The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things...

...including potty training. Yes, that blessed time is about to come in our little household. When I say "about", we're talking, like, sometime in the next 6 months. I'm not really in a huge hurry. I mean, yes, I would LOVE to be done changing William's diapers, but I am not going to push it and end up changing messy underwear instead, along with the couch or the carpet or his bed or whatever else might be an unfortunate target of an I'm-not-really-ready-to-be-potty-trained-
but-my-parents-really-think-I-should-be child.

My point, William isn't ready to be potty trained yet.

My other point, I would like to help him be ready in anyway possible.

My ultimate point, I am a mother, I know how a mother thinks. We all like to offer advice to anyone that wants to hear it. So, bring it on! Tell me about your messes and successes with potty training. Refer my blog to your friends and let them tell me about their messes and successes.

My only rule, no cattiness allowed. I know how women can get. I actually have two friends that don't speak to each other anymore, all because of a conversation regarding potty training. So, share what you will, just play nice!

Crawling, well almost.

Marie is getting so close to crawling! So close. I never thought I would be hoping and wishing for my child to crawl (cause then you have to chase them), but I am most definitely cheering Marie on. With every step she takes towards more independence she becomes so much happier! She is just so sick of this baby business. Anyway, as I was looking at the pictures that I took of her the other day I was reminded of the pictures I took of William when he was learning to crawl. William was 7 1/2 months at the time, a month younger than Marie is now and probably about 5 pounds lighter. My babies are so cute. I love my kids!

Because My Machine Isn't Working . . .

. . . and I frankly don't care if my faithful readers are sick of hearing about it. ( I know, my faithful readership just reduced by half due to that comment) Anyway, I just sit and wish I could be sewing. And I find great shops like this one that sell super cute fabrics. It just happens to be having a grand opening today with a super fun giveaway. Check it out! The funny thing is, I make it sound as if I actually have the time and the money to always be sewing up a storm. Right.

Heard Around Our House

Just a few clips of life. Mostly just for me to remember, but if you enjoy them great!

Me: Thanks for eating your lunch like a good boy.
William: No good boy. I'm a tractor.

William was working on his second bowl of pudding. He had only taken a couple of bites and was now just playing with it.
Me: William, are you all done?
William: No all done. Dig giant hole.

Me: Is your name William?
William: No 'illiam. I'm a tractor.

This is one of my favorite "conversations" to have with William.
Me: William what do you like.
William: Like tractors. Like cars. Like grass. Like Mommy. Like trees. Like baby. Like trucks.

Yesterday Marie was unhappy and screaming. William was in his room taking a nap. "Was" is the key word here because all of the sudden I hear this:
William: Baby Girl! Stop crying!

Me: I love you, William.
William: No 'illiam. I'm a trac-TOR!
One of these days I'll get that straight.

Speaking of Sewing . . .

I promised myself that I was going to sew instead of blog during the kids naps this week. Apparently the sewing machine didn't get the memo. Yes, it's true. More sewing machine issues. She and I have a love-hate relationship no doubt about it. Anyway, as I came to grips with the fact that I am going to have to turn the beast over to a professional I decided to get some inspiration. You know, dream about sewing fun things on a machine that is predictable. Here is what I found:

Button Shirt Dress

Pillowcase Dress

Chef's Apron

T-Shirt Pants

Can't wait to get Lucy up and running again so that I can get to work. Of course, these projects are at the bottom of a queue that is about as long as, well, its long, but I will get to them someday. I will.

Who Does That?

Who could possibly forget until 9:30pm the night before that they have to present Sharing Time in Primary on Sunday? Not me. Most certainly not me.

Of course if I did, I would be ever so grateful for the internet, specifically sugardoodle.net where women who are actually on the ball and think ahead( like me *clear throat*) provide wonderful ideas for women (not like me *clear throat*) that forget they are even teaching the lesson until the last minute and don't have time to be creative on their own.

If I did, I would be ever so thankful that the Spirit works quickly, so that I could, albeit last minute, still plan a meaningful lesson because the lesson is on the temple and that should never be treated haphazardly.

But I'm not like that. I would never do that. Never.

Cats and Dogs.

William and Ethan are one month apart in age. For the first part of the week they got along pretty well, mostly because they didn't pay much attention to each other. By the middle of the week, however, it was a war zone whenever they were near each other. From morning to night. Oy! It was not fun. Then randomly on the last day we were there we were all busy with lunch or lounging around or whatever and suddenly we realize that the usual chorus of two toddlers screaming, "Mine! No! Mine!" had subsided. And there they were taking turns pushing each other in the stroller. Holy sharing, Batman! They were getting along! Ethan was ready to document the occasion. William, on the other hand, was to busy, uh, licking his hand. *shrug*

Just Keep Swimming!

I grew up in Southern California pools. Swim team from age 11 (which is right after we moved there from Wyoming). Open swim at the public pool every day during the summer. Lifeguard and swim instructor from age 16. Water Polo in high school. Yeah, I think that I bled chlorine back then. That being said, I would have to say that without a doubt the number one thing I miss the very most about living in Utah (or anywhere besides California for that matter) is the lack of pools. There are few, but it just isn't the same.

That being said, you can bet your bottom dollar that whenever I am out there I go swimming as much as possible.

This last week we made it to my parent's neighborhood pool three times. I finally remembered the camera that last time we went.

