Our New Arrival

Hazel is her name and we are all loving her (except dad but hopefully he will come along!) She is 10 weeks old right now and weighs 15 1/2 pounds...we are all wondering how big she will get! She is Springer Spaniel/Weimaraner and full of energy! She has brought smiles and giggles that I have never seen or heard before, I think it is safe to say we are in love!

Back to school...

Summer is over and now it is time to get back in the swing of things, I think the kids are actually ready. Annie especially seems to crave routine!

Annie is starting 4th grade and Hallie 2nd! My how time flies and how fast the girls are growing up!

Meg and Lucy will start preschool soon and as much as I will enjoy a little alone time, I am starting to realize how fast this stage of life really goes. We have a

street full of kids, it is so fun on the first day of school to walk to school with all the neighbors. What a great place to live!

Outer Space

Megan Jane Daines.....I find myself saying her full name quite often these days. This is a girl who keeps me on my toes! One day recently as I was attempting to get in the shower with some measure of privacy, in walked Meg and as I turned my back to her I heard a gasp, "Mom, you have a tricky bum!" Wondering what she could possible mean, I listened for her explanation. "Your bum is wiggling!!!" This comment comes after earlier that day she had my upper arm between both of her hands rolling it back and forth and informed me what she was doing was called, "Chubbing"! I guess it is time to get back into a more strict exercise regime!

After spending some time with my friend Deena Rutter, Megan asked me one day why Deena has a "cut in her boobies" and I don't....as she asked the question she made a hand motion in the direction of cleavage! This child doesn't miss a thing!

Meg and Lucy have an amazing friendship! I often spot them wandering around the backyard hand in hand...Meg takes Luc with her to her friends houses and is always on the lookout for her "little Lulu". One day this week I hear Meg say to Lucy, "let's go to outer space, Luc and then we will go to Moab." Lucy will do almost anything Megan asks her to so they proceeded to pack for their trip...they filled three Ziploc bags with crayons and markers and retrieved about 25 sheets of paper from the printer and grabbed their babies and headed into the front room and were squished onto one cushion of the couch. I was in the kitchen and heard Meg say, "Look Lucy, there's Jesus, say hi to Jesus." "Hi Jesus, hi Jesus." "Lucy, that was Jesus." Next thing I know they are headed down the stairs with all of their luggage. Later I found the shower stall overflowing with towels, dolls, pillows, crayons and paper. I must say, Megan does add spice to my life!

Potty Training

Today was the day I took Lucy to the store and told her she could have any toy she wanted. She could have that toy just as soon as she went potty on the toilet 15 times. After trying to entice her with pink and purple mega blocks and a spagetti making playdough contraption...she insisted on the 10 pack tube of mini playdough! This is a girl who knows what she likes! We came home and placed the playdough in the bathroom window sill and made a quick little potty chart. Taped the chart to the bathroom wall and taped a sheet of stickers next to it and we were set to go!

Day 1 was a success...no pee pee messes. She was a "big girl" all day! I can't really imagine a life without diapers but I must say I have some mixed feelings, this means she really is not a baby anymore. Meg thinks she needs a potty chart too...and Hallie is wondering what she can have a chart for!