Family Night at Carinos

Last Monday we had Family Night dinner with some of our friends and their families from our ward. (the four of us girls make up the Primary Presidency) We had so much fun with the eight crazy kids and two adorable babies. We were lucky and were able to have this whole room to our selves. The kids loved having the freedom to get up and move after they were done eating and all of us enjoyed not having worry if we were bothering the people at the next table. The food was great and with Carino's Family Night Monday's deal we were able to get out of there for under $13!!! With all of the kids we weren't able to get a picture of everyone at the table at the same time. This is everyone left to right staring at the front of the table. Debbie Thompson, Melanie Neilson, Lori McKnight holding Luke, Bailey McKnight, Jared McKnight, and Kenneth Neilson. (Not Pictured: Bryn and Josh McKnight, Bethany Neilson, Jake, Jabren, Jameson, and Josh Thompson)
Josh, Debbie, and Jameson Thompson
Bethany Neilson and Bailee (These two are so cute together, they love to do girly things like show each other their outfits and bows)

Potty Training Blues

This is just for me so I can get my feelings out and sort out my thoughts.
So I thought that we were finally almost to the point that Bailee would go potty all on her own and we wouldn't have to remind her very often. Of course that was short lived and the roller coaster ride began again. This week has be horrible, must be a regression from me leaving for a week.
Utter frustration set in a few days ago and today I am feeling at an all time low as a Mom. All day I have been saying that I am going to get her diapers again. It kills me to do that since we haven't bought her diapers in about 9 months. I feel like it might be the only way to let me relax about the whole potty training thing and then let her tell us when she feels comfortable with the potty again. I fear that I have been to hard on her when she has an accident and have caused her to be afraid of the toilet. I think that we were doing so well with the reward system that after a bit we felt like she would be fine with out the rewards, but then she slowly regressed and instead of returning to the reward system we started punishing her.
I am so confused as to what I should be doing as a parent right now. At the moment I just want to climb in bed and cry and not get out until she is potty trained. I know that I need to be gentle and patient, but it is so hard when you know your child knows what to do and when. Or does she? May be a break form potty training is what we all need to let the tension out of the air in our home. So what if we have two kids in diapers, right. It is more important that we are a happy family and that our daughter knows that we love her even if she isn't using the potty.

Girls Trip 2008

Thanks To every one who made this years girls trip in Scottsdale, AZ so awesome. We had such a wonderful week filled with lots of girly stuff. We did nails and hair, watched American Idol and voted, swam and sun bathed, ate way too much yummy food, had a dance party, played fun games, and even stayed up all night(I'm still recovering from that and wondering if it was really worth it. We did have a great time though). It was so fun to be with all of the sisters and get to know everyone so much better. Love you all and I can't wait for next year!

A special thanks to Matt's mom for coming and taking care of the kids for me. You are the best!

Soccer Game

On the 10th my sister, Diane, and her husband came to Boise for their son, Treven's soccer tournament. We were able to go and watch one of his games. Despite the wind we had a good time visiting and watching the game. Owen was a very happy boy at the game.

What's a girl to do?

What does a girl do when she is thirsty and mom just keeps saying hold on? Get root beer to go along with her breakfast! I caught her in the act when I was busy sewing. At least she didn't spill.

Spoiled Mama

For Mothers Day I was given this new pack for backpacking from Matt and the kids. It is the most expensive gift I have gotten for Mothers Day ever! (but we got a great deal on it!) I am so excited to have a pack that fits me! It is going to make this years backpacking trip so much nicer. In the same week I also got my new Bosch! Yeah for me! Now I can make homemade bread! (not hat I couldn't before, but now I will actually do it, lol)

Giggles and Songs

Here is a video of Owen giggling. There are a lot of shadows, but his little giggles are pretty cute.
Bailee loves her Book called "God Bless America" and has learned the song pretty well. This isn't her best performance, but she never does things well on cue. She usually doesn't skip this much of the song, but it is cute any way. Her face is red from a fever (poor girl) that she got from playing out in the sun all day. We love to hear Bailee sing.

Un-Birthday Party

A few weeks ago Matt's mom brought Bailee some birthday candles from her friend Julie. We were having strawberry shortcake so we decided to light one for Bailee to blow out just for fun. Bailee thought that it was her birthday and told us that it was over and over. No matter how many times we told her that it wasn't her birthday she still thought that it was. Bailee set the table so we all ate on little kid plates. It was a fun little Un-Birthday for us all.

Fishing at Brownlee Reservoir

In the month of April we took the Scouts on a fishing trip to Brownlee Reservoir. It was a lot of fun. We saw a few deer and enjoyed foil dinners and beef stew for dinner. Saturday morning we go up bright and early and headed to the reservoir it was a little cool be we had a great time. A storm stated to move in so we went to the boat ramp and headed home.

