Potty Training

So, James decided this weekend to start potty training again (maybe the 3rd time)with Harley. I'm now almost 5 months pregnant and I desperately want him to want to be potty trained. He did really good on Saturday with only one accident outside helping Dad trench the yard for more grass. So, today I decided to let him wear the "big boy pants" to church. HUGE MISTAKE! I checked on him every 10 minutes, made him sit on the toilet, begging him to just go, and nothing. I'm thinking to myself, "Just let Harley make it through church without crapping his pants". His daily ritual usually happens during nursery. Long story short, the kids and I ended up home from church early today. So, I'm going to wait another few months and forget about today and keep changing his disgusting diapers. I guess there's worse things in life than 3 kids in diapers.

A few weeks ago Harley found some of his big boy underwear or as he embarrassingly calls them panties. I am still working on that, but I guess that is the problem of having an older sister. Anyway, I did not want any accidents on the floor sow I put on his flip-flops and we went outside to hit some balls off the tee. He then pulled a "Happy Gilmore" and came running off the patio and smacked the ball. Now it is hard to get him to hit the ball normally because he gets such a reaction from spectators when he hits the ball on the run. Unfortunately, he has not shown that much interest in ditching the diapers since then. I think Avery will be potty trained before Harley.

Our version of the zoo

So, I thought it would be cool to get the kids out to the LV strip and check out some culture.  They had never driven down the strip other than passing thru to the other side.  We checked out the wildlife at the Mirage, the fountain show at the Bellagio and the conservatory inside.  The only time I ever go downtown is when we've got family that wants to go.  This time Jordan came through with Lisa to get a quick  make-over and to check it all out with me.  Layla totally bonded with little Tyler.  They were so cute with each other.  Thanks to Dad, Harley knew the difference between every kind of lion, tiger, panther, jaguar, you name it. At the end of the night after about 20 people gave me dirty looks for having my kids out on the strip,  we watched the fountains at the Bellagio.  Try to find Harley in the dark.  It was so funny to see "Harley monster" afraid of something.  He always acts really tough on the outside.

Labor Day with the Hermanators

Since we didn't go to the fair this year (a first in seven), I thought we needed some fun over the weekend.  I think this was our first time out with them this summer.  It's too bloody hot to even go out to the lake.   That day wasn't too bad though, and really, what's better than getting muddy and eating a bag of chips with a diet coke on the Lake Mead beach.

Friday

Layla started pre-school this past week and I pick her up on Fridays to take her home since Janie works most Fridays.  Miss Marsha's is about halfway between my office and our house so it works out fairly convenient for me to take her home and eat lunch at home.  I snapped a few pictures while I was at home with my new camera.  It is nothing special, just something I can put in my pocket.  It does have wireless internet to send photos.  I will probably never use that feature like most of the features on my cell phone.  

Janie and I actually got two dates in this week.  On Monday Janie's Uncle Dave, who does the sound for Phantom of the Opera, got us some great tickets. The stage is amazing and the show is pretty good.  Of course, the sound is amazing tickets.  Coincidentally, it was Dave's 1,000th show.  Then on Friday, we went to dinner and a movie for Nicole's birthday.  Yesterday, I took the kids to Rock and Roll Kids for a make-up class.  I am sure the other mothers at the class thought Avery was homeless.  I was in a hurry so I grabbed her out of the crib, where I had left her wearing a dirty onesie complete with dried oatmeal on her face.  I am sure that combined with a black eye from earlier this week raised a few eyebrows.  The kids had a great time.  Avery even got involved as she is walking all over the place now.  We came back and and the kids made some bagels before nap time.  I mopped the floor and we could actually walk around the house with bare feet for about four hours.  

