We’re still in the throes of potty training, unfortunately. Yet, sometimes we feel hopeful.

For instance, during our road trip to the Outer Banks on 7/14 (details about our madcap family vacation in the next blog), Zeke said he had to go doo-doo. He held it while we searched for a restroom in this remote part of eastern Carolina.

Luckily, we stumbled upon a rural Holiday Inn, where both Zeke and Gabriel successfully put their poop in the toilet. Jubilation (and stink) filled the air!

Houston played his heart out @ the Marvels last soccer game in mid-May. (Click to see all the pics.)

But other times, we feel totally disheartened, like pretty much the entire rest of our week at the beach, where signs of the twins being potty trained were nil. The only times they ever showed any interest in going was when we were at a restaurant.

In fact, Gabe and Zeke usually requested multiple potty breaks during each dining experience — way more than they did while at beach house, where it was a lot less complicated to go.

Are they asserting some twisted sense of control? “Ha, Mommy and Daddy can’t enjoy their food ’cause they have to keep taking us potty,” they may have thought at the restaurant.

Or maybe pure indolence? “Whew, thank goodness I don’t have to walk five steps to the bathroom. Certainly, Mommy would love to change my nasty pull-up instead of relaxing,” they might have considered while at the cottage.

Gabriel also gave a noble performance, playing almost the entire game.

Then at Vacation Bible School on Monday, both Gabriel and Zeke had bowel movements that exploded out of their pull-ups. Each of their teachers (they’re in different classes) had to search for replacement clothes because of their soiled shorts. I suppose that’s one way to make your mark on the first day of class.

Sure, I’m a full-time family manager who homeschools her kids, but this situation has become so desperate that I may be willing to outsource this particular parenting responsibility. Any potty experts out there who want to earn some extra cash? If not, might it be inappropriate to add our potty woes to your church’s prayer list?

Seriously, I know we’ll survive and probably even laugh about it all one day, but get ‘er done already, boys!

Some cool news: Houston has his first loose tooth! I had noticed it looked a different, but didn’t feel the wobbly incisor until Sunday. I asked Houston if he knew it was movable, to which he replied, “Nah, I just thought I had a piece of corn between my teeth.”

Zeke, on the other hand, cried mostly & wasn’t allowed to attend the team’s post-game celebration.

Jolly in July: We had some summertime Christmas fun on 7/11. Since the kids are always requesting holiday movies, Houston was experiencing a little 24-hour bug, and it was rainy to boot, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to lounge on the couch and watch The Grinch and Rudolph.

Another critter gone: Despite our best efforts, Spaz died before vacation. At least we have an ample supply of things to view under the microscope we got Houston for his birthday, display on the boys’ cork board, or perhaps even dissect.

There are a lot of hermit crabs breathing a sigh of relief that the Dillinghams didn’t purchase a new critter while at the beach. Rest easy, Outer Banks crustaceans.