St. Geroge Pics (mostly playing with Ann)

Catch, Poppa Great's, Riding Grampa, the Slip and Slide, the feed yard, corn for the horses, driving the tractor, and of course Cannon's two best pals Sugar and Samps...boy did we have fun!

Whoops, trying to pic out the cute pics I ended up with the same one the bottom. Oh well.

 

Now that we're back I hear a lot of "I want to go to Mamaw's house" at first I told him we'll go at Christmas but that was breaking my heart too, it just sounds so far so now I tell him we'll go after little brother is born (who knows when but hoping for cheap flights...and even if it doesn't happen it sounds way better than saying Christmas) anyway Cannon's answer back is "I wanna go first!"
He'll also just say things in a random matter of fact way such as: "I live Mississippi, Ann lives in Utah" its so cute and while it sounds good it doesn't mean my 2 year old comprehends 1600 miles.  Oh well.

What we've been up to.

My Big Plans of constructing -at least most of- our Friday Blog post Thursday evening, because Friday was a travel day for us were quickly thwarted when stink'n American Airlines called me that evening with the information that Isaac's 6:00am Flight from Jackson to Dallas Friday morning had been canceled. What? And of course I bought the cheapest flight I could find through one of those stupid internet travel companies (the "cheap" one was still double what it cost Cannon and I to both fly into Vegas) but anyway the first leg was American the next 2 legs of his trip were on Frontier. American was like sure, we'll refund your $$ but Frontier-not so much, not their problem. Anyway after a long stressful evening Isaac ended up driving the Shreveport (like us) and -sigh- I'm just happy it worked out. It was 24 hours of travel headache-both Frontier flights ended up delayed so he missed the connecting one in Denver but he made it! that is the good news! Maybe it happened for a reason, who knows. Isaac just kept telling me not to worry about it, he'd take care of it, but...I worried. I was high strung for a long 24 hours there. I learned my lesson-no more One Travel for me, and I advise any of my blog readers to steer clear! Anyway, I have pics and stuff...later!
We had ANNimal the ANNtaginist. Holy Cow! She was going to be gone the WHOLE time we were here so instead Ky brought her home and we helped tend. I'm not going to lie, it was hard. A little too late for me to be re-thinking the whole 2 kid thing. Oh my goodness, and I'm not a very nice pregnant lady. When I was getting after those 2 (all week) I remembered being not a very nice pregnant teacher either. Again, Oh well. We did have some fun and do some fun things and as much as they fight they are best friends and totally love each other so I'm glad Cannon got to see her and play for more than the 2 seconds swimming that first day we were here. But seriously I heard enough "My dad!" "No MY DAD" "My Poppa!" "NO MY GRAMPA" etc etc to put me right in the looney bin! Cannon's not innocent in this either, he knows just what buttons to push to get and keep her going. He is however MUCH quieter than her!
Other fun things, we got to visit with Coach Allen, I went to lunch with by best friends from high school, Grampa played super man and took them BOTH to drive the tractor so I got a little break in the evenings. Friday our long drive to SLC was nothing compared to Isaac's travel day but it was still long! Cannon had a blast playing with his cousins at the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel that night.

MORE -and pics- later!

Blogger's Giving me Grief

I just typed up everything we'd been up too and lost it. UG. Of course it warned me first and I still thought it had been saved. So frustrating. Oh well, here we go again..

We definitely look fwd to Sunday's and getting to see Isaac, this last Sunday morning Cannon and I had switched places, it happens occasionally-he comes into our bedroom and I'm too tired to take him back to his own so I just set him in bed between us then he crowds me out and I end up going and sleeping in his room. But this last week Cannon woke me up in his room by getting right in my face and saying "Mom frog hunt daddy." So he'd been up and exploring around our room and found the flashlight and Isaac told him that's what hey could do with it, go on a frog hunt that night. (Basically a walk around the apt complex at night.) Cannon was so excited all day. They heard lots but didn't see any though, bummer. I guess they are going to have to work on the fine art of frog hunting.

Looking high (tree frogs) and low for frogs

Monday we made the journey across the country. The 4 hour drive to the Shreveport airport was pretty brutal on him after we had picked my mom up at the Jackson airport that is so close to us when she came in May. As we started out I asked him if we wanted a drink of milk, he said "No, drink milk airport" I told him he could drink some there too later and I listened to "Where airport at?" all across Louisiana. When we finally got to Vegas we had to wait 30 minutes for our stroller that we gate checked, its usually right there as we get off the plane. Then it was "Where my Grama (Mamaw) at?" The whole way through the airport until we could get to her at baggage claim, where we waited another 2 hours for our one stupid bag. UG! It made our long day of travel just too long. On the way home from Vegas I bet he asked "Where my Mamaw's house?" more than a hundtred times. The poor kid was ready to be here too, but the good news is we made it :) Let the fun begin. 

