The Potty Fairy

The "potty fairy" came last night!! He took the little potty to another little boy that is learning to use the potty and left a surprise for Luke. Luke wasn't too excited at first but has warmed up to the idea. Thank goodness for the "potty fairy" aka... the dumpster!!

Luke got some new pajamas today. I got him size 5T!!!! The pants are a little big but room to grow. He was still wearing old worn out ones that were size 3T and getting a little too snug. He put the new ones on tonight after bath, threw his hands up and said, "Well, how do I look??!!" Sooo cute!!

Missin baby

I always ask, "what happened to my baby?!" It still hasn't gotten any better. Since Luke is now potty trained I have no reason to go into the baby section at the grocery store. This makes me sooo sad. I still have to browse through to look at baby toys, diaper bags, baby food (even formula), and bottles. Now Luke likes to play hot potato, hide and seek, red light green light, and games on the computer. He now thinks his is too big for a nap. We have gone through this before but he is tougher about it. I NEED A NAP!! What about Mommy?

I am grateful he is healthy and thriving, of course. I am also grateful he is finally potty trained, however, I have become completely disgusted with cleaning his little potty and he won't use the big potty yet. I'm giving him a few more days and then think I will make it disappear! Gotta stick to my tough love guns.

Pre-school starts August 19th. I'm so excited for him. He will have sooo much fun! I'm sure the first day will be hard, but well worth it! He will only be going Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 3:00. Just enough I think to start with.

It's been hot, but not too hot. The monsoons have lower the temps here. Only low 100's. It's been nice having the storms come through to cool things off and give us some cloud cover. I am really wishing for fall to get here as I am gearing up for FOOTBALL!!! Hope Tony Romo's fun clubbing with Jessica Simpson hasn't kept him from studying his plays!

Tough love. And cool weather?

Luke being a "Super Hero".

Hello to all! We have FINALLY made a HUGE accomplishment!!! Luke is finally potty trained!!!!! WHOOO HOOOO!!!! I finally had to enforce tough love. We were at Wal-Mart and he saw a Harold the helocopter he wanted and we told him he could have Harold if we put back his pull-ups. He said okay and we told him no more pull ups and he would have to use the potty. He said okay. So-- we had a few tears at first but have done very well with no accidents.

We had a nice and quiet 4th of July. I was a little sad though. It was my nephews 11th birthday and it was the first one I have missed. Every year we all get together for his party. I was bummed I wasn't there. We had dinner at the best bar-b-que place and then watched the fireworks. Luke had a blast!!

Saturday we went over to some friends house to cook out and Luke got to go swimming. Weird though, the adults don't get in the pool. It drives me crazy as I love to be in the pool, but haven't felt comfortable enough over there to be the only adult in.

Sunday we went exploring in Payson for a good camping spot. It is only 90 miles away and we were in 50 degree weather!! It was thunderstorming and the pines really cool off so much when it rains up there. It was beautiful and we found a great camp sight we want to go back to.

While exploring we were in a heavy downpoor with hail and it was LOUD. This is Luke hiding.

It has been hot!!! Our monsoon season has started so our humidity has gone up. It really makes a difference. I have come to realize that a monsoon is really just like a west Texas thunderstorm. Wind, rain, and thunder. The only difference is the sand blowing and micro-bursts instead of tornados.

Family Time

This first pic is Luke and myself at the north rim. I know it looks like I have horns, but it was extremely windy.

Here is Luke and Kyndall sitting together at lunch. They had a blast together.

This Luke helping his Daddy with yard work on Father's Day. He loves to help whenever he gets the chance.

We had a great time getting to spend time with my family even though our visit was limited. They got to see so many great places in northern Arizona and Utah.

