Potty Training and Spring Break....

The time had come. I had been putting off potty training my little lovebug. Couple reasons, first potty training is not fun. Not at all. But secondly, and probably more importantly...that made it official. No longer a baby in the Cano home. I hate that. I hate it so bad. I hate that he is so big. But he was three. And it was time. So I gathered my supplies. Refreshed my method in my head. All of you that have followed along for awhile, know exactly what that is. I wait til there three, then I go cold turkey. Clear my schedule, stay home for three straight days and go to town. No pull ups. No diapers. No breaks. Just do it. Everytime he at least tries, he gets a piece of candy. Everytime he goes he gets to pick a small toy. And when he has gone three straight days with no accidents, we go to Target and he picks out a big toy. It has worked with my other two, almost perfectly. All my nieces and nephews. Fail proof method.

And once again...he mastered it. He was a little slower at learning than my other two. It took us a good 10 days before I completely trusted him. Far more accidents than successes in those first few days. I was scrubbing pee left and right. Seriously think at the end of potty training the mama should get the prize. It was a fun 10 days, but he got it. He's a little potty training champ!

Poor babe, this was the end of the second day and my heart was kinda breaking for him. It took alot out of the little guy. He was so stressed and emotional those first few days. I wanted so bad to say screw it, you aren't ready, lets put your diaper back on. But if you know me, you know that ain't happening. Once I put my mind to something, I do it. If I say I'm gonna do it, then heck...I'm gonna do it. Don't know who is more stubborn...me or him.

So happened potty training took place the same week "Frozen" came out. Oh that Frozen. I swear I may have watched it one too many times. My kids were relentless that first week. As I'm sure many other households were. We were all going a little stir crazy being stuck in the house, my mom dropped in one day just to say hello. And here she sits watching it with Linc and Elle. Elle bell sings her little heart out to every single song, at one poing Linc finally turned to her and said "Elle, are you going to sing a long to every SINGLE song?!" Hahaha.

We've had such lovely weather. But gosh we need some rain. My lawn is begging for it. Finally put my house sprinklers on just to give it a drink. Need rain. But kids have been loving our mild, pleasant temps. Here is Drake out there in just his undies...mid potty training.

That time of year for school registration...my Lincoln boy and Kindergarten. Say it ain't so. Not crazy about the Kindergarten teachers at our school. Like at all. Trying to get my Lincoln boy a variance, for Kinder at least, possibly Carson too. Haven't exactly made up my mind. Submitted paperwork for both of them to a couple different schools. The whys is a post in its own. I have alot of mixed feelings about it. So still don't know what I'm going to do. But I submitted and then I will make the decision then if they happen to get in. Won't know til August.

Drake bug got invited to his first "friend" birthday party. Our little neighbor up the street was having a party at Chuck-e-cheese and Drake got invited. Keep in mind this is my kid that hyperventilates everytime we take him to nursery. I knew there was no way in heck he would go without us. So whats a good dad to do. Go with him of course. Luckily Thiago and the dad of the birthday boy are good friends, so he was totally fine with it.

Had a really special night a couple of Sundays ago. I know I have mentioned that my grandma is just starting to really struggle with her health. She has her ups and downs, but seems to be declining at a steady rate now. I know I have mentioned how hard this has been for our family. We are super close. Like closer than most. And its just been heartbreaking watching our matriarch slow down and struggle so much. We all gathered for family dinner a couple weeks ago and then all the men gave her a priesthood blessing. I won't say much cause it was really personal and made a deep impact on my testimony. But watching the men in our family, including my husband, gather around the grandma we love so much and giving her a blessing of strength. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Was a really beautiful night. You could feel the love so strong. I'll never forget it.

Love her so much. Its hard cause I know these memories we are making as of late, will be my last. Such a hard thought. How do you let go of 31 years of my existence where she has been apart of it. How do you say goodbye to that. It just breaks my heart.

My sweet dad. He was so emotional. He has been going through some struggles of his own lately and it breaks my heart. I love him so much and wish I could help in some way. But at the end of the day, he really can only help himself. I just hope he always knows how much I love him. How grateful I am for the sacrifices he's made for me and my sisters. He hasn't been perfect, but who has. At the end of the day, he has loved me with his whole heart. I know we are what he is most proud of, and the one thing he knows he can always count on. I'll love him forever and ever.

It was a really hard night. But a really beautiful night as well. Just so grateful that I know that kind of love. The kind that just hurts your heart. What is life without that kind of love.

Next day the boys were on spring break. I was an idiot and had scheduled Carson's yearly echocardiogram for that day. Not realizing it was spring break. Thiago always usually takes that day off work and we plan something fun as a family. Felt bad that Cars had to get an echo on what should have been a fun day. But when I called to reschedule they wouldn't be able to get us in again til August. Forget that. We needed to keep the appointment. It wasn't til three so we decided we still had time to make it a fun day.

My best days are days spent with just the five of us. I've had a ton of stuff going on lately, just alot weighing on my mind. Feeling extra grateful for this little family of mine. A husband who not only stands by my side, but carries me along the way. And these three boys. They are my whole life's happiness. Grateful every single day that this is how I get to spend my days. Loving them.

We headed down to Salt Lake to the Utah museum of natural history. The boys had a great time. A little bored at certain parts but loved it for the most part. One of those places that once you've been you don't need to go again. Ya know what I mean.

