Yikes! I really am trying to update this each month, but I always seem to be running somewhere and doing something! Then, by the end of the night, I am absolutely exhausted! *whew* Here I am now, though. I suppose every 2 months is better than not all, right? Right. =) Well then, on to the current events of the Knobel household . . .
The family that I nanny for took a vacation down to Phoenix to visit family around the end of May, so that gave me about a week and a half off work. It was really nice to relax and be home with my 2 kiddos. I decided to take advantage of the long off-work stretch and started potty-training my little Justin. I was apprehensive at the thought of it all, but I just couldn't ignore the gut-feeling that the timing was right for it. I felt like it had been forever since I went through the whole potty-training thing with Angela. I mean, that WAS almost 4 years ago! So, to help my lingering feeling of apprehension, I did some research and asking around to some of my friends who were also potty-training their little ones. In doing so, I came across a particular method that sounded awesome, and had received raving reviews from potty-training parents everywhere. It's officially titled the "3 Day Method". It claimed you could have your child diaper and accident free in 3 days!! I was VERY intrigued, but also skeptical. Come on, 3 days?? Really??? Hmmm.... I figured, I had nothing to lose other than the cost of diapers and a little extra time doing laundry. So, I read through the e-book that a friend was gracious enough to share with me, bought the necessary supplies, took a DEEP breath and dove right in.
The first day was a little crazy, but amazingly, that very night he stayed dry ALL NIGHT LONG!! And the following day went fantastic! By only day four he was still staying dry all night and was completely accident free all day long. I seriously couldn't believe it! The method had done exactly what it said it would! Now, I'm still unsure if this was all due to the method, or if Justin has been an *easy-to-train* kid. Perhaps both?? Either way, I'm ECSTATIC!
After a little more than a week of PERFECT potty-ing, he went through a bit of a rebellious stage where he acted like he was bored with the whole toilet business. We had as many accidents that day as we did successful trips to the potty. =/ FORTUNATELY, this only lasted the one day and he was back to his awesome potty-ing self the very next day. I also have my strong suspicions that having to go BACK to work after a week and a half at home threw a bit of a wrench in his groove. This is because the day he struggled with it was our first day back at work. And he has been perfect ever since! I will admit he has had a few lingering, minor accidents here and there, but they have been VERY rare and have included instances where we couldn't get to a restroom quick enough, or like the other day, the poor guy had the runs from something. I know, I know... TMI, right?? Well anyways, he's absolutely fabulous! He just LOVES his "big-boy underwears" and looks sooo cute in them! =) I couldn't be more proud of my little man. He seems to be growing up much too fast. =)
***Big Boy Underwears***
***This is what happens when I take him shopping***
He definitely isn't the ONLY one who's growing up too fast... June 2nd was little miss Angie Mae's LAST day of Kindergarten! I know, right??!! Seriously... where has the time gone??? They had a little*graduation* program that I was able to attend and I got some super-cute footage on tape to show off to Kaleb later since he wasn't able to get off work. They sat up front and sang songs and recited different little poems and such. Then each kid got a certificate of completion from the teacher. As the teacher handed out each individual child's certificate, she also handed out an award listing something that child could be recognized for. Angela's award was for "Helping the Teacher REMEMBER". LOL I know she does an excellent job at never letting me forget ANYTHING! *hee hee* I just had to giggle quietly to myself when I heard that.
Angie also recently lost her first 2 teeth! She was SO excited to have finally lost a tooth! She could hardly get to sleep she was so anxious for the tooth fairy to come! And she looked absolutely darling with that little window in her front, bottom teeth. The window has almost been completely filled in now by her "grown-up teeth".
Then, she decided she needed "grown-up ears" to match her "grown-up teeth". So she got her ears pierced during a shopping trip to the mall. She picked out rainbow flower earrings and enjoys showing them off to everyone she sees. =) She's getting to be such a little "grown-up" these days.
Angela gets more and more beautiful each and every day. She is bright and sunny, intelligent and loving, sweet and determined, tender and peaceful. Her laughter is absolutely contagious and she has yet to lose interest in snuggling. I am SO proud of her and each and every one of her many accomplishments she has had this year. She is a MASTER at spelling and reading. She has caught on SO quickly at math and she for sure has an artistic streak a mile wide. I am thrilled at being able to watch her spread her wings and learn to fly. She is the epitome of "blossoming" in every aspect of her life. On top of being proud, I am truly blessed to have the precious opportunity to be her mother. I look forward to watching her grow into the gorgeous, talented woman I KNOW she will be. =)
We had made Memorial Holiday camping plans for the weekend only to later realize the weather was forecasted to be icky. Maybe we're wusses, but I just had NO desire to go sleep in a tent with rain, snow, and freezing temperatures. So, we rearranged plans and were able to enjoy the holiday just hanging around town with family. And it ended up being a good thing too, since I came down with Strep Throat and then Tonsillitis! Yuck! My throat was sooo sore! And then one morning I checked my throat out in the mirror to find a disgusting whitish growth going on at the back. So I spent an hour or so at InstaCare and got me some killer antibiotics and felt significantly better in time for the Monday holiday. I was glad to not miss out on the festivities!