Growing up

My baby is growing so fast! Today we reached a huge mile stone. Let me back up- last night my neighbor had Luke and I over for dinner since Juven is out of town to visit and let the kids play ( she has a 6yr, 4 yr and 8 month- all boys). Luke always likes going over there to play with their toys. Anyway- she offered to let Luke come over for a little today to play so I could get some quiet time and house work done since Juven is coming home tonight and my family is coming on Sunday. Well- she called again today offering and I asked Luke if he wanted to go and he asked if I was coming. I told him, no and was going to clean the house and he said- okay. So, I walked him over, kissed him good bye and he was like see you later Mommy! For those of you who know what a momma's boy he is and a klinger this is a big move! I have never really gotten him to agree to go somewhere without myself or Juven. Wow- he really is growing up! Maybe we can work up to a date night!
On my last update I forgot to update about our fun weekend last weekend. Friday was my 34th birthday. Little depressed just because of whats coming next year, but Juven made it so special for me. He planned a dinner with some friends of his from work at a restaurant called Carlsbad Tavern. Such a great atmoshpere and great food, great cocktails! On the drive home he wanted to stop at the grocery store to get me a cake. I stayed in the car while he and Luke went in. They came back with a cake and a pink rose. As is well known- my favorite color is pink and my favorite flower are roses. Juven said Luke picked it out.

Then on Sunday we had our 12 year anniversary. We went and had lunch at our new found favorite Mexican food restaraunt. I'll tell ya- you all know what a Joe T. Garicia freak I am and these enchiladas beat Joe T's! The only thing is no patio, but the food makes up for it.Thank goodness we finally found good mexican food here! We were beginning to worry the type of mexican food we liked was non-existent out here.
My family- mom, sister, brother-in-law, neice, and nephew will all be here on Sunday. We are driving up to the Grand Canyon on Monday and then Jennifer, Jason, & Austin will continue to the north rim and on into Utah for site seeing. My family, mom, & Kyndall will spend the night in Flagstaff and drive on home. So we get to spend a few quiet days at my house with mom and Kyndall.

Be posing pics is a couple of days!

Quiet days

It has been a quiet week around here. Juven is in Orlando at national meetings so Luke and I have been trying to occupy our time and stay cool. Monday we went with our neighbor and her 3 boys to the library to see the Bee Movie. We got it for Luke and he has seen it several times, but I never realized I havent' actually sat down to watch it until Monday. It really is a cute movie. I also started painting my kitchen on Monday and finally finished today. When I first start painting I always think- this isn't so bad, I think I'll go ahead and do the entire house. Then by the third day I am sooo beat down tired that I swear I'll not paint another wall. But- in a few months I'll forget how hard I worked and start another room. It's amazing what a gallon of paint will do for the house! Luke did so good at letting me work that I rewarded him today by taking him to eat lunch at McDonalds and then to see "Kung Foo Panda". I think that is what it's called. I only know it as the panda movie. He loooved it! It was pretty cute. It had a little more violence than I normally let him see but he did okay. As long as he doesn't start going around the house like he's fighting kung foo he'll be okay.
We are making progress potty training. He will wear his big boy undies now, but still will not stand by the potty or sit. He just tells me when he has to go and we put a pull up on him and when he is done we put him back in his undies. That's quite an accomplishment for him to wear his undies considering he would through them under the bathroom sink whenever I tried to put them on him only a few months ago. This potty training is soooo tough & he is soooo stubborn! I've just backed off and ask him every couple of days if he is ready to sit on the potty yet & of course his response remains, "No. No thank you." Patience, paitience, patience. He has always let me know when he is ready for a change and he has been consistence with his letting me know, so I will wait.
My family is coming on Sunday and I am soooo excited!!!! I can't wait for them to see beautiful Arizona and our new house. It will be so nice to have family around for a few days!

Water fun

Here is Luke playing in the water and having a blast. It's not too hot yet. About 100 during the day, but it's a "dry heat"!! hahaha! (My mom thinks that is funny & ridiculous to say) It really is not that bad. Ask me in a month or so when it is 113 and I'll have a different story!

This is when we went back to Texas for Memorial weekend. We went to Juven's parents house and my family drove out to see us. It was so great to see everyone! The pic above is movie time. I was on the bed with them, but obviously did not fit so thought we needed a pic of it!

We got the kids a slip n slide at Grandma's house. fun,fun,fun!

Luke and Austin relaxing in the swing. My family will be here in about 10 days! I can't wait!! We are going to spend a few days at the Grand Canyon relaxing and enjoying the beauty. Maybe it won't take me a month to update next time.