Finally Two!

Jane Birthday came and went. I few months ago I told Andrew that I wanted to do something really fun for Jane's Birthday. Last Thursday night I realized it was this week and freaked. I though so much for the fun Birthday party but I did my best to throw something together. The next day we printed off Elmo invatations and I had jane color them since we don't have a colored printer (it's more fun that way anyway right?). I came up with some fun games.

Pin the tissue on Big Birds nose.

Put the trash in Oscar's can

I didn't get video of Hot Elmo maybe because the game only last a few seconds. The two year olds I know don't know how to catch a flying Elmo very well. The older kids of course came late.

Singing Happy Birthday

Followed by Presents

Random Pictures from the Party

Jane has been having way too much fun playing with all her presents today! Thanks to everyone who came. Jane had a great time. Thanks Veronica for the Camera for this post would have be rather boring without it. With that being said thanks Aaron for taking all the pictures and video I was too nuts to have remembered to take any.

She had to have me take a picture with her Barbie

Camera Down!!

While taking a picture of Jane for my last post I dropped the camera on the ground and broke it. Another lovely thing to add to my great week last week. I can tell that this week looks like it will be just as much fun. When I got out of the shower I heard Jane whining. I went to go check on the kids and saw poop sitting on the bottom of the stairs. When I got down stairs Jane was on the couch with her bottom up against one of the cushions with poop all over it. That dang kid wont keep a diaper on for nothing. I think I might just try to do the potting training business since she keeps asking to sit on the potty and wear underwear but I just need some patience first which would be followed by a good night's sleep. Anyway I won't be posting any pictures for awhile until the "me breaking the camera" wears off so Andrew will let me get a new one. I guess I do always have the cell phone pictures. Never mind I will try to post some crappy cell phone pictures every now and then.

Welcome to my Nightmare!!

I was recently tagged by Megan to do an interesting tag...You are supposed to take pictures of "real life"…..without cleaning, without touching up. When I read her post I thought no way am I doing that. First of all I didn't have the time at the moment and second of all my house is a pig sty. This week has been a really hard one for me and being on top of things kind of got lost in my weariness. When I woke up today I checked my e-mail and saw that I had received one from Megan telling me that I wasn't off the hook. I laughed in a moment of frustration of another night of little sleep due to two waking kids at different times and dreaming about vampires and werewolves. Last night I did try to go to bed earlier to get catch up on some z's but then Andrew came home from his softball game and needed to give me every detail of his plays or the lack thereof. Anyway I decided to take the opportunity to rant about some of my frustrations.

1. the laundry room

What is that on top of my washer and dryer? That's right it's my shoe rack from my closet. Andrew has been working on a project in the sub floor for what seems like months but has only been a couple weeks. The shoe rack is usually stored over the door to get down there. Umm, do you think it would be too much to ask to put it back when he was done? It's driving me crazy I can't throw all the kids dirty close in the wash and treat them with stain remover. I guess I could move it but that would only be too easy.

2. favorite room

My room. Like i said I just woke up. I'm actually pretty good at making our bed each day. I used to think that making your bed was the stupidest thing but now I can't stand having it unmade it just makes the room feel so dirty.

3. what the kids are doing

Jane eating Kix for her first time. She has gotten so particular with what kind of cereal she wants. Today I offered her Wheaties and Cheerios and when she said no to both I knew she looking for the box of life. I quickly offered her a new kind, Kix to throw her off. It worked. Reynolds just chilling, while I took pictures, waiting to be fed.

4. favorite shoes

What's so cute about these shoes? I don't really know I just love them. I found them in Richfeild, Utah while we were down there for Christmas in '06 for the right price of 18 dollars. Pretty pathetic I haven't bought a new pair of shoes since then expect for my running shoes. I really should pamper myself more.

5. the toilet

6. Kitchen sink -

7. the refrigerator. Pretty much a mess!!!

Can you spot all my ground beef in the freezer. I would give anything for a second freezer. My latest buy was a bunch of hot dogs for 59 cents. That should keep Jane happy all summer long. I even scored some ball park turkey dogs for 9 cents because they had a 50 cents off coupon on the package.

8. self portrait - Yeah right, in your dreams. I've been so un-photogenic lately not a chance I'm posting a picture of myself. I will just leave Megan's up for the gift of this experience. Megan said "I feared this more than taking pictures of my house. Post shower...pre-make up. Plus there is no one to jump in the picture with me to shift the focus...I do not like self-portraits. This was the most difficult to not want to 'clean up.' Ugh."

9. the closet.

I actually cleaned out the bottom of my closet. Now I just need to work on the top.

