Turkey Training

Thanksgiving is perhaps my favorite holiday.  There's never any doubt that family will gather together, sharing festive food, remembering happy memories, making new ones, and always giving thanks for our many blessings.  This year was no exception.  

Caleb's class kicked off the festivities with the annual Four Year Old Thanksgiving Day Feast.  They sang and danced for us, and then we all feasted together.  

We also learned that day that Caleb had received his first certificate of recognition for knowing all of his sight words.  He seriously mastered all sixteen lists in less than two weeks!  We're so proud of him!  

I'm always remiss on taking pictures on Thanksgiving for some reason (I blame all the delicious food), but never fear, we did in fact enjoy not one but two delectable Thanksgiving dinners - one at Tony's parents house on Thanksgiving Day and one at our house the following day.  All I have to show for it are these few pictures (...and maybe a few extra pounds!).  Grandpa's turkey was as delicious as it was beautiful, as always...so delicious that Mamaw had to sneak a bite before everyone else.

Speaking of turkeys, we took the opportunity of Thanksgiving break to start potty training this little turkey.

 I've learned that potty training with three kids running around is a completely different ballgame from potty training an only child.  While one kid's emptying out the silverware drawer and another is finger painting with ketchup on the kitchen table, it's easy to lose track of the naked kid squatting down (not over the potty) in the corner of the room.  Needless to say, potty training Judson has involved a bit more mess and frustration than I recall with potty training Caleb.  But sweet Juddy.  He's such a good sport.  He hasn't complained (much) about the seemingly strange things we are asking of him now.

 While he's far from perfected his potty skills, each day is getting better.  And one thing is certain:  he has loved getting all the attention that comes with learning to use the potty!  At several times over the past week, we've all been standing around him sitting on the little potty, cheering him on, while he sits there with the biggest grin on his face.  He's digging the potty rewards too - M&Ms!

Wren's a bit more strong willed, so we will have to wait until potty training is all her idea.  But I think that will be soon.  She can't stand that someone is stealing the limelight from her!  And she can't wait to wear those big girl Minnie Mouse panties!
From picture-perfect turkeys to piles of freshly fallen leaves to potty-trained toddlers, we have so much to be thankful for.  Not the least of which are these precious gifts.