Ares puts Atlas to bed - Kinda. VIDEOS!

This child absolutely loves his older brother, and the feeling is mutual.   At this moment, they're obsessed with sleeping on the floor.  Both of them slept on their floors last night (in their respected rooms)

We had an awesome rain storm one day, and it was super warm outside (mid 80's with the rain).  Atlas would have been out here too, but Grandma was holding his little 103* temperature body on the couch.

Potty Training Atlas - Mom and Dad's 60th

So you all know what a *ahem* stubborn child Atlas can be.  I decided on Wednesday (his 3rd birthday), that I was going to take Friday off, and potty train Atlas.  We need a full 3 days, with no plans (OK, so my parents' 60th birthday party was Saturday night, and we had company coming in on Sunday), but compared to the next 8 weeks planned, that was nothing.  So it was now or never.  


Thursday after daycare we were going to start, except I forgot that Ares had soccer practice.  (Where I stepped on a bee, reminder, it hurts, a lot, and if the kids are stung, give them more attention than a 'suck it up' I probably would have done if I hadn't just experienced it myself.)   So we got home from daycare, and just put him in underwear and hoped and prayed he'd stay dry.   He did.  He also went to bed with a slight fever, but we had him throw away his diapers anyhow.


Friday - !   The big day!! Atlas woke up with a 103* fever.  It was a battle inside my head.  Do we grab the diapers and potty train another time, or do we just go at it?   I decided that if I pulled the diapers out, he'd always think we could do that, so I pumped him full of Tylenol (the recommended amount) and we started.  This kid.  THIS KID!  He was soo ready.  He had 2 accidents, 2 made it to the bathroom but not to the toilet and a few tiny dribbles. A 2nd night dry, waking up once to go at 4am (well, he woke up crying, and we assumed that he had to go.) 

Saturday -: Great day, 1 accident when at a party and he was waaay too far from a bathroom. Made it to the bathroom but that's about it - needs to start practicing his sprints. In his defense, it was during my parents' 60th birthday party, where there were tons of distractions.  He was dry again at night. But he seems to forget how to sleep through the night.  He woke up crying multiple times, but never had to go potty.  In fact, he didn't go potty until about an hour after he woke up (I think he was just being stubborn, because we told him everyone goes to the bathroom right after waking up.) 


Sunday: 1 accident (again, that sprinting issue). 1 dribble.   The accident happened when he was in the basement with Davis and Ares playing (Darah, Davis and Danica came up on Sunday to hang out, on their way to Pittsburgh) It was awesome seeing them, and Atlas had done such a great job, that we even went out to dinner.  He went to the bathroom there, too!
 
No gross accidents. I'd say it was a compete success and that after 1 day he was fine. His school really helped get him ready.  I am absolutely shocked, at what an awesome weekend we had.  His fever broke Saturday, late morning.  Even with the fever, the kid wants to play, laugh, and just have fun, which we did. 

A mustache like Grandpa Doug!

 

 

He did so well, we didn't mind him sitting on our laps!

Pump him full of liquids, keep him close to a potty.

 

Love this kid!

Break during mom & dad's 60th party

 

 

The cake was done by Sweets by Christine. 
I found the cake picture online, and she replicated it. Perfectly.

That's a cake.  A cake!!!  it was ALL edible (except for the wires that the little planes were flying on)

Cookies - they even tasted good

My mom (purple) with her (L to R) Mother in law, Mom and Step Mom.  We are SOO grateful to have them all in our lives!

You'd have never known these two hadn't seen each other in months.

Atlas' 3 year Bbirthday Questions

1. What is your favorite color?  Blue and geen and red
2. What is your favorite toy?  motorcycle red
3. What is your favorite fruit? blueberrries
4. What is your favorite TV show? paw patrol
5. What is your favorite movie? Pets & Nimo (finding Dory)
6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Ohio State Go Buckeyes
7. What is your favorite animal? Dinosaurs
8. What is your favorite song?  
9. What is your favorite book? Jippy
10. Who is your best friend?  James
11. What is your favorite food? Cheese
12. What is your favorite snack? Muffins
13. What is your favorite drink? Paw Patrol cup!
14. What is your favorite game? 
15. What do you like to do outside?  Play outside!
16. What do you sleep with at night? with Ballpark and with my doggy!
17. What do you want to be when you grow up? not a baby
18. What is your favorite sport? I like basketball and I like football and I like baseball
19. What is your favorite restaurant? Steak and shake is my restaurant
20. What do you want for your birthday?  Candles!  WIth fire on the top!  and I blow it out and then lick it!
21. What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? playing
22. What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? playing
23. What is your favorite thing to do with your brother?  playing
24. How do you know we love you?  
25. What kind of birthday party are you going to have?  Paw Patrol!

Happy Birthday Atlas! 3!!

My little guy is turning 3 tomorrow!  I can't believe it!   In fact, it came upon us so fast, we didn't plan a birthday party for him.  No fear!  Grandma Karen kind of did!  She got him a cake, with his favorite characters (Paw Patrol) for him, and a pool party with Parker and Landon (Adam's cousin's kids). They all had a blast.  Naturally, Atlas nearly killed himself by jumping in the water immediately after he said he was done swimming - without his life jacket on.   I was there to watch, I yelled at him telling him he can't swim, and then jumped in to get him.  He was nearly treading water pretty well.  He came up and kept apologizing, haha.  He'll do it again, no doubt, little stinker.   Hopefully someone is there to watch.  We need to teach this kid to swim. like - now. 






This might be my favorite pic of them.  They both wanted their photo taken together. 