10. dirtiest room

hmmm Andrews projects again. I wish I just had a room to give him that I never had to look at or had to worry about cleaning.

11. dream vacation

Yesterday when both the kids were crying because they both did not nap for longer than 30 minutes I closed my eyes and imagine I was here. My personal tropical paradise. What ever it takes to not kill your kids right?

I tag Christy, Kristin, Erin, Jessie and Cynthia

Sarah CottleLoading...

Jun 13 (3 days ago)

The Talented Erin Colton

This is my beautiful sister in-law Erin. She currently has a different hair style but I must say that I love this picture of her. I'm always jealous of her and how photogenic she is. Anyway, I could go on about her good looks but I will save that for another post. This post is about how talented she is and I'm very grateful that she is so willing to share her talents with me. She has always helped me with decorating ideas and even actually doing my decorations. If I have anything in my house that you think is cute or a good idea I guarantee it came from Erin.

When I was pregnant with Jane I went to walmart because I wanted to do a "project" (if any of you know me I don't do "projects"). I bought the letters of Jane's name and some purple paint. When I got home I was all excited to do my "project". I sanded the letters and began to paint. I thought they looked pretty good in the end and hung them up. A few days later I got a call from Erin and she asked if I had bought anything for Jane's room. I said not really but admitted I had bought the letters. She said, "Oh man I made you some letters". Well of course I knew anything that Erin did would be much better than anything I would come up with. I quickly said I will still take them. She told me she would take a picture and then I could decide.

This is what I saw. This would be so much more funny if I took a picture of my pathetic excuse for a "project". Andrew and I both had a good laugh at the comparison and told Erin we would be ecstatic to have them. While Erin was out recently I confessed to her that I wish I had some cute letters for Reynolds. She willingly said, "I will do some for you". I thought about how she also has a four month old baby and did not want to put the burden on her. To be honest I can't remember what was said after that but in no way, shape, or form did I think she was going to do it. While I was vacationing I was doing the normal checking out blogs and saw that Erin had an updated post. When I checked it out I saw this.

Well not actually this but a picture of the letters. This is them actually hanging in Reynolds room. I was so excited I felt like I just got the best Christmas present. Erin I love them so much! I'm really hoping it will inspire me for some additional decor in the room. The colors go perfect with the quilts that my talented mother in-law made. Not to mention they go awesome with the quilt that Erin made for Reynolds as well.

Thank you Aunt Erin. We would have nothing cute without you.

Taking a Poll

I need your help in making a decision on whether or not to start potty training Jane. I know your answer Christy, but just hear me out. Jane will not keep a diaper on! She is taking her shorts off and then her diaper and running around the house nude. Of course she only does this when we are not keeping a close eye on her, but that is beside the point. The fact is she could potentially pee on the carpet and I wouldn't even know until I stepped in it. On Sunday we can home from vacation and we had to put her in timeout(shocking I know) and while she was in isolation she took her diaper off. She came out of time out before she was told and said she had to poo. She pulls this stunt quite often as a means to get the attention and/or a diaper change when she is in trouble. Knowing this, we just sent her back to her room. A little while later Andrew decided to check on her and found Jane without her diaper and poo on the carpet in her room. Guess we should have taken her more seriously. Anyway, this morning I've been battling with her to wear a diaper but she keeps yelling back at me that she wants to wear underwear. We went through this same thing on Saturday so I said what the heck I will put her in underwear and then put this plastic thing that my sister gave me over them. She peed in them but didn't even notice a thing which makes me think she is not ready. My dilemma is that I personally think she is probably not ready to be potty trained and I really don't want to put the time into a failed attempt, but at the same time I can't help but think that I shouldn't be fighting with my kid to not wear underwear and to sit on the toilet (because she sits there forever and doesn't do anything, I don't have time for that). If I'm going to do it I want to do it all the way no messing around with pull ups and doing it every now and then. Should I go for it or find some creative way to get Jane to keep her diapers on? For the record, Andrew thinks she is ready. Please vote on the poll and post of comment with any words of wisdom.

Get Out the Grill

I love summertime when the living is easy. On Friday it was a beautiful day so Jane and I filled up the pool and laid out for a bit.

We called Alex and Cynitha over to join us for a BBQ.

Jane and Alex has a blast swimming in the pool. I guess it would be more accurate to say had a blast poring sand in the pool and water into the sand box.

They were both so dirty I had to take them out side and hose them off.

This picture probably does a little more justice with how dirty Jane got. She had all sorts of sand clumped to her head.
It was a great time. I love hanging out with family. Thanks Alex Cottle family for coming over. We will try to get the rest of the family over soon!!!!!

