Chore Chart

Just a quick post.
I was looking online today searching for ideas to make a chore chart for Ayden. 
Here are 2 great sites if anyone is interested.

Chore Chart and as a reward Personalized Money

I made just a basic chart - brush teeth, pick up toys, set dinner table, help unload dishwasher (spoons, forks and plastic items), feed dogs, etc.  Every time he does something he will get a sticker and then his reward will be silly money.  I haven't decided yet how often he will get a dollar but this is a start.
So far I have made $1 bills with the daddy's face on them.  I think I will do Ayden's on some as well.  Then once he saves a decent amount we will take a trip to the toy store.
They started a reward's chart at preschool this year for the 3 yr old's and Ayden seems excited about it.  He always tells me when he gets a sticker and what he got it for.

Hopefully this will teach him about saving $$ as well!

The Clues

We finished the clues for our big Disney Trip next week.  We had fun putting it all together and can't wait to see Ayden try to figure it out.  Here is what we came up with.

The map:

 

The letter that comes with the map: 

Clue #1: Papaw's clue  (Click on image for a larger view)

Clue #2: Nana's clue  (Click on image for larger view)

Clue #3: Mommy's clue   (Click on image for a larger view)

Clue #4: Daddy's clue and when he finds out the big surprise!  (Click on image for a larger view)

This is what will be in our resort hotel room waiting for Ayden along with a few small gifts.

Our second night there we will be going to Mickey's Halloween Party: (Click on image for larger view)

We are thinking of a few more small happy's throughout the rest of our stay but haven't figured them out yet.
9 more days!  We are so excited!

An Adventure to Disney World!

As most of you who are reading this already know - We are taking Ayden on a fun-filled 8 night/9 day adventure at the end of the month!
We are so excited about this trip to Disney World! 
We went on our 1st trip as a family there last Sept/Oct and fell in love with the place.  We decided over the summer to take another trip back and keep this one a secret!
Shhh! 
Nana is going with us for the first 5 days and we get to see Aunt Daphne and sweet Shyanne for 2 days while there.  It will be so much fun!
When we decided to take this trip we immediately knew we wanted it to be a surprise for little man.  He had such a great time last year and still to this day he talks about riding in the honey pot and teacups and seeing lots of fireworks.  He is saving all of his money in his "penny pank" for Disney.
(Of course we won't use it but it's still sweet!)
So after much brainstorming we came up with a treasure hunt of sorts.  Brian found a lady on Etsy that customized a map for us.  Then we decided we will give him clues along the way and the clues will be what mode of transporation we have to go on next.
(This is a very basic treasure hunt as he is only 3 1/2)

We start out in the car then go to the plane then take the bus to the resort.

As of right now we are planning on leaving the map on the front door step the day before we leave and tell him that someone left something for him outside.  Once he gets it we will explain that our adventure will begin the next morning and we need to pack our suitcase.
Once we wake up the next day we will have to go find our 1st clue (which is Papaw's clue).  We will meet up with Papaw and he will give him an envelope with a Mickey car pin.  Ayden will pin the Mickey car to the map.  Then we will get in the car.
While in the car Nana will give him his second clue.  He will open it and find an airplane pin and attach it to the map.  We will then go to the airport and get on the plane.
After we land in Orlando he gets his "mommy clue".  It will be a Disney bus pin.
We will then find Disney's Magical Express (the bus).

Here is a photo with the pins so you get the idea.

While on the bus he will get Daddy's clue.
In the envelope it will be 4 pins.  Once that represents each park - and believe me he knows what each one means.
Castle - Magic Kingdom
Silver Ball - Epcot
Hat - Hollywood Studios
Tree - Animal Kingdom

 If he hasn't figured it out by now we will then tell him we are going to Disney World!  I have a feeling he might figure it out when we get to the buses but it will be fun nonetheless!

I have been collecting little gifts that I plan on leaving for him in the room on the 1st day.  It will be a welcome gift from Mickey Mouse (his mystery friend that sent him on this adventure!)
Then we will have 9 days of fun/relaxing family time at the happiest place on earth!

Ayden's 1st day of Preschool 3's!

He had a blast! 
Both Brian and I dropped him off this morning and he was pretty shy at first but warmed up quickly.  We showed him where to put his bag and lunchbox in his cubby then after hiding behind daddy's legs for a few moments he was good to go. He immediately went to sit at a table and played blocks.  We told him bye and he watched us walk out but he was perfectly fine with it!

It took everything in me not to call and check on him throughout the day. 

Finally 2:30 came and I rushed to pick him up.  I just knew that he would be so excited to see me but...he wasn't.
He told me to leave.
To go back to work.
He wasn't finished playing with his friends and new toys.  :-( 
Ouch.
That hurt a bit.

I lied and told him I had a treat in the car so he would want to leave with me. (Bad Mommy!)
We starting walking toward the car and he could care less about telling me about his day.
"Yes, I ate my lunch mommy - can I have my treat?"
"Yes, I played on the playground - can I have my treat now?"
"Yes, I pee-peed in the potty - where is my treat - is it a cool  toy?"
"MOMMY, I just want my treat and to go home!" 

