Ben's little people

Benjamin is starting to draw the cutest little stick people! He is really turning into a little boy lately. He goes potty on the toilet (occasionally) and knows his colors and shapes, he's learning his letters and he's getting so tall!

Fort

Micah and Ben really wanted to sleep in a fort Friday night, so we made one in the playroom with an old sheet. Sadly, Jacob crashed just before 10:00 on the couch and didn't get to sleep in the fort, next time Jacob!

We're almost there!

Tyler and Matt
I think he is just deciding where to put all these plants!

Lots and lots of festuca!!!
It's really starting to resemble a yard.

My 3 beautiful boys and the Flax on the left that I really wanted in our yard.

I cannot begin to tell you how much work and how many hours Tyler has put into this project! The plants are here and we are finding places for them and it is all coming together! There is still so much work ahead, so many holes to dig. I can't wait to drive up to a beautiful yard. Thank you so much for all your hard work Ty, and for those that helped, Matt and Brent! And thank you to Margaret for loaning out your husband!

I was finally tagged!!!

This is what you do:1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).2. Turn to page 123.3. Find the 5th sentence4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.

Ok, so this is pretty funny. Jacob's book is the closest thing to me, oddly enough, there are 144 pages! Even more funny, the 123rd page does have more than 5 sentences!

"My cat has a smelly problem."

That is from the book Dragon Tales by Dav Pilkey


I'm tagging Michelle and Stephanie

My Mother

My mom with my Grandma Isabell on her wedding day.

Me with my mother on my wedding day.

With Mother's Day approaching I find myself thinking not so much about myself, as I am about my own mother. I am working on a project for her for Mother's Day and I requested this picture from her, it is one of my favorites of my mother. I know that this Mother's Day will be hard for her, just as the last two before were. My grandmother passed away in June of 2005, so, my next task is to find a great picture of my mom with her mom! (Found One!) If any of you know of a beautiful poem or quote relating to mothers, please pass it along! When I finish my little project I'll post it so you can see how it turned out.
Me and my sweet little baby girl.

Oh yeah, it's like a ride.

Here we go!














Soap!





Ben, looking very unsure. Jacob enjoying himself in the backseat.














Me, and Peyton.















Tyler, he only looks worried, he's ok though.














The best view, right through my window.














Micah, clearly pleased.

One of our favorite things to do as a family is go to the drive through car wash. I used to love it as a kid. My grandma Kay would take me through sometimes and I remember being scared to death, and loving it at the same time. I would cry during it, and then when it was over, I wanted to do it again. The kids are kind of the same way. Micah and Jacob aren't so much anymore, but I watch Ben's face and it looks rather pained, but he always wants to go!

Daddy's Home!!!

The boys with their sign.







Peyton stayed in her stroller.

It's Tyler, home at last!

After missing Tyler for a week while he was in San Diego for business we got to go pick him up at the airport. The boys had fun decorating a welcome home sign for him, especially Micah. He drew an American flag on it too, so of course we were asked if he was returning from military service. I had to say, "Umm, no. He was just gone for the week on a business trip, but we really, really missed him." I can't imagine what kind of a homecoming he would recieve if he had been gone a year or more!

Peyton is 3 months old!

Another Big Blue eyed baby. Here she is next to her favorite flowers in her very pretty, girlie room.

My funny girl

Everytime I lay Peyton down on her changing table she immediately starts smiling at her flower clips. I have them clipped to a boa that is draped on her mirror. Apparently she really likes them, already a girlie girl. I can also take one off and hold it in front of her and she smiles at it. When Micah was this age we had a couch that had flowers on it and he would always smile at them. I just get a kick out it. Here I am working it to get a smile and she just gives them right away to the flowers!

Today I did't do it.

