September? Are your there? Don't leave yet!

This has been one crazy month with lots of fun happenings. Hopefully, I can get you all up-to-date on our ever-fascinating lives that I know you're just dying to read about!

First off:

I DID IT! I did my first triathlon! Wahoo! It was so much fun and it was the perfect tri for a first-timer; there were only about 150 people total and it was pretty simple! Everyone was so friendly and they even gave me a medal for being a division winner! I know! Exciting, huh? BUT, I really don't think I won in my age division. At first, while I was on my tri-finishing-high, I thought "wow, I am so amazing! I was the fastest person in my age group!" But then reality hit *a day or two later*, and I realized that they were giving those medals to everyone. Plus, I paid $$$$ for the extraordinarily flattering t-shirt. Have you ever seen an uglier t-shirt? Seriously. I paid how much money to swim, bike and run and they give me this?

However, it was all worth it! This was one of my goals for the year and I accomplished it. And I actually want to do more! Next up is a 5k (or 10k if I get ambitious) on Thanksgiving morning. Parley's going to do this one w/ me which will make it even more fun!

Post-race, tired but happy!

Fancy, pantsy swim gear. Oh my heavens. Getting into a wetsuit is a workout alone. Holy moly! If they weren't so restricting I'd where one all the time because they just hold everything in. Nice!

Also this month, we celebrated our anniversary. On Saturday we went to the temple and then on Monday we went rock climbing plus hit Cold Stone afterwards for a very healthy snack (icecream has milk in it. that makes it healthy. right?)! Then later that night we went swimming as a family! We had lots of fun and it was nice to spend time alone--thanks to our friendly babysitters! I am so glad I took the plunge (marriage) with Parley! He has been so sweet to me. He makes me laugh every day. He provides me so much strength. And I can't imagine anyone out there better-suited for me!

September has flown by and I wish life would slow down. But, since I can't stop time, I try to enjoy the moments! Here are a few fun moments for you:

Paige just being her adorable self. She loves to smile, unless she's tired.

Parker got caught w/ the chocolate

Parley pulled Parker's pants up to his ribs the other day and this is what Parker did. I guess we have a Steve Erkel on our hands.

And, Paige loves her little jumper

What to doo-doo?

I am at my whits END! Parker is pretty much potty trained except for poopin' on the toilet. The child refuses. Today we sat there for nearly 1 hour. Yes. I am mean. But the boy had just been hiding behind the couch, which is his traditional pooping spot, and I caught him before he began and we ran and I sat him on the toilet. You'd think he would just go, right? Nope!

At first I tried showing him that poop goes in the toilet by dumping it into the toilet. When I ask him where poop goes, he says "in the toilet!" So we've been doing that for a while. Then yesterday, I had him remove his own poopy underwear (thanks for the idea friend) which was supposed to create a huge mess that would completely disgust him and greatly encourage him to go poop in the toilet. But instead, he easily removed his underwear and when he went to dump it into the toilet, it fell on the floor. So then I had him pick that up. Now, that was disgusting. In the end, I helped him, we had a great big poopy smear on the floor. And he still won't poop on the toilet. However, he has not pooped in his underwear yet today. *We'll see after his nap.*

Anyway, I could really use some suggestions. Any ideas on how to get your child to poop in the toilet w/o traumatizing him for the rest of his life?!