you know you're a mom when...

... the most exciting part of your day is your toddler peeing in her potty training toilet for the first time!

like my sister-in-law, i am making my own one of these statements!

we got the potty the other day from our friends, washed it up and tried to teach Everly what it was for. She knows what poo-poo is--i started teaching her that so she would begin to be ready for potty training. and, she doesn't like to be dirty! so, today we have taken a couple restroom breaks. both times, after a little waiting, she was able to pee! I know this might be weird/gross for some, but it's amazing to see someone so little grasp something like this, absolutely amazing. and exciting! I know it will take a while for Everly to be fully trained, but i think starting early is going to be good.

:)

more of Ev

bathtime pigtails! our camera was being funny...

afterward Daddy let her roam the house naked and she rode her butterfly! heheh

Ev loves to open the door, close the door, open, close, and so forth!

she's becoming a big girl! we moved her to the table and use our beloved place mat!

her new play kitchen- a $5 purchase from our little thrift store in town. now she just needs some play food and maybe a grocery cart. oh, and maybe a doll high chair cause she is such a girly girl and loves her dolls! we gave her a rag with her kitchen and she came into the living room and washed our hands and legs for us--i think she'll be a great mommy some day!

the kitchen in is the corner of our kitchen so she can cook with me. we actually made banana bread together the other day and she never got bored! I let her pour the measurements and stir a little. she liked that she got to see all that was going on. and when i handed her the bananas to put in she started to eat it, but then put them all in the bowl like mommy told her to. what a good little helper! and good self-control since bananas are her favorite!

life in pictures

for Aaron's birthday, we went to a Zephyrs game with some of our friends

the gang enjoying some baseball food- Aaron, Brandon, Ryan, Amanda

Becky and Ron Koval- Ron is the Gathering counselor and Becky teaches reading. Brandon is going to be their new son-in-law this December- Everly's in his and Megan's wedding, and so is Aaron.

Yum, chili-cheese hot dog

If only she would have sat like this the whole time! We had to roam a bit and found a playground that was a little too big for her to play on, but she was super excited. We had a lot of fun at the game though, with 1/2 price tickets and a surprise to Aaron :)


We have gotten to swim over at the Koval's house- Everly has learned to hold her breath under water!



Aaron and I went on a spontanious date night, thanks to our neighbor watching Everly. We went to the coolest hotel downtown that shows free movies by their pool. it is such a pretty area- a great place to have a wedding!


stars hanging for the trees

where the cars pull in to the hotel parking

i must post, i must post....

okay, every day i come to this blog and am just tired of being on the computer checking email and doing other odds and ends. there are just too many things in the day that something has to give! so, i dont know if i'll get any pics up--i posted the rest from our trip to Indy on facebook, and i think that's it for those.

anyway, we are keeping busy here. I (shauna) am helping with our summer Kids Camp that goes for 4 weeks. so far, Aaron has stayed home a couple mornings and kept everly, and one day Everly came with me for a few hours. I'm helping with the kindergarten/1st grade class, which is crazy! a lot of these kids come from rough homes so we do a lot of disciplining, but we have a lot of fun, too! A family from Indian Creek came down to help with camp for 2 weeks- the Denny's. Eric and Marcy have 6 kids and they are a great bunch! it's been fun having them around. and i think they are enjoying their adventurous mission trip of living at the middle school!

aaron's been doing a lot too--as always! he's at the bowling alley right now. he said they had to repair a piece of roof that came off, and i think they're getting ready for some volunteers to do a little work on it too. he's also been helping a lady that lives down the street from us who is trying to rebuild her house. she's a Christian and she has been through a lot! her husband died a couple years before the storm and when she left for Katrina she was in a bad car accident- had to have wrist surgery i believe. sometimes we find it strange when someone moves back and has no family here, or much else to move back to, but i think her biggest reason is because her husband built their house. so, without any other items left to remember him by, i think she is trying to hold on to the house for that reason. Aaron has also been becoming quite the tiler. he has been helping another small Church body help a lady with the tile in her house. and i'm sure he's doing more- he always has so much going on that i can't always keep up with it!

well, that's all for this post. Everly is as cute as ever- her hair is getting long and she is getting smarter. we'll have some new pics up soon, i promise!

it's cold up here!

i love indiana mornings.
we woke up at 5:45 this morning to the sounds of birds chirping and a cool breeze coming through the windows. The sun was rising slowly and it was just beautiful coming through the trees. i don't have the luxury of this at home and being here makes me miss it. i love green, the grass in my toes and the shade of a tree!
well, it may be summer here, but they just got a cold front in and it's chilly! to us atleast. we have jeans on and my feet are a little cold. poor everly, mom didn't pack her jeans and socks because we haven't used them in months! but, she doesn't seem to mind. she has a new outfit on today, too, from Grandma Johnson- at little skirt and top duo. so cute.
anyway, we've been able to see most of our family so far and are enjoying our schedule falling into place. everly only had one short nap yesterday, but slept hard at night and is finishing her first nap today! love the flexible baby! :) here's some pictures from yesterday.
opening presents with Grandpa

Everly loves baby Keturah!

holding a daisy with Nana

kisses from Aunt Satora

our friend Tammy came to see us

cousin Audrina tries to teach Everly how to say puppy correctly :)