That Memorial Day Monday, we headed up north to Ogden. Kaleb's family has somewhat of a yearly tradition to spend memorial day picnicking and fishing. There's a really cute trout farm up there. The kids love seeing the fish-- there's literally MILLIONS! And we each always catch about 2. Then, if you're real gutsy (excuse the pun), you can stand and watch them clean, slice, and gut your fish right there! I usually opt-out for that experience but I DID catch my fair share and even touched a fish this year! =) Angela was my brave little girl and carried both of her fish from her pole to the collection bucket all by herself! It took some encouragement and she wasn't too excited about grabbing a slimy fish at first, but afterwards she thought it was pretty cool!
***She caught the biggest fish of the day***
Justin even caught his 2 fish, and he did it pretty close to all by himself. He got SO mad anytime anyone tried to help him hold his pole or attract the fish. He sure is an independent little soul and doesn't need NO help from NO body!! =D He quickly tired of standing there with a pole and had more fun running from pond to pond scouting out fish for other people to catch. He also really enjoyed throwing the food pellets into the water with Papa Ken and watching the turbulence that caused on the surface of the water.
***He was so excited that he caught one "all by himself"***
***Trying to catch fish the HARD way***
We finished off the day with a game of bowling at the local Fat Cats, and then a trip to the fabulous Farr's Ice Cream shop there in town. They have DELICIOUS ice cream and it's always packed every time we go. If you're ever in Ogden, look it up!
School has been out for the kids now for a little over a month. We've been able to have a pretty good time so far. I was a little anxious about my job since summer break meant having all 6 kids home all day long. But so far we have been able to keep busy and play and have fun. We make a couple trips to the community pool and a couple trips to the various parks around the neighborhood each week and the kids always have a blast. We're all having lots of fun and getting lots of sun. Even my own pasty-white self is acquiring a more toasty color! ; )
***My cute kids and the Saylor kids***
I have discovered that Justin is quite the little fish and LOVES to go to the pool. He runs and jumps and splashes away! Angela has always been much more timid when it comes to water, but this year even she has gained more confidence with it and floats and splashes all over the pool without any help from me. She still doesn't want much to do with the deep end and has yet to decide if she will jump in the Snake River next week at our annual family river-rafting trip. I guess we'll see. She is my little tender-heart. =)
Speaking of the river trip, we're all getting mighty excited to hit those white rapids! 4 days from now we will be setting up camp as quickly as possible so as to get in that blessed first run of the year. Can't wait! This year will be the first in a couple of years that both my sisters and their families will be there TOGETHER. The past couple years they've traded off due to work schedules or whatnot. It will be really good to have us all there together rafting, camping, and having a grand old time.
***Justin and Angie trying the new boat out for size***
This year we've even invited some good friends of ours to come. They are an awesome couple with two darling boys close to the ages of Angie and Justin. We've come to absolutely love them and try to get together on a weekly basis at the very least. We have even decided on a mutual marriage arrangement between their oldest, Logan, and Angela. They are just so cute when they play together. It will be really fun to share the river experience with them this year!
***Logan, Misty, Trevor, Thoren***
Mid-June brought a new addition to our family. Against my better judgement, we went and looked at an adorable kitten and fell in love instantly! We all took turns snuggling him and checking him out, and he began purring from the first moment we held him. He has been a fun addition. He has such a cute personality and loves to cuddle and play. We decided to name him Bagheera, after the black panther in The Jungle Book. He is all black with subtle stripes/markings along his body. He started out with bright baby blue eyes, but they are gradually changing to a striking shade of green. He is such a character! He is really good with the kids and seems to just fit in perfectly.
Bagheera has not only wiggled his way into each of our hearts, but even has made his way onto the bed with Kaleb and I at nights. It's rather entertaining for the first five minutes or so that we turn out the lights, as he will bounce around and pounce at the blanket if we move even an inch. It only lasts a few minutes and then he will find a comfy spot and curl up to sleep. On occasion he even tunnels under the blanket by our legs and curls up to sleep there. Such a funny feline!
