Guess What!?!?!

Bowlin went pee pee in the potty this morning, not once but TWICE!  This momma could not be more excited!!!!

Saturday Bo and I were in the bathroom both getting ready to go somewhere and I look up and Bowlin is just sitting on his potty hanging out watching us.  This is the first time he has ever sat on the potty without crying much less voluntarily.  So, I thought hmmmmm....maybe this is progress.  So last night I took his diaper off and told him to go to his potty and he ran back there and sat down....for about 5 seconds.  Currently his favorite thing is a donut!  He asks for them constantly.  So, I told him if he went in the potty I would get him a donut.  Well, he wouldn't go, but he stood up and went all in the floor.  Ugh, frustration!   He fell asleep still crying for the donut I wouldn't give him because he didn't 'go' in the potty.   So this AM, I asked him first thing would he go in the potty.  I reminded him what his treat was.  So we went and sat on the potty after much protesting he finally went!  It didn't all make it in the potty, but hey A for effort!  So he got his donuts.  About an hour later he started asking for a popsicle. Again, I told him he could have one if he went to the potty.  So I took off his diaper he was wet, so I didn't think he would do it.  But, with the promise of a popsicle, he strained and went just a bit.  None the less, he went and he got the concept!  I am one proud momma!  YAY Bowlin!  I have to go stock up on donuts and popsicles now................

Trailer Life So Far.......

Trailer Life is going pretty good so far.  However, we got off to a really rough start.  Let me please just tell you about the first night in the trailer.  We had many set backs getting into the trailer.  So we were almost 2 weeks later living in the trailer than originally expected.  We slept on an air mattress in the living room at Pine Road for those two weeks.  So you can imagine that I was OH SO READY to be in my own bed, no matter where it was!  So that night finally gets here and here is a recap of how it went.
8:30pm: Wall Heater goes out (Wall Heater bc Central Unit does not work like previously anticipated)
9:30 pm: My mom decides that we are endanger with the space heaters that we currently have.  She shows up unannounced with a different one.  This makes my husband upset.
2AM: Finally I get to sleep and wake up with the dining room light on.  This light has not worked since we got the trailer.  So you can imagine my anxiety over this happening.
5AM: Bo wakes up early to plug an extra space heater in the bathroom so we don't freeze to death getting ready.  Well when he plugs it in it throws the breaker on 1/2 the trailer.  So we no longer have electricity in the bedroom.  So he has to fix that at 5 am.
6:30 AM: Bo showers and the Master shower does not drain and he doesn't make it through his shower with hot water.
7:30 AM: I get up and Bowlin slices his finger on broken glass on a window that we have not yet fixed.
8AM: Going to my in laws to take a shower (see no hot water) and I lock me and Bowlin out of the trailer to which no one has  key.  At this point all I could do is laugh.

Luckily, thinks have gotten way better.  However, we do still have some significant water leak issues.  My husband and father in law are working on those as we speak.  But, I feel settled and it feels like home.  Bowlin loves his new bathtub!  He actually thinks it's a swimming pool I think.  *See below for picts  The dogs are adjusting well too.  It is just really small.  I am ready for warm weather so we can all spend lots of time outside.  I think that will make things a lot better.

In other news, my blocks on my house are laid (*see below) and they say they will be there to start framing on Tuesday. WOOOHOO!  I am pumped about that!  Maybe by fall I will have more room and no water leaks!

Bath time in the Big Tub

Hanging out on his new front porch

Our New Adventure for 2013

Well............We have a new adventure.  It is going to be a WILD adventure.  I am very nervous, but very excited at the same time.  Let me start at the beginning.

Our house was not on the market, it was not for sale.  But, we have always said we would sell it if it was the right person and situation.  So the day after Christmas that opportunity presented itself.  A week later we had a deal, and our house was under contract.  We closed on January 25, and have 30 days from that day to get out.  Whew!  That happened fast!

So, the next question was what do we do from here?  Bo grew up in TN at what we refer to as Wildwood.  He has always wanted to go back, and we have said we would just as soon as we could build.  So, we weighed our options, and decided we could do just that.  So, that is our plan we are going to build the fourth house at Wildwood.  The other three houses are occupied by his mom and dad, his sister, and his Aunt Cindy and Uncle John.  We are excited to be joining them.

So, then came the question: "Where do we live until we can get something built?"  We again looked at our options which were basically: rent, live with a family member, or buy a trailer.  So we bought a trailer!  This is just not any trailer, it is a very run down small single wide trailer.  So we have been spending the last few weeks totally redoing the trailer to make it our home for the next 8 months or so.  We have ripped out carpet and sub flooring, totally painted the whole thing, we are replacing all the light fixtures, and laying new floor.  We had to do some minor repairs to some shelving and cabinets.  And it still lacks a REALLY GOOD CLEANING.  Right now we are waiting on the new flooring and the water and electricity to be hooked up.  Our tentative move in date is next weekend Feb 16th.  The trailer is now at Wildwood sitting about 50 yards behind where our new house will be built.  2 adults, a 2 year old, and 4 dogs should be interesting in such a small space.  WISH ME LUCK!

