Non-diapers

Lando has done really well with potty training! He's been sleeping through the night dry (except twice, I think it was because someone put a diaper on him one evening after an accident so he forgot temporarily-I have since hidden the diapers), and he hasn't had any 'number two' accidents (I don't count the park where there wasn't an available toilet). He loves to wear his "big boys" as he calls them.

We've just done it by encouraging him not to pee his big boys or my bed and giving him a treat every time he uses the potty. Working pretty well for him. Woot!
It's helped the older children too. They have been getting treats for flushing the toilets and not wetting the bed. It's working really well for the flushing, not so great for the wet beds (darn).

Dropli finds a sponsor. It doesn't last.


Dropli goes on safari.


Dropli as a paleontologist.


Dropli reads his scriptures. Bet you didn't know that.

**Cathie has joined the blogging world. Check her out!***

umm, bad choice of words maybe...

Jest pik-shers

That thar's a tree.

Fed up with lookin' like a shaggy dog, I cut meh own har.

Back in meh day we didn't have things like that thar co-lar.

Last, but not least.

Introducin' DROPLI !

(yull be see'en mar of him 'cause Ammo and I tried him out in a lot of sitchiashuns).

Gratitude

Somehow, blessed. As far as I know, nothing has been done for the pear tree. We didn't thin it so some branches broke, as it is still very young, and it hasn't been sprayed or anything, but here we have a bounty of bugless pears to enjoy. I made pie, but the results weren't very photogenic. Thank goodness for internet recipes, so far so good. They have been so tastey, I'll have to bring some your way if they don't overripen or get eaten in the meantime.


By the way. One of my neighbors is running for congress. Here is his video. Tell me what you think.

Epiphany

As I was reading Alma 60 I felt like a lot of it could totally be applied to our time as far as government and country and/or individuals, so I thought I would share some tidbits. I am going to skip around the chapter and not bother with other references, you'll just have to read it yourself I guess...

...we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state. Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you?

...many have fought and bled out their lives because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people...

...ye ought to have stirred yourselvves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but behold, ye have neglected them...

Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain.

...the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgement may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God... I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of their exceeding slothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our government...For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies that they could have gained no power over us.

...ye are in the heart of our country and ye are surrounded by security...do you suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?

...So ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay.

...the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.

...repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing...

I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them--And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations--...behold, I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear...

...bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones...

Behold I wait for assistance from you...

...for behold, the Lord will not suffer that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people. Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you and come out in judgment against them...when it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred...while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory and the vain things of the world?

...If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them...

And now behold, I am constrained, according to the covenant whichI have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God...

I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. (Amen. This should be the motto for our country don't you think?)

Funny that I didn't see it before.

I've joined the masses...

It was this or a pink razer, but I couldn't justify the extra $50 for a phone with less options, plus I kinda like the dark grey better anyway. Whattya think?

Of Shoes, Socks, and Self-Discovery

When Stephen travels to CA he often brings home hand-me-downs from our nephew for the boys, often they are way too big or worn, but these shoes were a hit. Ammo loves them, and I have to admit I think they are pretty great.

Here we have Lando's new shoes, which happen to have some similarities to Ammo's. I bought them with the $10 we made at our garage sale (on some little tykes things we've outgrown):

And here are Lando's shoes no longer shiney - only 2 hours later. sigh.

As for socks, we have a mystery. This toddler sized brand new looking female sock came out of my dryer. Where could it have come from?

We haven't had anyone over with this small of a girl for a very long time, other than Kinley (how do you spell her name?), and I don't know that they would have left without at least knowing it was missing, you know? It didn't come out of the basement - we cleaned that out for the garage sale - and the rest of the house has been gone through recently enough that I can't imagine where it could have been hiding. huh.

As for self-discovery. That was a lie. I wish I had something awsome and witty to say to tie them together, but I don't. It just sounded good in the title.

Motivation

The garage sale went o.k. We really didn't have a lot anyway. Ad sold her old bike for $10, but afterward we were unsure wether it was a real ten dollar bill. I know there is new money coming out, but this looks way off. Guess we'll find out. The boys all spent their dollar they earned at the garage sales down the street, and I am left with ten to decide what to do with. Put it in the account toward a bill, a haircut, pants for one of the children, stash for going to garage sales, crafts, or food....I don't know.
Anyway, it did motivate me to finish the little quilt (see yesterday) and this doll (no they didn't sale, too much for a garage sale I think, and a good thing I suppose, Lando and Big B loved them):



Does she look like a Rachel to you?
Here is a close up of the bottom of her apron:



It started out as an idea for overalls, then it turned to maybe a dress, but it ended up as an apron. I had tons of fun sewing it!
By the way, does she look like a cow to you? Someone that actually noticed it said "cute cow". I didn't think of her as a cow at all, but I suppose it works.

I bought an eggplant at the farmers market just to see what it was. I ended up using this recipe. It's pretty good! I was kind of suprised. I've been eating it on saltines, but it was fine plain too. The children haven't tried it yet, so the jury is still out....

Garage Sale

The neighborhood is doing a garage sale tomorrow from 7:30 - 2:00 so I have been looking for things to sale. I had recently told Stephen I didn't think we had much, but he feels he has some things in the garage that we don't use. So I got to looking. So far I don't have much, but I was thinking I could finish off that doll to sale (if I can get it done today), and I bound this blanket:





The problem is, I don't have clue what to sale it for. It is just a prequilted panel that I pieced some scraps together for the binding, and all I did was pin it down and stich in the ditch on the front so that the back is kind of a mess. I think the panel was 7-10 dollars, but I can't remember for sure.
The children have all been brainstorming on things to sale too. I think Ad has a plan for a lemonade stand, Ammo has some toys picked out, and T is making some tinfoil covered can people (?), so it should be a family production anyway. Could be kind of fun!

You're one year older, and one year wiser too?

It's not quite midnight so it's not a belated birthday wish yet, right? I didn't forget, I told B it was your birthday and had a plan, only I just finally remembered the computer. Hope your hot date was wonderful, and I'll bet Megan's cake was (I had a couple of ding dongs all to myself in your honor, thus your lovely birthday picture).
You know, I first looked for 20th birthday pictures, but they were all kinda sleezy, what's up with that? I thought it would be the 21st that would lean that way?

Anyway, I am glad you are you! Love ya!