April Photo-A-Day

 #photoadayapril

Wishing this wasn't today's assignment...or at least Jenna was awake so I could use her as my model.

One of my favorite things about Jenna is her bright blue eyes!

Don't you love when you get the mail, and there's a fabulous "Kimbow"! Thank you, Silly Me Baby! Love you & miss you. #sillymebaby

The fabulous Brett Berry, who lights up my soul every time I see him!

Sometimes my insignificance is overwhelming.

Of course it's Cravings...a veggie sandwich with a side salad and raspberry vinaigrette and a Diet Coke (don't let the Pepsi cup fool you). Jenna had cheese and cheese with a side of cheese. Toddler appetites are so funny.

Shadow in her favorite warm spot...the top of the satellite box...

One Jenna's favorite things to do when we are at Home Depot is to empty my wallet. Including, but not limited to; the rent money, all my change, receipts, baggage claim tags, and my check book.

Coming up on 14 years. #stillinlove 

Thank goodness for my ice cold Diet Coke on this anything but cold day!

Pancakes with Cravings cinnamon syrup and a Diet Coke in the car on the way to gymnastics! 

Literally, the only stair in my home. Quite intentionally!

Feeling' good, baby! Spent the day crafting with my sweet cousin and the evening hanging with my very best friend!!!

Nighty night!

Even with our neglected yard, flowers are staring to appear. Love it!

When Jenna gets stuck by a bee while trying to give loves. #breakingmyheart

It doesn't stay the same for very long...

Lunch at Cravings, a little Monkey Lunchbox with Jenna, followed by some yard work. Good times!

Kind of obsessed with Draw Something right now! #drawsomething

This picture is usually as close as I get to a vegetable, and today was no exception.

Spent the day with my fabulous cousin, Ashley and my equally fabulous Aunt Janice!

For the love of dandelions!

My regular Thursday lunch peeps happen to be in black & white. How fortuitous!

Registered Jenna for swim lessons, went grocery shopping, and attempted to buy a cartridge for the shower faucet. Not pictured but completed: return library book, deposit check, and get a Diet Coke. DI for a bike for Jenna and Target for training wheels and a helmet. (and $75 of stuff I'm sure I didn't really need). It's amazing how much more I can get done without Jenna!

Yowza! Didn't quite know what I was getting in to!

Sometimes, it's the little things; like having an electric can opener!

A week ago today, we found a new home for our foster dog after having her for a year. And though it was the right decision, it has been a tough week readjusting to life without Trigger. 

Bike Riding

I bought Jenna a little bike at the DI the other day. I figured if she didn't like it we've only spent $6. But she totally loved it, though so doesn't get the concept. It wasn't horrible for her first time on a bike, but  in order to make any progress Casey had to do all of the pedaling. We actually took turns, because that is murder on your back! But look at the joy on that girl's face...pure happiness!

I'm A Democratic Delegate!

So on Monday, April 16th I went to a luncheon for local democrats. The President of the Washington County Democratic Party happened to mention during the lunch that they still had spots open in our district to be a delegate for the Utah Democratic Party. So after the luncheon I approached her and said I would be interested in helping out and the next thing you now I'm at the Utah Democratic Party State Convention to place my votes in the primaries to which candidates we were going to send out into the world to run for various positions. It was a bit overwhelming, and I was very grateful that I had Casey's mom and aunt there to kind of lean on. They have both been delegate for a few years now and were a huge help in getting situated with the process and knowing which caucus to attend and the roles of the caucus'. I chose to attend the women's caucus and the stonewall caucus. They were both very interesting and it was interesting to see how they each had their own way of deliberating if and who to endorse. The whole day was such a great learning experience and I was really proud to be a part of it. 

 My mother-in-law, Lorrie and me

Below is my MiL's dog. (His name is Boo Radley, in case you were wondering) They, Lorrie and Boo, have a very co-dependent relationship, that I don't fully understand. Which is okay, I didn't understand a lot of parents until I became one myself. So, all that being said, throughout the entire morning of the state convention she was obsessed with me checking in with Casey on how Boo was doing. Asking me to text him asking to remind him to speak kindly to Book, wanting to make sure that he had defecated, that he had been out for a walk, to remind Casey that Boo was her precious baby boy. All of these being separate texts. I finally told her I was not going to discuss this topic again. Casey in response sent me the proof of life picture for his mom. {As well as proof of taking a s@%t, but I will spare you that picture.}

We spent Sunday enjoying the park and having a BBQ at Aunt Val and Uncle Larry's. Jenna got to try hitting a ball off the tee and she was phenomenal! Casey nearly exploded with pride, especially since she was batting lefty. Funny the things men find fabulous. 

