Category Archives: Travel

Will I ever stop blogging about poop?!

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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.

Bring on the Canon

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My Kodak EasyShare finally died, so Stephen said I could buy a new camera as my early birthday present. Thanks, baby! I am waiting with bated breath the arrival of my Canon Powershot from Amazon. In the meantime, hope you enjoy these late-spring pics.

A post-rain photo of the dairy farm behind our house from atop “the mountain.” Can’t wait to get my new camera & take more nature shots!

The 3 Amigos have been loving their homemade critter necklaces. Jessie poked holes in empty toy capsules from a gum-ball machine for threading string and letting air get to the found critters.

Then, each boy added colorful beads to the strings before placing a black ant inside of the capsule. However, we’ve totally slacked on tending to the needs of our new pets.

The other night before bed, Gabriel lovingly said, “Aw, look at my ant, Mommy. He’s sleeping.” I compassionately replied, “He sure is, buddy.” And so Gabe slept contentedly while wearing his now dead-critter necklace.

Zeke & Houston feast on Ceebu Jen during Cousin Meredith’s Senegal-themed lesson in May. (Click to see all the pics.)

Other weird bedtime stuff: Zeke can be found sometimes laughing in his sleep. When you hear him, you’re sure he’s wide awake, reading a book or playing with a toy or whispering a joke to his bros.

But sure enough, Zeke’s in a sound slumber, apparently having a humorous dream. And then last week, I witnessed Gabriel doing the same, chuckling hardily while he snoozed. Too funny.

Houston also provides his share of nighttime comic relief, opting on occasion to sleep in the raw. It’s not like he has satin sheets or anything, but I suppose he just enjoys being unencumbered by clothes. I support Houston’s penchant for freedom of movement, but I do insist he at least wear undies to bed.

Piper, Zeke & Gabriel chill poolside during a MOPS playgroup. (Click to see all the photos from May.)

After the bedtime prayer on Sunday night, the dudes and I had a deep conversation about heaven. I explained that my belief was that our eternal home will be free of death, disease, sadness, fear, hate, handicaps, jealousy, etc.

“For instance, Mommy won’t have a bad hip in heaven,” I said. “Zeke won’t be missing a lobe because his yucky had to be surgically removed, so he’ll have perfectly healthy lungs in heaven. And Houston won’t have his special eye.”

“But I like my special eye!” retorted Houston. Of course, I immediately clarified, explaining how blessed he is that his Horner’s eye doesn’t cause him any vision trouble, but that some kids aren’t so lucky, and that God makes no mistakes. Unfortunately, Mommies sometimes do. You and your bros are perfect to me, Houston!

Zeke is intent on mastering BB gun skills during his first lesson w/ Daddy.

Houston and I made a birthday resolution to give up nail biting. He has only been doing it for a couple months — mimicking me, I’m sure — whereas I’ve had the wont for about 35 years. Hopefully, I can right this mothering mistake by kicking the habit with Houston. Keep your fingers (with unbitten nails) crossed.

Last week, I passed along our much-used changing table and crib to Greg and Meredith for Rorie. I needed to clear space in my slow, but steady efforts for reorganizing the kids’ room and the office, but now I’m changing dirty pull-ups on the dust-bunny-covered floor.

It was a couple days after Greg’s visit that I turned over a new leaf with the potty training. Sadly, I had gotten pretty obsessed. Each and every accident had the potential to tear me down and spoil my good mood — not a good place for a mom to be.

Houston poses w/ his awesome teachers on the last day of MOPS.

I decided I wasn’t going to let a little doo-doo and pee ruin my life anymore. Who cares if Gabe and Zeke are “3 and three-quarters years old,” as they like to tell people, and haven’t mastered the life skill? They will indeed be potty trained eventually. So, I’m giving this one over to God.

Till then, they’ll be no more fretting. I’m just going to accept what I obviously have no control over, and instead be the twins unfailing cheerleader. The ever-the-optimist approach has certainly lightened things up, making the entire home a much happier and healthier (albeit stinkier) environment.

Stephen made good on a one-on-one time Houston earned months ago. It was worth the wait, though, ’cause Daddy took him to see The Avengers movie last Saturday.

Houston donned his alphabet-beaded necklace that read WASP, although that Marvel super-heroine isn’t even in the new flick. And Stephen proudly wore the very non-masculine THOR necklace that Houston had carefully beaded for him. You’re a trooper, Daddy!

Word(s) of the day

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Recently, I began doing this with the boys. The gist is to introduce a brand-new, 3+ syllable word on a daily basis. I define it, write it on the chalkboard, and then we discuss its spelling and phonics.

We also try to use the word properly and in context throughout the day. Here are some examples:

  • “Baby Rorie was born early. She was premature.”
  • “Don’t jab a stick in that hole. You’ll antagonize the snake.”
  • “Charlotte said Wilbur was an intelligent pig.”
  • “No running in the house. Please ambulate instead.”

One of our best pals, Steven, ties the knot w/ his sweetheart, Paige. (Click to see more pics from the late-April wedding & reception.)

