Marx is potty trained!!

This is BIG NEWS!

Last Sunday, Jan. 19th I was doing my thing after church..

changing diapers!

When I laid Marx down to change him, he viciously said, "No! Peepee in potty!"

So I said, "Ok! Let's go!" With zero intentions of potty training, because let's face

it, I was not ready to start that.

I scared myself after trying to potty train Layla while I was 9 months pregnant with Marx.

See peed all over my house. 

She wasn't ready, but I was bound and determined to not have 2 babies in diapers.

Well, Marx was born, she wasn't potty trained.

But, then my wonderful mother showed up to help me with my new baby and

my busy 2 year old, and WaLa! Layla was potty trained.

Mostly by her grandmother and her awesome whistle she'd perform

every time she'd potty.

Anyways, about Marx!

It immediately clicked for him. I think he had 2 accidents the next day 

and it was enough for him to realize he did not like it in his underwear.

We had to make a run to Walmart to by more underwear, since we only have 3 pair, 

along with potty treats and stickers.

So I'm pleased to report, this kid is potty trained.

Hallelujah!

Really, in like 3 days, he was trained, but I didn't want to 

jinx him or myself. But it's been just over a week with zero 

accidents since the last couple the day after he started.

He wakes up dry after naps, so we don't do pull-ups

during nap time. We still do pull-ups at night, to save my laundry piles, and sanity,

but he wakes up dry. He's probably ready.

So proud of our Marx!

He's awesome!

And, btw... I firmly believe in waiting until THEY are ready.

He was ready, and he nailed it!

Christmas in Utah 2013

Our Christmas was fabulous.

It was white and very cold!

 Lots of family, sleepovers, cousins, eating, 

presents, movies, games, wrapping, lights, playing, ice fishing, sledding,

ice skating, and Cafe Rio happened!

The children did great on the plane rides, everyone stayed healthy, all except

for a little mishap with our squishy baby, and we just felt SOOO much

love being at home with our Utah family.

It was just perfect.

(I have so many Instagram pictures I want to share on here, but I can't remember

the easiest way to do it! Someone please help me!)

]

Lily's Pink and Gold 1st Birthday

One of my new years resolutions is to blog at least once a week.

Every Sunday to be exact.

I used to be so good at it, then our squishy baby came along and I 

couldn't figure out how to manage anything anymore!

Now that she's turned one, things are getting a little easier.

She's become much more independent, and I DO have time on Sundays to

sit and journal about our past weeks activities, ups, downs, and all our in betweens :)

For Lily's party, I choose to do pink and gold!

I LOVE LOVE how everything turned out, and I've decide to keep the decorations

and do the girls' room in pinks and golds.

It's amazing what you can do with some tissue paper, paper, empty boxes, ribbons, frames, and

of course a Silhouette Cameo machine! I love that thing!

Squishy baby DESTROYED her cake and made the biggest mess.

I didn't mind one bit.

It was her day and was well deserved!

Happy Birthday Baby Lily!

We LOVE you!

Fall Family Pictures 2013

 

Annual Utah Trip 2013

Goodness, I love my home state.

I miss it so much, and every time we go back to visit, I want to move back.

I pretty much drive Lance crazy about it.

I do love Mississippi. It's beautiful here.

But Utah will always be my home.

 

We had THE time of our lives. As usual.

All except for the 2 weeks we all passed around pink eye.

Worst.Illness.Ever!

Like EVER!

 

But we won't dwell on that.

We had plenty of Café Rio. Went to the lake as often as possible, roasted marshmallows and ever starbursts (yummy!), played with cousins and had numerous sleepovers. Papa and Grandma even slept on the trampoline with all the grandkids.

Talk about some pretty awesome grandparents.

My children will always remember such precious memories.

We went to Lagoon for a weekend with the whole family, and when we went swimming in the hotel swimming pool, we filled up that whole pool and hot tub.

It was awesome, having us all together.

 

Now the 30 hour drive there and back... that was another story.

Actually the drive there was tougher than the drive back.

Lance drove the majority of the way to Utah while I sat in the back entertaining, feeding, holding, and playing with the kids. Then on the way back, my mom and sister-in-law helped me drive back and it was much more peaceful...ONLY because we had Baby Einstein. Talk about a miracle DVD! Layla flew home with her Uncle Greg, and that was a HUGE help. Her and Marx in the back seat together just to go to Wal-Mart is treacherous.

So, in 30 hours, I'd hate to imagine what they'd do to each other.

 

Anyways... here are our memories via iPhone.

Sadly, I sold my camera...

 I'm ready to step up in the DSLR world, so I'm researching new

camera's. So for now, it's going to be pictures from my phone.

Which, btw, I'm pretty happy with.

 

THE Zucchini Brownie Recipe

Now that I am getting the hang of 3 kids, maybe I can find the time to blog again!

I miss it so much...

So to celebrate coming back to the blog world, I want to share with

you the most amazing brownie recipe.

Courtesy of my wonderful mother.

 

Zucchini Brownies

2 cups white flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cups cocoa

2 cups grated zucchini

1/2 cup canola oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup water

 

Mix zucchini and oil together in stand mixer. In separate bowl mix together all the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to the zucchini and oil slowly, scraping sides as you go. Once mixed add the vanilla and water. Pour into greased 9x13" pan. Bake for 25 min at 350 degrees.

 

Chocolate Icing

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cups cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4-5 TBS. half & half (just enough for desired consistency)

 

Place all ingredients in a stand mixer and mix together with the whipping attachment. Stop mixer, scrape sides, and mix again on medium speed for 2 min. Spread on completely cooled brownies.

 

In my opinion these taste the very best the day after you make them from then on out. I recently made two pans in a week. You will thank me. Promise.



 

"Life doesn't come with a manual...it comes with a mother."

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mother's.

Especially my own. I love you.