Potty Training Update

I would call the first week a big success! I don't think I was at all prepared for what a trial it is for the parents as well, but I think we have gotten through the worst of it. He made it through the week with only 4 accidents. He doesn't care to let us in on much, occasionally he'll go do his thing, empty his potty bowl into the toilet and flush it all away himself. I think flushing is his favortie part! It is weird seeing him turning into a little boy - but the trade off is worth it!

Happy Birthday Aunt Amy!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Amy!!

You are a great Aunt and we love you and miss you lots!! We hope you have fun on your birthday. We can't wait to meet our new cousin soon!!

Love, Brody & Ella

Potty Training Day #1

The day was a success, with only one simultaneous melt down from mommy and Brody, we made it through the day with no accidents and 9 successes!! My original "goal" was to try to have him potty trained by Christmas, however...while getting him ready for bed on Thursday I got him undressed and playfully teased that he should go potty. He said okay, he ran to the bathroom climbed on the big potty (all while I am sitting on the floor in the other room expecting absolutely nothing to happen) and pooped. It was that simple. I tried the same thing every day through the weekend with success each day. So today was the day we got down to "business." I think he is really catching on, hopefully he stays excited about it and keeps up his good work.

Ella 's New Pearly Whites!

Ella's constant fussiness lately has produce her first 2 teeth! The bottom center on the left poked through on Thursday and the bottom center right poked through today. (The picture is not Ella - there is no way we could get her to hold still for a close up of her teeth) She is growing up too fast!! This is 2 1/2 months earlier than Brody got his first tooth...making mommy even more sad - and at times really sore!

Matche-roni Cheese

Brody loves to cook "ninner" for us in his kitchen. His favorite thing to cook is "matche-roni cheese" (shown above being fed to Ella). Strangely...the matcheroni cheese looks a lot like little hot dogs in a bowl!

Tax Free Weekend

One of the many perks of our move has been a tax free weekend. The Texas government allows the tax holiday once a year in August as a break to families getting ready to go back to school. So, most clothes, socks, shoes, pajamas, DIAPERS!, backpacks etc. are all tax free! For us this was huge! A trip to Costco usually starts at $100 between diapers for both kids and wipes, so that alone was $8.25 saved. I got the kids some winter clothes and Ella some sleepers for when the weather turns cold and Brandon got a few work clothes too. It almost felt like we got away with something!

Just Because...

Bath Time!!

Brody after getting a hold of a chocolate chip cookie at our ward picnic.

Our family on a hay ride at the most recent primary activity

Brody doing his "job" - he loves this, he has even started trying to put away the silverware before it is clean!

Ella just being cute!