Tyson - November 2012 - 11 Months

Your first Halloween was pretty uneventful.  You got dolled up in the lion costume and I totally forgot to draw on your whiskers and black nose.  I was so mad!  I'd been waiting all day to do it and then forgot.  Dad was home, so we took advantage of that and had him drive us around to the houses of people we knew, and the big kids made a pretty good haul.  Here's a picture I took of us in the car with you doing the smooshy face.

Logan's kindergarten class took a field trip to Best Friends this month, and for some reason I got the dates wrong and instead of getting to leave you at home with grandma, I ended up taking you with us.  You weren't all THAT impressed by the pigs and horses that we got to see.

Later that day you got a hold of one of Logan's monster trucks and started making the sounds boys make with their mouths when they play with trucks.  This AMAZES me.  I remember Logan doing it too, so it has nothing to do with the fact that you'd seen him do it.  Boys are just practically born knowing that when you play with a truck you have to make the truck noises.  I love to see your personality come out as you start to learn how to play and be more interactive with the rest of hte family.

Ah... the toilet.  I really hate bathrooms these days.  I used to be constantly yelling at someone for not putting the lid down on the toilet.  Then you figured out how to get the lid up, so now I am constantly yelling at people to shut the bahtroom doors.  EVery once in a while when I go looking for you through the house I'll find you splashing in one of your favorite pools.

We stopped at the park the other day on one of our walks and found a perfect pile of leaves that someone had left just for the 3 of you to play in.  You weren't quite sure what to think about the way they felt or the noise they made, but you warmed up to them pretty quickly.

Ah the fridge...another one of your favorite spots.  You love to take things out and chuck them on the floor.  Sometimes you try your bets to put them back, but usually I'm left to clean up the mess when you decide you've had enough.  You also love to throw your food off your high chair tray.  It always makes me wish we had an inside dog to help clean up.

So proud of yourself.  You cruise!  And finally the park is getting a little bit easier since you aren't constantly putting the rubber pieces in your mouth.

We had your buddy Kyler come over and play with us for a whiel the other day.  It was pretty funny to watch the 2 of you "fight" over toys.  You weren't really a fan of someone else playing with your stuff.

Aunt Lisa and I did a "color run" the other day, and Grandma and Grandpa Hillier near the finish line.  You were NOT impressed by the color on my face.

Then you decided I was okay after all and that maybe you might want to lick that colorful stuff off my face.

We're getting you hooked on chocolate pudding early there Sanchez...

Giving big sis a big hug...

Logan got a litle flashlight the other day, and he figured out that he could get you to act like a cat with a laser.  It was pretty funny to watch.

 We had a really good time at Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house for Thanksgiving.  You spent most of the day working on mastering the 2 stairs going in to the family room of their house and making people jump out of their chairs to catch you when you started to fall.  In your typical Tyson fashion you out-ate your brother and sister at dinner too.  I'm crossing my fingers that trait stays with you because I can't think of one thing I've had you try to eat that you didn't like.

The next day we went and got our Christmas tree up on the Paunsaugunt with Grandma and Grandpa Veater and Uncle Boo and Aunt Bre and your new cousin Tinsley.  This tradition always makes me laugh.  It's fun to see who is going to get grumpy first.  This year it was grandpa :)  There wasn't much snow this year, so dad was able to hike further away from the road than usual and found a HUGE tree and then had to hike all the way back to the truck with it.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving some of the employees from the North Kaibab R.D. got together and decorated a float for the light parade.  You and I got there just as they were finishing up.  We came back later that night and our family was able to ride on the float.  You learned how to wave just in time and did a good job waving at the people.  You heard the other kids saying Merry Christmas, so you joined in with your version of yelling too.  This is a shot of you checking out Smokey while we waited for the parade to start.

You weren't too scared though.

The days before your dad and I go on my bison hunt are going by really fast.  I'm trying to get everything done that I need to plus make sure that I get my extra cuddles from you and your brother and sister.  I feel like such a crappy mom to be leaving you before you are even 1.  Your dad keeps telling me that you won't ever remember this trip, and I know you won't, but I'm so afraid I'm going to miss something or you will be used to your grandma's and not like me when I first get home.  You aren't super close to walking, so be a doll and wait for me to get home, okay?   I've threatened them not to have you practice and that if they see you even thinking about taking a step they should push you over, but if I know your grandma's they will be practicing with you the whole time I'm gone.  I'm pretty sure they think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I'll have plenty of time on the fourwheeler while I'm gone to think about a punishment for teaching you to walk while I'm gone.