Hair cuts!!

Owen and I both got our hair cut in the last little while. We both were in need of them.

Owen Before

Owen After, Soooo Handsome.

Please Excuse the self portrait.

Big Words and Blowing Bubbles

Over the past little while both of our sweet kids have been doing some big things with their little mouths.
Bailee has added some big words to her vocabulary. It is so cute and surprising to hear them come out of her mouth. Some of the words she has been saying are: Beautiful, she will tell us that it is beautiful outside or that what she has colored is beautiful. She even told me that I was beautiful one day, now how is that for a picker-upper. Delicious, she tells me almost everyday that what I have made for that meal is Delicious. Sometimes she tells me so often I start to think that I need my own cooking show (just kidding). Disaster, today she tried to not let me in my closet because it was a disaster. I opened it to discover her collection of Mega Blocks all over the floor. Excuse Me, we have taught her this one but it is so cute to hear her say at the appropriate times. That's Perfect, she tells us this all of the time when we give her the right food or if she is helping with dinner. Favorite, this one is so funny. Yesterday we got her some bubbles, she picked out the orange ones and had to tell everyone at the store that orange is her favorite. She is so cute and amazes us almost every day with how smart she is.
Owen learned a new trick the other day, blowing bubbles. He seems to do that more than babble these days. It only adds to the amount of drool he produces everyday. It is cute none the less.
We are having so much fun watching our little cuties grow each day.

Dancing Girl

This is from January, but I came across it on the computer today and just had to post it. Bailee is dancing to none other than her Aunt Karin's fave, Jack Johnson on the Curious George Movie. Mute the music at the bottom of the page before starting the video.

Weekend Road Trip

What a whirlwind weekend! We decided that we needed to make a trip to Blackfoot since it has been a year and Grandma and Grandpa hadn't seen Owen yet.

We left around 4pm on Friday and didn't make it to Blackfoot until 9pm. It is so different traveling with a potty trained little girl and a nursing baby too. We had to make a few stops for dinner and potty breaks. Luckily we made it there with no accidents! Yeah! Once we got there it ended up being a late night. I think that it was about 11:30 when we all climbed into bed (including Bailee).

Saturday morning we went into town and took the kids to the Keslers to show them off to all of Mom's friends at work. Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's house to visit. We got lucky and Jamie and Jaden happened to be there. That was such a treat since we hadn't seen Jaden yet either. Bailee had so much fun playing with her younger cousin. It was so nice to get to visit with Grandma and Grandpa. We didn't get to say as long as we would have liked, there is just never enough time to fit everything in. We then had to take the kids back to Mom and Dad's for lunch and naps. While Bailee was settling down for a nap Matt, Owen and I headed to Poccatello to visit with some friends Jeff and Amy. We had a nice visit with them too. Later that evening we went out to dinner with Mom, Dad, Steph, Kelly and the kids at PBG's. It was fun to try a new restaurant and the food was great.

Sunday morning we took our time getting ready to go and were able to visit with Julie, a family friend. By 1:30pm we were on the road again. Both of the kids fell asleep so we were able to drive a lot further before a stop. We finally stopped for a potty break and to feed Owen. Things were going great until that point. Matt decided to run down the road the Ranger Station to get some local maps, but Bailee wanted to stay with me in the car. She was having fun playing in the driver's seat while I fed Owen. (dun dun dun) That is when it all happened. She suddenly realized as most 2 yr olds do that she need to go poo. What am I going to do?!!!! I am feeding Owen and Matt is no were in sight! There was no time for me to fix myself up and get both kids out of the car and through the grocery store to the bathroom. So... I had to let her go in her pants. Meanwhile, Owen did too. Matt had quite the surprise when he got back. Matt chose to clean up Bailee while I cleaned up Owen. I got lucky because Owen happened not to blowout. After cleaning up both kids and a snack we were back on the road. Unfortunately Bailee has inherited my gene for car sickness and ended up getting sick about 15 minutes down the road. So we had another stop to clean up the car seat and Bailee. Matt has a weak stomach, so the majority of the cleaning went to me. What an adventure we had on the way home. I am so glad to be back home with both kids back on schedule. Matt, Bailee, Grandma, Owen, Grandpa, and Tami
Bailee and Jaden
Four Generations

Dad(Terry), Owen, Grandpa(Duane), and Matt

Yeah! Confrence Weekend is Fianlly Here!

I always look forward to Conference weekend. I love hearing a Prophet of the Lord speak, but it always goes by too fast.