Tuesday we went swimming with Ann and Elsie first thing because they were leaving town for the week(s) that afternoon.

The sign at DHS said 119 degrees that first day, so its pretty hot, but not sweaty and sticky and nasty, just a good desert hot. Cannon is oblivious to the fact that its sweltering. He just loves to be outside. He has a little dirt hole that he digs in at my moms house that he calls his "Sandbox" luckily it has pretty good shade most of the time.

He's constantly begging to go up to Poppa Greats to play in the back yard and to the feed yard. The real fun of course is when Grampa (Poppa Chip) gets home from work. He loves going anywhere with him and takes being Poppa's Helper pretty serious. The  bribe of getting to go with Grampa is pretty much the only way I can get him to eat. Don't let the picture on the horse fool you, he talks a big story about wanting to ride Monty but cried the whole 45 seconds he was up there. Oh well.

They have a good time together.  Its so cute and my dad is so cute with him and I just love it. When my mom asked what they got to do one of the days he said "Drive Tractor, my favorite." He was pretty upset I didn't bring his boots, that's what Grampa wears! They feed the horses, went out over the hill looking for cows, and he got to help drive the swather while they cut hay down in the field. If Grampa needs to do anything without him he has to be pretty sneaky, and we say "he went on an errand" He's taken to calling Chip's dogs "My dogs" and especially "My Sugar dog" He got up Thursday morning after telling me "Mom I all done yay (Lay) down"  and found the dogs and sat down by Sugar and was singing "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" to her while patting her head legs and paws. So cute. He also tells the dogs everything he knows. "Sugar, TV Broken" I tell him no buddy the TV's not broken its just turned off. So then he turns to Sugar and says "Sugar TV Battery died" its just funny. He even shares his silkies with them...that's a pretty big deal!

We watch a little Curious George here and there but he would rather play than watch the TV or the tablet pretty much all the time so that makes me super happy. We've had a heck of a time finding a baseball game on TV but luckily they found one at Poppa greats.
Today we got to go visit, play, and go swimming, with the Allred's we love them! Cannon was a little slow to warm up but then I think he would have stayed there forever. He and Trey are pretty good buddies!

We are having a good time. We miss Isaac but he just works all the time anyway so it really is a great time to be here and we will get to see him next weekend so that will be fun. 

Bout it...
Oh wait, possibly the cutest thing is when Cannon says prayers by himself and says he's thankful for the frog hunt, driving the tractor, swimming, the feed yard, and anything else he's done that was fun. Its too cute to sit and listen as his little mind remembers the good things of the days and weeks. He'll sit there for a long time too and just try to remember more, even though I get a "No Mom say it" every time I try to help I have to help him start to wrap it up. We do have so much to be thankful for, my little 2 year old is a good example to me!

Potty Potty Potty!

Helping Mom Chop Nuts

"Potty" I hate that word-I always have. I just think UG just call it going to the bathroom-but that doesn't roll off my tongue to my toddler so hate it or not...it's my llife! I'm now one of those people who uses that stupid "potty" word.... Hmm I think you call us "moms!" And lets not kid ourselves about who is getting trained here! Its the mom!
Anyway, before I get into the story (well stories) first other news, our friends moved :( such a bummer!! Henry on Monday, Asher tomorrow. Poor little Cannon is going to be lost in nursery, and without playgroup, and me too. I mean I could take over as the organizer but really what are the chances of that? Janene (headed it up) and Laura were always there and we had so much fun. I have made great friends here, that has been a blessing, and I'm thankful, but there they go...one to California, one to Pennsylvania. Isaac was commenting on how exciting it was for them to be moving. My guts started to twist and turn in knot as I remember how devastated and heartbroken I was to move here, and how excited he was about the next adventure. If we are any indication at all-its true-opposites attract. I'm sure more friends will come but its definitely sad to see such good ones go.

Playing with Asher and Brice when we went to say "Goodbye"

Ok, on to this potty stuff that has literally consumed my life this last week. I wasn't going to tackle this project before we went to Utah, but last week when Cannon was in the tub and told me "I'm peeing" I realized here's my window. I better take it! (An advantage of being the last one of my siblings to have kids-I've seen how long it takes if you miss the window and I don't have any idea how long those "windows" last) So we've taken the plunge.
Saturday I might have been the worlds biggest fan of diapers, they are so easy, change'm when they need it, the end. It was a lot of trying and failing. I mean we had one little taste of success when I let him sit on the potty for an HOUR with the tablet... not very impressive.

