Potty training

If anyone else reads this, I apologize because it's kind of gross. I really wanted to blog it though for my own records. Although other mommies out there will probably understand. Anyways...this morning Cayson went #2 in the potty all by himself. Him and Hayden are playing upstairs in their room, and Hayden came running downstairs to tell me and sure enough Cayson had climbed up on their potty and went! I'm so proud. He's been going pee some in the potty for the past couple of weeks, but mostly if we ask him at the right time. But never has he gone #2, especially without us asking him if he needed to go potty! I'm excited! I am hoping that buying diapers is coming to an end soon.

Happy 2 years!

Cayson-

I can't not believe you are 2 years old! It seems just a short time ago that you were born. You are so funny at this age. You keep us laughing. I can't imagine our lives without you.

Things I want to remember:

• A lot of times when you smile, you scrunch up your nose! I captured the perfect picture of this just a couple of days ago.

• You definitely know you are the baby in this family. I call you my love bug, because you really like to cuddle and be held. I eat this up, because your brother never wanted to be held or cuddled.
• You are a good eater and like just about anything. Some of the things that you eat that really surprise me are salads, fruit, black olives, and mushrooms.
• You talk really well. You speak in full sentences and I can understand almost everything you say. You also are trying to repeat almost everything we say.
• You still have the sweet baby waddle when you run. I'm going to be so sad when you do not do this anymore.
• I think you are going to be much harder to potty train than your brother. You are so stubborn and refuse to sit on your little potty! Hmm..I wonder where you get your stubbornness from? :)
• You are an observer. You love to sit and watch people.
• You have learned to hold your own with your brother. You refuse to let him take advantage of you and do not hesitate to defend yourself. Even if that means rearing back and smacking him. We are working on that! :) You really look up to him and try to do everything that he does. 

Halloween 2010

We had a fun Halloween! On Wednesday night, I was supposed to have class. I drove an hour there to find out class had been canceled and our professor didn't feel it was necessary to e-mail us before hand..so anyways, I drove back and we went to the Fall Festival at our church. Josh was going to take the boys anyways, but I was glad I got to go as well! I don't have any pictures of that though because Josh forgot to take my camera. On Friday, Hayden had a Fall party at school and was able to wear his costume so this is him before school on Friday in his Thomas costume! 

 On Saturday we too the boys to Publix to trick or treat. They had employees dressed up and stationed in different areas of the store. We walked around and the boys got to play games and got candy.

          Josh helping Cayson with his costume.

 The boys and me in the parking lot. This was the best one we got.  Josh was rushing because he was embarrassed I was making him take pictures in the grocery store parking lot! Hah!

 On Sunday- we went to a subdivision some friends from church live in. They have two little boys close in age to our boys so they had fun trick-or-treating together and then playing afterwards.

 This one is kind of blurry, but I like it!

 Haha-I LOVE this face of Cayson! I told them to smile and this is what I got from him!

 Eating candy before we even got started!

 I was trying to get a picture of Cayson with his hoodie on, but he was not having it!

The boys and me. I don't know why I was cheesing like that! :)

Anyways...we had a fun Halloween. This was our first year of the boys really trick-or-treating. Last year they went to a couple of house in my parents subdivision, but it was raining and we couldn't really walk around-so they had lots of fun! When we were finished, Hayden asked when we get to do that again!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23

Day 23: Favorite Vacation

I have many favorites! Including...

 Hawaii for my graduation gift.

The beach trip we take every year with my family.

The trip to the mountains we take every year with my family.

We went on a cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel, St. Thomas that was lots of fun!

I have special memories of my grandparents taking me to Disney World when I was younger!

Here's some pictures from our last trip to the mountains. (December 2009)

 My grandmother making cookies with Hayden. We used to make cookies together like this when I was little too!

 Christmas morning. Santa knows to come to the mountains for Christmas now :)

 Cayson kept his daddy up all Christmas eve night...so this was him sleeping Christmas day away!

And some pictures from our last trip to the beach (July 2010). 

Worn out!

 The deer in our back yard.

 My grandmother and Cayson. She's so good with them! You'll see her in several of these pictures playing in the sand with the boys.

 Papa feeding Cayson!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 18-22

Again, I am playing catch up! With all the Halloween festivities with our kiddos last week/weekend I haven't had a chance to post regularly!

