Done with diapers!

This summer, I was determined to get Drew potty trained.  The easiest way for us has to just let them run naked while it's warm.  I kept him naked a lot during the summer and we would occasionally get lucky but there was absolutely no consistency.  I need him to be potty trained before Christmas so a couple of weeks ago I decided I only had a couple more weeks of warm weather to try the naked route.  So I forced myself to stay home and let things go for a bit to work with him.  

It took a solid week of nakedness & forcing liquids but we finally got him to recognize when he had to go & gain some bladder control.  

My parents watch him on Saturdays when we have out of town football games and I was so excited to get this picture message from my dad.

And another one from my brother!  Who cares if they live on a busy street and he's outside peeing in the yard...at least he's doing it!  

After the week of nakedness, we tried 3 days of underwear with great success!  We were able to go shopping, to football practice & even travel while staying dry.  I didn't even need treats or bribery...he just loved getting the praise from doing good and high fives!  I could always tell when we would go by himself because he would run up to me wanting a high five.  :)    

The one time I did give him M&M's for going in the potty, he just wanted to give them to Dexter.  He wanted a ball at Wal-Mart...a whole dollar for a simple ball and so that was his "reward".  I would've bought it for him anyway but I kept telling him it was for being a big boy and going in the potty.  

It's always exciting to get them potty trained but this one is a great feeling.  Aydon will be 9 in December so that's nearly 9 years of diapers (with only a three week break between Ty & Zack).  With today being the first day of fall, I feel super grateful we were able to get the job done before "summer" was over.  

Now, if I can just get him to sleep in his own bed...

Froggin'

Tuesday I wanted to just get out of the house for 30 minutes or so, so I told Preston let's take the boys on a four-wheeler ride and see if they would fall asleep.  We went and checked out the dredging work over at the creek and then went to see the spring behind the overflow.  I noticed something moving in a big puddle of water when I drove by but it was so fast I couldn't tell what it was.  When we got back to the spring we couldn't believe how low the water was (I have posted a few pictures of us when the water is really flowing in the past).

Since there was no water running where the pretty little waterfall area usually is we went to go check out the water and saw a BUNCH of frogs.  

There little heads were up out in the middle of the water and once we started getting closer they went jumping in the water from the sides.  It was crazy how many there were.

When we told the boys about our ride they said they wanted to check it out.  I told them since they had early release and Aydon didn't have CubScouts we would take them.  They wanted to catch one but it's too muddy around there and they were too fast.  We continued on our ride and when we drove by that big mud puddle again and we saw something moving we knew it was frogs. 

 We stopped and Preston caught a frog for them. 

 Aydon and Ty wanted to catch one but were afraid.  I bribed them with $2 for the first one to catch one.  

Ty was sooo close but decided not too.   

Aydon would not touch one without gloves he said.  I just happened to have a pair of gloves in my four wheeler so the challenge was on.  It took a while but he did it. 

Poor Drew, he was tired and it was hot.  He was not afraid of the frogs but when his brothers screamed it scared him and it made him cry.  It was Zack screaming...the one that loves Princess and the Frog.  That's what I kept telling him, it looked like the frogs on the movie.  Funny stuff though.

After watching our shows Swamp People & Duck Dynasty, they've always wanted to catch one but I teased the boys and said they could not live in Louisiana and be afraid to catch a frog and scream like a bunch of girls when one started jumping!  

Football Videos

Football is life right now.  That's why there are no recent posts.  We have practice 4 days a week for 2 hours and then games on Saturdays.  Our first 4 games, plus the scrimmage...so 5 Saturdays of traveling and two games in a row has made for a very long month of football.  Since I have no pictures of things we have been doing lately, I figured I would put my YouTube account on here if you are interested in watching the boys football games.

Ty is on he Mighty Mites and is #55.  He plays left guard on offense and middle linebacker on defense.  Preston & John coach this team so you can see them too.  At this point Ty is 3-1, with a tough loss on a very close game in Show Low.

Aydon is on the Jrs.  He is #44 and plays middle linebacker on defense.  Only in our last game (Show Low) has he played offense and he is just used as a blocking back.  Aydon's team is 1-2.

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhee

We FINALLY have a home game this week!!  

Picnic in Springerville

Ty had a scrimmage on Saturday in St. Johns.  Scrimmage since they only have 9 players (only 8 showed).  They let Ty run the ball for the first time and guess what...he scored a TD!!!  Like a 50 yard TD!  And I totally fell for the fake on the video...I was so sad when I realized it was MY SON scoring the TD!  The other Winslow teams had a bye and since it was Labor Day weekend all of Preston's family met up in Springerville for a picnic and to visit.

 Great Uncle Preston meeting Gage.

 The boys playing with Jailyn...2 hours was just not enough time, there were tears when it was time to go.

 Rikae & Keylan.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE that she calls him Keylan.  :)

 Mommy & Gage.  It was so nice to get to snuggle a little baby.  Even Drew liked the baby so it's time to start wearing Preston down.  ;)

 A 5 generation picture!  Great Great Grandma Betty, Great Grandma Vickey, Granny Steph (she hasn't decided what she wants to be called yet so we'll just use that for now), Mommy & Adrian Gage.

 Preston & Garrett

 All along I thought Stephanie was taller than Preston, guess not.  :)

 Gary had to work...sad that he did, I don't have a full family pic of them ever I think.  :(

 Veronica, Garrett, Rikae & Jailyn

 GEAUX TIGERS!  When we were getting ready that morning Preston told me, "You realize they don't play for the Tigers yet, way to support your son's team!"  I told him it was a forfeit anyway so I could support my Tigers!

 Tori had to feed the baby while we were doing family pictures and I never got a full family photo of them...sorry!

All of Gary & Vickey's grandchildren.

 One with their grandchildren & great grandbabay.

 If you know Ty, you know he had to hold that baby.  

I saved this picture for last for a reason.  Devin with his 2 uncles.  He is only 13 years old!  It blows my mind.  I'm convinced that boy is gonna be a giant.  Vickey says he wears a bigger shoe than his Uncle Garrett!

It was such a gorgeous afternoon and a wonderful time visiting family & getting some baby snuggles.