Marin in Training

Remember how Marin learned to walk?


This is basically how she learns everything -- sitting up, crawling, eating with a spoon, using the potty -- by doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over....

She's learning to use the potty this week, in much the same fashion -- by doing it over and over and over and over and over and over.... Potty, wipe, flush, wash hands. Potty, wipe, flush, wash hands. Potty, wipe, flush, wash hands. We set a timer, not to remind her to go before she has an accident. No, she has to wait for the timer before she gets to go again.

The first day in training we were home all day and she went into the bathroom every time the timer went off. Sometimes more often because she would sneak into the bathroom and I wouldn't know it until she called me to help wipe. It was an exhausting day.

Yesterday I braved the children's museum with the girls (Marin in pull-ups, not actual panties - I'm no dummy) and, at least while distracted by all the activities, Marin only had to go to the bathroom once while there. Whew!

Silje is a little put-out that she doesn't get M&Ms when she pees ... in her diaper. And she wants pull-ups ... to pee in. But she'll get there soon enough. Right now it's enough that we've halved the number of diapers we're using. Woo Hoo!!!

Ailey's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Ailey and I went to her first day of Kindergarten today. The first day of school was a sort of "orientation" for the Kindergarten kids and parents, and only lasted an hour. There was no bus today (which Ailey was NOT happy about). Ailey drew a picture at her seat while the teacher filled all of us parents in on the routine and gave out a lot of paperwork. We made Ailey's nametag/bus badge, which she will wear for 2 weeks so the teacher can learn names.

Then we came home. Pretty uneventful for a first day!

Tomorrow is the REAL first day. Ailey will ride the bus (assuming she is willing once she sees all those other kids in the seats and realizes she has to sit with someone she doesn't know). I won't drop her off in her classroom like I have been doing in preschool for the past two years, but will wait at the bus stop to greet her home. It's a little nerve-wracking for me, I wonder what is going on in Ailey's head with all this new stuff!

Ailey's teacher seems like a good one. She is apparently "sought after" at Ailey's school, has been teaching for many years in Kindergarten, and Ailey likes her already. It should be a fun and interesting year!

We got to see Parker this morning before his first day at another school.

The crew (by age, no less!) before waving good-bye to Ailey and Parker.

Now let's see if I can get a picture of Ailey boarding the bus tomorrow....