Hazel's using the potty!

Hazel decided now is the time to start potty training! We got a library book about it and she is really making a good effort, making more and more progress every day. Not only is she peeing and pooping in the potty at home, she is doing it at school and when we are out and about! Hazel wanted Thomas the Train undies, so that is what we got for her, in addition to some other less interesting underwear. We are all very excited and proud of her. She is still wearing pull-ups when we go out, but at home she is wearing underwear most of the time.

February, continued!

Turner on the loose

Last week was a pretty big week. For one thing, one of our favorite places, Terra Burger, closed down. They had a great playscape and splash pad we were going to use this summer, and Mom said they had the best milkshakes in the world. We often went there when people came to visit. We’re sad to see them go.

On the other hand, I got a new bed! Last year, I fell out of my old bed one night. Since then, I would only sleep on the floor.

My old bed was half of a bunk bed set, and the other bed was in the garage. It occurred to Mom and Dad that I didn't like my bed, and we could never bunk the beds since I have a ceiling fan in my room, so we sold the beds in November and Mom was on the lookout for a new one ever since. Meanwhile, I slept on my old mattress on the floor.

Hello, garden!

Finally Mom found one and our lawn guy moved it for us. It's a lot bigger than my old bed and my mattress is far more comfy. The best part is I picked out my own comforter. It has the alphabet on it, and I call it my letter bed. I love it and have slept in bed every night since. No more floor for me!

We had a couple of days that were super warm and sunny, and we spent as much time as we could outside. Mom had been wondering when it would be time to plant tomatoes, and the guy on the radio said now is the time, so one of the warm days, they picked up two kinds of peppers, two kinds of tomatoes, and some herbs and planted them in pots. Mom also weeded our yard. We were very happy to be out, and the people at the garden store said we should see some veggies in about 60 days, just in time for Mom and Hazel’s birthdays! Wish us luck!

One of those beautiful mornings, when I was at school, Mom took Hazel and Turner to Mozart's to see ducks and boats. Hazel ate a danish that was bigger than her head. I can't believe I missed it! They had a great time.

Hazel vs. the danish

Last weekend, we had a yard sale. It probably doesn’t sound exciting, but it was very fun. Mom manned the sale while Dad took us out for a while Saturday morning. She thought it would be a drag, but she had a good time talking with our neighbors. We got to know one of our neighbors a lot better and traded her a baby monitor for a wheelbarrow, a huge airplane kite, and a self-watering kit for our herbs, which we will use when we go on vacation later this year. I think we got the good end of the deal. Anyway, we had such a good time, I’ve been playing yard sale almost every day since then.

Hazel, Turner and I pay Mom in laughs and hugs. As it turns out, we pay pretty well.

On Leap Day, we went to the store, where we saw a person with a helper monkey. Everyone in the store was staring at this person, including us. I asked Mom if the monkey came from the lady’s tummy. Mom said no. Then I asked her if she got the monkey from the zoo.

Hazel's costume

At the store, Mom got Hazel some underwear. Mom let her hold them in the car, hoping they’d grow on her. They did. All of a sudden, Hazel and Turner started cracking up, then Hazel said, “Mom, look at me! Look at my costume!” Mom looked in the rear view mirror to find that Hazel was wearing all the underwear on her head – at the same time! Fortunately, a camera is never far from Mom's hands.

To see our February photos, click here.

Goodbye February, Hello March! (part 1)

Valentine's hat

Our February was busy and went by in a flash. 

After a first weekend full of birthday parties, our next highlight was Valentine’s Day. We made heart cookies with Mom the day before and Valentine’s Day morning we kicked off a daylong present opening extravaganza. Mom and Dad and all our grandparents sent us fantastic gifts. Mom said it was like Christmas morning, but all day long.

School was its own celebration. Hazel and I both had big, exciting parties with our classmates. 

A clown visited my class and we made Valentine’s hats. My teacher brought cupcakes. We each decorated a Valentine’s bag, which were then filled with Valentine’s from all our friends. I had such a blast and was so excited to go home and play with my new toys, I flew out of school like a cannonball out of a cannon when Mom picked me up. I crashed into her with a big hug and ran into the house. 

Hazel also had a big party. Her class all ate lunch together, and she also had a Valentine’s bag full of cards and treats from her buddies. She made an awesome Valentine for Dad and Mom with beans and a photo her teacher took of her at school.

