Quick update

We have been working with Jared on potty training. He is really good about not having accidents during the day. Last week he wore underwear from about 9:30am to 2pm without accidents or going potty. But as soon as I put a diaper on him, he will go. On Friday night he kept asking for a diaper when it was close to bedtime. We made him sit on the potty until we heard the music from the potty. He had finally gone but some was on the floor and he had whetted his underwear and shorts. He was petrified. Whitney and I immediately started praising him for finally going in the potty and he saw that we were happy so he became happy. Then today after church we realized the depth of his fear. He kept asking for a diaper and we kept sending him back to the potty. I was trying to help him but he was holding it in. He was so scared to go. He started dripping but was ruthlessly holding it in. Whitney and tried everything we could think of to get him to not be afraid. He finally couldn't hold it any longer and went. FINALLY! Again, we showered him with praise and told him how good he did. Any ideas on how to deal with the fear? Input would be great! I'll give more of an update this week. We love you all!

Movie Review

I just watched "Bedtime Stories". I thought it was a really cute movie. It stars Adam Sandler. I thought he did a pretty good job. It's Adam Sandler humor that is clean. Oxy moron? Well, I liked it.

Hurray!!!

Whitney is assigned to Oakland! Yay we don't have to move!! I am very excited about that. As far as how I feel about Whit going to Oakland, I just have to trust in the Lord to keep him safe. As some of you know or heard, there were 4 Oakland cops that shot and killed 2 weeks ago. The funeral was huge. I found that I can't dwell on thoughts of him getting hurt or dying or I will drive myself crazy. He is going where he wants to go and I am ok with that. I am happy that he will be happy with his assignment.

Wicked

On Thursday, March 19th, a huge group of us went and saw Wicked. It was awesome!! I highly recommend seeing it if and when you can. The music was fantastic and the dialogue was very well written. I loved it. Both Whitney's sisters came to see it, along with theirt husbands,other family and friends. It is in San Francisco until September. Awesome!!!

Ok, next topic:

We had all the Lowe cousins here for about four days. That was great for all the kids. They played alot together. It was nice to hang out with Whit's sisters too. I had spent time with Cassie on our big trip, but didn't get a chance to spend time with Diana. It was fun to sit around and talk and play games and laugh at people on YouTube (Jake, cough).

When Diana was here, we all went to Muir Woods by San Rafael. It was a really neat place to go. This is Jared showing Daddy the banana slugs that live there.

These are all the Lowe cousins (minus Ashlyn because she was asleep).

Jared split his head, again. This time he had to get 4 stitches; not just 2 staples. I took these pics for posterity's sake. Apparently, Jacob pushed Jared off the chair in their room and Jard fell back and hit his head on a toy with a charp edge. Lovely. Jared came out crying. So I bend down over the top of him to kiss it better and realize the back of his shirt was soaked. My first thought was, where did he get the grape juice? My next thought was, crap. My third thought was, Whit's not here. Great. SO I called my mother in-law. She and Cassie came over and took Jacob and Sarah to her house while I took Jared to the hospital. We were there about 2 1/2 hours, which is better than the last time around. I am very proud of myself for not freaking out and for holding it together. But, man it would have been nice to have Whit there so I could stand outside the room while they stitched him up. I know that Whit would have come if I have asked him, but I knew it was more important for him to stay at the academy that night when it wasn't a serious injury. I love you Whit.

Happy Birthday to Jacob!! I was really excited about how the cake turned out. One of my new hobbies is cake decorating. I had d0ne some really cute cupcakes for a baby shower earlier in the month.

And the last picture is Sarah doing her stink bug walk. Absolutely adorable. She will be 10 months on the 8th. This year has seemed to go by so fast. And yet it feels like the Academy will never end. Just 6 1/2 more weeks!! Yay! We should find out in the next week or so where Whit will be working. His top choices were all in the bay area so the chances of us having to move are small. I am keeping my fingers crossed, though.

Sharing Moment

I love how service is a circle. It's like those insurance commercials. You see service or have a service done to you and you in turn serve someone else. I have been able to serve a friend of mine a lot lately. They are going thru a rough patch with their families and work, plus she is having a baby on Monday. They don't have a car right now and she is supposed to be on bed rest, but with two kids already that is hard. So I gave her a ride to her doctor appt today. Then she watched the kids while I went grocery shopping. We hung out after I got back and instead of going home for dinner, she called the lady who was bringing their dinner and had her drop it off at my house. So the sister came over with her daughter and we chatted. She forgot something at home so ran back to get it, bringing two other daughters and we talked some more. Then we realized the time. She told me she would be back to help clean up the kitchen. Sage (the friend) left with her kids and I got mine ready for bed. Julie came over to play a game and the sister came back with one daughter and cleaned my kitchen. Now, she hadn't started out the day giving service to me, but she ended it that way. I started the day with service and ended being the recipient. I am always amazed at how it goes around and comes around. You serve others and in turn are served. It is such a blessing. I am so grateful I have the ward family we do. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that the family is the most important unit. I love my savior for all He has blessed me with. We have been so blessed, especially with Whitney in the academy. I Know that Christ loves me. I see His hand in my life every day. I am grateful for my children, even when I don't feel it at that moment. They bring meaning and happiness to my life. I love my husband and despite the creepy dreams I have been having, I know that we will stay strong and be together forever. Thank you for listening to my sudden tangent. But I know the power of service and I am grateful for those that can and do for others. It is that Christ-like love that other people see and will draw them to our savior. Thank you all for your support and love.

New Addition!!

So, I have a new nephew. On Feb. 28 (my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!) Mason Elias Carter was born to Willow (my sister in-law) and JD (my bra). He's a cute little bundle, but definately looks like a newborn. He is going to be handsome, for sure. Congrats, guys! We love you!!

It's gone!

I went from this....

to this!!
I have been thinking about cutting it for a while. I like it long, but Sarah loves to pull on it and it hurts. Plus it was starting to get heavy and was giving me headaches. I wish I could grow it out, but I guess I will just have to admire it on other women. I do like it short though, too. And I think it looks good, if I do say so myself. I can't wait for Whit to see it this weekend. He knew I was getting it cut, but I don't know if he remembered it was happening this week.