Now Here's MY Personal Favorite....

And here is my personal Sesame Street favorite: Huey Lewis and the News. His hit, "Hip to be Square," is changed to "Hip to Be a Square." And the cool part is that Huey Lewis is actually singing it! I didn't know this 1980s goodness existed, but it is on one of Weiss's Sesame Street DVDs from the 1980s. It's made complete by the awesome 80s music video style format. Take a look.....

And While We're on the Subject of Sesame Street....

I thought I would post this... I love how Sesame Street uses current songs/artists to convey a learning principle to kiddos. (And it also helps "woo" the parents because it's entertaining, too....) This is one of Weiss's favorites current Sesame Street songs by Feist. The song was made popular because it was in an Apple Computer commericial, and then Feist showed up on Sesame Street. I bought the CD, and when it is in the car, guess what Weiss has us listen to, over and OVER???? "1, 2, 3, 4....."

I am CONSTANTLY singing Sesame Street's praises.... Weiss can now count to 15 and recognizes about two-thirds of the alphabet, and I certainly attribute this to the show. Each episode, there's a "letter of the day" and "number of the day," and I think those 7 AM episodes on PBS and all of the Sesame Street DVDs have really helped him out! Thank you, Sesame Street!

Potty Training is 90% Complete...

Since my last post, Weiss, Logan and I have been focusing on his potty training. He is in "big boy pants" most of the day, and he stays dry during naps and at night. (Even then, I am still paranoid and put a Pull-Up on him; I really don't want to add "change and wash sheets" on my to-do list...) And we had a "motivating moment" last week on the potty training circuit....

Last Thursday, Hannah and I took all three kiddos to the Dell Austin Children's Museum. We had a great time; Hannah and I are both still partial to the New Braunfels McKenna Children's Museum, however.... There was lots for kids to do (the target age was more like 5, 6, or 7) and LOTS of kids.... WHOA.

After the visit, we took the kids to eat at Which Wich? downtown, about 2 blocks away from the museum. The kiddos seemed to enjoy it. Weiss and I made a run to Target before he was to get a haircut. And, as always, I found more in Target than I was anticipating....

Weiss kept asking to go down the toy aisle. I obliged, of course. (I feel like he has to go down every non-toy aisle in Target for me to browse; why not let him have a few aisles of his own?) There was a toy--more like an obsession--the Sesame Street house, exclusively for Target, by Fisher-Price, complete with the Sesame Street character figurines to play with. I thought I would get it for Christmas; I like to shop early. I figured I could put it in the basket, take it home and stick it in the closet. He would just forget about it. WRONG.

We returned after a haircut for Weiss to Marble Falls. I picked Logan up from work and we met Dickey, Cinda, and Logan's godparents, the Davenports (who were in from Dallas) at Real New Orleans Restaurant. Weiss began to ask for his "Sesame Street House" when we got out of the car. No---it was more like PLEADING for his Sesame Street house.....

To make a long story short, for several days, he pleaded for his Sesame Street house. BEGGED. OBSESSED.

Logan and I finally decided it would be a good potty training reward. Christmas (or his birthday--whichever gift-giving occasion we chose) was too far away to hear all of this.... So I told him Elmo and Big Bird cry when he doesn't go in the potty. So everytime Weiss had an accident, he would say in the saddest tone, "Elmo and Big Bird cry...."

However, he is doing GREAT now. He has had just a few accidents, and he is getting better about telling you when he needs to go potty instead of forcing him to go. So last week, he had a great day and was a great, obedient kiddo. He earned his "Sesame Street House." And he is still OBSESSED with it; he continually plays with it and asks us to play with him. It's so fun because he's just now getting into imaginative play....

So now, Weiss watches Sesame Street while he plays with his Sesame Street House in his Sesame Street pajamas, drinking Sesame Street Earth's Best Organics juice. AAAHHHHH! (At least they're cute characters....)

First Weiss Video Upload!!!!

