Don't Jinx It...

... but I think Claire is potty trained, at least during the day. We aren't quite 100% yet, but it is soooooooooooooooo much better than where we were even 2 months ago. We went about a year between the times she was willing to go poop on the toilet. What a long year it was.

She cracks me up with her excitement to go poop, yes poop. One day she just went into the bathroom on her own and went. Months and months of begging, pleading and crying, and she just does it. Now when she goes she yells for either me or Matt to "come check this out!!" It is hard to stay excited every time, but we do because we can't face the alternative - Pull Ups. Yesterday she called in both me and Matt and said we had to come see something - then she started counting to what I assumed would be to 3 before she would show us the results of her efforts. Once she reached 12, we had to stop her. :)

So, as part of our long list of bribes for pooping on the toilet, we are going to Disneyland to celebrate! If that doesn't keep her motivated, I don't know what will.

First Talk

Claire gave her first talk in Primary on Sunday - this the children's Sunday School class in the LDS church. She is three and a half, and already she's been asked to speak in public. She did well and repeated her lines as I whispered them in her ear, though not until after staring at me with a funny face for a few seconds (see second photo for a taste of the silly look she was giving me up in front of the group). I had a moment of panic, thinking she was going to just freeze up. I had a short version and a longer version (2 minutes total) prepared complete with visual aids, so after her silly faces I went with the shorter version of her talk on Heavenly Father's Plan for Me. She is such a little lady now - Claire, you can't grow up anymore! Seriously.

Rest in Peace DVR

So, we finally did it - we cancelled our cable. We have been talking about it for about a year, but we were always one sporting event away from calling Cox Cable. First the World Cup, then football season and the Super Bowl, and we just had to draw the line before March Madness starts up.

I am honestly excited to watch less TV - I don't even mind only having 7 or 8 channels. But I am having DVR withdrawls. I feel like we have stepped back into the dark ages - watching TV live seem so... barbaric! :)

It is hard to explain to Claire why we can't pause a show while she runs to the bathroom, or pull up the latest episode of Phineas and Ferb at any time of day. Our kids are growing up with such a different experience with technology, aren't they?

But for now they will have to learn to love PBS.

Miles - 18 Months

Miles Man is now 18 months old and is such a character - he is loving, cuddly, spunky and adventurous. He is getting taller, though he is all torso with short little legs. He can still wear 12 month old pants, but he is in 18 month or even 24 month shirts. Here are his stats from his well-check this week:

Height: 33 inches (50-75%)

Weight: 24.2 lbs (25%)

Head: 47.5 cm (25-50%)




Miles' favorite movie is Toy Story 3 - he can find it on the shelf of DVDs every time. He has sippy cups with Woody and Buzz on them, and likes to point out the characters to me over and over again. He is starting to say more words and is still really good at signing. People outside of our family might not understand all of his words, but he can say:

1. Mama
2. Cuh (for Claire)
3. No
4. All done
5. Got it
6. Hot
7. Penny
8. Charlie (so says Uncle Charlie)
9. Da-da
10. Shoe
11. Ball
12. Go, go, go! (from the song on the Cat in the Hat show)
13. It's cold!

Miles loves, loves, loves his sister and all of her toys and accessories, as you can see from his pink glasses.

Happy Valentine's Da- Ew!!

Claire's latest thing is saying "ew!!" to several things she sees on TV or in real life, including any kissing or romance, or bugs, or slime, or many other random things, like people falling in Wipe Out or even cartoons on Disney.


So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, here are a few things she has said "ew!" to lately:

When Matt and I share a quick hug or kiss in the kitchen, and she can see us through the archway, she says something like - "WHAT are you guys doing? Ew!"

I told Claire that Matt and I were going on a date, and she asked why. I said because we love each other, in a schmoopy voice, and she said, "Is it cause, you're married or something?! Ew!"

While watching Enchanted, when Patrick Dempsey leans in to kiss the princess to wake her from the curse, with romantic music in the background and a slow lean in, and Claire busts out with her latest word - it's getting kind of annoying, though I must say I am encouraging it in a way.

I told her that you have to be married before you can kiss someone like that on the lips. Here's hoping she believes me at least until she's 16.


Then again, as we were leaving from church yesterday she asked me out of the blue, "Mom, are you in love?" It kind of took me back - I don't know when I was last asked that question, or had to give an answer. They must have talked about Valentine's Day in primary class or something. Of course I said yes, and then she said, "Oh, because you are married to Dad?" Yes Claire, that's right. Happy Valentine's Day Matt!

I Have to Get One of These

She jumped on this trampoline for no less than 30 minutes straight, by herself, out in the backyard at the Scholer's. It was awesome!! I guess I better get a backyard first though...

Ali in Vegas = Happy Shannon

We met at girl's camp when we were maybe 12 or 13 and that led to a friendship in our Freshman year of high school that has lasted through the years (we won't say just how many years exactly...).

High school basketball teammates, church dance dancers, seminary classmates, dance festival line dancers (remember that?), AP English survivors, EFY rommmates (I will NEVER go to BYU!), road trip buddies, penpals (back when you actually wrote handwritten letters), college roommates, intramural teammates, and now moms, wives, and still friends. Ali, it was so good to see you and Jeremiah!

Old Friends

We got to visit with one of Matt's oldest friends, Vinnie, this past week. He was in town for a few days, and since he lives in Idaho we haven't seen him and his family since he moved a few years ago. It was good to see everyone and watch Matt reminisce with his friends. There was a lot of talk about the old glory days of the Cheyenne volleyball team, how they never get to play anymore, and that we really should all get together more often. The kids had a blast - it was crazy, but Claire and Miles love controlled chaos and seriously hated leaving. Fun times!

The Birthday Week

I am not sure who started the birthday week in our family - my mom says it was me, which is very likely because with a birthday that always fell around Memorial Day weekend, I would usually have to move my birthday party so my friends could attend before or after their vacations. So, the birth-week was born - more days to celebrate, get out of doing things you don't want to do (i.e. chores), and eat whatever you want. Why not celebrate for more than just one day?

This year Matt's birthday was on a Tuesday, so he also got to extend his party until Sunday dinner at the Hiller's. Nothing Bundt Cake in chocolate chocolate chip was of course the b-day cake, and this year the entertainment was the Super Bowl. I think Matt just didn't want the Steelers to win, but I was watching for the commercials, which were kind of disappointing this year. I digress. So, Happy Birthday Matt and congratulations to the Packers!

Stir Crazy

Well, it seems just like many other families lately, we have all been sick for the past 3+ weeks. I think we were just giving each other different colds over and over. Claire would come into our room at 3 am and say, "Mom, my nose isn't working." You and me both, kiddo.

We tried to stay inside as much as we could, but that is a long time to keep kids cooped up in the house. We turned our living room into a jungle gym, fort, race track, movie theatre, picnic site, and anything else we could do with couch cushions, pillows, blankets, and of course, snacks. And who needs a doll when you have a willing little brother to sit in your stroller.