Logan - April 2013

Well I'm making up for a winter with no pictures with this post.  I guess when we are busy doing things outside we take more pictures.  This is lucky for me because I've got nothing tonight.  Sorry bud!

We went for a couple hikes, one up the Squaw trail and another little one to try to get to the dinosaur tracks near Kanab.

On your spring break we went to Hurricane to spend the night, and Aunt Lisa went shopping with us for some summer clothes.  I had the hardest time agreeing on shorts you wanted to buy, and you finally told me that you would just wear pants all summer.  That wasn't going to work, and I finally found you a cute pair of khaki cargo shorts that I thought you would go for because they look like the kind dad wears.  Well you weren't big on them but your eyes LIT UP when you saw the bright red shorts on the rack behind them.  I about died.  Sometimes I swear you are not my child.  I finally agreed to buy you some red shorts and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt if you would also get some khaki and Levi shorts too.  We went to the Pasta/Pizza Factory for lunch and had a fun time hanging out with Aunt Lisa.  You guys were excited because she brought you guys some fun Easter stuff.

We also got these gems on our shopping trip.  I pointed these footie pajamas out to you in Target on the clearance rack thinking you'd want nothing to do with them, but surprisingly you were all for them!  You really do like to wear them.  Skull footie pajamas, bright red shorts, and neon green tennis shoes are just a few of the things we ended up getting this trip.  You are one of a kind.

Dad was gone for some of spring break, and I was trying to figure out what else we could do to break up the days, so we got the State Parks pass from the library and headed out to the sand dunes.  We stopped at Ponderosa Grove to eat some lunch.

And then made our way out to the park.  We were going to roll eggs, but it didn't work out because Ty rolled down the hill before we got our tracks made, but you and Tess had a fun time playing in the sand.

We made our annual trip to Kodacrhome for the Pollock family Easter picnic, where you had a blast playing with cousins, Ty, and Tessa.

And of course getting a TON of candy.

We took the trailer out and camped, and Friday night we hiked up a hill close to our camp to watch the sunset.  It was really cool, and we all had a fun time talking and spending some time together without TV or phones or video games.

Of course you played in the fire...

And roasted marshmallows with dad.

On our way home on Sunday we used our Park pass again to see what Kodachrome State Park had to offer, and you, Tessa, and I went on a little hike and sat on some red rocks for a quick picture.

A couple weekends ago dad wasn't feeling good, so I loaded you all up in the car and started to drive.  I wasn't quite sure where we were going, but we were going somewhere.  We ended up at the park in Moccasin and hung out there for a while.  The park equipment seemed to be pretty updated except for one thing, a merry-go-round.  I was so excited to show you what it was and how you played on it because I thought they were all but extinct.  Too "dangerous" of course.  I kept running over from where I was pushing Ty on the swing to come over and spin you and Tess on the merry-go-round.  One time though as I was walking away I looked back to see you actually flying through the air feet over head adn then landing on your back.  It scared you and knocked the wind out of you a bit, and then I realized that yeah, maybe merry-go-rounds ARE too dangerous.  You agreed, nad moved on to this less dangerous piece of equipment.

You're still reading, reading.  I talked to Mrs. DeMille about whether I should have you start testing on books or not, and she said that since you could read the questions on your own it wouldn't be a bad idea.  Your goal for the year is 20 points, and you're already up to 15.5 in just under 2 weeks of reading and testing.  Nice job bud!  You really enjoy the Magic Treehouse books and can read about 1 per night.

Dad isn't going to have weekends off this year, and  he decided he wanted to take you guys to St. George to do some fun things before he started working them.  First we went bowling.

And then we went to Jumping Jacks before going to dinner at Ichiban and stopping real quick at Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house.  You guys had a blast, and I know dad was happy he got to hang out with you guys on one of his last Saturdays off for a while.

T-ball practices have started, and you are on your buddy Kashton's team again this year with some friends from school.  I should have some pictures from games for your next letter, and I know you are really excited to be playing coach pitch this year.  It's technically "advanced t-ball," but you won't let me call it t-ball anymore.  You are getting better and better at hitting from a pitch instead of the tee though, so whatever makes you happy I guess.

It's been busy but fun to have the weather warming up and get to do more outside.  I got you to start a list of things you want to do this summer, and you have about 5 things on it already, and it is posted on your door so we won't forget.  We'll need it because there are just a few more weeks of school and we'll be looking for any idea we can get to help break up the long days before you become a first grader!

Love you bud,
Mom

(That reminded me - the other day I called you pumpkin, and you asked why I called you that.  I said that I didn't know and was probably just used to calling Ty that.  You said, "Hmm... how about you call me pirate instead?"  You are such a dork!)

