Sick

We are a bit sick here. So while the kids don't feel like doing anything I thought I would take time to tell you what we have been doing when they to do feel like doing stuff. This picture was taken a a few days ago. She is doing much better now and is happily playing outside while the other two are on their sick beds. Being the oldest has its perks, like getting sick first and passing it along to the others.

This pretty little number was once a pillow case. I saw it at the D.I. and thought it might have potential. I got brave and tried out elastic thread for the first time, and I love it! Not hard to use at all and it looks like I put in a lot more work than I really did. I paid fifty cents for the pillow case, two dollars for the thread and spent forty five minute cutting and sewing. Pretty good in my opinion.

Perfect pool. There is a height restriction so only little kids can play in it, only goes to a foot and a half deep, and its free! There is also a splash pad and playground in this park. There are a ton of splash pads around town. It's weird not to live in the desert, always worrying about wasting water.

This is why everyone needs a toddler in their home! I love this kid.

If we aren't in the water than we are eating popsicles. Already gone through a couple of bags. I don't know if that is because its so hot or if there are a million little kids running around; can't just share one.

Olivia is trying to share her toys.

The fire truck came down our way to help get a baby out of locked car. Sounds worse than it was. She was only in there for about five minutes. Then the firemen gave out balloons and stickers to all the other neighbor kids. It turned into a real party.

Jack watching the excitment. He was in love with the truck but a little nervous about the firemen.

Her hair won't hold a curl out here. When its wet I do this.

This is what happens when it dries.

We went to a really cool train food place, can't remember what it was called. They give out free engineer hats, Jack has his on backwards and upside down. The atmosphere is really fun. A train even brings you your food. To bad the food is not really worth eating.

I paid three dollars for this hamburger.

We went to this place called Kaleidoscope, way way cool. It has different stations of art activities. There was even a black light room, where you could color with glow in the dark paints. And its free too!

Speaking of free, we went to a Clifford exhibit that was really fun too.

Jack is sliding down Clifford's tail.

Did I mention that everyone should have a toddler in their home?

Jack is getting pretty good on the tricycle. He is using the peddles well, it just gets hard for him if there is the slightest incline.

This is the latest cool thing to do around the neighborhood. Not the greatest picture but the kids are riding around in a mini jeep.

Watch out though because the back doesn't always stay shut. Poor Jack found that out the hard way. He flew out on a bump and landed on his head.

Potty Training

Almost two weeks ago Jack put his pee pee in the potty. We were very proud of him but I honestly didn't want to start potty training just yet. Call me lazy or realistic but potty training with a young baby around can be a little tricky. I didn't want to start until I knew I was ready. A few days after sharing such exciting news to Nanny, a package arrived in the mail. Any guesses as to what was in the box? Thats right, big boy underwear! He and Kaitlynn were so excited. Okay so I guess it was time to start, even if I really really really didn't want to. We started on Monday, and by Tuesday I had given up! I knew I didn't have energy for this project, bleh! I stuck diapers on the boy and we went back to real life again. Kaitlynn however was not done, every time she went to the bathroom she asked him if he wanted to go potty and he did! It was amazing, I stopped training him and he kept on learning from his big sister. By Friday he went all day in underwear and didn't have an accident! We have had a few minor accidents (he couldn't get there in time) since then but nothing to bad. So if you want to know the secret to potty training here it is, have Nanny buy you the coolest big boy underwear and have Kaitlynn do the rest! Wow I have hardly done a thing for this boy and he has got it down pretty well.

One problem we have run into though is potty words. It wouldn't be that big of a deal but Kaitynn has made it into a big deal. She tells on Jack if he uses a potty word, but we

have all been using potty words lately. So to try and help the problem out a bit I told Jack that he can only use potty words when he is in the bathroom. He stood there for about a second before his eyes lit up and ran into the bathroom and yelled POOP as loud as he could. Sigh, what can I do he didn't actually break any rules.

Modeling his cool underwear.

"no get Nemo wet"

Using his very own potty

Going potty together. I owe all of his success to this girl.

Hanging out in their unders. Don't you just hate pants?

Just before I finished writing this, Jack came upstairs to tell me he pooped on Elmo (the current pair of underwear he is wearing), I guess we still have a little more work to do.

Happy Fathers Day

We had a very nice Fathers Day. We started out the day with a special breakfast for Ryan, a big bowl of Lucky Charms. Nothing but the best for my man! Ryan gave a talk today so he spent the morning writing it. He did a wonderful job. Just like a perfect movie it made you laugh and cry. Many people gave me compliments on his talk. Then after church we made breakfast for dinner, like I said nothing but the best for my man. Then we opened presents, some new shirts and candy. The rest of the evening was spent with friends eating ice cream and talking. It was a good day.

Just because I love this face.

Arm wrestling, this is Jack helping Kaitlynn win. He is pulling her by the head.

She didn't quite understand the rules.

Being a daddy.

Kaitlynn is a good helper when it come to opening presents

Somehow we left Utah without any BYU stuff. Ann sent this out for fathers day so Ryan won't forget his roots.

Super dad.

This what Ryan really wanted to for fathers day, set up his Wii and play. The kids were happy to sit and play with him.

a little story and a lot of pictures

I dedicate this story to my father-in-law, the only one who can really empathize with me. So I made a little mistake. I let my drivers license expire by ten months. Yeah oops! If I had noticed this little mess up in Utah I would have had to take the written test, a bummer yes, but not as bad as what I had to do out here. I had to take the written test, the signs test, and the driving test! I was so paranoid about the written test so I spent a couple of days learning Missouri driving laws. I wasn't too worried about the actual driving test. I guess I should have been, because while I passed the written test with flying colors I FAILED the driving test! That's right folks, I failed the driving test. In my defense the lady was super mean. And since I failed she told me I couldn't drive until I came in to take the test again, I said ok and went out and got in my car and drove away! I wasn't really planning on failing so I didn't have anyone drive me out there, so I didn't have anyone to drive me back home! I did go back again and passed with a 100%, not one mistake!

Now on to this weeks pictures.

Ryan's first day of school! Doesn't he look all grown up?

Jack came up stairs to tell me Kaitlynn was stuck. I went downstairs to find her wedge between the cuddle bag and the couch. She really was stuck it was kind of hard to get her out of there.

Getting ready for the rain.

But it is more fun to use the umbrella as a gun

She is holding a firefly. I guess they come out in the daytime too.

This is a pretty cool park we went to.

Cute boy!

He was in heaven with these toy trucks and busses.

Some squirrels really lived in this knothole! Just like out of a movie! They were gathering food and running up to this hole! Missouri is so cool!

Tinkerbell at the park.

Olivia's very first ponytail! Ryan can't stand it, he says she looks like a unicorn with a mullet.

Outside working on a project.

Jacks attention span only allowed him to paint for a bit before he was distracted by this stick. I am not sure I will ever fully understand the connection between a little boy and a stick.

Kaitlynn on the other hand worked on her rocket for a very long time.

The finished product.

Playing at a splash pad trying to cool off a bit.

See I told you it is hot here! So hot that the car can't figure out what temperature it is, so it guessed 136 F. Seemed right to us.

Sheridan's is a great ice cream place to try and beat the heat too.

New outfits from Nanny. Notice that Kaitlynn dressed herself, everything is on backwards.

Jack going in for the kiss. Olivia bracing for the impact.

You can't tell because of the flash of the camera but it was raining really hard, even the kids were impressed. Even the thunder seems louder out here. The rain does little to actually cool things off though.