At first it was a toss up as to which one of us was most miserable...but he got to where he was pretty happy rock'n the boxer briefs around the house

Sunday night we did have a success along with a couple of messes.

Monday first thing Cannon was hunting for the tablet (its normal, he knows all of our hiding places too) Isaac was going to let him watch it but I felt his diaper and it was still dry from all night (rare). I said "Over my dead body is he watching that thing unless its sitting on the pot!!" They both complied and we totally started the morning out with a success. I swear I was getting just enough "success" to keep me plugging along at this project. And my 2 big motivators are the thought of buying diapers for 2 kids, no thanks, and as daunting as its seems the thought of doing it with a newborn around seems way worse. So I keep plugging away. Anyway. Cannon is such a smart little boy, one of the things I think that helped a ton was him listening to me vent my frustration to my mom, I was explaining that he knows when he's peeing he just doesn't know when he's going to start, or how to start, he just holds it then unloads...and seriously since that conversation he's done so much better. Its like he listened and thought-Yes I do know mom, I can do it, I'll show you. And so he has. He's done a really good job.

Tuesday was a lot of success (thanks to the bribe of the tablet -free- and a handful of those matchbox 60th anniversary cars that are 60 cents, Cannon's figuring out the world of prizes Bribes Bribes Bribes) anyway we really made it all day (just the day) without any accidents, after we went out and about for and hour and a half or so and came home and he was still dry and went right in and peed I was feeling really good about things! ...I -not necessarily Cannon- was feeling pretty potty trained...then later that night I decided to make dinner, whoops, totally should have fed Isaac cold cereal. As soon as it wasn't my 100% focus the accidents came pouring (or peeing) in. UG. After so much success I was a little discouraged again.

As Wednesday started out the poor kid couldn't hardly breath with out me asking he had to use the bathroom or making him go in and sit on the pot to try. But I loosened up and actually we did have some success then even independent success. Yeah for progress!!! I need to keep things in perspective he really is doing SO good in a really short time (it just feels like forever for me) He even wanted to nap in his undies...I decided the worst that could happen was I'd have to wash he sheets I should have washed this week anyway so what the heck? But he woke up dry :) and it was a LONG NAP. The missionaries (sisters) came over. He said the prayer but couldn't be bothered with eating with us so he was just playing on the couch, I was getting nervous and nagging him like crazy but eventually he went running in the bathroom on his own. (Then came streaking out and said "Missionaries! I Peed!!!!" I was embarrassed but Oh well, it wasn't a big deal, he's 2 and it is the excitement around her these days."
We are by no means out of the woods yet, we started out this morning with "Mom, I pee chair!" (Sigh.) Oh well at least its easy to clean up off the chair, but he's doing good. I have to remind myself that every time its a mess. I think that soccer ball potty was the possibly the best $10 bucks I've ever spent.  Mr. independent likes to dump it in the big potty by himself and flush it. We have had one wreck with that, it resulted in a re-bath for the night. But mostly I'm just so proud of him. He's watched a lot of tablet but I just set the timer for 10 minutes -he stretches that 10 min as long as he can every time but- that's the reward most of the time (his choice)

I'm thankful for technology...my mom gets an ongoing dialogue of the progress-she offered him a dollar to go #2 in the potty.

And now its on the blog for all he world to see/read. Poor kid. Well, I document his every other move (at least for 2 more months) why would this be any different?

We hang out inside as much as possible...and Cannon just loves to tear the couch apart. This video is long for what I usually post but really short compared to how much time he spends playing with the couch cushions. 

Isaac's work sent me flowers  that said "Thanks for being part of our team" That was random but super nice and thoughtful, I was impressed! And I really liked the flowers!

And Cannon and I talked Isaac into going swimming with us before work yesterday :) it was really fun. 

But by the end of the day Cannon wasn't feeling too great. That was a bummer, I hope its just because he's cutting more of those 2 year molars.

What's the name of the black guy that's blind and plays the piano? I thought this pic Sunday morning looked just like that guy on the old Diet Pepsi commercials... The kid always has me smiling about something!

