Potty Training

Lily is getting to be so grown up. She's saying a bunch of new words now, including "morning," "Bible," "thank you," and of course, "no." Typical terrible twos for you. She can throw a tantrum with the best of them, and gets easily irritated by our inability to understand what she wants. But she also smiles easily, loves to go to bed and loves to wake up, and often wakes us to the sound of her meowing into her baby monitor.

The other news is that she's beginning potty training. Like everything else, she either loves it or hates it, and if she hates it on a given hour then it's not worth the fight. But it's worked a couple times, and we have some great pictures for future boyfriends...

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 3)

For the last stop in our Montana tour, we spent the weekend near Butte, Montana with Loren's dad and stepmom, sister, brother, and niece. In about 48 hours, we went swimming in hot springs (twice), went to the folk festival (twice), set off a table full of fireworks, had a bonfire, rode horses and fourwheelers, and even found a few minutes inside for video games, ping pong, and air hockey.


Jaime, at Fairmont Hot Springs, about an hour after arriving in Butte. We were all worn out after a grueling five hour car ride, complete with vomiting children...


Megan and Emily in the pool


Emily riding Shades


Jaime's turn


Abby's turn


Our niece, Alexis' turn


Emily and Abby holding hands, watching the horses


Lily didn't get to go too far, but she loved patting the horsie


Loren's brother, Joel, and sister, Skylar


Loren and Skylar


I was playing with the settings on the camera and got this one. The kids roasted marshmallows and ate smores, then they went to bed, leaving the grownups around the fire

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Part 2)

Last weekend we went to Missoula for a family reunion with Loren's mom's side of the family. We had a great time of catching up with family, swimming...more swimming...more swimming.

Family picture in the van as we pulled into Missoula. YAY the car ride is OVER!

Auntie Maridene reading to Lily

Three silly cousins, Emily, Alexis, and Jaime

Lily teethed most of the time we were there...

Loren and his mom chillaxin' in the hotel room

Group photo at the end of the trip. From left: Loren, Lily, Stepdad Frank, Alexis, Mom Dena, Abby, Emily, Jaime, Megan, and Brother Joel.