Everyday is a PARTY!!

Sometimes I just get too far behind that all I want to do is load the pictures and push publish!

BUT, I know I will regret that later because I won't remember anything about the pictures.

All 3 kids typically sleep on the bottom bunk in Payton and Scarletts room each night. They are so cute when they sleep. Payton usually reads the girls a story and then they sing songs together. Its very sweet!

Pictures in the car happen too often. We used to spend a lot more time in the car but now that its summer I feel like we spend even more time. 

Scarlett always wants me to take her picture!

We had our annual Girls Night party while the dads and sons when camping for the night. This year the party got to be a celebration for Krista's birthday!

I sure do love these two girls! We stayed up way to late chatting and having a good time together.

Saturday day we went and got pedicures. Scarlett and Mapuana loved it!

Mckinley just sat on my lap. She would have never sat still for a stranger to paint her toes.

The day was a blast and they girls were tired!

The next morning Josh and I woke up to these 3 kids playing and having a good time together on the floor in our room. 

While Josh and Payton were gone camping Josh got really badly sunburned on his legs and feet. The kids helped but aloe vera on them for him. 

This is my quilt I have started and layer out. I need to sew it together.

The start of my garden!

Mckinley loves her princess backpack and has to take it everywhere with us!

Mckinley is POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!

Where do I start? The process began April 16th. Mckinley was in the bathtub with Scarlett and was telling me she needed to go potty. I decided I would pull her out and see what happens. I got her out and put her on the toilet and she pooped. I was SHOCKED. Before this day Mckinley had been told a few times no pooping in the bathtub because she kept doing that for some reason. I guess she actually remembered that. The next day I let her wear panties for a few hours and she did ok but had an accident. The rest of my week I was out and about constantly so I couldn't deal with potty training. The weekend came and it was Easter so we had family in town. Mckinley did pretty good going potty. We let her run around naked just about anytime we were home. She wasn't doing very good at telling us she needed to go. It was more me taking her every hour or two.  I was trying to figure out if she wasn't really ready and if I was pushing her too much. That following week we had good days and bad days. I tried to be home as much as possible to see if this potty training was really going to stick or not. Mid week I was beyond frustrated! We had one night were I knew she needed to pee but she just refused to sit on the big toilet, the kid seat and the kid toilet. It was bed time and I was done. i put her diaper back on and tried putting her to bed. She layer down but then got back up and just kept saying "ouch". I gave her one more chance and forced her on the toilet. She was crying and not happy and wanted off but I turned on the water int he sink and sang her a song and she relaxed enough to pee. Thank goodness. She was then ready to go to sleep. Needless to say we had a lot of ups and downs and I was feeling lost. I had no idea if I should just quit or keep with it. Josh just kept saying just keep trying. Finally, by Friday the 24th I was beginning to feel like my prayers were being answered. I hadn't been praying that she would be potty trained, but more that I would know if she's actually ready or not. She started telling me that she needed to go potty. We taught her to sick backwards on the toilet since she refused the kid seat and kid toilet. This helped her feel more independent because she could climb on the stool and slide on and then slide off when she was done. We gave her stickers that she would put on the toilet sit. This helped her sit for a little longer to actually finish going. 

Here she is sitting on the toilet and her baby sitting on the kid toilet. It was a long couple of weeks of not knowing if this was going to actually happen. But IT HAPPENED!!! She is completely day time potty trained at 22-23 months! The night time will come over time and I am just fine with that. 

Many people have asked me "is she really potty trained?" She's just so tiny and I know its not normal to learn so young, but yes she is. Scarlett was the same way. Kind of started in on her own and I just stuck with it. It's the best thing ever not to change diapers currently. I do constantly feel like she's too tiny, but I am not going to complain. I am very blessed and I know that! 

We LOVE Visiters!

We had the privilege of having my brother Josh come to CA and visit us. He had a friend come and visit the US from Chili. They had met each other on their missions in Paraguay. His name is Gonzalo. He spoke pretty good english and could understand almost everything we said. It was very fun having them both at our house. The stayed for a few days. 

Something he had never done was jump on a trampoline. So of course we made him get on. He was very unsure about it! It was entertaining to watch. He was a very polite guest and the kids were a little unsure of him, but Payton and Scarlett got used to him. They even came and watched the end of the kids teeball game. 

Just hanging out in the dugout!

After the game. Payton got the game ball! Congrats Payton!

My 3 adorable kids!

Our family with Gonzalo before we had to say by on Saturday morning.  I hope we get to see him again! It was a blast having he and my brother here for a few days. I am very blessed to have such amazing family that comes and visits me quite often!

After saying goodbye we headed to the kids teeball game. Grandma and Grandpa with Calvin came to visit for weekend so they could watch the kids play teeball. They are very proud grandparents of course!

After the game we headed to subway for lunch!

Then Scarlett, mom and I headed into the Bay Area to go visit my Grandma Sam. We surprised her and brought her a treat since it was mothers day the next day. She was very surprised and  thrilled to see us. We had a nice visit! I am very grateful for my grandmas. I love that my kids get to know them! I wish they were more patient so we could go visit more often. Over all it was a wonderful week and mothers day weekend. I was spoiled by my family!!! Being a mother is a sacrifice, but worth it!

Teeball mixed in with a little bit of this and that

Sometimes I just feel like timing is speeding up. The days are flying by!

Scarlett playing third base!

Mckinley just being cute!

Mckinley thinks its so fun to wear Payton's backpack!

Funny story = failure mommy moment

The kids finished playing in their tee ball game. They set their bags behind the car so that I could put them in the back. I was so flustered from dealing with Mckinley and just getting everyone and everything in the car that I forgot to put the kids bags in the trunk. I went to back up and felt a bump and quickly realized I just ran over the bags. I parked the car got out and threw the bags in the back. Payton looked through the bags as we drove home. His bag was totally fine. Scarletts was the one I ran over. It had tire marks on the bag and the helmet got a "little broken" (Payton's words). When we got home and she showed me the helmet I couldn't help but laugh. I was embarrassed that I did that, but it was too funny at the same time. Scarlett was a little upset, but handled it well. We had to buy her another pink helmet and she was fine once we did that.

They do LOVE each other!

Mckinley figured out how to blow bubbles in her milk. Not my favorite thing, but she thought it was amazing.

One night when I was still awake watching TV Payton came down stairs because he couldn't sleep. I let him snuggle with me. I really enjoyed this. It's not often enough that he lets me hold him.

Mckinley is becoming quite the little jumper on the trampoline. Any chance she gets to play out there she's up there jumping! I am so happy she likes it and can jump alone or even with Payton and Scarlett. 

One morning before taking Payton to school the kids insisted on getting their picture taken with Bear.

Payton playing catcher!

Scarlett playing catcher!

In the dugout waiting for their turn up to bat!

My kids look like bums in these pictures. I hate when they pick out their own clothes, but I know I have to let me. I usually look at them and tell them to change, but I don't always win that battle. I had to take a picture though to document their amazing fashion skills!

Payton and Josh doing something with all the professional baseball team helmets.

Just relaxing on a Sunday evening!

Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I do not 1pm church, but I love that Sundays are a day of rest and family time.