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply. She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

I guess I'm potty training Ben

April 15, 2008


Benjamin woke up with a dry diaper, I think for the first time ever. I thought, "If I put another diaper on him he's just going to pee in it right away. He usually always wakes up with a very full diaper, oftentimes also with a wet bed and wet jammies because he pees so much during the night. So, I just had an idea, I said, "Ben, let's go pee pee in the toilet. So I quickly pulled out the little potty seat and plopped it on the toilet and no sooner than Ben sat down did he go pee pee! I took him to the toilet several times that day and had him pee. I left his diaper or a pull up on him that I had saved from Jacob, and he did pee in that once, and when it came time for pooping, he started to go in his diaper and stopped. He told me that he wanted to poop in the toilet, but I said it was too late once he had gone in his diaper. I went to clean him up and saw that there wasn't very much poop, he was also still telling me he wanted to poop in the toilet. So, I put him on the toilet and he finished in it! Yay Ben! So, that's why I say I guess I am potty training Ben. I was going to wait another month or so, but I guess he's ready. I was gone all day Saturday, so daddy was in charge. He took him pee once, but the rest was all in a diaper or a pull up. He is not yet to the stage of telling me when he has to go, he is still learning what it feels like to need to potty, but I can tell he is learning and telling me is just around the corner! After this it will just be Peyton, and from what I hear, girls are a lot easier to potty train, please don't tell me otherwise, I hate potty training!

Ben's first pee pee on the toilet!



This is the cheering on that Ben received when he got back into their bedroom!

Reading a new book everytime he sits on the toilet. Even to pee he wants a book!

"Mommy, I went poo poo!"

Jacob changes a diaper, again.

A few months ago when I was at the end of my pregnancy, one Sunday I was not feeling well and Jacob took it upon himself to get Ben out of the tub and get him completely dressed! He got his diaper on and his undershirt and pants and shirt and tie on. He even got his shirt tucked in and his shoes and socks on. Well, this time I asked if he could change Ben's diaper, it was just pee. He told me he didn't know how to change a diaper, like wiping and stuff. He did it though! Good job Jabob!

TOFW

Wow, what a fun filled and uplifting day. I am so ready to continue on in my Joyful life.

I spent all of my day with Peyton, and most of it with Stephanie White. I got to see many friends and familiar faces and was surprised and happy to see Cristy Michaelson!
There were very funny women and beautiful songs, Kenneth Cope and Mercy River.
Peyton was very well behaved and I really look forward to more mother daughter activities with her. After Time Out for women a group of girls went to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. I came home to 3 bathed children and a house that was no messier than when I left this morning, thanks Ty!

Rodger Rockas

Ok, so I know that Tyler and I don't go on enough dates, but when we do, I always have so much fun! I love realizing over and over again that I love the man I married.

We got tickets for Rodger Rockas for Christmas from Tyler's parents. We got and asked for them the last few Christmas's because we always have such a great time there. We get a wonderful meal and a great show. Last time we went we saw the King and I and learned that hericots vert are just green beans and you say it "hair ih co vair" This time we saw "All Shook Up" a play based on Elvis's songs. It was very funny. Our table was right up front, literally pushed into a corner of the stage. At first we were worried that we might be too close, but it was really neat. At many points in the play we had actors right in front of us and to the left of us, I could have touched them, I could have maybe smelled their breath if I tried! We got brought into the play a few times too. There are a few parts where the main character, "Chad" Talks about how he's been with a lot of women and he smiled and motioned towards me and then gave Tyler a "sorry Man." kind of look. Another part this uptight mayor lady talks about how the troublemakers are always good looking guys and she looks at Tyler and smiles! How fun! Our dinner was great too, I had New York Steak and Tyler had catfish, they were both really good. If you look at Tylers picture you can see part of the set in the background. I can't wait to go again next year!

my cute kids

Peyton hanging out in her swing.



This picture does not do this outfit justice.
Ben playing on the computer, one of his favorite things to do.
Jacob doing his homework.
Peyton wearing a cute outfit from my friend Tracy. Thanks Tracy!