July 4th

Sorry this is late being posted.  We have been really busy.  We had a laid back 4th of July this year.  Every year we either drive down to Blanding to be with Danny's family or we fly up to Washington to be with my family.  Since the 4th of July fell on a Wednesday we couldn't travel because of Danny's work so we just had a fun couple days at home.  On Tuesday July 3rd I took my kids to the Highland splash pad with my friend/co-worker Allison and her 3 kids.  My kids loved it.  Well, Kayzee hated it at first and wouldn't let go of me but then once she figured out it wasn't so bad she did not want to go home!

 Kayzee is definitely not like her daredevil brother.  At first this was the only little trickle of water she would play in.  Then she finally got brave enough and played in the river and fountain.

Kayzee and Allison's little girl Kate.  They loved playing together.

On Wednesday July 4th Danny got up early and went golfing because he had the day off.  Then we relaxed at home and played wii games.  Then we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (right at four when they opened to avoid the crowds) and then we went fishing at a little pond behind Lone Peak high school in American Fork.  Once it got dark we drove around trying to find a good place to park and watch fireworks but couldn't find anywhere so we drove home and WOW!  Our neighbors on each end of our street were having a contest to see you could set off the biggest and most fireworks so we just sat on our lawn and watched.  Great way to end the night. 

The next week Danny's family came up to spend a few days with us.  Danny's youngest sister Mary was playing in a softball tournament in Payson.  It was fun to go watch all the games even though it was 100+ degrees outside.  They took 3rd place.  Mary played catcher in all the games and had some good hits.  Danny's dad was the assistant couch.  I hope my kids get all the good Royer sport genes!!!!  Way to go Mary!

I just have to share this.  Both Kayzee and Memphis have started coming up to me and saying, "Mommy I'm happy!"  Don't know where they got that from but I LOVE it.  They also love to shout that they love me.  I love being a mom and I love my kids!

I have also been really busy deep cleaning and decluttering my whole house.  Time for a garage sale and my family is coming to help me paint all the rooms in my house.  So excited to see my family and my sister and I are going to WICKED in SLC!!!!!! 

This week we are all really sick with nasty colds so hopefully we get over them quickly.   

And after a month and a half I think it is safe to say that Memphis is fully potty trained both day and night!  He has not had an accident in over a week. I am so proud of him and YAY I survived!!!!

Busy June

June went by way too fast.  Being busy probably didn't help but I can't believe it is already July.  Besides the potty training adventure and the trips at the beginning of the month, we had father's day, Danny's birthday, and our anniversary trip.  Lots of driving and heat but we had way too much fun and it was much needed.

I bought this castle for the kids to have something to play in this summer.

 Their auntie Nita made them crowns to wear.  Memphis was the king and Kayzee was the princess.

For father's day I bought Danny a new grill and cover.  Our old one was one we had gotten for free and it was dying so Danny has loved this brand new one I got him.  We had our friends  the Barnes over to try it out and the food was so good!  

I made Danny go on a scavenger hunt to find it and it sent him all over the house and backyard.  I actually got creative and it rhymed it was really awesome HA HA!  Danny also got the new Sherlock Holmes movie.  This weekend Kayzee and I got food poisoning.  I was only sick for an hour but Kayzee was throwing up for 3 days.  Now she won't drink milk just like Memphis.  

I also hurt my back really bad.   I have never hurt my back before but I couldn't do anything it hurt so bad.  I had tried lifting something way too heavy for me and there you have it.  Two nights of no sleep because of the pain landed me at the doctors and he put me on bed rest, pain killers, and steroids.  He told me the pain killers were so I could sleep but the steroids kept me up all night anyways.  So annoying.  I was so nervous about our anniversary trip because of Kayzee being sick and my back but we were better by Friday when we left. 

We met Danny's mom and two sisters in Moab and went bowling.  It was the first time for both my kids and they had so much fun!   My back started hurting really bad again so I sat out and watched.  

Memphis' little bowling shoes

 Auntie Nita

 Both Memphis and Kayzee got a strike!