Day 18: Something You Regret

I really don't regret much because I truly feel everything happens for a reason and many things that seem like regrets at the time turn out to be the best things in life. Anyways, if there is one thing I regret it is quitting gymnastics to cheer in middle school and high school. I was a competitive gymnast and I loved it!! I regret the quitting gymnastics part but I do not regret the friendships I had. Although, I am not friends with many of the people I was friends with in high school now, I am glad I had those friendships at the time. I also probably wouldn't have met Josh because if I hadn't formed those friendships in high school through cheerleading, I would not have been friends with the people that introduced me to Josh.

Day 19: Something you Miss

I miss gymnastics. I miss the many days and nights at the gym and I miss the weekend competitions. I LOVED gymnastics!

Day 20: Nicknames

My mom calls me Lisa sometimes...My first name is Alyssa and I don't know why but she would call me Lis or Lisa often when I was growing up.

Paigey is another one. My friends called me this growing up and so did my parents, brother and now Josh.

This is not a nickname now, but when my brother was little, for a long time, he called me sissy! I miss him calling me that. It was sweet :) 

I'm also known as mama to my sweet boys! 

Day 21: Picture of Yourself

I have very few pictures of just me, but here is one from this past weekend of my boys and me.

Day 22: Favorite City

Hm...I'm not sure! I guess Clemson, South Carolina! I grew up around that area and it's home to Clemson University! I love the college area plus it's close to family. 

I also really like Sivierville, TN- we rent a cabin there every year around Christmas. My entire family goes and I love spending a week with my parents and grandparents!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 14-17

I know I've stayed behind, but it's been really hard to blog every day with school and my schedule with the boys. Anyways...this should catch me up :)

 Day 14: A Picture You love

I have 3. These pictures are from the hospital the day Cayson was born almost 2 years ago! I want to have these blown up and framed because I think they are so sweet. These pictures show Hayden meeting Cayson for the very first time. I especially love the second one of Hayden and Josh looking at each other smiling! So sweet :) 

Day 15: Bible Verse

My 2 favorites...

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"- Jeremiah 29:11

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

Day 16: Dream House

This is actually the picture of the house I want. I love it!

Things I really want in my house...

• Large kitchen with plenty of counter space and an island
• 4 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths (at least)
• Finished basement
• I love the ranch style houses with a full finished basement
• Large backyard 
• Bedroom with sitting area and fireplace
• Huge walk in closet

Day 17:Something you are looking forward to...

I am looking forward to finishing this semester

I am looking forward to student teaching in the Spring

I am looking forward to our week in the mountains at Christmas time

I am looking forward to spending time with family for the Holidays

I am looking forward to graduating May 2011 and hopefully getting a job for August

I am looking forward t having my own classroom and teaching!

I am looking forward to finding out where God will place me to begin my teaching career

I am looking forward to buying a house (hopefully sometime next year!)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 11-13

Day 11:  Favorite TV Shows

I have lots!! In no particular order...

• One Tree Hill
• Life Unexpected
• Private Practice
• Grey's Anatomy
• Brother's and Sisters
• Desperate Housewives
• CSI: Miami
• Law and Order: SVU
• Vampire Diaries
• The Gates
• Secret Life of the American Teenager
• Make It or Break It
• Pretty Little Liars
• Parenthood
• The Good Wife
• Teen Mom
• Real Housewives: New Jersey

There may be more...but that is all I can think of right now! 

Day 12: What You Believe

•  I believe that Jesus Christ is my savior
•  I believe there is a reason for everything that happens (even if we don't understand it)
• I believe in enjoying the season of life you're in 
• I believe in spending time with loved ones
• I believe it's okay to have lazy days
• I believe in having time to myself
• I believe in at least 8 hours of sleep every night
• I believe that naps are wonderful
• I believe in cuddle time with my babies even if there is stuff that needs to be done
• I believe that family should always come first
• I believe that honesty is always best
• I believe in doing the right thing

Day 13: Goals

All of these goals are things I want to accomplish within the next 2 years or so.

• Graduate with a 4.0 gpa
• Get a job for next school year
• Buy a house with my husband
• Pay off the majority of our debt before buying this house (hopefully by the end of next year).
• Join a bible study at church. We belong to a Sunday School class, but with my hectic school schedule I haven't yet been able to join a bible study
• Keep up my blog to document our lives with our children in this season of life.
• Take the boys to Disney World (Hopefully sometime in the year 2012)