Big Steps!

We've got some BIG steps going on in this house the last few days... 

Monday was the day to begin potty training. I had been DREADING it, but I knew May was ready. She has done AWESOME! She went through quite a few pair of undies the first day, then then second day she went through 2 pair, then yesterday she wore the SAME pair of Cinderella undies ALL DAY! She has done so well. She is so proud of herself. This time around was quite stress free for me too. Ty was the BEST big brother, he helped Maylee so much. They would be playing and he would stop to ask her if she needed to go, if she did he would take her to the bathroom, help her unbutton her shorts and wait until she was done to help her get her shorts back on and help her wash her hands. She's not a fan of ANYONE being in the bathroom while she goes usually. Best part is, she has NEVER had a accident with #2, she got that part right away thank goodness... those are the worst messes to clean up. The first day she actually didn't make it to the potty but did have enough time to spread out a wipe on the ground before she went (TMI I know, but it's too funny not to share) So she saved the carpet and made the clean up easy for me! She also went a little pee on the carpet the first day but put her own wet undies in the washer and got a rag to clean up the carpet when I found her. So yeah, pretty much the easiest kid ever to train. I just passed out candy like it was going out of style because every time Maylee went Ty got a treat too since he was being so supportive. She hasn't worn undies at night yet, but she wears them at nap time. We'll get there at night but when she wakes up first thing she does is changes out of her own pull-up and puts underwear on. 

Another funny sidenote- her pants REALLY don't fit now. Her diaper used to keep everything up and now not so much. She sure does love all her Minnie and Princess undies though. 

Ty wrote his first Thank You note all on his own. He told me what he wanted to say so I told him the letter or the sound and he wrote the note. (My mom bought the kids some more underwear. May to gear up for potty training and Ty just because) Usually our notes are just pictures they kids draw... this time it's a picture AND a note! He was so pleased. Love his smile too-

I successfully went darker with my hair color. You can't REALLY tell with this picture but I went with a honey blonde with a lot of my natural light brown color too. Last time I tried to do this it was a disaster and I had tiger stripe orange for my roots. I am so happy this time my hairdresser Michelle nailed it. She matched my natural color perfectly. This should be a lot less maintenance compared to super blonde like I like to be. I'm sure i'll go real blonde again but for now I wanted a change. Ty told me he didn't like my hair green and black but hey he's colorblind so I didn't take offense. Matt thought I would go darker than I did too. Glad I didn't this is enough of an adjustment for me! 

Emma is doing a good mix now of walking and crawling. She stands up takes about 4 or 5 steps then goes down to crawling. I think in about 2 weeks she'll be walking full time if not running. This girl gets around in a hurry! Maylee put her sandwich down on the bench for a minute and guess what- sis found it. Good thing she was wearing a bib because she was a mess. 

 I am in love with Em's chubby feet. Thicker than they are wide- okay maybe not but close! 

 The kids wanted to do a photoshoot this afternoon. I couldn't turn them down. Emma wont hold still so this is the results. I love Emma's face in this one. She most always looks like that (a mischievous look in her eye really, she is our BUSIEST baby by far!) 

 These three melt my heart... 

 What? Emma won't hold still? What's new! 

 Standing. 

 I love May's face! 

 Emma, Maylee and Ty. 

 Yeah, my kids are convinced they are super strong- I don't tell them any different, because they are! 

 EM! 

 Then they wanted all four of us. It's hard to hold up a big DLSR camera for a selfie and get EVERYONE in the picture. May didn't make it in this one. 

 Second try...

 Third one. I love all my babies! 

I keep thinking about what a Psycho I am for having 3 kids 4 and under then I see these pictures and wouldn't want it any other way. They are the best kids for me. Everyday they tell me they love me (well minus Emma but her hugs and kisses suffice) and it makes it all worth it. 

Swimming Lessons at the Combs

Brynn and Kirsten are the Combs girls. They have an indoor and outdoor pool at their house. They are the nicest girls! They teach swim lessons each summer. Ty loved it.  (Well all except for one day- it was really odd he wouldn't even get in the water) Lessons were MWF at 8:30 am. That was the tough part since we only had one car. Matt either rode his bike to work or we all woke up at 6:30 to drive him to work. I know a lot of you are saying 6:30 am? My kids are up at 5:30!!! Well mine aren't, Ty most days wakes up after 8 and May is up around 7:30. Anyway- Ty loved the lessons and Maylee is just chomping at the bit to be old enough to do all these things with her brother.