Turner, who is babbling a lot more lately, spent the day at school too. His class didn’t have a party but he also made a Valentine for Mom and Dad, with an imprint of  one of his cute little hands and feet.  

We spent the afternoon playing with our new toys, then had a nice dinner at Fuddruckers. I can’t wait for next Valentine’s Day to roll around.

Mitch @ the McKenna

Our next fun February event was Dad’s birthday. We kicked the day off by singing to him. We gave him some nice homemade cards, and helped him with his gifts. He had to go to work, so during the day, we helped Mom make an ice cream cake and helped eat it when Dad came home.  Then, just after we went to bed, our babysitter Claire came over so Dad and Mom could go out. We were supposed to be in bed, but Hazel and I popped out to say hello. We were too excited to see her to sleep.

The next day was a really rainy day and we went to the McKenna Children's Museum in San Marcos. It was a blast! They had a pretend city, a great art room, a grocery store, a hospital and ambulance, and a fish tank with real alligators, turtles and fish. Turner liked crawling around the baby area. After spending the morning there, we headed home and had a nice lunch together at Taco Cabana.

For more on February, check our blog tomorrow!

Hazel-isms

Hazel is a hilarious kid. Here are some funny things she said lately.

While sitting on the potty, she told Dad, "Sometimes bees give you honey, and sometimes they don't because they don't have any hands."

When Mom picked her up from school Wednesday: "I put a rock in my nose and it made me sneeze." This was followed by a huge grin.

We saw a tow truck one day. When it passed us, she asked Mom, "What happened to the foot truck?"

We have a book that talks about night monkeys. The other day she asked Mom when we'll see the morning monkeys.

No hippies allowed

Before

Lately, Dad has been giving me a hard time about my hair because it was getting pretty long. He said I am turning into a hippie, which Mom and I really liked. In fact, from time to time I suddenly yelled, "I am turning into a hippie," yelling "hippie" in a high pitched voice. It made Mom laugh and Dad roll his eyes every time.

Anyway, when I came home from school Tuesday, Mom and I finally conceded and cut my hair. At least it will make my hair easier to wash, plus I am cute no matter what.

After

From crawling to sitting

Last Saturday morning, Feb. 4, Mom was watching Turner crawl around and noticed that he has been trying to figure out how to go from crawling to sitting for a long time.

That afternoon, she noticed he suddenly figured it out. He seems pretty psyched about it because now he can crawl to the toys he likes and sit up and really play with them.

He also started eating Cheerios and broccoli and joined our smoothie club this week.

Good job, Turner!

A visit from Oma

Two weekends ago, we had a visitor from Boston -- Oma! We hadn't seen her in a while, so it was nice she could come.

As soon as Oma got here Friday afternoon, she wanted to take us to the toy store so we could each choose a toy. I decided to replace my broken toy vacuum, which was really bothering me. Hazel picked a toy drum, which came with a harmonica she really likes. Ever since we saw a jazz band playing at my school, Hazel has told us she wants to play the drums when she grows up, so she is super excited to not have to wait that long. Turner got some plug covers, which we hope will keep him safe and out of trouble. Obviously, he did not have much say in this decision.

The next day Mom, Oma, Hazel, Turner and I hopped in the car, headed for Waco. Our destination was the zoo! We saw lots of fun animals. I especially liked the bald eagles and Hazel enjoyed the giraffes. Turner was just happy to be outside. After the zoo, we stopped at Jimmy Johns for a late lunch. Mom loves that place but the last time she'd been there was when I was in her tummy, and we found that I really love turkey sandwiches. I also thought it was funny to read all the signs on the wall to Mom and Oma, including one that said, "Don't forget your pickle" and another, "No hippies allowed." The day was a lot of fun.

Sunday was our last day with Oma because she left before we even woke up Monday morning. We took it easier that day and just went over to our park. It was nice, as always. That evening, Dad took Hazel and me to a dinner at a neighbor's house while Mom and Turner took Oma out to dinner at a yummy nearby Mediterranean buffet.  Our neighbors had a big party for a bunch of the neighborhood kids - it was really fun.  They had a ton of fun toys for us to play with.  I put together a jigsaw puzzle of a school bus, and Hazel played with a bunch of trains.  It was a good time.

One fun thing about visitors is we eat a lot of yummy food while they are here. This time we had Taco Cabana, Terra Burger, and Freebirds. We didn't have time for Rudy's, so Oma had to pick some up Sunday night to take home with her!

It was nice seeing Oma and we hope she can come again soon!