It's not awesome, but every time he's successful at staying dry, we celebrate the victories.  You know you're talking to a kiddo whose potty training when the following come out of your mouth  ALL.  DAY.  LONG: " Don't tee-tee on the floor! Why did you tee-tee on your sister's toy?!"  " Are your underwear dry? Good job! Don't tee-tee in your underwear."  "Tell Mommy when you need to sit on the potty. Do you need to sit on the potty? Let's go sit on the potty."   "No, we're not putting on your diaper right now. No, you're not 'all done.' Please sit there until you tee-tee." "Stop touching the toilet paper. Stop grabbing the shower curtain. Stop touching the things on the back of...