Another cute thing he does is suck his *fingers* when he sleeps! No joke! He is currently curled up in my lap as I am typing this, eyes closed, out like a light, sucking away on his paw! LOL! He always comes bounding down the hall to greet us when any of us come home, and even acts excited that we are back. He was housebroken from day one and he has also done really well so far with the other *critters* we've got here (2 birds and 1 guinea pig). He is very interested and will sit and watch them, and walk on the cages, but it never really goes much past that. I even caught one of the birds nipping on his paws the other day as he sat on top of the cage. Too funny! The birds don't act too concerned and neither does the guinea pig.
Angela loves to carry him around and baby him, and Justin enjoys playing with him and the various cat toys we've acquired. Occasionally Justin will lean over and kiss him, it's so cute! Sometimes he will forget we are fragile humans and scratch a little too hard, but he seems to respond fairly well to reprimands over it. In the next couple of months we will be getting him neutered and de-clawed and that should help the situation as well. All in all, a good pick for our little family. =)
All the *dads* seemed to have a wonderful Father's Day. We were slothful sinners and skipped church that day. The kids and I let Kaleb sleep in while we made him breakfast in bed. Angela and Justin played the role of waiter and waitress, complete with aprons and a menu to choose from and I played the role of chef. It was fun to surprise him and pamper him for once.
He works so hard and is such a good man and awesome father and husband. The kids had each made him some crafts and homemade cards and I gave him a much-wanted shopping trip to buy some cool things he's been wanting for the River. He now has a nice wetsuit and some pretty nifty water shoes. He feels all geared up for the approaching trip now.
My dad also got a cool new accessory for the River. He had been eyeing a new, fancy "Captain's" lifejacket to help tell him apart from the rest of the crew. Us and my sisters and their families went in on it together and he was able to get it shipped out by Father's Day in order for him to show it off in pictures. On the back he promptly wrote, "Capt'n Bob". =)
For Kaleb's dad us kids all pitched in to buy him a gas-powered generator. He was surprised and excited and has already begun brainstorming plans for it.
The month of June also blessed our family with a job promotion for Kaleb. Hooray! We were so thrilled to hear the news. He has been wanting to get promoted to this particular department for awhile now and feels extremely grateful to have finally gotten over there. I am super proud of him! The day we found out, the kids and I came home and surprised him with balloons, his favorite candy, and great big hugs and kisses from each of us. This raise will enable us to loosen our pinch-hold on the pennies in our pocket a little bit. It feels good to be able to have some breathing room!
To celebrate the Fourth of July, we spent Saturday the 3rd relaxing and being with family. We went swimming and then had a barbecue. Being in the Mormon capitol of the world, the official city fireworks shows were scheduled for that Saturday as well. We decided to try something a little different and travelled up the mountain to Draper and settled into the new amphitheater they built up there. We were able to see fireworks for every city in the Salt Lake Valley from up there. It was beautiful and we even brought along our own *patriotic* playlist to listen to in the background. It was also really nice since there were only 2 other families there. It can be a nuisance to deal with large crowds sometimes. Although, I was informed by Angela that it's "more fun to see fireworks up close." =P So, I suppose next year we will trudge through the crowds to see them "up close". =) Regardless, the kids enjoyed the "pretty lights" and so did Kaleb and I.
Then, on the ACTUAL 4th of July, we had a family dinner up at Kaleb's grandparents, followed by some of our own personal lighting of fireworks....
Then, the next day, Kaleb and I were both lucky enough to have the day off from work. We slept in and enjoyed being lazy, and then met up with his parents for a late lunch at Applebee's. I LOVE Applebee's!! Good food, and they always seem to have good deals going on. After eating we headed out and did some Geo-Caching. For those of you who are unsure what this is, it's basically treasure hunting with GPS units. You acquire a set of coordinates along with a hint about the *treasure's* whereabouts from an online website community, and then you hunt for it! They come in all shapes and sizes and it's a really fun and cheap family activity! Some are even big enough to hold toys for the kids. The kids are always excited to search for, find, and then actually take home something from the *treasure box*. It's also fun to see who's been there before you, since there is always a logbook to sign. It's a worldwide phenomenon. Look into it! =)
Well I think that finally about sums it up! Maybe this next time I will try to do one month at a time instead of two! There's always so much going on that two months worth of reporting makes for a pretty lengthy blog post! Sheesh!
Hope everyone is doing well and we look forward to seeing some of you in A FEW DAYS!! =D