Saturday night I went to Ladies Night at Desert Book with my friend Krista and we met my Mom there. It is always so much fun to go and hopefully win prizes. I love getting to see so many people that I don't get to see very often.

Sunday we were going to go to my Mom's for Conference, but she was sick so we stayed home. We always have Biscuits and Gravy on Conference Sunday morning, but Matt doesn't like them so I started a new tradition and made Cinnamon Rolls in addition to Biscuits and Gravy for me. Then we also have Nachos for lunch, it is so fun to have things to look forward to on Conference.

Mom, thanks for the fun traditions.

Bailee said some of the cutest things this weekend. She has finally figured out who President Monson is, she had just started recognizing President Hinckley about a month be fore he passed. So every time she saw president Monson she would point him out in her Conference packet and tell us that it was President Monson. She also thinks that our neighbor Brian looks like Henry B. Eyring, so when she sees him she says "There is Brian!" We are working on that.

Bailee is still working on the potty training a little, so when she didn't quite make it to the potty on Saturday she said "My panties a little bit wet from watching the Prophet." Isn't it nice that she is using the Prophet as an excuse for not making it to the potty? Bailee helping Matt mow the lawn between Saturday Sessions.
A new tradition, Cinnamon Rolls!
An old tradition, Biscuits and Gravy!

A week so full

Why is it that time seems to pass by so quickly, especially when you have many things on your calendar? This past week started just like the other ones... on Sunday. With the 1:00 pm time schedule I seem to take my time since it is often the only morning that Matt is home to help with the kids. (A little break for me) I received a phone call at 8:45 from my Primary President to make sure that I remembered out Bishopric meeting that morning at 9:30. Of course I remembered the meeting, I just had the wrong time, I thought that it was at 10:30 and I was still relaxing in bed. The week started with a Sunday rush and things really didn't slow down all week.

Monday: Laundry, laundry, dishes, try to figure out the smell in the bathroom, more laundry ... etc ( everyone has had one of these days, I hope). Then when Matt gets home it is dinner, FHE and Bedtime for the kiddos. For our FHE activity we went to Benchmark and REI to look at packs for me for our July back packing trip, it was a nightmare. Bailee was getting tired and thus getting hyper.

Tuesday: April Fools Day, of course Mom calls with her normal April Fools joke. She is the Queen of the day and got me again. Turns out that my sister isn't pregnant and I am not either for those that she told that one to. I finally figured out the smell in the bathroom, Bailee had used her potty chair that she hadn't used in a couple of weeks, put the lid back down and returned it to its place as a step stool to the toilet. I don't know why it took me so long to think to look in there. Matt didn't come home until 8 or so because he was helping with another Cub Pack's Den meeting. It was a long day.

Wednesday: Another day of Cleaning and laundry. Bailee had a play date with her friend Rylie, so I was able to run to the store without her to pick up a few things that I needed for the house and a baby gift. Wednesday evenings are always a little crazy because Matt has Scouts, but now they are a little more crazy with me in the Primary presidency over Cubs. Matt and I both had to be at the church at 6:30 so Bailee went to my friends while we were at our meetings. Matt had meetings after scouts so he didn't get home until after 9. After I got home from Pack meeting and got the kids to bed then I had to finish up some things for my baby gift, I always find more ways to make a crazy day crazier.

Thursday: I got up early because I had several things to do before I took Grandma to the airport. It is always so hard for me to leave her at the airport, I feel like I need to taker her all the way to California when she goes. She always wants me to leave her curbside because of the kids, it is the hardest thing to do. After the airport we are off to Matt's office to deliver the baby gift to the girl he works with. We stayed to have lunch with Matt. On our way home we stopped to pick up the pictures I had taken of the kids. Then after Matt got home it was a whirlwind. We had to eat fast because it was Round table night. Things couldn't be easy for us now that I need to attend round table too. I have to be there from 6:30-7:30 and Matt from 7:30-9:00, so Mom came to watch the kids during our commuting time. Whew, what a day!

Friday: Things are finally staring to wind down. Thursday was beautiful outside so I had decided that I would take a walk with the kids only to find that it was overcast, cold and breezy. I didn't make it very far and ended up at my friend Debbie's for a visit. After Matt came home we had a nice dinner and then he took Bailee out for a date. I had planned on scrapbooking while they were gone, but ended up catching up on the cleaning that I didn't do while I was at Debbie's. It turned out to be a nice night after all.

Through it all I still snapped a few picture of the cute things Bailee did with Owen.Everyone needs to use a lid for a hat at some point in their life.
Blocks are always fun when you are three months old, but Bailee thinks that Owen needs to do everything with her.