We’ve had a nice 4 day weekend here while Patrick took Thursday and Friday off of work. Friday we went to Hawaiian Falls in Garland. Brenden really enjoyed himself though he will tell you that he didn’t like the big splash. ( A huge bucket fills up and then dumps all the water on everyone.)

Saturday we went to a Hands Down picnic at the Scottish Rite Hospital. Brenden had a great time chasing after two other boys. The 3 of them ran in a line all across the park for an hour or so in the 100 degree weather.

Today was naked Sunday. Just for Brenden though. After hearing from several people and reading in several place that we should take a weekend and let Brenden be naked in an attempt to potty train him we took today to try it. We were out of the house too much to start it yesterday so we’ll have to continue tomorrow. I really thought this was a crazy plan that would lead to the need for new carpet and a new couch, but I have to say it was very successful. Up until today Brenden had not gone on his potty at all. He’d acted like it was punishment to even have to sit on his potty at all. We had a few accidents here and there today, luckily mostly on tiled floor, but after a few times, he really got the hang of it. And he was so proud of himself. Especially when he pooped for the first time.

Saturday morning train time.

She loves this piano. And anything with buttons.

Trying to get Brenden.

Brenden is shaking a paper plate in her face and she is laughing like crazy.

Taking a break from laughing.

Sshh. Don't tell Brenden she's playing with his toys during his nap.

Sam felt left out. The poor dogs just don't get as much attention as they'd like!

Here are a few pictures I meant to post a couple of weeks ago and over looked.

I should say that our yard is a mess because we tore up the deck that used to take up almost the whole area. We are going to eventually put a fence there to keep it from the pool area and then put down grass. Someday.

Just before Emily's first swim. It was brief though because she got cold right away. Brenden is sharing his treasured Nemo. It used to be on top of a pez dispenser but it broke off and now it has to swim with us every time we go to the pool.

This year we decided to check out the city of Richardson’s firework show. It was held in a huge park and there were bands and bounce houses and other such festivities to start at 6:00. We knew our little ones wouldn’t be able to make it to fireworks if we got there too early, but we also weren’t sure how hard it would be to find a place to sit. So we compromised and arrived around 7:30. We found parking and seating more than ample so we set off to explore. Brenden played on the playground for awhile and then we went to find a seat. We kept thinking the park was just going to fill up at any moment.

We found our spot and spread out our blanket and snacks. Brenden ran around and Patrick chased him while Emily and I lounged on the blanket. We were having a very nice evening but I was starting to get a little annoyed that the show wasn’t scheduled to start until 9:45. What are people with kids suppose to do? Brenden was getting antsy and tired and started saying he was ready to go home. But with only about 15 minutes until the show was to start we were able to talk him into staying. It was a fantastic show. Brenden sat watching rapt for the first 15 minutes and then he came to lay on me. We made the trek back to the car and both kids were immediately asleep.

The city had the event well planned and coordinated which was really a nice change from the way these things normally go. It only took us about half an hour to get out of the park traffic and home.

It was no watching the fireworks from Liberty State Park out the door of our apartment, but it was pretty darn good.

Brenden has been a funny boy lately. Two weekends ago he was missing all his family and friends and kept asking for different people. We got to hang out with a few friends last week and make some new ones too.

We are working on finally potty training him. Because of the timing of our move, we kind of missed a window and had been waiting for it to open up again. I’m just not sure it’s going to naturally do that, so we are forging ahead. So far, it has been unsuccessful. He tells me he can’t try. He definitely gets the concept, just doesn’t want to take the time to do it. But we are working on it.

Part of the reason we are working on it is that I’m hoping he can get in to a preschool in the fall. He’s on the waiting list and I’m hoping I’ll hear soon. I looked really hard to find what I wanted— a two or three day a week program where he was actually learning some neat things—and a finally a friend told me about this school (thanks Kris). But all that is to say that if there is a spot for him then he has to be potty trained. Yikes. I promised myself I wouldn’t put that kind of pressure on the situation, but I don’t know where else to send him. I’m not ready for him to be gone all day everyday.

He’s really been enjoying the pool this summer. He sits on the pool steps and plays with one of the toys he’s brought out. We also push him around in his boat which he loves and has to have out there even if he doesn’t want to use it. Of course the heat the last few weeks has meant nothing to him and he doesn’t understand why I don’t want to go out in the hottest part of the day to play in dirt or to let him pretend to drive my car.

Today he’s been telling me that he needs to talk to me about something and then it’s about a treat that he wants or a movie he wants to watch.

As of this past Sunday, Emily is six months old. I can’t believe it. She’s getting so big. Her first two teeth, the bottom front, have been working their way up for a few weeks now and keeping her tired and at times cranky.

She is more determined than ever to be able to sit straight up. She’s able to do some sitting but it isn’t very stable yet. I think she may be getting close to figuring out crawling. She gets on her hands and toes and pushes off—think like a pushup—and she rolls around like crazy. She’s also stretching her arms as far as she can to reach for people, dogs, toys and remotes.

These pictures aren’t the best quality as most were taken with my phone, but they are still cute.