diet coke

The other night, we were sitting on the couch and we heard a loud bang, almost as if something had fallen and broke. We both looked at each other and wondered what it could have been. The kitchen looked normal so we stuck our heads outside and heard some banging at the neighbors. We figured that was the sound. Later that night, I opened the freezer to get a Popsicle and I immediately knew what had happened.

Maybe not right that second, but shortly after I did. I opened the freezer and thought what in the heck happened in here?
And then I found the culprit sitting in the door.

I have yet to figure out who put the can in there. I know I didn't. What a mess it was!!

accident

This week has been a bit crazy for me. My job has had me spinning circles and left me all stressed out and worried. On Tuesday, my step-dad was involved in a motorcycle accident and was badly hurt. It's been really hard to see him in so much pain and to see him all beat up. I've also struggled with feeling bad for him because he won't have a fun summer, like he should have, all because a lady pulled out in front of him. He's tough and a fighter, but it still sucks to think about how the summer should have been and how it will be now.

My mom is an amazing strength for him. She is doing a wonderful job taking care of him, calling doctors and the hospital, and meeting all of his needs. She says the reason she is so strong is because she can feel all the prayers working. I wish I could have half the strength she has. I am so weak and so emotional. Tears were rolling down my face before I even took a look at him and then I can look at my mom and see her amazing presence. I just wish I could do that.

What happened to my step-dad could have been far worse than it is...it could have been fatal or leaving him with much more serious injuries. I'm grateful his injuries are superficial and will heal. I'm grateful we still have him here with us. I cannot imagine the other. I'm grateful the first two people on the scene were a paramedic and a nurse. Thank you for being in that moment, at that time, and for taking care of him. And thank you to God for watching over him.

Leaving things in God's hands is always something I have struggled with. I try, but it's hard for me to fathom, yet alone do. My parents seem to be showing me during this time, what that is all about. If only I could figure out how to do that and quit all the worrying I do....about everything. I guess I've got stuff to work on.

baby bunny

We were shopping at Wal-Mart today and the kids called saying they caught a baby bunny after Sophie had chased it and bit it. We got home and they had it in a box with some water and grass. It's a cute little thing, but it does have a puncture wound on the back of it's neck. At this point, we're not sure what we are going to do with it. Here is Jayden looking at it for the first time.

He was very curious about it and petted it so nicely.
Perky little ears!

Jayden insisted on holding it. He did such a nice job treating it so gently.

Allie let the bunny rest next to her. Isn't that amazing?!

She sniffed the bunny and acted like she wanted to care for it.

The kids said they found it in the window well and then Sophie got it. We cannot find the nest or any other babies. Hopefully the little thing recovers.

Ephesians 2: 8-9

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.

The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named 'Love'.​

Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because "Love never fails".

The next batter was named Faith​, who also got a single because Fai​th works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom look​ed it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walk​ed because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star pl​ayer. Up to the plate stepped Gra​ce. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace.

T​hinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball contin​ued over the fence... for a home run!

The Lord's team WON!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Fa​ith and God​ly Wisdom coul​d get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, ​faith and w​isdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Fait​h and Wisdo​m will get you on base but only My​ Grace can get you Home:


'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.' Ephestians 2:8-9

silly pictures

The thing I miss the most about having a small, cheaper camera, are the self-portraits I used to take. But luckily, Shaylee left her camera laying around last night and I took full advantage of it. Here are a couple funny ones.

This one makes me laugh so hard. I caught him in mid movement doing something and this is what I ended up with. Haha!

Since these pictures were taken after the other kids went to bed, I can see we'll have to have a "funny picture" day coming up with the other ones!

pictures taken yesterday

Wow did I slack off in updating this blog or what?! I guess it's been kind of a busy week. Yesterday we finally got our family pictures taken. It went as I expected, meaning, Jayden only cooperated for about 15 minutes and that was pushing it. I'm happy we got the entire clan pictures done, but we got zero of Jayden by himself, or Mike, me and Jayden. My photographer who is also my friend, is nice enough to come back tomorrow morning and try to get some of Jayden back at the same place. We didn't even change outfits or get to our second location. So I really was bummed, but what do you do. His tantrums are bad, really bad, and nothing calms him down.

nope, no go

This is long, but leads to a funny story. Bear with me and read on...you'll laugh, I promise!

I woke Jayden up really early (6am) so we could head to Sioux Falls for doctor appointments. Jayden wanted nothing to do with going potty before we left, so I packed lots of underwear and several shorts with me, just in case he had accidents. I debated on bringing the choo choo toilet seat, but left it at home.

He slept the whole way down and had dry pants when we arrived. As we walk into the doctor office, I ask if he has to go potty, to which he says no. After our appointments I decided he was going to try to go potty because it was now 8:30 and he needed to try. That alone made him very mad. He locked his knees backwards and arched his back and started screaming. I plopped him on the toilet, but nope, no go.

