Bible Bee Update

Local Bible Bees were held all over the nation today to see who would advance to the national competition in Chicago. We won't know for a few days who advanced, but I had to post that Julia and John David each won first place in their divisions. The amount of Scripture they memorized is amazing! We celebrated with a trip to Red Lobster and Toys"R"Us tonight - with the grandparents of course. =)

I am SO proud of you, babies!

A Favorite Site

Maybe you've seen the website called Catalog Living? If not, click over and get ready to laugh. I love this site and I think it's the perfect remedy for anytime I start comparing my own house to the beautiful (unrealistic) pictures found in magazines. =)

Baked Potato Soup

I made baked potato soup last night and it was soooo good. I love soup but can't make many different kinds due to picky eaters in my house. This soup, however, has nothing to be picky about! (Unless you're Julia.) I've made potato soup before but this recipe was definitely the best I've used. I doubled it (so glad I did!) and served it with a spinach salad and a big loaf of french bread. John David asked if I could please make it every night for dinner. =)

Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Free Hardback Photo Book

This deal is too good for me to not pass along! I know there's a ton of sites where you can upload your own photos and design a photo book and many times they offer deals for first time customers. Picaboo has a great deal going on right now and the program you use to design your book is great. These books are normally around $40 and you only have to pay the $8 shipping. The code expires on the 31st and it will take you some time to design your book (a long time if you're me and want it exactly perfect in every way) so get going. I'm doing one all about our summer. What will your book be about?

Go here to get the code: Free Photo Book Code

P.S. You're welcome. =)

Learning to Mow

Daddy has let it be known a number of times that by the age of 7 he was already mowing his family's yard as well as many of the neighbors' yards.

I guess we may be on track for Joshua.....

....but John David has some catching up to do!

Splash Pad

One day in Tulsa we picked up two of John David's friends and headed out for fun. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's, Toys R Us, and then the splash pad. (Only with the grandparents, right?)

Bubble Bath

John David wanted nothing more than to take advantage of the brand new bath tub at his grandparents' house. A few facts to note:

The bathtub had jets.

I left him alone - he is almost 10, afterall.

There were bottles of bubble bath beside the tub.

Two year old little brothers love bubbles too.

The pictures do the amount of bubbles absolutely NO justice!

A small video I took before I was discovered. I had a funnier one but it would require some blurred areas and I don't know how to do that. =)

Julia Sans Training Wheels

Back in Tulsa, using a borrowed bike, it only took a little help from Daddy.....

a gentle push and word of encouragement....

and she was off!

What is it about learning to ride a bike that makes me think ahead to not so future years?

When we will still be trying to hold onto them and, before we're even ready, they will take off on their own. Perhaps wobbly at first, but on their own nonetheless.

With four kids it seems that new milestones are coming and going all the time.

It makes for an exciting life....

Let The Wild Rumpus Begin (AKA Adventures in Potty Training)

I've been planning on potty training Joshua once school started, but on a whim we bought everything at Target the other day. Training a fourth child is much different than the first, second, or even third. Read on and you'll see why.

Checking out the new frog potty.

Trying on the Diego underwear he picked out.

(He also got Toy Story 3! Yea Buzz and Woody!!!)

Sorry, couldn't resist a little bobo shot.

That's one proud boy!

Time to see if he can produce some results.

Poor guy - I hope he doesn't suffer from paruresis.

Nope, he did it! His first time on the potty and he did it. Yea!

Let's change underwear and then.......

do it again!

Group hug!

**Joshua is 2 1/2 years old. We aren't using any stickers or anything else other than clapping and high fiving. He's only had a couple of very minor accidents, but even then he stops and runs to his potty. I'm hoping I bought the last pack of diapers. I've had 1 (and at some times 2) kids in diapers for almost 10 years straight!