Pee Pee on the Potty!

YEAH!!!!!! We have progress! We've been trying to get the boys to sit on the little potties periodically during the day.....and each night before they get in the bath.........

Well........Carter has gone on the potty 6 or 7 times in the last week! He doesn't go all the time, but if you keep asking him he will say yes every once in awhile.........he's actually gone so many times that he's gotten all the cars HE picked out and has even gotten a couple of the cars that Cameron really picked out. He was so incredibly sweet.........after he went, he picked from the bag and he had already opened his little motorcycle, so he picked out the other one, opened it......then gave it to Cameron. He's got such a generous heart..........but I really wish that CAMERON was earning his own cars! : ) Unlike Sidney, he LOVES it when Mommy throws a small party and does a little dance when he goes.......he'll even start dancing along with me.......it's so darn cute!!! So proud of my little guy! (let's hope Cameron sees all the attention that Carter is getting and wants to join in the fun soon. I'm not pushing it though.......each in their own time)

Some More Family Bonding

We actually arrived a little early one day at Roman's sisters house........so we got some additional visiting and play time in........

Sidney LOVES to bake and was so happy to get to help make this yummy brie with berries in a tasty pastry dough.

A little practice on the piano........but he'll have to do it one handed.........there's no way he's taking those fingers out of his mouth! (Carter)

playing with the checker pieces from this game............Roman must have taught her how to spin them : )

Sidney and Cameron are playing with the dog while they wait for all the good food to be ready

Their Own Personal Jungle Gyms

Back at our "Home Away From Home" at Roman's Sister, Bozena's house.........having some more fun with Uncle Kevin and their cousin Julia.....

Uncle Kevin likes to pretend that he's asleep.......so the kids can jump on him and shout "WAKE UP!"

some cuddle time with their cousin.

piggy-back ride time!

Of course, since Sidney got a turn, then the boys must have a turn.......Cameron opts to get drug on the floor.................Ahh, the days when sliding across the floor was actually fun : )

Sidney, being goofy......but she looked so cute with my scarf on!

Playing at the Relative's House

On another day during our trip we went over to visit Roman's other sister, Barbara. Their family really likes to play games, so they got some out to play with the kids.

I think Ciocia Barbara is letting Sidney win : )

Their dog is a little skittish around the little kids, so Barbara is helping Sidney get close to the dog and pet it....

....and while Sidney is otherwise occupied Carter now has the game and is giving it a try

coming up with a new game....playing with the big kids

and while Sidney is off playing with the big girls, Cameron say "I got it!" (he likes dress up)

the dress up is short lived.......he's spies the game opened now and decides to check it out.

The boys have now spied the dog kennel and have to check it out......they used to climb in Daisy's too when we had one for her when she was little.

Of course, Cameron must try it out too.

Bowling

One day we went bowling............we had to wait quite awhile, so the kids had a blast playing in the arcade with their cousin Erica.........then when it came to bowling they just wanted to keep playing.....it was kind of hard to take turns, but they had fun : )

Cameron is a little too eager here with his second ball.

I had a cute, but very short video of Carter too, but you don't get to actually see him bowl.....just hear him say "YEAH!".......and looking for his next ball : )

Around the House, Playing in Chicago

Here are few random pics...........just of the kids playing....

Some friends of Roman's sister lent them some toys for the kids to play with while we were there, which was VERY nice......the kids would play with this every morning......and a lot of evenings.......I always think it's so cute how the boys like to lay down and get right down there while they are playing with trucks and stuff.

I think there was some fighting over this ship.......but we got it all figured out.


I've noticed in a lot of the video that I've taken I say "Sidney WAS singing"........she somehow knows when I turn the video camera on and stops singing.......she does sing a couple of lines in this one though.

This one is just too cute........all tuckered out after a hard day of play......even Daddy looks like he's really having to fight to keep his eyes opened........we fell asleep A LOT when we laid down to put the kids to bed.

Playing one afternoon over at Babcia's.......we always have to make the rounds while we are there.

Playing trick-or-treating with their cousin Julia.......they now all have it down perfectly!

Sidney just looks too cute in this one! (Carter is on the Left and Cameron is on the Right)

A Visit to the Aquarium

A whole bunch of Roman's family went to the Aquarium while we were in Chicago....we spent a good portion of the day there. The kids had fun, but were really spent by the time we left.

They were fascinated by the stingray resting on the window.....so cool how they could get up close and see all the sea life!

They have some REALLY huge fish there! (It's hard to tell, but this one was probably 5-6 ft. long)

Sidney did so well holding still and was so careful to keep her hair out of it after she had her face painted......she was a little obsessed with it : )

Watching the penguins

They have a cute little area for the kids to play.....with penguin eggs and slides....I think Carter has spied an egg someone hasn't picked up yet

and penguin costumes for the kids to put on

Cameron is getting daring, after seeing his big sister go down head first on the slide

The kids could have stayed here half the day, watching the dolphins.....on the way to the kids play area.

At the end of the day, watching a show.....the kids were all pretty tired by then.

Carter is all cuddled up with his cousin.....he almost fell asleep.

Playing in the Snow

It snowed A LOT while we were in Chicago.....so one day the kids got all covered up and went out with their cousins to play in it for awhile.

Sidney says "I'm ready, let's go!"

Having SO MUCH FUN! : ))))))

Cameron was like "No way........it's WAY too cold out there for me! I'll stay inside and watch Uncle Kevin put the train track together (and get to be the first to play with it)

Kevin's Dad used to do props for movies.......this is THE train from "Home Alone"

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was at his other sister, Bozena's house, where we were staying........the kids were having so much fun running around with the older cousins and Uncle Kevin.

running around the house before opening presents

checking out the tree.....and the presents while waiting for everyone to come sit down

wiping Ciocia's floors for her

Sidney is wearing Uncle Kevin out while Carter and Cameron are fascinated playing with the marbles.....it's so cute how excited Carter gets when they are all racing down the towers

Now it's cousin Adam's turn to spin Sidney around. She kept trying to kind of skate on the floor too.......she was loving it!

some rest and cuddle time

then it's time for more games....but winding down a bit here

Christmas in Chicago

This year we braved the cold.......and I do mean cold.....like 5 degrees.....single digits!!! and went to visit Roman's family in Chicago for Christmas.......the big celebration there is the Polish Christmas Eve = Vigillia (hopefully I'm spelling that correctly).

the older cousins playing with the younger cousins.......so sweet!

Roman and two of his sisters

Roman and his Mom (Babcia to the kids)

making all the preparations.......it's a multi-day task

All the girls.......Sidney is now apart of the "Ashley Club"

The whole family that's in Chicago

our family (Cameron is on the left, Carter is on the right)

A little cuddle time with Cameron.......he was getting tired

Preschool Christmas Presentation

This year the kids did a little presentation on the last day before Christmas break. It was so neat to see! Sidney gets a little shy with all of the people, but she still looks pretty darn cute, if you ask me! : )

"I bring you the gift of Joy" was her line I think????

Kendall was "the littlest angel" and did SO well carrying this huge star!

I couldn't get a good picture of her, but I thought this one was cute

the other girls watch on as Kendall is playing with "baby Jesus".......notice Sidney has already taken off her costume. She likes to dress up, but I think the garland was scratching her


It was kind of hard to see, as the microphone was in the way......and the boys were NOT cooperating, but I thought this one was cute.......Sidney sings "Our God is an Awesome God" at home all the time.......I remember singing that at camp growing up too.....I tried to order the CD, but they sent me the wrong volume, so it didn't have that song on there......I'll have to look into reordering it.