I run some more errands for work and then drive all the way across Sioux Falls to Petco. Jayden was very excited to go into Petco. We looked at the animals, watched the ferrets get their glass cage cleaned, counted the mice, and then Jayden said he had to go potty. I find the bathroom and take him in. He sees the toilet and starts screaming so loud I swear it's echoing through the intercom. I sit him on the potty sideways thinking that will work. I encourage him, try to calm him, attempt to help him, but nope, no go. We go back out to the store and buy some dog bones and leave.

Our next stop was the mall. I knew they had family bathrooms there with small toilets beside the big toilets. He was interested in the small one, so he pulled down his pants and sat down on it. I'm thinking, yes this is great, he's going to go potty! Well, the little toilet started to flush all on it's own while he was sitting on it. Jayden did not think that was cool at all and was done. Nope, no go! By now I'm frustrated. It's after 10am and he hasn't gone potty yet today!

We grab a bit to eat and shortly later, Jayden says he has to go potty. So we literally run through the food court, into the family bathroom, and onto the little toilet. This time I help him sit and I use my other hand to cover the sensor on the wall so it doesn't flush, but nope, no go. Jayden wasn't gonna go.

Well, now it's time to venture across the mall to JCPenny to exchange Shawndra's swim suit. Of course, there is no bottoms to match the top in the size we need, so we're back to square one with Shawndra trying on swim suits. Now Jayden decides he's going to lay down on the floor. Not cute. He won't move. So now I'm resorted to carrying him or leaving him and I didn't want him to get lost, so I carried him. Before long, he has to go potty, so we head to those bathrooms. I show him the toilets and he's refusing to even try. It's 1pm and he has not gone potty and his pants are still dry. I tell him he can either go here or we can go back and find Shawndra. He said he wanted to find Shawndra. Off we went.

Jayden then refused to walk through the mall. I'm in no shape to carry a 3 year old through the mall. I tell him I'm leaving as he's lying on the floor. He just lays there. I walk quite a ways away and look back. He doesn't care. He's still laying there. So now I walk back because people are starting to look at him, like where's your mom? I pick him up and carry him to a bench and plop him down. He rolls to the floor and lays there. I'm hot, sweaty, and in no mood to deal with this. But alas, I have no choice. I ended up carrying this boy through the mall to the entrance, back into the family bathrooms, sit him on the potty, but nope, no go.

It's time to go home to Brookings for more doctor appointments. He sleeps the whole way. We get inside, he lays on the floor, so I have to carry him again. After the appointments it's now 2:30pm and he still has not gone potty yet today and his pants are still dry. Off to Wal-Mart.

I drop off the prescriptions and they say it's going to be a half hour, so we go shopping. Half hour later, we pick up the medicines and head towards self check to check out. I'm scanning items and Jayden is starting to whine. I assume it's because he's in the cart and wants out. He tries standing up and whining and I tell him to sit down. Then I see it....

He's peeing. I think oh it won't be so bad. But at 3pm after not peeing all day, it was bad. He kept going and going, like the Energizer bunny. It's running down the cart, splashing on the floor and making a puddle. A big puddle. This isn't a puddle I can walk away from and no one will notice. This is a puddle as big as your arms when you connect them. Huge!

After having several check out problems with the cashier, I look at him and say, "my son just peed on the floor" with a red face and a small smile. He looks at me like, are you serious...which I totally am. He calls for a CSM. The CSM comes over and doesn't have a radio. In the meantime, my friend pulls up to the next check out and I proceed to tell her what happened until we have tears coming down our face from laughing. The whole situation was...well...funny and embarrassing and I think it was the only way I knew how to react.

Soon, a member of management comes over along with several other workers and the manager looks at the mess and look at me and say, "what happened?" in the most serious tone. I just told them he peed and then it happened. Somehow, some way, there was huge miscommunication and it was reported over all the employees radios that this was a "code white" or an "accident/injury" where someone got hurt. And that my friends, requires people to come rushing at Nascar speed. So there I stand with my soaking wet son, a huge puddle on the floor, tears on my face as they start closing down the check out. The big orange sign comes out to show it's WET.

Mortified. Embarrassed. Feeling bad for Jayden. Wanting to get the heck out of there. Not knowing what to do. That's when the manager gets back on the radio and explains very briefly what happened stating we needed a mop and bucket, that it was not a "code white". Some smarty pants says, "oh, so it's a code yellow?" Oh brother.

