No more diapers

For the last 3 weeks we have been working on getting Carolina potty trained and I think she has got it. I am so excited because this is the first time in 9 1/2 years that we don't have a child in diapers.


We have been talking to her about it for several months and telling her that she needs to start going in the potty. Then we tried setting her on the toilet on several different occasions and she actually went a few times. Then on one of my days off we spent the whole day with her in underwear and had her sit on the potty for a big portion of the day until she had gone several times. (I also bought several $1 store prizes and each time she went she got to pick a prize).

Since then she has only had a few accidents and even wakes up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Although I still force her to wear a pull up to bed, against her will.

It is pretty exciting, and I feel pretty lucky that it went so easy. She is 2 1/2 which is I think exactly how old Savanna was when she got potty trained.

The only problem is that she is still pretty short so I have to help her get on and off the toilet, but it is a small price to pay to not have to change any more stinky diapers!

A quick update

I haven't updated my blog recently for a couple of reasons:

1. I lost my camera, and I keep hoping that it will resurface so I can post some of the pictures that I took.

2. Not a whole lot to talk about.

3. I am a little down in the dumps and don't feel like sharing much.

I usually feel a bit blue during January and February, I think that I get a little bit of that depression that comes with not seeing the sun, but this year with Reid being on the road that has really thrown me for a loop. Don't get me wrong, we are doing ok at home. I feel blessed that I get to spend most of my time with my kids and as their mom. I love my job, and feel super lucky to have such a great place to work. And I feel very blessed that Reid has a job that provides for our family. I just wish that he didn't have to be gone 5 days out of the week to do that. I am also really having a lot of anxiety about him being out on the road. I find myself in a constant state of worry. If he doesn't answer the phone right when I call I start panicking, which is totally irrational I know. I have been doing a little bit better the last two weeks thanks to a priesthood blessing.

On the bright side the weekends with Reid and the kids have been great. We have really learned to appreciate our time together and I feel like on his days off we really take advantage of that time.

This last month we celebrated Reid's 37th birthday by having a party at our house. It was lots of fun, with a house filled with both sides of our family. We had pizza, salad and cake and ice cream. Reid got lots of great gifts and we enjoyed every body's company.

Christmas 2011

This is Mitchel's stuff from Santa- He got a new bike and a remote control jeep.

This Christmas day was fantastic! We started out at home seeing what Santa brought to us. He spoiled us big time this year! I almost hesitate to post all that was brought because it seems excessive. Sometimes I think Santa forgets that kids don't need quite so much stuff. We will have to have a talk next year about that, but it made for a very fun day, the kids loved it and it was so nice to spend the day with each other and enjoy our family and the time we had together.

Christmas was on Sunday this year which was kind of nice. We went to sacrament meeting and enjoyed a lovely musical program, it is a great way to feel the spirit on this special day. Savanna had the opportunity to play a piano solo in the program. She played "The First Noel" and she did a great job. She was so scared, but she did great. The primary also sang some songs so it was great to see our kids participate.

After church we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Sargents house and had a great dinner and opened some presents over there. They gave each of the grandkids the move "17 Miracles" and each of them got a pioneer hat, with a promise that this summer we are going to go on our own handcart adventure. That should be lots of fun.

We missed seeing Grandma and Grandpa Fuhriman this year for Christmas because they went to Salt Lake to spend the holiday with Reid's sister's family. I think that they had fun in Salt Lake, but they were missed here!

We feel very spoiled by our parents and Grandparents in their generous gifts to us and our children.

The grandkids with their pioneer hats, Grandma made the bonnets and got the boys hats from Nauvou.

Mitchel got a new alarm clock from us.

Treyton got a semi-truck from Grandma and Grandpa Fuhriman

Carolina got a barbie from Grandma and Grandpa F.

Mitchel's car kits from Grandma and Grandpa F.

Reid got a new wedding ring- his other one wasn't fitting any more and I found that it was cheaper to buy a new one than to have his other one re-sized.

