Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend was wonderful! The weather was perfect and we had lots of fun planned. Spring stuck around a little longer this year than normal. Last year, it was 80 in March. This year, we have only been in the 80s a handful of days so far. So, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, our plans took us outside for the entire weekend!
Our first stop Saturday was to see Grandaddy at the tractor show. He was going to have the "train" there and since it was such a big hit the last time, we wanted to make sure to get there for some more rides. DotDot went with us and after we left there, we went grocery shopping then home for naps. John Clay got home from working right after they got up so we had a quick dinner then went out to look at some lots. We made a quick stop by Mamaw & Papaw's house and then home for bed.

 Riding the tractor with Grandaddy. He even got to steer!

 Snack break

 Just chillin'. He camped out there because he was convinced he was going to get to drive the train.

Sunday morning I got woken up quite early by something banging on my head. It took me a minute to figure out what was happening to me. DotDot got Drew and Anna balloons while we were at the grocery store Saturday. Drew's lasted all of an hour before they ran it through the fan and popped it. Anna Kate took extra care with hers as to not suffer the same fate. She apparently woke up early and decided to get herself out of her bed, she went and found her balloon (stored safely in the guest bedroom away from all ceiling fans) and decided to come get in bed with me. The banging on my head was her balloon while she was trying to climb into my bed. Silly girl! 

Propped up in my bed with her balloon!

 After breakfast we went to recycle and then to DotDot and Grandaddy's house to play outside for a little while. They were riding their bicycles when Grandaddy came up from the barn with the pedal tractors he bought for them before they were born. I remember thinking how long it would be before they could actually ride them. It is hard to belief that time is now. One of the tractors needs a chain and one needs some pedals so they weren't able to ride them much. They were a little dirty from being stored in the barn so DotDot got out the water hose and we had a tractor wash. Grandaddy turned Drew loose with the water hose so we were all a little wet before it was over with.

Anna Kate helping with the scrubbing.

 After lunch we headed home for naps so we could go see Daddy's band play Saturday night. Drew and Anna Kate always enjoy getting to see the band and it is nice to be able to get them out of the house.  The family that was hosting the party has several kids and there were lots of things to keep them entertained. We left the party around dark and by the time we got home, had baths, and got in bed it was pretty late. Anna Kate and Drew must have been tired from all the fun we had because they slept until 9:30 yesterday morning. It was great!

 Having fun riding the tricycle.

 Diggers, dump trucks, and a sand box. Drew parked himself in that spot as soon as he discovered this gold mine and didn't move for the rest of the night. He was in heaven!

For some reason Monday morning I was feeling ambitious and decided we were going to work on potty training. After they had been up for about 15 minutes, all of ambition was gone and I was ready to declare they would just wear diapers forever. DotDot shared that candy rewards for going potty worked well for Ashley and me so I bought some M&Ms at the store Saturday. That was the worst.idea.ever. I told them the plan and Drew was first up on the potty after getting out of bed. He didn't do any business but was still determined he needed candy. While arguing with him, Anna Kate got on the potty and went. She got candy. Drew still didn't. And he was mad! Anna Kate decided she wanted candy for breakfast. I explained to them no less than 200 times that you only get candy if you go potty. They eventually got the point and you can guess what happened next, right? We had a revolving door of on the potty, wash hands, the next one on the potty.... for the next TWO hours. I did get them to take a little break in between bathroom breaks to eat a cereal bar but back to the bathroom we promptly went. I finally was able to distract them and get them go to the living room to play some. Anna Kate wore only panties all morning. Drew was quite resistant to no diapers and wanted to wear his underwear over his diaper for most of the morning (he also his Crocs and some ankle socks. He was a site!). He did keep his diaper dry though and after a successful potty break and some M&Ms decided just the underwear would be okay. Anna Kate had one very small accident while watching Barney but otherwise, they both did wonderful and wore underwear all morning and afternoon until they went down for naps. 

She may want to strangle me for this one day but this is what our Monday morning looked like.

After naps we packed up and headed to Tami's house for a cook out. The food was great and there was great company too. Mamaw and Papaw brought Drew and Anna Kate's bikes and they rode them most of the evening. This was the first time they have been able to ride them outside of the house and they are getting really good at riding them by themselves! Anna Kate is quite speedy and has no concept of her break. Drew hoped right on his without any fear and ended up having a wreck and skinning his elbow. After that he was much more cautious.

Cute little biker babies.

 Fortunately, they love their helmets and want to wear them. I'm thinking they may need elbow, knee, and wrist guards too! Especially Anna Kate who seems to have a little too much confidence. I have a feeling after her first wreck, it may be a different story.

Playing tractors with Daddy and a new friend.  Our potty training from the morning must have stuck with them because they both asked to potty while we were at Tami's (they were Pull-Ups and didn't stay dry though so we still have some work to do). After a successful potty break, they came outside and announced what they had done and everyone clapped and gave them high fives. They loved it! I have decided to ditch the candy and just give lots of praise and encouragement. Hopefully, it will be just as effective and won't have us running to the bathroom every 2 minutes for a dribble so they can have a M&M!

This weekend was a great way to kick off the summer. Drew and Anna Kate love to spend time outside and I am excited about some of the fun things we have planned for the summer. We are going to start moving out of our house next weekend so this was one of our last weekends living there. As much as I have wanted a new house, I am kind of sad to be leaving. The house we live in now was Drew and Anna Kate's first house (it was also mine and John Clay's first house together). I know we are going to be moving to one that is better for our family and I know they aren't even going to remember this one but I am still sad none-the-less.  It is definitely going to be a bittersweet experience.