The day after the SCOTUS ruling on Obamacare, I befittingly chose two 2-syllable words – power and corrupt — in lieu of doing the norm. I figured if the feds can break the rules on a whim, so can I.

Let your freak flag fly

Since the dudes adore flags, we started looking at specific flags a little more in depth. We’ve already done the Virginia and Texas state flags, as well as the Revolutionary-era Gadsden flag. The lessons include a brief history of the flag and its symbolism, and then coloring printables to look like the original ensign.

When Zeke plays with the small flags we have around the house, he likes to fly them in the breeze of an oscillating fan, while humming either Oh Tannenbaum or the Superman theme song. I suppose the connection between flags, Christmas trees and superheroes is that they’re all majestic in his eyes. How sweet is that?!

Bahama mamas

On the first day of summer, Miss Jessie did a Bahamas-themed lesson. She just returned from a cruise there, so she shared photos, homemade mini-sailboats for races in a large pan of blue-dyed water, and helped the boys do some straw weaving, before they got to stamp their passports. I also cooked up some boiled fish and grits.

Big bro turns 5

We had Houston’s 5th birthday party on 6/23. It was a backyard affair with a few neighborhood friends, and pals from Moms Club, MOPS and CC. Jessie made Houston a solar system cake, which was a huge hit with the kiddos.

Ever loyal to the Godfather, soldiers (Willie & Stephen) protect the Don (Adam).

My homemade guacamole was also such a crowd-pleaser that Gabriel ended up choking on it and chips. Yippee, I’ve now officially given all three of my kids the Heimlich!

Houston got tons of wonderful gifts, of course, including an ant farm and a microscope from Stephen and me. Our hope is that using a real ant habitat will ensure longer lives for the critters and the microscope is for viewing all our accidentally killed pets.

On Houston’s actual birthday of 6/26, we found two Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars, Spaz and Henry. We’re using our old enclosed fish bowl as their home and are trying our best to give them the proper care and feeding. Birthday boy and bros also flew homemade kites, which they handcrafted with Miss Jessie.

We kicked off the celebratory day with a jaunt to the theater to see Kung Fu Panda 2, which prompted our word of the day: “Sometimes Mommy cries during movies. She’s often sentimental.” Houston did great, but Gabe and Zeke were a tad high-maintenance.

It’s getting better all the time

We’ve been working on the new bedtime system for a few weeks now. Houston and Zeke took to it pretty easily, but Gabriel had been fighting it tooth and nail. Thankfully, my persistence and (waning) patience are paying off; G-man is finally getting accustomed to the nighttime routine and has become more pleasurable and less irrational during the process.

Mike & Anah show off Darby the cutie pie.

During one of the more trying nights, I said out loud that I was saint for being able to (relatively) calmly cope with Gabriel’s senseless antics, to which Houston said, “You’re a really good mommy.” That was music to my weary ears, but it was also a cue that I needed to do a better job of keeping my own drama in check, while remaining vigilant with the new plan.

It’s raining, it’s pouring

That’s what the boys were singing in the shower the other evening. Yes, they’ve started taking showers instead of baths, which is so much easier and is a total time-saver to boot. Houston made the switch first, and Gabe and Zeke followed suit soon thereafter … now if they’d just mimic big bro and his going-potty abilities, we’d be set.

Food is the way to a man’s heart

I, however, want it to be a direct route to his will. See, I’m attempting to use M&Ms as a mechanism to break the twins’ willful ways when it comes to potty training (or not using the potty, as the unfortunate case may be).

We still have a few of the old tricks in our arsenal, but we’re hoping that rewarding an independent trek to the bathroom with a chocolate treat may do the trick. So far, nothing newsworthy to report, but we’ve become pretty desperate … obviously.

Rebeeler have fun celebrating Steven & Paige’s big day.

The boys do love food, though, and not just your average kid fare. In fact, Gabriel recently tried a piece of a jalapeno from our garden. Sadly, it was way too hot for even our spiciest boy, but we were impressed with his adventurous palate and quick recovery.

Needless to say, the chocolate cherry tomatoes from our little horticulture plot are a lot more popular with the dudes. They’ve also been eating lots of fresh basil and cilantro, and we look forward to munching on okra and carrots soon.

Swimming & fishing

We spent an entire afternoon last week at Miss Christie’s pool and have another pool date with her and the crew later this week. I hope to do these casual aquatic jaunts consistently throughout the summer with the goal that real swimming will eventually materialize. Nothing groundbreaking yet, but we shall see.

Houston isn’t just trying to swim like a fish, he’s also catching them. Cousins Terri, Ricky and Patrick took him fishing this weekend while he and bros were up in the mountains visiting Granny and Grumps. Houston used the Spider-Man rod Granny bought him for his birthday and caught two fish, I believe one trout and one catfish.

Gabriel and Zeke didn’t get to go on the big-boy outing, but Terri did take them down to the creek for lots of rock-throwing. Honestly, they thought that was as cool as catching a fish.