We leave and go home. Jayden runs in the house, goes upstairs and says he has to go potty. Into the bathroom he goes and Goes Potty.

grow

Grow tomato plant. Prove to me I can keep something alive! You are safe on the deck for now. I promise to try to keep the cat away from you.

fun at the lake

we had so much fun at grandpa and grandma's house at the lake

the kids ran towards the neighbors very small sand beach
tyson licked his chops and barked at stewie

water, which was surprisingly warm was splashed on feet

a small princess stopped for a pose

sand castles were built by the hands of small children

the smallest found great fun in picking up sand

and throwing it into the water

3 men and a baby worked on putting the dock in

a 3 year old found a new love for the water, which he hated last summer

stewie showed us he loves the water too

grandpa made adjustments to the dock

we ate lots of food and lots of ice cream

someone stole my camera and got me...see

floaties blew away and a nice red and white speed boat fetched them and brought them back to us, but not before one blew out of the boat and they had to get them again

even small boys know how to have fun with a floatie, sand and water

he decided swimming in his new underwear was better than his swim trunks

lots of laughing, screaming and "look at me" were heard by all

flying in from the trees above, dalton arrived safely

sunscreen covered children floated in the water
a bucket of water sparked the interest of this boy
and in all the fun, all the water, this little boy potty-trained while at the lake

whiskey barrel

I brought this whiskey barrel home tonight from my parents house at the lake because they said they didn't need it or have use for it. I'm going to plant a tomato plant in it. I have zero experience in a vegetable garden, so one measly tomato plant should do me good. However, Miss Sophie thinks she might have a different use for this whiskey barrel.

Now, I wonder how well a tomato plant will fare when a cat uses it as a bed? Hmmm...

------------------------------

We spent the day at the lake today. It was hot. And I mean hot. I really don't like hot, but I managed. The kids had a great time swimming and playing in the tiny beach like area we found next to grandma and grandpa's house. The lake has finally filled with water again and looks awesome, but the down fall with that is they lost all of their sandy beach. Seeing the lake full of water again is a wonderful sight.

And Mr. Jayden had another successful day of potty-training at the lake! He even pooped on the potty! I'm so proud of him for going from tantrums to trained in less than two days. I'm prepared for slip ups and accidents, but for now, he's mastering this perfectly. Tonight he had lots of poops...some made it to the toilet...and some didn't. But it was a genuine accident and he knew it was coming (running in place and whining all in 5 seconds). But wow, this little boy has made his mama one happy lady with the progress he has made! Way to go Jayden!

I've got some great pictures from the lake that I plan to share soon.

potty training--day 2

Yesterday I started working with Jayden on potty training. He wasn't enthused like I was. So today, I started again, this time in big boy underwear. Him, not me.

He threw a tantrum, screaming, crying, kicking the floor, for several hours this morning. He wasn't totally against the idea, but was definitely trying to exert his independence and take control of the situation. I, however, wasn't backing down for nothing. I kept my cool, stayed calm, and ignored the tantrum, all while checking him every few minutes.

The first half of the day we went through several pairs of underwear, but I could tell he was grasping the idea. He started telling me "I go potty" in his own sounds, which later became very clear to us. His underwear would be dribbled in. Many times, he would sit on the potty, but not go. Then all of a sudden...it happened. Pee was shooting out!

The day kept getting better. By evening he was running into the bathroom and hopping up on the toilet himself. We of course followed shortly behind. He peed on the potty at least 6 times today!

Now tonight he started talking about poop. Little Jayden usually poops 3-5 times a day and by 9pm tonight he still hadn't pooped. Well, he ended up going in and out of the bathroom over and over talking about poop, so we kept going in there. He pooped a tiny bit in the toilet. I guess that was it because then it was time for a diaper and bedtime.

We'll see what tomorrow brings since we're heading to grandpa and grandma's at the lake. Hopefully he keeps doing as well tomorrow as he did today.

Oh and I do plan on bringing the "potty treats" as an added bonus. I'm one proud mama for my little man accomplishing so much in one day. I mean wow, going from refusal and tantrums to peeing on the potty and being excited about it. A good day!

big ball

Dear big soccer ball...I don't know where you came from or how exactly you ended up in my tree, but after spending well over a day in it, I'm glad you chose to stay. Now if you wish to go back home to your original home, we will respect your decision, but let me tell you, we sure appreciate all the fun you have given us today. You are welcome to stay here and call our house your home. Sincerely, the Thielen family.

Dear big soccer ball...again, thank you for coming to our house to play or live. You had so much fun playing with us today and after getting quite dirty, we gave you a bath and placed you in a safe place to dry and rest.

sisters

Feisty or friendly. Hot or cold. They're sisters.

These girls are full of laughter and silliness. They have similar interests and similar friends. They play well together or not at all. There's usually no happy medium.

My girls are smart, excel in school and genuinely care about others. I'm told over and over what a joy they are to have in class. The youngest one will soon be following their tracks as she embarks in Kindergarten this fall.

The older two are now officially in middle school come this fall. Well, one already was in middle school, but now both are. Look out because here they come!

brotherly love

The other day I took all the kids out to snap a few pictures at different locations. It was fun watching them pose, or not.

Always brotherly love between these three. Well, usually. Of course the older two look out for the younger one, but then there are the days when the younger one is tormenting the older ones and well...you get how that cycle works.
But these two get along like true brothers. Most days. Each one has their own interests and their own passions, yet some are completely in common. However, both boys are so different from each other.

One has a love for the outdoors and the other loves being inside. One loves puzzles and thinking games where the other one loves science. One can focus on getting things done, one struggles. But either way, both these boys, close together in age, are usually inseparable.