POTTY TIME

Ewww. Can't you hear her saying it? She hates having a soild diaper. The minute it has even a drop of anything in it she runs plops herself infront of me and says, "Mom, yuck." I have been running through diapers like crazy. I know she has been ready to potty train, but I haven't been. Now we are settled, I have to be ready.
We have spent so much time in the bathroom lately. We have put together puzzles, played with noisy toys, read books, put together legos, and painted toe nails and finger nails. We have had a few successes and a lot of failures. We will get there.
I am a dive in and fight through kind of mother, when it comes to potty training. We go staight to underwear during the day. No pull ups for me. Do you know how expensive those things are? Underwear is cheap. Sadly, I still don't have a washer and dryer. I will soon, but for now they are washed in the tub and dried in the sun. I know only a mother. Luckily, she got pooping in the pot down right away.
This potty thing is truly bonding, despite how much work it is and how crazy it is. It certainly tests your resolve for patience and love. You get to spend a lot of time together. So, here is to that. We have a few more long days a head MJ, we will make it. You will get this potty thing down. Everyone does, eventually.

WE LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH.

I don't know what they would do without each other.
She is such a good big sister.
I remember when it was just one.
I am glad there are now two. Two is better than one. I think they both agree.

ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE THINGS

How about a large deep sink? With a plug that fits, so I can stop the water. What about a squirt hose and a garbage disposal? I know it gives me chills too. I am so happy. MJ is happy too. It is her new favorite place to play.

PLAIN REGULAR NOODLES

My girls love noodles. Plain noodles. Nothing on them. Cheese? Butter? Sauce? Alfredo? Nope. Just plain noodles.
Yummy. Eat up. Easy. Done.

GRAND MESA

The Grand Mesa. Isn't it gorgeous? It is only an hour away from our front door. The elevation rises fast and is higher than the tip of Mount Timpanogus. You have to be prepared, your ears will pop.. a lot.
We went camping overnight last weekend with the girls. We have done day camps before but never overnight with both of them. Look at her; she is so happy.
We stopped at this lodge to buy a few more things we absolutely needed to have a successful fishing day.
I loved this stone in the parking lot.
I love this face. This is the look Sierra gets when her baby sister does something wonderful and amazing, like walk down a dirt path.
While Sierra and Dad fished MJ and I looked at all the amazing wild flowers and collected a few. I bought the field guide to Wild Flowers and I think successfully identified a few.
Skyrockets.
Not Sure.
Not sure, you would think this would be an easy one but not for me.
Golden Sneezeweed. I love that name.
The Blue Columbine, this is the Colorado state flower. Isn't it gorgeous? I wish I could have taken a better picture. It is so pretty.
Still fishing.
Bored, so I thought I would take a few self portraits. Hot stuff.
Okay, this is awesome. I had to buy stuff for smores. I had to, right? It was the girls first camping trip. Well, I hate smores. As I was walking through the isles, I thought the thing I hate about smores is they are too sweet. I picked up box of Ritz instead of Graham crackers and made smores with them. Try it, I promise you will never go back. A little salty and sweet. SO GOOD.
I didn't sleep a wink. MJ was doing summersaults next to me and kept kicking off her blankets. I was worried about her freezing. I forgot my pillow. I was uncomfortable. At breakfast I was complaining about not having a pillow. Nate said, "Why didn't you use your down coat?" I have no idea why that didn't cross my mind. Sierra piped in, "Or mom you could have woke up and found a snuggly rock to sleep on." I laughed. At breakfast it was so cold. I was lazy and brought cold cereal, not good for a cold morning. Luckily, the Doctor was thinking and he made us hot cocoa for breakfast. It took off the chill and was so delicious.
After breakfast, we took a short hike down a steep hill to find more fish.
I think she was having more fun digging in the water with sticks than catching fish.
Yep, pretty sure. MJ destroyed the two outfits I packed her in the first two hours of camping so she finished the last twenty-two in pajamas. We have this goal of becoming this really outdoorsy family. Camping every weekend. Backpacking the kids through Yosemite. Having Sierra be the youngest girl to climb half dome. White water rafting the Colorado together. However, one good trip seems to summon us back to reality pretty quick. Talking to the Doctor on the way home I said, "Same time and same place next year." He said, "Yep."

HEADED TO OUR NEW HOME

The girls and I left for our new home two weeks ago. It was an adventure. We were grateful Paul and Emily were there. The little ones were peaceful most of the way.
When we walked into our new home both of them lite up with excitment. They have been so happy. They have a yard and room to run. The only thing that makes them sad, and I should say Sierra, is missing her friends. (After two and a half weeks, which has felt more like two and a half months, we have the internet. Yeah.)

TWO FRIENDS

Two little friends hanging at grandma's house not realizing how much their lives are changing. MJ keeps climbing in her car seat, putting her blanket on her lap, and saying "let's go." This is the way we brought her here and now she wants to go back home. When she starts saying, "Home." CC chimes in, "I miss my friends mom." I reassure them we will have a better home and we will make new friends, but mostly I am reassuring myself.

ROAD TRIP

We took a road trip to Grand Junction.
We found a house to rent in Fruita. (I call it Fruita Loota) It is cute. It has a yard. It is walking distance to our church and Sierra's school. There is a cute small town library and thrift store right next to us. The entrance to Colorado National Park is a couple miles up the street. The Colorado River is a mile up the street. I am excited.
My big sister came with me and like always was more than amazing. (Nate will move in on Monday. I will follow on Friday. Yeah.)

4TH of JULY

July 4th fell on a Sunday this year. We celebrated by going to church singing patriotic songs and listening to members of the congregation bear testimony of Jesus Christ and how he inspired men and women to build up this free nation. They also bore testimony of the sacrifice that has gone into preserving this nation. We all left feeling awed by how blessed we are. I asked my Dad what more can I do for my country. My father replied, "Be good. Raise a good family."
We were going to do fireworks on Monday to celebrate but Nate wanted to get in on the action. He works on Monday. He convinced the boys to build a few bombs.

My brother slowed the footage down on this film so it reminds me of a horror films with whales calling in the background but I thought it was pretty hilarious. Nate sent the other guys out to lite of the bombs saying, "At this point I can't risk injuring my hands." (And they don't need their hands... hmmm.)
Madison's favorite person Derrick. We broke some glow braclets left over from our journey. (Notice MJ's arms.) The girls loved them. Sierra spent all night playing with them.
Dad hooked the porch swing to the swing set chains. Everyone piled on. Ingenious.

MOTHERHOOD

Oh, what a gift to be a mother. I love my two beautiful children and feel so blessed to have them. Tonight, Sierra and I cuddled under a blanket, on the swing in my parents backyard, as we watches the sunset and the rest of family play volleyball. We cheered on Daddy as he served, and spiked the ball. We sang our favorite songs at a whisper in each others ears. She wanted me to carry her up to bed like I was carrying a sleeping child. I tucked her in. She said she was scared of monsters. I said not to be, mothers have magical powers and I can see in the dark and there are no monsters in this room. She said, "Can I have some of your power?" I said, "Yes, you can. When you become a mom."

TEMPLE DAY

I and my parents and my little sister went to the temple this morning. It is so beautiful and peaceful inside those walls. I feel so blessed to have a place to go to meditate and think about nothing but my Father-in-Heaven and his Son. I love spending days like this with my family.

Nate got his license. He starts work on Monday. Horray!

SWIMMING AT SCERA PARK POOL