Bringing home the bacon

Let's talk work....Dan's work specifically. 

So men, here's a post for you.  (Yes, I am talking to all two of you: Dad and Adam.)

Dan works at a copper mine in Morenci (about 50 minutes north of where we live).  It is the one of the largest copper mines in the world.  It really is quite big.  He does in fact work in the mine in their truck shop as one of their Diesel mechanics.  The truck shop consists of two parts: the truck side that works on the HUGE dump trucks.  And when I say huge, I mean HUGE!  But, we'll talk about that later.  And the support side that works on everything not dump truck. 

Dan works on the dump truck side.  (He started out on the other side, and then was moved to the truck side.)

The white building on the right is where he works.  These pictures are taken from the lookout so everything looks tiny.

 

Now let's talk dump trucks.  The dump trucks he works on are no ordinary dump trucks.  They are gigantic and can carry 800,000 pounds of rock and dirt in one load.  Dan says it's like driving a two story house.  It's THAT big.  And boys, yes, he has actually driven them.  I know, every man's dream, right? 

And here's the proof of how big they are.  Dan says this picture doesn't do it justice, but at least you get the idea.  This is just the bed of one of the dump trucks.  It is big enough to fit an entire regular dump truck with plenty of room to spare.

Dan requested that I add this picture just so you get an idea of the massiveness.  Look how small the people are compared to the truck.

And a couple more pictures of the mine from the lookout.

 Dan is really loving his work and learning a ton.  What more can a wife ask for!

I'm one proud mama

So, I mentioned at the end of November that I was going to buckle down and potty train Alayna.  Then with all the craziness in our lives I never said another word and I pretty much left you hangin'.   

Now for the follow-up.  I am happy to announce that Alayna is (and has been for quite some time) completely potty trained (during the day)! Yahoo!  I am am one PROUD mama!

She still wears a pull-up at night, but most mornings it is completely dry and she wakes up from her naps dry as well.  She really does so good.  She tells me all the time when she has to go and we don't have to take the potty chair with us when we drive into town (since it is such a long drive) to run errands.   Sure she will have an accident every now and again, but every kid does.  That's part of life. 

Initially when I was going to write this post (a couple of months ago) I was going to have it be a potty training 101 type of post so that I would remember exactly what I did for next time.  But alas, time has gone on and I am feeling lazy.  I actually did write down everything so I can look back on it next time because it's funny how I say, "I will remember what I did.  How could I forget?"....and then time has gone on and I really did forget.  :)  Does that sound familiar?  Anyone? 

So here she is....the potty queen:

Didn't you know the perfect time to take care of those chapped lips is when you are sitting on the potty?  Try as I might, I could not get her to put her chapstick away for these pics.  I guess her lips were feeling quite chapped. 

Oh, did I mention that we have a diaper free house!?!  It is absolutely glorious!

Tangled

After debating whether or not Alayna was actually "old enough" to go to the movies, I decided to take the plunge. I swore I wouldn't take my kids to the theater 'til they were at least three, but we just made some new friends and they invited us to go, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with our new found friends, Kelly and Gwenna.

Plus we were going to a movie that I heard good things about from several people and it was at the cheap theater....if you can classify $4.50 as cheap.  But the $1.50 smoothie totally made up for that.  Seriously, they had the.best.concessions.ever!  And I am not one to even buy anything to eat at the theater. 

So anyway, despite all my fears of my child whining, crying, getting up and walking around, and just plain, not lasting it through the movie, we went.  And it was a huge success!  Alayna was immediately captivated by the movie.  As soon as the movie started she turned to me with big eyes and said, "A moomie (movie)!"  It was darling, to say the least.

She LOVED the singing!  This really was the perfect movie to keep her attention because we all know how much she loves musicals.  :)  I was worried that she would be so enthralled with the movie that she wouldn't tell me when she had to go to the bathroom, but turns out I was wrong.  Why did I ever doubt?  Part way through the movie, she turned to me and said, "Potty."  So we went to the potty.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention how funny it is to listen to little kids in the theater.  They have no sense of whispering or censoring what they choose to say out loud.  Everything Alayna would have said at home, she said at the theater.  "Horses!  Mommy horses!" At volume 20.  Or "Swimming.  More Swimming?"  To which I responded, "No, Alayna, I can't rewind the movie. They're done swimming for now."   The people sitting behinds got a kick out of her.  After she would say something, I could hear them chuckle.  Ah, kids.

