YEE HAW!

We did it! Well, Ellis really did it since he truly was the one in control of this process. But I am proud to announce he is Potty Trained. This is a huge deal. We had one day that was frustrating for many reasons. One of those being standard potty training issues...the other was me. For those of you that know me I have a really small bladder as it is and one of the techniques we used was to have running water in the background. Well, this just seem to really back fire on me, as everytime that the water ran I had to go myself. So needless to say we BOTH spent the day in the bathroom. I am so proud of Ellis. I thought that it was going to be a lot harder but he never ceases to amaze us and his capability to step up to the plate. He now loves the idea of going "peeps" in particular. I would imagine there must be something freeing about being a boy and standing up to pee...rather then in a diaper. We are getting ready to send him to Preschool. This is such a bittersweet process. We think that he is ready and needs it. He loves to learn and interact with other kids. I took a tour of the preschool and I cried. It is so amazing to me that I can get emotional over the process of him growing up. On one hand it is exciting to watch him grow and then on the other I realize that this is just another stage in life....and in some ways it saddens me. But it is all worth it to see his excitement. He is a great kid and I have no doubt that he will touch many lives.

Lynden Fair

I Love the Lynden Fair! My parents took us every year and it brings such great memories. I hope that Pete and I can pass that on to Ellis. We met up with Cousin Miles, Auntie K, Uncle Craig, Baby Chase, Grammie and Grumpie. Ellis was a real trooper. We started him off in the car ride to ease him into everything else. Ellis seems to be on the cautious side of things or maybe that is me...still trying to figure that one out! Well, the car seemed to work out ok....so we moved onto bigger and better rides. He loves airplanes and helicopters. However, to be in one as a ride was a different story. He went with Auntie K and Miles...but as soon as it started to shift upward. He was saying "no...no..down..down...all done" well he soon realized that it did not work that way. Thank goodness he was with Miles. You can tell be the picture that he really liked the landing part. Pete took him on the Merry go Round. The first time they went around, he was sitting on the horse, the next time they came around he was in Daddy's arms. Something about colorful, plastic horses that just went around in a circle did not sit well with him. Oh well, maybe next year! The most important thing was he had fun at the fair with the whole family.

Identity Crisis and turning 34!

Did I mention I turned 34 in Vegas? I know it may not be a big deal to most people but I have to say I struggled. I don't have issues with getting "older"..I had issues with what I should be wearing and how I should be acting as an almost mid-30 range woman. I know that sounds really superficial and well...vain. And it is...I hope those of you that are reading this know my true deep and thoughtful side. Because if you don't know me this will come across as being quite shallow. Which I am not. Nonetheless, this was a crisis not only for myself but for Pete. Whew...I was so glad to have a partner in this superficial, vain and shallow journey. Somehow, it made it ok...at least for awhile.
But really I think it was more about how I define myself as a woman and what does that mean. Growing up my mother did not want me to cut my hair....it was virtuous to have long hair. Well, I haven't been virtuous for quite awhile now, so we can throw that charcteristic out the window. (just kidding mom) Seriously though, it is hard to figure this one out. I am a Mom and a Wife. I am a serious (albeit funny and sarcastic at the same time) Manager. I manage a 30 bed maximum security facility for juveniles. There crimes can range from theft to murder. I have 20 staff that I am responsible for. However, I am stuck at the mindset of a 25 year old. Some people would say "well that is all that matters". But I have to find a balance. Although, I have a demanding job and I guess somewhat important job. I am known around the courthouse by some people as "that girl" or "kiddo" (the Judges like to call me that), some see me as no-nonsense (little do they really know about my personality) but I figure somehow this fits and it works. This is what I do know about my identity...I love being a Mom, I love that my husband and I can laugh at serious issues, I love my girls (dogs) who bring some balance to my life, I love my job, and I love my best friends...Koby and Kamili...who love me unconditionally...and manage to always keep me in check and remind me to be humble, I love my whacky, crazy, dysfunctional family (because it makes me feel somewhat normal at times), I love that I am still learning about life...(ok maybe LOVE is too strong of a word for that one) lets put it this way...I love that life seems to get better as I get older. And who knows....maybe I will start growing my hair out so that I can find virtue again in my life.

Vegas!

Well, we took our first mini vacation without the boy! It was hard at times, there was so many things that we saw that reminded us of him. I know that people say it is healthy for parents to get away from their kids once in awhile. However, I am not on that page yet. Ellis is such a good boy that he is so missed when he is not around. I think that maybe a couple of days without him would be plenty. I now think that it may be healthy for him moreso then us. He stayed with Nanna and Gramps while we were in Sin City. They all had an awesome time. I wonder who enjoyed it more...Nanna, Gramps or Ellis. Nanna and Gramps made him a little sand box, bought him a little pool, took him on the Cat walks with Calvin and Hobo, played with his trains, and of course visited the toy store! I mean what more could a little boy ask for! I think that Nanna and Gramps were experiencing some withdrawls the first day without having him around. In any event Vegas was great. We went with Kamili, Dee, Koby and Megan. The weather was hot reaching to 105, but the pool and the lazy river came in handy for those moments. We stayed at THE hotel which is the new part of Mandalay Bay. Wow..was it something.