Loves!

Usually I have a ton to tell about Abby, but this is for William. He just doesn't talk as often. But, we've made a break-through in communication in the last 2 weeks or so. One day I gave Will a hug and he kissed me back. A day or two later I was telling James about it and he looked at William and said I love you. William promptly planted a cute baby kiss on his cheek! You know the kind, the infant, open-mouthed, gooey, slobbery kinds of kisses! So Cute! So it's nice to know that he understands what we're saying to him.
For all intents and purposes Abby is now potty trained and I'm looking into dance classes for her. I'm trying to find a combo class where they go once a week and learn a little bit of ballet, jazz, tap, and gymnastics. Over time, they naturally figure out which ones of those that they prefer. I think it would be awesome.
On other fronts, James got a camera for graduation last year. It's a Nikon Digital SLR and it's awesome. So, for his birthday he got the flash and some people at his work asked if he would do their engagement pictures. They liked it so much they paid him. It's official, he's a professional. And they were cute pics.
As for me, I was talking to a friend back home (ok, maybe griping just a little), and she says "why don't you do a home-based business?" And that's when I told her that in all theory I did, I just didn't do my Mary Kay stuff on a large scale. So, I decided to go to a conference, and I got all motivated again and I started working again. I actually have classes booked, and I'm making money this time around. My goal, to 1) provide some funds for myself to have some fun just because (jewelry, being able to go on vacations, etc), 2) get a few things we need around the house (furniture, carpet cleaner...), 3) someday earn a car, 4) but most importantly to get our school debt paid off so that we can get a house. Realistically, I think this will take 3-4 years considering a starter house in this area is ridiculously expensive. My parents custom built their dream house 8 years ago with 1/2 acre of land for a WHOLE lot LESS than what we are looking at. Oh well. But, it's do-able if I can finish paying of the school loans. So here's to
being busy, having fun, and reaching goals. Thanks to Hales, James, and those who have been so supportive of my dreams. Sometimes I forget to dream, and it's been nice to do that again.

You're the best!

So I don't know where Abby got this from. But this morning we were all up for a change before James left for work. Just before he left Abby suddenly piped up and said
"Daddy, you're the BEST!"
I don't know how she knew he needed that or where it came from. But it totally melted his heart. Such cute kids!!!!! William wouldn't let him go out the door without about 12 hugs. So, in case he didn't know, James is the BEST and we love him!

Burps

So, we're sitting at dinner. And from Abby's side of the table, James and I hear a toot. We ignore it and keep eating. Abby looks up with a shocked face and says, "mommy, there's a burp in my bum bum!"
Trying not to laugh, James explains that it is a toot. And Abby looks at him and says
"No Daddy, it was a burp!"

Cute sayings

So we've been pretty busy, still working on that potty training thing and getting caught up with dentist and eye doctor appointments. It's that time. I have to admit that I get into my ' go get it done' mode and I must be a tyrant of a mommy when I get into that mode because my kids are always trying to figure out a way to bring me back to real life. So, Abby had a couple of 'accidents' and William has been crying a lot. I swear they are trying to call to me and tell me they need me, but I just get frustrated and need to have my own time and escape it all. So I tried to escape a few times, and it didn't work. We ended up having nachos for dinner and watching Enchanted as a family (it pays to have a sister working at Blockbuster. You can see all the movies before they come out to determine whether or not it's worth buying them the first week they are out and $5 cheaper at Wal-Mart). I finally started to relax and Abby was so cute at the end of the movie, she leaned over and said "Mommy, that was a coooool movie!" I have to admit I was shocked because the dragon lady had scared her. But, apparantly she liked it enough to race down the hall pretending to be the dragon lady. 10 minutes later she had another accident. I have to say I'm thankful for the cute, good, funny moments day to day, because otherwise this mommy job would be a lot harder. Oh well, back to real life. :D

A busy week

So I've never posted to our own website. Never felt the urge to, but I thought we would try it today. And in all theory this should post to my blog too. So we'll see if I break it :D (PS- I broke it and had to copy and paste :D)

It's been a busy busy week. Monday the girls in James family got together to scrapbook and have fondue. Cheese and chocolate. Yummmm. Here are some recipes that don't call for alcohol that we tried.

Chocolate Fondue

8 oz Semi sweet chocolate pieces
8 oz Milk chocolate pieces
2/3 C + 2 Tbsp Heavy cream (we used heavy whipping cream)
2 tsp vanilla

Chop chocolate up into small pieces if it isn't already. Melt chocolate over low heat (in a double boiler if you have to cook it before you serve it in a fondue pot). Add cream. Stir until chocolate melts and the cream is blended. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Enjoy

Cheddar Cheese Fondue

4 Tbsp Butter
3 Tbsp Flour
3 shakes Dry Mustard
1 shake minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 C Milk
6 C Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Melt butter in saucepan, whisk in flour, mustard and garlic. Gradually add mild, stirring constantly until thickened. Add Worcestershire sauce and blend. Add cheese and stir over low heat until cheese is melted.



The other part of our busy week was potty training. This has been very difficult for us. When Abby was showing us a year ago that she was ready to potty train, I was in my last trimester of pregnancy with William. I wasn't ready to start. Then Crystal was living with us and that was hectic, and then she moved out. So, I figured that now we are getting into our own little routine finally we had better get on it. Especially since Abby now has such a negative attitude about it. So, we had a party. A potty party. The book said you could potty train your child in one day, and I almost hoped. Now I've come to realize that Abby is not that child and we will just keep working on it. But we did take some very important steps on Wednesday. She will sit on the potty. She likes the stickers, and she wants to ice skate and dance. I told her she could have dance lessons if she would learn to use the potty. It actually costs less than the diapers and wipes. So, now we are learning. And she's doing well. I'm glad she's so smart, and I told James the other night after she was fighting us, that I'm glad she's a fighter. I just hope and pray that we teach her good principles and that she learns to fight for good causes as she grows older. She's my cute girl :D

It has been sooooooo long...

Since I last did any kind of post. Yes, it's been years as a matter of a fact. Since then I've graduated college, supported James as he graduated and had another baby. So here I am with two beautiful kids, still living in Orem, and lo and behold, some wonderful friends inspired me to open my account back up and write a little. So, here's to you Charity, Tiff, and Melanie, for making sure that we can all keep in touch. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, as for funny stories lately. I have to say that Abby is the one with which I have the most hysterical conversations with. After talking to my dad this morning and relating some of her funnies, here's my favorite. As for back up information, you need to know that I painted her room a year ago because of some black crayon that went along 3 walls, 2 closet doors, and the main door. I am not a fan of crayons or anything in her room like that, but sometimes, things just happen!

Shauna: Abby, come on, we need to change your diaper!
Abby: NO!
Shauna: Come on, hurry!
Abby: NO!
*After a tussle, and just beginning to change her diaper...I shut her bedroom door a little and saw crazy eight and candyland game cards stuck to her door...Horrified!...
Shauna: Abby, did you do that?
Abby: (excitedly) Yes!
Shauna: What did you do?
Abby: I glued it mom!
Shauna: Glued it with what?
Abby: Diaper Rash Cream!!! (Totally proud of herself)

And to quote a friend, what does that say about the diaper rash cream that we can glue things with it? Well, at least it works for a lot of things!!!

And lastly, I really didn't forget... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!