No More Pull-ups for Kaylee

At long last Kaylee is potty trained. About two weeks ago, Kaylee started announcing that she needed to go to potty because she did not want to pee her pull-up. However, she still pooped in her pull-up. Last Monday, I decided that the pull-ups were more of a crutch than a potty training aid so I put her in regular panties. Monday she did rather well. Tuesday, however, she pooped in her panties while I was out running errands. I came home right when David was taking care of the mess. She was quite distraught because Daddy put her back in pull-ups and she had ruined her Ariel panties. I put her back in panties and explained if she did not want to ruin her Ariel panties that she needed to put her poo-poo in the toilet. The next day we left for Utah. We were kind of concerned how she would do traveling in the car with panties but she did excellent. In fact, at one of the rest stops while we were waiting in line to order our food Kaylee came up and said she had to go poo-poo. Since her one mistake she has stayed clean and dry and goes to the bathroom all by herself without reminders. My goal was to have her potty trained by the end of the summer. I did not think it was going to happen but she surprised me and it only took one day of panties to finish her potty training. Hooray!!!!

In love with Baby Emmalee

Both the girls are enamored with their cousin Emmalee. Kaylee especially loves her littlest cousin and wants to hold her any chance that she can get. When she does get to hold her, she does not want to give her back and can sit for a long time just holding Emmalee and staring at her. It is so cute to see how both girls love their cousin so much. I am glad the girls had the opportunity to come with my Dad and I to see her. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the girls and Emmalee.

Kaylee holding Emmalee
The girls

Naomi and Emmalee

Naomi, Grandma, and Emmalee

Kaylee watching Grandma give Emmalee a bath

4th of July Fun

We had a very fun 4th of July up here in Utah. We tried to go see the parade in Provo, but by the time I got the girls ready I could not find a place to park close to where my brother Dan and his wife Stephanie were saving a spot for us. So I went back to my sister's apartment with two very disappointed girls. Early afternoon we headed up to Taylorsville to my brother Mike's and his wife Julie's house. They were kind enough to host the family 4th of July picnic (especially since they are in the middle of renovating their house). All of my siblings except John were present. My dad cooked a brisket and my mom made her terrific potato salad. The girls enjoyed watching Uncle Mike and his pals throw water balloons at each other. Kaylee was right in the middle of things telling Uncle Mike who to throw the balloons at. I wish I had gotten a picture of the balloon fight. After the picnic, the water balloons, and the naps, we headed back to Provo and parked in the Provo High parking lot to see the fireworks that were part of the Stadium of Fire program. Kaylee kept telling us all day that she does not like fireworks they scare her. Interestingly enough she fell asleep between Taylorsville and Provo and slept through the whole fireworks display. Naomi, however, really enjoyed the fireworks and wished there were more.

The girls in their 4th of July outfitsA firework

Naomi watching a firework sitting on Mike's best friend Adam's lap

Kaylee sleeping through the firework display

Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Open House

The girls and I left for Utah last Wednesday, the 2nd, with my dad. My dad was picking up my mom, who spent the month of June helping Arielle get ready for baby Emmalee to arrive. Since my dad was driving, we hitched along for the ride. The girls and my parents will be leaving tomorrow to go back home to Texas. I will be staying till next week to help Arielle with Emmalee. One neat experience we were able to have here in Utah is to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Open House. The temple is gorgeous. It was really neat for my girls to be able to see what the inside of the temple looks like while they are young. Naomi has loved temples since she was 2 years old. The girls were very reverent for the most part. Kaylee would point out all of the pictures that had Jesus in them. We had to stand in line for quite awhile but it was definitely worth the wait.

Hard Way to Learn a Lesson

I learned a hard lesson when we went down to Surfside. I had David apply sunscreen to my back. Well, he thought it was sufficient to spray just one spray. And then one spray for each of my shoulders. I totally forgot to spray my front. I have learned that BullFrog sunblock does work. However, it only works where you apply it. Needless to say I have a very interesting sunburn.

PS: This sunblock also has bug spray with it and it works quite well.

Lab Rat

One of the members of our ward works downtown doing research for UT. He called me last week because he needed someone for a research study he was doing. I happened to fit the qualifications the research project is looking for so on Tuesday I went in for my first session of tests. The project I am helping with is a study on dyslexia. I am in the control group. On Tuesday, I took a lot of tests. Some of the tests were attention tests, patterns, math, reading, spelling, etc. Some of the math I had not seen in years but I was surprised how much I did remember. But I could not remember for the life of me how to do differentials. Yuck!! Next week I will be finish my testing and they will also do a MEG scan and an MRI of my brain. A MEG scan is where they will hook up metal things to my brain and record my brain activities. After they do the MEG scan they are going to put it with my MRI. What they are hoping to do is build a map of my brain. Sounds kind of neat. At least to me it does.

Welcome Little One

I would like to congratulate my baby sister Arielle and her husband Joel on their first baby. Emmalee Joy entered this world on June 23rd. She weighed 8.5lbs and is 21 inches long. Welcome to our clan little one!!!

At it again

I am at it again. I have signed up to participate in another apron swap. This one is an "I Love Lucy" theme. I can't wait to get started. Click on the picture up above or the picture on my side bar to visit the Flirty Apron Swap Blog to see what is all about.

Starting Early

There are twin boys in Kaylee's nursery class that she likes a lot. For Kaylee it is not nursery but Brock and Riley time. Yesterday, David was subbing in nursery and he witnessed an interesting thing. After puzzle time, Kaylee walked over and gave Brock a peck on the lips. Oh boy, am I in for trouble when she gets to be a teenager.

Happy Father's Day

I have an awesome Dad. He is my hero. Words can not express all that I love about my Dad. I can remember the Daddy/Daughter dates he brought me on when I was a kid. I always knew that my siblings and I came first. My dad loves the outdoors and he has shared that with all of us kids. I love to hear the story about him bringing my sister Jenny and I to a Daddy/Daughter camp-out when I was three and Jenny was 18 months. Whenever I call my dad, I know that he is always ready to talk to me (even if he is on the top of a smoke stack). I know that if I need my dad all I have to do is call and he will do whatever he can to get there to help. Even canceling a business trip after I wrecked my car in college to come take care of me. Thanks Dad for being an awesome Dad!! And a wonderful grandpa. My girls really love their Pop-pop. For Kaylee he is on the top of her list. My girls also have an awesome Dad. I love the fact that he spends time with them. He has shared his love of basketball with them. And even though it is girlie, he stills plays the girl stuff with them including playing with their mermaids and pet shop. I am thankful that I married a righteous husband who shares his love of the gospel with our children.

I would also like to thank my father-in-law for being an awesome father to my husband. My father-in-law is a hard worker and whenever he visits he always finds time to help with some of our projects around the house. David has had some struggles in his life and I am thankful for my father-in-law for all the support that he has given David during those times. My father-in-law is also a wonderful grandpa to our girls. I know my girls wish they could see him more often. We love you Grandpa Brown.