The Ultimate Potty Training Contest of All Time.....

Okay, so as we all know--Bridger has yet to be convinced that potty training is a good idea. I have tried a few techniques (although admittedly I have tried not to push it too much) but all has failed (the boy has no interest--but I'm pretty sure he knows what to do). How do I know he has no interest? Well, the other day he said: "I just want you to keep wiping the poop off my bumb"

Wow.

--I even tried a little reverse psychology. I told him that I would be giving his (musical and very cool) potty to Kennedy--she would also get all of his Thomas and Transformer underwear. I said that she was a big girl now but that it was okay if he still wanted to wear his diaper and be little. Yeah, that backfired. He said: "That's perfect mom! Okay!"

oh my.

So, I don't want to become a nazi potty training mother--but it would be really great if he was potty trained.... This is where the contest comes in. I need advice and suggestions--I will give each a fair chance (of trial and error) and whoever's advice works will win a prize!!! Yeah, I'm still a little unsure of what the prize should be...maybe dinner or something crafty (like decorate your blog or make you a cute apron or something like that.) I guess it will depend on who wins--but I can guarantee that you'll love it!!!

So, just leave your suggestions--make them as detailed as possible. I'll try them in first-come-first-serve order until we have a winner :) And there's no such thing as a bad suggestion (at least I'm pretty sure there's not...)

Tuesday's Hero

Today, I had a neighbor in distress--she had locked herself out of her house but after realizing her laundry room window was open--came across the street for some help. This window was a small one--she probably could have squeezed through but I can't say I blame her for avoiding the risk that she could get stuck halfway thus leaving her backside up in the air for all the world to see... :) So, she borrowed Bridger.

We hoisted him through the window (he was kind of nervous) and set him on top of the washing machine. All he had to do was hop down and then open the door for us. Well, easier said than done.... After landing on the washer, he realized that he didn't want to be in this predicament and began trying to crawl back through the window--I, being a mean mother--made him stay there and try to get down. He had quite the pep talk from me but this didn't stop him from whining and crying. Anyway, after much persistence and help he finally slid off the washer and onto the floor. I told him to open the door--he said he couldn't reach--his hand was only a few inches from the doorknob and I didn't understand why he couldn't just take another step closer. Well, it was then that Tina realized that Bridger had not landed on the floor but had instead landed inside of a ginormous laundry basket. He was stuck.

So, I gave the pep talking duty over to Tina--she coached him out of the laundry basket (he was a boy in distress--poor kid--he was nervous being in someone else's house, i guess...) He eventually tipped it over and opened up the laundry room door. I then went to the garage door and knocked so he would know which door to open next--he finally made it out alive! I could tell he was kind of annoyed at me for making him do such a task--oh well, it builds character. And Tina even gave him some chocolate (his favorite) as a reward. He said (while eating it): "Mmmm, what is this?" (a twix bar) "it's so good. I've never had this before. I love it--it's so delicious. I bet dad would love it too. I am going to save him a piece."

Isn't that interesting. I know, it's so sweet of Bridger to share his most valuable posession, but I can't believe he didn't even offer me any! Me--the one who is with him all day--for better or for worse-- (maybe that answers my question)--still, I was a little heartbroken. Oh, well--the woes of a mommy....

New Orleans!!!

wow--we just got back from New Orleans today--we had so much fun! We went sans kids--a first for us--we really missed our kids but it was so nice to have a little break and reconnect--how sad that we haven't done it sooner!
This isn't the best picture to start with--a remnant from the hurricane, but I thought it was pretty cool. We saw hundreds of homes (without even trying) with these symbols--the 'X' means that it has been searched--the '0' below it means that none were found dead or alive inside (grim statistics....) and the other numbers and letters stand for search codes, dates and any hazards that may be inside the house. Most of the homes that we saw like this were on the outskirts of the French Quarter--they were beautiful homes--some of their neighbors have already renovated. Who knows what will happen--but it was really weird to see (and creepy...)

