Berry Yogurt Pops

I found these in Parents magazine and made them this past weekend. They are super yummy for big kids and little.

Berry Yogurt Pops

Ingredients
1 can (8.25 ounces) pear halves in heavy syrup
1 cup blueberries
2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt

Directions
1. Drain the pears, reserving 2 tablespoons syrup. Place the pears, blueberries, and reserved syrup in a blender or food processor. Cover and mix until it's smooth.
2. Add the yogurt to the blueberry mixture and blend again. Divide the mixture among 12 ice-pop molds; insert wooden sticks if your molds don't come with sticks or build-in handles. Freeze until firm, 4 to 6 hours.

Brothers

Not much to say about these pictures. We've been enjoying some cooler August evenings and so we've been playing outside after dinner. Here are a couple of pictures of the boys loving the outdoors and each other.

My new favorite picture!

The Hug - Andrew gives Jonathan lots of hugs and sometimes they are sweet and sometimes they are part of his secret plan to knock him down...

Jonathan's happy smile after the hug. He loves any sort of attention from Andrew.
So sweet to see!

Andrew had his construction hat and thought Jonathan needed a hat too. Someday Jonathan won't appreciate this safari hat that looks sort-of-like a fairy hat on him!

Handy Manny-Andrew style

"Stretch" and Andrew measuring the stairs.

Andrew has been watching a lot of Handy Manny lately. If you're not familiar with Playhouse Disney, it's a show about a handy man and his tools. The tools all have names and talk, and they help Manny fix everything. There's lots of problem solving and conflict resolution and tools. So, now we have our own little Handy Andrew. But if you ask him if he's Handy Manny, he'll say, "NO. I just Anew." (Ann-oo)

Jonathan - biter biscuit and magazine attack

Jonathan has discovered Biter Biscuits. We forgot how messy they are, but he LOVES them and they keep him happy while we eat dinner.

I don't remember Andrew loving magazines as much as Jonathan does. This kid goes crazy for them. Probably because he knows he's not supposed to rip them, but he just can't help himself. Look how happy a demolished JCPenney catalog makes him!

Jonathan had his 6-month check-up today, even though he's almost 7 months. We got a little behind and then the doctor was on vacation. Oh, well. At least the appointment occurred during his sixth month! The good news is that he is healthy and growing, even though he's still only in the 39 percentile for weight at 17 lbs. 12 oz. and the 53 percentile for height at 27 inches. It seems so strange for him to not be off the charts or at least in the 80th percentile like his brother, but my pediatrician kindly reminds me that all children are different and not to compare them. *sigh*

Andrewism #2

Today as we drove home from church, it was raining. Keith asked Andrew what the rain does. Andrew quickly answered that the rain helps the flowers, trees and grass grow. So we asked him what helps him grow? "Food!" came the quick response.

I took this as a great opportunity and said, "Vegetables help you grow, too."

Andrew crinkled his face and said, "No, vegetables make me feel yucky."

How he knows this I don't know, seeing as how he refuses to eat ANY vegetables. I think I'll wait to fight this battle until after potty training is over!

Oh, Andrew you make us laugh and sometimes cry, and we love every minute of it! Thank you for your little words of "wisdom." And for keeping us on our toes.

Potty Training Update

Well, I wish that my update included a potty training miracle, but alas, it does not. Thank you to all of you who have sent encouraging words and advice. It is greatly appreciated! I have taken the past couple of days off from training. We have been out and about more the past couple of days and it is very difficult to be hard core when not at home. We have continued taking Andrew at regular intervals, but haven't made such a big deal out of it.

We tried using a potty chart where he earns a sticker for every successful visit to the bathroom. We explained that if he goes a certain number of times, he could earn a prize. Well, being a little smarty pants, he thought if he just stayed on the toilet and dribbled continuously, that he could quickly earn his stickers. We had to the alter the rules and make it clear that dribbles don't count in this game! And so the battle continues. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Keith and Andrew relaxing in the sky chair.

Andrew told Keith, "This is the best swing chair ever!"

Finger painting is very serious work!


Yes, Jonathan is enjoying a little pizza crust.
Turns out pizza crust isn't quite as messy as biter biscuits.

Potty Training S.O.S.

I need help from all you blog stalkers and casual readers. We are running a potty training marathon and we are in last place; Andrew and his stubbornness are in first. We have been trying to potty train for the past 3-4 weeks. I've lost track of when I started and frankly the past couple of weeks have been so discouraging, I don't even like to think about how long we've been working on this.

The bottom line is that Andrew just DOES NOT CARE. I'll spare you the messy details, but I'm pretty sure that he could be happy wearing a diaper to college or at least Kindergarten! We have tried a variety of treats as bribes. We have scolded and I have screamed like a raging banshee woman at the poopy messes. We have given high praise when the task is accomplished. I have tried taking him hourly, which is like marching him off to a torture chamber. (This kid is so dramatic and I have no idea where he gets it. Ha!) He only wears a pull-up when we leave the house because I fear the mess in the middle of a store. I've tried naked, but, well, he's a boy and his parts are very interesting to him, and it doesn't work because he just pees wherever he is playing.

So, I need your help. What should we do? What have you tried? What books have you read? Did you punish or take toys away? Do you know of any potty training boot camp for stubborn 3 year olds? Any and all ideas are welcome. Until then, the steam cleaner vacuum and I will remain good friends.

New playground

They have a great water trough with trickling water and after Andrew had ran himself ragged, he played with the water and sand until it was time to go.


