Grandma Nel + Sadie

This past weekend we were lucky to have Grandma Nel and Sadie come down from Sheldon to spend the weekend with us. Andy was in Philli taking a test so it was a girls weekend (plus Charlie).

We got to enjoy beautiful weather while playing at the park, shopping, and attending the Children's Garden Annual Halloween Party. Marie really enjoyed it this year with her friends. Her favorite part was dancing to the DJ in the dark with the smoke machine.

Andy got back on Saturday night just in time to play with play-doh. This was also the final weekend for my volleyball team. We won our first game, but lost the next two. It was a good season, a lot of fun, but I am glad it is over with now and I will get to have some nights free again.
Thanks for coming to visit Grandma Nel and Sadie!

Marie says...volume 3

Lately Marie has been saying some very cute and funny quotes.
Here are just a few we can remember:

"My mommy has a baby brother in her tummy" --Marie said this to her daycare teacher...let me just say VERY clearly --NOT TRUE

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"Oh no Finn, I broke my eyebrow!" --Said to her friend at school when she hit her head on the door.

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"Oh, what's her name again is sad." --Said to Andy while watching Jasmine cry on "Aladdin."

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Mom: "How was your day?"
Marie: "I got sand in my eye."
Mom:"How did that happen."
Marie:"I said, No (insert naught daycare boy name here), I don't like that when you throw sand in my eyes ok? We need to be nice to our friends."
Mom:"That was good you used your words with him."
Marie: "Yeah, then he pushed me down. Silly (insert naught boy name again)" --Said in the car on the way home from daycare.

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"Ahh, there's an alligator in my coffee!" --Said while she was in the bathtub 'making coffee' out of her bath water.

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"Because my butt was too far away." -- Answering the question, "why didn't you put your pee in the potty chair?"

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"Because I just telled you." -- Answering the question, "why don't you want to go to bed."

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"Aww Charzo Barzo, does your tummy hurt? Here, let me kiss it." --In response to seeing an unpleasant sight on the carpet when we got home from school...and yes, she kissed his tummy.

Marie: "Mommy I went potty in the toilet! Are you happy Mommy?"
Mom: "Yes I am so happy, Marie."
Kristina (Teacher at Daycare): "She's so cute."
Marie: "Mom, am I so cute?"

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"Now listen, it's time to take a deep breath and calm your body, and go to sleep now." --Said while putting her stuffed panda to bed. Obviously she is listening when we tell her the same thing at night!

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"Mom can you open the door for me? Thanks, you are so wonderful."

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Marie: "Oh, I hear a big giant airplane in the sky. Wait, is it big or little?"
Mom: "Big."
Marie: "Right, big! Good job, Mom." --Said this morning when putting her into the car.

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Marie:"Something hurts."
Dad:"what hurts?"
Marie:"My armpit, neck, and my knee." --Getting out of bed for the 4th time at night and requesting special medicine on them...vaseline works wonders on this procrastinating girl at bedtime!

Fabulous Fall Weekend

We are finally out of the crazy fall heat wave of 80 degrees and into my favorite time of year - 60 degrees and below.

Which meant that this was the perfect weekend to go to the pumpkin patch/petting zoo/crazy slide/jumping pillow/apple orchard/corn pool/ I could go on and on...

Marie has been asking to go to the "punkin patch" all week so she was thrilled when Saturday rolled around. We started out with the animals. Marie has no fear with animals and loved feeding the many goats, ducks, chickens, pigs, and turkeys.

She also found the nursery rhyme area with the 3 Little Pig homes. She decided to be a little piggy, too.

We tried the corn pool again, but she decided it still wasn't for her. So, we settled on a cider slush and caramel apple instead.

Next we went on the jumping pillow. I didn't know how she would react to the craziness, but she loved it. We were laughing so hard we could hardly stand up. After 3 turns on the pillow, our legs were tired...but not too tired to climb the hill to the super slide. We all went down the slide together with our arms in the air. A few high schoolers backed away because they were nervous, but not Marie!

What a great evening at the patch!

High Achiever

Wouldn't you know that after that lengthy and dramatic potty post a few days ago, our Marie has decided that this potty thing is not so bad after all. She is always out to prove us wrong...
She has only had 1 accident all week!

Plus, she is proving to be adventurous...putting her #2 in the potty, too.

