Potty Training!

Finally Gabe has almost completely mastered going potty in the toilet...and not his diaper!!! He just didn't want anything to do with it for the longest time. We tried everything, but nothing worked...UNTIL bribery came into the picture. I told him we would buy him a 'big boy bike' as soon as he went potty in the toilet for a whole week with no accidents... he is even making it through the night most of the time!

He was so excited to get his bike...once he got on...he didn't want to get off. But he did have a hard time with the peddals at first.

Just a week later, he is riding like a champ and won't get off the bike without a temper tandrum!! Don't we love 2 year olds.

Another First for Joe

Joe has decided that he loves the country life. He wants it all cows, chickens, horses, goats etc. I keep telling him one thing at a time. Saturday we went to Bailey's and Shaley's 4-H Horse show, Bailey did awesome and so did Shaley, her horse, Kisses wasn't feeling well...so she wasn't able to finish the whole show. Kisses bucked on her, and she stayed on....she wanted to keep riding even after that.

Scott needed to brand 9 calf's, so Joe thought he would go help. I don't think he had any idea how hard it would be to catch those little calf's. It was great fun!!

Father's Day

This year, Dena decided to have a brunch for Dad, we met there and it was a beautiful morning to celebrate Father's Day. Good food and good people sure make loads of fun. In the 9 weeks, I sure have noticed a huge difference when we have family get togethers. It used to feel, like something we 'had to do'. Get there, do your 'time' and then go home. Everyone always seemed to be in a hurry to leave and move on with their life, but now....Now it is different. Everyone seems relaxed and in no hurry. Everyone genuinely seems to want to be there and it doesn't matter how long we are there, it just feels right.

Bailey and RaShay...aren't they so cute!!!!

Nobody can say he is camera shy...Gabe loves his picture taken.

This year Shaley's birthday fell on Fathers Day also, so we had double the reason's to celebrate. We ate hot dogs and the guys shot darts in Brady's garage. Shaley received a 'body art' tatoo set for her bday, and she thought it would be fun to give all the 'Dad's tatoo's' of their wives names on their arms. What a hoot that was. I think everyone ended up with some sort of tatoo somewhere.

(Floyd, Dallin, Brady, Scott, Terry, Joe, and Dad)
(Shaley, the tattoo artist)

Father's Day was a good day, a day to reflect all the Father's in my life. My husband, who is an awesome father to our children and who I love with all my heart, my Dad...who I love and cherrish very much...my step Dad Steve, who is always there when we need him...Hank, who we love very much and miss you lots....Grandpa Batchelor, who has lived a long full life, and is very tired....and my Heavenly Father, who has given me everything and who I owe everything to... Happy Fathers Day, I love you!

My garden's progress

We have had so much rain lately, I haven't had to chance to weed my garden, until yesterday....well barely. I finished weeding minutes before the downpour and the wind hit. These pictures were from right after it stopped. Everything is growing so well....except my carrots, I can't figure out why they didn't grow this year.

Gabe's First Dentist Appointment

Gabe had to go the Dentist to get 2 fillings in his 2 front teeth. He was so good, he climbed up in the chair and watched a movie while they got ready to work. Doc drilled his cavities without any shots!!!! I was so afraid for him, but he did not fuss at all. They filled it and sealed it with the blue light, and buffed it smooth. By this time he got a little worried and started crying for about 1 minute. I was so proud of him. He stood up and gave Doc a high five and ran out to ride the mechanical horse.

Now his teeth are all fixed, hopefully this will last, and they won't have to cap them or pull them later.

Working in the Garden

Today was a beautiful day! We worked in the yard together as a family and it looks awesome! My garden is coming along wonderful. Believe it or not Gabe even helped without destroying the plants. He would get down and help pull the weeds...but when he realized that Mom had garden gloves on, and he didn't, he was a little upset. "Where's my gloves" he said. Yea, right, like I could find him gardening gloves for a 2 year old. Joe, Kyler, Colton and Brody helped me tons, they took out the saplings that started taking over my old tree and they cut the grass around it. Next weekend, they are going to bring a truck load of dirt to build them up, so that I can plant flower all around the tree.

I love how it feels after a good day's work out in the yard.

Memorial Day

This years Memorial Weekend was kind of cool and rainy. We decided to stay home and work in the yard, and do stuff around the house. For the most part it was no different than any other weekend. We did take the kids to see 'The Night at the Museum 2' on Saturday afternoon. Cute movie, not as good as the first, but still worth seeing.

Monday we went to visit Mike and Grandma and Grandpa's graves. It just isn't right that Mike is there....still so hard to deal with. We also went to see Tracy and Randy's new home, it is very nice and then we celebrated Kaylee's birthday, a little late but better than never. Kyler and Chad were wrestling or something and Kyler's pants got ripped, so Uncle Dallin found him some that he would wear home. He had to model them, and show everyone how cute he looked in wranglers.

My absence

I know I have not been good on keeping up with my blog, but my goal is that will not happen any more. I have had so many things that have happened that I need to be able to share my life with others. So here it goes

Missing Mike

Well it has been a month from tomorrow that my brother was killed. I can't believe that time has gone by so fast. It seems like forever, and yet again it seems like it was yesterday. The pain has not gone away and it is not getting any easier.

Death is a part of the circle of life, but when you add the sudden unexpectedness to it, and violence...and then the media's insensitivity to reporting the truth...it makes things so much harder. Trust is broken and life never is the same, yet the world around us keeps on moving like nothing ever happened, even when there is such a huge hole left in our hearts and lives.

When tragedies like this happen, you really have to wonder why us?....why Mike?...what are we supposed to learn from something like this. There doesn't seem like there is anything good that can come from our loss and this experience. The one positive thing that seems to have come from losing Mike, is that the rest of us left are mourning together and that my family (brothers, sisters, in-laws, parents, kids etc) are closer than ever. I appreciate them all more and take every moment that I get with them and treasure it. Things are no longer "something I have to do", but now it is something I GET to do. I look forward to seeing them, talking on the phone with them, spending time with all of them....kids and adults. Mike is apart of every conversation, usually good memories...talking about what Mike would be doing if he were here...reaffirming that he IS here with us. He is part of all that we are and all that we HAVE became. I am a different person because of what I have been through and what Mike has taught me.

Someday I hope things get easier, I hope and pray, but as of right now, I am not sure how it will ever get better. I see his boys and they all remind me so much of Mike. They are hurting as bad if not worse, and can only deal with it as children can. I worry so much about them.