Below are a few little sneak peek picts from our new adventure.

Our view

My front porch being delivered 

Bowlin is excited 

The living room-already repainted in the pict  

Kitchen repainted 

Master Bath-Bowlin is going to love this tub 

Bo chainsawing out our old subfloors

Christmas 2012

This was my favorite Christmas to date.  Bowlin was so much fun!!  He didn't quiet understand everything about Santa, but we talked him up a lot.  I think he got the main gist of it.  He would say Santa, and if you asked him what Santa says he would say "Ho Ho".  During the holidays I remember how fortunate I am to have both mine and Bo's families in one spot.  So we can all be together on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and not be on the road.  Christmas Eve we went to the Christmas Eve Service at our church and then back to our house for Christmas Eve dinner.  Bo smoked a wonderful ham and I made twice baked potatoes, green bean bundles and Rolls.  We had a delicious cheesecake for dessert.  

Christmas Morning we woke up and saw what Santa had brought Bowlin.  Both mine and Bo's family came to see that.  We then went up to my mom's house for us to open presents with them.  Then to Wildwood for brunch.  Jay, Margaret, Baxter, and Ginger could only be with us this Christmas at brunch and not the whole day.  We enjoyed a delicious brunch.  Then we spent the day at Wildwood hanging out opening more presents.  We then cooked a delicious Christmas dinner and ate yet again.  Unfourtantly, this year Kenny had to work mid nights and then go back Christmas night at 7.  So he got to see Santa and open presents, but he missed brunch and dinner.  And the weather got bad in AR so JJ got worried about the weather and left after presents on Christmas day to go back to AR.  So she too missed brunch and dinner.  We missed them both very much.  

Bowlin had a huge Christmas.  He is beyond blessed to have so many people that love him so much and spoil him so rotten!  He lucked out this year, and got not one but TWO tractors (grandparents especially spoil him).  Below are some pictures from our wonderful Christmas.  

Momma and Bowlin on Christmas Eve 

My precious family of three 

My favorite men (minus Bowlin) 

Sister in laws 

Momma, B, and Kacky 

 Me and JJ

Me, mom, and JJ 

Ready for Bed 

Leaving Santa Cookies

Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'

HE CAME!!!

....And he ate his cookies

Had to wake the sleepy head up because everyone was waiting on him. 

Loving his new fire truck-especially the bell 

Chicago Bears Tabagon 

Riding his new See Saw

Presents at G and Pop's house 

Opening presents 

Loving his Daddy 

Riding his new tractor from G and Pops 

Butler/Wider clan (minus William bc Gingo can't see and cut him out) 

Playing his new drums (those stayed at KK's house) 

 Another tractor from KK and Big

 The best pict I could get of him in front of the tree Christmas day--wiggle worm

Ready for bed Christmas night.  Worn out but still having fun! 

 Had to throw these in.  Bowlin and Santa

Family and Santa

Christmas Card picture

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Wildwood.  We had a large crowd.  It was me, Bo, Bowlin, Momma, Kenny, Kate, William, Mary Katherine, Margaret, Jay, Anne, Hoot, Ginger, Baxter, Aunt Mildred and 10 dogs (literally 10 dogs).  The dogs added to the chaos and excitement.  Aunt Mildred is Bo's Pop's sister.  She is from Houston, TX and comes to visit about once a year.  We always enjoy her being in town so much.  This year she stayed 10 days.  She is hysterical and a joy to be around. 

We went out early for a bloody mary bar.  They were delicious.  As usual everything looked amazing, and the tables were set so festive.  We even each had Indian and Pilgrim place cards.  Bo, Baxter, Ginger and I still have to sit at the 'kids' table.  This year Bowlin was big enough to have his on place setting at the kids table as well.  After lunch we just hung out, visited, and celebrated the November birthdays (we have quiet a few: Anne, Hoot, Kate, MKB, and Bax).  Then that night we built a fire in the fire pits and sat on the patio and enjoyed ourselves.  Bowlin went ahead and put on his Christmas PJ's since he was getting excited about the upcoming Christmas Season.  

Bloody Mary Bar-YUM! 

Bowlin's Place Card 

The 'kids' table centerpiece

Me and Kenny 

Me and Mom 

My sweet family-So blessed 

My precious parents 

Bowlin had to take a break and ride the rhino 

 Big, Pops, and Bo enjoying a beautiful fall day

Bowlin and his Great-Great Aunt Mildred 

Beautiful Fall Day at Wildwood

Halloween 2012

For Halloween this year Bowlin was a puppy.  It was hard to get the puppy to be still enough to get a really good picture.  Callie went with us and she was a kitty Cat.  They looked really cute together.  Bowlin couldn't say Trick or Treat, but he could bark for candy.  He had a lot of fun!

Cutest Puppy in Town

 Callie and Bowlin (Cat and Dog)