William had a blast. The minute we were in the gate he would be at the pool and in the water. Thank goodness we always applied sunscreen back at the house.

I knew Marie would love the water because she adores her baths. She was very content to sit and splash and look super cute!

I love the water!

Understood.

Have you ever read this book? It is a classic. If you haven't, go to your library, check it out, and start reading.

Basically, the plot of the book is that a little boy gives a mouse a cookie. This small little act of charity leads the poor little boy down a road of endless demands. Upon finishing the cookie, the mouse wants a glass of milk, and milk can only be consumed with a straw, and of course, cookies and milk will require a napkin, etc., etc. By the end of the book the mouse is back to enjoying another cookie and the boy is sitting next to him among a huge mess of which he, the boy, is too exhausted to clean up.

I am convinced that Laura Joffe Numeroff must be a mother. A mother of a toddler to be exact. A toddler whose first words every morning are, "Some juice? Yeah, OK." The juice will then remind him that he is hungry for waffles. And eating waffles makes such a mess, so he sweetly says, "Wash hands? Yeah, OK." . Then there is, of course, the messy diaper that soon follows. After the diaper the toddler will ask for a book, etc., etc. etc. Until finally nap time approaches. The toddler is resting peacefully after having a cup of milk. And the mother? She is, like the boy in the story, completely exhausted and surrounded by evidence of her busy morning. Yes, I do believe Laura must bet the mother of a toddler . . . or two.

It is so comforting to know that someone understands.

And now, I have some messes to clean up . . .

Firsts

Just write down what you did first today…

The first thing I thought today:
It's 7:00am and I haven't heard Marie cry? Did I sleep through it?

The first thing I ate today:
Raisin Bran Crunch. Yum. I haven't had that in a long time and I missed it!

The first thing I drank today:
Water.

The first thing I said today:
to Brandon -- Did Marie really sleep in our did I sleep through it? (For anyone that is dying to know, she did indeed sleep in)

The first action I did today:
Fed Marie a bottle.

The first thing I read today:
Us Weekly while in the lobby of Instacare.

The first item of clothing I put on today:
A bra. You asked.

The first person I spoke to today (apart from God, of course):
Brandon

The first chore I did today:
Dishes.

The first blog I visited today:
Can't remember. Whatever one was on Google Reader first.

If you'd like to play just post a link in the comments. Consider yourself tagged. :)

End of An Era

Sara graduated from RHS this past Thursday. She is the last one of our clan to walk those halls. After 17 years my parents will no longer have a child in high school. At the graduation, I wondered if my mom was going to cry. I wondered if Sara was going to cry. Heck, I wondered if I was going to cry. There weren't any tears. Not one single salty drop fell that night. The reason? Because, yes, this is an end of an era, but it is the beginning of so much more. It is her chance to discover herself more so than her 4 years in high school ever allowed. It is her chance to step outside of the box that 6 siblings and familiar surroundings have created for her and truly found out what she is made of. I am thrilled to see Sara enter this stage in life because I know that she is going to shine. I know that she is going to make something wonderful of herself because what she has already made is already wonderful.

Graduation also causes reminiscing. I mean, how can you look at your youngest sister in her cap and gown and not remember holding her for the first time, changing her diapers, rocking her to sleep, doing her hair, helping her get dressed, talking with her, laughing with her, singing with her, just loving her? With so many memories behind us, I can only imagine and look forward to all of the memories that are yet to come! I love you, Sara, and I am so proud of you.

Does it Get Any Better Than This?

I submit that it does not!

Cousins.

I have started and restarted this post a dozen times. I want to say something sentimental and profound. Somehow I want to say in just a few words how much it means to me to see these 9 kids interact and make memories together. Words just won't suffice. This is a time when the saying is true, "A picture is worth a thousand words." I love these kids!

Josh, William, Jayna, Ethan (standing in front), Kaitlyn, Emma, Mary, Christian, Marie

(The little girl in the back is a neighbor)

Dave and Tanya's kids: Christian (9), Jayna (7), Kaitlyn (4), Ethan (2)

Dan and Genni's kids: Josh (7), Emma (5), Mary (2)

Snapshots

Rachel!

My dress is complete.

Rachel is married.

Let the vacation begin.

Note to self: encourage Marie to elope (to the Las Vegas temple, of course!)

Pictures coming soon to a blog near you.

Update.

My sewing machine is as moody as a pubescent 15-year-old girl. After struggling with it for a while on Monday night I finally decided to look at the owner's manual (novel idea, I know) and determined that I need to adjust the tension. It worked! I almost finished my dress.

Only two more steps, sew the sides and sew the sleeves on. So I sat down last night to do those last two steps and a new problem arose, I won't bore you with the gory details. After talking to my mom and looking at a website that someone so generously referred me to (thanks Jill!) I know that there are solutions to my problem.

The dilemma? Time is limited. I have laundry to do. I have a house to clean. I have clothes to pack. So I am taking my almost finished dress to California with me and my mom and I will finish it on Friday night on her predictable sewing machine that has already managed to sew two of these dresses.

I can't even tell you how relieved I am with this decision.

Sewing!

I am going to be MIA for a couple of days. I am sewing my bridesmaid dress for my sister Rachel's wedding on Saturday. My sewing machine is giving me fits. I hate pleats. I hate knit. Wish me luck.