Tessa - April 2013

Tessa, Tessa, Tessa Sue.  As I type this you have just come out of your room at night for about the 30-hundredth time.  Earlier you came out and said you were hungry.  I told you to get a piece of bread, but you said you wanted 1 potato chip.  I asked if you thought that 1 potato chip would fill you up, and you said yes, so you got your 1 potato chip and went back to you room   It is always fun to hear what you will come up with the next time you come out and stand next to the couch and say "Um....Mom?"

If we're watching American Idol or The Voice or another singing show you always come out and ask if you can dance.  I never did get a great shot of your smooth moves, but I have to laugh at this one.  You found these footy pajamas in your drawer. I told you I didn't think they'd fit you still, but put you them on and decided they will now go in the rotation even though they give you a wedgie!

We've been so happy to get out of the house a little more this month.  One day while Logan was at school I took you and Ty in the stroller up to the park to play for a bit.  It was cold, but I had to get some pictures of my purple girl having fun before we headed back.

We had a fun early Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house this month with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe.  Logan did his best to get all the eggs before you and Ty, but you got a few too.

And played with Uncle Joe...

You and Ty have started having a bit of a tougher time getting along lately. I think you are starting to realize what Logan's learned - having a younger sibling isn't all fun and games!  You hover around him and try to keep him from doing things, which just makes him mad and try harder to do the thing you don't want him to do!  Sometimes you still get along pretty well though, and you both love to make each other laugh.

You're still quite a diva, and I had to put this picture from when we took Logan to see the Smokey Bear statue because the look on your face absolutely cracks me up.  You might as well be a celebrity in L.A.!

Driving down Rodeo Drive...

Fortunately for me, though, you are also an outdoorsy hiking girl.  You got to be my hiking buddy when we hiked the Squaw Trail with dad and Logan and Ty earlier this month.  I was kind of glad because even though it is a pretty easy trail, I apparently hike a lot faster when I am chasing buffalo.  I didn't do one bit of complaining taking up the back of the line after you.

I also loved being behind you so I could see you jump down off the rocks every chance you got.  You stopped to look at flowers, rocks, and whatever else was on the trail you thought was interesting.  I pointed out that one of the rocks was stripey, and then you had to point out every. other. rock. that was stripey, and there were a lot!

We went to the sand dunes one day when Logan was on spring break.  We got some lunch and ate at the Ponderosa Grove campground area before we headed out to the dunes.

And then you and your brothers had a blast going up and down the sand and watching the snake at the visitor's center.  I was so impressed that you didn't seem to be bothered by the snake at all!

Last weekend we went out camping for the Pollock Easter picnic.  The first night Grandma and Grandpa Veater came out for dinner and took Ty home with them so we could hang out with you and Logan (plus not have to worry about Ty keeping everyone up all night!).  Dad decided to hike us up a  nearby hill to watch the sunset.  Part of the climb was pretty steep, but you and I ended up getting to the top before dad and Logan.  You were so excited that we beat them.

We took some pictures, watched the sun go down, and had a fun time hanging out and just relaxing for a while before we headed back down.

On our bums...

Back at camp Logan kept putting big juniper branches on the fire.  All of a sudden you came running by and said "Just in time!" and held up your branch.  We all got a pretty good laugh out of that, and I love the look on your face. You are seriously just so happy all the time.

Marshmallow hands!

The next day at the picnic you had a blast getting your candy

And getting some lessons on the 4-wheeler.  You're getting better! No cars were damaged this time!

Later when we got back to camp we hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Veater and Uncle Boo, Aunt Bre, and Tinsley.  Somehow you and Grandpa got playing the "don't smile" game.  I have to say, dear, you aren't very good at that game, but we loved watching you try!

Not smiling...

Ha!  Smiling!

The last day we were there we hit Kodacrhome State Park before we headed home.  We didn't do much, just a short hike, but you did get to climb on a few hills with Logan.

You are so sweet and silly and fun, and we love you so much.  I love how every time we go to one of the grandma's houses on our way home or on our way there you always ask if we are in "our world" or "grandma's world" yet.  You have such a fun way of thinking and putting things that you make us laugh all the time.

Love you silly gh-oul,
Mom

Tyson - March 2013 - 15 Months

Oh Tiger, we are so glad it is starting to warm up around here.  We've been lucky and have been able to spend a lot more time at the park and outside in general this past month - even if we do still have to wear jackets and hats.

And other times we have to wear our snow clothes....

You weren't a fan of Logan's old coat and bibs, but you wanted to be outside with the big kids SO bad.  So out you went.  Of course I couldn't resist throwing you in the snow where you got stuck and started to scream.

