Paper Boy

We deliver the newspapers again. I started delivering newspapers the summer after my dad left. And it just seems that I can't shake it--it's in my blood now or something. In Albuquerque Todd had 3 routes he did in the morning, and I delivered one route in the afternoon. Now we are only doing it part time. They don't pay what the big city pays. But it's an extra car payment. We are only subs. Which means that we don't have to collect. We don't deliver Sundays--they don't pay enough for Sundays. We leave and dont' have to find subs. And we move routes often. But it has been fun. Todd and I switch off when we have small enough routes that we can. This last week we did a bigger route. We would get the kids up and let them sleep in the back seat. When they do wake up they want to help throw. "I walk momma." But they are starting to sleep through it. And it is kind of fun to do it with Todd. I hate waking up, but once we are up. It is nice to have that time together. That was the way it was delivering with my sisters too. You say the funniest things that early in the morning. One morning, I hadn't slept well. And my sister said "if you couldn't sleep why didn't you just get up and do it so I could continue to sleep." I asked her "Why didn't you do it and leave me sleeping?" She didn't say anything. And she didn't say anything. "Yeah for the same reason." She then looked at me and said "Because I'm a snot!" We like papers because we are done by the time the kids wake up. It's better than Todd getting a second job after work. We really enjoy taking Sunday's off and getting to sleep in at least one day a week. It really does make a difference. The Lord knew what he was saying when he said to rest on the seventh day. It has made it okay.

Salt and Pepper

Growing up Cyntha, my sister, and I compared ourselves to salt and pepper. We were as different as can be but complemented each other so nicely. She was tall; I was short. She was dark; I was blond. She was skinny; I was . . . not. She was quite; I wasn't. I played clarinet; she played drums. It has been interesting to see this happening with Karla and Kylee. Most people ask if they are twins, or assume they are twins. Karla is small for her age. Kylee is a little tall for hers. Karla is morning person--and wakes up in two minutes. Kylee is my night owl and takes 10 minutes to a half an hour before she is ready to face the world. Karla is very vocal, whereas Kylee has nonverbal communication down. Kylee is my snuggle bug, and Karla had to learn to give hugs. It has been fun to watch their personalities develop. I love them both very much. And I hope that they are best friends through out their entire life.

Kylee turns two!!

Kylee turned two this week. We went and saw veggie tales at the big movie on her birthday with Uncle Garth (Garth and Karla liked the movie. Kylee enjoyed running around the theater). Then on Saturday we had a party at the park: rootbeer floats (with homemade rootbeer--with dry ice not yeast.) and a pinota. Then we played in the sprinklers at the water park. They were so excited about the water, Kylee got tired of presents very fast. But it was fun to be with friends and family. We had a good time.
The next day, Kylee woke up and decided she wanted to wear big girl panties to church. She made it all the way through church with dry panties, and went poop in the potty once. But this afternoon has been more interesting. It's time to throw Kylee a Big Girl Potty Party I think.
We are loving the fresh fruit. Every time we go to Grandma Tingey's house, the girls ask for several apricots. And they have found the raspberry patch too. My kids don't go hunry when their is a garden around!! We miss having a garden of our own, but maybe next year!!

Karla was watching Brother Bear. And then she ran to the bathroom. I walked past and heard her quoting the movie, to herself, "you shut up. No you shut up. No you shut up." And then she'd giggle. We talked about the fact that we don't say that to people, but in the movie it's kind of funny huh.
Now, we went camping for the fourth of July. And Karla has decided she likes squating instead of sitting on the Potty. So when we went to the postoffice today for a field trip. In the parking lot, she just pulled down her pants and squated. She was tickled pink but I was blushed red. But we had no accidents today!!
Did I talk about the fourth of July yet? We went up to Dayton. We'd heard the fishing was good. So we went. They had a firework show. And we got to sit in the hot tub for a while. Kylee found a cat. And her and this cat played hide-n-seek for 45 minutes. The cat would hide and then let Kylee find it. Kylee would drag this pour cat around for a while and then the cat would hide. It was as long as Kylee is tall. It was funny to watch. The really funny part was when I tried to rescue this poor cat. It was purring. I let it be. But Todd did catch two small fish. And we enjoyed being away with just our little family. Although we wish we could of been in Idaho with the rest of you. We love you lots.

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.