Riding the potty train and other happenings

After getting a little more settled in the new house and getting back from our trip, there were no more excuses: it was definitely time to potty train this cute little 3 year-old:

First of all, let me just share my feelings about potty training.  I HATE IT!  I think there is big money to be made in someone starting a potty training boot camp, where parents can send a child in diapers and come back in a week to pick up a child in big-kid knickers.  I would pay big money for this.  But since there is no such thing that I know of, I put on my fake positive attitude and began the process.  (One more thing - although I am not the cleanest person, I can't stand the thought of bodily fluids and solids on my furniture and carpet, which is one reason we don't have a pet.  But when you're potty training, you can't pressure the child too much and you have to act laid back: "What?  You just peed on my brand-new couch?  That's okay!  I'm sure next time you'll make it to the toilet in time!")  Enough ranting...

So we got out all of Liam's too-small but still very cool knickers (Star Wars, Nascar, Ninja Turtles), stocked up on Pullups and carpet shampoo, and we were off.  And I have to tell you that I have been very pleasantly surprised.  Sam is a natural!  He is a challenging child in many ways, so it's only fair that he be our easiest potty-trainer.  (He is also our best sleeper.)  He has done so well and we are nearly 100% there - Hooray!!  

I attribute our quick success to two things:

1) Waiting until he was a little older.  We started Grace before age 2 and I swear we were potty training her for a year.

2) Getting Grace and Liam in on the action.  We bought a huge jar of potty treats and after Sam goes, he gets one and anyone who was helping him gets one, too.  Best idea ever.  When Sam announces that he needs to go, everyone runs into the bathroom with him, all excited and encouraging.  He loves all the attention (favorite line so far: "I totally peed!") and Grace and Liam love getting a Starburst once in a while.  It's a win-win!  

Speaking of potties, wanna see what ours look like?  Two bathrooms are now done.  I love decorating bathrooms because it's so fast to do. 

Here's the downstairs one.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but the thing on the left wall is a wire leaf. 

And the kids upstairs bath.  Funny story about this one.  When we bought this house, there were two colors I knew I wanted to try: kelly green (see above) and tangerine orange.  I had seen pictures in magazines of both these colors and loved them but I was too scared to try them in a bedroom.  So I painted one bathroom green and loved it.  Feeling pretty confident, I carefully selected the shade of orange that would go into the upstairs bathroom and went home and painted it.  It was pumpkin orange, not too ugly but a little Halloween-ish.  I went back for another gallon of a different shade of orange paint and this time it turned out peach.  I hated the shade and finally gave up on my dreams of an orange room.  

So here's the bathroom with its third and final color:

I love this wall of each of my babies at nine months old in a cheesy portrait studio bathtub.  These were the only times I gave into the pressures of horrible props and I'm glad I did.  This wall makes me smile every time I see it.  

Other things we have been up to this week:  Getting ready for school, which starts tomorrow.  Last Saturday we went school clothes shopping with Joei and Miranda at the outlet stores outside of Seattle.  We had a good time and I am patting myself on the back for letting Grace and Liam pick out their own clothes because it's not easy for me.   I told them what they needed and how much we could spend and they went at it.  First grade will find Liam dressed in track pants and sports shirts, and in third grade, Grace will be wearing many sparkles and embellishments and shirts with spunky sayings.  They did great, and the funnest part was coming home to our annual back-to-school fashion show for Daddy.  We turn on loud dance music and the kids work the runway modeling each outfit.  

The final touch for Grace: a sassy third-grade haircut.

Liam is not so pumped about summer ending and school starting, but Grace has been excited about it for months.  Here's a letter she wrote to her future third grade teacher the day after her last day of second grade:

Dear Third Grade Teacher,

Here are some things you would like to know about me.  I'm very sweet and I'm very good at being a great citizen.  I don't get in trouble often.  I hope you give me lots of homework.  I am very good at reading, writing, and math and I love piano. (That's my hobby at home) I've written some books, their titles are: The Spaghetti School and The Time Watch.  You should know how my handwriting looks by now because you're reading this letter.  Good luck with teaching!

Love,

Grace Ratchford

How awesome is she?  She has been busy arranging and rearranging her school supplies in her backpack over and over again.  She reminds me of me at that age... and me now, too!  When we went over to the school to see their classrooms, I actually got a little jealous of Grace and Liam.  I used to love starting a new school year  - the good smells in the hall alone made me excited to teach again someday.  I know they are going to have a great year and I'm so excited for them!

This is a long post, but I have to share one more picture that makes me smile.  Liam and Declan are obsessed with belts.  Today Liam came down in his rodeo belt and Declan cried and cried until I went up to get him a belt to wear.  

The Belt Brothers.  Declan was so excited about his that he couldn't even stand still for a picture!

As you can see, things are busy at our house this week, especially as we get ready for visitors!  That's right - some of our very favorite people are coming up to spend a week with us!  We can't wait!  Stay tuned for pictures of many fun adventures...