Potty trouble!

Lately, Lilah has been doing really well at using the potty. Until today! She had trouble! Third kid to potty train but this kind of trouble I haven't seen before. She was very upset and wanted out right away. I can't say I blame her. I am just hoping that the seat was off of the toilet before she entered it!!!

Kayla's Kollege

Kayla went to college this year, Kiddie Kollege that is. Miss Melinda, lived just a few doors down so it was fun for Kayla to have her as a teacher. Pre-school was good for Kayla. It gave her some independence and a chance to socialize. Miss Melinda always called Kayla her little ray of sunshine and I have to agree. Kayla has this attitude about life that just can't be beat. She is always happy and fun loving. Whenever someone needs something, Kayla gets it for them before they could even ask. If I need a baby sitter, she is the one I look to. She has the cutest little robust laugh that fills the room and she can always find something funny. Begging Daddy for a tickle is one of her favorite things. My favorite thing is her big "squeezer hug!"

Kayla, great job in pre-school this year. You can write your name perfectly and you know all of your letters. Too bad you have one more year of pre-K because you are ready for it now. Good thing I get to keep you around home a while longer!

Hard Work!

This summer the girls are learning a few more chores to add to their list. Last week was laundry. They have already been folding laundry for quit some time now but it was time to learn the rest of the process. So they learned to gather it from all over the house, put it in the washer, add the soap and start it, move it to the dryer and then fold. Since then they have realized what a job it is and every time they put on a new outfit mid-day I say, "Fine with me if you want to make more laundry for yourselves!" It has worked pretty good because they usually go put it back and stick with what they had on. I love seeing them learn the value of work, but more than that, I love the extra help!

However, the laundry proved to be a little much for this little one:

Happy Father's Day!

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many great dads. Growing up in a house full of girls, it was always nice to have my dad and brother around to keep us grounded. My dad has always been so talented. I remember asking him just about anything and he always seemed to have an answer. Having a career with the US Forest Service, I loved when he would teach me about the forest. He always had so much knowledge of our surroundings in nature. Thanks to my dad, I could identify all of the different types of pine trees by inspecting their needles. He taught me cute little ways to remember them all like, F is for flat is for Fur, or P is for packet is for Pine. I have also, always appreciated his respect for my mom. Still to this day he is her protector. You will rarely see him forget to open her door for her even after 52 years of marriage. He has always been a man I have looked up to and loved, never doubting whether he loved me back.

My second dad, Bruce, I was lucky enough to acquire through marriage. Bruce has so many creative talents. He is an amazing artist who can build anything from tree houses to lamps. As a grandpa to our children he is so fun. He loves to put them in pickles where they have to use a secret password to get out and always has a treat for the road for them. He is very mindful of us and always looks to make sure all our needs are met.

The love of my life, Jeremy is one of the most driven people I know. He never gives up, even when things look bleak. He reminds me to stay positive and keeps me having faith. I admire him for dreaming big and digging in to make it happen. Jeremy is always so thoughtful. He often comes home with cute things he finds for me or the girls. One of my favorite things about him is the way he treats his parents. He has so much respect for them, often thinking about them and their needs. At our house, Jeremy is the best dish washer there is. I rarely do dishes at night because he gets them done before I even have a chance to! As a dad, he can't be beat. The girls can't give him enough kisses before he leaves in the morning and can't wait until he comes home at night. Jer always helps with the girls doing everything from diaper changes to mickey mouse pancakes. Living in a house full of girls can't be easy, but he makes it look like fun! He knows just how to make each one of us laugh and can tickle like no one else I know. Thank you honey, for being our protector, provider, dishwasher, vacuumer, lawn mower, supporter, lover, friend, tickler, breakfast chef, driver, watcher, shopper, house straightener, personal fashion consultant, date, sitter, fisherman, counselor, priesthood holder but most of all, thank you for being an excellent daddy!!!

I am the luckiest girl in the world to be surrounded by such great men. Thank you, all of you!

1st's

Neeley's Kindergarten Class

Neeley and Miss Thomas

We are moving from one first to the next. This year, Neeley was the first in our family to go to school. I loved seeing her experience Kindergarten but hated to see her go each day. I would drop her off at the curb and my heart would just ache every day as I saw her walk up to her line in front of her classroom. I thought it would get easier as the months went by, which it did some but never really all the way. I loved to watch her stop and talk to her friends along the way or see her run and play on the playground. Most mornings I would wait until the bell rang before driving away, just so I could get a glimpse of her new chapter in life. My intentions were never to helicopter around her, making sure she was ok, because I never worried about that. It was more of a longing to hold on to her a little longer. I guess I just have this feeling that it is a part of her life I am not the center of. A little part where she is just Neeley and not my daughter. In a way I am jealous or is it fearful. Fearful that she will not always be my little Neeley. And next year, well that will be another first. First grade. Don't even mention the fact she will be gone all day. Tears come to my eyes just thinking about her being gone from me more hours in the day than she is home.

Neeley, I am so proud of you. Proud of all A's (or 3's) on your report card. Proud of your good behavior in school and happy you can make friends easily. Thank you for being my 1st and being patient with all that comes with it.....even my tears! Maybe some day I'll be content to just drop you off and go, but for now, I'll watch you skip up to the door with your little pink backpack.

Big tease!

Daddy loves to tease the girls. Kayla and Lilah egg it on and Neeley runs. The other night, Jer took Lilah out for a squirt bottle fight. Pretty soon all the girls were out there, soaking wet, ganging up on Daddy. Then it was my turn to join the fun. Since all the squirt guns were taken, I got the hose! Guess who won??? Fun to let loose and get wet!

Rain or Shine!

Come rain, come shine theses girls always know how to have a good time. As much as I hate the rain, I have been glad that the girls have had a few chances to try out their new rain gear. Gotta love clearance at Children's Place and DI.Actually, come rain or shine we can't get Lilah out of her little purple beauties. So if you see us in 100 degree weather and she is wearing boots, just smile and know that she won that day!
Looks like Kayla is ready for both rain and shine with those sunglasses!
Neeley was so excited to find rain on her official "1st Grade" day at school so she could wear her new boots and rain slicker. She got to go to school the whole day and eat in the lunch room just like the 1st graders. What could be better than testing out your new gear on the big kids play ground?