Cats, Carnivals, and Conniptions

Mango is still alive...barely.  That cat has got the patience of Job.  Tatiana "plays" with that cat constantly and he has yet to bite or scratch her.  It's pretty funny to see Mango come running out of Tatiana's room, no doubt to save his own life, and then to see Tatiana come running out after him exclaiming, "I think Mango is scared of monsters!"  I'd have to agree.

We decided to give Mango the afternoon off by taking the kids to the carnival that came into town.  Normally I avoid it at all costs, I mean, paying as much for wrist bands as a ticket to DisneyLand would cost seems a little ridiculous but every once in a while I like to remind the kids I'm not THAT horrible.  As always, Aren was a great big brother and went on all the kiddie rides with Tatiana.  She really is lucky to have him.  We did let Aren have a little bit of a break and go on the big rides.  Check out this picture of what was supposed to be Aren, but the guy next to him stole the show I think...

Lest you think our weekends are all fun and games, this was also the time I decided that Tatiana needed to be potty trained.  She turned three in June and I figured it was time...again.  I say again because this is really the third time we've started this project.  You'd think I knew how to do this, being she is my third child, but Aren pretty much just decided one day to poop and pee on the toilet and Lily was so tiny and sick that we never really thought about it.  I'll just jump to the end and tell you she's not peeing on the potty.  After crying to my mother for twenty minutes and having her assure me that when Tatiana interviews for a job they will not ask how old she was when she finally learned to crap on the pot, I gave up once again because this girl is just bound and determined to not pee unless she's in charge.

Please don't tell me what you did to get your children trained because I've done it...sticker charts, pretty panties, treats of every kind, promises of ballet lessons, toys she's only allowed to play with on the potty...the list goes on.  And no I will not throw her into a cold shower if she pees her pants.  What is wrong with you people?  I still figured I'd mention my lack of amazingness to help other loser moms with loser children who won't pee on command and to show off this totally cute picture of my half naked daughter sitting on a toilet with a kick-ass unused sticker chart in the background.  I may not be able to get my daughter to deposit her waste in appropriate places, but I sure know how to get back at her with pictures that will piss her off in ten years.