Tissue paper was probably his favorite part of the gift.  He got shoes, clothes, fake mustaches, cars, legos... there might be more, I forgot.  (From the inlaws)


The funny thing was, I had no idea what to get him for his birthday.   I asked him, he was no help:


Atlas: "I want candles - with fire on the end" 
Me:  "OK, what else"
Atlas:  "And I blow it out!  And then I *with movement to match* lick it!" 


OK, so he wants a birthday cake.  Done.

 

They played together all morning. 

Adam and I remembered to make something to
 bring to his class! 
And it wasn't last minute!

 

What We've Done With No Kids

3 weeks, without either child.   I'm super grateful, as I have had the time to study for an exam without needing to wait until they were in bed when I would be exhausted.  Then, I got to go car shopping without them around (which was amazing, and nice alone time with adam, since we didn't really see each other while I was studying).  We miss the kids now, though.   So here's what went on at the Miller House:




Week 1:
Athena:  Study - every day, no fun
Adam:  Either ran, or played disc golf everyday.  Sometimes both




Week 2:
Both:  Worked on the shelves in the morning room and went to a 4th of July Party. Car shopping.
Athena:  Study - every day, no fun (even left the party early to study), got into car accident, passed exam, painted 'believeland' with my mom,   went to dealership, told a dealer they were ridiculous for trying to sell a particular vehicle at the price they wanted, left dealership
Adam:  Ran and played disc golf. 




Week 3:
Both: Stained the swing set AND the stairs to the patio.  Bought a car, went grocery shopping, went to a concert (Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin), ate dinner at my parents, made Adam's dad a (late) father's day gift. (We had the plans for weeks, but never got around to making it - until 10:15 the night before leaving for Cinci).




It sucked that I had a majority of the first two weeks studying for the exam, but it was nice to have some time after the exam to enjoy being with Adam.   I am SOO ready to get the boys  now.  I'm sure they'll be rough the first few days, but I miss their hugs and kisses and wrestling and laughs.



Disturbed, from inside the pavilion during the storm

The concert (at Blossom) was fun, but a little crazy, as a HUGE fast storm came through.   Disturbed stopped mid concert to tell people to get into bathrooms or the pavilion to protect from the wind/lightning.   After about 20 minutes of the lawn being emptied out into the Pavilion (Yes, 10,000 people fit into the pavilion, haha) they started playing again.  It was awesome, because the lawn wasn't very packed at all, and it was tough getting into the concert mentality, but it got all better once we were squished (but not uncomfortably at all) into the pavilion.   It was also pretty awesome to run into my sorority sister, husband and friend (Jessica, who we both know from different places) and hang out with them for the concert.   Good Times!

The hard part is done, now all I need to do is put another coat or two of stain on.

Much darker steps, very pretty,
they match the swingset now

A New Car! (said in a gameshow voice)

I lived through everyone who has ever taken an exam's worst nightmare.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I got into a car accident (totaling my vehicle) ON THE WAY to the exam.   Panicked, I call Adam, and my mom, but no one answers, so after giving over my information, I placed a plea on Facebook to find someone to drive me to the exam.   The Wiece's came through, and Crystal got me to my exam on time.  Sore neck, wrist bruised and swollen, I painstakingly took my exam, pushing thoughts of the accident aside, and tried my hardest to concentrate on the material.  Not sure how - but I ended up passing. (I mean, I wasn't even passing my practice exam!)  My mom and Adam both showed up to pick me up after the exam, and we went to dinner, then Adam took me to the urgent care, in case I had other injuries "You've got a lot of adrenaline going on, you wouldn't even know if you were hurt".  (BTW, not true.  I already couldn't touch my wrist or turn my head.) 

 

 My poor baby, super clean, super loved, no car payments.  I wasn't quite ready to give her up yet.  I loved this car so much.   Fortunately, we got a nice $6k settlement check from the insurance company, a bit more than I thought I'd get, since it has 236k miles on it, but because mom had it detailed the week prior, it was in  impeccable shape. 

A few days later, I found a new car.  Adam and I walked some lots after hours, (nice not having the kids around for this part) and decided that even though I liked a few other

 

vehicles, safety, reliability, and the options that we want (tow package, 3 rows, tinted windows, etc) the Pilot would be the best option.  This makes me so happy.  I looked at a few online, went to test drive one (left within 5 minutes because of the exterior condition) and then decided on a whim, to drive past the little lot in Twinsburg, because online it said they had a Pilot.   They did.  It was nice.   I looked at it.  Drove it.  Bought it.  Right out from under another lady looking at it, but who wanted to use her credit union and not put a deposit down to hold it.  Oops, her bad.  My car.   So, here's to my new (to me) 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L!   seriously!  Leather, sunroof, Bluetooth, power everything!  So excited, aside from now having a car loan, =(  .    

We pick the boys up on Friday. Hopefully they approve.   I'm totally missing them, and can't wait to see them.  I'm sure they'll be little assholes for the first week (based off of another friend who's kids were gone for a whole month), but I'll be glad to get some hugs and kisses!!)   I also have a surprise for them later.  I want to put in DVD players -  but shhhhh.  I don't want them to know until they're in - hopefully this month or next.

No Kids - Nothing Getting Done

Both boys were dropped off with their Grandparents in Cincinnati this past weekend - FOR THREE WEEKS!   I can hardly get everything I want to get done around the house on a single list!   - And then I had to schedule the first of 3 CIA exams.  I wanted to do it the first week they were gone, but alas, there were no openings, so I had to schedule it for the end of the 2nd week.  I suppose this is a good thing  - as I can't seem to pass the practice exams.  I'm close-ish, like, 68.8%.  They can't say what exact % you need, because the questions are weighted when you take the final exam, but not for the practice exams, so you really need closer to a 75-80% when you're doing the practice ones.  I have a long way to go....   However, until Thursday evening, nothing on my list will get done.  No.Fun.