Can you tell which one is Tyler? He sticks out like a sore thumb with that camo hat on backwards and those blacked out teeth! haha! This picture is hilarious!
The Payne family is the best example to me of what it means to work hard for what you have. They bought a small "fixer-upper" home (which is a gross gross understatement), fifteen acres of land, and sought out to make it their own. After twenty years of raising ten children and teaching their eight boys to work the land and build homes, they are proud owners of two beautiful homes. And if there's anything the Payne's know how to do best- it's how to embrace their hillbilly bone. YEEHAW!
I have a confession. I love love love getting pedicures. Manicures I could take or leave, but pedicures are the best. Every time I get the urge all I can think of is twenty-five bucks going down the drain. A complete waste of money. After all they don't last forever. But, it's kind of like buying flowers. That's also completely impractical seeing as they only last about week. Oh but to have fresh, colorful, happy flowers dancing on the kitchen countertop! The thought of it brightens my day. The same goes for getting my toes done; it's just a little sunshine. Then there's the ole, "My husband is deployed, so I can do what I want!" standby. I know, I'm bad. Put me in the corner.
My amazing Nana babysat while Denise and I went to the nail salon. When we got back I found this... yep, Rachel was taking a nap on the chair. This NEVER happens! I asked my Nana how she did it and she said, "I just told her to lay down and rest and she fell asleep." My jaw dropped. It's that simple huh? {said dripping in sarcasm} sheesh. So peaceful... even with all the camera clicking going on around her. She must be used to that sound, haha... You can hardly see it, but we brought Nana a big ole' route 44 Sonic drink. Gotta love Sonic happy hour.
When I meet people at church and they put two and two together and realize that this beautiful woman in MY Nana, they always say how beautiful and classy she always looks. It's true, my Nana always looks gorgeous. Pretty toes! It didn't take long for Rachel to wake up with all those slushy, slooshy Sonic drinks around.
Denise just recently got married, and Rachel couldn't get enough of her beautiful wedding ring... My oh my how her eyes were twinkling at the thought of having her own "princess ring" one day. Goodness gracious that IS going to happen one day.
No, no, no... lets not dwell on these "growing up" thoughts- I'm going to get emotional.
Moving on... Those eyes were twinkling I tell you!
"Rachel, who are you going to marry when you grow up?"
"My prince."
Good answer.
I love afternoons like these.
Now, to go get me some flowers. Just kidding... sort of. My husband is deployed you know. hahaha!
The girls and I love going for bike rides after dinner. The weather has been so nice! I imagine we'll still go bike riding in the heat, but it sure is a treat when the weather is perfect. There was a stretch of time after Rachel's birthday were we had lots of leftover ice cream in the freezer. So after our bike rides, I'd treat the girls to an ice cream cone outside where they can make messes all over the place and I don't have to clean it up. Score!
Gosh she looks so much like her Daddy. She especially resembles Tyler with that ice cream cone in her mouth though... haha...
Rachel's smile in this one is the BEST! They were thrilled! Bike Ride+Ice Cream= Happy Girls
A-Ha! We may not all be smiling and I may be sweaty and in my workout clothes, but we're all looking up! That's a success in my book.
After ice cream, the girls moved on to the dirt... Maggie thoroughly enjoyed herself... Rachel thought it'd be neat to make hand and footprints in the dirt...
Look! Our hands!!!
Nothing like a good helping of dirt after an ice cream cone... at least I thought it was a good idea... haha...
Then we all headed to the bathtub to get clean and in our jammies.
Simple projects are my favorite to do. I found the perfect project for two little girls who love butterflies. They will be hanging up somewhere in our home forever.
Proud of her artwork...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to me these little butterflies are the prettiest ones I've ever seen...
It's time to play a little catch-up! The girls had two Easter egg hunts. One put on by the ward, and the other for FHE. I'm not incredibly proud of these pictures, but oh well it's been documented. Sometimes you've just got to get 'er done.
The ward Easter egg hunt was over in about thirty seconds- seriously, no joke. Those egg's were gone like that! Rachel was quick enough to get a few... Go, Go, Go!!! Maggie didn't know what the heck was going on, but she sure liked it... I asked Rachel, "What's inside your eggs?" She replied, "Baby chicks of course."
To her surprise it was candy instead! FHE time... I loved watching her dye her eggs. She was extra careful with the pink one. Maggie starting to catch on to this whole "hunt" idea... Whooo!
"Look at me Mommy!" We hid the eggs about 3 or 4 times before we called it a night... Feeling good. I got this Mommy. And the very last egg...
