A Potty Question

Randy and I are starting to contemplate potty training our two year old, Nathan. He is not quite ready, but it shouldn't be too much longer. I hope by the end of the year it will be done, but no worries if it is not. Recently we realized that we have slightly different terminology for what you do in the bathroom. I didn't realizes this until after Jacob was potty trained and he kept using the word the wrong way, then I heard Randy use it that way and knew where Jacob got it. I say "potty" is another word for toilet, and a general term for anything you have to do on the toilet, and pee pee and poop are more specific. Randy says "potty" means pee pee, he does not use the word pee pee. I know it is not a big deal, but neither of us can comprehend how the other can think the way they do. And we are both unwilling to change. I guess that is because we have been saying it the way we do for pretty much all our lives. So, we want to know, who is right? What do you guys think? We would appreciate some comments. I am wondering if this is a Utah thing, or a Wardle thing. I am pretty sure that everyone who was potty trained by the same person he was says it the same way. Which brings me to another question, Is it a "pillow slip" or a "pillow case"?

Olympic Sleep Depravation

I love the Olympics. They are by far my favorite sporting event, I even love them more than BYU football. Maybe that is because they only come around every four years. I am having a real problem this time thought. With the Olympics being in China and the broadcasters desire to show things live, they are on dang late at night. I usually go to bed at 10 pm, 10:30 is pushing it. My kids get up at crack of dawn and I am usually up once during the night feeding the baby. I need my sleep. I don't think I have gone to be earlier than 11 since the Olympics started. And, boy am I feeling it. I am so tired. I am grumpy. Every night I think that I will go to be early, but I had to watch all of Michael Phelps races, and the gymnastics, those people are amazing. When swimming ended I though I would get some more sleep, but they keep showing more gymnastics. And even thought I know Welsh and May are going to win their beach volleyball match I still have to watch. Now we are getting into track and field. I thought I would be able to sleep now, but have you seen the way those Jamaicans run? Holy Cow! They are fast! And don't forget Lolo Jones, she is amazing to watch on the hurdles. I am just so amazed at the way these athletes have perfected their sport. It is fun to watch the best people in the world do what they do so well. I have really enjoyed watching the Olympics this year, but I will really be glad when they are over so we can get back to living our normal life.

Zucchini

I ignored the garden for about a week. When Randy finally did go out to check on it he pulled out four massive zucchinis. We have had zucchini bread, zucchini muffins, zucchini brownies (my personal favorite way to eat the squash), grilled zucchini, steamed zucchini, and sauted zucchini. I have also frozen some zucchini so we can enjoy it in the winter, I love it in soup. Tonight we are having zucchini stir fry for dinner. I have a recipe for zucchini cobbler I want to try, but I am a little scared, I don't know if we will like it. I guess if we don't all I am out is some zucchini, which I have more than enough of right now. Does anyone want some? We would be happy to share.

I'm loosing my hair!

This is not the first time this has happened to me, and I have been expecting it to happen for a couple of months, but it is still distressing when you start pulling handfuls of hair out of your head every time you shampoo. For nearly nine months I did not loose any hair, some strange side effect of pregnancy. Now the postpartum hair loss has begun. I was getting used to my thick head of hair, and I was starting to think I might keep it this time. Oh well, the one consolation is when I see gray hairs in with the rest. Worse than loosing my hair is going gray before I am even 30. Oh the things having children does to our bodies.

On a happier note, thanks to Weight Watchers and breastfeeding, I am almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I should be back in my skinny pants before Labor Day. Yeah!