After, we drove down to Blanding to Danny's parent's house, dropped off the kids to stay and play for 3 days (THANKS SO MUCH for watching them Peggy and Bruce and Nita and Mary!) and Danny and I  left for Monticello.  It was our anniversary and it was also the first time in 3 1/2 years that I had left my kids overnight since before Memphis was born.  Crazy but it has been a rough four years of marriage and this was very much needed.  We were going to camp for the night but because of my back we found a nice hotel with a swimming pool and hot tub so it was a very relaxing evening and I wasn't woken up in the middle of the night by Kayzee!!!!  Yes, she is almost two years old and still not sleeping through the night.  It has been an exhausting two years don't know what to do.  Maybe it's time to get help.

We got up early and went golfing at the Monticello golf course.  Before we had kids Danny and I use to go golfing a lot so it was fun to go do that with him again.  Then we drove to Moab.  We had eaten breakfast at the hotel at 6:30 before golfing at 7 so we were starving for lunch by 10am but we wanted pizza and the pizza place didn't open till 11 so we walked down Moab main street.  At 10am it was already 100 degrees so we went in every store to get out of the heat.  We bought some souvenirs, shirts for the kids and a keychain for me (I collect them from everywhere I go).  

We had lunch and then drove  up to Arches.  I have been to many national and state parks growing up (western United States) but my dad missed Arches so I was excited to go.  Especially since we drive past it 2-3 times a year driving down to Blanding.  We just chose the wrong time of year to go.  It was so HOT!!! It was 104 and for it being so hot it was crowded!   We only did the short hikes and plan on going again in cooler weather when our kids are older.  We drove the whole route and did some hikes and did it in about 2 hours.  Most of the pictures are from the inside of our air conditioned car. 

We drove back into Moab and we went and saw the new movie Brave.  SOOOOO GOOD!  Then we drove up to the Sunset Grill.  It's a  restaurant on top of a huge hill overlooking the city.  It was expensive but it was one of the best steaks I have ever had.  Yum!  Then Danny and I drove back to Blanding to buy a tarp for our new tent and drove to a  church owned camping site near Blanding and camped that night.  We were surprised that there was no one really there.  There were a lot of deer though.  Those are the eyes you can see in the picture below.  They came right up into our camp and didn't seem to care that we were there.  

The next day was Sunday and Danny's birthday so we drove back to Danny's parent's house to pick up the kids.  The kids had way too much fun they didn't even really care that we were back and they didn't want to leave.  We had lunch and cake and ice cream and Danny opened up his presents, a new game and basketball clothes.  Then we made the long drive home.  That night we all went to bed at  8:30 and we all slept  12 hours without waking up.  Much needed sleep!

  

And that was our fun busy June!

PT Adventure...

Potty Training Adventure that is.

*If you do not want to read into the world of potty talk then just scroll down to all the pictures of my adorable kids.  Cause that's the real reason you read my blog right grandmas?  If you want to read our potty training adventure and maybe (just maybe) get some ideas then read on...

*Side note: I typed this as our potty training began so I just cut and pasted onto here. Sorry if it doesn't make sense in some spots.

POTTY TRAINING

Before: Bought underwear and potty seat.  Picked out two big prizes and treat reward with charts and a potty book. We did this together so he could pick it all out. 

Practiced sitting on the potty---we found out he would do anything for licorice. He wouldn't sit on the potty seat at all so we gave him licorice when he finally did. And he wouldn't wear the underwear so he got licorice for doing that too. Anything to get him started.

Day 1 Monday: Got up and got dressed in underwear NO MORE DIAPERS!  Glad that Kayzee slept in this morning so I could focus on starting Memphis. 

Never went pee pee on the potty.  Sat on the potty seat every 15 min but that was too many times so every 1/2 hour which turned into every hour.  Sat for awhile then would pull up pants and pee every time.    Saw him starting to poop so I ran him upstairs and most of it made it in!  He was so excited.  Noticed he peed every 2 hours.  Pull-up for bedtime.  Going to start night time potty training after we get back from our trip at the end of June. 

