A photo essay on how not to take pictures of yourself.

I keep telling people I love Enid because I haven't been shopping and its saving us soooo much money.  The real reason why I haven't been shopping is that I have a two year old who doesn't like to shop.  He never did, he just won't sleep through it now.  The other night Brian and I stopped by one of the thrift stores in town and I disappeared.  I just bolted and left Brian to the mercy of Chase.  It. was. amazing.  Even looking through a bunch of junk is heaven without Chase trying to climb out of the cart or try on a shirt off the rack.  My first fun find was this necklace and the longer I have it the more I love it.  Did I mention it was 3 dollars? 

My other find, a vintage (80's) horrible, synthetic, bulky, ugly knit sweater.  But for one reason or another I love love love it!  Best part, the shoulder pads were just velcro.  Brian refused to take a picture of me in it for the blog so with a heavy sigh I headed for the mirror to do myself what I laugh at other people for.  I thought it entirely appropriate to use a picture of my cousin who I know reads this everyone now and then :)  (By the way I had a dream about you the other night that you were trying to keep my from killing all the spiders in my house.  I think I kicked you out.  And you have a bazillion pictures on fb.)   Doesn't matter who you are, I used to chuckle when I saw these pictures. But not anymore!  Now I give people props because it is a lot harder than it looks!! So cuz I need you to teach me your skills.

Photo Number 1:  Flash.  Rookie mistake.

Photo Number 2:  Not sure where to look and just look cross-eyed.

Photo Number 3:  Creepy and disproportionate hand.

Photo Number 4:  As good as it gets.  Sadly there were about ten more on my phone but this one shows off the sweater quite nicely.  Did I mention the sweater was 75 cents?

I made a deal with Brian I wouldn't wear it out of the house, but what do you think?

Adventures in Potty Training

Blogging Apathy.  It's the latest bug going around, most of my friends have caught it.  I am making an effort to get over it.

So potty training.  That special time in your life when your mom starts taking pictures to put in your wedding video for all of your friends and family to laugh it, I am no exception.  But Chase is making me pay for it by teasing me.  Some days we are "potty trained" and other days we collapse in a heap on the floor and erupt in a terrified mixture of crying and screaming at the mention of "potty seat."  So I am going to take what I can get and view every potty as one less diaper I have to clean in my life.  The best day in our new adventures has also been the worst day...

We go to the park and after playing awhile Chase runs up to me and says "potty seat mama."  Most things he says these days are commands.  Not having faced the critical situation of going potty while not at home, I do the sensible thing any decent mother would do.  Pull his pants down and tell him to pee in the grass.  With a look of disdain he again states "potty seat mama."  I muster up all my courage to go to the outhouse/public restroom at the park and Chase braves it like a champ and has a great potty and comes out ready to take on the world.  I come out thinking I am the best mother in the world that my 2 year old son is completely potty trained and I am awesome!

We go home still riding our highs and go back to our daily routine.  About an hour passes and Chase runs into the kitchen with his pants and diaper off and says "Chase poot!" I turn around and happily begin escorting him to his potty seat down the hall thinking again how wonderful this is.  Chase takes a turn into the living room and says "no mama, chase poot" while pointing at the floor.  I was too late.  I couldn't do anything but laugh and clean up.

                                                            Local Friday night football.

Our days have been pretty uneventful with Brian working, studying, and flying and Chase and I keeping each other company.  I am so thankful for this little boy and that we get along so well.  He is constantly trying to help me and be a big boy and nothing makes me happier than seeing him laugh.  Or nap.  Most days are pretty good but training is testing every ounce of teamwork Brian and I have built up.  Some days it's Chase, some days it's flying, some days it's just being tired.  I'm trying to work on not placing expectations on Brian that I should be turning to God to fill and Brian is working on trusting God with the future; future plane, future bases, future career progression.  Both are a work in progress.