Day 3

Well I have to say that I have learned quite a bit about myself during this potty training stage, and since my memory has failed me on so many things about Gwen when she was a baby, I feel like I should document what I have learned so that when it comes time to potty train Harrison I will remember how it really was, and not just some glorified version of what really happened.

1. I never knew how frustrated I could really be.

2. Gwen and I share a serious stubborn streak.

3. I am almost immune to the smell of urine.

4. I am pretty sure that I like the rewards/prizes better than she does.

5. I feel like this has been a little traumatizing for the whole family, but we are still alive, and dry.

6. I miss the diapers when she has an accident and I am left scrubbing the floor.

7. I am just as tired as she is at the end of the day. Maybe a little more.

8. I dream about potty training. And the little tune the potty makes is stuck in my head for a good part of the night.

Planes, Tranes, and Potties

Well, this is one of those rare occasions that you get to hear from me (James) because, as you read yesterday, Lonna doesn't want to talk about it.

Potty Training has been much easier than expected. Not only is Gwen using the potty, but she taught Harrison to use it and is now in the process of writing her own book on the subject titled: "Chicken Milk?". We have high hopes for it, as it has many illustrations and incorporates 4 languages, 3 of which are new to humanity. We are very proud.

The video above is from the DVD insert of her new book from the chapter titled “Dressing for Success”. Anyone wondering where she picked up such a fashionable sense, let me just say, she gets it all from her mom. In fact, the layering technique you see in the video was first developed by Lonna way back when she was a young girl in 2003. She’s too modest to bring it up, but if you ask her about it, I’m sure she’ll recount her experience.

Day 2

Day 2...I don't want to talk about it.

Day 1

Alright so today was day one of the three day potty training. I have to tell you that I was really excited while getting ready in the weeks leading up to this point. Gwen has a little potty book that she loves to read, so I thought that she was going to basically put on the panties and say "ok mom I'll tell you when I need to go." Well that was the dream that I kept having. It was not quite that simple, but I will say that it went pretty well.
I caught her showing a little lamb friend how to use the potty. That was pretty funny. I am not going to lie about today for those of you that are doing this or getting ready to potty train, it was frustrating, and we went through more than a couple of pairs of underwear, and we had hits and misses, but as I was putting her to bed she said that she needed to go, so I got her up and put her on the potty and she did it! And she did it with a little smile, as if to say, take that mom. It was really a great moment. Both James and I were so proud.
But after the kids were in bed, man I was pooped, so I gave myself an amazing manicure and rested my eyes for a few minutes. And we will see what happens tomorrow.

Ho Ho Ho from Texas

This is what Christmas is like in Texas. No snow but we were able to play outside with the dogs, and there was ping pong in the garage. James pulled double duty in the Manger scene, as of half way through the story Gwen went MIA and so James had to fill in as Mary, as well as being Joseph too. We played some games ate too much and didn't get near enough sleep. I hope that your Holiday's were just as festive.

hello Harrison

Just playing around the other night. Harrison has a fun little giggle and we just love to see him smile.

just a few things...

So I thought that I would share just a few things that make my day around here. I feel like our lives are passing by so fast and the kids are growing like weeds before our very eyes, but there are a few things that have stopped time just enough to make me laugh or take pause for a few moments as we have entered this hectic and merry season.

1. I love it when I find my misplaced items in Gwen's secret hiding spots. I actually found my phone in the pantry after Gwen had prank called a few people. I have found secret stashes of random items in the couches, window seals, and in shoes. Everyday is an adventure around here.

2. I love getting Christmas cards and packages in the mail. It may take awhile for things to get here but when they do it makes that day seem a little more special.

3. I love it when the temperature drops at night and it actually feels like it could be winter.

4. I love it when we have a day that we can wear a sweater or a jacket for a rare change.

5. I LOVE checking on the sleeping kids before I go to bed. I think that there is nothing quite as lovely as a peacefully sleeping child.

6. I love a good almost pee your pants laugh. I know that sounds funny but I love those moments where you can't stop laughing and it feels like you are either going to cry or wet your pants. It is such a great emotional release. We had one of these moments just the other day at dinner and I don't think that I should share it on the blog, but if you really want to know feel free to ask me.

7. I get a kick out of seeing Gwen bust a move to music that she hears no matter where we are. For example we were at the doctors office for my checkup and I was supposed to be holding still and all of a sudden Gwen is doing a sideways moonwalk and I just started laughing out loud, the nurse was not too amused that I was moving but I couldn't help it. Gwen's dancing is one of those things that I have no idea where she picks it up, but I just love it. And I hope that she continues to dance dance dance.