It wasn't the best day for you because you really did want to be outside but you didn't like the cold and you didn't like your snow clothes and you really didn't like the snow!  Good thing the snow melted fast.  We had about 8 inches that morning and it was gone by the afternoon.

You are definitely much more mobile and sure about your walking lately.  You've even pretty much mastered the stairs.  That was nice because I didn't have to scream at the big kids to shut the basement door before you got to it and listen to you scream because they were having fun down there without you.  So you learned to do the stairs and would go down and play with the big kids and I would get a minute to cook dinner or straighten up one of your disasters or just sit on my butt on the couch for five minutes without someone screeching at me UNTIL the day you were down there with Tess playing and Tessa started screaming that you had got one of the paint cans open.  The owners of the house had left a bunch of paint cans in the basement, and we really haven't had to worry much about it.  Until you.  You somehow got one of them open and by the time I got to you you were sitting in a puddle with both hands splashing.  I screamed, carefully plucked you out of your puddle and ran upstairs as fast as I could praying that you wouldn't drip on me or the carpet.  I plopped you in the tub, turned on the water (which was cold at first and you weren't a fan) and grabbed my phone to (of course) snap pictures.  It took a few days to get it all out of your hair, and I think there is still some in the tub somewhere.  Oh child.

It's a good thing you are cute!

We went to Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's for an early Easter with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe too.  Grandma did her best to help you get some eggs before Logan snatched them all up.

And you entertained Uncle Joe and Aunt Lisa with your "evil" laugh.

Dad decided he couldn't wait for me to get around to giving you a haircut, so one evening he took matters into his own hands and busted out the clippers on the back deck.  Logan was first and all went well.  As I held you for your turn your dad took the first swipe with the clippers and I yelled "What number was THAT?!"  Dad informed me that he had used a 1 and I was so bummed.  There was no going back now.  Dad did the best he could with a squirming baby, and this is what we ended up with...

I looked at it for about 2 hours the next morning before I busted out the clippers and finished it off.  Now you're a baldy just like dad.  It's grown back pretty fast, but I was pretty sad for a few days!

We had really good weather for Cousin Dakota's baseball game in Kanab this year.  Aunt Colleen and I were remembering how last year at his game you were still a tiny baby in the carrier that I was trying to keep warm.  This year it was all we could do to keep you out of the dugouts and the road!

You've gotten a few more teeth in the last month.  You now have all 4 front teeth on the top and still your front bottom 2.  Not too shabby!  It hasn't been fun though.  We went to your 15-month checkup, and you weigh 26 pounds (75th percentile) and are 32 inches tall (also 75th percentile).  Big boy!  You've also become obsessed with ceiling fans and lights and can get pretty annoyed when no one will pick you up so you can flip the light switches on and off for days.  One day you had been so cranky I finally moved the kitchen table over to the light switch and let you go to town on your own.

We've gotten out and gone on a few hikes this month too.  We did the Squaw Trail with dad and the big kids...

and then hiked up by where the dinosaur tracks are.

We dug out Logan's old hat for you to wear so your bald head didn't get sunburned, and I decided that I really truly have the best-looking kids in all the world.

Logan had spring break the last week of the month, so I decided we should explore the sand dunes one of the days he was out of school.  We hit Subway to grab some lunch and headed out.  Earlier in the week we had gone to Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house for the night to hang out with them, and you had gone down her steps into the family room on your nose and skinned it.  When we stopped at Ponderosa Grove on our way to the sand dunes I set you down next to the picnic table while I put a tablecloth on it so we could eat.  That fast you made it to the table, climbed up onto the bench, and promptly fell right off the other side and onto the concrete underneath and bonked your head so you now really look like you'd gotten into a fight...

You settled down pretty quick though, and we ate lunch and headed up to the sand dunes.  You thought you were in heaven, and I had to laugh at how fast you could get down the dunes after I had just hauled you up.  We did that a few times, but after I realized that you would just shimmy right down backwards as fast as you could I quit bringing you back up!  Logan and I wanted to make some tracks to roll our eggs down,

 Logan and I wanted to make some tracks to roll our eggs down, but the next thing I knew I looked down to where you had last been and saw you start barrel rolling down the dune!  I caught you before you hit anything harder than sand, but you were not impressed!

We decided we had better head back home before any bones got broken!

All in all it has been a fun month, but the more mobile you + the crazy you = lots of chasing for this momma.  Your dad and I have kind of had a feeling that you were going to be more of a challenge than the other 2, but I'm afraid we still might have underestimated you.  I hope we can keep you from too much harm before you learn that you can't dive off the kitchen table or run across the wet bathroom floor without consequences, but I imagine we haven't seen anything yet.

Love you my daredevil,
Momma