Snuck Up on Me!

Yikes! It's almost Spring!!! Time to change the background - I was getting a bit tired of snowflakes....

Bedtime Prayers, by Dillon Gilkerson (age 3-1/2)...

I'm so glad I was able to get this on video - it's just too precious... (And notice the irony of the "temptation" part - he just can't stand keeping his hands to himself and not grabbing at things!)

Owen's starting to get the hang of it, too, I'll have to record him tomorrow night...

Prizes

Continuing on with our ongoing potty training saga, we told Dillon that if he stayed dry all night, or through naps, for 5 days, he could pick out a motorcycle toy from the Honda Powersports dealership here. He did it, though not consistently. Unfortunately I had to follow through with my promise. So off we went, and he ended up with a quad and a dirtbike. Owen picked out a CBR400 - a really fast streetbike. Anyhow, they love them, and play with them constantly.

Big Boy Bed!

After 4 days of letting the boys sleep in Dillon's room, I decided we needed to do something about it. Once asleep, they were fine, it was just getting to that point that was the problem. Dillon would talk and talk and talk and talk and Owen just couldn't fall asleep. It would be 9:30, sometimes later, before they actually conked out. Then when D got up at 6:45, he would wake Owen up in the process (because he's just not a quiet kid by any stretch of the imagination).

Ultimately, there were two problems we needed to overcome. First, we had fostered this necessity in Owen to be rocked before bedtime. I did enjoy it, as did Joe, but not so much when O started waking up at 3AM and wouldn't go back to sleep without being rocked. Second, his crib was not the same cool big boy bed that D has. Owen is SO trying to be a big boy in everything he does lately. (Except his blankies - he's still very much attached to these guys!)

So, Joe pointed out that in order to get rid of the rocking before bed, we should make one big transition, so it wasn't so harsh. That's what we did - I went out yesterday with the boys and let Owen pick out his own bedding. What do you know - he picked out Cars! Anyhow, he loves his new bed now, and last night was a success. Two boys, in two separate bedrooms. They were both asleep by 8:30. Phew!

Girlfriends Already?

I would have thought 2 years and 3-1/2 years old was too young to have a girlfriend, but apparently not! Dillon was enamored with a little girl named Katie in his preschool class for the longest time. Then about a month ago, he informed us that his new girlfriend was Gigi. They're both darling girls, too...

As if that wasn't bad enough, one Sunday after church, we picked up Owen from the nursery and the ladies working there said that he and another little girl (Elizabeth) were making eyes at each other the whole morning. Before we left, he and Elizabeth exchanged hugs, and it's been love ever since. I just love to hear Owen say "Elizabeth" with that two year old lisp, it's just precious. Now whenever we go to church, he'll ask if Elizabeth is going to be there. Young love...

Freestyle Motocross

Last Saturday (Valentine's Day), Joe and I took Dillon to see the Freestyle Motocross event at Nationwide Arena. It was a good time, and Dillon really enjoyed himself. Luckily we remembered his earmuffs, because it was SO LOUD!!! Not the bikes so much as the annoying music and announcer. I don't know how anyone who didn't have hearing protection left there with any hearing intact at all.

This first picture shows a rider doing a "superman" - they only hold on to the back end of the seat, and get their body parallel to the ground while in the air.

I have no idea what this one is called or how in the world he did it, but it looks cool...
This one is something called moto trials, it's a bike that has some incredible suspension, weighs hardly anything, and is capable of doing acrobatic tricks. Pretty neat. For this trick, he rode the ramp up on his back wheel and balanced at the top.

Owen's 2-year Photos

We did Owen's 2-year photos at the Franklin Park Conservatory last weekend with our friend, Jessi. They came out AMAZING... She did such a beautiful job - I wish I could show them all on the blog, but there are too many. I'll post a few previews, and here is a link to the full gallery if you so desire to see them all... (Also, here is Jessi's website if you need any professional photography for your own purposes!)

Motocross practice

It was so nice out tonight, Joe decided to get Dillon's new bike out and play with the boys until I got home. They love the bike, and Dillon can't wait to ride it all by himself! I told him once we get the training wheels for it, he can, but he insists that he wants to ride on two wheels! We'll just see about that... Also, he's going to need strong neck muscles to hold his head up with that heavy helmet! (In case you're wondering why his hands are always holding onto the helmet, that's why!)
And no, Owen's goofy helmet is just a regular bike helmet, but Joe had three clear rules for the bike:
1. NO CRYING!!!
2. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!
3. You have to share!

If any of these rules are broken, the bike gets put away. It worked well enough for tonight, we'll hope future days are as successful!

"Children Learn What They Live"

I was inspired by a poem that came home on Dillon's preschool paperwork this week, and just wanted to share...

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and others.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Happy Birthday, Owen!!!

Hard to believe it's been two years since Owen was born, but it has! 7:12 PM, Superbowl Sunday 2007, he entered the world (looking like he had been really beat up!)...But here he is today, loving his birthday cake! (Now every time I mention going to Grandma's, he asks if there will be cake!)
We had a nice party for him at the house on Saturday, and all his favorite grandparents and aunt and uncle were there to celebrate!

(I will post more pictures later, but wanted to get this up for now....)