On Monday, after we put the kids to bed, we went downstairs to watch TV. We heard some footsteps upstairs, and we assumed Carson was hanging out in the hallway as he often does when he can’t fall asleep. Instead, we found him without pants or underwear. Apparently, Carson had to poop, and for the first time, he went to the toilet without prompting from us (he didn’t flush, and he still needed our help with wiping).

As Carson typically hates using the toilet since we gave up diapers a few weeks ago, this was a major accomplishment!

Journal potty training

On some Tuesdays at school, Braden has tacos (Taco Tuesday). We’ve also made homemade tacos, coincidentally on Tuesdays as well. Today (Sunday), we made breakfast tacos, and when Braden found out, he said incredulously, “it’s not Tuesday!” We had a good laugh at that one.

Journal eating

We were in New Hampshire last week on vacation. This was just Carson’s second flight (first was when he was 10 months old), and he did fairly well, although he was restless from time to time. Braden was flying for the fourth time, and he kept himself occupied quite well.

After landing in Manchester, we had a two-hour drive to our resort in Bartlett. The resort itself (part of our timeshare) had an indoor and an outdoor pool, tennis courts, a small arcade, a restaurant/bar (we never ate there) and workout room, all in a wooded area near mountains.

Our room was quite strange: you open the door and head right up the stairs into the living room/kitchen with a Murphy bed. Behind that room was the bathroom and a windy staircase to a loft where another bed and a couch were (the kids had this room).

Highlights:

• We went to Storyland, a Disneyland-type place meant for kids 10 and under. Braden loved the rides in which he got soaked from all the water.
• Kristin drove us to the top of Mt. Washington, which was super scary since there were no guard rails. We had to drive in first gear the entire seven miles (about 30 minutes up). The temp at the top of the mountain was about 40 degrees cooler than the surface (85 degrees), so we wore pants and brought jackets.
• We checked out a waterfall and then went to a man-made lake in which Brian had the kids help him find treasure (the kids saved a lot of rocks).
• The kids swam every day, sometimes twice.
• Unlike other vacations, the kids played a bit while eating cereal upon awakening, so that we could sleep in a little (past 7!).
• There was a small amusement park across the street (in the winter it’s a ski resort). Both kids liked the rollercoasters that were built into the mountain side.

Journal vacation

We went to the Heidel House Resort for Memorial Day weekend. It was interesting to learn that Green Lake is the deepest lake in Wisconsin. When we went boating on Saturday, the depth finder showed how quickly the bottom drops off, and that scared Braden a bit.

Braden and Brian went fishing on a rainy Sunday morning, but they didn’t catch anything, unfortunately. We also did a boat tour of the lake and found out that gangsters used to own some of the houses.

Brian golfed one afternoon, and Kristin participated in a bike race one morning. Other than that, we did the usual: go out to eat, shop and swim in the pool.

Journal vacation

Unfortunately, with Braden in the Verona School District and Carson’s pre-school in the Madison School District, spring break was on different weeks for the boys. Still, they shared a Friday and Monday off, so we went down to Chicago for a four-day weekend.

The hotel room, by the way, was really hot. Despite the so-called air-conditioning, the room was always 80 degrees. Meanwhile, the tiny pool was never heated and was almost too cold to swim in.

The kids rode a taxi (and Uber) for the first time; Carson fell asleep in one of the rides. We got a babysitter on Saturday night so that we could watch the Badgers beat Kentucky at a Badger-friendly restaurant/bar called Prost.

We waited in line almost an hour to get into Shedd Aquarium, and the kids enjoyed seeing all of the underwater creatures (especially sharks). We also went to Navy Pier again; it’s been about two years since the last time. All of us rode the giant Ferris wheel together.

Brian played Frank Sinatra’s song “Chicago,” and it’s cute that Carson has been singing the lyrics “Chicago, Chicago” from time to time.

On our final night, we were amazed to learn our dinner waiter’s name was Jie (same as Braden’s Chinese name), and that he was from Baraboo.

Journal vacation

Some of Braden’s friends in his after-school program collect football cards, so naturally Braden has been collecting them, too (an easy gift idea for him). Unfortunately, Braden’s friends have been taking advantage of him during trades, as Braden gives up good cards for so-so cards. Brian had to teach Braden not to be taken advantage of and how to conduct fair trades. In one instance, we asked Braden to reverse a bad trade that happened, and to our surprise, Braden did so successfully.

Braden also follows his friends’ lead in rooting for any team other than the Packers. Braden says he likes the Patriots (to Brian’s dismay) and the Bears and Lions (to Kristin’s dismay). At least through the football cards he’s starting to learn teams and players, though he still can’t watch an entire football game (e.g. he watched around 10 min. of the Super Bowl).

***

For Braden’s birthday party this year, we went bowling at Ten Pin Alley. This was the first year we let Braden really choose the invitees (vs. just inviting the entire class). He picked friends from his class, his after-school program and his old preschool class (both of whom are in Carson’s class now).

It was really cute to see all the kids huddled in front of each lane. They also all wolfed down their pizza, cake and soda. Most of Braden’s gifts were either football related or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles related.

Journal birthday

Over Christmas break, we somewhat successfully migrated Carson to underwear. He’s willing to pee on the potty, but he still prefers to poop in diapers (or unfortunately, his underwear). The good news is that because he’s “potty-trained,” we were able to move him into the toddler class at preschool (the same class that Braden was in).

