We're gonna Try

I guess this potty training thing is different for every one. Ellie is a little bit strange about it though. Two times today she has taken off her diaper and thrown it at me and pee'd right on the floor. The problem is she can't say potty or doesn't really understand what it means so I don't quite know how to get her to tell me. But we'll still work on that.
So... tonight when we got home from the dress rehearsal for the temple Ellie told me "pooooP" so I took her diaper off and put her on my potty (she has a little one but apparently just thinks it's just to sit on while I'm going potty) she went and kinda got a little scared and stopped and then finished but I made such a big deal about it that she thinks it's great now! When I told her she was a big girl now she said "bi gil I poooop" It was so cute! so maybe I'll just have to go with poop till she figures out that it means potty!
So I took the big plung and bought pull ups. I'm gonna try it and see how that works. Char told me I just need to set a timer and make her sit on the potty every 20 min or so till she figures it out. I'm going to give it a real try. I just don't want to miss my window of her interest in going potty. Heaven knows Moms don't like two babies in diapers. And NO that is not a hint about anything!

Circus

07/28/08 Ellie's First Circus Experience! Thank goodness for grandma's and grandpa's! During Declo days Val bought a few tickets to go to the circus and decided it would be fun to take Ellie along! Which was great for Layne and I because we got a quiet evening alone to visit and went and got ice cream. It was WONDERFUL!

Well, Ellie had a great time and was able to come home and say "ephant". Which she was able to ride and I guess enjoyed it! This is her just getting on to go for her ride! She rode with Erica, Amanda and Jordan!

There was also a huge "side" and she loved that to. Aunt Erica, Aunt Amanda and Ellie loving the slide!
Thanks grandma and grandpa for the great evening!

Ushering @ the Twin Falls Temple

07/25/08

About a month ago Layne and I were asked to be ushers at the temple. We were really excited about it cause it's been a long while since we have even been in a temple. Our shift started at noon and ended at four p.m. It was such an amazing experience for Layne and I because we got to stand in the foyer of the Temple as everyone walked in together. What an amazing thing to experience. We watched a HUGE array of people walk in those temple doors and just watched how their countenance changed as they just immediately walk through those doors! I LOVED IT. and I'm looking forward to ushering again on the fifth of aug. If any one hasn't been to the open house go! It's amazing! We are so blessed to have a temple just in arms reach!

Husband Tag

I've been tagged!.... again...
This time it's about the husbands...
1. What is his name? Layne Nielsen Darrington
2. Who eats more? He Does
3. Who said "I love you" first? I did the day he decided It was eaither time to break up or get married! And obviously we got married!
4. Who is taller? He is 5'2" to 6" you do the math!
5. Who is smarter? Layne is very common sense smart and I'm book smart!
6. Who is more sensitive? Depends on the subject. I cry about everything and he holds it all in.
7. Who does the laundry? I do unless he is desperate need then he'll wash his own work cloths!
8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're looking at the bed, he does...if you are in the bed...I am
9. Who pays the bills? me
10. Who cooks more? I cook inside and Layne cooks outside on the Grill!
11. What meals do you cook together? The ones that we use the grill for
12. Who is more stubborn? I deffinately am and it's really hard to admit sometimes but when I see Ellie act that way I know she obvoiusly got that one from her mother!
13. Who is the first to admit they're wrong? We both do. Although we hate to admit it!
14. Who has more siblings? We have the same just a difference in boys and girls. I have 3 sisters one brother and Layne has 2 brothers and 2 sisters!
15. Who wears the pants in the relationship? Deffinately depends on who you ask. I say him and he says me. I'd say we're pretty even!
16. What do you like to do together? Everything. Most the time I don't go anywhere or do anything unless he is with me. Our favorite is to leave Ellie at a babysitters and go to a movie. You can never watch the whole thing with a almost 2 years old!
17. Who eats more sweets? I do mmmmmmmmmm cake
18. His guilty pleasures? Riding his motorcycle. Sometimes he has a bad day and comes home grouchy and I say "don't you need to go for a motorcycle ride" and he knows it's deffinately TIME!
19. How did you meet? Through a mutual friend. He was suppose to be hanging out with her and I came along to be a tag along and well the story goes on and on and if you ever want to know just ask.... Let's just end it with I'm one of "those" friends!
20. Who asked who out first? I don't really know it all started with texting back and forth for all hours of the night and eventually I think he invited me to come and hang out with him and his friends?
21. Who proposed? He did- I was at work (L.A. weight Loss) and I was so excited to see him I ran out and gave him a hug and he handed me a dozen roses and got down on one knee in the middle of the parking lot. (I think we were both a little anxious!)
22. Who kissed who first? I think it was a mutual thing. it was at my granny's house in front of the upstairs steps and I wanted to kiss him buy obviously that is kinda hard when he is so tall so he bent down and we kissed! IT was AMAZING!
23. His best features? Iwould have to say his blue eyes and those freakisly cute dimples! But most of all I love how he treats me and Ellie. We are pretty spoiled by our Dad/Husband!
24. Tag: Jocelyn, Ami, Missy

Branding Calves

Every so often Val and Layne need to graduate their calves. Which means they dehorn and brand them. Ever since Layne and I got together I've loved to help. Except the last time they did it Layne didn't call me and I kinda got a little irritated cause he knows I love it and he claims he just "didn't think about it". Well to me it's something that I enjoy doing with him and it's one of the only things I get to help with on the dairy besides helping him feed the calves once in a while. So he made sure to call me this afternoon so I could come help. Which was kinda a good thing cause most the time it was just me and him with no one else helping. Dad and Kelly eventually showed up and we all got it accomplished. As always I enjoyed it. (minus the smell of burning cow hide! Yuck!)

