Potty Trained

I know most people would think this is absolutely crazy, and I agree! BUT... it's a very true story!

The story began on January 13th, it was a Friday. We left out house early in the morning and began our drive to Las Vegas to go be with family for a long weekend. We made our first stop in Bakersfield where we had to fill up for gas. Payton and I walked over to Taco Bell. We got a snack and used the restroom. Josh and Scarlett filled the car up with gas, during this time Scarlett was cry because she wanted out of the car. Josh got her out and changed her diaper, but it wasn't really wet. They came over to Taco Bell and were waiting for us. Scarlett was still crying at this point. We got in the car and she was crying and saying 'ouch and potty' We had no idea what her problem was. She wasn't potty trained and we didn't want to unbuckle her, get her out, and take her into Taco Bell to go to the bathroom. We both figured she wouldn't go! Finally after a minute or 2 I asked her if she would stop crying if I got her out and took her in. She agreed. I figured this was a lost cause. We went in, I got her undressed and put her on the toilet. Low and behold she went pee. I was shocked and very proud. Unfortunately this was not the best time to even think about potty training since we were going on vacation and come on REALLY she was only 22 and a half months old.
We get back on the road again and no joke 45 minutes down the highway she is saying 'ouch, potty' again. Josh and I just thought you have to be kidding me! This is crazy. We were not near any place to stop. After about 5 minutes of this I decide to pull over. We get her out and Josh tries to hold her so she can pee on the side of the road. She wasn't having any of it though. She wanted me so I figured I would hold her and see if she would go. Low and behold once again she goes pee. We were shocked, and still thinking this is not the time or the place to even be thinking about potty training.
We figured we wouldn't bother her about going and we would just let her tell us if she needed to go. The rest of the trip she never said a thing. We just decided not to worry about it.
After being home for about a week she was showing interest again. I figured what the heck I will just go with it again and see what happens. It took a few days of being naked, a few accidents in her underwear, a poop in the closet (Josh was home with the kids when this occurred), and a lot of encouragement from Payton. After about 2 weeks she was potty trained!
The whole time I was thinking this is just a phase. This really isn't going to happen this way. Most kids don't even think about potty training until they are 3. Inside I fought it for quite a while that this wasn't really! Any one that I mentioned it to thought it was crazy. I also know this is the way many people wished their kids were. I have heard MANY horror stories about potty training. This was not something I had planned or even thought about. I take this potty training experience and realize it was a blessing from the Lord and I will never have it this easy again.
Scarlett is definitely one of a kind in many ways. She wants SO BAD to be just like her brother. She has done many things a lot faster than he ever did. I know this is partly her personality, but also she has such a wonderful brother as an example that she just wants to be like him.
At the beginning of February Payton and Scarlett were out in the garage riding their bikes. Scarlett has a little tricycle that she just uses her feet to make it move. One day Payton came into the house and told me to come watch. I went out and Scarlett was peddling her tricycle. Payton says to me, 'mom look I taught sissy how to peddle on her bike, I did a good job huh.' I was shocked. I of course praised him and told him what a great big brother he is to her. He was very proud of himself. It was a very special moment!!!
Payton and Scarlett never stop amazing me! They do things a lot that just melt my heart. Trust me they do have their fare share of fighting and crying that occurs, but over all they are very cute and loving to each other. I am one lucky mom!!!

Las Vegas Part 4: The END!

Our trip had to come to end on Monday! We headed to Circus Circus to let the kids watch a show and play some games of their own.

My family will probably hate me for posting this picture, but sorry I think it's funny!

Walking through to find the games!

Scar doesn't even need any money. She will sit on anything and she thinks she's playing!

Josh and Payton collecting their tickets from one game!

The kids enjoyed riding these silly little rides

Before leaving the cousin the had the kids sit in this little section while we waited for everyone to meet up. The thing I find annoying about Las Vegas and being inside the casinos is the kids seem to get yelled out by someone cause they are always too close to a machine or area. It's quite annoying. They should have made more walking space especially at Circus Circus if that casino/hotel is family friendly!!! Annoying! Anyway!

Before we left we had to get a picture of Payton and grandpa in their twin hats. Being the only grandson in the family currently this little boy gets a little bit spoiled!!!

Over all Las Vegas was a fun vacation. It was a wonderful birthday! We just love being with family and look forward to our many other family vacations we have planned for this year!

Las Vegas Part 3: Park, Hotel, Walking the Strip

Of course I haven't finished blogging about Las Vegas! SO here comes more.