The New Ren

OK not really but seriously at the end of our vacation Reynolds seemed so different like he grew into a four month old baby over night. We are having so much fun watching him grow. Here are some videos of some of his new developments. They are long and boring and I really need to remember not to talk while I'm filming, it's so embarrassing but I want to remember his milestones and this is the only journal I keep.

Reynolds on the move. He hates his stomach so much that we noticed when we put him on it for tummy time he starts to scoot.

Reynolds learning how to sit up. He still has a ways to go but he will sit independently for a minute or so.

This may appear like we let our children abuse each other but hey it was cute. Reynolds loves Janes attention and will be thrilled about it whatever the cost may be.

Here they are again watching TV together while mommy made lunch

I'm Terriable, I Know

So lately I've been getting it from Andrew and my brother about how terrible my post can be regarding grammar and just plain mistakes. I know they are only telling me because they both love me enough to not want me to make a complete fool of myself for the whole world to see. I'm sure they say what you all have been thinking. Anyway I will try to do better but believe it or not I do try to read through them. The truth is I've always been terrible at writing and grammar. I always did well in English only because I knew I was terrible and I would make people proof read my papers over and over until finally there were limited mistakes and they still would come back to me with red ink all over them from my professors. In all reality I will probably always be terrible, but I will try better to proof read. In a way I'm totally putting one of my biggest weakness out there for everyone to see but I don't really care cause who really wants to read what I have to say anyway just look at the pictures. Speaking of pictures Andrew has been working from home a lot this week so I haven't had time to blog (He dominates the computer). I have some cute videos of Reynolds sitting up playing with toys, scooting on the ground since he hates his tummy so much, and playing with his feet. S0.tay tuned cause the only thing I want to do right now is crawl in bed and read New Moon in stead of upload videos. Sorry Grandparents. Hope all is well.

Trip Over

Man it stinks how vacations go buy so quickly. It seems like you look forward to them for so long and them there over before you know it. We made it home today and are feeling pretty bummed on getting back to the routine of life especially since there are no more trips or visitors to look forward to. We had such a good time and are overwhelming grateful for the Guiness for putting us up for 10 days. They are the most hospital people I have ever met. After we dropped Travis off from picking us up at the airport and Jane realized that she was not going to get to go to her cousins house. She said, "Gabby's house". She threw a fit when we told her it was time to go home. We will miss the Guiness and hope they come out to Denver soon. I will little Gabby who is five and cares more about fashion then I do which I know isn't saying a whole lot.

I like to call her Mrs Gaberial Solice in this picture
Bye Guiness and thanks again for EVERYTHING
(WHY DIDN'T I GET A PICTURE WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY?)

A total highlight of the trip was when I got to hang out with j-dog, Suzette, or Sister Johnson which ever you prefer. J-dog was one of my mission companions which we were so reverent while we served together and made some names for each other. Mine of course was Hill dog and then there was t-bone but she lives in Austriala. To my knowledge we were the only ones cool enough to get a special name. We had a great time catching up.

Beach Day!

We spent a great day at the Beach. Andrew surfed with Christian while I tended the kids and tried to read Twilight which I'm done and addicted. Andrew then built something out of sand with Jane. Every time I got my nose out of my book and looked at him he was swarmed with all these kids. I missed getting pictures of his creation and him on the surf bored. I guess I was a little occupied opps.



After we spent the morning at the beach we met up with Carmen and Greg for lunch at some Hawaiian food place. It was pretty good but I really wish I would have went with the terryika beef instead of the chicken. The kids were so beat. I could tell Jane was really tired because as she was eating her eyes kept rolling to the back of her head. Then I look down and saw this.

I woke her up but she just kept face planting into the table. It was too funny so I decided to bust of the video. You can't hear this part but Jane was looking at Andrew half asleep saying, "hold you, hold you...."

Renny was zonked too!
Greg and Christian
Of course a day at the beach wouldn't be complete without somebody getting totally fried. Poor Andrew got a second degree burn and spent the rest of the vacation in a lot of pain.
I tried to capture the blisters but I don't think you can really see unless you have the gift of the special eye. I'm still the one to blame that I didn't remind him to put sunscreen on.

Family Day at the Peir

We were itching to get the beach since the weather was crappy for the first few days of our trip so we took a quick trip to the to the peir to show jane the Ocean.

She was afraid of anything. She loved running after the water. I should have put her in her suit cause she got taken out with a wave.

Swings on the beach! It doesn't get any better in Jane's world.