Two melt downs later...

We finally convinced Cody to take off one of his training wheels on his bike. Our neighbors gave him a kick stand so that it would stay off. He was so excited to have a kick stand that keeping one training wheel off was no problem. This past week we've been taking the one training wheel off to practice riding and then when the rest of the boys on the block are riding bikes he wanted it back on. So yesterday we decided that he's practiced enough and that it's time to push leaving the one training wheel off. Cody has never had a problem with confidence in himself until this. He was riding by himself on the grass just fine but would not go on the side walk...crazy I know! Daniel and I jumped on our bikes and took him over to the high school across the street and we were determined to get his confidence back. He cried, he screamed, jumped up and down, he was hitting himself on his helmet having a complete melt down. Luckily Daniel was able to keep his cool and calmed him down. Finally we got him to get on his bike and follow me on my bike. The first time he cried the whole time saying that he couldn't to it by himself...even though he was... The second time he realized that he was doing it and was very pleased with himself. We rode home and he was rewarded with a couple pieces of licorice. When we got back the rest of the boys on the block wanted to see him ride by himself and of course when we tried to get him to show them he had another melt down! After spending some time on his bed and us talking to him he was able to get his confidence back and we rode over to Grandma Titel's house for cake and ice cream to celebrate her birthday. It was a long day!

Taking off the one last training wheel

getting ready to mount and take off, still a bit unsure though

Daniel giving him a little push to start

Cody riding without training wheels

Busy Busy

The past couple of weeks have been pretty busy with projects. One thing is pretty constant though, the days always start off with Cody telling me and Daniel that he misses Grandma Bell and has now started carrying around a picture of them where ever he goes...next door neighbors, Grandma Titel's, stores, bed, everywhere!! Then he either wants to call Grandma Bell or asks to call them on the computer. (thanks to modern technology and Grandma and Grandpa Bell we have a web cam to see them)

Cody talking to Grandma and pa Bell on computer
It has taken some time but I recently decided to get rid of Cody's baby clothes since they have been just sitting in the garage for the past 4 years not getting any use! We gave them to a couple in our ward who has twin boys. As I started that project Daniel and I decided to clean out the garage and throw lots of stuff away that we don't use. It was an all day, down and dirty, sweaty job! But now we finally have space set aside for our food storage that's another goal of ours to further along. Just as we finished cleaning the garage we decided to purchase some bikes. I have not been able to go to the gym since seeing a Dr. for my foot problems and I have been going nuts complaining that I feel like a tub of goo. (I need my exercise!) I had a slight set back with my foot recently...I got beetle juiced again! But I can still ride a bike and forgot how fun and free it feels! We are so excited to take rides down to the beach and take Cody out around the town...if we could only break him of his training wheels...another project we've been working on but not succeeding at yet!
My bike (7-speed cruiser). You can't see the awesome baby blue rims or girly accents.

Daniel did not have his put together yet.

The next project started was painting the kitchen. We already picked a color and got the paint but hadn't started. We can not put up the crown molding until the painting is done. Leave it to me to start a project though! I don't think that Daniel was too thrilled that I started this one right now. I told him I was going to prime the wall and ended up started painting also. The next day when he came home we finished the wall and then after absorbing it we decided that we didn't like the way it looked with the type of cabinets we had on the wall. So, it's going to go back to white until further demo can be afforded. I love working on the house though, I just can't resist!
Some other projects done: cutting back lawn that hadn't been cut in 3 weeks! Weeding too, Yikes! We've been trying to potty train at night time to avoid diapers...getting up at least 2 times a night with Cody to help him. He's taken on my habit of drinking a lot of water !

I've been doing sewing, painting, preparing a craft for a Super Saturday activity coming in Sept. working with the young women on Wed. nights and preparing for their bake sale at the Ward Luau (thank goodness that's over)and completing a couple of books! I think I am ready for a short break! Not too short though!