Both girls were in the pool and they split the class. Ty was with Austin everyday. If it was warm enough they swam outside. But everyday it was too early and not warm enough, so they swam inside. 

 The pool was a little chilly so Ty would get in gingerly then do some jumps in the water and arm motions to get warmed up.

 Here he is jumping.

 Working on using straight legs while kicking on the kick board.

 Keeping his face under while using ice cream scoop and kicking. It was a lot to think about!

 Floating on his back like a starfish. This confused him a bit because Mimi likes the kids to float on their backs like a soldier. I told Ty that he knows TWO ways to float on his back now.

 These little ladies just waited with me. Maylee couldn't wander much so we just stuck near the chairs.

 The indoor portion of the pool. Ty is going after the rings.

Ty's favorite of the lesson- the SLIDE!

Bonus videos- I took a ton of video since Matt never got to see him do swim lessons this summer.

This one is my favorite videos. Kirsten told Ty to put his face under while kicking back. I LOVE how he throws his head back takes a BIG BREATH then slams his face in the water. Hilarious.

Kirsten also liked how fast Ty would kick his legs under the water. He's a fast little fish when he wants to be!

Last up the SLIDE the SLIDE! So great they have this at their house.

Ty loved to FLY down the slide. His other classmates would go a bit slow take their time. Ty is like his Dad... as fast and as wet as he could go. One time Brynn wasn't quite prepared and barely caught Ty. Another time he flipped around to go face first on his stomach and he thought it was AWESOME, crazy child. He's all ready talking about next year. 

Spence Weekend

2 weekends ago the Spence clan all got together in Medford for the blessing of the newest Spence lady Amber. I had all ready signed up and begun training for a Triathlon in Utah that same weekend. I was so sad to not be with everyone all weekend, but I did love doing the Triathlon with my sister and sister in law. Pictures to come from that. 

Michaela and Kelly had their ever trusty camera's handy for the whole weekend. I am so happy that Michaela sent these to me. They make me so happy. I love my little family and my extended family so much. I wish I could have been 2 places at once. 

Matt and his little ladies. 

Matt with the kids

 Maylee and Ashlyn

 All 4 boys- this one is a framer for sure!

 The "other" 4 boys- (soon to be 5 since Calin has a little brother due in December, so fun) 

 My 3 kids. I love how Ty is toting a Book of Mormon in every picture. 

The whole clan! I SO want to be in this picture too... photoshop hmmm? 

All 5 girls. 

I drove the trip home from Utah to Medford ate some dinner and Michaela snapped a picture or two of all five of us, proof that I was there at some point. :) 

 I hope it isn't another 2-4 years before all of us to get together again. It's too long to be apart! 

Summer time fun

We've been enjoying Summer, Emma is growing like a weed and learning to walk! 

I went to Utah to do a Triathlon, I got back and Emma had taken numerous steps on her own. Now she is trying to walk every where she can. 

Jordan and my mom videoed it for me so I could see how well she was walking. 

She can also go up and down the stairs now... so that takes a lot of stress off during the day. 

Maylee is quite the fashionista these days. She picks out her clothes and her shoes, she tells me how to do her hair, and believe me... it has to be just so or she isn't thrilled. She likes to dress herself too. She does a pretty good job of it all though I do encourage little corrections here and there.

Ty is having a great summer cruising on his bike (still with training wheels, he doesn't think hes quite ready yet) and rollin' with his scooter. His friend Dax who is 8 taught him how to go down hill on his scooter. It was pretty scary but great to see him try hard things. A few weeks ago he had a crash on his scooter that required a band-aid. He toughed it out.

RVFFC Mini Golf

Yeah i'm behind, of course. LAST of the LAST time we went to Medford pictures... i'm determined to do a bloggy blitz this week to catch up and so you guys can see my Tri pictures!

Mom, Dad, Ty, May, Em and I went Mini Golfing. The kids are pretty good these days. 

 Ty just needs to be reminded to spin his putter around. 

 Grandpa helped Maylee get her swing right. 

 Ty told my Mom his ball was lost in the log, so she got down to look for it then Ty realized his ball rolled into the hole and didn't tell my mom. 

 The replay, once my mom figured out Ty found his ball. 

 Maylee posing as usual. 

Emma had fun watching :)