"My spurs go jingle jangle jingle"

The boys trying to install the new toilet seat (turns out it's too big and we must return it)

Farmer Brown had mysteriously lost his pants.

"Howdy, Mommy!"

Day 2 of potty training - move on to Buck.

RKZ stayed home for me so that we could help with the constant attention Buck might require for his big pee plans. It was so nice to have RK home for the day - even if we were up to our elbows in urination.

Pee 1: 7:45 am - (note to self: remind Buck to aim peeper INTO the potty). Daddy cleans up what did not make it into the bowl.

Pee 2: 9:35 am - yes, TWO HOURS later. I was expecting a "pee-for-all" where I literally had to follow buck around with a small plastic potty catching pee. The reality is that I was asking him every 30 minutes to sit on the potty. Do you sit on the potty every thirty minutes? Brother was BUGGED.

Pee 3: 1ish pre-lunch pee. It was around this time that I first stared wondering (to RKZ) if our son is dehydrated. He wouldn't finish the juice that I shoved at him & resisted all raisins. I'm a freak about this, I'll admit it.

Nap after lunch. Nominal mommy lets son sleep until 5 pm. How's that for a bit of masterful potty training? He wears diapers while he sleeps (a normal practice, I'm assured). I've been a bit homesick for California and decided to take a bit of a nap while Buck slept. RKZ was out doing some work in the yard. Turns out, Buck peed a bit during his FOUR HOUR nap. Well, duh.

Wardrobe choice 1: Buck insists on wearing last year's Stampede cowboy hat with VERY LOUD whistle. Also insists on mommy wearing hers.

Wardrobe choice 2: Buck wears only underpants all day (no shorts). 4 year old next door neighbor proceeds to tease Buck when we go outside ("get away from me with your underwear!") Mom proceeds to now hate that boy. Buck now tells Max to "get away from me, dog!" - ah, the power of mocking. Did make a psychological breakthrough that boys seem to love teasing. Doesn't that the traumatic negative effect that it would have on a girl. Buck thinks it's funny.

Mistake 1: Mommy invites people over for dinner (2 college aged girls) and gets to talking instead of watching the clock. Buck pees on the deck while playing with his sandbox. A lot of pee comes out (just an observation). Buck seems to enjoy putting his underwear into the bucket of soapy water more than anything else from the day.

Poop 1: 7pm. Buck normally poops twice (information you could have NEVER lived without, I'm sure). The fact that he hadn't pooped all day filled mom with fear that he would now be constipated and REFUSE to poop into the potty (mommy has a very active worry-life). So, mommy brought out the big guns and laid all of the remote control "bribe" toys in front of son. Buck sees the RC Car, plane and mini plane and wants only to play with them. Mommy says, "If you poop tonight, you can have the smallest one to play with." Buck poops. Obviously goal driven.

1st day of Rite of Passage over. Buck is bathed (removing pee from leg), diapered and read to. Peace descends upon the house and mommy drinks a load of Corona Lights in the backyard - leading to more pee.