Hard to tell in this picture but the dinosaur exhibit was their favorite. By far. They could have spent the whole time in that section. Linc kept trying to touch them all. Thiago finally told him that if you touch them they will come to life. That worked. Kept his little hands to himself from there on out.

After that we had just enough time to grab them some chicken nuggets, then we needed to head to Primary Children's for his echo.

Breezed right through the procedure, he's a pro at this by now. Went into meet with his Dr. to go over the results. We were a little surprised this time. He has a bicuspid aortic valve, we've known since he was 5. Will eventually need surgery to have it replaced. It has to work overtime because he only has 2 valves instead of three, which causes the aorta to expand overtime. If left alone it would cause an aneurysm. Which means we monitor its growth. It jumped alot more this year than the past couple. Surprised us. Usually its followed a very slow dialation, but it increased this past year. At first we thought surgery would be in his thirties or so...now its looking like it may be sooner. His blood pressure was also out of whack, so we now have to give him daily medication to control that. Also needed to schedule him for an MRI. MRI gives a more accurate measurement because it is three dimensional. So that is scheduled for May. It all kinda surprised us, but we feel good about it. I have never got a yucky feeling when I think about his condition. I feel complete peace. Have total faith in his doctors and know they are watching him close and it would never get to the point of danger for him. Feel blessed for this medical age we are in and all that is possible.

Ended our day with dinner at Zupa's...Carson's choice. And of course a trip to Trader Joe's. Can't go into Salt Lake without stopping. My boys love pushing the tiny carts around. I do not love that part. Annoying as crap!

My dad stopped by on his way to visit my Grandma on Confrence Sunday. Wanted to take these two with him. I said sure...nice quiet house for the final session of general confrence.

Later that day we headed up to Logan to Jen's house. To celebrate this yellow haired princess's fourth birthday. Love this little lady. She just exuberates happiness and joy. She twirls and dances and sings her merry little way through life. Love my sweet nieces.

Picture of these two. It's always the three of us. Dad at work. Cars at school and that leaves me and my two little sidekicks. Will be so weird when Linc starts kinder in the fall. So weird.

Spring soccer season started up....here we go again!

And last but not least....date night. Went and got sushi with Ash and Souli and then saw "Divergent". Loved it. I read the book and just fell in love with Four. Obviously. Was so excited for the movie. Little cheesy at parts, but I seriously loved it! Not sure Thiago felt the same, quite a few sighs and looks he kept throwing at me. Oh well....I liked it. And thats what matters most...right!

Luck of the Irish

Always behind..always. But here is our day of green.

"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks you grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go". We aren't Irish...like at all, but any excuse to make a mundane Monday a little more exciting....I'll take it. Told the boys they were safe in school that day cause they were wearing their green. Nobody could pinch them. Carson was quick to inform me that it was a school rule to not pinch. So even if his friends aren't wearing green he can't or won't pinch them anyways. He said this in all seriousness and stared at me like I was an idiot for even saying that. I said "uh, oh, okay then". And then he walked away...while I stood there like an idiot. Guess he told me.

Drake had his green on too...just a few hours later. No need for him to miss out on precious sleep just for the sake of a picture. Those two big boys headed out to school and it was just Drake and I.

Didn't do too much exciting stuff, but I did put this fun little treat together. Rice Krispie treat recipe but you use Lucky Charms instead. I like to do lots more marshmallows and a little less cereal. Makes em extra gooey.

Night before put this little scavenger hunt together...just simple little clues that led my boys around the house to the big "treasure" at the end.

Bought myself a fun little shamrock shirt at Target. $10.00. I can use it as a lounge shirt or for pj's. At least that is how I justified the purchase with myself. Thiago kinda thought it was stupid. But what does he know. Completely neccesarry.

Crazy boy...waited all day for that Leprechaun to show up. We kinda did the same thing last year, so my boys knew "Lucky the Leprechaun" would be showing up at some point that day. Linc was really hopeful he would show up while Carson was at school and then he could just tell Carson what he missed. Nice, real nice Lincoln.

Ash took my kids to her house after school for a sec, made up some lame excuse that she needed them for something. Then I ran home and threw up the clues. Started on the back door, right as they got home.

Told them to hold on a sec while I grabbed my camera, turned back around and this is how they were standing. Carson was reading the first clue to them. Stinkin little sweeties...

That deserves a close up. Sweet little brothers. They have their moments. But oh they sure do love each other. To this day, I will always believe the greatest gift I have ever given them is each other. Love these brothers.

Phongsavath's came over and joined us in the fun.

They tore through the house in record time. Laughing their little heads off at the crazy clues. Love how something so simple made them so happy. Literally took me 10 minutes the night before to throw this together. And they just loved it.

Ended up in the laundry room with a plate of "Lucky charm treats" and a coupon to buy "Frozen" the next day. They were happy as can be.

I had to laugh cause Carson was going on and on about how good the Lucky Charm treats were, and not thinking I said "oh thanks Cars, I thought you might like them". He stared at me dumbfounded, and it took me a second to figure out why he was looking at me like that. He finally said "why did you say thanks, you didn't make them" "They are from the leprechaun". Whoops. I made up some lame answer saying I thought he was telling me how good breakfast was. And he smiled and laughed and told me I was silly.

And I smiled at my 8, soon to be 9 year old boy, who still totally believes in leprechauns and magic and treasure hunts. And I hope he hangs on to that for a good long while.