Just a couple quick thoughts

1. We stopped potty training the very same day we started. Peter is just not ready yet, I think. I will, however, give it a whirl again in a few weeks. Hopefully he'll have some success!

2. The last time I went to the grocery store? So much better than my "Freedom" post. So much better.

3. I LOVE garage sales.

Mother's Day 2011 @ the CABIN!

Minus Dad.

How sad.

But we sure were GLAD to get that overtime check! :)

And now for some pictures from that weekend!

Peter loves playing outside so much that on Sunday I caved and let him play. In the rain.

David and Grandma P.

He loves that old boat.

Sam and Heidi rescuing a ball.

Gramma Geri and David (and his blanket!)

Brad trying to stay out of trouble. :)

Auntie Kerri chatting with Uncle Jim while Peter joyfully plays in the sand.

Potty Training and a Flat Tire

Today began a new chapter.

Potty Training.

Ugh...but more on that in a minute. First a few updates on my quickly changing and growing little boys!

Peter:

1. Is so sad that co-op and BSF are done for the summer. (Amazing, right?) He asks to go frequently. I have to remind him that co-op is done and we won't go to BSF for 4 months. Hard to wrap your mind around that when you're only 2!
2. Has recently started watching Thomas the Train videos again. Loves them. I haven't allowed him to watch the really "scary" one yet, but maybe sometime...
3. He's really into playing with his trains and tracks again, too. Mr. Potato Head is a thing of the past. It's all about trains these days! He loves to reenact what he sees in the videos. It's really fun to watch.
4. He kissed me on the lips the other day and remembered to close his lips. He was so proud for remembering that! (5/2)
5. He occasionally will walk up behind me (when I'm sitting on the floor) and give me a hug or rub my back a little bit and whisper, "I love you" in my ear. Oh, it just melts my heart...
6. He used to say, "mom, mom, mom, mom, mom...." and when I'd ask what he needed he'd just start saying mom all over again. So I started teaching him to respond more appropriately with "I need..." (fill in the blank). His favorite response is "I need MOM!" Normally said with a smile and a little giggle, of course.
7. Occasionally I'll let him "brush" his own teeth. He instructs himself what to do as he goes along, "say 'aaahhh'" and then he says "aaaahhhh", and "eeeee" and "llllll" (to brush inside of teeth, front, tops, and tongue).
8. One day he was playing with a hairbrush and so I showed him how to use it. (we rarely brush the boys' hair!) Later when Luke got home from work, Peter climbed up onto the couch behind him and said, "Dad, no fuss" and started brushing his hair. Hahaha!!!
9. Talks a LOT! He's saying more 4 and 5 word sentences all the time. He also is pretty clear, too, so I am able (and so are most other people) to understand most of what he says. Yay!
10. Potty training started today!!! So far (he's napping right now) this is what has happened: visit the toilet for 5-10 minutes every 20ish minutes. No toilet action. Two accidents that he doesn't even seem to mind. Ugh........

David:

1. Is 10 1/2 months old!
2. On 5/2 saw a picture of Luke and said, "Da!" (did he really?)
3. Has 6 teeth. Three on the top and three on the bottom. The middle two front on top and bottom and one side tooth on top on opposite side tooth on bottom. He's got at least one more (other side top tooth) coming. No hurry here, though, it seems!
4. LOVES to walk holding onto someone's hands. Or a toy. Or piece of furniture. Will stand on his own for several seconds. Has tried taking a step a few times, but lacks the confidence to really try. We're hoping he walks before summer is here. (although maybe having a crawler outside is better?)
5. Is eating more and more foods. This morning for breakfast he at all but a few bites of both a pancake and banana. Wow!
6. Will guzzle water from a bottle but will not drink milk from one. Funny boy! Also learned how to drink from a sippy cup.
7. Adores his older brother. Even when said older brother takes toys away, knocks him over or hits. :)
8. Has recently developed a massive love for mommy. He doesn't love it very  much when I leave him anymore...but he's still more easy going than Peter was!
9. Has become attached to his blue fleece blanket that I made. Awww....
10. Is starting to show a temper! :) He likes to throw himself backwards when he gets mad. He will also go limp if I try picking him up when he's mad. Oh, boy.

I'm sure  you've been wondering if I'm ever going to say anything about a flat tire since that's part of the title of this post. I want my sons to know what kind of a daddy they have. I want to remember for them the things that he does to serve others. To serve God.

Last night as we were driving home from an impromptu visit to my parents' house and cabin for the day, we saw a lady on the side of the road, trying to change a flat tire. Alone. After dark. On the traffic side of the car. With her 10-year-old son in the backseat. Right in front of the St. Cloud prison!!! Not exactly the spot I'd like to have a flat. We stopped and Luke got out to see if he could help. She was so grateful! They were 5 hours away from home and still over an hour away from their destination. Aaahhhh! What would I do? She didn't have AAA, didn't know anyone remotely close to St. Cloud or anything. And did I mention that it happened right in front of the prison?

If we had gone a different way home, left earlier or later, stopped for gas elsewhere, not heeded the Holy Spirit's leading to stop, we wouldn't have been able to help.

Thank you, Luke, for being a good example to our sons.

Thank you, Lord, for giving my husband the sensitivity and ability to stop and help. Thank you for giving him to us.