the poulter family

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Green

You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

Happy Easter!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

I really don't even know why we have St. Patricks day. Something to do with the Irish, and I don't have a spec of Irish in me, but it's still fun to celebrate! It's always fun to do something a little different than the regular day to day routine. We are all decked out in our green clothes!

Every time I try to get pics. of the kids, it's a battle to get Ambree's thumb out of her mouth! Today was not different. I told Cade to make sure she kept her thumb out of her mouth and this is the result . . .

Yay, we finally got one of Ambree without her thumb in her mouth!

I have never had corn beef with cabbage, which is Irish tradition for St. Patty's day (so I hear). It really doesn't sound good at all to me, so we will be having Chinese Chicken Salad (it has cabbage in it, although it's the wrong country to celebrate . . . oh well). And for dessert we will be having these. . . I thought they seemed fun and healthy!

Easter Traditions . . .

I'm sure you are all aware that Easter is one week from today! When I think of this, a few things cross my mind . . .

1. It still feels like winter here . . . it's been snowing all weekend. It is weird to think of Easter being in a week when there aren't even any flowers outside!

2. Ambree's Easter dress has short sleeves! I guess I'll have to put a sweater over it!? We'll see!

3. What kind of traditions do I want to start with my kids for Easter? Do I want to encourage them to believe in the Easter Bunny? Do I want to have them wake up to an Easter basket, or just have an Easter Egg hunt the Saturday before and then focus on the savior and resurrection on the actual day of Easter? If I do fill a basket for them, what do I want in it? Candy, clothes, books, toys?

Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts today! What are some of your Easter Traditions? What do you think about the "Easter Bunny"? Or Easter Egg hunts on Sunday? Growing up, we never woke up to a basket, but Craig did. We just had an Easter egg hunt later in the day. . . therefore I never believed in the Easter Bunny. Do I wish I would have? I don't know? I guess it's always fun as a kid to have magical experiences. Anyway, what do you think?

Problems . . . Solved!

I figure if I've only seen the tip of my problems, I might as well celebrate once they are solved . .
Problem # 1:

Need to find a rent to own home, being sold by someone who seems trustworthy, who will let us rent it for 4-6 months and then buy without wanting a 20% down payment, in our price range, that we like, that was built in this century, in a good area, with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a basement (unfinished OK), with a decent size yard, with a two car garage, within 15 miles of Craig's future job in West Jordan, UT.

Solved:

We found it! And signed the papers yesterday! This picture isn't the exact home, but it is one of the models that is very similar and in the same neighborhood in Riverton, UT. I'll get a picture of the actual home and the inside later. We will move in either at the end if this month or middle of next . . . we'll see! Yay!

Problem #2:

Our car didn't pass the smog inspection because the horn didn't work!

Solved:

Two and a half weeks later and $700 later, our horn works and our car passed the smog inspection. Yes . . . $700 to fix the horn! The horn that we didn't even know was broken (that's how much we used it).

Problem #3:

Cade has been sick all week long! Up in the middle of the night, high fevers, extra tired, runny nose, horrible cough, whining, etc., etc.

Solved:

Although, not completely healed, he is doing a lot better and has slept through the night the last3 nights in a row! Now we just need to figure out what to do about Ambree. About 2 weeks ago she decided she wants to be a newborn again and wake up in the middle of the night, crying hysterically! Maybe it's nightmares, or teething . . . It's always a guessing game when you are raising children!

Funny converstaions with Cade (Edition 596)

First thing in the morning when Cade is still a little drowsy.

Cade: It's not fair!
Me: What's not fair?
Cade: The Book of Mormon.
Me: What do you mean?
Cade: Jesus said we have to read the Book of Mormon all day, and it's not fair.

I'm sure this stemmed from our nightly scripture reading. Often Cade will say he wants to read a different book instead. I then explain that Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to read the Book of Mormon everyday. He must have had a dream about it. lol!
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One night when I was watching American Idol, I told Cade to be quiet because I was watching my favorite show. The next day we had the following conversation . . .

Cade sitting at the kitchen table during breakfast, just talking to himself.
Cade: You stupid girl.
Me: What did you say?
Cade: You stupid girl!
Me: Stupid is not a nice word to say . . . where did you learn that word from?
Cade (with a confused look on his face): That's what they said on American Idol.
Me: Oh, well, we don't say that.

Talk about a dumb mom moment! What am I teaching this kid if the show that is my "favorite" says a "bad word".
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While driving in the Car on the way to a play date with friends. . .

Cade: I want to play with Paul's toys when we get there.
Me: It's such a nice day today, so we are going to play outside!
Cade: Why?
Me: Because we need to get out and enjoy nature!
Cade: What's nature?
Me: Well, it's stuff outside, like the trees and flowers and mountains.
Cade: Oh, and the trash cans!
Me: Well, not quite.

Nothing like getting outside to enjoy the beautiful trash cans!
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While driving in the car listening to country music on the radio. . . the song we were listening to was "Watching Airplanes" by Gary Allen.

Cade: Why is he watching airplanes?
Me: What?
Cade: He's watching airplanes . . . why isn't he watching helicopters?
Me: Oh, your talking about the song.
Cade: I think he should watch helicopters.

I then proceed to tell him about the song and that people fly more in airplanes than in helicopters.

The next song that came on was, "Shift Work" by Kenny Chesney and George Strait.
Cade (After hearing the part that says, "Working 9 to 3, 3 to 11, 11 to 7"): Mom, it doesn't go 9 to 3, it goes 9 to 10!

I then proceeded to explain about time and working shifts that people do. . . It's amazing the things he is picking up on and the things that can be learned from songs!

I have two questions about parenting . . . for now anyway . . .

Question number 1: How do you transition a child from having a nap to no nap? Cade is at the stage (and has been for a long time) where he really needs a nap around 3:00pm, but if he has one, he won't go to bed for the night until between 11 and 12 at night! Even if he only takes a nap for like 30 minutes this is the case. So, do I want a really whiny toddler for 4 hours and then no toddler bugging me from 7:00 pm on, or do I want a happy toddler who is up and talking and noise making until I am ready for bed around 11:00pm. Does anyone have any other solutions, or is this just how it is? Due to the fact that Cade is transitioning from naps to no naps, these pictures are common appearances! Cade often falls asleep in very random spots . . .

Question number 2: How in the world do you train a child to poo in the toilet? 3 1/2 weeks ago I decided this was it (again) and just put him in underwear and said, "time to be a big boy and go potty in the toilet". Apparently if you do this, after a few days of accidents in underwear, they will learn to use the toilet. Well, after 1 week of this, he was starting to get the hang of peeing in the toilet, but still no poo in the toilet! I then decided to put pull ups on him when we went out, to avoid poop accidents on the go (not fun)! Jenny Barney witnessed me dealing with this in the mall a while ago. I was literally cleaning poo up off the floor at the mall! Gross! So, it has been 3 1/2 weeks now and he does a great job telling me when he has to pee in the toilet, but he has not pooped in the toilet once! I've done the potty parties, pretending his stuffed animals were going, used charts with stickers, candy bribes, big toy bribes, etc. I need help! What would you suggest!
Don't let that cute face fool you! LOL!