It seems like I've been complaining (or kind of complaining) about uneventful weeks. When I should have been being thankful! Fathers day was pretty good, I got up and made cinnamon rolls for Isaac-scratch that- I made them for me. When am I going to learn? He doesn't care for that kind of stuff, A: Sweets B: He says "Thanks" and "they smell good" but after he says "It just seems like a lot of work." And that I should just stay in bed. Oh well. I ended up taking them to my SS class too, they liked them. Cannon and I got him some new Ties, that are Extra Long.

Of Course Cannon helped him open them.

Not that exciting but all he wears these days besides work clothes and he's been wanting some of the longer ones for a while (I usually just buy the cheap ones at Ross) We went visiting-hey it was Isaac's day and that's totally his thing- the neighbors across from the church, and we gave them a Book of Mormon, and a ward member in the hospital. We had great visits both places! After that we called home, we missed Grampa Great but my mom took a video for us and he askes if Cannon is a big boy now? Cannon watches it over and over and and answers "YES" every time, then gets ready to give him knuckles. Its so stink'n cute.

We also found out while on the phone that Grama Cottam was in the hospital in Japan ...supposedly no big deal...
On to Monday...
I had a LONG Dr. appt. I'm just so impatient with that kind of stuff, I know he's busy so I think just send me on my way, I don't need to see him. I should just be thankful I have a good Dr. here. Anyway I was complaining to my mom via text when I got a text back to not complain about minor inconvenience like prenatal care. Turns out Grama was in ICU in Japan! (She's out of the hospital now and doing better but can't fly home yet) Then, the crazy things you hear about in this world, they are awful, but they are usually distant. An Oregon man kills his neighbors and burns their house down, then kills his own wife and starts his house on fire. My mom's cousin Renae and his wife were the neighbors that were killed. I never met his wife but he was such a nice guy. Cottam to the core! It's gut wrenching. Renae wasn't a member of the LDS church but he was totally and asset, such an avid genealogist and so willing to share his findings. I'm not a facebooker but I did log on and read several of the nice comments his students (he was a former teacher) had written. But there was also a post from him back in May about putting flowers on his mom's grave at mothers day, it was the first mothers day since she had passed away, I'm sure regardless of the circumstances of his and his wife's awful death there were joyous reunions on the other side! I'm very thankful for my knowledge and understanding of life after death...I don't know everything, but I know enough!
For the most part (so far anyway) I've had smooth pregnancies, Monday night however (after complaining about having to wait at the Dr. ...serves me right) not so much. Tuesday I laid pretty low and did alright but Tuesday night I was back to miserable. So I made a deal with myself in the middle of the night that I would at least call the Dr. office the next day. I did and am so happy I did-I hesitate too much on that kind of stuff-  I seem to have found a miracle cure, more water!!! I'll take it! So happy to being feeling good again. Cannon and I went out shopping for clothes for family pictures we will be taking in July with the whole Ison crew while we are there for the home coming/farewell stuff. -I know they aren't called that anymore but it gets the point across- Shopping was fun, I do love and excuse to shop! I don't know why but I love it. I ended up with a couple new dresses out of the deal. Totally not for family pictures, Isaac is cool with me doing stuff like that but I have so much...??? is guilt the right word? in the middle of me explaining how much I love it? he's bust'n his tail working this summer and I'm looking at dresses (that were only 10 bucks and cute and modest....all of this rationalization, little wonder they end up in my cart :))
Thursday I took Cannon to the Braves game, he was so excited there were even crane trucks and other equipment across the street and he was not impressed he just keep saying "Mom Baseball Game" I was trying to keep him busy for an HOUR because I didn't read the schedule and showed up way too early.

 

We had fun, we watched a little infield as soon as they would let us in the gate, but encouraging him to run around and then wanting him to sit and watch the game with me once it started and hour later didn't really work out for me.  Oh well he had fun running around and making friends. Actually he calls all other little kids "Friends" and get so excited when they are around. This morning some of Isaac's customers had a kid playing little league so we got to go to another baseball game. Cannon was in tall cotton. They were pretty darn good little 7 years olds too, it was fun. 
Cannon's been into saying "Good Job Cann Man" (or rather "Dood Job Tan Man") a ton this week...truthfully he gives out a lot of "Good Job" compliments to anybody and anything, its cute but he gets the most of his own praises. I've realized how much I call him Cann Man instead of  Cannon too. But I like nicknames so I'm good with it. He's also getting pretty quick with "Sorry Mom"...maybe a little too quick. And Isaac usually always kisses me goodbye before he walks out the door but Cannon gets pretty bent out of shape if he gets left out. "I didn't Tiss Daddy" he whines in his ultra pathetic feelings hurt voice, so I track Isaac down before he gets too far and he has to come back in and give Cannon a little kiss on the forehead before he can really leave. Its cute. I love these 2 boys!
I think that's about it. I know I have a video or two I want to add, we'll see if I get it done.

