Our Fun Summer is Coming to an End!

One of my huge sunflowers! We are waiting for the seeds.
Boys just wrestlin'- an everyday occurrence, not just in the summer.
Kellen did 2 swim sessions and now he is a fish. We have tried to swim a lot, he loves it and does so great! He is preparing for our pool...someday!
We went with Dan and Andrea and girls for a hike through a cave. The hike is great for kids, not too long with a big reward in the end- a pitch black cave and then a water fall too!
Along with swimming, Kellen also learned to ride a bike with no training wheels. This was a cousin effort. While we were camping the dads took the training wheels off to see how the kids would do and Abby and Kellen got it. They were so excited and had so much fun.
For our camping trip with the Whitemarsh family we went to Salt Creek. It is up by Port Angeles on the Puget Sound/Straight of Juan de Fuca. In the morning when the tide was low we went exploring. Scott is holding a crab. We saw lots of crab and other sea stuff that I can't spell.
Again, out on the rocks at low tide exploring. Salt Creek was a great place for family camping. The kids had a great time exploring and did pretty well playing together.
On the way home he rode the Ferry across into Seattle. The kids thought is was great, it was a good way to change up the long drive home.
On the Ferry Boat.

HE HAS GRADUATED!!

I thought the day would never come that I would be able to say "Jakob is Potty-trained!" But I can! I know I complained a lot and now I look back and it was only about 4 weeks of my life... and now it is over. The only accident he has had once it finally clicked, was when we were camping! He has done so great. For all those potty-training moms don't stop, don't give up. It is only a short time in your life and then one day it will be better. I know when you are in the moment it does not feel that way.
Jakob's covered sticker chart!
NO MORE PINK POTTY! I do have to tell the story. I figured after going potty in out-houses while camping, he was ready to say good bye to his pink potty. When we got home I put it away and the first time he noticed he asked "ere ink otty" I told him it was gone and to go on the big potty, he said "OH". I know it's not funny typed, but it was really cute the way he said it. Then I took the pink potty back to Andrea's and he found it in her garage and he got so excited to be reunited with his pink potty. I told him to say bye-bye so he did. I think it was good for him to have closure. :)

Let's Take A Quiz!

WHAT DO THESE 2 PICTURES HAVE IN COMMON?

A) They are Jakob's favorites to play with
B) They are random pictures Kellen took while playing with my camera or...
C) They are Jakob's places for #2.
What's the rule in school? When in doubt it's always letter C!
So yes, these are the latest pictures of our potty training saga. Picture #1 is the vent in the floor. He took his snacks back there and was just hanging out like he often does. He came to the couch where I was with a big smile on his face, and pointed to the vent. And surprise surprise there was a brown surprise and a puddle to go with it on and in the vent.
Picture #2 was his favorite game until it went in the trash. I will just tell you all that that is not chocolate all over the game and the floor...enough said!
A house with potty training can not have too many of these handy little wipes!
I will leave this message on a positive note. He has gone #2 in the potty 6 times so maybe we are getting a handle on things!! Keep your fingers crossed!

kElLeN's WaTeRmElOnS aRe GrOwInG!!

Kellen and Scott planted watermelon earlier this year, and while the plants were growing and over flowing the planter, Kellen was not satisfied with the progress. He wanted to see watermelon. When the flowers came he got a little excited but still wanted the melon.
This was the first one we saw and I swear it grew this big overnight. We check the plants everyday and this was the first time we saw anything! He was so excited. He loves planting the seeds and watching the progress. He wants a bigger garden. I wonder where he got that...THANKS GRANDMA WHITEMARSH!

This picture was taken a few day later and we are seeing more melons and the first one is still growing!

Potty Training note: There might be hope yet! No accidents today and we were out and about all day, so he couldn't be naked! Yippie!!

WHY CAN'T WE COME POTTY TRAINED?

I AM PUTTING THIS QUESTION OUT THERE? COMING POTTY TRAINED WOULD MAKE EVERYONE'S LIFE EASIER! OK so I apologize to all of you who have had to listen to me this past week about potty training Jakob. I know I am a huge complainer, but really I have not a clue how to potty train. And yes, we are using a pink potty, it's a loaner therefore it was free. Although maybe that is the problem, maybe Jakob doesn't want to sit on a pink potty. If he has issues later in life we will know why. SO I ASK ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL MOTHERS OUT THERE...HOW IN THE HE-- DO YOU POTTY TRAIN A STUBBORN
3 1/2 YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY? (I might even go as far as more stubborn than his Great-Grandpa Cook, for those of you who know Cleve Cook, that is not a compliment) We have tried standing, sitting, little potty, big potty, big potty with a little seat, cheerios in the toilet, rewards, an excitement party, sticker chart...
the Elmo potty doll, with the Elmo potty movie, being stern and punishing, and being so patient and positive reinforcement like! I am out of ideas. For all you new moms... my advice- make your husbands do it! Or pray for a child that trains himself...that is possible, Kellen was one!!
He did give us hope one day. I had to keep him naked all day, but that did seem to work the first day I tried that. He went 4 times all by himself, I thought I found my trick. However, Jakob does not give into the struggle that fast, the very next naked day, Kellen found little brown piles on the stairs with a puddle on the floor. So again I ask HOW?
At least Jakob has found some use for his potty, he put it in a circle with other toys and did a "Potty Dance" or "Anti-Potty Dance", I am not really sure which one. I will take any suggestions anyone might have, I will also take anyone that wants practice to come and practice on Jakob. Trust me you will be a pro for your next one!