Charlotte's First Lost Tooth :(

Tonight was an exciting evening!  Charlotte lost her first tooth!  It was super loose for a few days now. But, tonight when we were brushing her teeth before bed, it came out...and before I realized what had happened, it went right down the drain :(  Kevin and I searched...we pulled apart the drain, we pulled out hair and all kinds of nastiness...but, alas...the tooth was nowhere to be found.  Charlotte (and we) were devastated!  She was so excited to put the tooth into her tooth fairy pillow from Grandma Judy!  She called the local tooth expert, Grandpa, and he assured her that she could leave a note and the tooth fairy would know!  

You would think I would be excited about this...but I am SO sad!!  My baby is growing up!!!!!  I couldn't believe it. Ugh.  This is all going too fast!!!  Maybe losing the tooth down the drain was a good thing, I'd have probably washed it, put it in a bag and put it in her memory box.  20 years from now, she would have been like, "Ew, Mom!!!!!"  So, maybe it's for the best...  But even Kevin, who is rather emotionless with stuff like this, was sad that he couldn't recover the tooth.  He said, "It's her first one!!!!"  

Toothless beauty!

 Charlotte with her pillow and note

 Growing up!

 Note for the tooth fairy!

 Char with her pillow under her pillow :)

Charlotte calling Grandpa for advice

 The Tooth Fairy came!  

 $5 for a lost tooth these days!  (I told Kevin that she got hazard pay for it going down the drain!)

Sledding!

Last night, we continued to take advantage of the snow and went sledding.  We invited PJ, Cassie and the kids over for sledding, hot chocolate and pizza and it was a blast!!!  I made homemade hot chocolate in the crock pot..it was a Pinterest recipe that I had been dying to try.  So, it crocked away and was nice and hot for us when we got home. 

Charlotte and Greta...beautiful cousins!!

 Charlotte sort of smiling for me :)

Char and Nate love to sled together!  They take turns being in front

Char got to borrow Greta's sled for a trip down

Eating snow...

Greta and Nate taking a turn down

Getting a free ride back to the car...Charlotte trying to get one as well...
   

Nate looks like a injured skier getting a lift back to the lodge...he fit perfectly in the sled, lol!  

Our Snowman!

After school today, the kids were dying to make a snowman!  So, we got into our snow gear and headed out into the front yard to build a great snowman!  They named him Chilly and he was a pretty great looking snowman, if I do say so myself. 

Snow Bunny!

 Putting some gloves on Chilly

Getting ready to toss a snowball!

Chilly!

 Taking a break to throw snowballs at daddy

 Working hard

Nate got some snow to the face in a snowball fight

 He didn't like it...

Finishing touches...

A Whole New World!!!!

Yesterday was an exciting day!!! Here's me returning the last package of diapers we bought but never opened. I was ecstatic!!!!! We are done with diapers....done!!!!!! Woo Hoo!! The prize box was a miracle, a miracle...if you are struggling with potty training, try it people!!!! Next stop, teaching Charlotte how to take more flattering pictures of me with my phone, lol!

Happy Early Valentine's Day!

Today, Nate had his Valentine celebration at school..he brought his two teachers a special Valentine's gift and all of his classmates a little special Valentine!

Heart Throb!!!!  Carrying his teacher's gifts

Nate's Valentines for his Class

 Adorable!

 It's Punny...get it??

 What the kids will be waking up to tomorrow!  I love any chance to spoil them and tell them how much we love them!!!!!!  (also....helpful hint for those out there...dollar store balloons...a major steal!)

 For Charlotte

 Love!!

 For Nathan

Operation Prize Box

I am sure you all remember "Operation sit your ass on the potty until you go" that was such a success with Charlotte.  Well, I should have known it was not going to be that easy with Nate.  He laughed at my sticker chart..are you kidding me?  The panic of summer camp and next year's preschool is starting to set it.  He won't be able to go!!!!  He has to go to summer camp...this kid has to get away from me!!!  I love the kid..honestly, I love him way too much.  Ask Kevin.  But this kid needs some time away from mommy.  And frankly, I'm over buying $35 boxes of diapers.  I could use that money for a massage...or college funds, but maybe a massage every once in a while...  

So yesterday, we set "Operation Prize Box" into motion.  I filled a clear plastic bin with tons of stuff from the Target dollar bins... balls, stickers, nutella, cars, treats, chocolate, suckers, stamps...  I came home from Target and told him to look at all the stuff in the box, we rumaged through it and he ooh'd and ahh'd over everything.  I quickly packed it all back into the box and told him that it could all be his....all he has to do is go on the potty.  Each time he goes, he picks out something from the box.  You want a car?  I want some pee.  I'm not above bribery, people...I'm just not.  And, as much as Charlotte is motivated by  pure approval and pleasing us...Nate is motivated by stuff...dollar bin stuff.  Since we have implemented the prize box, he has gone on the potty a dozen times...and at least 9 of those times were unprompted.  He just walked over to the potty, dropped his buzz lightyear underoos and went.  Today, Charlotte is one step away from reading level one books by herself and Nate is going on the potty and I am feeling like the freaking mother of the year here!!!!  I feel like Charlie Sheen....WINNING!!!!!!!!        

Nate having a sucker...his first prize!

 So, I pee on the potty and you give me stuff?  

 The prize box!!!!

 Wowzers....it's a kid's dream!

Nate with one of his prizes...a kazoo

Let it Snow!!!

Yesterday, we FINALLY had enough snow to get in our snow gear and go sledding!!!!  The kids were SO excited to go sledding, they could hardly wait!  The last time we took the kids sledding was two years ago when the kids weren't really old enough to get themselves back up the hill on their own.  So, we were exhausted dragging them back up the hill in the sled.  It was a work out to say the least.  Well, this year was much more enjoyable!  Kevin stayed at the top of the hill and I stayed at the bottom.  After each trip down, they ran back up the hill with gusto!  It was pretty cold out, so we only stayed out for about 40 minutes.  Afterwards, we went to McDonald's for some hot chocolate to bring home to warm up.  It was so much fun!!!    

Back up the hill!

 Coming Down!

 We love sledding!

 Hi Mom!

 Two sillies on a sled

 Nate is trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue

 Handsome boy!!!

 We love the snow!!!

 Char bar

 Making snowballs

 Snow angels..

Charlotte 

 Back up to Daddy!

 Walking with Daddy