a conversation

"I wanna help you momma."

"okay why don't you pick up all your toys. Daddy will be here soon and that will make Daddy so happy if you pick up all your toys."

"I want daddy be sad."

I'm so Pleased!

A potty training Post

Friday Night:

I saw Carter starting to poop and I told him to go potty and he said no.. and I said.. I don't like it when Ali (the dog) poops in the grass and I don't like it when you poop in your diaper and he said okay and walked with me to the bathroom and he read two books and pooped!! and than later he said my diapers are all gone! So we decided to go with it.

Saturday Morning:

I had to wash the sheets.. I think that Ryan took him potty but wasn't quiet patient enough and than he but him back to bed (it was 5:30 am) and he really did need to go potty. We had to go clean the church for an hour and no accident there. But 24 hours go by not one success in the toilet.. Lots of sitting and reading but not much business. But we stuck to it I mean really what's wrong with more laundry? (luckily we had no accidents on the carpet (which is horrible anyway..)).

Sunday:

I believe I had to wash the sheets again. We went to church.. I was a little nervous. We only stayed for Sacrament meeting because Carter has a runny nose and a little bit of a cough and so it was a good weekend to potty train. He waited until we were home and refused to come when I called and peed in the grass in his Sunday Clothing. We took a nap and than I forced him to sit on the potty until he peed! And we were so happy! He is a little bashful about it but quiet pleased with himself. And than another accident..

Monday:

We sat on the potty until he peed this morning at 6:30 am. A couple more accidents.. Than a "I need to go potty" but he was peeing when he said that. He peed on Daddy on the way once. Than later a success! He asked and made it to the bathroom and he wasn't in there for 15 minutes either! Than again he peed before bed! No sheet washing today but also the only nap he got was the few minutes he fell asleep on the potty.. :)

So at the end of three days I see a little hope. Maybe tomorrow he won't ask for a diaper.. He is sure there are some in Landon's room.. and he's right but I see hope and he started it so we will keep on chugging along.

We use this seat but he actually likes to just hang on because "I'm like daddy!" and he likes to be like daddy. But the seat is nice and I'm glad we got it we also have the frog potty chair.. but that's kinda of a waste unless your kid doesn't like toilets and you like to clean up poop... Good luck!

Ball Boy!

Palouse Falls

This morning we went for a hike and picnic. It was beautiful and so nice to get out of the house! I've been missing Idaho because of this very thing. Often times Ryan and I would go on a Sunday drive when we lived back in Idaho, just to relax. This time we asked our friends (really the husbands picked the location and invited us, wives) along. It was wonderful. The place they choose was about an hour away, and a little dangerous, but nothing 4 adults couldn't handle. If there had been more kids than adults then maybe this wouldn't be a good place. I'm corny but one of these views literally took my breath away!

Pumpkins!

So concentrated.

Liz's, Carter's, and Ryan's

When I was little my mom had us cut out and decorate pumpkins to put in the yard. (She posted about them a few years ago here.) Since Carter is just two we didn't do faces this year. Even without the faces we had a great time with only a little bit of paint split on the tile. Next year Carter should be able to draw a face, he had so much fun painting that I think that we will do this next year too.

The Chili King!

I'm married to the Chili King!! Ryan won the chili cook off at work. Someone at work said they made the best chili on this side of the Mississippi and were ready for some competition. Well Ryan delivered! He presented a spicy chocolate chili and it was GOOD!

Old Windows

While I was antiquing with my Grandmother-in-law back in July and we found this beautiful old window that had a hutch built around it. I love it! The paint on the window was antiqued and sanded but the rest was left to look new.

Do you like it?

our fireplace.

really bad quality but..

I could not find where I had posted this previously maybe I never posted it. but here is our beautiful fireplace in our old house.. that is UNDER CONTRACT!! woo hoo! Not sold yet but we are suppose to close in a few weeks!

