Easter!

Since I was sick, we didn't really do too much for Easter, but I did take Stephen to OCU for their annual Easter Egg hunt on Good Friday! Since it had been raining, they held the hunt inside, which wasn't too great for the smaller kids... Stephen had a better time last year when it was outside, but he really enjoyed visiting with the Easter Bunny again! I'll post a picture of that when I can, but until then, this one will have to suffice!

Quick Update...

This has been a rough week, health wise, in our house! Last Saturday, Stephen woke up with lots of congestion, and his left eye was crusted shut. I took him in to the doctor that morning, and he was diagnosed with Pink Eye (of course), an ear infection, and possible Strep Throat, but the doc didn't want to swab him since he would have antibiotics anyways for his ear.

Then Erik and I both ended up with congestion and sore throats, but while Erik has been improving, I seem to have developed a sinus infection with a nasty cough, and will be visiting with the doctor on Monday. So, here are some pictures from our visit with my parents!

This is Stephen going in to Big Boy Preschool in the morning... A teacher aide comes out to meet all of the younger kids (preschool and pre-k) at their cars (or bus), and walks them to their classroom! Don't worry - his backpack is big, but there's very little in it. I think it's just a change of clothes and some pull-ups.
We went to the park one afternoon after Stephen napped, and he went on the BIG swing for the first time by himself. Previously, he'd sat on my lap on it.

My Mom kept trying and trying to get Stephen's picture in the other swing, but he was avoiding it at all cost. Finally, after she stopped trying, he gave in, although I think he was about to stick out his tongue in this one!!

And I just like this picture. We found this sweater on clearance for $5, and since it was chilly the day Stephen went back to school after Spring Break, it was a good chance to wear it! We didn't pose him for this picture, though. He just looks so grown-up...

And in case I only have contact with you through this blog, if you are interested, I'm doing a giveaway on my other blog. So, go check it out!

SPRING BREAK!!!!!

SPRING BREAK!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

(This was Stephen's very first official Spring break, and he was very excited - can't you tell?)

We spent our week with Grandma Janet and Grandaddy John visiting. One of our adventures took us to a restaurant called Pops. It was basically diner food, but the fun thing was that they had over 500 types of bottled sodas to buy/drink there!

It was pretty fun - not something we will do frequently, but we will most definitely take the other Grandparents the next time they come visit!

Because it was a bit chilly, we also spent a lot of time inside. Stephen did a lot of reading...

But when it WAS warm enough to be outside, look what we did! Yes, Stephen's little legs are finally long enough to reach the pedals, and he has figured out how to ride his tricycle - kind of. He hasn't quite realized how much fun it could be to go tearing down the street, so we are sticking with the driveway for now.

On Friday, it was warm enough to go to the zoo! We have a new Children's Zoo that opened up the week before Spring Break, so we thought we'd head over to check that out. It was pretty fun, and Stephen liked it, but it was very crowded. We didn't make it into the petting zoo, because there was a looooooooooong line, but he did get a kick out of the spider monkey exhibit.

While in the Oklahoma Trails portion of the zoo, we were able to watch the Grizzlies get their lunches. They were very active, and running around, and while watching them, Stephen was also pretending to be a bear! Given that "bear" is his nickname around the house, it's not really a surprise.

On Saturday, we had several inches of snow and lots of wind, so it Friday was a really good day to get out. It was a fun Spring Break, even though the end of it felt more like winter.

Still getting older...

This is what a 3 year old with a 103 degree fever, ear infection, and possible RSV looks like...

He looks so big, though, doesn't he? Just lately, Stephen has started to climb backwards down the entire flight of stairs (FINALLY), recognize and identify colors (!!!), and (drum roll please) .............. USE THE POTTY AT SCHOOL!!!!!!

Yes, on Thursday at preschool, Stephen used the potty once, and again did it at Children's Day Out on Friday. And at CDO, he was stymied by the fact that the regular toilet was clogged, and all of the kids were using a potty seat, which Stephen has not used since last summer. I think we are on a roll with this, now! And on Thursday morning, he also did the sign for potty when he had to go!

The other really cool thing that Stephen has begun to do over the past week or so is recognize when he is tired, and instead of fighting us, he just goes to bed! Tonight, when he finished his book with Daddy, he got up from the chair they were sharing, turned off the light, and then climbed in to bed. Usually, we have a little bit of silliness on the boy's part before he decides to give it up and go to sleep, but lately, he's been much better about realizing that going to sleep will help him to not feel so tired. He's just growing so much!

Goings on...

As I'm sure all of you remember (because it was ONLY a week ago...), last week, we celebrated Valentine's Day! Stephen had a party at each of his schools, and for his party at "church school," I sent a fruit platter. We can only send pre-packaged, commercially produced foods for his preschool, but I was glad to be able to send something healthy the next day.

I sent him with this:

And he came home with this:


Ever since travelling for the holidays, and starting preschool, Stephen had been having a really hard time with the potty. He almost had it mastered before we left for Indiana, but all of the excitement of travel, and then the uncertainty of new places caused a LOT of accidents. So we made a deal with him - if he could show major improvement at home for a period of 2 weeks, we would go to the Build-A-Bear workshop and he could get something. We used a sticker chart, which actually helped so much that we are starting to use one at both of his schools, where he steadfastly refuses to use the potty, except when I personally take him in there. So, since he DID show major improvements at home, we went on Saturday to build this:


It is a puppy with a Texas football uniform, and he is much-loved already.
Right around the holidays, we purchased a new popcorn maker for the house. We also discovered that not only does Stephen love to EAT popcorn, but he also enjoys watching popcorn pop!

Stephen has also discovered that he likes to sit in the big person chair. He likes to climb up...

... and down. Over and over and over and over.....

He also laughs hysterically when he is "caught" in the chair, thinking he is up to some sort of mischief!

I'll leave you all with a last picture of some general silliness. I don't know what he was doing.

Wordless Wednesday

Because sometimes even I don't have the words for what I want to say.

Cold feet!

Guess who has decided that he doesn't need to wear socks in the house, despite the fact that it is 25 degrees outside?

Yep, THIS GUY!!!

He has also decided that teeth are better brushed when you are naked, but I promised to never post naked pictures of Stephen on the internet.