Animals!

Ayden begs day in and day out to go see the animals.  I think as it is... Sarah takes him at least once a week.  We went Thanksgiving weekend as a family to the zoo and it was oodles of fun.  Enhanced especially by the fact that our friends (Kendra, Stevie and Chelsea) and their little ones happen to be there at the same time!!

Hard to tell the kids not to chase the poor peacocks when Stevie is the first one off and running ;)

I just love this pic of Shyla..isn't she adorable!

Yes, we had some bedhead goin' on...

To me he looks like 2 going on 15...mommy is already nostalgic

Ayden has to push with all his might to get daddy through the tunnel!

Look at that face!  Lilly was the only one willing to pose for me :)

Leave it to Ayden to find the most obnoxious sound to make...just picture nails on a chalk board.  And soon enough all the kids joined in - oh goodie!!

What a good big sis - Lilly was helping Zack figure out the water spitting frog.

(Take notes Ayden!!)

If it looks like a flying stroller that is because it is...what would we do without strong daddies!!

My boys...(guess I better get used to that as it looks like I'll be holding down the only female card in the house...at least for a few more years!!)

'I want Kix please Mommy'

The other day while I was on my way to our deep freeze to get out meat for dinner, Ayden told me that he wanted Kix for snack.  I heard him loud and clear as he is very good at talking these days.  What I didn't apparently understand was that he meant NOW!!

So, in a matter of 30 seconds, Ayden got his Kix......all by himself :)

Ayden Potter

Today J taught Ayden the art of wizardry.  More specifically, how to cast spells with a wand (aka stick).  This was all veeeeery cute while we were the only ones at the park this morning.

Then two families showed up and Ayden continued to 'cast spells' at the kids (and basically anything in sight).  It quickly dawned on me that my kid was now 'that kid', as it appeared to the unknowing bystandar that my child was pretend shooting.......hum......awesome.....

Well...Such is life!

'Stinky Butts'

The fun has begun!

For the past few weeks, Ayden has showed signs of being ready to begin potty training.  As with everything else, Ayden has led the way in telling mommy and daddy what he is and is not ready for.

First, he began using and understanding the terms 'potty', 'pee pee' and 'stinky butts'.  Then he moved on to telling us when he was 'all done' (aka dirty diaper).  And this past week he started running up to us and announcing that he had 'stinky butts'.

All of this could only point in one direction, so I went to the store yesterday and made the 'pull-ups' purchase so we were ready when he was. 

I think we may be ready....

Tonight. while he and I were diligently playing and eating our way through dinner, this look came over his face and he said, 'Mommy!  Stinky Butts!'  I thought to myself, there is no way he just pooped, I would have seen the face!  So I quickly deduced that he was in fact announcing that he had to go! We flew out of that chair, [food tumbling everywhere], so fast and ran to the potty.  Where Ayden patiently waited while we pulled off the pants and threw off the diaper.  He then proceeded to sit down very nicely and diligently on the potty...like he had been doing this for years - all he needed was a newspaper....or i guess it would be an I-Pad these days!

At first nothing happened and Ayden stood up and graciously explained that 'Stinky butts went away'.  But after some time of up and down off the potty I saw the face.....Game on!!!  Ayden was amazed at what was in the potty when he was 'all done' (both poop and pee). 

[There might be a little more to the story, like perhaps when he started to pee he wasn't quite lined up right and we may have had pee shooting everywhere (mommy of course hysterically laughing but trying to be calm so as not to frighten him)......but that's neither here nor there....and there are no witnesses to either confirm or deny whether that actually occurred.]

I was SO PROUD of him I could have done a flip.  It is certainly the little milestones that make being a parent so amazing.  I could see my excitement reflected in his beaming eyes and huge smile - what a big boy.

There is no way this journey to underwear will be this easy, but a mother can hope can't she?!?!

Below the Border

Last weekend Gram-E, Ayden and I joined Lynnea, Susan and Alana for a little venture across the border in Puerto Pinasco, Mexico.

It...was....simply....FABULOUS....

The weather was picture perfect.  The beach and sand prime for sand castle making (or destroying).  And the pools heated to bath water.

Ayden was spoiled beyond belief (if it is possible to be more spoiled than he is on a daily basis) by 5 adoring women.  Which also meant that Mommy (aka me!) got some much needed down time.

Between the 5 of us (lets be honest....the Molinas) we had enough food to feed an army!  There was lots of cooking and delicious meals.  Which is important when you have TWO pregnant women (CONGRATS NEA & SHILOH!!!)

 As you can see, the digs were superb!

One day we took Ayden to the 'aquarium'.  Translation....one room that smells like FISH!!!! with big tubs that you can stick your hands...head....body... whatever.. in at your own risk =)

 Susan tried very hard to get Ayden to touch anything she pulled out of the water.  But Ayden wanted nothing to do with it and insisted each and every time that it go 'back in water!!'

 Ayden loves turtles, so seeing these large sea-turtles was a treat!  

 To them, I think Ayden's probing little fingers were more the treat.

 This was the seal.  He was quite large and at times very vocal.  Ayden was not the biggest fan of it's barking.  Needless to say,  I don't think we will have a chance to touch and feed a seal in the US like this anytime soon.  Considering the broken chain link fence between us and Mr. Seal, I'm suspecting the Mexican regulations may not be as strict as ours ;)

Ayden was fascinated with all the animals and learned a new word...Octopus!  (it is SO cute to hear him say!)

After 4 days of bliss...we headed home.  Ayden was a gem in the car per usual and so polite saying 'Bye-bye' to the border patrol men.