Crook Family: The Aftermath

Well we got a definite answer about the place we want to move in to. We were approved! So we will be moving August 29th. It is a place in south Corvallis, a little closer to OSU for Justin. However, it is a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath duplex for only $10 more a month. It has a larger yard area, a park literally in our backyard, LDS managers, and wonderful neighbors! We are so stoked!! I already know some of the other people who live there (from church), and they are already welcoming us and one has even offered her old piano as a housewarming gift. I am just so excited, I am even looking forward to moving all our stuff!!

So my brother had his fourth child, another boy! His name is Kristopher Thomas Carleski. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was just as cute as a bugs ear! He was born August 8th, 2009.

Levi has had some good play time with his cousins who return to Chicago tomorrow. He loves all his cousins so much, I think he will be sad when they go home.

Hazel is teething again. But she has been trying to make the best of it. She is overall a happy baby, but in the evening she is quite whiny and trying. Nothing a little Tylenol doesn't fix though. She is my little sweetheart. She is learning to clap, wave, and say Mama or Dada. It is so cute to watch them learn so much in so little time.

The kids are learning more and more to play together. Levi loves his little sister, and tries every day to play with her. Sometimes he has been a bit rough, so we have to explain she doesn't play like that yet. He just has a hard time seperating playing with his other cousins and playing with Hazel. He does try to help a great deal, sometimes more hindering than helping, but at least her tries.

We have been trying now for about six months (hardcore about two months) to potty train Levi. He is as stubborn as a mule however. He sincerely doesn't mind being wet or soiled. Since June we have done underwear or pull-ups, and he still doesn't care. We've tried treats, reward incentives, charts, stickers, reminding him every ten minutes, taking him when he wakes and before bed, Cheerios in the toilet, giving him a book, offering special underwear as a reward, cold showers for mistakes, tons of encouragement for a good job, and several other tactics. Nothing has worked. They all have worked for one or two times, then nothing. I don't know how to get through to him. He knows when he needs to go, and when he has gone... I mean he's 3 and a half! But he just doesn't care. Oh, one day, one day I will have a break through.

So we went to the Scandinavian Festival again. Levi loved it, and Justin loved the food. Next year is the 50th anniversary, so Justin wants to dress up. I promised we'd dress the kids up... who knows we may have another little one by then (no I'm not pregnant... thank goodness!). But it would be fun seeing the kids all dressed up.

We also had our family pictures taken, the whole Carleski clan. My brother's wife had her baby just in time it seems! So here are our spoils from that adventure.