Breakfast With Berkeley

The Garden - Wednesday 7:30 a.m.

This afternoon Berkeley said, "I am so glad we are not letting them just die this time." Now what it THAT supposed to mean?

Our Beautiful BrookLynn Angel

BrookLynn had the opportunity last week to preform her lyrical solo "Only Hope" .

She is so beautiful, and did a terrific job!

Afterwards we wanted to take Brookie to dinner, but she wouldn't go in her short skirt. Also she was considerate enough to want to get home earlier so Jeffrey could go to his dance. That's just the kind of girl she is.

Instead we raided Krispy Kreme, downloaded the New Moon Soundtrack, then Mom, Dad, and Brookie stayed up late playing the New Moon board game. (In case you didn't know, BrookLynn is totally fun to just hang out with!)

You only need one daughter when she's this amazing !

The Garden - Tuesday 7 a.m.

A Happy "End"ing

Who would have ever thought Sam would be the fastest, earliest, and easiest to potty train? One week later, I am happy to report he is fully, dependably POTTY TRAINED! Here are the numbers...
3 days to learn.
7 days to finished.
10 new pairs of underwear size 2T-3T
17 years or 6,235 days of diaper changing at an end.
Exactly 1 Pee accident (Yes, really).
Only 2 poopy problems.
20 dollars a month saved on diapers.
180 diapers left (Costco said I can return!)
2 Happy Parents!
1 BIG BOY!

Bye Bye!

How does YOUR garden grow?

Well MINE grows in January!

Here is my current crop....

We started our seedlings Friday, so they will be ready to put outside next month!

I LOVE ARIZONA!

30 Days

You know how Lucy was always in the hat shop when she was supposed to be following her budget, and Ethel was always there to help her find a good justification to buy a new one?

Thanks to my dear friends who helped me realize that these shoes may not match my clothes, but they would go just perfect with my washer and dryer, and of course I could always bring them back within 30 days.

Then Ricky says "Luuuuuucy, take it back!"

Well Glen never said I should take them back.

Worse.

He said, "Use your best judgement".

Thanks to BrookLynn for taking pictures and holding my hand at the return counter.

If you need me, I'll be at the mall - watching for a Clearance on Red Shoes.

Hello?

Happiness List - The Potty Training Edition

Potty training tops my list of not favorite parenting responsibilities, but since the neglect of said responsibility could potentially cause future social drawbacks for my son as an adult, I have decided it's time to get it over with.

***

Day 2 and Jeffrey helps me see that I have a need for an attitude adjustment by following me around with his guitar and singing back to me every word of complaint I utter. (Yes, he really did - bless him.)

***

So if you read Alexa Dyan (and you should) you know she has started a happiness list trend. I thought perhaps a Happiness List would be just the thing to help me not let this golden moment of parenthood slip by without enjoyment. So here it is....

***

***

The 10 Happiest Things About Potty Training Sam

****************************************************

1. Bare-Naked Baby Bum

***

2. Arizona! 74 degrees outside all this week! He can have his accidents on the lawn instead of the carpet!

***

3. Brothers who share their experience in the field (and on the trees) and then share their ipod as motivation.

***

4. Not only is Sam not afraid of falling into the toilet, he likes to dip his little bum in the water before he starts - just for fun. (Or maybe he just likes a clean start?)

***

5. Playing the last 48 hours side by side with my baby.

***

6. Sam learning to hold on and do the potty dance until I pick him up and run for the bathroom. (And it's only day 2!!!)

***

7. Sam using his very happiest voice to try and talk me into giving him an ipod without having to poop. (Can you say "poop" on a blog?)

***

8. He doesn't need a book or movie while he waits for the big event, he sits and pulls funny faces at me to pass the time.

***

9. Did I mention I NEVER HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN?

***

10. Sweet Success. The smile that makes it all worth while!

Ringing in the New Year with Baby Sarah

Baby Sarah came to visit from Utah....AND she brought her family YEA! But first posts first.....

BrookLynn really, really almost never put the baby down! Every time I turned around she was changing her diaper....sometimes just in case! Looks like Miss Sarah-Lizzy outlasted her. Jacob's best arrangement.

Can you find his new favorite snowman?

Jeffrey's Eagle Project! Reclaiming the desert from Buffel Grass.

Jeffrey and The Buffel Grass Wranglers.

Scorpion Ranglers.

What do you do when you are camped in and you wake up at 3 am with one burning question,

"How do you open ten #10 cans of chilli to feed 50 people when you FORGOT TO BRING A CAN OPENER?"

Well don't count on the Boy Scouts to "Be Prepared"!

Good thing the ranger had her Leatherman!

(My Hero - OUCH! My Shoulder!)

The End.

Pack Night Setting Fitness Goals!