You Can Stop Praying For My Sanity...

Dare I say it out loud???? I think Reese is offiically potty trained. No accidents in weeks. It's all clicked. No more spending a fortune on diapers every month. I'm dancing through my day. And as an added bonus-- the binkys are a thing of the past too! Ahhhhhh.

Bye, Bye Binkey

Arrrrgggghhhh. So here we are with Reese at age 2 1/2 and I thought we were all done with the diapers. She's potty trained for the most part. Yes, there's been an accident here or there-- but those have been pretty sporadic ever since I told her for each accident we are cutting up one of her most prized possessions-- a binkey. One binkey for every accident. And it was working until last night.
No joke--15 minutes after she went potty on the toilet-- she went again-- this time, all over the couch and throw pillows. YUCK! After stripping the couch cushions and pillow covers and giving Reese a bath-- we got her very favorite pink binkey and gave it the old snip. (She's now down to one). Reese didn't even squeeze out a tear. Greer on the other hand, broke down into body wracking sobs. She was heartbroken over Reese losing her favorite and bestest pink binkey. Go figure. I'm now ready to sign up for parenting 101.

Okay, so calling my helpful dad, "mule boy" wasn't perhaps the most respectful of names. But I must admit, I'm a bit obsessed with nicknames. Byron (if anyone knows him-- you'll soooo understand) is known as McGyver at my house. Fortunately or unfortunately, he must also be perceived as McGyver by many of our friends. I can't tell you how often our garage houses friends and neighbors snowmobiles, 4 wheelers and vehicles that need a little TLC and know-how.
Holland is known as LuLu Bell, Sweat Socks (thanks Todd) and Squawky.
Greer is GiGi-love, Gassy goose and Lu.
Reese is Reese's Pieces, the Pirhanna (she's tiny but has a mouthful of teeth-- thanks Uncle Craig) and when she was really little, the girls called her Bagel (don't ask me why), Mato (as in Tomato), Bibel (pronounced Bib-ul-- the girls came up with that one) and Muffin. When she was in the womb, we called her Princess Everlove. Holland and Greer came up with that and wanted that to be her name. It was a tough decision... but in the end Reese won out.

I Call My Parents Blessings

I survived! Last week I drove to Vegas (with a stop overnight in SLC) with my 2 year old! I have to say she was awesome. While I worked a trade show at the Sands, she was spoiled rotten by Grammy, Grandpa and Grandma Great. Can I just say how amazing my parents are? My folks played with Reese during the day and then had a yummy dinner for us each night. I was very spoiled. In fact, it was a bit of a shock to have to come back to Idaho and be a full-time mom again.
My dad-- the trooper-- came down to the trade show on set up day and take down day and saved my hide. I think I'll start calling him mule boy. Anyway, I couldn't have done it without them.
Byron stayed home with the two older girls. Perhaps, we should refer to them as the easier girls. He's gone on and on about what a breeze this mother thing is... I've learned my lesson. I had everything too organized and too covered for him. Never again.

Nomobiling Addicts

So today marks our ten year anniversary. I know, I know, we look too young to be married 10 years. Yeah, right. Anyway, Byron's off snowmobling with a friend. I couldn't go. But we'll do dinner tonight. It's probably a good thing. I can't keep up with Byron and his buddies.

Here's a ditch work day with Uncle Craig. They don't even look cold.

We've given the old "nomobiles" (as Reese calls them) quite a workout this winter. Here's Byron taking the kids for one of many spins on our property. Doesn't Reese look like the little brother from the movie, A Christmas Story?

A few weekends ago, we drove up to the mountains, I took Holland on one snomobile and Byron took Reese and Greer on his. We rode about 16 miles into Silver Creek Plunge-- a hot springs. We swam for a few hours, dried off (BRRRRR) and rode back another 16 miles to the truck. It was a blast and I think the start of a new yearly family tradition.

Make Believe or Reality?

Here's a snippet of an actual conversation in our house:

Greer: "I know, let's play dress ups."

Me: "Okay."

Greer: "Let's pretend you're the mother and me and Reese are your daughters."

Aren't these the cutest shoes ever? Thanks Aunt Dana. Reese has quite the little legs, eh?

In this shot, Greer and Reese were the Princesses and I was the maid. I ask you, make believe or reality?

Vintage Greer

Our new computer has a home video feature. Here's Greer's official "audition". If she's not smiling herself... she'll sure make you smile!