Today was a big deal for my two littlest crazies!

Today Q is considered fully daytime potty trained!! I am so impressed. He is exactly 2 1/2 to the week. HE is also a preemie and so he is considered by most potty standards ahead for boys! I am so proud of him!! Prior to last week, he only had two or so accidents during the day. I knew we were getting close! It brings such happiness and relief from where we started (a 31 weeker) and not knowing how or what his limitations could be. So proud and a little sad that his baby days are pretty much over.

Secondly, Tank has been asking me for weeks to teach him a major milestone!(click here)! I taught him today at lunch and he had it by dinner. I know that I am bias but this kid is brilliant. Not even 4 and a half yet. He has so much determination and will to do just about anything he puts his mind to.

Of course our Boomer has had 2 spelling tests so far this year and has gotten 100% on each. Tomorrow I know will be the third. Ace was doing 5/6 grade word problems tonight for homework and did not need any help. My kids amaze me (and drive me crazy) each day!!

Squeezing the last of Summer out!

While the big kids were in school today, I took the opportunity to take the  other two to the park/splash pad. Tank loves to be in and around water. Q isn't so sure yet and likes to run around the area and giggle!

After they played in the water, we walked to the adjacent park.

Check out the video here, My little Spiderman in action!  

They loved the park and Tank could not wait to show me his gymnastic skills he has recently learned ....of course I was amazed at his strength and determination! Here he is on the monkey bars!! You can see it too, here,Look at him go!!

Colors

        Yesterday, Boomer came home from school and began to tell me that her newest best friend, Riley, was no longer her best friend. Well, Boomer is a recent 6 year old and I have heard this tale a few times in her short little life. "Mackenzie isn't my friend because yellow is her favorite color....and it is suppose to be pink!" or "Ashley brought in a disgusting snack so we have to be friends another day", "Luke eats his goldfish dipped in applesauce, that is nassstttyyy", but yesterday it was different! She began to tell me that Riley called her "black".(MY internal alarms went off, I began to mentally prepare for this conversation,,,it was gonna be long) Boomer went on to say that she didn't like that she called her that. (side note: Both my older kids like to be referred to as brown and us peach).  So she told me that she asked Riley to not call her black and that she preferred brown. Boomer said that she continued to say it over and over again and began to use a teasing tone and made her uncomfortable. This is when Boomer told me that Riley is "peach".I began my lecture. I told her about why people tease and that it was probably that originally,  "Riley was stating a fact to Boomer.And that she didn't know that would upset you.People like to label. Label means that people assign a type of note in their minds as to what group you match, or are closest to."Boomer rolled her eyes! "Mommy what are you talking about?" she interrupted. "we are in ADVANCED 1st grade, shouldn't she know her colors by now!!!" I realized that what bugged her was ACTUALLY the incorrect color term. I had be preparing for a day like today for as long as we've had Boomer. Boomer didn't need/want a info session about color terms in relation to skin or the history behind it at all. She just wanted to know why Riley didn't know the difference between brown and black. I HAD TO LAUGH. Once again, I prepared for a long in depth spiel and she thought I was crazy.We are just super sensitive to that color stuff. (I'll  have to just continue to save the speech for another day!)

     I told her to talk to Riley if it still bugged her and to let her know that you prefer brown over black. Needless to say when I picked her up from school, She and Riley were holding hands and best friends again......oh the life of a 6 year old!! Love her!

Wanna cook?

Yesterday the mini's wanted to play "pizza place". I needed to make them lunch so we decided to play real pizza makers. Tank and Baby Q LOVED it!! They got to do the dough making, rolling, and do all the toppings themselves. If it is pizza night (Friday's) I on occasion make everyone their own. I ask them what toppings they want and then I make it. This is due to the fact that having 4 kids under 9in the kitchen and doing their own dough, sauce,cheese, and toppings(like the fab four's favorite, black olives) on their own is just a holy  MESS!! I have a problem with all that "fun". I know it's good for them, a learning moment to measure, fractions and so on. However, I just can't do it . Not all four at once!!! So when I only have two or one I do let them cook with me! It was that kind of day yesterday! So, pizzas it was!

 Tank chose lots of sauce, cheese and fresh basil from our basil plant!

 Q loves sauce too!

 Sprinking the cheese!

 He chose the veggies! Mushrooms, onions, green peppers,tomato, cheese and basil too!

 He asked to do the "parma"cheese!

 They came out great and they both ate them gone!

I just love em!

The question I get most often.......

And the number one question I get from friends and family ( and complete strangers) is "How did you learn to do her hair??"

Well, my answer is lots of lengthy research!!

Oh the joys of having a GIRL! Love having a girlie girl in my pack of boys!! I have always loved to do my cabbage patch dolls  hair and Barbie's hair ever since I was a little girl. I even did my little sister's hair a few times! Loved learning to braid and make symmetrical pig tails. Almost like an OCD child. I  did not like to see other kids with crazy unbrushed hair even in 1st grade. I am weird I know. I dreamed of having lots of daughters and have lots of big bows in my future!Once Boomer came into my life, I had to learn quickly how to care for her kinky curly locks! I read countless books from the library. I learned how to work with her hair type. Which for those that are interested it is hair type 4 a/b, I know because I researched on the computer as well and additionally learned that her hair is a hard one to tame! I have watched lots of videos on styling and maintaining African American natural girls hair. I think I still have alot to learn for sure, but I think that I have some skill now! Boomer doesn't complain!!! I also enjoy the  website Baby Big hair!Check it out!  I love their giveaways too!!
 In addition, Ace has decided to grow his hair out as well...this means intense hair care for him too!! It is really growing and beginning to have a "style" it is called coils!! I have tried lots of products, brushes, combs, hair ties and oils. I have finally found products that work in Ace AND Boomers hair and that make their hair silky and nice. Here is a few pictures of my journey with hair!!