some important milestones

We've hit some important milestones over the past couple weeks here at the Tucker house.

1. Halle is potty-trained. Hallelujah! The key for Halle was character underwear (of course, Minnie Mouse and Disney princesses), treats, and a big brother who cheered her on. Halle is a pro and will do her business all by herself without telling Mommy - good for being independent, bad on the thorough hand-washing. She HATES using public restrooms, however. Today, we were at Zach's soccer game and Halle needed to use the bathroom. After many protests of "it's too yucky" and many tears, I finally told Halle she could have anything she wanted if she'd just go. "You want ice cream?" I asked. Halle immediately stopped crying, nodded, and went potty. That little stinker - she's got this treat thing figured out.

Something somewhat related: When Halle's underwear is inside out, she will say they are "upside backwards". Cracks me up everytime.

2. Zach is riding his bike without training wheels. I'll admit it, I pushed him to do this. He could have cared less. I just knew he had the skills and lacked a bit of courage. Once we moved him to his smaller, more manageable bike, he got the hang of it quick. He's a fast rider - I was panting trying to keep up with him. What a big kid!

The video is long because frankly, I didn't know how to edit it.

Pictionary

Zach is really into games lately. His favorites are Battleship and Sorry. Brandon asked me once if I ever let Zach win. To which I replied, "Heck no." Zach's a worthy opponent.

Today we played Pictionary. He was cracking me up with his drawings. He refused to give any context to the picture. He'd draw exactly what was on the card and nothing more.

See how you would fare in guessing what Zach's pictures represent:

:

Last night I met another one of the neighbors. After telling him we'd lived here for a month, he asked why we hadn't been out of the house. I emphatically explained that we had - mowing the lawn, pruning the trees, weeding the flower beds, fixing the sprinklers, etc. He then told me he'd seen us, but he thought we were the hired help.

We've been busily working on the house. It has been years since every extra moment we had got consumed with house fix-up, but that is again where we are. We are slowing chipping away at the to-do list. I have a bit of house ADHD. I'll start one project and while doing it, I'll notice five other things that need my attention right away. My attention gets diverted and soon I'm cleaning the cold air returns instead of sealing the grout like I'd originally planned - drives Brandon nuts. But I can't help it - there's so much to do.

After talking with another neighbor, I found out the old owners had just recently painted the inside of the house. Brandon had called it. While repainting those rooms, Brandon made the comment that the old paint looked "brand new". I felt slightly guilty. but then didn't. The new color makes it feel like home.

Here's the two rooms before - living room is green, dining room is red. Thanks to Ben, Chelle, and my cute new neices for posing for the picture...

Here's the living room after new paint. It's a better green now - more "split pea" rather than "Christmas tree". Much more me. The dining room turned a bluish gray (not in the picture). Thanks to Halle for posing in a diaper with a myriad of necklackes and the stuffed cats.

seriously...

Seriously... my parents are the best. They will do anything for their grandkids, including...

Jumping on the trampoline

And playing Crack the Egg

I absolutely love it!

Change

We've spent the last six weeks at my parents. What a blessing. What a blessing to have a place to stay while we were homeless, but also a blessing to watch my kids and my parents interact. Halle, Zach, and Grandma weeded, finding bugs to examine and plants to discard. Grandma also made cookies with the kids, laughing when Halle's fingerprints ended up in all of them. Grandpa would tickle, chase, throw, bounce, juggle the kids after which I would always hear, "More, Grandpa!" Grandpa would always surrender before the kids had had enough of the playing. What a blessing.

Just last week we moved into our new home.

You know how some people are good with change. Well… that’s not me. I struggle with change. I have since I was young. During Junior High I hated starting the soccer season because I’d have to get to know the people on my team. I hated not already being in-the-know about how to do things, who I was going to hang out with, and how I’d fit into the team dynamic.

Well, it is the figurative beginning of the soccer season for me. Change is at my doorstep and I. Am. Scared.

There have been some hard changes (missing friends, neighborhood, ward), but there have been some positive ones too:

• Halle has moved into a big girl bed and it's been the easiest transition. Zach had some issues, staying in bed (see here for a reminder), but Halle's been easy peasy. Wait... she just woke up early from her nap. I knew I was cursing myself with that "easy peasy" comment...



• We finally got a trampoline. The kids want to use it all the time. They always ask to jump right after they wake up - 7AMish. Unfortunately, I have to refuse at the early hour since I am not yet comfortable with the neighbors seeing me in my pink bulldog pajamas.



• We got Lagoon season passes. We went for the first time last week with friends and the kids loved it. I laughed and laughed while I watched Halle drive the bumper cars. She didn't quite understand the whole steering concept. She ended up driving in circles in one corner of the arena, but she was proud as a peacock because she was doing it herself.



• My kitchen is big enough to house all my kitchen stuff. I have drawers filled with random stuff. Brandon asked why I had a drawer with six straws in it. I exclaimed, "Because I can!" I never knew having a "straw drawer" would be so liberating.

Hopefully, more good changes will be coming soon!

visit from darth vader

Zach found a present on our doorstep the other day - a Darth Vader lightsaber. It was accompanied by a note:

Zach was beyond thrilled and he should be. It's not every day Darth Vader gives you his lightsaber. Zach practiced his lightsaber moves all day - swishing it around, hitting all the furniture, poking Halle. It makes different noises when it hits something, so Zach made it a habit to whack whatever he could. He even insisted I call him Darth Vader.

Since Brandon was gone on a work trip, Zach wrote him a note about his new lightsaber and taped it on the door so Brandon would see it right when he got home. It said this: I GOT A NOOW LITSAVR FRUM DRTHVADR AND ITS RED IT MACS SOUNDS AND IT FODZDUON (Interpretation: I got a new lightsaber from Darth Vader and it's red. It makes sounds and it folds down.)

Thanks, Uncle Jeff, for making Zach's day!

birthday girl

Halle's funny face. When she's asked to smile, she just squints and grimaces. But at least when I ask for a funny face, I get exactly what I ask for. I'm afraid when we get her 2-year-old pictures taken, they're all going to look like this.

Have I ever mentioned my daughter LOVES Minnie Mouse? Well, she does... a lot. Because of this, Minnie Mouse had to be the center of Halle's 2nd birthday party.

Minnie Mouse party hats

Halle's birthday cake - incorporating everything Halle adores - Minnie Mouse and PINK! I almost cried when Halle actually recognized what the cake was supposed to be.

Birthday friends (minus Beckham)! Halle's so lucky to have so many fun friends close by. Halle loves having friends over. We are going to miss them!

Opening presents. It went super fast because there were lots of helpers.

Coloring Minnie Mouse gloves with friend, Ivy

Zach and Halle show off their Minnie/Mickey gloves. Zach was very concerned Mickey didn't have thumbs.

Happy birthday (in a couple days), my sweet girl!