Today was TOTALLY the best of times!

We had our first ACCIDENT FREE day! I think I should make a sign like all the Costcos have with the number of accident free days they have (always kind of freaks me out when the number is low). Aubrey is a total potty-training champ and I am so proud of her! She even told me when I was going to go into a store that she had to go and went in the icky, yucky, nasty public restroom! No fishing today! Kyle was easy but this girl is SUPER DUPER easy.

As far as Olivia goes, she shows almost NO interest whatsoever so I am lying low on that one and just enjoying Aubrey's success! Ah the small joys of motherhood! =)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.....

I guess this could sum up a lot of things but at the moment, I am referring to potty-training. TMI TMI TMI to follow! As of last week (yes, only like 2 days after starting) I was ready to just say...ah to poo with it all! Then one night, Kyle and Aubrey were bathing together and Kyle started yelling something at me. I was talking to my dad at the time and kept telling him "just a minute." When I finally inquired as to what he wanted, he yelled "Aubrey pooped in the tub!" This is perhaps one of the most DISGUSTING things to clean up IMO! So I pulled them both out and proceeded to hope my gag reflex was feeling underactive, and I went poop fishing. Then out of the corner of my eye, I see Aubrey sitting on the little potty. I asked her if she was going potty to which she replied in the affirmative (like she had been doing ever since we pulled the potty out). She stood up and to my utter shock and surprise SHE REALLY HAD GONE POTTY!!! I would've given that girl the world at that very moment. You would've thought I'd just been told our house had sold or something! And she did it all by herself which was even better. That started out what has proved to be a rather easy (KNOCK ON WOOD) potty-training experience.

The other night as I was FINALLY getting comfy in bed (around 11:30 pm or so) Aubrey started whimpering, so I went in and wrapped her back up and went back to bed. Soon the whimpering turned to crying and the crying turned to shear "I'm in pain!" screaming. I just out of bed and right as I was entering her room she screamed, "I HAVE TO GO POTTY!" By the time I got her jammies unzipped she had already gone but WOW, she even woke up knowing she had to go!! VERY VERY impressive!

Then the past few days have been getting better and better. She woke up basically dry this morning and went accident free until this evening! We were even at a friend's house and she told me when she had to go and didn't fuss a bit at a strange potty.

Of course, we still have to master the poo meister but we'll get there. At least tonight when she was in the tub she told me she had to poo before it hit the water! (but only a second before) *gag* (told you it was TMI but nevertheless, it is my life ;)!)

Hail No!!

Tuesday afternoon, Sage and I were in Safeway with the kiddos stocking up on milk ($1.49/gallon--an outrageous re-opening deal that ran for the week--you could only get two at a time but I think I ended up with 8 gallons over the course of the week)when it started raining HARD--like flood-the-parking lot hard. Pretty soon the rain turned into nasty, yucky hail. Sage braved the elements to get the van and pull it up as close to the doors as possible so we could run in. The streets were pretty flooded in spots. But the first thing that came to my mind when the hail hit was "Oh no! I hope it's not getting mom and dad's house because it will shred the garden!" (Which happened last year). I called my dad only to find out that there were 3 inch piles of hail in some areas! =o =o =o So I was sickened by the news. When we got home, I had to snap a couple of pictures and even though they don't give the storm nor the damage justice, it's the best I got!

This would be the bbq grill that was picked up by the wind and moved to this spot where the hailed nestled nicely in.



I wish this picture picked up better on the poor plant casualties but the corn was shredded, the beans are naked of their alot of their leaves and I think all the blossoms, the cucumbers were a total fatality, the peas did okay except there was a loss of pods and those already there got pretty pocked up.



The tomatoes REALLY took a hammering!



And this shows some of the hail piles! (or as Aubrey yelled, "Snow!")



It is just so disheartening when you baby the little plants along through frost and snow in spring and you just pray that the growing season will be long enough to get a good harvest and then in 15 minutes (or more like 5 minutes of hail time) all your hard work is laughed at by nature. But as was pointed out, at least we are not flooded out of our homes and livelihoods. I think all in all, we should have some good recovery although it will slow things down quite a bit.

Momentary Moment of Silence

So my lack of bloggage has not been intentional. I have just been busy with some family history stuff (FASCINATING and ADDICTING!). So tonight I had a few free minutes and was going to blog (with pics of course) but we had a nasty crazy storm come through earlier in the week (part of my pics) and the internet has just not been the same so uploading pics has been S-L-O-W. But I thought I would just let the whole 3 people who read my blog know, that I will soon be back in business and silent no more! =)

Kiddie Carwash

The infamous alligator pool that has graced many a photo op, is currently awaiting more surgery to patch another hole I found after his roll with the wind into a barbed-wire fence last week so that has really put a crimp in the kids' outdoor water fun. Since I couldn't think of another thing inside to do (besides clean up pee and wet clothes), I turned on the hose, gave the kids some buckets and they came up with their own fun.

