My pioneer child

Jane should have been a pioneer child and not just because she has an old fashioned name. While visiting my parents in Teasdale I decided to test out how my girls would take the Hickman Bridge hike in Capital Reef National Park. Man they were amazing! Emily started out a little whining but as soon as she found a hiking stick it got her imagination clicking, she took charge and soon she was leading us on a expedition to find the big red X. Jane cheerfully skipped along climbing rocks and keeping up with her sister until almost the end of the 2 mile hike when she told me her toe was hurting. I took off her shoe and found a huge blister on her toe. I told her we are almost done put the shoe back on and she silently trudged along never asking to be held or whining about her hurt toe again. It was similar to the time last spring when Jane had a running nose and I walked her home after sacrament to prevent the spread of germs in nursery. I knew I should have brought a stroller when after a half of a block I look back and Jane was yawning and looked so tired. I also knew if I picked her up I'd be carrying her the rest of the 5 blocks home. I decided I'd let Jane walk until she started to cry. To my surprise this little girl just walked and walked and walked and walked without a single complaint. With a couple of blocks to go we pasted this man working in his lawn and he commented that my little girl looked really tired. I thought for sure she'd asked to be held but she didn't and we made it home in time for Jane to collapse in her crib for a nap. I know in life that determination to keep going and finish that Jane has will take her far.

*I'm kicking myself that I forgot my camera. It would have made for fun pictures*

My bold move

This post is mostly for my sisters who want to see my new hair do. I woke up one morning looked at my frumpy hair and realized it was time to start spending money on my hair. So I finally worked up enough confidence and chopped all my hair off into a pixie cut. Drum roll please......

Just another run of the mill potty training post

Can I tell you how much I love potty training. I love it so much it took Jane telling me one day "I poop in toliet today!" to bite the bullet and take off the diapers. I just love having my every thought center around Jane's bladder. I especially love having to first find the bathrooms in stores and then take her back to these disgusting bathrooms sometimes multiple times in one shopping trip until something comes out. My favorite so far was the ghetto bathroom out back behind the drive through sign at the Artic Circle. It was also thrilling on day 2 of potty training when after many unsuccessful attempts at getting Jane to empty her bladder we head to swimming lessons and as I'm checking the girls in she pees a flood all over the floor right next to me. The best was during nap time I heard Jane in her room talking and playing by herself, like she often does before she falls asleep, and I didn't think anything of it until I heard "Tollette, Tollette, Tollette (I think this is the first time she's called me by my first name)..... I pooped on the floor Tollette. Fun times!!

Seriously though I think we've finally turned the corner. We've gone a few days with being dry all day. She's still inconsistent with the Poop part of it but I'm sure that will come. The other day while playing with her dolls I told Jane to hurry and go potty. She says "Dolly potty too" and ran in the bathroom. I followed her a few minutes later and found Jane sitting on the big toliet and her doll sitting on her potty chair. I guess her doll is ready to be a "big girl" now too.

Snowbird with Sarah

Bart's sister Sarah and her husband Joe were staying at a Condo at Snowbird and invited us up for a night. We had a great time swimming in the pool, soaking in the hot tub on the deck, playing on Sarah's Iphone and mostly just having fun with Jane's favorite person Sarah. Thanks Sarah!!

Just like her grandma

There are many times I'll be up at my in-laws and my mother in law suddenly disappears. When I inquire where she went the usual response is something like "Oh she just took dinner, cinnamon rolls etc.. to a neighbor in need."
Last night I was so proud when I saw a little of Nona in Emily. After dinner Emily looked out the window and wondered if our little raspberry bush had fruit on it yet. I told her to go check. She ran out the door only to emerge a moment later excitingly exclaiming Oh yeah it's loaded. So she grabbed a plastic bowl and ran back out and spent the better part of an hour picking raspberries. When she came back in the house she said "I'd like to give these to our neighbors". So she put them in a few zip lock bags told Jane to come along then told me they could do it alone and delivered her raspberries to the neighbors.

A Herd of Cows

On a couple of money saving blogs they posted that if you come to Chick-Fil-A if dressed up like a cow you get a free meal. I knew we were going to be in the area that day and since my girls have a cow and a cat (that could easily convert into a cow) costume I joked to Bart that we could dress them up and get a couple kids meals for free. When my girls caught wind of the idea they wanted all of us to dress up. Because Bart and I (mostly Bart) are suckers to our girls request we decided to all dress up. So I rounded up a graduation gown and put spots on it for Bart and then I pathetically put on the closest black and white thing I owned with a white knitted baby cap (thanks Mary) and we were off. I'd say it was the easiest but most embarrassing (I still happy we didn't see anybody we knew) free meal I ever earned.

2 parades, a horse ride, a fashion show, a slip and slide, a few 4 wheeler rides, roasting smores, fireworks and a whole lot of hamburgers.........

pretty much sums up our 4th of July activities. My girls had so much fun spending the weekend in Teasdale with all their cousins. They were so great to share the scooters, swings, and bikes, especially with Raquel's cute kids Dayson and Dylan. During the parade Jane was on a personal mission to make sure every single piece of candy was picked up off the road. Emily had a blast with Bentley. They play so well together. They compliment each other well. For instance Emily was not about to get on that horse by herself until she saw Bentley jump up on it first then Emily had no fear. After Grandma Becky got out a box of clothes she bought for the girls at a garage sale Emily immediately wanted to do a fashion show and Bentley was all for it. So the three girls took the clothes and put on a fabulous show. At church one of the primary teachers asked Bentley if she was with her cousin and she said "No I'm with my sister" Emily agreed. Always a good time in Teasdale!!