Tessa - May 2013

Oh Tessa girl.  I'm late on this letter, but I've about decided I'm going to quit giving myself a deadline for these letters so then I won't ever be late.  I do have pictures this month though, and t-ball started, so on with the letter eh?

You have introduced Ty to the carousel at Honey's.  Even though the last few trips to the store it has been cold or windy or rainy (or all 3), you insist on getting on the carousel.  I think this time you actually ended up wanting to get off before it was done moving.

Conference Saturday dad was sick so I loaded you and your brothers up and headed out in the car.  I wasn't sure where we were going, but we had to get OUT.  We ended up at the park in Mocassin after I'd planned to go to Pipe Springs and then changed my mind about dragging 3 kids on a tour of an old fort by myself.  We bought Frazil's at the gas station on the reservation and ate Lunchables at the park and played for a while.

I had dad help me fix the tires on my bike and the bike trailer and took you and Ty on a few rides up to the Ranchos park while Logan was at school.  The park isn't the funnest place to go with Ty lately, but you both enjoy the ride in the trailer.  Me?  Not so much.  It's better than you and Logan were a couple years ago, but it's still over 50 pounds' worth of kids I end up hauling behind me.

You are such a helper around the house, always wanting to help cook or sweep or something.  You asked if you could do the dishes one day, and I finally let you figuring it would probably keep you and Ty occupied for a while even if there did end up being a mess.

One Saturday last month dad took us all to St. George for a fun day.  We went bowling...

and just like last time you were a big fan of the air blower.  The first ball you rolled down the lane just barely made it to the end.  I laughed when the speed showed up on the screen as 1.3 mph.  It was a LONG roll!  After that me and dad took turns giving your ball a little oomph to make it down the lane in under a minute.  We also went to Jumpin' Jacks and played on the bounce houses there for a while before going to dinner at the Chinese buffet.

Another Saturday dad was off fishing, so we made the most of our day by planting the garden and going to lunch at McDonald's, and then finally to the new reservoir to try to feed the ducks.  I told you guys to stay out of the water while I walked further down the bank to see if I could find any ducks to feed, but I should have also specified to stay out of the MUD.  You and Logan were stuck in the mud and couldn't get your shoes out.  I ended up with 3 nearly naked kids in the back of the car on the way home from that trip.

Your first t-ball game was a couple weeks ago.  You are on the Cardinals team and have decided you have a buddy in Deagan who is the son of Brandon Allen who works with dad.  One of the games the two of you spent more time running around together than you did paying attention.

But you also did a good job up to bat...

and skipping home...

twirling at third base...

and even tagging a player from the other team out!!

I think you were a little overwhelmed by the whole thing.  Opening day was pretty crazy with a lot of people up at the fields, and later you did tell me that there were a LOT of people there.  I love to watch kids in their first year of t-ball though.  It's so much fun to see you all chase the same ball and twirl and play in the dirt, etc.  You ask me almost every day if you have practice or a game.  I'm not sure if it is because you are excited to go or ready to be done, but I think you have enjoyed it.

Oh girly, I can't believe though that in less than a month you are going to be 4.  Weren't you just 2?  Where did 3 go?  Your dad and I just said the other day how pleasant you are lately.  You are definitely my "bloom where you are planted" girl, and I love, LOVE that about you.  You are very forgiving of this mom who doesn't always spend enough time with you and sometimes gets cranky.  I'm so glad I get to be your mom.  Sometimes I think that we are so very different, but I think that will be good for me.  I need a Tess in my life to help me remember to be happy where I am and notice the pretty things all around us (like every rock in our driveway that you've picked up and taken inside for your rock collection!").

Love you sis,
Mom