Of course we had to visit the famed 'above ground' cemeteries--they were creepy too! (acutally, most things about this city are creepy--I think that's what they try for...) These crpts are falling apart, some of the doors were loose and some didn't have doors at all--and were empty (thank goodness!) They have filmed a lot of vampire movies in here--and you can see why!
While here, we took a haunted ghost tour of the city--it was so fun! They say these stories are true and all (I'm not sure if I'm a believer yet--) so I decided to document--didn't catch any ectoplasms in my pictures--must have been an off day for the ghosts. This hotel--The Andrew Jackson--is haunted by the ghosts of some little boys (who died in a fire almost 250 years ago)--apparently you can hear running and giggling and some tourists return home to find pictures of themselves sleeping on their camera film (ewwww!) So, do what you will with that info--but I wouldn't reccomend staying there either way! :)

We even got to see a mini mardi gras parade--gotta love the stilt walkers!
And you can't go to the Bayou without touring the swamp. We came across almost 20 alligators! They were everywhere--and they would swim right up to our boat--very curious (and it didn't help that our guide threw marshmallows in the water--I guess they think they're eggs--does that seem strange to anyone? I just can't see PETA going for feeding spun sugar to wild animals..hmmm...)
It was really neat to see them so up close in the wild. In Florida we saw a lot of gators--but they were at a distance (and that was on purpose). And did you know that they can jump? Yes, out of the water--and one almost jumped into our boat--yes, he wanted a marshmallow. It was a heart pounding experience!

Here's a little gator--only two feet from me for the longest time, I could have pet him if I was out of my mind...but he is kinda cute--in the man-eating sense of the word--- :)

Jeremy--he's either trying to conjure up lost souls or practicing for his turn...
I got to tour some plantations too--which was great fun (and they lived nothing like Scarlett--apparently life on a plantation wasn't all romance and parties)--Jer didn't come on this one--he did have to work--that was the whole purpose of us going there--but we still managed to get everything done on our list.
The food in New Orleans is amazing! But you have to love creole food--jumbalaya and gumbo and all that--I do, so it was heaven for me. We had the best seafood at Mr. B's Bistro. We actually were here on our first anniversary, so it was very fun and nostalgic to come back. YUM!!

More pictures of the French Quarter--it is so beautiful--that is, if you can get past the smell, the pigeons, the garbage and the alcohol and cabaret's--it's really nice! :) The gray house above is supposed to be haunted too (there's a horrible story that goes with it--which I will spare you--very disturbing...)anyway, apparently Nicholas Cage owns it now--but he hasn't slept there yet. interesting....


Another ghost! oh, wait--false alarm. But it does make for a neat picture! This is a Catholic Cathedral built in the 1700's--I love how old things are here! The history is incredible.

Me at the Oak Alley Plantation (hence the alley of oaks behind me)--I love the greenery!!! I miss the greenery! I wish Utah was green!
Po-boys and seafood gumbo--we definetly had our fill. We found this little hole in the wall--Mother's--it was so great! Love it when we find places like that!

The Great Mississippi River!
It rained everyday--and it was so humid--but it was so nice and warm at night.

And finally, you can't go to New Orleans without having some beneits (how do you spell that??? sounds like "ben-yah's). wow--they are so great. kind of like square donuts covered in powdered sugar (just be careful not to cough, sneeze, laugh or exhale while eating or powdered sugar will fly everywhere!!!)

So, Jer--where are we going next year???

Last Weekend

I know these are almost a week late--but we had a really fun weekend--

On Friday night we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon for a little hike--in the Lake Blanche area. It is always so pretty up there!
We love hiking by the water (if you can't tell)--and the water was so pretty here! It was so clear and actually a bright blue color (although it doesn't show up in the picture...)
Kennedy is always so good--she just comes along for the ride and laughs if Bridger starts running or jumping around (which is most of the time!)