The movie was darling.  I loved it.  Alayna loved it.  And our friends loved it.  You can't ask for more than that.  I guess the only thing that could have made our experience even better was if Kelly and I noticed the booster seats sitting outside of the theater.  Then maybe our kids' necks wouldn't have been so strained and they wouldn't have had to sit on our jackets.....  Oh well.  Live and learn. :)


Here we are after the movie.  I think it's safe to say, we had a good time.

And here's Gwenna and Kelly.

And the two cute girls together.  Despite our best efforts, they would not look at the camera at the same time.  

I think some more Mommy/daughter dates are in order!

Tidbits

Life is just plugging away and we are busy with the usual: work, play, cleaning, callings, etc.

Nothing too exciting, but for the most part, I like it that way.  Here's a little glimpse of what been goin' on around our house.


-We have officially started looking for a place to live in town.  We figure since it took us a month to find our current house, we better start looking sooner than later.  Rent or buy, we just don't know.  We'll see.  It all just depends on what we can find in town before our lease is up.

-I am convinced that house hunting is just not fun.  Even when you are looking to buy.  It really is not all that I thought it would be.

-Did I mention I am itching to be in town?  Well, I am.  I am wanting to be a little closer to the "swings", store, library....you name it.

-We've had a busy last few weeks.  And truth be told, I like it that way.  Some days, I just don't know how I am going get everything on my list done.  Most days yesterday's list rolls over to today.  Sound familiar?

-We're starting to make friends. Yea! Those of you that have moved know that it always takes time.  It just does.

-Alayna and I went on our very first mommy daughter date to the movies.  It was her first time ever to the movies and I was a bit nervous, but it was a huge success!  We went to Tangled.  Oh, how we loved it!

-I am forever grateful to my friend, Roberta, who suggested to have a lunch date at her house during naptime so Alayna could take a nap and we could have some adult conversation.  How did she know that was exactly what I needed after these last few weeks?

-Naptime has been a thing of the past this last week.  I am NOT ready for a child who doesn't nap anymore, but I am getting a hint of what life is like when the time comes.  I feel like Alayna is still to young to not have naps.  I don't know.  Heaven help me if she really is transitioning out of naps.

-On a brighter note.  Alayna has taken an EXTRA long nap today.  After all, it is heart day.  I couldn't have asked for a better present.

- We got cable a couple of weeks ago.  (Gasp!) And I have to say I am loving it way more than I thought I would.  And I am not loving it because I watch it all the time.....because I don't.  I am so used to not having it.   But I have to confess that I am loving it for Alayna though.    I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of shows for kids.  Especially on the Disney channel.  I feel like Alayna is learning positive things when she watches some of the shows there.  I don't know if we will always have cable, but for now it's good.

-I started a play group in our ward.  I wanted Alayna to have more opportunities to play with kids her age (since it's just me at home) so I took matters into my own hands and started a play group.  We start this Friday.  We'll see how it goes.

-I had my first experience of burning weeds.  All I have to say is.....there are HUGE tumbleweeds here. (One tumbleweed was close to the size of our small car.  Crazy!)  Now, our yard is just dirt.  Not dirt and weeds. :) 

And...Happy Heart day!

A full heart

Today I am feeling GRATEFUL.

The Lord truly has answered my prayers and given us a miracle.

I found out today that I did NOT have a Molar pregnancy.

I am grateful beyond words.

The doctors can't explain why I had some of my symptoms, especially why my hormone levels were so high, but they don't have to. 

I know miracles happen everyday. 

With a molar pregnancy there was talk of things like cancer, weekly blood drawing for as long as a year, and much more.

I knew whatever the diagnosis, the Lord would help me along the way.  

But I am feeling truly blessed.