Father's Day Video

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Lord, Give Me Patience ....

Okay, I am committed to recording our life as it ACTUALLY happens...the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Today was more of an ugly day!  We are on day three of potty training and this was the worst day so far.  There didn't seem to be much "potty" in the training today.  It definitely wasn't for lack of trying though.  My sweet little boy seems to be more of a slow leaking hose.  He would no sooner have gotten off the potty, and then I would hear this off in the distance:

Brody:  "It's okay doh...ha, ha, ha (sinister laugh)." 
Emma:  "Brody, it is not okay.  You know better!"
Me: "Brody, did you pee pee in your pants again?"
Brody:  "Uh huh, I did.  It's okay doh...ha, ha, ha (sinister laugh)."

I have dreaded this process for quite a while now.  I know that someday I will look back and laugh but today just isn't that day.  Brody, tomorrow is a new day!

Love,
Mommy

P.S.  There isn't a fun picture to go along with this post because, well, I was too busy washing underwear!  It's okay doh!!

Big Boy Underwear...

We are officially potty training!  Today, Brody and I went to the store and he picked out his "big boy" underwear.  He chose Cars and Thomas...not a huge surprise!  He also got to pick out a toy for when he goes "poop" on the potty.  We put it on top of the refrigerator as a reminder of our goal!  He did great today and only had one small accident!  I have been dreading this process but there is no turning back now! 

Brody modeling his new "Cars" underwear

Brody is trying hard to poop so he can get his prize!

Emma has a special day with daddy today!  They went to the Lakeview, Bicycle Safety Town, and then went golfing.  This is what she looked like when she came home...

Emma as a beautiful butterfly

 

Preschool Graduation...

Emma on the bridge at graduation

That's right...today Emma graduated from Northminster Learning Center.  It was an emotional day for mom but Emma was thrilled.  Tonight she had an "ice cream program"/graduation.  All the kids from her preschool sang songs and those kids who are moving on to kindergarten got to walk across the bridge.  She had been waiting for this moment since she saw her friends do it last year.  Emma is so excited to start kindergarten next year, but most of all she is thrilled to get to ride the bus to school.  On the car ride home she said, "Mom, your little baby is not so little anymore."  Thanks for the reminder Emma!

Mrs. Martinek & Mrs. Taylor

Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Martinek have been Emma's teachers for the past two years and they have been such a blessing.  Emma has really come out of her shell.  When she started preschool, she was painfully shy and never volunteered much information about herself.  In the words of Mrs. Taylor, "She is now a leader in the class."  Thankfully, we didn't have to say "goodbye" to them, as they will be Brody's teachers in the fall.  I told them to rest up this summer...they will need it!  Speaking of Brody...it was his last day in Curiosity Corner with his teachers, Mrs. Gottlieb and Ms. Wegmann.  He will return in August as an official preschooler!

Ms. Wegmann & Mrs. Gottlieb

Mrs. Gottlieb couldn't believe the changes in Brody from the beginning of the year until now.  He is such a fun little guy!  Now it is time to relax a bit and enjoy the summer!

Look Mom, No Training Wheels...

That's right...the training wheels came off of her "big girl" bike today.  Mommy was a nervous wreck but Emma did awesome!  Once daddy lowered her seat a bit she took off and never looked back!  The smile plastered across her face was priceless  After a few spins up and down the street she felt confident enough to sing to the neighborhood while riding her bike.  It was definitely a bittersweet moment as I watched her take off on that bike.  On one hand, I am so proud of her (which I told her no less than 50 times.)  On the other hand, my heart hurts just a touch as I watch her take another step in her independence.  The time really is going so fast!  Not to be outdone, Brody made his own method of transportation...

This is Brody's bus that he made.  He is the driver and he put his toys on the chairs as his passengers.  He drove them until he informed me that they "were at school now."  Love it!!!

Somebody get that boy a chew toy...