(Maybe more information that any of you wanted to know, but I definitely thought it was worth sharing. That is a HUGE accomplishment!)

Her teachers are so proud of her at school, and we are so proud of her at home. She is even stopping while playing and telling us she has to use the potty.

I guess that "potty treat bag" was the way to go!

PEE-autiful Potty Training

We did it.

We took the plunge and said "no more diapers."

(What were we thinking???)

Friday night started out with brand spanking new Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck underwear, a trip to McDonalds for "big girl" chicken nuggets (accident number 1), and a trip to the toy store at the mall (accident number 2 & 3) to celebrate our "big girl."

Let's just say that we now know we were expecting WAY too much out of our little Marie. How could she think about her potty when she is surrounded by toys and french fries?

Lesson learned.

We headed back home and proceeded to discuss when we potty, how we potty, and why we potty in the toilet and not on the floor, kitchen chairs, or in our pretty new underwear. We have a few potty books explaining it all which have been so helpful. When the little girl has an accident in the book, Marie can relate and she tells her, "it's ok, you will pee in the potty next time."
We had a few successes on Friday night but we knew that we were in for a long and wet weekend.

Saturday morning started out with a success followed by lots and lots of carpet cleaning if you know what I mean. Andy & I were feeling defeated and we didn't know if this was going to work. Marie on the other hand didn't seem to mind the mess, but she was feeling a little out of control and we could tell that her mind was working and trying to make sense of it all...

On Saturday evening, Andy & I were having yet another potty brainstorming session. Suddenly, Marie galloped past us and into the bathroom. She sat on the potty chair and had success all by herself!

Needless to say we celebrated - danced, yelled, sang, and rewarded her with a treat from her "Potty Treat Bag."

Sunday was a great day. Things seemed to be clicking right along and we even made a trip to the store with no accidents. We had a few set backs in the evening, but she got right back on track before bedtime.
We didn't do a lot of running around this weekend of course because we were focused on Marie and training. However, it was a great weekend to just be at home as a family. Marie has been spending a lot of time outside with Charlie in the grass lately. He runs out to lay in the sun and chew a bone and Marie sits next to him and talks his ear off...what dog lets a little girl lay on him while he sleeps and chews a bone?

Our dog.

Marie is at school today with several extra sets of clothes for her accidents which we know she will have, but I am so proud of her for what she has accomplished so far. I am hoping that being around her potty-trained friends will make her even more aware of using the toilet.

And, I am so proud of her mom & dad for not completely freaking out and quitting on Saturday...believe me, it was tempting. We have a long road ahead of us but thankfully we have this initial training weekend behind us.

A Marvelous Mess

Lately, we have been busy scheduling interviews for Andy as he is applying to residency programs around the midwest. So far he has been invited to interview all over: Sioux City, Mason City, Lincoln, Des Moines, Mankato, and other places that I am forgetting.

Although this is a very exciting time for us, it is also stressful.

We want to make sure that we make the best decision for the whole family. There is so much to consider: my career, Marie's schooling, housing opportunities, daycare, our families, Charlie (yes...he is a factor for us to consider), and of course the best possible training for Andy for his 3 year residency in family medicine.

Des Moines has been an amazing home to us and we are very close to our friends and our connections here. Everything is set here...our home, school, job, daycare, and doctors.
We are comfortable.

On the other hand, a move could mean we are closer to our family, a different job opportunity for me, more rural training for Andy, closer to leisure activities we love to do (hunting), and closer to friends.

The past 3 years have flown by and we can't believe we are at this time in Andy's schooling. The thought of 4 years of medical school seemed unending to us when we moved to Des Moines in 2008.
Now here we are .
Honestly, it feels a bit like what Marie's hands look like in these pictures...messy.

We are starting interviews soon and would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we make this decision.

In the end, we know we will be guided in the right direction.

Football Saturday

We had another beautiful tailgate Saturday, and this time we stuck around for the game. Andy's Uncle Tom and Aunt Mary were visiting from Michigan so they could see their Horns take on the Cyclones.

Marie was loving all the extra attention and even got to see Aunt Liz, Grammy, and Papa.

While at the game, Papa took Marie down on the field where she got an up close look at the band and the field. Although it was chilly, Marie stayed warm with plenty of cuddling and popcorn.

At one point Marie turned around to Grammy and said, "I like this!"

I guess this means more football games are in our future!