Big Girl Cup

We've been working on transitioning Emily to the "Big Girl" idea. Big girl's do lots of things Mommy likes. She sits still in Church (obviously a BIG developing habit); she wears Big Girl pants (no more yucky diapers); she puts on her shoes (still with help but she gets the right one most of the time); and she drinks out of a Big Girl cup. She was so proud of herself yesterday and thought it was so funny to have a milk mustache and all.

Babies, Babies, Babies

Well, Mark and Amanda had Caitlyn two days ago and Stef and Ryan got to have their new son yesterday. It was really fun to be close to someone having a baby. Since all my fam is so far away, I haven't gotten to experience that at all. So, I loved being able to help out and keep Caleb for them while they had the new baby. And such a sweet baby, too!! Sawyer was so quiet and just let me hold him. He'd open his eyes and look around and was just so peaceful. It's a good thing we have our own on the way b/c it would have just made me crazy baby hungry!
So, congrats to all the new parents!!
Oh, and HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Lost are Found

Stef found Em's shoes!! They didn't walk that far away. They just were hiding under the bathroom step-thing. We are so glad she found them. She's a good detective: she read my post and then searched according to my written statement. =)
Now we get to pay her back by keeping Caleb while she's in the hospital (went this morning)!! We're excited to meet Sawyer!
Oh, and a CONGRATS out to Mark and Amanda on their newest addition! Welcome to the fam, Caitlyn!! I just heard she arrived yesterday.

I'm Tagged

3 Joys
My husband who is much better than I deserve (he's picked up my slack w/o complaint or comment lately, too!).
Emily, who endears herself to everyone she comes in contact with because of her "classic" looks (come on, how many kids have a natural 1950's appeal?) and her larger than life personality.
Good friends that spoil me (like Stef who kidnapped Em one day so I could get some rest even though she was 8 months pregnant herself!).

3 Fears
Losing husband or child: either frightens me and at different times I've had nightmares about it.
Drowning in debt. Finances have always been something I stress over and I fear having to survive on plain white rice again.
Getting "kicked out" of the Celestial Kingdom. I fear not being good enough.

3 Goals
To consistently have FHE as well as consistent scripture study.
To talk to my neighbors about the church.
To have a healthy family.

3 Obsessions/Collections
I can't say that I have any obsessions. I don't feel really passionate about any particular thing. I guess if I looked around the house to see things we've "collected" I'd have to say, books, DVDs, and board/Wii games.

3 Random Surprises
Surprises? Well, I'm not that secretive of a person...
I'd trade in my lovely Passat for something that got better gas mileage AND I could use a cheaper grade gasoline. (In fact, I've been driving Eric's car for quite awhile now b/c I hate the idea of using it...especially as premium has risen to $4.27/gallon).
I'd like to enjoy cooking. I used to, back when I was going to school at BYU. Now it just seems like a chore and kind of pointless. Of course, I'd really love to be able to make anything right now and not feel nauseous (even boiling noodles does it to me!).
I'm not a fan of being out in the sun nor in the water. I burn too easily to enjoy the sun (even WITH sunscreen on and reapplied appropriately) and water has always held some fears for me, aside from not liking to be wet. I like showers b/c I get clean, but if there was another way to get the same clean, I'd probably do that instead.

Thanks for the tag, Stef!! Now, to pin it on others...Sarah Arnold, Sarah Hartsfield, and Julie Stratton.

Shoes that Walked Away

We had a fun-filled day yesterday. We went over in the morning to play with Caleb while Stef went to the doctor (she's due this coming Monday). The first thing that happened was Emily wetting her pants (she's on to "big girl" underware, so if she has an accident, it's a mess...but, she'll go on the potty more frequently this way). I took her into the bathroom and set her on the toilet. I then tried to hurriedly clean up the mess in the bedroom. To make a long story short, don't leave two toddlers unattended in the bathroom. When I got back there, they had thrown Emily's wet underware and jeans into the toilet (thankfully, they'd already flushed it so the water was clean)! Em had her shoes in hand and I feared that was going in next. We got her cleaned up and went about our morning playing.
When it was time to go home, I realized I didn't have her shoes. We looked everywhere and couldn't find them. We left, hoping they'd turn up sometime. After a day of looking, Stef still couldn't find them. I guess the shoes really did just get up and walked away.

Wrinkles...and Not Even Two, Yet

After getting to play in the sprinkler, Emily came inside and was worried about her feet. She showed them to me with real concern written across her face. I tried to explain that they were wrinkles from being in the water so long. She proceeded then to kiss her toes and continue to complain about her "boo-boos". Ah, Emily, you are too young to worry about wrinkles! =) Besides, these ones go away after your feet dry up a little...not so much for those of us who are starting to see the first signs of crow's feet or squint-induced forehead wrinkle (I claim fame to that from serving in Vegas!).

Chocolate Dipped Dog

Or, at least that's what she looked like yesterday. We've been desperately trying to get grass to grow in this sun baked Georgia red clay. Hannah has loved all the lawn watering and dug down in her run to pool the water for her own summer reserve. So, this is the way she's going to look all summer (and perhaps longer) because I'm not washing her! Of course, most of it dries up and falls off in a fine orange powder overnight, so she isn't quite as caked with mud the next day...until the sprinklers come back on that is.