So...we get in the car and I am frantically going through my purse for a treat.  Anything!  I then looked in my laptop bag and remembered that I took a yellow laffy taffy (Brian's favorite) from Nana's candy jar in her office today.  I showed it to Ayden hoping he would be ok with it and he lit up!  It made answering all of my questions worth it!  Yay!
Sorry Daddy but your son NEEDED this treat!  I will do my best to get you another yellow laffy taffy soon!
All in all he had a GREAT day!  He even napped at preschool!  I can't get him to nap at home ever!

This is going to be a good school year!

Note to self: Have a stash of treats in the car for days like this!

Day 2

Today was a little rough in the potty training dept but we made some more progress.  After multiple tantrums and refusing to sit on the potty he gave in.  We had 2 little accidents throughout the day but he hasn't even asked to wear a diaper.  I was SO ready to give in a put one on him but I knew consistency was key.  Tomorrow is day 3 and I will be on my own with him as Brian will have to go into the office.  Fingers crossed for an accident free day 3!

Finally!

After multiple attempts we have finally had potty training success!  I bought Ayden a little potty at 18 months just so he would get used to seeing it and to start conversations about potty training.  He could have cared less.  He wasn't ready at 18 mo and still wasn't ready at 2 yr's.   He is now almost 3 1/2 and finally peed in the potty today - twice so far!  Success!  We tried bribing him with everything from stickers to candy to matchbox cars and little dinosaurs.  Nothing.  Until - Daddy came home from his trip to Canada on Thursday bearing gifts.  He bought Ayden a Toy Story 3 flying pig.  He told Ayden that if he went potty he would take him to the toy store and get him the Toy Story 3 garbage truck that went along with the set.  Ayden was all for it!  After meeting family for breakfast and a quick run to Lowes for some front door paint we came home and said - "No more diapers!" 
Anytime we tried to get him to sit on the potty is freaked!  Absolutely refused.  Kicked and screamed and threw anything that was within reach.  After he calmed down I made him sit then I tried a trick I had read on some website - pour warm water over his "parts".  It totally worked!  He was so excited!  We jumped right in the car (diaper free) and drove straight to Toys r Us.  Bought the garbage truck toy and came home.  He was thrilled. 
After a couple more failed tries I took him to the potty again.  While he was sitting,  I was at the sink waiting on warm water and he just went on his own again! So far we have had no accident's today!

I know no one reading this will probably care about the details of our first day of really potty training but it's been a long time coming and wanted to share.


I am one proud mommy!

Ayden loves drums!

We went to visit Daddy at the studio a few days ago and boy did Ayden have a blast! 

He couldn't keep his hands off of the drum set.  He has since requested for Santa to bring him

"an Ayden drum set only for me".  

My sweet boy isn't planning on sharing.  :) 

Here are some blurry pics from my iPhone.

Being a musician is hard work!

No excuses...

I have absolutely no excuse as to why it's been so long since I've posted.  

I am going to try my best to get better at this and at least post weekly. 
I shall start with a recipe I found.  I've had it in my recipe box for at least 5 or 6 years now and I have no idea where it came from.  It's been one of those - I should try this someday - recipes.  Well someday finally happened and now it is one of our favorite chicken dinners!  It's super easy and quite tasty.  You have to like limes to enjoy this though. 

Baked Honey Lime Chicken
3-4 small limes, plus wedges for garnish
1/4 c honey
3 small garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarse ground pepper
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 c loosely packed fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, chopped (I used cilantro)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  From limes, grate 3 tsp peel and squeeze juice of  1/4 of a lime.  In a small bowl, with a fork, mix honey, garlic, coriander, salt pepper, lime juice and 2 tsp lime peel - saving 1 tsp for later.

Arrange chicken in a small baking dish.  Drizzle lime mixture over chicken.  bake until juices run clear when the thickest part of the chicken is pierced with the tip of a knife, about 30 to 35 minutes.  Transfer chicken to serving dish.  Drizzle with pan juices.  Sprinkle with cilantro and remaining 1 tsp lime peel and serve with lime wedges.

 This was really good baked but even better grilled! 
To grill - we doubled the recipe (using 5 or 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts) and used it as a marinade and then B grilled them to perfection.  Soooo good! 
For side dishes we grilled corn on the cob and I made some black beans and rice. 
To finish it off a Corona or a margarita would make this the perfect meal.

A very tasty dessert - or breakfast if you dare!

Click on this link for an awesome (and easy!) recipe!

Our Best Bites: Easy (and Amazing!) Apple Dumplings

Children's Museum

Geeze, it's been forever since I have posted on here.  Anyone that is reading this probably knows why. 

It's time to try and get life back to normal!

Yesterday Brian and I took Ayden to the Children's Museum and we had a blast.  We were in need of some fun family time after all the craziness that surrounded our holiday season. 

And fun we had and here are some pictures to prove it.