8. Harrison is quite responsive and he has a smile that could melt the Grinch's heart. He has also started to giggle and try talking. I can't tell you how much I love it. It is like he has so many things he wants to tell us, and it is so much fun.

If you made it through this random list of things thanks for letting me share. I hope that everyone has a safe and happy Holiday.

ready to party

Last night we attended a little dinner party, when we came home it was kind of late and I was getting the kids ready for bed. Gwen took off while I was grabbing her pajamas and this is where I found her.
Nice right. In the kitchen clomping around. I bet that the neighbors loved that. She decided that she was really hungry so when I lifted her up to the chair she was curling her toes to keep the shoes on.

I guess that she wasn't quite ready to stop the party. But the rest of us were ready for bed.

______ the red nosed reindeer

In Nursery all the kids were lucky enough to be reindeer for a little bit. Gwen was having a hard time keeping her nose on, and by the time we got home she had ripped it in two. It is a good thing that it was just a little foam one.

dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I am not quite sure why I have to sit next to you all alone to tell you what I want for Christmas. Now I might be alright to talk to you if my mom just holds my hand...
Your beard is a little intense and you are wearing a flag blanket?
But I guess if you are going to bring me presents I will act like this is fun and snap a little photo for my parents. I better be getting something extra special because of this.

crazy luck

Look at that, all eyes open, all smiling (even Harrison), who knew that playing with dad would be so much fun that it would bring out such a great photo moment. Lucky me, and lucky you.

all I want for Christmas

As the Christmas shopping days wind down, James and I realized that we need to go get the gifts that we have been talking about. For the past few months we have been asking each other what we would like, I know that this may surprise a few of you but Mr. Barlow informed me that he wanted cowboy boots. Yes you read that correctly. So tonight we took a little trip to get some things and boots ended up to be one of them. Stay tuned to see what they look like.

Alright so here they are, we are not really people that would make you wait, it is all about instant gratification around here.




Yee Haw ride em' cowboy! I never thought that he would actually want cowboy boots. I guess that I was wrong. It is a good thing that Santa knows what everyone really wants, because this spouse would have been wrong.

pin cushion

It was time to return to the doctors office for our two month immunization shots, and let me tell you that Harrison had his fair share...5 different immunizations all together! Yikes!
He was a trooper but it was sad to hear him get stuck over and over. It is a good thing that we are clear for the next two months, just enough time to heal mentally and emotionally. And on a side note Gwen was the best that she has ever been at the Dr. Maybe it's because she was the one that was playing and not being poked and prodded.

dinner danger

Last night I had this fantastic idea for dinner. I wanted to make Navajo fry bread, I was short one small part, so after a little substitution I was back on track, or so I thought. After getting the oil ready and trying out a little bit of the bread, James came to the rescue. He rolled out a piece of dough and plopped it in the oil, but when he dropped the dough oil splattered out, landing right on his foot. The oil caused a blister to appear magically right before our eyes and James was in some serious pain. So we called nurse Kim, but all we did was end up laughing at the whole thing. Sorry James. I guess that we will not be trying that dinner again. It turned out to be quite a disaster.

Correction

I am sorry there seems to be a misunderstanding concerning the play group. I am not in charge of it, I am but a small follower of the fun activities. Paige comes up with all the ideas and contacts business' to pull it all together. I can not take the credit for this one, no matter how much I would like to. So thanks Paige for all the hard work that leaves me with only one question, Where will we be going next?

enough said

looks can be deceiving, but a shirt always tells the truth.

if you knew Krispy Kreme like we do

Did you know that Krispy Kreme gives tours? Well they do. Our play group did our own tour research at a local Krispy Kreme. They gave all the kids hats and naturally we ate doughnuts. This location had a giant window that the kids could see the dough go from start to finish including where they add the fillings. I found it quite interesting and did I mention that we all got little paper hats. Yep it was a pretty good day for the play group. And still I have a child that will not smile for the camera, what a shame.

artistic flair

Gwen was helping James with some notes and somehow she ended up with the pen and the papers. She quickly went to work on something that was sure to be fantastic...
After scribbles and lines the hard work had made her a little tired. But even when resting she has the pen and paper at the ready. That is just in case a great idea comes along. And I have heard that almost all great ideas come to those without a shirt on.
Harrison just thinks that Gwen is silly. And as long as he is smiling he can think whatever he wants.

snow envy

A bunch of our family and friends in Utah have informed us that they have snow. And some of them have quite a bit of it. Well we here in Texas have no snow and are having a hard time remembering what it is really like. After Gwen and I saw a few pictures on Ryan and Leslie's blog showing their girls playing in the snow, Gwen ran and pulled out her winter hat.
Funny enough we use that hat to play in and not for actual cold weather use. Oh well at least when we pretend that there is snow we stay warm and dry.