You are mighty close to getting your second tooth, too.  I swear some days I can see it.  You are more than welcome to get that tooth while I am gone.  :)  Actually, you haven't been too bad teething so far, so I guess I'll knock on wood that continues too.  (I wrote this 3 days before your actual 11-month date, and I've changed my tune on this.  I've been trying to get the house cleaned and everyone's stuff packed this week, and you are so stinking clingy and whiny it's making it dang near impossible!  I definitely CAN see the tooth, and it is SO close.  I never remember teething being as bad as it is until it comes back around...)

I love you Tiger, and I love your personality that shows through more each day.  I love, LOVE this age.  From now until you hit your Terrible Two's at about 18 months, anyway.  You love to play with us and laugh and tease your brother and sister, especially when we say prayers at night.  We are so glad you are in our family, and I wish I could freeze us in this stage for a year or so and enjoy it for a little longer.

Love you Ty,
Mom

Logan - November 2012

This month we had the deer hunt, and even though it was cold and windy and miserable for about half the time we were camping, you still had a good time.  As long as there is a fire and dirt - you're happy.  You were also pretty happy because we broke down and bought you guys a little fourwheeler.  You had fun riding on it until Tessa ran it into my car and broke the brake line.  You're still pretty mad about that.

Dad and I were going to go hunt together one night, and you decided you wanted to come along.  On the way to the spot where we were going to get out and hike you totally fell asleep.  This is you trying your hardest to stay awake.

After we got to the spot where we parked the truck we got out and started walking up the hill.  It didn't take long before you were tired.  You and I stopped and waited for you to catch your breath for a minute nad told dad we'd meet him a little further up.  You caught your breath and up we went.  By the time we got up to where dad was though (and it really wasn't THAT far), you were out of breath again.  We asked waht you wanted to do and you said you wanted to go back to the truck and play Angry Birds on my phone.  I have to say, I wasn't all that sad to have to take you back.  The last time I hiked with dad his foot was bothering him and I could keep up with him pretty well.  This time, well, this time I have to admit I was pretty out of breath and glad you stopped too.

The other day I asked you to clean your room, and when I went in to check on it I had to laugh at what I found.  Apparently this is how your bed looks when it is "made."  You have so many books and stuffed animals on your bed that this is the best you could do.

Dad called me the night we were supposed to carve pumpkins and said he would be late.  I wasn't about to cut, gut, and carve 3 pumpkins all by myself, so I told you and Tess we would have to wait until the next night to carve them.  Well, your dad is a softie and when he got home around 8 he decided to let you guys carve them anyway.  You were pretty proud of the way yours turned out.

It took us FOREVER to decide what you were going to be for Halloween.  We went back and forth between this and that for days, until I finally gave in and let you be Spiderman for the 3rd time in your 5 years on this earth.  You weren't allowed to wear masks at school, so I decided to paint your face.  You were pretty excited, until your face started itching.  I guess I forgot to mention that happens when your face is painted...

You are seriously the funniest kid.

When you got home from school it was such a nice day we decided to go for a walk.  I had you take your costume off, and this is what you ended up going out in.  I had to stop and take a picture because you looked so ridiculous.

Right before Halloween I got a letter saying that I drew as an alternate for a bison tag.  Your dad talked me into taking it, and I got scared about how out of shape I was.  While your dad was in Colorado hunting we went for a walk every day thinking it would help me get in a little better shape.  The only problem is that you guys begged to stop at the park every time.  One day it was absolutely perfect, and we stopped to play in a pile of leaves that someone had gathered...

And I managed to somehow snap this absolutely perfect picture of you throwing up a handful of leaves.  I LOVE this shot.

"Color runs" are popular right now, and your Aunt Lisa and I decided to do the one that came to St. George.  Grandma and Grandpa Hillier brought you guys over and met us by the finish line.  I tried to get you to run the last 50 yards or so with me, but you didn't wnat to get any pink color thrown on you.  Afterward Aunt Lisa gave you and Tess some extra color packets to throw, and you nailed me right in teh face with some blue.  I think my face had been fairly clean until then.  I'm still trying to get all the blue out of my ears.

