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.