Okay..... I was going to upload some pictures, but I couldn't find the recent files here on Logan's computer because I don't know where they're categorized.... However, I did find this precious video of Weiss saying his shapes at dinnertime on his Sesame Street placemat.... (This was from about a month ago.....)

What's Been Going On Around Here....

Hello, my bloggy friends!!! This past week has been fun and laid-back. Weiss and I have spent more time around the house, which has been nice because he will begin preschool at FBC very shortly. (He'll be attending Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings....I'll pick him up after they serve him lunch...) This is really a bittersweet moment for me because I feel he is growing up and we are already cutting one of the "strings" that attaches him to our "nest." Friends will become more important to him, he'll be forming opinions and bringing back things that are not of this household, and you name it.... (Thankfully, there are some great Christian families we know that attend his school and strong Christian teachers and administrators, praise the Lord!)

Because school is starting, Weiss had to go to the dr.'s office for a wellness check. And I LOVE Dr. Madrigal, our doc. (When I was in San Antonio, I started driving Weiss all the way out here to see her.) She is a Christian, very high energy, and she practices what she preaches (extremely fit and healthy doc--love that). She spends lots of time with each patient, thinks outside of the box (she doesn't try to shove prescription drugs first thing down your child's throat), and lets you call her home or cell if you need her anytime. (What doc nowadays does THAT?!?!?!) Anyway, so we have found a real gem for our entire family.... (She is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine, but she also does family practice....)

Because she hasn't seen Weiss since December, she was very impressed with his sentence structure, counting skills, and him saying his ABCs. I had brought his little DVD player with Sesame Street playing, and although she is not a TV advocate by any means, she began talking about how great Sesame Street is for development and how it can help Weiss get ahead. (I told her he was OBSESSED with Sesame Street....) She said at this pace, she had no doubt that he would probably begin reading in his fourth year after several questions she asked me. (I'm not going to take that to the bank, but we will continue to work on all of the above....However, it made me proud of him!) Weiss is tall right now for his age and right smack in the middle for weight, and Dr. Madrigal thinks he looks older than he is. She told me to make sure others understand his maturity level and age and don't expect him to act like an older child.

She also told me to always, ALWAYS keep him in a five-point childseat for as long as possible, regardless of what companies advertise for older kiddos. (Her personal childseat recommendation was the "Britax" brand.) She said avoid boosters AT ALL COSTS, even if it means Weiss doesn't look "cool..." We will certainly heed her advice for as long as we can... I believe our particular seat holds up to 65 lbs., so Weiss will be stuck there for awhile.... Dr. Madrigal gave him a clean bill of health and signed off on his FBC preschool sheet!

Last Thurday, we FINALLY got to meet Mr. Brooks Matthew Homeyer, the newly-hatched son of our great friends, Matt and Kelley. He is soooo cute and is a teeny little man! He's got a crop of blonde hair, and he's just precious! We took them dinner and Weiss came along... Weiss was VERY wired at their house....(Sorry about the free entertainment, Homeyers!!! And thanks for letting us crash your peaceful atmosphere.... We'll be back--whenever ya'll are ready!!!) I was SUPER frazzled with him because, well, Thursday had been a fiasco most of the day... I woke up and Weiss pooped his pants and tried to "clean" them up when I was in the shower..... (Just imagine....) There was poo all over his bathroom toilet and floor.... on the rug, and all over him! So he had ANOTHER bath, and I had ANOTHER shower... We went to volunteer at respite care at Fellowship Baptist, and Weiss was great---until it was time to leave. MAJOR screaming meltdown. Matt was so nice to bring this neat little train Weiss was nuts over home that night when we came over to see them. (Thanks, Matt!) We went on to HEB to get dinner for the evening and Weiss said, "Don't wanna go to HEB" when we got in the parking lot...