The girls and I made Lava Lamps a few weeks ago. I can't tell you how much I love pinterest. So many ideas, so little time! I've decided I better start doing instead of just pinning! haha! So, we did it. We made some homemade lava lamps. Super simple. Super fun.
Homemade Lava Lamps
Water Bottle
Vegetable Oil
Water
Food Coloring
Alka Seltzer
That's it! Now fill the bottle half way with oil and half way with water, leaving some space at the top. Then add 10 drops of food coloring. And lastly, drop in some alka seltzer.
WA-LA! Lava lamps!
This could have kept her entertained all day! We used up two whole boxes of alka seltzer!
Sweet Maggie saying "thank you!"...
It was way past naptime. Can you tell?
"Okay Mom, I've had it! Where's my plug? Get me outta this thing!"
Man, that scowl...
fascinated...
So fun to watch...
My favorite part was getting to say- "We made Lava Lamps today!"
Shut the front door. Shut the back door. Just shut the door! Who pooped in the potty?
This girl did.
And she flushed...
Girls that poop in the potty get their nails painted...
And they get a lip gloss ring...
While we were at story time a few months ago a little girl had on a lip gloss ring. Rachel followed her around everywhere! I found the perfect potty reward, and it worked.
And of course we went on a Mommy-Daughter date out for ice cream! We were excited! Pretty sure we called everyone telling them that Rachel pooped in the potty. haha!
For those Mommies out there about to take the plunge, let me tell you something- I bought her panties for her second birthday. Yep, they were sitting in her dresser for exactly 11 and a half months before I actually started potty training. I was so self conscience about this! But it was perfect timing for Rachel. Things were just so crazy! Now that her Daddy has been gone for a while, it seemed like the right time to go for it! And she's done great. My two cents- do it when you think they're ready for it, not when you want them to be ready for it. It was a really long week, but totally worth it.
It's the Potty training post!!! Aren't you excited? I sure am!
I'm telling you, I was a wreck the night before I decided to start this potty training journey. I was determined to start and not go back. I was at Walmart until eleven o' clock buying whatever I deemed "potty training worthy" the night before. Anything so that we wouldn't have to go to the store for the whole week. Obviously, I was over thinking it. I'm such a dork sometimes.
Speaking of dork, the morning of the first potty training day the words of "Seize the Day" from the old musical "The Newsies" was playing over and over again in my mind. Finally, I just started belting out the words in the shower before the girls woke up. It was my brother and I's favorite of all the musicals my Mom loves to watch. Who doesn't love the Newsies? Seriously, it's a classic. A butch of dudes breaking out into song and doing back flips in the street. Now that's entertainment folks.
ahem.. cough, cough (clears throat)... here goes nothing...
in song:
Open the gates and seize the day!
Don't be afraid and don't delay!
Nothing can break us, no one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the DAY!
Proud and definate
We'll slay the giant!
Let us seize the day!!!
how'd I do? A little pitchy? I'll work on that. Awesome lyrics though huh?
I had to humor myself and look it up on youtube. It's blurry, but I couldn't resist putting in this post. Watch it!!! Entertainment, I'm telling you...
Open the gates and SEIZE THE DAY!!!
Here we go! We're ready!
The motivation...
Let me give you a little break down on how I did this...
I bought and lot of junk food and soda pop.
We drank and drank.
And we went and sat on the potty all.day.long.
It was a really long day.
Motivated and Hydrated Rachel... we can do this!!!
Washing those hands... and yes, she hung out in nothing but panties and a t-shirt for about 4 days straight...
And we watched a lot of movies... in her glass slippers of course...
This is how most of our day looked...
Potty training is hard work I tell ya! Good thing we had treats! Maggie and I got a treat every time Rachel tinkled in the potty too!
Learned this lesson the hard way... buy waterproof mattress covers before you start potty training- good to know.
The stickers were a hit! She was such a booger! She'd hold herself and go potty just a little bit- get a sticker- and then go straight back to the potty to get another sticker. This went on and on. I didn't want to break her excitement, so I just went along with it. At least she was happy going potty right? Eventually I cut it off, but I was just doing a dance every time she went myself! haha! It was a party!
But of course, the enthusiam wore off... oh dear, we had a lot of tearful potty trips as well...
And we had a lot of accidents that first week. Every time she had an accident we'd pratice with all her babies and toys. We'd take them to the potty, wipe their bottoms, and wash their hands. We still do it! It is the best idea, and it works! Nothing like repetition...
Our first time to venture outside the house in PANTIES! It's not a very good picture, but her pants sure don't fit her like they used to! haha!
