I love lawn mowers

Vince LOVES lawn mowers. When Ryan mows, he's right out there with him watching or mowing too. Our neighbor has one sitting in his front lawn and he talks about it and we've gone and looked at it and he wanted to ride it. :)

So Monday after dinner, I hear a lawn mower fire up and Vince immediately runs out the front door onto the porch, pantless and all (it was hot and the door was open for a breeze). IT WAS SO CUTE!!! I couldnt help but get a picture. As the neighbor was mowing from the front to the back Vince would run from the front to the back porch the entire time watching him! haha I love my Vince

7 months

Jake is 7 months old! 

He's much more smiley and laughing more.
He's slowly able to crawl backwards
Rolls all over and goes in circles really well
I would be surprised if he's not crawling next month
2 teeth

Ate mango pieces today and loved them

Loves his big brother

I asked Vince to bring Jake some toys and this is what I found :)

Mr Fix It

Vince LOVES tools. I wonder where he got that from? ;)

It's so cute when he goes around fixing things

Trucks and Tulips

Ryan works for Dynacraft which is part of PACCAR. He makes parts for Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks and loves it! :)

A few weekends ago they had a family day at one of the facilities in Mt Vernon so we made the trip up north. The tulip festival was also going on so we hit two birds with one stone. Mom and Dal came with us and we all had a good time. 

Vince has been obsessed with trucks, especially firetrucks. Everytime we get in the car or truck he has to "drive" and pretends to be driving. When I actually start up the car the hazards are on, blinkers, windshield wipers, and now a strange beeping haha He has a good time :) Anyways, so at the family day they had all these trucks and even a firetruck you could get up in and check out and he got to "drive" all of them. He had a BLAST!!

Patiently waiting his turn :)

Look at this concentration!

After seeing the trucks and the factory we got lunch at Costco. Classic. Then made our way over to the tulip festival. 

Side note: I remember going to the tulip festival with my family when I was like 15 and thought it was the most boring thing in the world! haha Perspectives change :)

The tulip festival is AMAZING!! There are thousands of tulips and the colors are insane!! So many variations and colors, I wanted to take them all home.

Jake was sleeping and I was not about to wake him for a picture. All moms understand this :)

Sunshine and Chunks

The other day was so nice and sunny out that we brought out Jake's sun hat. We were dying because we put the hat strap on under his chin and he was so cute and chunky! I love my chunks :)

Fun Filled Weekend

Last weekend was packed with fun. It started with Ryan and my 5 year anniversary and POTTY TRAINING!! Yes, potty training.

Vince is 27 months old and I just felt like it was time. We bought a potty chair back in Georgia and have talked about it for months, had him sit on it and he had even gone pee in it before baths while he was waiting for the tub to fill. He is so verbal and smart and I felt like he was having signs of being ready. What really was the straw that broke the camels back was the day before we started I caught him doing his thing with his squat and I said, "Vince, do you need to go poop?" and he said no and pretended like everything was fine. I changed him and decided it was time. He had been doing that for a while but I think I was ready to get the party started.

I read a bunch of blogs and got some tips from family and friends. We picked up some big boy underwear, M&Ms for bribery and made up a big pitcher of orange juice :) 

I decided to have him go pantless for the first day so we could see when he was going and quickly get him on the pot. I just focused on him and did lots of indoor activities, kept him drinking and handing out the candy for going. He did surprisingly really well! By the end of the day he would even go sit on the potty by himself and go!! I was so proud! Believe me there was lots of accidents but lots of success too.

The third day was Saturday and Ryan was home which was REALLY nice because he was able to help with everything. We decided to start putting him in underwear and that's when he regressed a little. I think he felt like they were diapers in a way and it was ok to go in them. We just had to make sure to keep reminding him and taking him to the potty every hour or so and he did better. It's been over a week now and he's doing pretty good! We still have him in diapers for naps and sleeping which I'm ok with. I tried naps without and he kept having accidents. I think it will just take time. The only thing is he doesn't want to poop in the potty and it's hard because he always goes right when he wakes up in the morning and when he wakes up from naps. Again I think it will just take time. But GO VINCE!! :)

Jake was such a good sport during the whole process :)

This weekend was really special because it was Easter Sunday and General Conference. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe in modern day prophets and continuing revelation from God. General Conference is held twice a year and the biggest meeting for all to hear. The prophet, apostles and other general authorities speak on a variety of topics about the gospel and it's amazing. So uplifting and brings the Spirit so strongly. I love it! 

Then of coarse it was Easter! The reason why we are saved. Jesus Christ came to this earth over 2000 years ago, lived a sinless life, suffered the Atonement, died on the cross and was resurrected. He rose again on the third day making it possible for us to be saved from our sins and rise again as we strive to follow His example. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and all He did for me, that I can live again with my Heavenly Father, Him and my family!

Big boy underwear!!