So, we took a break on a rock next to the creek--Bridger bent down behind the rock for only about 30 seconds--when he popped his head up, he looked like this! I have no idea what he did or why, but I do know that he had no idea his face was this dirty! Not to mention that he does the cheesiest smile--wish he would make that face when I try to brush his teeth! :)

After the hike, we roasted hot dogs and made smores--there's nothing like a roaring campfire in the 100 degree heat of summer!!! oh, well--it was still fun.
On Saturday, we went to the Farmers Market in Salt Lake--I just LOVE going there! They always have they yummiest fruits and veggies and the funnest crafts! We usually hit the one at Thanksgiving Point--which is much smaller (but they sell some really good honey butter there..)
We got some raspberry salsa and peach jam--they are so good (and they go really well with that delicious bread that Becky makes...of which I need more of...)


And we can't go downtown without stopping by Ben's Cookies in Gateway---if you have never had them they are a must--Bridger (although he looks like he is in pain) is smiling to show how much he loved his cookie!

Transform!

On Sunday we were able to attend a baby blessing of some really good friends of ours. Before church started, Bridger walked over to his friend, and borrowed one of his toys--he brought it back to our bench and started to play with it. Well, this wasn't just any toy--it was a transformer--when Jeremy noticed, it was all he could do to not lay on the floor with Bridger and teach him all the "tricks" of transformers.
So, when we were at Walmart the other day, Jer took the kids over to the toy sections while I finished up some shopping. I met them over there and Bridger said: "Mom, can me and dad get a transformer?" He and Jer had both picked one out--I told Bridger that he would have to do a chore or go potty first--of which he quickly chose to do a chore (yeah, the potty training isn't going so well....) When we got home, Bridger ran downstairs to dust (his chore of choice) and then Jeremy did the dinner dishes--the rest of the night they were both in heaven--making sound effects and yelling out "Transform!". It was so funny. Hmmm, next time I'm at the store, I might have to invest in some My Little Ponies....

Rogaine for babies???

This is what Kennedy would look like with a full head of hair...kind of like a baby beauty pageant queen--or Snow White maybe...
At my parent's house on Sunday my mom brought Kennedy out wearing this wig and we all thought it was hilarious! This is the wig my mom used during her chemo for breast cancer--it has been used for many Halloween's since (including by my dad on occasion...)!

Here's another wig--as shown by Bridger--my mom even sported this on occasion :)
Jeremy--doesn't he look like one of the Beatles??
Dave--my brother-in-law--more like Austin Powers...

It's so funny to see her once bald little head now covered with a thick head of hair! Bridger got a good laugh out of it-what a cute little doll!

Battle Creek Falls

For family night on Monday, we decided to test out another waterfall. We have decided that waterfalls are the best hikes--since they offer such a great reward at the end--and Bridger looks so forward to it! This time we went to Battle Creek Falls--it's up Pleasant Grove Canyon (who knew there was a canyon in Pleasant Grove???). At the start, there is a little pavillion with picnic tables so we had a little picnic (and I do mean little--we are in desperate need of groceries right now--pbj on the ends of the loaf of bread--how sad is that...)
The hike isn't too far, almost a mile, but the waterfall at the end is so fun! We have been on this one before, but not for a couple of years. Bridger had a great time walking all by himself and he prides himself on the fact that he doesn't need to hold anyone's hand.

She was so happy--she loves riding on Jeremy's back (however, she is in her carseat for this picture...) she just laughs and laughs if she touches his hair with her hands--it's is so sweet to hear her giggling!
Jeremy always makes fun of my shoe choice when we go hiking--I may be vain but I just can't bring myself to wear tennis shoes and socks with capris! Anyway, I have never had any problems with my shoes (even though he loves to tell the story about how I wore flip flops in the snow hiking in the mountains--which is a gross exaggeration and completely untrue--it was slip ons and we weren't hiking, we were going to Oktoberfest--it wasn't snowing and we were at a ski resort--not hiking the rough mountainous terrain).....


It was nice to have waterproof shoes, so me and Bridg could play in the stream. This waterfall is probably 30 feet--Bridger screamed when I took him close--it's kind of hurricane force wind and water in your face. I was hoping he would be willing to go behind with me, but unfortunately--no. Now that I think about it--the best reward for him (at the end of a hike) would be a gigantic pile of dirt--he would be in heaven!