Leaving proof

Remember this post?

I kept my word and played with the timer function on our camera. And I am so glad I did.

As the mom, and chief photographer, I am not really in many pictures. And, usually, in the midst of the event, I don't want to be. But after the fact, when I'm flipping through the pictures, I'm pretty bummed that it looks like I wasn't even there.

So, last Wednesday, we had a gorgeous, sunny evening. And after eating our breakfast for dinner, I put my camera on auto, set the timer and got some (I think) pretty good shots.

But I think this one might be my favorite because Ben took it. Isn't it fun to see his perspective?

Egg in a hole

Wednesdays are breakfast for dinner at our house. 

Brian works his job as a police officer in Harrisburg, Ohio, so I pick up Ben from the sitter and we make a quick easy dinner. 

One of my go-tos for Wednesdays is "egg in a hole," something that I thought everyone knew about, until I mentioned it recently to a couple of different people and got quizzical looks. 

So here it is: Egg in hole. For each one, you'll need and egg and a piece of bread. 

Butter both sides of the bread, and cut out a circle from the center. 

Place the bread and the cutout into a hot pan and crack one egg into the hole. 

When the egg is set enough to turn, flip it and the cutout piece. Let the other side cook until the white is cooked but the yolk is still runny. 

Use the cutout for dipping. 

And enjoy!

As an aside, while I was preggo with Ben, I completely lost my appetite. It was miserable. I ate egg in a hole with steamed broccoli a lot because I figured it was a carb, a protein and a veg -- a quick, well-balanced meal.  

Potty training

First things first. I hear the thing now is to say that this is "potty learning." Pish-shaw.

Here's how potty training went down in my house.

First, begin reading Boys Potty Time every single night as soon as you possibly can. Convince yourself this book alone will train your child.

A few months after memorizing Boys Potty Time, begin collecting rewards. Buy Silly Bandz when they are full price because you are convinced your child is on the VERGE of being potty trained and these will be THE one and only thing that will motivate your child. Fill a grocery story bag with the. Kick yourself when the price falls to 25 cents a pack after Christmas... but buy more anyway.

Resist slapping every person who says, "He'll potty train when he's ready."

Get over it, then accept he will potty train when he's ready.

Any time your child wants to put on big boys undies, let him wear them. Brace yourself for cleaning up pee.

Encourage peer pressure from his peers at the sitter's house.

Now, your child has been on the VERGE of potty training for SIX MONTHS!

Convince yourself he actually will just do it when he's ready.

Begin showing your child the bag of prizes, then saying he can't have any 'til he goes pee pee on the potty.

Somehow work "potty" into every conversation. You will find yourself naming everyone you know who is potty trained (which, is everyone you know, by the way... and also includes characters on TV, Santa, the pets, etc.) and even making a big deal when your spouse pees on the potty. Resort to giving each other Silly Bandz.

Give up.

One week later, completely unprompted, unbribed and unperked, your child will demand putting on undies and march his own little butt to the potty and go. He'll then demand a Silly Bandz.

Your work is done.

The newly potty trained boy himself

Ben's Nuts

Tonight, I had planned on posting about our experience potty training. But, tonight, something far better happened. Thank goodness for cameras and for blogs, or memories like these would be forgotten...


Have I mentioned before that our family eats an insane amount of peanuts? Well, we do. We should buy stock in Planter's.


So tonight, as we waited for a friend to come by for dinner, Ben asked for some peanuts. And I put a few in a small bowl for him.


He decided to put them somewhere else.


Can you tell what that is? No? Now can you?


Still not sure (but maybe you have an idea...)?



That's right, I caught him eating peanuts directly out of his froggy potty.


More to come on potty training later...