Well another week gone by. Isaac's 1/2 way done with work this summer, that's pretty exciting. The weeks just fly by though, we don't really look fwd to weekends, just try to catch our breath on Sunday. Since I posted last I did get my craft on for fathers day :) I love that...

We made a tractor shirt for "Poppa" and hats for Poppa Great, Poppa, and Cann Man. I asked Cannon if he wanted to make Poppa a twin hat as him for fathers day and he said "Poppa, Feed Yard, Tractor, Cannon Big Helper" Done buddy, thanks for the idea! We made tractor shirts for all the (little) grandkids too. If only I had such crafty ideas for Isaac...hmm. I have 2 more days though and I don't have to get that one in the mail. Cannon and I searched high and low for a kid hat (just a baseball cap-I didn't think it was going to be hard but I just needed a simple one and I didn't want those stupid flat bill ones or too funky of colors but seriously at least 6 stores, Cann was so funny we'd go in looking for a "tid hat" and he'd say "Mom, ask'm" trying to get me to ask the workers if they had one, but there's not much  k sound when he says it.) ANYWAY, we finally found one at TJMaxx and we also stumbled onto a Soccer ball potty for only ten bucks. I would like him to just use the big pot but its a no go, so far, so it was worth the gamble. Cannon wanted to sit on it right away! Great news. He's yet to use it but its totally progress for us for him to even sit there so I'll take it. (And I confess I haven't been fully committed to the potty training thing but we're getting closer) Thursday he was out in the sandbox in his Jamas and covered in sand so when I hauled him in, stripped him down, washed him off and he needed a new diaper anyway I asked him if he would sit on it and he was all about it, I took a picture cuz it was so cute, but, even though its decent, its from the side so you can see the cool soccer potty,  its still a nudy pic and I'm NOT into those so no pics!
Which means...the only other pics I have for this week are from Cannon wearing his friends goggles at playgroup.

I wish I would have taken more pictures. Cannon had so much fun with Asher! We did it at our pool and really only my one friend came with her kids but it was a blast, so fun to visit, I'm sad they are moving. She is awesome. I will say that we have really great friends here...and Isaac's sure as they go more will come, I need to do a better job of making friends with people who are staying though.
That's about it. Nothing too exciting, its "hot" here but its not temperature hot-probably only 90-its nasty step outside and be covered in sweat head to toe kind of "hot." Just different. Often times we just stay inside to hide in the AC, makes for boring weeks, and boring blog posts, but its just sweaty and gross. I am sometimes motivated to go to the pool...but that's about it, even the tan seems different here, not to mention that tan on a fat pregnant lady is less than exciting! Oh well.
I better quit, the Cann Man is waiting for me to come color with him!

Hmm the week seems pretty uneventful. We like to go swimming when we can. Cannon's pretty into taking the couch apart (maybe I shouldn't have showed him where/how we look for the lost crayons) he loves it though and it doesn't hurt anything.

 

By uneventful I guess I meant void of any good news. Isaac chased by a dog one day (at least he wasn't the one that got bit on the butt...he came home with that story for me) then the next day the cops stopped him and told him his company's licensing was out of date. And it was pouring rain a few of the evenings, so that slows him down. So in someways its been a pretty long week, he's been working on little green in his "Spare" time, he's always calling his dad for help on such projects so I really liked this picture:

 

 -and of course he has a big helper!-

When we're swimming, Cannon doesn't really get the hold your breath under water thing, yet, I was trying to get him to and plug his nose.  I'd plug mine and say "1,2,3" Then go under water for a second. So Cannon started holding his nose and counting...clear to 15. Not about to go under water though. Funny kid.

The only other thing I can really think of his Cannon's manners. Oh, I love this little guy! We work on manners and we're trying...so the other day I was in the kitchen and I heard "Scuse Me Greatest" (Excuse me then one of his books is call The Greatest) anyway he went down the list of every book he'd left on the couch as one by one he threw them on the floor,  "Scuse me Greatest... Scuse me Cat Hat...Scuse me Ralph...Scuse me Dogs...." and so on until he had the couch (his track for his motorcycle) clear and proceeded to drive it all over the cushions. You can tell by the throwing them on the floor I'm having a little more luck with in the manners department than the clean up department. Oh well.