Potty Training

We have been working with Peyton on Potty Training for a long time.  It started at 19 months. One day out of the blue he comes in and says I need to go potty.  I thought OK this should to be good. So we went into his bathroom; low and behold he went. I was amazed! I told Corey all about it. I guess Corey had been talking to him about it.  So over the next week, Peyton used the potty. He only used diapers at night time. Well that was easy, I thought. We bought unders just like his best friend Weston.

Then a few weeks later he had an accident on the couch in his unders in front of company. He was horrified.  We tried to tell him that it was not a big deal, but he refused to have anything to do with potty training. He was so embarrassed about wearing diapers that we had to put unders over his diaper if any one came over or if he went somewhere. 

Every couple of weeks we would try again, but he was just not interested and would cry about it. I really wanted him to be potty trained before Anni was born, but it just didn't happen. The doctor said that boys usually don't potty train until they are 3. So we just dropped the topic for a while.

So this summer, we tried again. Peyton would only go potty for his Dad. Then he found out the his new friend Drew used the big boy potty. For some reason that made using the potty OK to try again. So we tried again. 

 Corey and I used potty training using baby steps. Little by little he started using the potty more and more. We started by just at home. Then we progressed to at home with others around. And finally in public. 

We are proud to say that the little man is potty trained a month before he turned 3! Corey and I are thrilled. We thought the day would never come. He acts like it is no big deal, but still like us to come and check out his business in the potty. 

Locked Out!

The other day I was coming up the stairs to our apartment.  Peyton was about 5 steps a head of me. Just as I got to the top of the stairs, Peyton started laughing and bolted for the door. Instincts told me that he was up to something. So I dashed towards the door, but not in time. Just as I reached for the knob I heard a giggle and the deadbolt lock. Dread filled my tummy. I knocked on the door. Peyton yelled "Coming..." When I told him to open the door he just yelled a bunch of two year old gibber-jabber that only he would know. He refers it to "Peyton talk." 

OK right about then I started feeling panicky. At least I had Annisten in my arms, but I was concerned about what he was doing on the other side of the door. I knocked a few more times on the door. Each attempt went the same way as the first. Now I was mad.

So I tried trickery. I knocked on the door. Peyton yelled "what..." I told him that I was going to Nanna's house and I will see him latter. That seemed to do the trick. He screamed and then said "wait mom, wait." He tried to open the door but could not. I told him to unlock the dead bolt, but he could not do it. OK now I am pan icing. He tried and tried without success.

What was I going to do? I was seriously panicking.  What if I left the bathroom door unlocked. What if he pushed a chair somewhere to reach something he was not suppose to reach.  

panic... panic... panic....

Luckily their was some painters just outside the apartment. I did not know enough Spanish to ask for help and the use of their latter. Then a grounds crew guy was in his golf cart. He tried to unlock the door, but Peyton managed to lock the deadbolt only accessible from the inside, of coarse.

This 6" 4' man ended up climbing the latter. He somehow managed to convince Peyton to unlock the porch deadbolts and let him into the apartment. Then the man let me in. During this entire time the other ground crew guy and the painters were laughing. I understood enough of the Spanish that they kept saying something about a two year old and would just laugh.

Well I was relieved. He was playing with his trains and had not gotten into anything else. Scary that he would open a door to a complete stranger on the balcony though! 

What is your family favorite?

Do you ever feel like you eat the same things for dinner every week? So I need your help. Lets do a little trade with our recipes.  Don't forget to post your recipe. This is one of our family's favorites. Its an easy recipe with a big taste.

Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas

    1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

    1/2 cup sour cream

    1/2 cup ranch dressing

    1/2 cup Frank's Redhot Buffalo Wing Sauce (this is a must have)

    

     1 package of tortillas

     3 cups of shredded cheese

     3 cups of chopped cooked chicken

     green onions (optional garnish)

     2 cups of sour cream (about)

     1 can of black beans

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 13x9" pan.

2. In a large bowl combined all sauce ingredients. (I like to double the sauce and use the      leftover for dip.) 

3. Spoon a light covering of sauce in the bottom of the pan.

4. Spoon two tablespoons of sauce in a tortilla.

5. Sprinkle chicken and cheese over the sauce. 

6. Fold enchilada and repeat until pan is full.

7. Then put the remaining sauce on top of the enchiladas.

8. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

9. Bake for about 40 mins. or until bubbly.

10. Top with sour cream and green onions. Serve black beans on the side.

 

Its way too hot for this.....

If you have ever been to any of the Midwest states during July and August, you will know that the heat and humidity are practically unbearable. The weather is hot; the humidity is so thick, it feels like it is choking out all of the air you. 

Corey insisted that we all go camping. Usually I am all for it, but this time of year it really should be against the law. At first I tried to suggest other activities that would be just as fun, but failed at all attempts. I went a long, trying to be a good sport. I did remind Corey (a few times) that it was going to be really hot and it might not be an enjoyable weekend with so much heat. 

