Computer overload and lots of rambling

Ok, it has been a while since I have posted.....things have been crazy, busy. Kent took a week off, so I wasn't on the computer as much as usual. Then our computer crashed...then we got it fixed, then it crashed again, and I just realized none of our pics. are on our computer. uh, hello, that is a huge deal, hopefully Kent was smarter than me and has them backed up somewhere...? anywhere...? I was planning on posting some X-mas pics. so I guess I will just ramble about the latest happenings.....

Ellie: We are on day 3 of potty training! This time it is for reals! The first day she was 1/6, I did a whole load of laundry just from her clothes that day. The good news is, the one out of six opportunities, she pooped on the potty! Phew! It has gotten better everyday since. She loves her "pretty panties" and she struts around the house with just a shirt and her pretty panties. Some are flowers, some are princesses, some are B's old underwear. :) The funny thing is, they're all different sizes and about half of them are too big and ride up her bum like a thong. I know, I know, that is horrible to say, especially when it's your OWN two year old. Come on, baby Elle, I don't want to have to start worrying about such things. She is going to give us a run for our money, along with Miss Dan Dan:

Dani: Miss Danielle is on her own schedule, and isn't even pretending to be interested in the potty, she won't even sit on it now. The bad thing is, Ellie will get potty treats (2-3 mini M & Ms) and SHARE them with Dani. What do you do in that situation? Ellie is being super sweet, but not helping on the motivation front for D. ?? Danielle has been busy with her "Brand new baby" (this is the baby's name), my mom and dad got the girls a high chair, stroller, and bed set and the girls LOVE it! She is quite the little mommy, she takes very good care of her baby. The other day she was picking it up from the stroller and she grunted, "uhhh." Kent and I looked at each other and thought, 'maybe we shouldn't grunt or be exasperated every time we pick Dani up.' It's just that D is solid and seems heavier than E even though they're the same weight. You learn alot about your parenting skills when you watch your kids with their babies. :) I won't go into detail about the time-outs, and all the trips they take to go get coffee with their strollers. hehe...

Brayden: B is our little dictator of the house. He seems to have become more and more bossy, and the girls take it. They pretty much do anything he says or suggests. He has a very bossy tone and he stands with his hand on his hip while he addresses them. I have no idea where he learned this behavior. Some of his phrases I've overheard make me grimace. "How many times do I have to tell you....? Are you listening to me? I told you to... Man, who is the bossy one? I guess I am just teaching him good leadership skills, right?

Kent: Kent is in Detroit this week, probably thrilled to have some quiet time after the holiday chaos and a week home with us. No, I know he was really disappointed to leave us. :)

Christy: I have a very sore, tired body from working out at the Y and swimming laps in the pool. Swimmers out there, I need help! First of all, I never realized how much work REAL swimming is. I get so tired....I have to alternate with a kick board so I don't drown, which brought me to the idea of wearing flippers. :) I know how hot I would look, then I decided against it because I figure they won't let me wear flippers in the sprint triathlon I signed up for in July. YES, I am going to do it, right now I am on my own, does anyone want to join me in training, or for the race? It is in Coeur d' Alene on July 25th. I have digressed, my swimming questions are: 1. My swim cap squeezes my head so tight, it feels like my brains are going to ooze out of my ears. Is this normal? Does it eventually stretch out? Are there different sizes, cuz I couldn't find sizes? This also results in lovely lines on my forehead, which don't go away for hours....painful, very painful. I swam without the cap the other day and it was much better! I am just worried all the chlorine in the Y pool is going to make my hair dry, turn green, and/or fall out. My other question is: Tips? Any tips on how to improve form/stamina, besides doing it over and over? I need all the help I can get!

That's all for now, thank you for reading my rambling, if you made it through it all, and let me know if you have any tips for potty training or swimming.