Helping Mommy, Relaxing with Daddy

Elley is a big helper girl but, at times it can be a bit overwhelming! She likes to help feed the dogs but if I'm not careful she will feed the dogs all day long. She also likes to help with the laundry. This is nice when I can't get down far enough to get the last of the laundry out of the dryer but not such a good thing when she knocks over all the stacks of clothes I've just folded.

This night she wanted to help with dinner. I really didn't want her to help but figured that it might be good for her. I think daddy helped her with the chair but she has been known to move the chairs so she can see better......or to reach something that she shouldn't on the counter. Anyway, she was actually a big helper this night. I would cut up the lettuce and she would put it in the bowl. Sometimes it would end up in the sink, but for the most part it would land in the bowl.

And after dinner she wanted to hang out with daddy. Whatever we are doing she wants to do it too!!!

Elley's cousin Sophia

Here are a few pictures of Elley and her cousin Sophia. As I have mentioned before in other posts, Elley loves other babies and she defiantly loves her cousin Sophia.

Aunt Leah, Sophia and Elley

Jay, Sophia's dad, was giving me a hard time about being half way in the picture. He said "it would of been a cute picture if "someone" wasn't in the way." How rude I thought, look at the death grip Elley has on little Sophia. She loves babies so much I was afraid she would hurt her. I was just trying to protect his daughter. Whatever, I still think its a cute picture!

Elley's New "Trick"

Elley lately has been showing interest in using the potty. I guess it's been about a month now. She always wants to sit on the potty, I always let her but obviously nothing happened. A few times while sitting on the toilet, she would actually go but only after I would turn the shower on so I just figured it was a fluke. Potty training never even crossed my mind, she just seems so young. She started by learning the concept of taking her own pants off. Then she would come and tell me "yuck" when she had a dirty diaper. Then, one day she came and told me "yuck", I checked her diaper but nothing was there. Sure enough 5 minutes later she had a dirty diaper. The next time this happened I was smart and put her on the toilet, and she actually pooped on the toilet. It was the funniest thing, she was laughing while looking into the toilet and saying poo.

Since then, every time she says poo and points to her butt, I take her in and put her on the toilet. She will sit there for at least 10 minutes (give or take) before she wants to get off. She hadn't gone again (on the toilet) until TODAY! She came to me and said, "poo" while pointing to her butt. I wasn't expecting much and after about 5-10 minutes I was trying to get her off. She kept telling me no. She can be very stubborn sometimes (she gets that from Adam's side of the family) so I just let her sit there. I went and got the camera to capture the moment. I actually got a video clip when she officially went, which will be a great video clip to show at her wedding, but to save everyone from seeing the official act I'll just post this picture.

Now I'm not saying that Elley is potty trained, because she is far from that, but hope that she continues to make this an "easy" process!


"Mom, come on? Would you like me to take a picture of you doing this?"

Last Post Before I Take a Nap...all about PEACHES

So, my very good friend Melinda got me thinking about canning this year. I grew up in a family that canned and always remember eating canned peaches, pears, applesauce, and jam. I guess I never really thought about me doing the actual canning. In fact, last year I was at my sister's house while her whole family canned a million jars of applesauce. It looked like a mess and too much work for me. Well, Melinda asked me if I wanted to do peaches and pears this year. She told me that it wasn't that hard and not that messy. She would even walk me through it. What a saint she is!! I only got one box of peaches this year to try it and she was right.....it's not as hard as it looks. I even found a steam canner in our garage that my parents used to can with when I was growing up. I guess I am a true Mormon now.....at least that's how I feel! Not that you shouldn't feel like a Mormon if you don't or haven't canned. The best part about canning for me is, looking into my pantry and seeing food storage!!! Adam wants to now do pears before it gets to late.......do we take on that challenge? Thank you Melinda for be that inspiration that I needed!!!

Here are a few pictures of the day when Melinda came over to help me. And as always, Elley as close as she can get to her cute little baby Eve. Thanks again Melinda for being so patient with Elley and her need to see the baby.

A fun visit from Kerilynn, Brynnly and Brielle

Last weekend, my sister Kerilynn and 2 of her daughters came up for a visit, and also to go with me to Time Out For Women And Girls. What a fun experience that was. Not only going to that fun and spiritual program but, going with my sister and my nieces. The speakers were amazing! It was a fun Saturday filled with the spirit and family. The speakers really helped us to understand who we were as women and our role in this life. One speaker talked about scripture study and how it's not about how much we read but what we get out of each time we read. I really liked that! I wish I could just post all of the talks and performances on here because they were that good. I love going to programs like that because of the new things I learn and the spiritual upliftment I receive. Anyway, here are a few pictures of Elley and her Aunt Kerilynn whom she loves a lot!!!

Check out Elley's sweet mullet. Daddy was babysitting her this day, that's why she didn't have her little piggies in.......although, just a few days later, Daddy watched her again and much to mommy's surprise, Daddy attempted piggies and they turned out very cute. I wish I took a picture of the daddy piggies. What a good daddy!

Wedding Ring

Remember the story of Adam losing his wedding ring? Well, he got his new one last week. As I mentioned before we didn't spend a lot of money on the first one and even found it for less than we spent on it when we got married. We spent $25 the first time around. Adam found one he like on Ebay 2 weeks ago from a ring shop in Utah. He showed it to me, I liked it so he started to bid on it. When he started to bid the highest bid was .95 cents. He ended up being the only one to bid on it so he got his new wedding ring for .95 cents plus some shipping. What a deal!!!! At .95 cents, he can lose it again.....but I hope he doesn't!

Elley Loves Babies

My long lost friend Melinda (which is a story that needs it's own post) came over for dinner the other night......which was so much fun, we need to do it again. Anyway, this is her youngest daughter Eve. Elley loves babies and is always pointing them out to me in the stores, in magazines, on T.V., anywhere she see them. Whenever we are around Melinda and her family she wants to hold, love, and touch the baby. Thank you Melinda for being so kind and letting Elley hold Eve. This night she didn't even want to let Eve go. Every time I would try and take her away Elley would scream and try and hold on to Eve for dear life. I just hope she will like our new baby just as much......or maybe I don't?

Isn't this cute? She's reading Eve a book.