What a great picture of the two of us together. It's never just a nice, normal picture with us. Were eaither really dirty, swimming, or in our grubbys! But WE love each other all the same!

Ellie's New Kitty's

My granny has been bugging me for a few days now about coming over and gettin the kitties but I just haven't wanted to take on that resposiblity yet. And Layne needed a little "convincing" in order to even get the kitties. So I broke down and went and got them today. Let me tell you, she was so stinking excited she couldn't stand herself. She was jumping all over the place and kept singing "kitty kitty mere" It was so cute. I got it on video but I don't know how to put it on so the pictures will just have to do! If you know my daughter at all you know how much she LOVES animals. She loves to hold and kiss them and now she has some small enough for her to love on all she wants.

Mom can I really play with them!
Let me at em! Let me at em!
Her first time actually holding her new baby kitty!
She lost the kitty and kept saying "wher ou wher ou"???
So excited to finally have them home!!! And if your wondering about names were just going with "kitty's" right now since that is all Ellie can say!

Precious Children

Ellie was watching TV in my room the other day and fell asleep. I just couldn't help just staring at her and wondering what on earth I did to deserve such a sweet girl. It was a reality check for me just to realize how fast she is growing up and the only time she looks this innocent is when she is sleeping. I miss "HER" as a baby, letting me cuddle with her and just wanting her mommy. Now she is growing up and needing me in a different way. I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful daughter and an amazing husband!


Why is it they look so sweet when they are sleeping?

Watching TV

I always used to say "I cannot wait till Ellie gets intrested in the TV rather then bugging me all the time". Well it's come back to severely bite me in the back. I decided a few months ago I was going to start buying Walt Disney movies since she is a girl and loves animals and pricesses she might enjoy them. Well, the first time I went to buy one I gave her the choice of "puppies" (a.k.a 101 Dalmations) or "kitties" (a.k.a Aristacats). Well she chose puppies and she absolutely LOVES IT!!!!!!! I hear begging for "puppies" at least 4 times a day. And she watches half the movie and loses interest and then and hour later wants to watch it again! It's so funny cause now she's learned that she loves to watch it in our room sitting on her bannana chair, with her sippy, and a treat! Even if the chair isn't there she'll still sit in the exact spot on the floor. It just amazes me how much kids WANT and NEED routine! So needless to say now I'm taking back my words of wanting her to get intrested in watching TV. (These are pictures of Ellie's new favorite spot in the entire house!)


P.S. Kenna this is for you showing pictures of my not so PERFECT house! HAHAHAHA... I was actually really embarrassed about putting these pictures on but I just couldn't resist!

Wade Pool

I get so house happy most of the time that I am almost willing to do anything to entertain Ellie and to get out of the house. So on Monday I called Kenna to see what she was up to and invited her and the kids to go with Ellie and I to the wade pool in Burley. I was pleasantly surprised how CLEAN and warm the water was. Usually during the afternoon when I drive by their are tons of kids in the wade pool. But we went at 4:00 p.m. and it was wonderful! They had plenty of room to roam and splash around. And I cannot even express how lucky I am to have Kenna and Rigdon. She helps me out alot and it's SO nice to have a friend with a child similar to your own. Not to mention that "Riggon" is one of Ellie's favorite people. When I'm irritated at her and she knows it she says "Riggon" like he is going to come rescue her (which really is kinda cute). I'm just glad she knows who he is and loves him.

Potty Training

I don't know about this potty training ordeal! I've had quite the experience with her over the past few days and I don't know if it's worth it yet to push for going on the potty! Well, on Tuesday I was on the computer and she came up to me and said "mom pooooooooooop" grunting in the process. So I thought before she did it I'd strip her down and make her sit on the potty which she did. Then she wanted up with out doing anything and so I bribed her with an otter pop. So she did it. I wish I got a picture of her sitting on her potty chair eating a otter pop. It was rather hilarious. So since then I've tried sitting her on the potty and she screams bloody murder. I think she is afraid of the toilet. If any of you have any suggestions to get over the fear of the potty please enlighten me!

Darrington Reunion Saturday

Saturday started off bright and early for me. I walked in the hammer run cause Layne didn't think I would get up and do it but I did and I got second place in my age group! But, I should say there were only two of us in my age group! But reguarless I got up and did it and got a hammer and a t-shirt. I have about decided that I"m going to train myself and run the 3 mile next year. So we'll see how that goes. But I've said it so that means I'll most likely do it!

Then we all met up at the parade and enjoyed the 20 minute parade which was excellent for Declo! It's the biggest I've seen since I moved here almost four years ago!