(HEB has marketed well.....he knows HEB logos, HEBuddy, et cetera, et cetera...) As a side note, we were going down an aisle to get Logan some more hair gel. The adult "underpants"--ahem--Depends--and the like, were across the aisle from us as we stopped to search for the particular type of gel. Weiss saw the HEB brand and exclaimed loudly: "HEB PANTS!! YEAH!! (I laughed so hard....) He loves to get Buddy Bucks after we check out and put them in the little claw machine. He cheers when he gets a Buddy Buck and doesn't keep the points.... He just loves the stickers because they are, well, stickers! He'll exclaim: "Number 2! YEAH!!!" And then he'll jump up and down.... It really is cute to see... (Parents, I'm sure you know what I mean with the Buddy Bucks.... And thank you, HEB, for making my toddler's day a bit brighter.... Can I get some free groceries for saying that??)

This weekend, my parents came down for a visit. We really didn't get out and do a whole bunch, but we ate at Real New Orleans Cajun Restaurant on Friday night, which is NOW IN TOWN!!!!!! Yippee!!!! It was great (as always) and I can't wait to order out etoufee and gumbo when it's cold outside.... And their bread pudding is some of the BEST on this planet.... (Now there are three locations: the old Round Mountain location on 281, Marble Falls, and Burnet.) And not only is the food great, but it benefits the "Smoking for Jesus" ministry, located in Kingsland. (Yes, you read that correctly.) They are an incredible group of godly people who moved together from New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit, and they have all made their home in here in the Highland Lake area. So come on out, support their ministry, and eat some REAL Cajun food from authentic Cajuns!!!

Saturday, we didn't do much but get some stuff accomplished around the casa. Even though Lakefest (boatraces) were going on, I wasn't excited about going because it was soooo hot, soooo loud, and soooo crowded....Dad, Logan and I assembled our new coffee table, which Logan was skeptical about me ordering, but now I think he likes it. (I basically watched... The dudes had to put their muscles behind it at times....) Mom and Dad played with Weiss, Logan washed his car, and I did some laundry. We ordered out Thai food from Ginger and Spice on Saturday night, and we all got the Pad Woon Sen (my fave, Logan's fave, Weiss's fave). We also got some Tom Kha soup, which I want to attempt to make (coconut cream base, lime leaves, cilantro, mushrooms, chicken...YUMMO.....) Everyone enjoyed it. Mom and Dad kept Mr. Pookie while Logan and I went to see "A Perfect Getaway." It wasn't too bad, but wasn't great. It was just nice to get out of the house for a bit and have a little "date...." Thanks for the babysitting, guys!

We all went to church Sunday morning, while Logan and I stayed for Sunday School and Mom and Dad took Mr. Weiss home to play before they had to leave. We came home, I threw together some lunch, and Mom and Dad had to go back to West Texas. Weiss took a nap with Logan while I worked a bit on organizing our closet. I want to install some shelves so we have some room to keep our suitcases off the ground...

I am enjoying these last two weeks with Weiss before he goes to school and I am gone to Lynchburg, VA, for two weeks for school. (I have to do a total of four weeks on the Liberty campus--4 classes, one week apiece. However, I figured I would cram two together to save on airfare and just to get 6 hours out of the way.... It will be hard to be away for the moment from my family, but so great to have knocked out. I am quickly approaching the finish date for my degree, but have many, many, MANY hours left for internships!!! Thank goodness I have five more years before I must have my completion!!!) Logan is coming to visit the weekend in between classes, and we plan to see the local Civil War sights that are around in beautiful Virginia. Anyway, more on that later....

So I've Been Getting Behind A Bit....

my cousins, Cameron, Hunter, and Carson
my aunt and my Dad's only sibling, Alana
This last week has flown by and been action-packed. Logan headed off to Big Spring to see his grandfather, who is still not doing well at all, and Dickey and Cinda kept Weiss. I headed to DFW for a college friend's wedding, Mrs. Lindsay (Harris) Lemon.

(Okay, Lindsay---if you're reading---I still can't get the last name right: Lemon, Lemons, Lemmon, Lemmons??? Let me know.... However, I loved the "lemon" theme at the wedding... PERFECT for this time of year!!!! I could have used Stanley Power Tools as my wedding theme.....not quite as charming....haha!!!)

