Happy 30th Aunt Lori

Tuesday night was Layla's 3rd dance recital.  I'm not sure which part of the day she enjoyed more; hair and make-up or dancing.  She couldn't wait to get ready with Presley.  It was so fun to have the dressing room all to ourselves.  Presley and Layla sat on the counter while Bracken and I made the final touches.  

Layla danced to Mickey Motion and Happy Feet.  Harley and Avery danced in the aisle to just about every other dance in the show.  

Then, of course, Preston had to steal the show with the boys number, followed by a proposal to Melanie.  I guess she's on his buddy list now.  

Lettin' it Pour

James is in bed asleep and every time I walk in, he asks as if he's wide awake "Do you need help in there?". I need help.  Oh, yes,  do I NEED help.  The last time I entered a new blog,  was a little after I was just finding out that I was carrying another baby.  The baby that has changed my whole life completely.  The tears most definitely will never stop coming tonight and the only thing I can think of doing is write.  

A year ago, I was helping decorate for a lunch at my church with my friend Jodie.  My friend, Stephanie, had lost her baby.  Who would have known that one year later, I would be living that same nightmare.  The nightmare that seems like one long day.  I remember how horrible I felt for her and what a wreck I was.  I couldn't handle walking into the chapel and seeing a picture of the most beautiful little girl in her high chair, completely covered in her lunch.  I thought of how I would feel if I had lost my Avery, who was a few months younger.  My heart ached so badly for her parents who were dealing with this tragedy and loss of such a sweet little girl.  The funeral was one I would never forget.  Stephanie and John gave the most inspiring talks I had ever heard.  They made me want to be a better mom to my kids.  I was so jealous of their strength and their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   

Their experience, I felt most definitely helped prepare me for what was about to happen in my life.

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.