Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to take this time to pay a tribute to my wonderful wonderful Mother. Although she isn't here with us she has influenced my life forever. Now that I'm a mother myself I wish I could tell my mom how much I appreciated all the things she did for me as a child. Motherhood is by far more work than I ever imagined. It's hard for me to believe that it's been three years this memorial day that we lost our mom. I still find myself wanting to call her and ask her questions, or just to tell her the funny things that happens day to day. When I'm sick I just want to go home and have her take care of me, because nobody makes things better than your mom.

I remember one mother's day the night before I was so sick that my mom took me to the emergency room. We were there until the wee hours of the morning, and not once did she murmur, but her being a nurse she did speed up the fluids they were putting into me so we could get out of there. I felt so bad because she was so exhausted on mother's day.

I've spent the last two mother's day putting a smile on my face when really there was just sadness in my heart. I don't think my mom would want me to be sad. I think she would want us to celebrate all the good things she did. I found myself looking at my little baby and kissing her cheeks. I sat and cried thinking they had recently been kissed by my angel....my mom. What a miracle it is. Although she hasn't been here with my kids I know they had their time with her in Heaven. I hope she taught them all the good things that she did, and how to be a better person. How to believe in themselves no matter what. She always had a way of making you feel like you are on top of the world. My mom was my nurse, cheerleader, and best friend. I miss you mom!! Thanks for helping me become the person that I am today.

I Love you to the moon and back!! xoxoxo

Happy Mother's day!

So many of you don't know, but I have two mother's!! I know so many who don't claim their mother in law, but I do. I feel so fortunate to have Ryan's mom a part of our lives. I've always said somebody had a hand in picking my mother in law, because they knew I was going to need her. If I could have found anyone close to who my mom was that would be Peggy! I always tell her it's probably a good thing my mom isn't here, because my kids would be rotten. She spoils them so much. I know it would've turned into a competition between them, because neither of them like to be out done! They want to be the favorite.....and believe me Warner would chose his grandma over mom any day! Not only does she spoil our kids she is always spoiling us. She makes sure we are always taken care of. Not one of her kids go without. She supports us in all that we do. We appreciate the example that you are to our family. We learn so much from you. Thanks for being the person that you are. We LOVE you!! xoxoxo Ryan, Charlyn, Warner, and Abbi

Oh how they grow

This is Abbi at six weeks. Six weeks....I can't hardly believe it. I don't have her measurements but I can tell she is growing. Just the last couple of days she has started to give me her toothless open mouth smile. It's enough to melt a mothers heart. It makes getting up at night worth it. So far this little baby has been so good. She only gets up about once a night. Unless you want to call 6 am night then she gets up twice. She basically eats, sleeps, and poops. She only cries when one of those things happen. I feel so lucky as I'm knocking on wood that things don't change.

Who had any idea that little girls would be so much fun. Ryan claims the reason why I can't get out the door is because we play dress up. It's just so much fun to have pink pink pink. I love it and I love you Abbi!

My Boys!!

When we first had the baby I worried myself sick because Warner's little life was going to turn upside down. It's been an adjustment, but a good one. He has actually calmed down a little.....just a little. He is still a busy little guy, but with all that energy he is such a good sport to help his mom.

Here are some of the funny things that he does to make my day!

Ryan takes the batteries out of the toys that make loud noises. So when Warner goes to play with them, they don't work. I tell him he needs to wait for his dad to get home because we need his tool. The tool is Ryan's Leatherman's that he wears on his belt. So now anytime he can't get anything to work he hits his hip and tells me we need dads tool. It's the cutest thing ever.

Another cute thing is every morning he comes into our room to wake me up. He asks me where's dad? I tell him he's at work makin' the bacon. So now when he asks me where he is and I tell him work he says "OH.....makin' bacon". It just melts my heart. One of the other things he has picked up is when anyone sneezes he tells them bless you. What a cutie he is. I just have to share these things so I will always remember them. I love you Warner Bug!

What was I thinking

So yesterday was a pretty big day for us. When Warner woke up around 8:00AM I asked him if he wanted to wear his big boy Shrek undies. Warner says ya ya ya momma!! He was so excited. So off we started our first day of potty training. I hadn't read much about potty training, but had many mothers tell me about Dr. Phil's method. So I took some of that advice and went for it. Loaded Warner up with lots of fluid. We sat down on the toilet and he went. He did it yeah!!! So we wait 15 more mins and I take him back to the toilet. Nope momma....he doesn't have to go. So back to watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. Then a moment later, "mom" he says!! I walk over to find that he has went on the carpet. So I clean that up. Take him back to the toilet to make sure he doesn't have more. Then I move on to feeding the baby. Another 15 mins. goes by and we go back to the toilet and nothing. Needless to say our next accident was on the couch, then the kitchen chair, the next time I take him to the toilet out falls all the poop. Then as I'm feeding the baby he sits on his little toilet and is doing it. He is going potty. Mom is having a party!!!! Then he stands up and the plastic bowl was suctioned to his little bum and he runs over to the party and the bowl falls off his bum and there goes all the pee onto the carpet. This is all in 45 mins. time. I was just dripping sweat head to toe running from feeding baby to cleaning up pee. By 4:30 yesterday we were back in a diaper. I think we will wait till this little baby isn't eating every 2 hrs, so mom can focus more on the potty training. I just wonder why I haven't heard more moms complaining about potty training. Maybe it's just my attitude, but personally there was nothing fun about this day. I may look back on it and laugh, but for now I'm exhausted!! Way to go moms that can potty train in 24 hrs. Dr. Phil's way. I'm hoping I can do it within a year!!!

Oh, and for those of you wondering why the undies are on backwards....Mr. Independent wanted them that way so Shrek could be up front so he could see him, and don't forget to pee on him ;)

Petting Zoo

While we were up at Kristie's house we took the kids to the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point. They loved it!!! Warner would feed the animals and then tell us how it tickled as they took the food from his hand!

All the kids!
Warner loved his pony ride. He didn't want to get off. It was quite the fight!

Logan, Warner and his Aunt Jean. We call her Jeannie, but to Warner she is Jean. He sure loves her!

Strawberry Jam!

Last week my sister Kristie's kids were out of school for spring break. Warner, Abbi and I decided it would be a good time to go up and hang out with the kids. Kristie and I decided to make freezer jam. For those of you who like strawberries......COSTCO had the yummiest strawberries ever! The morning we made the jam Logan watched both Griffen and Abbi so we could get the job done. At one point both babies were crying, but Logan knew just what to do! What a great babysitter he was. Thanks Logan for being such a good sport!