Corey and Brandon planned out a camping trip at Smithville Lake on Saturday. It was my job to get the campsites. During the day, Ashley (Brandon's girlfriend), the kids, and I drove up to the lake to reserve the campsites and get the food.  We were a bit concerned about the heat and worried about how the kids would do in the heat. 

The guys arrived and set up camp. I cannot express how hot it was trying to sleep in a tent with two little munchkins in diapers snuggled next to you. There was a small warm breeze that brought some relief or maybe it just stirred the bugs around us. I'm really not sure.

   The next morning started out steamy. By 8:00 we were all hot. By 9:00 everyone was sweating and ready for a swim at the lake. After that everyone tried to take a break from the heat, but found no relief. Shade was hard to find and there was no escaping the humidity. 

 walked around all morning saying, " I wanna go home. Its yucky out here." Pretty soon he started crying, saying the same thing over and over again.

So Corey and I put them in the car, turned on the ac, and a movie. They were so happy. Finally I suggested that we could still go boating on the lake, but that did not mean we had to camp. Everyone jumped at the thought of packing up camp. Probably the first time I had seen an entire camp site cleaned up within minutes!

When we were in the car, the temperature said 107! Oh and that did not include the humidity. So we are talking 120! OK maybe not that bad, but it was probably close! I ended up taking the kids home and not going to the lake with the boat. It was just to hot for them. Everyone else went boating and had a great time. For me, I was more than happy to take them home.

Even though I did not plan the camping trip and tried multiple times to convince the group of something else to do. Somehow it was still my fault for picking a camping trip during the hot summer. 

Church History Sites

Our Family revisited some of the Church History Sites in Independence, MO. We started at the visitor center. The kids had fun pretending to be pioneers.

Across the street from LDS Visiter Center is the RLDS temple. The name of the church has changed to Community of Christ. Even though this is not one of the LDS Church sites, it is still interesting to take the tour.  They do have artifacts in the building that are a part of the LDS Church history.

We also went to the Liberty Jail. Even though Joseph Smith was accused and jailed wrongfully, he treated the jailers like gentlemen. Going to this historic site always reminds us of greatness of character of Joseph Smith and the sacrifice of the early saints made. During times of tribulation, we hope that we will be as courageous and faithfully as Joseph Smith. 

Pancakes

We have a tradition of having pancakes on the weekends. Anything from banana pancakes to Mickey Mouse, or maybe both. The kids love it.

First Word

The first week in July Annisten surprised us by saying her first word, uh oh. Then a few days later she started saying dog. Two words in one week! Everyday the words are getting clearer to understand. Go Anni!

Safari Park

While we were in Virginia, we took the kids to a Safari. Everyone had a good time seeing and feeding all of the animals. A very large elk was the first animal we fed.  He took a full bucket of feed right out of Corey's hands.  

Peyton enjoyed watching all of the animals but was not sure about actually feeding them. Anni bounced up and down and squealed in delight at all the animals. Everyone had a great time. Being so close to the animals was pretty crazy. At times, being that close to the animals was scary.

And what are you doing?

Annisten is going through a curious stage and is exploring everything. Whenever someone catches Annisten, she jumps and freezes with this look on her face.

Something isn't right here...

Remembering which shoe goes on the left foot and which shoe goes on the right foot is hard. Trying to figure out which toe goes where does not help matters. Peyton is determined to wear his flip flops no matter what. Not only does he have trouble figuring how to wear them, but walking and running is just as tricky for him. Its tough trying to be a big boy and wearing big boy shoes. 

A New Addition to the Family

We made a very short trip out to Virginia to meet the newest member of

the family, Lillian Grace Perez. 

She was born on June 27th. Lily is so sweet and likes to sleep most of the time. Well except at night time. Everyone is crazy over the cute little bundle and it was a fight to get to hold her.

We actually managed to get a picture of the entire Reed family after church on Sunday. These days the family is growing fast with 5 little ones now. The family stayed all in one house to see Lily. It was a bit of a zoo, but a lot of fun at the same time. We are sad that we could not stay longer to visit more with everyone.

Wait a second. Isn't that a doggy door? Well yes, but its also the kid door. For some reason Peyton thought that this was his very own door.

Monkey see, monkey do.

      

So I guess these two girls had to follow him.

Fireworks and Fun

For the Fourth of July, we went to my parents house. During the day the kids played in the water and enjoyed being outside. There were a few water fights too. Extended family joyed in the fun with the traditional barbecue later that evening. We topped off the evening with our own fireworks and watching the city's fireworks display. All in all we had a great time.

One Is Not Enough

Whenever Annisten finds and extra pacifier, she thinks she needs it. I guess sometimes one is not enough. In this case, three is needed!

Bedtime Lovey

Just about every little kid has a lovey they are attached to, especially at bed time. Peyton loves his Elmo, Mickey, and his cars blanket. As long as he has at least one of these items, he is good to go at bedtime. There are occasions where these items are traded in for a few days. Yes those are shoes! Now I understand when he wants to sleep with a train, toy gun, or his binoculars....but shoes. He is diffently his Daddy's little boy; they both love shoes.