First Airplane Flight!

Last Saturday, Oct. 2nd was a big day for the Johnson side of the family. My dad and uncle had their first flight on the airplane they have been building for about 8 years! My dad called me that Friday before and said they would be flying at 8:30 the next morning. I have to admit it made me super nervous. The thought of someone going up into the air in something that is home built just freaked me out a little! But that morning, we got up early and all headed to the airport. Maya was so excited to go she really likes to see Grandpa's airplane and she didn't even realize it was going to take flight that very morning!! Not long after we got there my family all showed up as well as my Uncle Bruce's family and Uncle Greg's family. My Grandma was also there. It was really great to see her, I haven't seen her in a long time and it's always fun for Maya to see her Grammy! Everyone chatted for awhile and ate some yummy breakfast that was provided by my uncle until at last the big moment came...They wheeled the airplane out of the hanger. Camera flashes were going off like crazy! My Uncle Bruce climbed in the pilot's seat and closed the canopy. More flashes! My cousins and brothers were running around taking pictures of every little angle of that plane. I started to think, is this because they are worried that they won't see it in this condition again??? I was so nervous! The propeller started and the airplane moved down towards the runway. I thought the fact that it is moving is a pretty good sign. Maybe these boys did know what they were doing! We all walked down towards the runway, and waited as my Uncle turned and drove towards the entrance. A few minutes later we could see and hear him coming full speed towards us. We all watched as he lifted off the ground and flew low right past us!! We were all clapping and cheering! He pulled up and took off into the sky. I was amazed at how sharp it looked and sounded as it flew by. This was a really nice plane and I started to have a lot of hope that it was going to make it back in one piece. He flew in a large circle around by the mountain and came back and flew low past us. He waved to us as we all clapped and waived back to him! He did this a few times before coming back in and landing. The whole flight went great with no problems! It was pretty amazing to think that so long ago this plane started out as a bunch of tiny pieces and now it was flying around the city! It was a lot of fun that so many of the family showed up to support my uncle and dad and siblings in all their hard work. It really paid off! Later, I was sitting by my dad when Uncle Bruce came up to me and said, "So I heard you were pretty nervous about today?" I didn't want him to ever think I doubted his airplane building skills so I said back to him, "only about the weather, I really wanted it to be perfect for your first flight!" Him and my dad both laughed and said nice cover Kara!! It turned out to be a very fun and exciting morning and maybe just maybe I will eventually be brave enough to go for a ride someday!

Maya's Potty Training Adventures!

Well we have finally just about got Maya potty trained! At least during the day (she still has to wear pull ups for nap and bed time.) Getting there has not been an easy task. In the beginning, about 3 months ago, she started sitting on the potty but would never go to the bathroom. Then one day John tried putting warm water in a cup and making Maya stick her hand in the water while she was sitting on the potty! I thought this was so stupid and told him to quit it, he said it would make the muscles relax and she would go! About 30 seconds later it worked, she actually pee'd!! Me being a wife said oh so now we just have to keep her hand in warm water the rest of her life to make her go to the bathroom! But over the next couple of weeks she started going more and more. So then we decided it was time to try underwear. The first weekend I think I cleaned up almost 10 accidents and listened to her cry for a diaper all day until I finally gave up. The next Saturday we tried again and the morning started out just the same as the last. But while she took her nap I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of little toys, wrapped them up, and put them in a basket. Then I got some stickers and made a little sticker chart. It was so funny when she woke up. I showed her the presents and she was so excited!! I explained to her that every time she went potty in the toilet she would get a sticker and when she got five stickers she got to open a present! Oh boy from that point on all she wanted to do was sit on the potty so she could get a sticker! It took her about a day and a half to finally earn a present and she clapped and laughed and thought it was the greatest thing that's ever happened! From that point on she stopped having accidents for just over a week. Maya is a smart little girl, I had to start watching her sticker chart because she would do things like pull a sticker off the chart, tear it in half and put each half on a square! Only two and already cheating! But she did so great and I was really proud of her. Then she started having accidents again...I could not figure out why. She would just go and then come tell me she. One of my favorite things she has ever said to me happened one night after she had had an accident. I took her into the bathroom and I was mad! She was standing there with a sad little look on her face while I gave her the third degree. I was telling her that now she did not get a sticker and mommy was very sad and on and on but nothing seemed to affect her. So finally I said, "Maya if you go potty in your underwear again, You will not get any more skittles." That made her turn right to me. She walked up to me with the biggest scowl on her face, got an inch away from me and said in the biggest growl she could do, "baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?" And then just kept glaring at me! I couldn't help it, I busted up laughing! So much for getting through to her! She just didn't care about anything I was saying. It was like she was telling me listen mom, I will go on my terms and there is nothing you can do about it!! That was about a week ago and she has gone back to not having accidents! One thing I have learned from this ongoing process is that she really is in charge and no matter what kind of bribes we do, a two year old will always choose what they want!!