Too pooped to poop!!

We have been trying so hard to get Abby potty trained. She has good days and bad days. Mostly bad days when it comes to pooping in the potty. She is actually my worst to potty train. I thought she was going to be the easiest. Boy did she prove me wrong.

She doesn't like to go poop. I have a book called everybody poops that I think is disgusting but if she doesn't start doing what she is supposed to I might just have to read it to her. Not looking forward to that.

So one day I knew she had to go, so I sent her into the bathroom to poop. She cried and threw a fit. All while sitting on the potty. I told her she couldn't get up until she went. Or until I came and got her.

I sort of forgot about her. I got busy and she got quiet. Here is the result.

Sadly this is the 3rd time it has happened. You will be happy to know we talked to the doctor and have added some fiber and such to her diet and she is a pretty good pooper now.

Seattle? Sure!

We just found out some news. Ok a couple of days ago....but still...

We are moving to Seattle. Yep my awesome hubby is getting a bigger state!! Yeah Dave. He is so great and such a hard worker. I am so happy for this opportunity for him.

Of course we will miss all our friends and family in Idaho. We have really liked living there and we have the best house and yard. So kid friendly. But as in any adventure we bloom where we are planted so it's time to transplant to a bigger pot and there will be plenty of water to help us grow.

I'm guessing we'll be moving in the next couple of months. I am sad for the boys to not be able to finish the football season with their teams and that the girls won't have dance with their friends but it'll work out. There are dance studios there and football teams too.

Bring on the Adventure... I think we are ready.

Beautiful Portland

We are here hanging out in beautiful Portland. It has been relaxing and fun. Today we are going to the park and have a picnic. I'm just hoping the clouds burn off soon. They say it's supposed to be 81 today. So here's hoping.

I really don't have a lot to say just wanted to let you know where we are so you know why I haven't posted anything. Plus all my pictures are on my computer back in Idaho. I am here for my 20 year high school reunion. I'm interested to see what everyone has been up to.

I'll post more later, but we really have enjoyed the beautiful weather we've been having and just being able to relax and play. Sometimes it's nice to "come home".

Jacob's Baptism

Finally here are the pics of the day Jacob got baptized. Only one month late...

Jacob was baptized on July 2, 2011. He was so lucky to have all of his family in town with the exception of two cousins and one uncle who had other things happening... like being on a mission. Not all of them but one of them.

He also got to choose who gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Guess who he chose? Mom. It was a great honor to speak at his baptism. And a little scary to speak to all the kids in the stake being baptized. I thought it would be a little easier if I didn't know anyone else. Yep it's not.

I have never been at a stake baptism like this before. Originally there were supposed to be 25 kids but because it was July 4th weekend there ended up being only 8. It was perfect. There was one kid per ward.

The way they do it is everyone meets together for the talks and then everyone splits in to two groups and half go get baptized while the other half watch a video and then after the first group is baptized every ward goes to their own room for the confirmations. It was great. It also only took 1 hour. Amazing. They have it down to a science.

Here is my sweet boy before the program started. He was very happy and a little nervous I think. Dad and Jacob getting ready. Such a handsome couple of guys.
I tried very hard to keep it together. I thought the non-waterproof mascara would help me. But no I just ended up wiping it all off.
Here we are. Jacob is distracted but what else is new with an 8 year old.
Here is the family that came to visit. We had so much fun this weekend. It was perfect. 5 days of cousins and water and sun. I've got to find the fourth of July pics. When did I become so unorganized. Oh yeah, When I had kids.
Here is our sweet family, including Foster dog who is now 12 years old. Looks pretty good. He's a golden retriever but we shave him down in the summer. Makes him cooler and less stinky when he goes for a swim in the pond behind the house.
Grandma and Grandpa Parker with Jacob on his special day. I was hoping he'd ask Grandpa to give the talk.
Us again in the back yard. Jacob posing as usual. I'm surprised he didn't throw any signs up. He's good at that.
Jacob and Grandma Lorraine. What a great pic of the two of them.
Sydney and cousin Lucy. Being the big help. Look at my peas in the background. They were delicious too. Still waiting on the carrots though. Maybe when we get back from Oregon.

This is Dave's family. (L-R) Mark, Paul, Joy, Lorraine, Laura and Dave. Good looking bunch.
There always has to be a crazy, butt scratching uncle and the hungry one. The cinnamon rolls were tasty. We ate 4 dozen. Me possibly a dozen on my own.
And showing a little family love. Sisters and a cousin Joannah.

It was a great day and good food. We had so much fun. And Jacob is a great kid. We are so proud of his decision to be baptized and so happy he had such support on his special day. We love you Jacob. You are the best!!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

This is my post for today....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME!!!!!!