Day 2 Tuesday: Asked friends so decided to try this...went naked all day.  Saw himself peeing so everytime he would start running for the potty.  At the end of the day we had our first real pee in the potty!  Danny's mom also told me to try dripping water down his tummy while he sat on the potty and it worked!  Noticed he peed every hour today even though I didn’t change his drinking.  Pull-up for bedtime.  He got his licorice and he got a star on his first prize chart.  We did a chart for winning a leap frog electronic learning game pad for peeing on the potty. We have a chart for pooping on the potty and waking up dry from naps and nighttime to win a bike of his choice.  At this point he probably won't earn that bike till Christmas...sigh:(  Why is pooping on the potty and waking up dry in the morning so hard?

Day 3 Wednesday: Did great in the morning and went pee pee on the potty.  Then family came to play and he had accidents again because we all got distracted.  But at the end of the day I saw him run upstairs so I ran up after him and he was trying to pull down his pants and underwear all by himself. Not fast enough he ended up peeing on the floor but at least he went in there by himself and tried! Big progress:)

Day 4 Thursday: Peed on the potty first time in the morning around 8 then didn’t pee for hours!!!!  Sat him on the potty for forever and nothing so I took a chance and we went and got lunch at mcdonalds, (carpets being cleaned) no accidents, got home still did not need to go, kept asking, it’s 2pm and nothing.  And he has been drinking a lot like the other days...weird.  Finally went at 4 pm. No accidents all day!  YAY!

Day 5 Friday: Accidents all day.  :( Very discouraging and frustrating. I was so busy putting furniture back and cleaning and decluttering I wasn’t as focused on him like I should have been.  I kept asking but I didn’t make him go like I should have.

Day 6 Saturday: Great all morning. Went to a party and he was having so much fun playing he was distracted too much. I kept asking but he had an accident so we went home.

Day 7 Sunday: Didn’t want to attempt church so he stayed home but no accidents all day!!! Side note: He will only pee sitting down. Danny has tried teaching him standing up he just doesn't want to.

Day 8 Monday: Went potty in the morning drove all the way to Provo made him try to go at my friends house. Towel in the carseat just in case. Got home he ran up to the potty himself and went all by himself SUCCESS!!!:) Finally tried peeing standing up too! He did it and he was so excited!

Day 9 Tuesday:  I had to go to a meeting so I was nervous but the babysitter said he had no accidents!!! She taught him to go all by himself and to shut the door for privacy.  

Now everytime he goes potty he tells me to stay where I am and he runs up and goes potty with the door closed all by himself. When he is done he puts the lid down, flushes and washes his hands with no help.  So nice.   But he has trouble pulling up his underwear and pants so he runs out to me naked yet so excited and shouts that he did it!  YAY Memphis you did it!

He doesn’t go to the potty on his own when he needs to go but he does well at holding it and not having accidents anymore.  I will see him dancing and holding it so I tell him to go potty and he goes. Hard those five days but now it’s nice and I don’t know why I was so stressed out about it. Now just to get him night time trained and pooping in the potty is another story. He goes everyother day but he runs and hides and goes in his pants. AHHHH!   Only has a peeing accident maybe once every other day. Only because I he gets playing and distracted and I am too so I don't get him to the potty in time.  Hopefully he gets over relying on me to keep asking him if he needs to go and he can just go on his own. 

One funny thing that made me laugh through all this was when I made him sit on the potty and he would look down and try so hard but nothing would come out.  He would look up at me and say, "Mommy it’s broken!"  HA HA. He would say it's just broken everytime nothing came out. Don't know where he got that from.

I also wanted to try potty training Kayzee too. She is almost two and I have heard girls are easier and younger than boys but no. She wanted to wear the underwear once and she sat on the potty once but that was it.  Oh well, I am ok with that.  Memphis was hard enough I can wait to start her potty training adventure next summer. 

OK, ENOUGH POTTY TALK...picture time!!!

 I love this dress

 Cheese

 New hairdo...look at those curls!!!!

 My sweet Kayzee Lynn

 Not to brag but my kids are cute!!!!

I LOVE my kids:)