Ellie really enjoyed the parade! Her favorite thing was to wave at all the floats as they went by! She is so cute. I really enjoyed the parade this year it was really long and entertaining!

Ellie wasn't quite sure about the races at Declo days. But she participated and that is all that mattered!

I just love this picture of Jack, Erica, Amanda, Aubrey, and Ellie. They were having a "GROUP HUG". It was cute!

Layne and I participated in Declo days with some adult games and unfortunately we lost but I was soaking wet and Layne was totally into it. If you couldn't already tell!


After Declo Days Everyone got together and floated the canal which we oppted out of cause Ellie was napping and I was super tired!

Then that evening we got together and had a bar-ba-que and Char Darrington made a slide show of pictures that turned out awesome! We had a great time and I'm looking forward to three years from now when we have a big Darrington reunion!

Darrington Reunion Friday Night

On friday we started the Darrington Reunion up at the Steadman's waterslide/zipline/mud football! When you go to steadman's it's always a blast and everyone always has fun! Last year when we went Ellie was just a little over six months so she didn't really understand but this year she really had a good time and kept asking "gin gin" (again) so she went down quite abit and so did everyone else.
Ellie and her daddy! She is trying to wave at me. It was really cute! She's so brave!
Me and Ellie getting ready to go down for the first time!
The boys always get into contests to see who can make it down the hill first. Of course they are scraped up and have bruises all over the place but to them it's always a good time! And it's been about three years since all the boys have been together since some have been away on missions. And unfortunelty were only missing one this year and that is Brogan. But we still miss him and know he is in the right place!
Ellie also got to play with her cousin Audrey that she hasn't seen for quite awhile. They played really well together and by christmas they'll be getting into some serious trouble!
Brad going down like a surfer boy! And of course he stayed up the longest out of all the guys there!

Overall it was an awesome evening to get reaquanited with family we haven't seen for awhile and it's always fun to be with the Darrington's close by!

Jessica's Visit

07/08/08

Jessica was in town over the past weekend visiting her boyfriend so they came up tonight to have dinner with us! It was great to visit with her even though it was just for a few hours! Sometimes I really miss my family terribly, but, if I can have just those few hour visits once in awhile I do okay! I hope that my family knows that I miss and love them terribly! Can't wait to see you soon!

Jessica holding Ellie, and Ellie thinking she is CRAZY!
Jessica with Matt. Aren't they cute!

Dead Chickens

06/05/08

Saturday we got together and butchered chickens. We did 41 of them and let me tell you I got the "butt end" of the job. Meaning I got to gut the chickens. Last year I learned how to gut out the turkeys so I got to do the chickens this year. Everyone was able to help: Marva, Jim, Kaylen, and Alisha along with Fred, Emy and Jack. Along with the rest of the Val Darrington family. It was fun. When we were all done Uncle Jim bar-b-qued up two rabbits and a freshly butchered chicken! It was DELICIOUS!!! Now if any of you would like to watch this gruesom adventure. We will be butchering turkeys in the fall! This picture just speaks for itself!
I don't think you really want to know what is going on in this picture but I'll tell you anyways! Brad and Layne catch the chickens, put them upside down in these holders and begin the killing process! Layne started the process and I ended it. This is the bucket that cools down the chickens before packaging! Ellie looks like she was guarding it from the cat but she was actually playing in it! GROSS I know. She washed her hands constantly because it was driving me crazy!
Just holding a dead chicken! This is all so morbid if you ask me, but it's my life!
This is the packaging crew.

Happy Fourth of July

I love the fourth of July! I look forward to it every year because it's the one day that I am extremely patriotic. I love to dress in red white and blue. So I made Ellie dress in red white and blue. Even though Layne made fun of me all day I wouldn't change myself at all. Well every year after the parade in rupert the Darrington's get together and float the canal. And then later in the evening they get together and do fireworks at Fred and Emy's! I am so greatful to belong to such a big family and am able to feel loved all the time. Ellie really enjoyed the fireworks this year. I wasn't sure how she was going to manage but she did a wonderful job of being brave and ewwing and awwing! I am always so thankful for the freedoms that we have. I'm so greatful for all the men and women whom serve our country and for those that have lost their lives to keep our country a united nation (at least until the new president is put in).

Aunt Marcine and Ellie getting ready for the parade to start! She was lovin her "Pree's" (pretty's) in her hair.
Char and cute little May May!
Just a bunch of the Darrington Boys and Ellie! Her and May are pretty lonely right now for girls to play with. Next year the new little girls will be running all over with them! May May is not sure about taking the picture but Ellie was all for saying "sheees" (cheese)
Grandpa and Ellie getting ready to start floating down the canal!
Candid shot of the three of us. Right after Blake dunked me. No worries I got my pay back!

I never really have pictures of me taken so obviously someone else was in charge of the camera! We were watching all the kids play "chicken"!And Layne and I never have pictures taken together so this was just a rare occasion! Ellie was sittin like a big girl watching the fireworks. I just can't get over how much my baby is growing up! But I'm LOVING it!This is the only picture I got of Ellie during the fireworks. She loved her sparklers only if her dad was helping her!