Is this odd?

We went to the zoo a week and a half ago, Payton just loved it. Notice the cutoff shirt, it was a nice day, a little hot for illinois standards i think, about 80 degrees.



Yesterday, this is what we were wearing (in the morning). Last night i think it was about 43 degrees. Just crazy in my opinion. Is our summer weather already over?


Also, i've been mulling over potty training payton for months now. But, things keep coming up (or rather I keep making excuses to put it off) so i didn't do it... except, at his 2.5 year checkup, the doctor said, I should at least be sticking him on the toilet once a day (even if he's scared, which he was at first). well fast forward 2 months. and 4 days ago, payton just decided to basically potty train himself. 48 hours of no wet diapers (even overnight), i was absolutely shocked! I was beside myself and couldn't believe that possibly, I wouldn't have to ever clean up accidents and make him run around naked with a potty next to him for 3 days and repeatedly ask him if he needed to pee?

well, since then, he has reverted back somewhat, and decided that sometimes he doesn't want to sit on the potty, which I'm completely ok with, since I hadn't really "trained" him. I'm just hopeful that I still won't have to "train" him using the no diaper method. And really I'm pleasantly surprised because I've never heard of a toddler "training" themselves?

Meeting old and new friends

Payton had a busy week in texas catching up with old and new friends.
meeting baby E for the first time (only 1 month old!)
swimming with baby F (giving her a kiss to help her feel better about swimming, she was a little scared)
Playing with M. Previously only skyped. First time meeting in person. They played really well together.
Hanging with C and N, thanks B and L for hosting us!

Meeting H for the first time, such a cutie.

Group photo in age order. So cute! no one looks happy, but there are all sitting on the couch so nicely for their mommies to take pictures... :)

Family Fun

We had alot of fun visiting family in Texas.


the three muskateers (cousins)


hanging with hodebegiwith harmoni, and eating frozen bananas


auntie even made a special trip down!playing with gong gong and po po

Gardening

Just got back from a wonderful (and HOT) trip to texas. So much fun to see family and friends. Payton was quite exhausted though...
then rolled off the couch slowly...
still slept for another hour like this after getting home from the airport.

Even though we had no produce in our fridge for dinner the night we got back, our garden has been producing, so we were able to eat from some of that.
It's been alot of fun trying out different vegetable and fruit plants and watching them grow. In July, our raspberry bushes gave us something to pick everyday for about 3 weeks. Payton loved it!

slip and slide

Last weekend, we got to hang out with uncle kenny who was visiting. All week Payton would randomly say " Did you have fun with Uncle kenny?" Basically, when he asks a question like that, he wants someone else to ask him the same question back, and then he smiles and says "yes"....so I'm pretty sure he is looking forward to seeing him again in a couple of weeks!

Earlier this week we went to playgroup and Payton and I had a great time. He got to eat with his buddies at the kid's table!


And, he discovered his love for water slides. He probably climbed up and slid down this slide at least 20 times. He loved it so much!

Fishing

One activity that I have sorely missed since moving to IL is fishing. Recently, I have discovered that the wide but narrow retention pond that is across the street from our house is full of bass and bluegills. According to one of my neighbors, someone in the neighborhood stocked it years ago with personal catchings and it has since taken. It's not the most access friendly--you have to walk down a steep bank through tall weeds, where I spotted a family of skunks, contend with lots of mosquito, and stand in the water (I bought rubber boots) because of tall cattails blocking casting lanes--but the hassles are offset by its proximity and its productivity (averaging about 4 bass in 30-45 minute sessions and as many bluegills as you want to catch).

Several weeks ago, I set up an inflatable boat and took Payton on an enjoyable boat ride in the pond (sorry, no pictures).

Here's a picture of the biggest I've pulled out so far (18/19 inches!).

Love for Animals

Payton and I got to visit the zoo with Auntie Harriet earlier this week. The boy seriously loves all animals. (do all toddlers?) anyways, we had a blast and he got spoiled rotten by his favorite auntie, riding the train, carousel, sky lift,
horseback riding (second time in his life ever!),

feeding birds,





Petting goats,
and of course, ice cream! (and yes, he ate the whole bowl all by himself, shared just a little with us...) What a fun spur of the moment trip!