It's all about me.

Selfish I know. I'm ok with it.

Sometimes we actually learn from our mistakes.

I had an experience this week with a friend. I have known her for about a year. I thought we were good enough friends that we could talk about pretty much anything. I felt I had been pretty supportive this year and a good friend. I know sometimes I can give the "look" when I'm irritated or upset. Those of you who know me and love me throw it back at me or just ignore it. It used to be there a lot.

Well apparently I gave it too many times to this friend and she didn't like my sarcastic sense of humor. Ok that's fine. I asked her months ago if she was upset with me and she said no. So I let it go. Well I took her a gift the other day and it's been probably a couple of months since I've seen her. I sort reduced the amount I was seeing her. She quit answering my calls or texting me. And she had an emergency in her family that consumed her, which it should had.

So anyway I went over there and thought everything was fine until she asked why I didn't like her and was mean to her. What? She said I had been that way the whole time she had known me. I thought this was weird. So I talked to her and told her yes I was irritated by a couple of things but got over them and even asked her if anything was wrong. She went crazy. She started screaming at me and threw me out of her house. I have never been treated like that in my life. I know I have been the bearer of such crazy things in high school, sorry people. I do have a temper.

It seems that everywhere I have lived I have had one sort of "friendship" that ends up like this. What am I supposed to learn? Why haven't I learned it? Well as I left that house.... It took me the bike ride home to really get angry, but actually more hurt I realized that before I would have been right back in her face yelling and screaming profanities. Yes not proud of that, but my reaction would have been there. Not this time. I was calm and collected. I didn't swear at her. I talked never yelled at her. When I got home and over my anger, I realized that I have grown as a person. Sure people might not like me and think I'm a terrible person, but I have realized that I am of worth and I don't deserve to be treated that way. I'm not saying I didn't have a part in what happened, I did as I said before, but I tried calmly to talk and work it out.

For that I am happy. I'm never happy to end a friendship. I feel that I am a loyal friend but I realize too that I don't need to have such negativity in my life and am happy to move on. Sometimes relationships aren't good for us and I think I have finally learned from my mistakes to quit trying to make it work and just move on. I think we need to be kind to everyone but we don't have to be friends.

I think this was my bit of therapy for the day. I'm going to make this new week and year the best yet. I have a new outlook. After all I have less than 24 hours left in this year of my life. I'm excited to make changes to the next one.

Spontaneous Family Fun!!

I am a planner. Anyone who knows me knows I want the details. Where are we going? When are we going? How long will it take to get there? How long are we staying? These kinds of things I like to know.

My hubby Dave is not this way. He likes to just go. He's good at a moments notice. He can fit everything in a backpack. Who cares how long? Let's go!!

We have now learned to compromise a little bit. It's taken a while. He puts up with my questions and I try not to get upset about little notice. He's pretty good though, he tries to give me a couple of days.

A couple of weeks ago he asked me if I wanted to go to McCall. I said when? He said tomorrow. Ummm.....OK I guess. Well I had a hair appt. so Dave said he would take the kids up and I could come when I was done. Ok. That meant I got to drive the BMW. Nice ride.
Here is Dave and the crew on their way up to McCall. They seem to be having a great time. Wonder what movie they are watching.
We got a great price last minute on a 4 bedroom condo right in downtown. It was beautiful and perfect. We were so lucky.
We went on Bike Rides and one day went to the "other" side of Payette Lake. It was a beautiful day. About 63* and sunny. Here is Abby and Dave hanging out on a long havin' a chat.
Our bathing beauty. Sydney had so much fun and made a new little friend while we were there.
Jacob, exercising? Maybe? or just being his goofy self. Probably the last one.
Dave catching some rays. Surprisingly we all got a little bit of a sun burn. I wasn't thinking about sunscreen. It just wasn't that warm. Oh well. They weren't too bad.
Jacob building something with sticks. I think he scored.
My little sweetie. I only brought half of her swim suit, so yes she is in her underwear. Somehow I had 2 pairs of those. Go figure. She had lots of fun anyway. And thought it was pretty funny she could wear undies.
Here is Noah taking the plunge into the water. There was still some snow on the ground so you know that water is freezing. They all went in it. Good on them. I wasn't going in.
In he goes. No thanks! Even as I watched him do this I was cringing with anticipation of cold.
And he's in. He did come up. Gasping for air. It's amazing how cold just takes your breath away.
Noah crossing a log. Pretty good balance. I'm happy about that too. That water was a little questionable.

It was such a great trip. We all had a fun and relaxing time. After the lake we went back to the condo and the girls had a jacuzzi tub and all was well in the world.

Thanks Davey for having these great ideas! And making it fun for our family.