Tonight while Emma and I were being silly, she playfully pretended that she was eating my toes.  I started laughing and squirming...much like Tickle me Elmo.  I guess not everyone got the memo that we were in "pretend land."  In the midst of my laughter, I felt an incredible amount of pain coming from my other foot.  Looking down at it, I noticed that there was a little boy (about the age of three), who had his mouth clamped down on my toes like a pit bull.  This child came out of nowhere!  Meanwhile, Emma is still tickling my other foot, completely unaware of what could have been a complete amputation of my toes!  I wish I could accurately describe the sound that came out of my mouth.  All that I can say is that it was a mixture of laughter (from the tickling) and a howl (from the partial amputation).  It was one of those moments when you cannot, for the life of you, formulate a word!  The louder I howl/laughed, the harder Brody bit down.  Oh yes!  Thankfully, daddy swooped in with the jaws of life to remove this wild animal from what is left of my toes!

Here he is eating ice cream after the attack...just to give you a visual of what it looks like to have him come at you with that mouth!!!

Broadway Bound...

Today was a big day at the Bardwell house.  A star was made and her name is Emmalicious. Emma had her very first dance/tumbling recital tonight and it was quite a show.  Emma's class did two songs and they were precious!  A special "thank you" to Nana and Papa for coming to watch the show!  Nana told Emma that she had done a great job and Emma said, "I really didn't know what I was doing!"  We love you Emma and we are so proud of our little star!

Gabe visits...

Kenzi, Gabe, Emma & Brody

Today we got to see our good friend Gabe who moved to Denver last fall.  Within two minutes of arriving at Pete and Wanda's house both of you were naked and trying to put your swimming suits on.  Children, as your mommy, I feel it is very important to tell you that it is NEVER appropriate to get undressed in front of a crowd of people.  Got it??  Other than that, it was such a wonderful day of swimming, friends and a big dirt pile.  

P.S.  Emma, this was your sweet face right before you told me that  your ear "really, really hurt."  I thought you were just saying it because Brody has two ear infections. You told me that we needed to go to the doctor before we went home.  I tried to talk you out of it thinking you were having sympathy pains, but you insisted.  We stopped at the doctor on the way home and guess what?!  You have an ear infection which of course YOU already knew.  Mommy hopes that you go through life with this same attitude.  Don't let anyone talk you out of something that you know to be true.  I love you so much and I hope that you feel better soon!

When momma bear is away...

Daddy buys the kids a pool!  Oh yes he did!  Mommy had the day off today as part of my Mother's Day present.  I had such a great day.  Apparently, I'm not the only one.  When I got home Emma couldn't wait to show me the pool that daddy had filled up.  I played along thinking that I was going outside to see our baby pool out on the deck.  This is what I found:

Mommy:  Where did this come from?

Emma:  "From MENARDS!  We went to get a sprinkler and daddy said, 'Hey Emma, do you want to get a sprinkler AND a pool?' I said YEAH!!!!"

Tom:  "It was a great deal." 

I am going to be out of a job soon if this continues.  Daddy is so fun and momma bear makes them eat their fruits and their vegetables.

P.S.  This is the face of a little guy with a double ear infection.  We had to take him to the doctor tonight.  It is coming out of his eyes and the poor child cannot stop drooling.  Momma bear loves you!!!

Happy Mudder's Day!

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I woke up to breakfast in bed and my beautiful children bringing hugs and cards.  Brody said, "Happy Mudder's Day...it's your special day!"  Daddy asked Emma what she loved most about mommy.  Here are her top three answers:

1. "I love that her skin is squishy."
2. "I love that she has lots of clothes."
3. "I love that she loves me so much and that I love her so much".  

I'm not so sure how I feel about the first two but I will definitely take the third!  Thank you Lord for blessing me with these two amazing children.  Emma and Brody...I am so grateful to be your mom.  There aren't words to express how much I love you both!  Happy Mudder's Day!!!

Here goes nothing...

Could this really be true?  Am I cut out to be a blogger?  Probably not, but this is an effort made by a mom who is failing at keeping her photo albums and baby books up to date.  The days seem to be going so fast!  It is my prayer that this blog would help me to slow down and record the everyday moments that I treasure so dearly!