BIG GIRL POTTY PARTY

Last Saturday Karla and I had a big girl potty party. We potty trained a doll and then she got a present of DORA underware. (She picks them over the plain colored and flowered ones every time). Anyway, by the end of the day I was discouraged. But plugged ahead with a lot of encouragment from my two wonderful and patient mothers. But Sunday, Karla surprised us and went to the potty half the time. And this continued Monday and Tuesday. This morning, she got up and went potty twice with out any encouragment and then came and got me to show me and get her "Sticker." Right now, she gets a temporary tattoo everytime she goes in the potty. You should see her tummy!! And, knock on wood, she had had no accidents today. We are meeting Daddy at McDonalds tonight to celebrate and give her her big girl car seat. We are so proud of her!!
She is proud of herself too. She keeps informing Kylee that Kylee is still a baby while Karla is a big girl. Kylee surprised us last night though and went potty in the toilet for the first time last night. Since you only get a sticker on your tummy if you sit on the potty. She has a fairy for going potty in the toilet. You also only get your toe nails painted if you sit on the potty. So we are working towards repeating the first feat!! It has been a fun week. And I am finding my nervousness about this feat as a parent starting to ebe finally. I do thank God for those cute girls.

Nef Family Reunion

We just returned from the Nef Family Reunion at Ensign Ranch this year. We missed many family members due to varied reasons--all good ones. But it was fun to see everyone else. My how the kids have grown. Last year, Kylee wasn't walking yet--almost but not yet. And Karla was just putting two and three word phrases together. Now Kylee keeps up with her sister and both are talking fairly well.
The highlights of the reunion: would have to be the water slide at the top of the list. The girls only went down a few times. But Todd and I went down lots while the kids played in the water. Todd enjoyed the rope swing along with mostly brothers. Todd also disappeared frequently to go fishing--he never did catch one though. He even missed the end family pictures because he had sneaked off to go fishing. We enjoyed talking around the fire. And Karla loved all her new cousin friends. She was always tagging along with someone to go anywhere. They enjoyed playing in the dirt, running, and bubbles!
It was nice and relaxing and just long enough. We miss all of you already. And love you very much.

Active imagination and a good memory

Two days ago, Karla was playing nicely while Kylee took her nap. She was talking about tieing up the monster. After a few minutes she came to me "mom, my (imaginary) friend is buggin' me." So the friend, that she imagins what they do, is buggin her. I am starting to wonder if she likes being bugged. But that is her big thing lately: Kylee is bugging me, Garth is bugging me, Mom, you bugging me. I am still laughing about her imaginary friend bugging her though.
We made the family ties game for the family reunion. I had it home a half an hour when Garth insisted I finish cutting it out so we could play it. So while cutting, Karla and Kylee was looking through the ties. "Where is me?" Karla asked several times. She got very excited about Trevor and Grandma K and Papa. She found Grandma Nef, but wasn't sure who the guy with her was (Grandpa Nef). It was a fun learning moment as we talked about resurrection. "This is my cousin?" was an often asked question too. The funniest was when she found Emily and Devin's tie. "Momma this is Em (Emily)." I asked her "who is with Emily?" She wasn't sure. So we talked about Devin and how they caught the frog. Karla remembered the frog. "Devin left me," was her response. "He left me. Then he gave me a ride. And the frog swim in the water." What happened was that Devin had taken Trevor for a four wheeler ride. She ran to ask if she could go, but didn't get their attention in time. She was devistated to be left behind. So when they came back, she asked for a ride. And Devin took both her and Kylee out. And they did catch a frog. I asked Karla, "did you hold the frog?" "No just Devin."

Potty Training War Story, size 16!

We are attempting to potty train. Karla has somedays she is really interesting and some she is not. The otherday she had gotten a reward for going potty. A little later on that day, she went in and got on the potty. Then she came and got me, "I went potty!!" bare bottomed. She then proceeded to get her own diaper and put it on--backwards. But she did it herself. Kylee still has only sat on the potty. Maybe soon she will follow with actually using the potty.
We also watched Corey Cook take his big walk. He did it and graduated!! Still no word on his game plans. "Work." Is all he has said on the topic.
I took Mom shopping for her birthday. We found a 50% off sale! So I picked up a couple of shirts for Todd since his are wearing out. And I found myself a pair of jeans that I look good in: just one. And the exciting part is that I got a size 16. I haven't been into size 16 since collage!! Now my weight is technically up 6 lbs. But I am in a size 16. So hopefully the weight is soon to follow.

everyday, normal, cute life

Tuesday, I was working in the back of the house. Karla had pushed play and my work out came on. So both Karla and Kylee grabbed a weight and started dancing around. Todd asked "what have you taught them?" "Atleast their active." But I think they are cute too. You should see Karla doing downward dog with me when I do yoga!!
Lately Karla's thing has been "I'm sick. I need icecream for breakfast. It make me feel better." "I sick. I go to the park. It make me feel better." Because Uncle Garth was sick, then mom was sick. Kylee has just started, "I sick." They do pick up fast!!
Other than that, it is life as normal. Todd is working. I'm trying to get the house clean. And the girls are trying to stay entertained. Life is good.