Doug, Hillary, and Linkin

If you know me than you absolutely know that one of my favorite things in life is a diet coke. Specifically, I enjoy a nice iced diet coke from McDonald's. I have been doing all of this stuff lately to try and get myself more healthy. I am cutting a bunch of junk out of my life and I can't believe I am actually going to say this, but I have quit diet coke!!!! (gasp here!) I know this is total and complete blasphemy but it must be done! I was seriously drinking at least 8 cokes a day. That ain't healthy no matter who you are. haha. Since I have absolutely no self control and can't limit myself to doing less I have to get rid of it completely. Bye bye diet coke.... you've been a great friend. (wipe a tear..... sniff, sniff)

Mommy had lots of laundry and cleaning to get done today! Nothing that a quick fort and some popcorn couldn't solve! Linkin entertained and mommy able to do work! Not one of my better forts but I'll take it! =)

This picture doesn't do that crazy road justice, but you can kind of see the road winding in and out of the mountain. Insane!

Here is Linkin giving bowling a whirl. Doug had to be right by his side at every minute because there was always a chance of a Linkin escape and those are never good! That's when he would get away and start bowling on somebody elses lane. Our bad!

Linkin and Margo (the birthday kiddos) blowing out their candles! Linkin ate 3 cupcakes. He just kept helping himself to more cupcakes before I figured out what was going on. To my defense he did only eat the frosting so it doesn't completely count! (let's not mention that I finished his cupcakes and at the actual cake. hehehe)

He got a little over stimulated a few times and had to take a quick break playing some race car games. He thought since it was his birthday it was always his turn to bowl. That wasn't the case. The best part about him "playing" these race car games is that he doesn't understand that it's the computer playing and not really him. hahaha! I don't wanna waste my quarters teaching him how to play! :) I wonder how much longer I can get away with this trick?

The Hall family picture on Linkin's 3rd birthday. Ahhh!!! =)

Linkin has been talking about a "Cranky" toy for 3 months. I could not find a Cranky toy anywhere so I was getting a little bit worried! (Cranky is the crane from Thomas the Train) On the day of his birthday party Doug and I found Cranky at a little ma and pop toy store by our house. We soooo lucked out on this one! It could have been bad! He slept with it for 4 days and it still hasn't hardly ever left his hands. Thomas the Train is a huge deal at our house right now! I am getting pretty talented at setting up train tracks. What can I say, it's another one of those amazing mom skills that you will never use anywhere else! :)

I also have to say that Doug and Linkin have been amazing this week as well. Doug picked Link up from my friends house on his way home from work the night I got hurt and they stopped at the store to pick mommy up some presents. Linin was absolutely set that he had to get me yellow tulips and a football balloon. Doug was trying to convince him that roses and maybe a get well balloon were more appropriate, but Linkin would not budge so Doug just went with it. haha. It was so funny and adorable to watch Linkin come running inside with the balloon and the flowers. He got a little excited giving them to me, so during the exchange the balloon popped and the flowers got a little droopy. haha. All in all it was a great surprise from my two favorite boys on earth! Love my guys! =)

(this is the Puff Jar and the extra Puffs. It takes about 30 Puffs to fill the jar)


We now have a Puff Jar! The Puff Jar is absolutely amazing! When Linkin makes a good choice or does something nice he gets to pick out a Puff and put it in the Puff Jar. When the Puff Jar is completely full he then gets to pick a prize out of the Grab Bag! He was a little confused at first because he thought if he got a Puff he also got a toy. After some modeling and explaining, he now has the idea down. It has been lots of fun because now instead of saying, "Linkin don't do that." I can instead say, "Linkin if you do (insert something here) you can put a Puff in the Puff Jar." This has already worked great with having him share with others and play nicely. If we have friends come over I tell him that if he is nice he can put a Puff in the jar when they leave.

(This is the Grab Bag. He gets to pick out one of the things from the box.)

A few weeks back we started the Naughty Box. (Dun Dun Dun...) The naughty box is exactly as it sounds. When Linkin makes a naughty choice such as throwing a toy at mommy, that toy is put in the naughty box. I felt like time out had completely lost its punch and he didn't care if he had to sit in time out, so we installed the naughty box. Loosing toys definitely effects him more so than time out did. I still do time out when it is required, but the naughty box has been a huge blessing for us. He can earn the toys out of the naughty box, but he has to do something really really good to get them back.

I did a discipline box and a reward system separate of each other because I didn't want him to get the two mixed up. Once he earns a Puff and puts it in the Puff Jar he can not loose that Puff. It stays in there until he earns a toy. I DO NOT take them out. I think that is so important for him to see a physical representation of all of his good choices. The naughty box is the same idea to see his naughty choices but it also shows that you can make those naughty choices into good choices by fixing your mistakes. This is my new system, so I hope it works!!! Hopefully there isn't so much frustration in our home! :)

Linkin! I can't believe you are three years old today! I don't know where the time has gone. I remember when you were first born I was so excited for you to start walking, crawling, and talking. Now I want to just sit and snuggle you just like I did when you were a baby! These three years have gone so fast and your dad and I love you soooo much!!! You are such an amazing spirit in our home. You bring laughter and love and a pureness like none other. Happy third birthday my special baby boy. I love you!

This is Linkin the day he was born. He was only 5 pounds 5 ounces. That binkie takes up half of his adorable little face! Sooo cute!!