potty training and camping....

Tucker moving big fish around the house

whitney climbing expertly out of the crib

Whitney ran over to get her toy drill to help Daddy fix it when he started working with his drill.

Tucker does this endlessly on the floor with all different autos and on the transition to the kitchen as well as on the dishwasher.

the one sunny warm day we had at our house.  We pretended it was warm enough for shorts.  First day for potty training for tucker.  We ate lunch outside for obvious reasons

"I've got this, Dad"  (taking apart his crib)

The next series of pictures are of Tucker and Whitney rock climbing with Daddy at the ward camp out.

Whitney was totally doing this herself until she slipped and fell.  Usually that means a serious disaster at the playground, so she was spooked after that, but she did get about Jim's head, pretty high for a little one like that.

Tucker was eating chips while Whitney was on the wall.

Tucker tried it too, but didn't ever actively climb.  He just liked posing for the camera and swinging from the rope.

Totally crashed on the way home from the camp out.

Tucker's preferred sleeping position

Whitney fell asleep after church today reading.

Daddy's solution to the problem of Whitney wanting more "jugo" from the watermelon

The cart ride back to the tent after the water time.

Tucker did this.  Doesn't this look familiar.......

You're right.  These items don't really go well together.

This week after Jim got back from his trip, we got down to business and I started potty training Tucker.  He was showing signs.  Like, during lunch when he still had a diaper, saying he wanted to get out so he could go poop and low and behold, poop in the diaper.  Plus he was getting really good at holding it so he could get a treat (and Whitney, too) right before bath after using the toilet.  Another sign is that Whitney started having more accidents on days I didn't give her a treat for going potty like I did for Tucker.  This time I did the training.

Potty training someone who has had a life sized model for 8 months was way, way easier.  Not to mention he is eight months older than her.  Plus, an added factor is Tucker really hates being dirty or wet for any matter, and poop in the pants is on the list.  So he picked it up really fast.  So fast, in fact, that we decided to go to the ward camp out this weekend.

He is just like his Aunt B.  Deathly afraid of pit toilets.  In fact, when Jim tried to take him in one, he looked in and said "too big".  We only went for one night, but yesterday he held it from 1:30 to 7:30 pm.  And of course this kind of thing only means an explosion.  Now I know why moms with toddlers stay home from camping trips.  I gave up with the pit toilets and used froggy.  Much, much better.

The poop thing is one issue, although Whitney is a pro using any facility.  But the other issue is sleeping.  Once they got to sleep, they slept 9 hours, but they didn't go to bed until it was completely dark here.  11 pm.  You can only imagine. 

They actually were pretty well behaved, though for so little sleep.  It really helps when there are lots of things to do.  Fill and empty buckets with dirt, water, mud or rocks.  Go rock climbing with Dad.  Ride in a hand cart.  Sleep in a tee-pee.  Walk around a bunch.  Fight over who gets to sit in the red little chair.  Whitney spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep tucker out of and away from her chair. He spent just as much time and energy trying to sit in it without her looking or getting in trouble for just plain taking her down.

Around the campfire us adults were talking about all the funny stuff kids think up.  There were some pretty funny and cute things that were cracking us up.  I'm having a hard time thinking one up right now, but here are some things Whitney has said this week.  Tucker was really grumpy when we first got to the campsite.  That is, until we went to the waterfront.  On the way back from the water and we were in the car,  Whitney said "Mom, Whitney is happy.  Tucker is happy, too. He likes camping"  Tucker called the tee-pees temples and Whitney called it a pee-pee on the first attempt.

This week for some reason, she picked up on the name of a store and calls all stores this.  Mom, can you guess?  Costco (as in, the costco).  I think it has to do with all the food samples.  I give them several different ones and Whitney usually opens wide and says "Whitney likes it" after each trial while Tucker stares at it, backs his head back and smiles while adamantly shakes his head.  But Safeway and Albertson's are also Costcos.

This week we also took apart the cribs and gave them big beds.  I read somewhere that potty training reverts with big changes, so I thought, might as well do it all at once.  We'll see how that goes.  So far it's driving me crazy.  Since it's all new and exciting, they stay up really late at night jumping around on their beds and generally wreaking havoc.  There is also a lot of policing of the door for them not to open it and come out for whatever reason.  Tucker already figured out how to use those "baby lock" things for the doorhandles. Also, Tucker can't seem to handle staying in his bed.  We spent a couple of nights waking up every couple of hours due to a kid screaming at the top of his lungs.  Finally Jim got a picture of why.  He flings his head over the side.  What a crazy kid!  I think it must be a boy trait showing through.  Has to know where the boundaries are and always question them.  He definitely did not get that from me.

The past couple of nights they have been playing Tucker and Whitney doggie.  They act just like Oliver did when he was here.  Jumping up with their front "paws" on furniture, dogs, tables, you name it. Sammy is not amused.  Tucker pretends to call Oliver on his toy phone.  I think he was trying to get tips.

Today Tucker asked me to draw swing sets with sidewalk chalk outside on the driveway.  I drew about 5, when he suddenly stopped and looked around, asking for Whitney.  He then sat down on top of one of the swings, like he was pretending to swing, and pointed to the other saying "Whitney" letting me know that was her swing.  Pretty cute.

More adventures coming up next week....