Another first...for me that is.

For the first time ever in my life I only have one child in diapers. (Can you hear me cheering?) Three kids down and one to go. I never knew how easy it was to only have one child in diapers. I know this may sound odd, but after having a minimum of two kids in diapers for the last five years having one child in diapers really is easy. There was a time when I had four kids in diapers. Hmm, want to guess how I spent a majority of my day back in then?

Stella is the newest "big" girl in the house. I told her that if she didn't go potty in her diaper for three days I'd buy her big girl panties. I didn't really think she understood what I was asking of her, but apparently I was wrong. She knew exactly what she had to do. Three days later she told me she got to have Dora panties. She fulfilled her end of the deal. Not a single accident. It was time for me to pay up. Off to Target we went to purchase every pair of little girl panties in Stella's size (no joke.)

I'm not sure who is most excited about Stella doing her duty in the toilet, me, her, or her oldest brothers. After Stella does her thing in the toilet it is a party, usually led by Owen. Everybody cheers and goes to look at the potty or stink in the toilet. Stink in the toilet calls for a huge celebration, I tell you. (TMI?) Handing out the M&M's is also a big job for Owen and Carson. One "M" for potty, two "M's" for stink, and a handful for the boy who gets the dish of M&M's for Stella. (I'm not sure the big boys know that I know they sneak a few M&M's when they give one to Stella.)

Stella pretty much potty trained herself. I don't even have to ask her if she has to go potty. She just goes on her own. She's made life very easy for me. This just goes to show that when a child is ready to "go" they will "go." Isaac would love to be potty trained so he can get an "M" but he's got no clue as to what's going on "down there." But, when the day comes when he is potty trained look up. I may have a plane flying a banner announcing the Wrights are diaper free! Stay tuned.

Gotta Ride!

The big boys woke up happy. It was a beautiful morning. They played inside for a short while then decided to ride their bikes in the garage until Stella and Isaac woke up. Carson and Owen rushed in the house asking if they could get the "babes" up yet. It was close to their time in the morning for getting up. I could tell they were awake because I could hear Stella and Ike talking and playing through the baby monitors. Carson and Owen rushed up the stairs and told Stella and Isaac they could get up. While in the "Littles" room they told them how they had been riding their bikes. Before I knew it all four kids were outside riding their bikes. All four kids in their pajamas.

It was so cute watching them play and listening to their excitement. They raced, played and laughed hard. I figured why spoil a good thing? I let the kids have breakfast outside in the driveway, in their pajamas then let them continue to ride their bikes until they were ready to come inside. They rode their bikes for about two hours, came inside to "watch a show," got dressed then headed outside to ride some more. It was a full day of riding bikes.

Slip-N-Slide, baby!

We have lived in our house for almost a year, now. There are so many things we love about our house, but one of the major selling points was the backyard. We wanted a big backyard for our kids to play. We always said we are buying a house for the "now" not for what may come in the future. Little did we know how much joy our backyard would truly bring the kids. We've got a nice little hill in backyard. It gives the kids great delight. Last fall we realized it was perfect for racing bikes, trikes, cars, big wheels and scooters down. During winter it was great for sledding and now that it's summer it's the perfect hill for the Slip-N-Slide!

The Slip-N-Slide has been a staple in our lives this summer. It has been modified and "suped-up" since the beginning of the summer. The original Slip-N-Slide was your standard double. We've been through about five of them since. We now put three of them together (my dad's idea-and a genius one it was) and this is our result.

This has been proven to not only provide hours of enjoyment for our kids, but for friends and family, too. The Slip-N-Slide has gotten quite a workout as have the kids who constantly run up the hill over and over again just to go down again. The kids sleep very well on Slip-N-Slide days. We are convinced that the hill is what makes it so much fun. The kids get enough momentum to make it to the end of the Slip-N-Slide, and I mean all the kids (even Stella and Ike.) It is strategically placed on the hill. The Slip-N-Slide has ramps for the kids to get "air" and they now ride a boogie board type thing down to go faster.

Oh to be young again!

08.09.10.

Carson and Owen turned five on 08.09.10 this year. I loved the date! Carson and Owen love being five. It's a whole hand you know. In the morning when they awoke and walked down the stairs with their birthday tables in sight, they asked me if they were five yet? When I told them they were five complete joy and satisfaction filled their little bodies.

Carson and Owen had a great birthday party and a fun birthday. They got to wake Stella and Isaac earlier than normal in morning (their favorite thing to do) so they could open some of their birthday presents before daddy left for work. Daddy stayed at home a while longer to watch the boys open presents and to help assemble the new Star Wars toys.

Bum (Aunt Jennifer), and cousins Ben, Jack and Kate brought the kids lunch on their birthday. They had a little picnic. Then played in the backyard. The Wright kids took a nap, then I hauled them all to Chuck E. Cheese's. We met Daddy there. The kids had a blast! (That is the only reason you take kids to that place, right? For the kids?) Carson and I had to divide and conquer while at Chuck E. Cheese's. One parent with Captain Chaos a.k.a Isaac and the other parent with the other three kids. Isaac lost his mind (in a good way, if that's possible). Isaac loved playing all the games, even if someone else was already playing the game. I swear he was like a little cartoon character. He reminded me of Dash from The Incredibles. He was everywhere and so quick. The big boys loved playing the games and Stella enjoyed the smash the gopher game most. Isaac threw a complete fit when it was time to go and asks daily, "can we go to Chuck N. Cheese?" (The answer is always the same. No. I'm hoping he forgets about that place real soon!)

When coming home from Chuck E. Cheese's the birthday boys each had one more birthday present to open. We sang happy birthday to them with candles in Fig Newtons. Carson and Owen loved their new spinning, double, Star Wars light sabers. It was the perfect ending to their fun birthday.

Happy birthday Carson. Happy birthday Owen. We love you!

Celebrate!

On Aug. 07 we celebrated the big boys' birthdays by having a party for them. It was a beautiful day spent with family and friends. The party was complete with a "light" Star Wars theme which included two Yoda birthday cakes and Darth Vader masks for the kids to wear.

We started the day by putting the boys' hand prints on their birthday tablecloth. It so bittersweet seeing how much they have grown over the years. I will say it gets much easier and the hand prints look "better" as the boys get older.

After doing the hand prints next on our agenda was to make our traditional birthday cupcakes. We always let the kids decorate the cupcakes. Carson, Owen, Stella, Isaac, and cousins Jack and Kate were the decorators this year. They did a fantastic job. The cupcakes really do turn out perfect. Isaac and Stella thought they were hot stuff decorating cupcakes. Isaac only got one decorated. It's hard to get a lot done when you eat more than you decorate. Needless to say the kids were on a little bit of a sugar high after decorating cupcakes.

Pure beauty.

The boys had a little quiet time before their birthday party. This gave the adults time to clean up and prepare for the festivities. When Carson and Owen woke from their naps they had their birthday presents from Dad and Mom waiting in the basement for them.

The guests started to arrive and the birthday party officially began. The boys had a very nice day and evening. The kids swam and went down the extended Slip-N-Slide more times than what I could count. I think everybody had a great time, especially the birthday boys.

Happy birthday to Owen.

Happy birthday, Carson.




Opening presents.

Time to move the party outside.

Thanks for making Carson's and Owen's fifth birthday party a memorable one.