And yesterday we continued our tradition of hitting up the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. Jenna was fabulous until we tried to take a group picture. She was bound and determined to swim in the fountain and as that was not an option, this was the consequence of being told no. Good times.

As we were wrapping up Jenna starts quoting Russell from Disney's "Up". As he and Carl are dragging the house through the wilderness, his whine begins, "I'm tired. My knee hurts..." Only Jenna changed up the words just a bit. So for the 30 minutes, in the sing song voice, Jenna crooned, "I'm NOT tired." It was hysterical! Wish I had a video, not just the pictures.  

And We Have Blast-off - Again

Let me start this post by saying, in my lifetime I was never so aware of bowel movements until after I became a mother. And any other parent will understand exactly what I am saying.  

As I have previously blogged, Jenna had what we hoped was a break-through in the poop department three weeks ago, but no such thing. We just couldn't seem to get a repeat out of her. True to form, our stubborn, independent, strong-willed child is going to do this on her terms alone. But to help her on her way, we have gathered some tools. 

I give you, Finding Nemo on the laptop...

...a My Potty sticker chart...

...Disney princess stickers...

...and a sucker reward, if she pulls this off...

I did all I could to help this thing move along. And some how, miracles of all miracles, the stars aligned, and Jenna did it! This is it. I can feel it in my bones, this time is the first of many. I just know it! 

{pray for me, folks!}

What a proud girl!

Wordless Wednesday...Twirling

Play Group

The girls: Morgan Dewey, Heather Kearl, and me {Ryan Talbot not shown - taking the picture} We have been getting together every Wednesday for a play date for the kids. This week it was raining out, so instead of the park we headed to the indoor play area at Fiesta Fun. The kids had a blast, I had a hard time not thinking about the vast number of germs that had to have been on everything. So I focused on taking pictures of the little cuties. 

Jenna and Lexie Dewey

Russ Kearl and Boston Talbot

Boston Talbot

Lexie Dewey

Brinlee Kearl

Blake Talbot

Lexie and Jenna birthdays are just a month apart. 

Easter Egg Hunt

SkyWest had their Easter Egg hunt this morning at headquarters so we headed over for Jenna's very first egg hunt. It was kind of fun watching her try to figure this whole thing out. She went from very reserved to going after it. She's just the cutest these days. 

At first, Dad kept having to remind her to keeping looking for eggs and candy. 

She finally got the hang of it and it was on! 

Keeping her eyes peeled for more eggs. 

Checking out the goodies!

And here's the quintessential family picture with Jenna mad because we won't let her have more chocolate. Happy Easter everyone.  

Ode to Angie; And We Have A Major Victory

Angie, aka Etch, is my very bestest friend. We met in 1999 when we were both working on the ticket counter for Delta Airlines, and have been friends every since.  She is such a calming force in my world.  And I am grateful for every second I get with her, which aren't very many. She lives in Northern Utah while I flit all over the country. She and her friend, Jennie, came down this weekend for a little fun in the sun. It was a great time. We did a little time at Snow Canyon Park, a little time at the pool, and some shopping. {BTW, Jennie is fabulous and it was so fun to get to know her}

As a side by, we have been working with Jenna for a while on going poo, poo in the potty. It's a big problem. She's been pee trained for a while, but she has this total mental block when it comes to number two. She asks for a diaper and freaks out if we don't get one on her fast enough. Well, while we were at the pool I forgot to bring a diaper with me and so she was stuck. It was kind of sad to watch her pace and cry and be at a total loss as to what to do without one. But in the end, we were victorious, and we had our very first "poo poo on the potty!"  {sung in our poo poo tune} She was so excited and I hope this means we can turn that corner. I'm kind of over the diapers. Way to go, Jenna!