The weather has been beautiful lately and very un-Augustlike, so we decided to take advantage of it and check out a new playground at a park near our house. It was a huge success and we had to literally pull Andrew away kicking and screaming with promises that we would visit again soon! Jonathan hung out in his stroller for most of the visit, happy to watch all the kids running around him.

Mothering Tip #82

Always check to make sure you have your wallet before you go to Target or any other place where credit cards or cash are needed!

Today, I took the boys to Target and they were both angels, so I quickly filled our cart with the necessary items on our list and then browsed happily for about an hour adding other treasures. I go to the checkout, get everything out of the cart, am trying to convince Andrew that his toy needs to stay at Target because it lives there, while digging in the diaper bag for my wallet. Only I can't get the toy away from Andrew and I CAN'T FIND MY WALLET!

After a few moments of panic, I realize I had taken a separate purse to church on Sunday and haven't needed my wallet since, so it's still at home and I have no money to pay for all my treasures. I tell the somewhat-clueless checker that I cannot pay and he needs to stop ringing up my stuff. He tries to be helpful and tells me he can suspend my order while I go home and get my money. I politely inform him that I cannot do this with two small children and will have to come back later much later. I don't think I have been that embarrassed in quite awhile. Not even when Andrew throws a fit in the check-out. But forgetting your wallet?! I think I might be losing my mind. On a positive note - I have never had a cheaper shopping trip to Target and probably never will again!

And you can bet from now on, I will be triple checking the diaper bag to verify I have all the necessary items - especially my wallet!

An Andrewism

Andrew likes to pretend the laundry basket is a cage - now if I could just find the lock...

I've mentioned before that Jonathan is sitting all by himself. And he LOVES it, except for when his toys are out of reach and he falls over trying to reach them. This upsets him so much that I often come running believing that he has been trampled by his big brother. But no, he's just mad and then I sit him up and all is right with the world again. So, today as we played on the floor, Andrew in his laundry basket - aka "The Cage" - and Jonathan sitting near, but not too near, Jonathan fell trying to reach Andrew and started to cry. Andrew looks at me and says "We need to get me a new brover." I of course ask why. And he rationally states, "This is one is too sad."

Where do 3 year olds come up with this stuff? Stay tuned for more Andrewisms.

Peppered Bacon and Tomato Linguine

Here's another yummy recipe I have found recently on Allrecipes.com. Enjoy!

Peppered Bacon and Tomato Linguine
1/2 pound peppered bacon, diced
2 T. chopped green onion
2 tsps. minced garlic
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp. dried basil (I used fresh - about 1/4 cup chopped)
1 tsp. salt
ground black pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) package linguine pasta
3 T. grated Parmesan cheese

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, and set aside. (I actually cook my bacon in the microwave and only save about 1-2 T of bacon grease.)
2. Saute green onion and garlic in bacon drippings over medium heat for one minute. Stir in tomatoes, basil, salt and ground black pepper; simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss hot pasta with sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

playdate!

The ball pit or secret hiding place as Andrew likes to play.

It was not an easy task trying to get everyone looking in the same direction!

This past Thursday, my cousin Violet, came to visit and she brought her two girls - Annette (2 1/2) and Victoria (10 weeks.) Andrew and Annette had a great time playing and they got along suprisingly well for their age. Andrew was his usual bossy self and Annette would inform him what she would and would not play and this seemed to work out great! They played so great that we actually got to have lots of adult conversation! Jonathan and Victoria just took it all in and can't wait until they are big enough to play in the ball pit or with sidewalk chalk or Little People or the kitchen. You get the picture. We are sad they are going back to California next week because we would love to play some more!

Please Pray for Cate

Andrew, Ben and Cate at Christmas

Cate is our miracle niece. Long story short - 5 years ago she suffered a traumatic brain injury, and we were told she wouldn't be able to walk, talk or feed herself. And those were just the basic skills. But they were wrong. They didn't know Cate and her will to live and the hundreds of people praying for her. She was 15 months old when this happened and she is now 6 years old and getting ready to enter 1st grade. She IS a miracle, and we are so grateful for the way God has worked in her life!

She did suffer severe frontal lobe damage, and with all of her miraculous recovery, we didn't know what that meant. Audra and Dave met with a neuropsychologist on Friday and received some bleak news. Here's a link to their blog where you can you read an update: Fleury Family.

Please join us in praying for the family and especially for Cate. We've always believed that God has a greater plan in store for Cate. This is just a stumbling block in her path, and we ask you to join us in prayer for her continued recovery.

Parenting Dilemna #784

So, today was one of those days, where you just don't know if you should laugh, yell, cry or just take a picture. I chose to take a picture and secretly laugh. The boys have been taking turns taking naps in attempt to break me. Basically only one child naps each day and the other one tortures me. It's a fun little game. HA! So today after I put Andrew in his room for a nap, I was working on getting Jonathan to sleep. Jonathan cooperated, Andrew did not. And so the game continues. I just have Jonathan to sleep and I hear the thumping footsteps of Andrew making his way down the stairs. I shush him so that Jonathan can continue sleeping and then notice his peculiar outfit. Up until now, Andrew has been incapable of getting himself dressed, or so I thought. He came out of his room wearing two extra pj tops and one matching pair of pants over his clothes, plus a pair of socks. "I get dressed mommy." He informed me in his sweet whisper voice. So, while I am irritated that his is not napping, again. He was too cute for me not to capture the moment. I removed his extra layers since its around 95 out today and sent him back to his room for more quiet time. At least Jonathan is napping today!

Oh, and we've entered that weird I-forgot-how-to-smile-for-a-camera phase. Lots of funny faces are all I get these days. Thank God for digital where I can take a thousand pictures in hopes of catching one good one!