Saturday ramblings

So I don't post as regularly as I used too..  I blame facebook in a way.  It is easy to get little tidbits out on facebook along with pictures. However, that doesn't mean I can (or should) let my blogging stop.  This is the digital scrapbook of our Wenck World.  So here are some little tidbits I thought I would share here.

1) We are taking the slow path for potty training Archer.  We are actually ahead of schedule compared to Christian in that we are starting before he turns three.   We have tried a few methods so far and they are usually things that Archer initiates and we just follow along.  One is to let Christian do the potty training.  He helps Archer take off his diaper, helps him sit on the little potty and helps him afterwards.  That was the first one we tried.  We saw some success but nothing consistent.  Last night we let the boys run around in their undies/pull up then Archer went pull-up less (aka neeked).  Archer pottied twice all by himself (SCORE!)....so today we are letting Archer run around neeked again.

2) What is up with allergies in the dry hot summer.  My eyes itch all the time and I just finished a series of like 20 sneezes. UGH!

3) We are going to see Cars2 today.  Wonder if I will like this one as much as I like the first one...Yes I really like the first one.  Cars2 isn't getting great reviews...but really, why do critics even review kids movies... I mean what't the point, the kids are going to love it, the stores are going to sell it and Disney is going to make rides about it.  Who cares what the critics say?!?!

4) I got to spend several hours with Mason yesterday.  He is so sweet and so cute.  You forget how little babies can be and how unbelievably sweet it is to have a baby sleep on your chest.  It is so amazing.  You are holding God's greatest creation on your heart.  Then I look at my kids and I wonder about little Mason.  What will he look like at 3, at 5?   What will be his favorite phrases?  Will he love the word "Actually" or "walk away!"?  So much promise, such a precious life ahead of him.  And his parents!  Wow, he has a great set.  His Momma (Sassy) is a lady that I can honestly say was born to be a Momma.  She is so calm and at ease with him.  Instinctively knows what to do with him, how to hold him, when to feed him, when he needs to see the doctor.  She is top notch that one. Ah and his Daddy, who he looks like more and more with each passing day.  Mason has been blessed with his Daddy's hair (his momma, bless her heart, was blessing in many way, but lots of hair was not one of them).  Daddy Jonathan is learning his way in this baby world fast.  He is careful, cautious and attentive.  He is ready to jump in and help out Momma to give her a few extra hours of sleep, now that is a GOOD Daddy!  Mason is a lucky kid (but I think his parents are pretty lucky too).   Did I mention Mason gained a pound since last week...a whole pound!

5) My kids are starting to say "What the heck?!?"...hmm I'm on the fence about this one.  It could be worse, but they are just saying what I usually say.  Ah, what the heck.

6) Why do boys like to talk about butts and passing gas so much? Why is that so funny to them?

7) My friend Corrie introduced me to the world of scrapbooking last weekend.  It was fun, mainly because I got to share a few hours with some good friends AND leave with a super cute book that I made.

8) I'm learning to not be as stressed out about  my new job.  It's not serious stress, but new job stress, learning new things, dealing with new people and writing for the whole municipal bond world to read (ok, so maybe not the whole world, but more people read my opinions than did before....well except you guys, you guys read my writing all the time).

9) We have the big 4th of July neighborhood parade this weekend.  I usually get decorations last minute and don't have much to pick from at Walgreens.  This year I planned ahead by 4 days and went to Party City.  They had a whole aisle of patriotic decorations.  I got the good stuff this year!

So I think that catches me up a little.   Happy Independence Day weekend 2011.
Here are some links to Independence Day posts from the past.
2010
2009
2008

Independence Day 2007 (pre-blogging)

Independence Day 2010

I have been following this blog recently called the Happiness Project.  The writer recently posted something on family traditions.  We have a few and one of our favorites is our neighborhood Independence Day Parade.  This year it almost snuck up on us...it has been a little crazy around our house with the boys being sick and Pa being in the hospital.  But everyone is doing so much better these days and there was cause to celebrate, everyone living health and free in the USA.

First we had to get some decorations. These were supposed to be handpainted fireworks for the wagon.


Oh yes, it got messy.


Archer didn't quite understand where the camera was.

But he did here


The boys get treat bags filled with snacks and fun stuff


Chris does most of the heavy pulling


Our escorts

Cool Jeep

There was a good turn out.


Great Band played at the park.


Snow cones


There was a bug guy that brought up a bunch of bugs and snakes for the kids to look at. Then Chris found a snake hanging out in our backyard. He tried to hide under the outside toys, but Chris got him.

There were two fire trucks and one with a HUGE ladder.



This year's parade and party at the park was one of the best in the last 4 years we have been going.

Happy Independence Day

Independence Day...or 4th of July. Bless you or GOD Bless you. It is the little things sometimes that get your attention. You have to be paying attention but sometimes the little details mean something.

Last year Jennifer at Mayhem Mania posted this on her blog. And as the holiday approached it has me thinking. So I have made a sign for Christian's Wagon for the big Neighborhood Parade that says "Happy Indenpendence Day!"

Tonight we will all be busy decorating Chrisitan's wagon with flags, streamers and stars. I am hoping to help Christian makes some colorful stars to use on the wagon. We still need to find some balloons or make our way to HEB to get some really nice ones.

This will be the second Wenck entry in the Villages of Western Trails 4th of July (Independence Day) Parade. Here are some pictures from Last year.