Potty Training Update #1

 The boys are potty trained... well sort of.... 13 days and counting.  I have decided that "potty training" is a little like "sleeping through the night" everyone has their own definition of success.... and their own memory of events.  Brent started this potty training train with a three day weekend of him and the boys... way to go daddy!

The potty charts ... before they were tattered and torn and sticker filled

Showing off his new Cars underwear... so proud!

We spent the last couple of months letting them practice "going potty" every time their diapers were off.  

They loved their sticker charts and are so proud of them!

Ben's First poop on the Potty!

Nathan's first poop was on the Big Potty!

A little Pep talk from mom on Day #2 of Potty Training with Daddy!

Now every morning babies and blankets join us in the bathroom.

Now this is a commercial for the Honda Odyssey!

We now have a potty chair in our car at all times... its a necessity for twin 2 year olds that are potty training... judge me if you must!  

I have learned that there are LOTS of people with LOTS of opinions and "suggestions,"  but no one lives in our lives... if you think you can do better by all means you are welcome to take over at any point!  For now we will forge on with the occasional accident and mad rushes to the potty chair in the back of the van in the middle of our chaotic lives.  Thank you to Heidi and Jenny who have helped with Potty Training Pep talks... true friends support each other through potty training:)  Thanks girls!

Stay tuned for more updates....the saga shall continue:)

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Friday night Brent and I got the chance to go out and celebrate his graduation from grad school with the Kassekerts... unfortunately we were having so much fun that I forgot to take photos... that rarely happens!.... must have been the very peaceful... NO KID dinner!

On a rainy Saturday we headed to the MN Zoo to check out the new Dinosaur exhibit.. it was super cool and I would recommend anyone to check it out.  I got to the zoo and whipped out the camera and realized that we had no battery in the camera so again... NO photos!  We did buy an overpriced gimmicky photo... it was pretty cute.  While picking out our new dinos Nathan tripped on Brent's foot and went face first onto the ground and we ended our Zoo adventure with tears and a bloody lip!  

NAP TIME!

The neighborhood pool always opens on Memorial Day weekend so we had to check it out!  Mommy thought the water was pretty cold... the boys not so much.  The boys were so much bigger this year and could get into and out of the kiddie pool all by themselves.  Needless to say the boys DID NOT want to  leave the pool:)

 As tradition has it Memorial Day weekend is time to... TAILGATE at the Saints game!   Brent and Matt have always had the tradition and we have continued on... so much fun!  And of course the boys were shirtless!

 A memorial day bike ride in the Burley!  The boys love to ride around in the Burley and look for "Trucks" and "airplanes" and "motorcycles" and "tractors."

 On Memorial Day we had a party with a bunch of family.  It was so nice to have a good majority of the family together!  We also Celebrated Sam's Birthday which is May 30th!

We have not had an ENTIRE weekend to just hang out in longer then I want to admit.  I'm kind of between semesters at school and enjoyed the quality time with my family.  Cheers to the start of a very, very busy and chaotic summer.... here we go, bring on the next adventures!

Love always,

The Utechs

Last Day of ECFE

Another year completed... this year was a whirl wind of activity and I can't believe it is summer already.  Today was the last day of our 2nd year of ECFE.  CRAZY!  As always I'm a little sad when things end.... the boys have grown and changed so much since September: they have hair and they talk! 

First Day of ECFE September 2011

Nathan Andrew

Benjamin Charles

The boys have to stop and play with these wall toys everytime we walk to school

The boys always love the sensory table at school

No one wanted to smile or take photos today... 

We had snack time "Picnic" today

Ms. Kathleen, Ms. Kelly and Miss. Margie were the boys teachers this year

Lunch after class with our friends: we did this pretty much everyday after class, so fun!

Cute little certificates... wrinkled and loved!

                                            Pretty much impossible to get a group photo....

Again no one wanted to smile... 

Nathan

Benjamin

Hunckles

This photo is TOTALLY appropriate for these too

Like godfather/ like godson

We are more then blessed to have such wonderful and loving hunckles and GodFathers.  We just love spending time with them!!!

Family Night at Como Zoo

On a beautiful spring day... daddy left work early and we headed to the Como Zoo for a little family time.  Nathan and Ben have been to the zoo a bunch of times however this was Brent's first trip to Como.... the only other time he was ever there was for the Zoo Boo and none of the animals are out then!

Checking out the little monkey

Nathan thought the seals were so cool!

Getting ready for their African safari!

Ben was a fan of the mountain lion!

This tiger was so beautiful.... I have never seen him as active as he was that day!

Penguins... always a hit

Sparky.... just like the photo we have from when they were babies

No one wanted to smile!

A picnic on a beautiful night!