We started potty training the Monday after we got home from California. I affectionately refer to that first week as
parenting hell week. Seriously, a toddler peeing all over your house, just
seconds after you've sat them on the potty for half an hour...not cool, and not fun.
The second week we introduced a timer. Set for every 30 minutes, going potty became fun! And exhausting.
Last week the timer was put away and Sammie learned the phrase,
"Mommy! I need to go potty!" Of course, she says it in a cute, sing-song kinda way.
This week, our last hurdle is
stopping the daily dump in her pants. Our strategy is the take-away. Sam's prizes of choice are Princess stickers and Whoppers. Each time she goes to the potty, she asks for a
"princ-i-ness sticker" and a "chocolate ball." So, this week, when she pooped in her pants, we made her take off one of her stickers from the potty chart. The first time, she cried and cried and cried. Second time...she was just mad. It hasn't happened again.
Now, in celebration of being a
big girl, we converted her crib into a toddler bed!
This is a moment we wish she wasn't
so independent! We are really worried she won't stay put...she's always been such a great sleeper. Here's to hoping those days last!
We took a quick trip to the property before it gets too hot. The neighbors raise goats, and the season of the babies had arrived! 
They had 40 baby goats! 
We got to go meet them...Sammie had a great time until she realized there were baby kitties too.
Blake got a new shotgun for his birthday. Boys and their guns. It was pretty funny to look out the window and see them laid out in the dirt shooting at dirt.
They also had way too much fun on the 4wheeler in the rain.
Ray created another fabulous meal...steaks cooked on lump charcoal.
This is our attempt at taking a family photo. We had Dad's camera resting on top of the smoker...in the wind. DUH! Not a good idea. Incomplete picture and a broken camera...what a bummer!