Your dad and I leave for my bison hunt a week from tomorrow.  To say I am nervous to leave you guys for 4-5 nights is an incredible understatement.  I know that your grandmas are more than capable of handling you, and I know that you guys are excited to have fun getting spoiled by them, but the thought of not getting to spend my days with you guys makes me sad.  I know sometimes I feel like I'd be a better mom if I was still working and that I would do almost anything for a break, but now that the opportunity has come I realize how thankful I am that I am able to do the sometimes mundane chores of fixing meals, doing homework, and running you to and from school, etc.  I hope you will be good for your grandmas and remember all the things I told you to remind them, like to make sure you brush your teeth and how to make sure Tyson's seatbelt is on right.  You are a great big brother, and I am glad I can count on you to help.  Knowing that makes it a little bit easier to leave.

Love you so much,
Mom

Tessa - November 2012

I'm late getting this written, as always, and at the moment you are sitting next to me after begging to stay up and sit by me, so I'm going to try to make this short so we can both get to bed.

I took a couple pictures at your Kindermusick class the other day.  I can't remember what you were doing in this dance (neither can you, I just asked), but it was pretty cute.  I think it was some kind of a flower because you all started out in the ground as seeds and then grew up and blossomed.  You still enjoy going every week and playing and dancing and singing with your friends and Ms. Jill.

I'm not the only one you can convince to let you stay up after you're supposed to be in bed.  You're dad is the #1 sucker in this house when it comes to his Tessa girl.  You've got that man completely wrapped around your finger.

The other day I noticed that you seem to be growing up right in front of my eyes.  Where did your baby face go?  I had to take a picture just of your pretty face so I could make sure I have a good reminder of it as it is now before all the baby-ness is gone completely.

You still sleep like a goon.  You ended up in bed with me and your dad the other night and by the time we woke up in the morning we had your feet in our faces.

We went for a wlk the other day while Logan was at school.  The weather was perfect, and we stopped at the park for a bit.  You looked so pretty to me that I started snapping pictures....

Then Tyson crawled away and you wandered off to the playground and I rolled onto my stomach to watch you from the blanket.  It didn't take you 5 seconds to notice before you ran back over and jumped on my back and begged for a horsey ride.  This happens EVERY time someone gets down on their stomach or on their hands and knees around you.  You LOVE horsey rides.  Unfortunately for you, this horsey has a bad back and ribs and doesn't give horsey rides anymore, and you soon gave up trying to convince me and ran off to play again.

We waited until the Monday before Halloween to carve our pumpkins, and then I got a call from dad saying he was going to be late and I could either carve the pumpkins with you guys by myself or wait until the next night and carve them with him.  I decided we would wait, and you and Logan were NOT happy with my executive decision.  Dad got home from a LONG day of work and you guys begged him to carve pumpkins, so being the sucker that he is (see above...), we carved pumpkins long after you should have been in bed.  I helped you carve your cat, and it turned out pretty cool when we got the light in it and put it outside.

I had gotten you a cheap Tinkerbell costume at Walmart earlier this month because you are pretty easy going and happy with pretty much anything you get.  Then, when I was looking online for Logan's costume later, I saw this witch costume on sale.  I asked you if you would be a witch next year too (you know, to make it worth buying another costume), and you said yes, so I ordered it for you.  We got Logan in his costume for school pretty early in the day, so I decided to let you wear yours too while we ran some errands.  Everyone we saw commented on what a cute little witch you were. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of just you that night, but we were trying to get out and get our trick-or-treating done (even though now we're pretty sure you guys were the first kids that half the houses we went to got), so I guess I'll have to make sure I get some of you when you wear it next year.  I was totally jealous of how cool the dress was and wish I could find one in my size! (Notice your poor cat pumpkin didn't last long...).

We also had the deer hunt this month, but when we go camping with Grandma and Grandpa Veater I pretty much don't see you the whole time we're there.  It was windy and cold the second 2 days we were out there, and you stayed in grandma's trailer almost the entire day watching movies and eating candy.  Also on that trip I was trying ot help you ride the little gas fourwheeler we bought for you guys.  Logan had gotten off and left it running, so I put you on and was just about to climb on behind you so I could drive when you pushed the gas and took off!  I screamed at you to stop and chased you, but you ended up steering that thing right into the back of my car and breaking the brake line.  Oh Tessa dear, I'm thinking your dad is going to be the one to teach you how to drive.

We love you Tessa Sue!
Mom