Wild Rivers

This last Saturday we went to Wild Rivers for Porter's 4th Birthday party. We always look forward to summer time especially for our annual trip to Wild Rivers. For the past few years they kept saying that it will be closed down and then to our wonderful surprise it has still remained open. They have such good play areas for the kids and as Cody gets older he's getting more and more willing to go on bigger boy stuff. This year he went on more slides than last year and didn't whine at all...except when he wanted the cupcakes, but who's surprised at that. I ended up taking more pictures than anything. I did get the okay from the Dr. to go into the water but since my foot has been healing so well I didn't want to take the chance of anything happening (infection). I did have a fun time watching Daniel and Cody play in the water together. They both love to swim and be in the water. Daniel and the other guys did get to steal away a couple of times to ride the bigger slides. As they said last year, this is suppose to be the last year it's open. We can only hope and pray that they will surprise us once again and keep it open next year.

Birthday Boy!!

Porter with a mouth full of food!

Phearson getting sunscreen on...as you can tell, he loved it!

There was some swimming

Cody braving the kiddy rapids and the kiddy slides with Daniel

The older boys coming down from the big slide!

Cody loves his Daddy!

And there was some nice lazy river time!

Autumn and Phearson
Todd, Deb and family

For those of you who would like to see the progress of my foot!
The brown is the silver nitrate they've been putting on my open wound to prevent so much healing up and not enough healing in from the sides. (Hope that makes sense)

Making good progress! Only 4 1/2 weeks!

So Far Away!

Every since Cody was born he has had a very special bond with his grandparents. He loves both his grandma's and grandpa's to death and is always so excited to see them. He does get to see Grandma and Grandpa Titel every week but recently he has been begging to see Grandma and Grandpa Bell. It's a bit heartbreaking. He has been asking everyday to go to their house or have them come to our house. He likes to call them frequently just to hear their voices too. Since they live in Utah I have to keep reminding them that we don't have money right now to take a trip out there. It's kind of hard for a 4 1/2 year old to understand that. So this post is for you Grandma and Grandpa Bell. Cody loves you and can't wait to see you again!!

Here are some of the fun times with Grandma and Grandpa Bell

Grandpa Bell sharing one of his all time favorite movies with Cody...Top Gun!!
Grandpa doing a puzzle with Cody

Cody's first 4th of July nuzzled up with Grandma
Giving Cody his first taste of whip cream and ice cream while on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa Bell (he never recovered from the sugar...see my breakfast blog)

This was at their house in Utah late one night. I was tired so they let me go to sleep and they stayed up with Cody as he got pretty delirious walking around with this beenie on over his eyes. Everyone got a big kick out of it.
Just some down time with Grandpa Bell

Grandma's have the special touch!

Cody misses you!!

Teach them early!!

Cody likes to do anything he sees Daniel or I doing. So as you can see, he likes to iron his pants for church. He really likes to spray them with the iron. We, of course, don't actually let him plug the iron in but we figure the practice never hurts! And then the next day he sat on the ironing board and bent it all out of shape! Boys are so fun!!

Question

As embarrassed as I am to show these pictures for the fear of what people might think I can not get over the fact that Cody's room looks like this way too often! I know we just had an earthquaked and I'd love to blame that for this disaster but my child will not clean his room! I would like to ask all of you once again for your opinion: do your kids clean their rooms at all or am I just too lenient with Cody on cleaning his room? I will clean it up and no joke that the next day it looks like this again!! Is this normal for a 4 1/2 old year boy???? Should he be cleaning it himself? He will always ask me to help him and I don't have a problem with that but he ends up playing more and I end up cleaning. Any suggestions?

Seriously the drawers are just left half open!

I know he did not play with all of these things in two days!
Making his bed...oh forget that!

Not for breakfast!!

Okay, just a quick question to those of you who have children... i am wondering if any one else's child wakes up in the morning and ask for chocolate for breakfast? Seriously, I am so tired of saying we don't have chocolate, candy, odder pops or Popsicles for breakfast!! You'd think after a few months of saying no to that they would understand
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE FOR BREAKFAST!!