A Vega Cousin

My kids are no longer my parents only grandchildren. Early this morning, at 3:45 am, my brother Aaron's wife Sophia gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. They named him Samuel Hosea Vega, after my dad and Sophia's brother. He is so cute, with lots of black hair and big brown eyes. He is a big boy too, he weighted 8 lbs. 7 oz. I have lots of nephews and nieces on Randy's side. When I joined the Wardle family there were only 3 grandchildren, and now there are 16, so I have been around for lots of births, but this one is special for me. This is my brother's baby, my flesh and blood nephew. It is fun to see how he looks similar to my kids, especially Nathan, my darkest baby, but he also has some distinct features that come from Sophia's family. I think Aaron and Sophia are going to make great parents. I am so excited for them and I wish them the best of luck.

Town Days

We had a fun filled day on Saturday. It was Herriman Town Days. I love Herriman Town Days, it has become one of my favorite summer traditions. I don't remember anything like this in any of the places I lived growing up. I don't know if that is because town days aren't done in other parts of the country, or because my family didn't participate. But I do know that town days are a big part of summer in Utah. I think Utahans are very proud of their heritage. I mean, we even have a special holiday celebrating our state, Pioneer Day. Here is a list of some of my favorite things about town days.

• The parade- complete with motorcycle cops riding in formation, fire trucks, political candidates, the high school band, beauty queens, dance and martial arts studios, and anyone else who wants to attract the attention of a large audience, and who is willing to throw out bucketfuls of candy to excited kids. Jacob started chanting, "Throw more candy, throw more candy."
• The sweltering heat- Randy realized that he has become his mother when he started spraying our kids with a water bottle. You can't go to town days without one.
• Kid rides at the park- pony rides, the homemade train pulled by a tractor, rides that spin you around and around and make your kids sick (surprisingly mine did fine), bounce house, inflatable slide.
  
• Booths- we always have neighbors trying to sell their crafty things. It is fun to stop and chat.
• Free concerts- this year my brother-in-laws jazz band played. My kids loved it. There was also some country singer who I had never heard of, he talked too much, but he was okay.
• My favorite part of town days- Fireworks. Laying on my back on the grass with my family all around me watching the spectacular fireworks and listening to patriotic music.
  

Waiting for the Parade to start

In between the town day festivities we did another fun activity. Randy's friend from work, Dave, invited us to go sailing on his boat on the Great Salt Lake. Randy's sister Kristin and her family came with us. Overall it was a fun experience, I am glad we went. The boat was a little buggy, apparently spiders make their home on boats docked at the Salt Lake. They probably like to eat the little tiny brine flies that live around the lake. The bugs didn't bother me too much though. It was a nice boat with a little cabin underneath where I was able to keep Adam. It was hard to enjoy the ride as much as I could have when I was taking care of my kids and feeling a little sea sick. But, the time that I did get to spend just sitting up on top of the boat feeling the wind and watching the beautiful water was enjoyable. My boys really liked it. And, Randy got to take a swim in the middle of the buoyant lake, he didn't even have to tread water.

Tagged

This was enlightening and very funny. Thanks for tagging us Isaac and Erika.

1. What is something mom always says to you? Don't eat your shirt.

2. What makes mom happy? When I don't eat my shirt or take my shoes off.
3. What makes mom sad? When I eat my shirt and take my shoes off.

4. How does mom make you laugh? By saying funny questions.

5. What was your mom like as a child? A baby.

6. How old is your mom? 26 (thanks for knocking 2 years off)

7. How tall is your mom? 21

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Play with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Yell for me.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? It will be for your baby.

11. What is your mom really good at? Loading the washer and dryer.
12. What is your mom not very good at? Giving me things that I want.

13. What does your mom do for her job? Load the dishes and the washer and dryer.

14. What is your mom's favorite food? Sandwiches.

15. What makes you proud of your mom? When we play games together.

16. If your mom was a cartoon character who would she be? I don't know.

17. What do you and your mom do together? We play games, and read books, we do lots of kinds of things together.

18. How are you and your mom the same? We both have feet.

19. How are you and your mom different? Our hair aren't the same.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because we do lots of fun things together.

I am glad that Jacob thinks we do lots of fun things together. I try. I guess we will tag Alyssa.