Painting

before but after we took apart the mantel which had two levels. (you could not see the other paint colors before they had maple wood over them.) Very weird. made it too tall for a tv but that's where they had theirs.

Carter tripped and hit his head on the fire hydrant. Beware of uneven sidewalks.

You can see the heat lines on the ceiling from the previous owners TV.. obviously we are not done yet, but it is better. I love the new green. It makes me happy to have such a happy/bright color on the wall. Ryan and I worked hard all weekend inside- and I love it! Ryan wants to redo the fireplace to be more like the one we left behind.

I'm a cool Mom too!

My sister was telling me about how she made letter pancakes for her boy and how she was a super cool mom (my words not hers). I was jealous. I think wow she makes pancake mix from scratch and fills metal cookie cutter letters with batter all for her two old. I am such a loser mom that's way too much work. Well guess what. It isn't. Water and mix and the trick is ziploc-bag-pipping letters. It was too easy and so fun. We had the Letter C, L, M and D. I bet you can guess why.

Thanks for giving me the cool mom tip!

I need more cool mom tips. Have any to share?

9 Months Old

Dear Landon,

You are so beautiful! Everyone assumes your a girl.. sorry I promise I do not put bows in your hair or dress you in pink. I think maybe it's your charm (or they see Carter and assume that one boy is enough). Anyways we love you.

• I love how you throw your one arm up and say "UH UH" I believe it means more than just "up" but "I want that" as well.
• You are not happy with cherrios at breakfast anymore you want what we eat you can tell it is different. Clever boy.
• You Love bananas and love going outside. When we shut the door before you can crawl outside, you start to cry.
• You only wake up once at night and usually at 5ish. I am so happy for that. Thank you.
• Crawling up the stairs is one of your favorites, for sure you crawl up faster when I start to call your name.
• You are such a wonderful part of our family.
• When Carter steals toys from you, you hold on tight and start screaming at him to quit it! I'm so glad you stand your ground.

Love you lots,

Mama

Carter's Letter

Puppy

Ryan spent the weekend in Amarillo, Texas. His little brother reports to the MTC this week. He is serving his mission in Guayaquil, Ecuador. While visiting Ryan fell for this little Jack Tzu pup. Her dad (Jack Russell) is 10lbs and mom (Shih Tzu) is 8lbs so she will stay tiny. Carter seems to like her. We need a name. Any ideas? Even I think she is cute, despite my animal fear/dislike.

Update: the Fort

Picture of the peek-a-poo floor from the top level down below

The tunnel entrance

I meant to have updates more often, but here are pictures of the fort as it currently stands. We have not seriously worked on it too often, busy with trips and other tasks, but now it is taking shape. It just needs the walls finished (complete with hidden doors), and the activities added. We are thinking about a steering wheel, marble maze, and Ryan want to do a bike peddle powered fan. Do you have any great ideas?

Happy Birthday Sister Dear!

do we look alike?

My sister is great we've been sisters my whole life.. and good friends almost as long.. :) We shared a room when we were young and a bed. She is one of those people on my short list of those that can make me laugh until I cry.

I remember laying on our brothers bunk beds (I think Grandma and Granddad most of been visiting and we booted the boys out of their beds so Grandparents could have ours) and Melissa would reading to me the silly parts of Anne of Green Gables and I would just laugh and laugh at how funny she is.

I am a lucky girl to have this sister the only down side is she lives so far away.. :( Our kids are the same ages.. hers are 4 months younger than mine. I am so glad that we have each other.

Every sister needs a sister.

Carter is driving me crazy...

..his toys are all across the living room.. we clean them all up and vacuum last night, you can't tell.

.. he has not been listening AT all this morning.. until just now.

me: "Okay Carter you are driving me crazy, I guess it is time for bed. You know to stay out of my drawers."

Carter:"you're kidding me, momma. You're kidding me." as he quickly puts my kitchen things away and shuts my drawers- suddenly all smiles.. charming me into postponing nap time some more.