I stayed with Dad's sister, Alana, who I don't get to see nearly enough. We had a blast: She took me out shopping to some cool, little eclectic hideaways she knows of, took me to an AWESOME Italian place downtown (Taverna), and then to the "Jubilee," Ft. Worth's African-American theatre, to a musical comedy. And it was AMAZING!!!! "Sam Shade" was totally funny, and the cast had INCREDIBLE voices.... I felt as though several of the cast members could have been with major recording labels or on Broadway.... I was blown away.....

Alana and I got up to run---(well, it ended up being a 6 mile walk because we were catching up!) through her BEAUTIFUL neighborhood. It's over by the Colonial golfcourse, in the Tanglewood/Bellaire/TCU part of Ft. Worth, so it is absolutely stunning. The houses made me drool.... She even showed me where Pat Green lived!!! (Thanks for the tour, Alana!!! It was awesome!) Alana is a runner, snow-skiier and biker (she's been doing all for quite some time now---I'm jealous) and in EXTREMELY great shape!!! (Okay---Alana---I had to brag a bit on you!!!!) I won't reveal her age, but Dad always gives her a hard time because he is the little brother..... (I know Dad is snickering right about NOW....) I hope those great genetics have been passed on!!!! haha

We went to see Andy, Heather, Hunter, Carson and Cameron (the twins).... (This is Alana's son, daughter-in-law, and grandkiddos, for those of you out there....) Hunter was playing in an indoor summer soccer league, and he is AWESOME!!!! Lots of high school/college potential there..... I know he will definitely be on the Weatherford 'Roos starting lineup in high school, no doubt! (I also informed him he was wearing my number, 16, that I wore all the way through college...... I called it "sweet 16," but that's not too appropriate for a teenage boy.....) It was great to briefly see everyone and catch up a bit..... (Heather and Andy--- I wish we all lived closer.... ) The girls are growing like crazy and are BEAUTIFUL....

Then Alana and I had a quick stop at QT for a coffee and then my favorite: SUPER TARGET!!!! And I guess we are just out here in the backwoods, but QT is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I'm addicted!!!!!!!

We headed to the wedding, which was beautiful, and Lindsay was a stunning bride! I approve of her new hubby, Luke! I saw a few friends from college and got to visit and catch up with Shannon Stovall and her mom. (Shannon was my roommate on our Model UN trip to NYC.... She was the BEST!!!) Alana and I then headed to Stephan Pyles for dinner---it was WONDERFUL!!!!!
(Cinda and Stephan are good friends, and so he came out to greet us at our table and chat for a bit---Thanks, Stephan!!!!) We were so full from the wedding we had no room for dessert, but could fit a few truffles down....YUMMO!!!!

We headed off with our leftovers back to Alana's house for some R and R.....

Sunday morning, we went to Alana's church, University Christian Church. I really enjoyed the speaking and the great choir and handbell special.... It was a beautiful place to worship... After another coffee stop at 7-11 (well, a cocoa stop for me---they had a HUGE thing of the little miniature marshmallows to sprinkle in---my FAVORITE!!!!!), she drove me around the TCU campus and through some more gorgeous neighborhoods where we walked on Saturday.... After some quick leftovers from Stephan Pyles, I had to head back to Marble Falls.....

It was a great visit with Alana, and we've already made plans to rendezvous again soon for the State Marching Band Contest in San Antonio in November!!! (Anissa, I hope you can join us!!!!!!) I was glad to see Logan and Weiss again; I was very tired from the drive and the fun! Now, this week, I've been concentrating on EXERCISE and HOUSEWORK........ Blah....

We're Going to Start on Some Bible Verse Memorization....

So---I think it is time for Weiss to get some Bible verses to memory. (After all, he is old enough, a talker, and can be motivated by rewards!) Here are some I have found that are "doable" for little ones... We're going to start with these....


10 Easy Bible Memory Verses For Kids
Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God proves true.
Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters.
Deuteronomy 6:5 - You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Matthew 22:39 - You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God.
Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Isaiah 43:5 - Do not be afraid for I am with you.
Psalm 1:6 - The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

(I've been lazy lately; I'll have to update soon with another post of what we've been up to....)