Potty training COMPLETE!!!

A few weeks ago one of my friends replied to a post I put on Facebook in regards to running out of Pull Ups. She is a nanny and replied "Run out? We didn't "run out" I simply hid them and that is how Mya was finally potty trained." This sparked something in me so I decided to only put Vance in Pull Ups for nap and bedtime. All other times he was in regular underwear. We also implemented (and actually followed through) with a reward system. We did a potty chart and put it next to the toilet downstairs. I then bought special stickers (Spiderman, Iron Man, and Scooby Doo). Every time he went potty when I told him to he got 1 M&M. If he went potty on his own he got a sticker and 2 M&M's. If he went poop he got 6 M&M's and the coveted Iron Man sticker.

The first day we had one accident on the floor. After that he was great! He would go potty every time I told him to which was every hour. By the third day he was running into the bathroom on his own. By the fifth day he was going completely on his own even poop!!! Today it is like second nature to him. He runs to the bathroom every time he has to potty. He gets so excited when he goes poop in the toilet, he thinks its great!!! I do too! :) Another parenting milestone in the books :)

New Goals

Well, I have started the process of potentially pursuing my Master's degree. It would be at the same college I went to for my bachelors and it would still be online. I worry though how much stock a Masters degree from an online instution really holds. I mean they are accredited and have many brick and mortar campuses in Michigan so it is not just a fly by night degree online. It would take me about a year and a half depending on how many classes I would take at one time. Now the problem is (or should I say question) would I be able to work and do a Master's program? Of course finding a job out here in WA is proving more difficult than I thought it would be. I (for some stupid reason) thought once I graduated more doors would be open to me, given I have that fun little piece of paper. I am finding, however, that people who were once employed with the companies I am applying to are the ones receiving the jobs. A few places have called me for phone interviews and then sent an email stating "upon reviewing your resume you do not meet the qualifications for this position." Maybe I need to revisit my resume? I have the skills, I have the education, something is disconnecting in the middle.
Although Ryan and I are working on a business venture right now and I truly want it to be prosperous, I am not sure and can't put all my faith in it "just in case". Always have to have a back up plan. :)

A Great Day!!!

Today is a GREAT day! Not only is it my father in laws birthday, Happy birthday Pops!! but I also received my degree today. Signed, Sealed and Deliverd!!!! I am officially a college graduate! It finally feels real now that the piece of paper is in my hand. It was a very long journey with many obstacles in the road, but I kept trucking and can now say that I have my Bachelor's of Business Administration and I graduated Cum Laude. Scratch one more thing of my list of goals!!!

New Year.... New Adventures

Well here we are, 2011. Goodness it seems like 2010 flew by!! It is hard to imagine that we have lived in Washington for a full year now. We celebrated the New Year as a family just the three of us at home watching movies, eating junkfood, and enjoying each other. Vance stayed up until 9 but then started meltdown mode and we put him to bed. Ryan and I stayed up watching a movie and enjoyed the few fireworks we could see from our house. We rang in the new year with a toast of Sparkling Cider.

May the best of your 2010 be the worst of your 2011! Many Blessings to you all in the new year! :)

Reflections..

As it closes in on the end of the year. I have been reflecting on the many events that have happened this year. Our family had been given many blessings and has faced many challenges in 2010. We have started a new life in Washington state. Which in itself has been the greatest of blessings and the biggest of challenges of all! We have hit some bumps along the way as we have started our new life up here. One of them being Ryan parting ways with his brother in law and finding a new job with Real Carriage Doors. He is happy at his new job and I love that he comes home in a good mood at night.

I have found some good friends not only up here but have reconnected with some dear friends of mine from high school (thanks Facebook). I am blessed to have been able to make the connections I have with the girls up here. It is nice to have friends with children and have our little playgroup. I have also been blessed to have been able to stay home for the last year and finish my degree. My husband has truly given me a gift that is unmeasurable. I am not sure if he understands how much it means to me that he has busted his butt so much to allow me to stay at home and take care of our boy and finish school.

God has blessed us in so many ways this last year and I am grateful for everything He has given us. I know that 2011 holds many new blessings and challenges and I can't wait to see what they are.

Christmas pictures :)

There are many pictures that we took from this morning but way too many to post! Here are just a few of the tree, our full stockings and Vance at his tool bench. Enjoy! If you are on Facebook I will make an album with all the pictures taken today. :)

Merry Christmas!!

From our family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the new year! We have had an eventful morning already. We had to sort of booby trap the hallway upstairs because our son is a ninja and can sneak downstairs without anyone knowing. So last night we placed our card table on its side in the hallway just outside of his door. That way we would hear him if he tried to sneak downstairs. I awoke bright and early at 6 am and there wasn't a sound to be heard in the house. So I laid in bed and awaited sounds from Vance to fill the air. Around 6:50 this morning I heard the squeak of his door. I patted Ryan on the back and said "He's up!" Suddenly you hear Vance from the hallway say "Hey! What is this table doing here? I can't get out!! Mom, can you come move this table please?" It was great! So up we sprung from bed and put robes on and contacts in (all the while vance is still trapped, lol). I came downstairs and grabbed the video camera, put some coffee on, and grabbed the camera and awaited the boys arrival downstairs. Vance was soooo excited to see that Santa had come and brought him tools. We were truly blessed this year by our family and feel extremely loved by all the amazing gifts we received. Thank you to each and every one of you!!! You have all made this Christmas very special and memorable.

We have the house cleaned up already, vaccumed, and toys placed neatly in Vance's playroom. Little smokies are in the crock pot so we can have some munchies throughout the day. Later I will be putting our Christmas ham in the oven, peeling potatoes for mashed potatoes, and making a vegetable casserole. Our first Christmas in Washington is turning out to be a very blessed and wonderful day! Many memories have already been made and I am sure more are to come. We love and miss our families very much, but are comforted knowing they are with us in our hearts as I am sure we are with them in their hearts. We will see you all soon.