 On Saturday evening we headed to a local park so the little kids could play and get some of their energy out. It was fun to see not just the little kids playing and having fun, but watching the men all play and have a blast also.

Jared thought he could squeeze himself into a baby swing. He was wrong!!!

Dawson had to help him get out!

Payton and Ada enjoyed swinging on the swings. They had different pushers at times and they loved it. The were both laughing and having a good time.

This park had some fun things to play on. Payton was climbing on everything!

Ashley, Mal, Stef and Dad just relaxing and chatting it up.

Ada loved playing on all the fun and different playground equipment.

They had this wobbly beam that the men each had to stand on and they would try and see who could stay on the longest. They each had to do this. 

Josh vs. Josh

They made Ada and Payton challenge each other to help them get more comfortable with each other. 

*brief note: Ashley is the woman Mal's brother Jared is going to marry in March. Ada is Ashley's 4 year old daughter. Ada and Payton meet for the first time on this Saturday at the race track, because she and Ashley couldn't come to Las Vegas until then. Ada and Payton were both EXTREMELY shy with each other for the first hour or so. Once they got past all that shyness they had a great time playing together. Ada is just barley older than Payton by 3 months.*

Payton and Ada hashing it out! They were only on this thing for about half a minute!

*brief note: After the park we went to the Rio and ate the buffet they have there. We stood in line FOREVER. It got so bad that Mom, Jacie, the kids and I were all complaining!! The kids were all tired and Scarlett and Sofia both fell asleep while we were standing in this line. Payton and Ada just wanted to be held, but our backs were all killing us from having to hold this kids so much. I eventually just sat on the ground because I was so done! After we got in and ate all that we could we headed back to the hotel.*

 *brief note: We all went to our rooms which were next to each other and we could all get in EXCEPT for Danny, Jacie, Ashley and Ada's room keys would not work for them. They went down got a knew key and that still didn't work. My dad went down to talk to them they gave him another key and that still didn't work. Finally dad went down again and told them nothing is working. They thought he was just putting the card in wrong so someone came up to the room with him to help. SHOCKINGLY enough they COULDN"T OPEN THE DOOR EITHER! There was something wrong with the electronic part of the door. A door man and a janitor sat out side that room for a good 3 hours trying to break into the room. They tried all different types of crazy things. Neither one of them had any clue what they were doing. Their tool selection was very minimal! Dad got in there a few times and tried different things. Finally about 1am my dad did something and it opened the door. Granted the whole metal section of the door was DESTROYED by the time they were finished. Danny, Jacie, Ashley, and Ada got moved to another room way before they ever got into the room. It was mostly just annoying because they could not get any of their stuff.* During this 3 hours Josh, Josh, and Dawson went out and wasted some cash and made a little cash. Jacie, Danny, Mom, Dad, Scar, Payton, Stef, and Sofia all hung out in my room. We went Stef to bed after while and kept Sofia for her. Sofia was refusing to go to bed and Stef was beat!*

This is what Sofia was doing while Stef was sleeping... Grandpa was pushing her up and down the hallway on the baggage chart. She was holding on and saying 'WEEEEE'. This was like at midnight. She probably shouldn't have taken that nap while in line at the buffet.

Sunday morning we ate breakfast in our room. We got a few things to eat at the store!

Scarlett and Sofia were very cute while sharing yogurt!!

Then they decided to be silly and were climbing under the chair together. These two had such a good time playing together! It's funny having them only a few months apart!

Josh with Scarlett, and Uncle Josh with Payton

Stef, Dawson, and Sofia had to leave early so they could head home for Dawson to be able to work that night. The rest of us went down to the strip and walked for a while. These little kids loved getting shoulder rides.

Payton was practically covering Josh's eyes!

The family! We are missing Stef, Dawson and Sofia! We should have taken a group picture before they left we were not thinking!

(Danny, Jacie, Josh, Scarlett, Mal, Payton, Josh, Ashley, Jared, Ada, Mom and Dad)

We had to switch shoulder rides for these after a while. They get heavy!!!

Grandpa with Scarlett, Jared with Ada, and Josh with Payton

The kids were excited when we saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse near the Belagio. Unfortunately they were drunk and we saw them smokey! (very frustrating to see)

Checking out the fountains at the Belagio

Scarlett's boot fell over the wall so Uncle Josh had to climb over and save it in. Luckily it doesn't drop straight to water. They have a row of plants then it goes to water.

Enjoying the fountains!

Grandma even got in on the action of helping caring the kids! She gave Payton a back ride for a little bit!

We did a lot of walking, ate some lunch, then headed back to the cars. Scarlett was done! She fell asleep while we walked back to the cars!