We're Home

We had an amazing time in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We left last Saturday, with four kids, a dog and tent trailer in tow we began our journey. We arrived home last night (Sunday) weary from our time in the car, but with eyes opened to new areas, new experiences and lovely visits with great people. I have a gazillion photos to upload, and fun experiences and stories to share..

So stay tuned..

It's time to go home Norman

No, his name is not Norman. I am trying to protect the innocent, so we will hence forth refer to this individual as Norman.

The neighbor kid, the only child that practically lives at my house, or on my wall connecting his home to ours. Yes we have three busy loud little boys to play with, so I do understand his need to be a part of the constant chaos that is my home. But when I say, "It's time to go home Norman", and he gathers his shoes and walks home that means that we are done playing with you today Norman.

It does not mean to come to our back fence in our yard, and to hang out through the fence, even though the sun has set, and I'm ready for my kids to settle down for the evening.

It does not mean to scream loudly with laughter so that the entire neighborhood wonders if someone is in pain, or just really really happy. I also don't like that the scream originates from my house. I have enough of that from my own children.

It does not mean to sit on the wall between our two yards and yell and boss my children about. That is my job, certainly not yours.

Where are your parents? They are home, they can hear you. What are they doing? I feel bad that you are lonely, but I can only have you at my house for so many hours in one day.

I know that it is fun to come here, and they are fun kids, after all they are mine.

But sometimes too much of a good thing is exactly that,

TOO MUCH!!

Finally!!??

I'm a little afraid to write this post. I may jinx it.

No, I think we are finally there.

Caleb is fully potty-trained!!

Over a year ago, he was potty trained with #1, and around Christmas he could sleep through the night and stay dry. I used up the last of the pull-ups, and bought cute Lightning McQueen under-roos. We were done, and ready for big boy underwear.

OK, we were so not done!!

We had quite the difficulty with #2. He would do well for weeks at a time, then he would regress. I tried being sad, angry, guilting him, offering him treats and sweets. Nothing worked.

So we spent a week with no underwear. I will force him to use the potty for #2. My sweet little boy turned into a dog, and starting going on the patio or grass. Gross, yes I know. I had to clean it up! The best was that afterwards he would come in, and wipe himself. He was fully aware of what he just did, and the need to clean himself. But felt no need to be civilized and use the toilet, like a normal human.

So the underwear went back on. He did well for another couple of weeks, yay we're done..

not yet..

He then started going #2 in his underwear, then going to the bathroom to empty his underwear, flush it down the toilet and wipe himself.

Closer, but we were still missing that key element. Yes child , you need to sit on the toilet and then do your business, and then wipe, and then pull up the underwear.

So he has been doing it, successfully for the last few days, no, it hasn't been days it's been weeks. Four weeks to be exact, and entire month. Something clicked while we were beach camping, and I think we are finally there.

Now don't get me wrong, I know there may be an occassional oops here and then. He is after all a boy, and playing outside or busily building Legos may prevent him from making that a priority. But, I think we are finally there!!

Way to go buddy, I'm so proud of you!! (and so ready for this!!)

Another Year Older and Wiser?

This last week, I celebrated my 33rd birthday. (Wow, it looks pretty wierd when you see it all typed out like that.) It was a very low key, simple birthday, very much like myself.


I enjoyed a wonderful day at the beach with the kiddos and my best friend. We chatted the day away, watched the kids play in the sand and water, make numerous trips to the play structure and bathrooms, have little ones fall asleep in our arms, and enjoy the beautiful sunny day together.


Afterwards, I treated the kids to ice creams on the way home, in honor of it being a special day and all. We came home and cleaned up. A nice shower after a day at the beach can be pure heaven.


Dave brought home all sorts of goodies, from beautiful gerbera daisies to a delicious dinner and dessert (courtesy of Claim Jumper) I gorged myself on Chicken Fried Steak, and opened presents from my sweeties, then we all blew out candles on Chocolate Cake (I need help, I'm getting old after all).


We sent the kiddos to bed after all the festivities, I put on my new compfy jammies and then Dave and I tried, with great effort to eat an entire I Declair by ourselves. My tummy is full, and my heart is also. I love my simple little life, filled with my family and friends. A perfect day, and another year older.

I Declair - Sweet pastry filled with a buttery Bavarian custard and atop vanilla bean ice cream with hot fudge & homemade whipped cream

Pool, Park and Beach

Summer days usually begin the same almost every day. Mommy spends the morning picking up around the house, maybe starting a load of laundry or two, and cleaning up the kitchen. Then the big question..

"So, what do you guys want to do today?"

Sometimes I've already planned to meet up with friends that week, so the choices are fewer, but we usually do the same three things every week: beach, park, and pool.

This week we played at the pool with friends, and met a new family that just moved into our ward. Yay, more kids (and more boys!!) Wednesday, I spent some time working on my great project of the garage, then we did an errand day filled with Costco, Trader Joes, Wal-Mart, and Michaels followed by a day at the park.

Dave left us Thursday evening to join his brothers in Las Vegas for DEFCON, and a fun filled weekend of non-stop game playing.

Friday we spent at the beach, and I so enjoyed watching my children play together. This time Caleb's sleepiness gave way, and he cuddled close to me as he slumbered away. Natalie played with the two oldest boys, and it was so fun to watch them play with her amongst the waves, bury her in the sand, and make her laugh.

I know that she has blessed our family in countless ways, but I also am so grateful that she is going to make my boys better husbands and fathers because of her sweet girly ways. They are experiencing and learning from her without even knowing it. She has brought out their sweeter, more gentler side, and I've even seen glimpses of that "overbearing big brother" side at times.

As I put the last sleeping child to bed Friday night, I had a huge smile on my face. My kids are so awesome, and dang I'm a lucky girl!!