Xander---The Great Beagle!!

So on Saturday I was on my home from the grocery store and got a call on the cell phone from Luke. He wanted to know if I wanted a dog. We had been talking about getting a dog since we had a fenced in back yard and because we really wanted Micali to get over her fear of dogs while she was still young. So he went and looked at the dog that he had found on Craigslist. That dog was a definite NO GO but got us thinking about getting one so we ventured over to the Animal Shelter to see what they had to offer. We decided that we wouldn't get one unless they had one that we really fell in love with right away. Well Beagle Boy who we later named Xander--short for Alexander came home with us. He is a great dog and was very obedient and well trained. Micali he loved him instantly. Well yesterday we noticed Micali sneezing a lot her eyes were watering and she just sounded super congested. We decided to wait it out and hope it wasn't that she was allergic to him. Well it was much worse today with a constant draining nose so we said our farewells to Xander being close to tears and took him back. So again if anyone is looking for a GREAT family dog here are some pictures to see him and he is available at the Kenai Animal Shelter. We had fun with him for the few days we had him. Luke loved getting the exercise with him. Maybe we can try again later.

 

Potty Party!!

Well with yesterday's failures lingering in my head I went forward determined that today would again be a day without diapers no matter what it took. Micali took to the idea right away and was excited to wear her Pretty Pony panties she got for her birthday. Right now it is naptime and all I can say is today has been a success!!! Here are a couple little clips to give you an idea of the excitement at the Peless house today!



I started this post earlier in the day during naptime but it took too long to download the clips so I am finishing it now at bedtime. Today was a NO accident day!! Way to be Micali. I think she was ready and DONE with diapers!

Even if you lose, you win.............

You win because you play!! These words have been going through my head all day today as we had our first experience with Potty Training. Micali's favorite show to watch is "Signing Time," and this happened to be the main song for the show she watched this morning. As I watched and ANXIOUSLY waited for her first signs that she needed to go potty I thought about these words over and over. Was I going to win or lose today?? Or was I in fact going to win just because I played? Well, it all seemed to be working out well. After plying her with snacks and drinks for about 45 minutes, she had an accident. So... Luke took her running from each room and area in the house (10 times in all) back to the potty where she helped pull down her wet panties and sat on the potty chair for about 2 miliseconds. Up go the panties, away they would run talking about practice going potty and how every family member imaginable will be so happy when Micali has dry panties. With dry panties on, Luke kept at the game and finally she went in the potty (after only one accident). It was like Niagara Falls after all the drinks she was offered. So she takes the pee-pee to the toilet, proudly flushes it and the party begins. She got to call Grandma Peless at work and tell her the good news. Then she got a sucker, cheetos, smarties, and every other good thing. She also got to dance two Reba songs with her daddy. She was beaming the whole time that this was her party. So we thought we were winning...until five accidents later had Luke ready to commit himself, Xander (our new pet Beagle) was sure he would be confined to the garage for life, and Eli was just oblivious. I took over for Luke to regain some patience and so he could cook dinner. All seemed lost but I believed in the song. Then, the exciting part. Micali wanted to take a bath and Luke took Xander for a run. In the middle of the bath she signed potty and after I placed her on the seat she went POO-POO!!!! And then she went again, and again and again. She had been holding it all day and every time we (Luke arrived home to see the evidence which she proudly said bye-bye to as she flushed it) put her back in the tub she would sign potty and poop some more in the toilet. It was a mother's dream come true. She was happy to be going potty, she could now be back in a diaper for bedtime, and we could get some mental and physical rest. But she went and that is the exciting part. The sad part is we think she might be allergic to Xander and so might have to take him back to the pound unless someone reading this wants a wonderful, awesome, excellent-family pet, fairly well trained already beagle to love and take care of.
Kristen and Luke contributed also.
P.S. You should have seen the party he threw for her. It was all smiles and dancing and eating.

Candle and Cake.....

 
Micali absolutely loved her birthday CANDLE. The cake wasn't a big hit at all---at least this one wasn't. She ate a few cupcakes without the frosting but wasn't a fan once the frosting and sprinkles were on top. However, the candle just amazed her. I guess she hasn't seen one lit too often. She just stared at it until daddy helped her blow it out and then she asked for it to be lit again and again. Each time it was blown out she would sign more and point to the candle. I think she had a fun day. Daddy just got her birthday present finished. He made her a rocking chair (from a kit) and now we just have to stain it. It looks so cute so I will post some pictures of her in it soon!

Photo Shoot!!

I thought after I finally got these two dressed cute I needed to take the oppurtunity to get some pictures. Some were better than others so I picked out a few I liked and wanted to share.

Hand-cart ride

 
Micali enjoyed being able to go on a little handcart ride on her birthday. The ward was having a Pioneer Day celebration so we went and enjoyed lunch and activities with friends.

Micali is 2 today!!

Here are a few pics to see how Micali has grown over the last year!

Eli is already 6 months old???

 


Where has all the time gone? My little boy is 6 months old already. He is rolling over from his back to stomach, has two teeth, is loving his rice cereal, has the cutest little giggle, is sleeping through the night and taking good naps, loves his big sister (she still tries to hold him although he is nearly the same size as her), loves taking baths, chews on anything insight and is just EXTREMELY easy going. He just sits back and soaks it all in. I love this little guy so much and just enjoy watching him as he reaches new milestones.

The family shot....

 

******* This picture doesn't include all of the family. Most of my brother's weren't able to be there. My two older brothers David and Danny weren't able to be there and then my younger brothers Devin and Dustin weren't there. Devin is in Basic Training for the Army and Dustin stayed home to work also. *********

June 21st ----The big day!!

 

I am so glad that Kim was able to work it out with her airline miles to get us to Kendra's wedding. It was fun to surprise her and also a very special time to be there to support her. Here a few picture's I wanted to share.

Fun with neices and nephews/ cousins

 

Sisters Pics

These pictures were taken at Kendra's Reception. We took advantage of all the sisters being together again. Who knows when it will happen again.

  Sisters: (from oldest to youngest) Kim, Kristen,Kathy Kendra,Kayla and Kara

  Sisters + Mom
  Sisters + Parents
  Checking out our new addition

The Fourth of July

 

For the 4th of July we were in Michigan again this year. We enjoyed being with family at the lake. It was a fun filled day with lots of food, being on the boat, and beautiful fireworks to end the day!

*not sure why the date says Jan 2005 so just so you know it is July 2008.

Happy Faces!!

 

Just a few of the many faces that were captured at Kendra's wedding at the time we were in Utah. This collage makes me smile!