Yesterday, we took the kids to the UNLV v. Utah State football game and they loved it.  We were there with Eric and Diane and Tyson, Kathleen, Devon and Tyler.  Eric gave Harley a piece of licorice, which he fit the whole piece in his mouth and was asking for seconds.  He also made good friends with the family in front of him and they shared their cotton candy with Harley and Layla.  While the mother was distracted Avery even tried to get a sip of  the mother's beer.  Fortunately, she was unsuccessful.  It is scary how much Avery acts like her big brother.  This morning, I was feedomg her some oatmeal.  She watched Harley blow on the oatmeal on his spoon to cool it off, so she blew on the very next bite I gave her before eating it.  She also goes around and sips on everyone's drink, which Harley is notorious for doing.  

Well it is time to sign off as I know the kids will be up shortly ready to go.  

Summer Vacation

We have been gone 2 weeks in August and so much has happened in the past few months that I wanted to jot down a few things.

I decided that August is probably the best month to not be in Las Vegas and I couldn't pass up another Goleta trip with Aunt Barb.  This time I strung my mom along for the ride hoping to get some quality time with her and the kids.  I love being away from home, not worried about my work and home stuff.  Mom and I drove the kids down on Tuesday morning which became a terrible mistake.  Every parent knows that driving at NIGHT with kids is the best.  It has just taken me a few times to figure that out.  We spent every day at the beach and one day in Solvang.  Layla and Harley got to pick out a toy at the little old toy store there, just one of my little traditions starting the year before.  Everywhere we went Layla worked on her magnet paper doll set and Harley was busy with the new motorcycle he picked out.  My dad always had a few rules when the family went on vacation;  there's no such thing as Sunday and the money grows on trees.  I've tried to live by these rules and add a few of my own.  Anyway, it was so nice this year to be right next to the best free hotel breakfast ever and the pool.  It was really hard to be with the kids without James but it was still worth it.  One of the last nights my mom had me move the pack and play right onto the courtyard and it was the greatest idea ever.   Avery could be outside and I wouldn't have to be grossed out at the next thing she was licking or playing with.  Layla and Harley were always in the pool or at the beach.   We had the best time and the weather was pretty perfect.   James met me down there on Thursday night to spend one more day at the beach with him.  We came home Saturday, I worked another week and then took off again to be with the kids down in Oceanside, CA.  I forgot my camera that trip but wanted to jot a few things down.  Sorry no pictures.

swim lessons

Today was our last day of our month of lessons at the Turner's and I thought I would take a few pictures of the kids and Austin(Patty's grandson), excluding the swim teacher.  I didn't want anyone to be offended by her Playboy bikini.  I'm serious.  Every lesson, she wears a the same string bikini with an actual Playboy logo printed on her chest; very proffesional.  Trust me, you don't want to see her.  I'll save your eyes. 

Anyway, I told Patty when we were all done that I would pay her the $25 to come swim anytime.  I should have listened to my Aunt Eileen who told me to never get swim lessons.  I knew it was a bad sign when the instructor asked me for the money before our first lesson.

Layla is actually putting her face under water.  A week ago, she wouldn't even let her hair touch.  She' s getting so much better.  I'm not attributing it to the lessons.  Probably her friend Presley who can get her to do pretty much anything I can't.  I'm hoping that by the end of the summer that I can get her to swim to the wall by herself.  I think it's a good goal.

Harley only pooped twice in the pool (so humiliating for me, not him).  He actually thought it was funny.  Weird, I know.  He is not scared of the water in the least bit.  His floaties (James calls them water wings) fall off every time he jumps in the water and he doesn't freak out at all.  He's a total fish.

Avery is just like Harley.  She puts her little face right in, blows bubbles and doesn't really care about being wet or splashed.  I'm remembering Layla being that way now.  Probably just her age.  She is such a good little baby.  Everywhere we go people want to steal her from me.  

I love my kids.   I never thought I would like them this much or enjoy doing the little things with them.   I feel so blessed to have this experience of being a mother.  I love it all.

Bye the way, I love that James adds his two cents when he can.  He made fun of me starting a blog and now he blogs way more than me.