Pot-tay Par-tay

It is official. I am possessed! Something inside me REALLY thought I was ready for rounds #2 and #3 of potty-training. Round #1 proved SO easy. Both girls have shown readiness signs and so I thought I had better bite the bullet (or my tongue) and just do it. Here is how it has gone so far.....the other day, Olivia was showing signs of messing her pants, so my mom hurried her off to the bathroom and onto the training potty. After a whole 2 seconds, she was ready to get off so back on went her diaper. Not 5 minutes later, she comes and stands in the laundry room by me and proceeds to mess her pants. So I decided to just throw her in the tub and while I was preparing her bath, she proceeded to pee on the floor. LOVELY! Yesterday I decided to just try Aubrey...okay, training panties on, constantly asking if she needs to go potty, an accident, no big deal, on with more panties, naptime, diaper on under panties (she was NOT going for the diaper deal), wake up from nap, take off diaper, go outside, Olivia wants panties, put panties on Olivia, bring potty outside, nothing happening, Olivia pees on deck, diaper on Olivia, going out to eat, diaper under panties for Aubrey, get home, get baths, diapers on both girls with panties over Aubrey's per her request.

Officially day 2 (today): both girls started out in panties, repeated asking if they need to go potty, Olivia sits on the potty a couple of times for a bit, nothing, Olivia BRINGS me a diaper to put on her, figure I am done with her for the day. Aubrey comes to me distraught because "I wet!", try to persuade her to don a Pull-up, not having that ("unnerwear" she says), put on other panties, kindly remind that if she needs to go, to sit on the potty, about 15 minutes later (as I was stepping out of the shower), more commotion and tears and Aubrey is saying "I WET". Oh, wait. That should read SCREAMING "I WET!" not just saying. This time Aubrey asks for the pull-up (which she called swimsuit since it does look like her swim diapers). I am HAPPY to oblige and call is quits for today! I know, I know. It is only day two but aren't girls supposed to be easier? Before long, I just might end up in that mental institute with Pull-ups of my own! And in Dora for my size!

Elmo Poll Explanation

Kyle was watching Sesame Street this morning and when "Elmo's World" came on, Kyle started referring to her. I said, "Elmo's a boy." And he told me "She's a girl." So there is the inspiration behind the poll. LOL!

Middle of Nowhere

When it comes to traveling, I don't have a child that asks, "Are we there yet?" Instead, it is "Where are we?" And Kyle wants specifics as in names of towns. And then he'll ask, "What's next? Then what?" Most of the roads we travel to are lined with teeny, weeny blink-and-you-might-miss places many of which I do not know the names. And if it so happens that there are no towns around (which is also common), then I have just come up with a stand by "middle of nowhere." I didn't really think Kyle would pick up on it but recently while going somewhere Kyle asked, "Where are we?" When I failed to come up with a name he asked, "In the middle of nowhere?" And recently, that is exactly how I feel. I can see where I've been and I know my end goal but have NO idea where I am in between. Sometimes the tumbleweeds and dusty roads just seem endless with no other life in sight. There are little pit stops to get needed fuel and nourishment to go on and on and then we trudge through the middle of nowhere again. The journey I am mostly referring to is that of putting our house up for sale, moving back to Dillon, moving in with my parents, and waiting and waiting and waiting. We thought for sure our house would sell in 3 months TOP. When the realtor had us sign the listing agreement and set it for a year, I thought she was crazy! Here it is 16 months later and NOTHING (aka middle of nowhere). It's like we are stuck in this tug-o-war of wanting to be our own independent family and the waiting game. This has been harder than I suppose I might've ever imagined. Mostly because I am not a patient person (hmmm...lesson here?) and also because I think that what we are striving for is a good thing for everyone involved! So until we reach "House Sold" and "Welcome Home" we continue to pray for the strength to endure what Sage has aptly named, the detour.

When Life Gets Hot.....Cool Off!

We've just had some beautiful weather lately. It has been nice to have some hotter days for the kids to enjoy outdoor water activities. The other day it was a sprinkler under that trampoline.







And what would summer be without Otter Pops?







I have to say I had a few myself! =)

Chicken Little

We "farm-sat" for some friends this week and the best part was collecting the eggs. It was mostly Kyle and I that did this as the girls aren't too fond of the chickens, or the dog, or the sheep, or the (insert animal). I have to say, I will miss stepping around in the poop and trying to convince the hens to get off their duffs so we could collect their goodies.

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July! It was traditionally untraditional!

I decided to be creative and made patriotic pancakes for breakfast.





Dad and Sage went 4-wheeling. So mom, the kids, and I loaded up in the car and headed to Idaho. We did a little shopping and ate at the Olive Garden. (Yes, I did think I'd died and gone to heaven!) It turned out to be a very economical meal. We ordered one kid's meal of spaghetti for the three kids to share and mom and I shared a plate of manicotti (drool, drool)and we all had water. A family with two 15 month old boys sat next to us and since our food came sooner, mom gave them a breadstick to help ease the wait. Their mom gave us a coupon for a free kids meal. So in the end, we only paid for one entree and five of us ate. It was cheaper than if we'd gone to a fast food restaurant and MUCH nummier! What could be more American than the world's best Italian food!






Then stopped cookies off to Grandpa and Grandma Hansen and then stopped to visit Grandma Leonardson. It worked out perfectly because we got home, had rootbeer floats, and it was time for fireworks.

The kids didn't know what to think at first even though they've seen them before. Kyle quickly warmed up to the idea, Olivia jumped at every BOOM but called them "pitty" and Aubrey, well, she hid on grandpa's lap! It was fun to experience Kyle's excitement!


The infamous parachute

Aubrey safe with grandpa and (under) her blankie


Sparklers




HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!