Savanna got new barbie clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Fuhriman

Mitchel got a remote control jeep from Santa

Treyton's big rig

Mitchel got a new bike

Treyton got his guitar- that is the one thing he asked for from Santa

Savanna got a lego kit to build a house

Carolina got a doll house

Very excited kids checking out their loot!

Carolina's baby house!

We finally joined the 21st century and got a wii- Mom is excited to use the wii fit!

Treyton got a scooter, remote control jeep and a guitar

Savanna got the legos and remote control helicopter that didn't work so we are taking it back.

I got my kids new PJ's for Christmas which I have never done before, they actually needed pajama's this year so they opened them up on Christmas eve. It was kind of fun! Aren't they cute.

Christmas Eve 2011

My Dad singing his signature Christmas song "Birthday of a King"

We went over to Sara and Shane's house for the program because they have a nice big basement to fit everyone in.

Tony and Olivia- she was the "star" of the manger scene

Sara and Shane and the babies (inside her tummy!)

Hanging out

Carolina picking her nose

Sara and Shane did a guitar duo which was fantastic

Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus (Talmage) and the sheep Carolina

The shephards with their sheep

Olivia was the star

They sang the primary song "The Nativity Song"

The wise man

Trying to get this rowdy bunch organized

Leah and Olivia

We decided to have the kids open the presents that they got from their cousins on Christmas eve. This was a great idea because then they could really see what they got and enjoy it instead of waiting for the chaos of Christmas morning. Each cousin drew a name and got someone a gift.

We have a great tradition of going to my parents home for a delicious meal on Christmas eve and then we have a little Christmas program that includes all the grandkids getting dressed up in all the manger scene characters. My sister Sara has taken this all each year and always makes sure each child has a part and a cute costume. It was no different this year, the kids looked so cute. I can't wait for next year to see how she dresses up her cute little twins!

Treyton's Preschool Christmas Program

Treyton had his Koala Kids Preschool Christmas program last week. It was so cute to see them all singing all their Christmas songs that they had been working on for so long. They did a great job. Treyton loves going to school, and he is really learning a lot this year. I am glad that he loves it so much. He has made a lot of new friends and he especially loves going on the days that his cousin McKay is there. I feel very blessed that I get to work at a place that my kids get to go to also!

McKay

Treyton singing his reindeer song

Waiting for the program to start

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Santa with baby Talmage

Treyton asking Santa for a "guitar" don't you love it when they ask for something you have never heard before?

Mitchel asked Santa for a new bike

Elijah and Santa

Kate wanted nothing to do with Santa, even more than Carolina

Carolina didn't want to sit on his lap, but she did tell him that she wanted a baby house

Savanna told Santa that she wanted a Wii...hmmm

McKay

Here comes Santa Clause

Savanna and Mitch making their houses, along with Laynee and Audra

Jaxon, Hayden and Hannah making their houses while LuDean watches- so fun!

Aren't they masterpieces?

Treyton, Carolina and Kate making their houses

Treyton was really concentrating!

I threw in a few other miscellaneous pictures from this month- Reid cutting the boys hair. Do you notice that Reid shaved his face, he looks a lot younger I decided without it.

Reid cutting Treyton's hair

This is our Christmas tree- Savanna was putting on the final touches

We are all very excited at our house for the "big" day to arrive. We have been making lots of preparations for Christmas including baking sugar and gingerbread cookies and taking them around to the neighbors, shopping, wrapping, and decorating the house. We love Christmas at our house, and we feel very blessed to be able to celebrate it is the way we like and around our wonderful families. We are especially excited this year for Christmas because Reid gets to spend an extra day or two home after the weekend to rest and relax.

Last night we went over to my parents house and had our annual "gingerbread house" party with a special visitor. (Santa Claus came and saw all the children so they could tell him what was on their wish list for Christmas.) It is always so fun to see the gets light up when he comes in. My kids were all ready to tell Santa what they wanted but when it came time for Carolina she wanted nothing to do with him. She clung to me like glue and didn't want to talk to him or get on his lap. I guess that is pretty normal for a 2 year old. We are all very excited and hope we can hold out our anticipation for the next 5 days!