Lil' Farmers

Sharing a room?

I know it is about a year away, but I've been thinking about Jonah's big boy bed. Here are his primary interests - balls, eating, music, and water. I'm thinking the easiest theme is sports for his big boy bedding. Some possibilities....






I've also been really considering moving the boys into the same room. (no we aren't preparing for another baby.) I just think it might be good and fun for them to share a room. We don't really need to, because I don't know what we would do with the extra room that would open up. Maybe I am being influenced by these?

Very true

Tonight I asked Trey where his animal lovies were. He told me "I hid them under my bed so Jonah wouldn't slobber all over them!"

PJs

Trey has become obsessed with wearing PJs lately. When he gets home from school each day, the first thing he does is run in and put on PJs.

Today is a beautiful 60 degree day, and Trey insisted in putting on his long sleeve PJs to play outside.

Out for a spin in the jeep

Cousins

Sometimes he surprises me...

This morning Trey said:

"Mommy.  I wish we had a gun."  uh oh.  let's see where this is going...

"I wish we had a gun that shoots bubbles so we could cover the floor with bubbles so when Jonah falls he doesn't get hurt."

ahhhhhhh

I'm loving Love & Logic!

After the 3rd incident at school where Trey punched another kid in the gut, Joe and I checked out a bunch of books from the library on parenting. I had heard of the Love & Logic style and it was highly recommended. The more I learn about it, it totally seems to make sense. No more time outs, no more demands, no more ordering kids to do things, no more threats, no more yelling, no more getting frustrated, no more inconsistency. Love & Logic teaches that you let the consequences do the punishing, give choices for every little thing you can, show genuine empathy, make the kids think for themselves to solve problems, and always be consistent.

I can say that it has had an amazing impact in our house. Jonah is still a bit young, but Trey has really taken to it. Here are some of our favorite examples:

{Trey spills something in the kitchen}
old way - Trey clean that up right now.
new way - Hmmm.... there's milk on the floor.
(amazingly that's all we have to say and Trey runs to get a towel to clean it up.)

{dinnertime battles}
old way - you name it. begging Trey to eat, cutting deals, threatening, contests, offers of dessert
new way - dinner is served until 6:30.
(the first time we did this, Trey goofed around as usual. At 6:30 I took his plate away. He was fine with it and said he wasn't hungry. About 2 hours later he decided he was hungry and wanted a snack. My response? What a bummer! It must be hard to make a choice not to eat then to be hungry later. Breakfast is served at 7am. Sometimes when I am hungry I drink a lot of water and it helps.)

This pic is from when the boys made a mess on the bathroom floor by splashing a ton of water out of the bath. My response? Oh how sad. This is such a mess. Do you want a white towel or a blue towel to get it cleaned up?

Knock Knock

I don't have many songs in my Jonah bedtime repertoire, which seems to be fine with Jonah. He'll enthusiastically clap in between each one, then sign for more. One of our recent favorites has been My Grandfather's Clock, a song popular in my childhood from my dad's side of the family. My favorite part was when it breaks down into tick tock, tick tock.

Last night I sang it for Jonah. He seemed to be signing for more, but he also kept hitting the cup he had in his hand. I started another song, and he shook his head no. He signed again for more and hit the cup with his knuckles. Then I realized - he was trying to knock on the cup. tick tock. knock. He was saying more knock. Now there's a smart boy!

Swim lessons

Trey is doing really well in swim lessons! Ms. Renee thinks he is hysterical, especially when he insists on being called Dolphin all class.

Fun with straws

Last weekend we went on a hike at Red Rocks. Jonah did fantastic in the backpack, as long as I was in front and he could see me. Trey also did really well! The hike was about 1.5 miles, up and down a little bit, and he didn't get tired. He put on his imaginary jetpack and ran ahead. Afterward we went to grab some food in Morrison - with a small, cute mainstreet just a few blocks long.

Success

you can use most any measure
when you’re speaking of success.
you can measure it in fancy home,
expensive car or dress.
but the measure of your real success
is one you cannot spend.
it’s the way your son describes you
when he’s talking to a friend.

martin buxbaum

Even more video of Jonah eating!

It sure is fascinating, folks.

Joe's first catering job

Joe cooked for Mari's surprise party last month, and our friends Mitch (our realtor when we bought our house here) and Kristen (Mari's college roommate) asked Joe to cater their annual St. Patrick's Day house party. They expect about 150 guests. Mari and I went last year to help out and it was a ton of fun - an irish band and a ton of food and beer. Joe has been working very hard over the last week. Here are some pics from the event setup.

Little fibber

In swim class, Ms. Renee told trey to do something like he did in the bath. He told her we didn't have a bath at home and mommy just washed him with a wet towel.

Love this baby!

Jonah's good night song

Every night in the monitor, we get to listen to Jonah's good night sounds.

Riley Frankovitch!

Meet Riley! He's a beautiful 4-5 year old lab, and HUGE! Maybe because Quinn has been gone for a few months and we've gotten used to Blackie's size, but Riley seems especially large. He's about 95 lbs. We adopted him today from Retriever Rescue of Colorado. His previous family had 3 little kids and 3 dogs, and they were moving to an apartment because their house was foreclosing. The pics aren't great b/c this was right when he arrived and he was super busy checking out the house.

Meet Riley

This handsome guy might be the newest Frankovitch!  We found him via the retriever rescue of Colorado.  Here is what the foster family says:

I am a purebred chocolate boy who is a tad on the chubby side at 93 lbs.  I am housebroken, crate trained, and I know basic obedience.  In case you were wondering I am great with other dogs, cats and kids. The rescue is checking on my age so stick around!

We should find out soon....

Jonah is 20 months!

Some more words these past few weeks, but they pretty much are all variations on nah. I figured out he's been saying mama for a while...it sounds like NAH nee!

Flashback Friday

A year ago: warm weather takes us to the zoo, hiking at Castlewood Canyon, and Trey develops his boy-ness.

2 years ago: I start to miss our first home even before we leave Framingham,I'm 5 months pregnant, and Trey gives up his binkie.

3 years ago: A big storm gives me time to catch up on blogging.

Yoga on the rocks in Utah

Zumba

Zumba class provides 60 minutes every week where I can pretend I'm a professional dancer.  Which means I don't need to use birthday parties for that reason (can i get a whoot whoot from anyone who was at Mari's birthday party this year?)  Luckily the low budget rec center doesn't have mirrors or it would make it really hard to reconcile my fantasy world with reality.

Fun times at the gym

Jonah's new word!

nanny!  nanny!  NANNNNNYYYYYYYY!

(candy)

The boys

the missing first part

Trey has some words where he consistently misses the first part of the word.  Struction (construction).  Tached (attached).  Quarium (aquarium).  It is so cute! 

Jonah's 3 favorite expressions

Huh? {aka the blank stare}

Cheese!!


Feed me!