So much has happened since I last blogged! Getting behind stinks! As you can see by the blog title, someone is potty trained! SHANE!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! I was starting to worry that Madison was going to be the first, but on Labor Day Shane woke up and wanted to wear underwear - just like that. He has been potty trained ever since - no joke! Yes, he has a very rare accident, but he is amazing. I am not going to stress with Maddie at all - when she is ready, she will be ready. I do not need to run Shane to the bathroom every 20 minutes - he goes when he needs to. Long car rides are no big deal, he is just awesome! We still put him in a diaper at night and it is dry 6 out of 7 nights - not bad! Our only issue is that he still likes to sit when he pees and he likes to take off everything when he goes - shoes, underwear, pants, etc. It is a pain, so we are working on pulling our pants down rather than off every time we go! So proud of him!!!!!!
We also celebrated our great friends and neighbors daughters 1st and 3rd birthdays on Labor Day weekend - here is Maddie partying!
On Labor Day, Shane played with his friend Auggie. This was his first day in underwear and he did great! He had a blast playing in the water! As I sit here typing in a sweater, I really miss those days!
Shane was supposed to start preschool the week after Labor Day, but the licensing was not back from the state, so his start was delayed until Ocober. Dan went back on September 3rd, with a strike looming on the horizon. We were stressed, angry at the state of education in this country, and worried for our family. We were really excited to go and see Bruce Springsteen on September 7th though. We were able to buy tickets from his manager and we knew they would be amazing seats! Just as we settled in and the show was about to start, security showed up to see our seats. We initially thought someone thought we were in their seats, but thought it was odd that we never saw them. When she came back two more times, we got frustrated and were wondering what was going on! Finally, the show began. Half way through the first song, Dan leaned over and said, "I got Rahm Emmanuel next to me." I thought he was being Dan - he always says stuff like that when he has someone who remotely resembles the famous person he is referring to near him, so I looked over expecting to see someone who vaguely resembled Rahm. My first thought was, "Wow, that guy really does look like him!" I quickly realized it was him. Really??? The man who was trying to sell public education to the highest bidder, the union-busting jerk who was going to be responsible for the first strike in 25 years in Chicago was next to two union teachers! UGGHHH! I could not even enjoy the show until I told him what I thought - that teachers deserved a fair contract. He told me that he thought the children needed a fair deal. I quickly reminded him that it was the teachers, not him, who were standing up for children. I felt much better after I spoke my mind. OK, here are some show shots! We really had great seats! Notice how Rahm never smiles. Thanks to Aunt Jorie and Uncle Jason for watching Shane and Maddie while we partied with Bruce!
Unfortunately the strike was not averted and our kids got a first hand lesson on what it means to stand up for what you know is right and fair and good. We proudly wore red and walked the picket lines with Dan and Jorie. We also rallied downtown and in Union Park! Dan was even interviewed live on CLTV and mentioned on the channel 9 news. No one can chant "Hey Hey Ho Ho, Rahm Emmanuel has got to go!" better than Shane! I was so proud of CPS teachers for standing up for the children of Chicago!
Auggie's sister Carly also turned 1 at the end of September - Madison loved playing at her party!
In early October Cathy & I headed to Johansen Farms in Bolingbrook! Shane loved the animals and Madison did not. :-) Here Shane is holding a baby chick.
How cute is this baby pig?
Maddie - she did not know she was in with the sheep yet!
Love this one!
Best friends!
AWWW!!!!
Madison loved the hay tunnel!
Everything is more fun if you run to it!
Maddie and I hanging out on the outside of the petting area - she was not in the mood for any more animals!
She is such a happy girl!
Julia turned 2 on September 29th, but we celebrated in early October.
When we were getting ready to leave, we realized that Shane and Lima had the same pjs! Then we realized that all 5 cousins had monkey pjs! Photo opp!
On October 9th, 2012 Shane started school! OK, it is 2 day/week preschool, but still school! My baby was more than ready! The week before they had meet the teacher day and Shane and Alex had the same time. Here are the pictures of his school and room from that day.
The lobby.
Looking into the gymnasium.
The hall leading to his room.
Smart board in the library!
The boys outside of the directors office.
Shane and his beloved teacher - Mrs. Duesenberg!
Alex & Mrs Duesenberg!
Both boys!
The room!
Maddie meeting her big brother's teacher!
The big first day! Yes, we had a mini photo shoot!
Ready to go inside! He was sooooo ready! He told me not to come inside! I did though - just for a minute!
Leaving the first day of school!
Shane's first day of pre-school present - the little people - little mermaid coach!
He loved it!
Papa Carolyn watched Maddie for the day and stayed for dinner!
Yes, we made such a big deal out of his first day - we even decorated his door!
And his chair!
He could not love preschool any more! There are 10 kids and 2 teachers - Mrs. Duesenberg and her assistant Mrs. Connely. In the first week of preschool I was getting Maddie dressed and Shane came out of my bathroom with wet hair??? I asked why it was wet, afraid of the answer. He told me that he washed his hair to look nice for Mrs. Duesenberg! He loves school!
OK, October 12th was Papa Carolyn's 76th birthday! Can you belive that? She looks sooooo young! Anyways, I was responsible for making the cake. Those fondant cards took forever, but came out cute! Unfortunately my camera battery dies and I only got a few pictures from the day!
OK, October 12th was Papa Carolyn's 76th birthday! Can you belive that? She looks sooooo young! Anyways, I was responsible for making the cake. Those fondant cards took forever, but came out cute! Unfortunately my camera battery dies and I only got a few pictures from the day!
Opening her presents - Shane and Maddie painted that vase for her!
Dan, Jack & Maddie!
2009 - Shane's 1st year @ Dollinger's - he was 7 months old
2010 - Shane's 2nd year @ Dollinger's - he was 19 months old
We did not do this Shane's first year at Dollinger's, but started the tradition his second year.
2011 - Shane's 3rd year @ Dollinger's - he was 2.5 years old or 31 months old & Madison's 1st year at Dollingers - 7 weeks old
We did not take Shane's picture here his first year, nor did we do Maddie's in her first year.
OK, now for this year's pictures - Shane is 3.5 or 43 months and Maddie was almost 14 months - you can see more pictures from previous years by looking through the blog archives. Look, Madie is part of the animal faces picture this year!
Maddie loved the hay this year! How sweet is her smile?
On our annual train ride!
OK, here is one of the professional shots of my little bunnies!
Happy Halloween!