Drop-off has been getting progressively easier. Brian and Carson look for the snail in the fish tank every morning, then hug each other goodbye. Carson is one of the youngest in his class; some of his classmates were Braden’s classmates.

***

Carson is talking so much more now–his sentences are so cute. However, it’s a struggle sometimes to hear him, because he has begun whispering for some reason. And usually he responds to yes/no questions by nodding or shaking his head.

***

Now that Carson’s using the day bed, he often comes into our room in the middle of the night to sleep in our bed. Occasionally he’ll go into Braden’s room and bug his older brother. Carson still sleeps like a baby: on his stomach, with his legs tucked in, sometimes sucking his thumb.

***

We submitted Carson’s photo to Ch. 3 for the “Look Who’s 3” segment. He did like seeing himself on TV.

Journal birthday, preschool, talking

Earlier in November, we realized Carson could climb over the wall of his crib when he appeared suddenly in the hallway after we had put him to bed. So the week before Thanksgiving, we converted his crib to a day bed. We unfortunately didn’t record when we did this for Braden, but we feel like we held out longer for Carson.

Carson didn’t sleep well in the day bed intially. On a couple nights, he asked to sleep on the floor. Then for a couple weeks, he asked to keep the overhead light on. Now he sleeps on the bed with the lights off but the door ajar and the hallway lights on.

***

During the week of Thanksgiving, we put Carson in underwear to try to potty train him, and we failed. He peed in several pairs and almost pooped in another before Kristin caught him. The only way we could get him on the training toilet was by giving him candy, though he still didn’t go.

Apparently one of the teachers in Carson’s class told him it’s time to say goodbye to diapers. Carson responded by saying goodbye to the potty! He’s so smart and funny.

We’ll try again during winter break. Right now we’re battling Carson’s unwillingness, not necessarily his inability.

Journal potty training

A few nights each week, Braden has homework assignments. He complains about having to do them, even though each assignment only takes 10 min. (Poor guy, he doesn’t realize he’s got 17 more years’ of homework coming!)

Some of his homework is paper-based, and others are conducted online. Braden seems to be doing a good job learning Mandarin. He can identify and pronounce the characters for older sister, younger sister, older brother, younger brother, mother, father, paternal grandmother and paternal grandfather. Sometimes we catch Braden singing some sort of counting song in Mandarin.

In addition, we have to record the books we read with Braden. So all in all, there’s a lot of parental involvement, too.

***

Braden is getting more used to school. Brian wakes him up each Tuesday-Friday morning at 6:15 a.m. (funny, Braden used to wake up well before that time on his own, but now that he has school, he can’t get up!).

He’s less shy around the other four kids at his bus stop, and he has even acted a little goofy around them (a sure sign that he’s warming up to them).

Fortunately, the breakfast and lunch items served at school are peanut-free and within his tastebud boundaries, meaning items like chicken tenders and hot dogs. Braden has even enjoyed the tacos.

Braden seems to have fun at his after-school program when we pick him up, although he’s excited to leave when we arrive. The first thing he does is chug a lot of water at the drinking fountain, as if he hasn’t drank all day. He then eats his after-school snack in the car, rather that at school, which was the whole point of packing an after-school snack.

***

Carson is having a difficult time with drop-offs. Just like before, he holds Brian’s leg until a teacher pulls him off. Carson then proceeds to kick off his shoes for some reason. Luckily, he gets over his tantrum fairly soon after Brian leaves.

Carson apparently is getting along really well with a girl in his class. According to the teachers’ notes, they spend a lot of time playing together and sometimes cuddling.

Journal kindergarten, preschool

Today Braden officially became a kindergartener. We had been trying to get him mentally ready for the past few weeks. He seemed fine when he picked out new shoes, picked out a new backpack and attended the school orientation last Thursday. Regarding that orientation, it was the third time Braden had been in the school, and he seemed eager to show us where his classroom was.

But this morning was tough. Braden tried to ignore the fact that the big day had finally come. He watched videos of Minecraft while eating breakfast, like he normally does, but was hesitant to brush his teeth and put on his shoes (typically the moments right before we leave). He didn’t want to put his backpack on, either, but eventually did so with reluctance.

Getting Braden out the door was another challenge. He sat on the floor and said he wanted to stay home. We finally got him outside and took some photos; as you can see, he was pretty upset. That anger carried forward as we almost had to drag him to the bus stop. There, he demanded to go home before sitting down and lightly crying.

When the bus came, he fought us. Brian tried to get him on until Braden asked for Kristin. She then had to carry him onto the bus and put him into a seat. The bus driver smiled at us, as he’s probably seen this same scene countless times.

Carson was upset, too, as he wanted to go with Braden. We’re worried how Carson is going to be at this preschool now that his big brother isn’t there, in addition to having a full day instead of a half-day.

***

We didn’t mention this earlier this summer, but Braden did get accepted (won the lottery) to attend Verona’s charter school program, known as Verona Area International School (VAIS). He will be learning the normal curriculum, except half the day will be taught in Mandarin. He will be in the program through fifth grade, with kindergarten and first grade held at Stoner Prairie Elementary (where he would have gone anyway), and second through fifth grade at Savannah Oaks Middle School.

Since school lets out so early, we are putting Braden in a YMCA after-school program at the same school. The program allows us to pick him up as late as 6 p.m.

It’s a lot of changes for Braden, and we’re worried how he’s going to fare: will he make it to the bathroom on time? will he eat his lunch (we purchased the hot lunch)? will he make friends? will he remember his after-school snack in his backpack?

Journal school