Tessa - January 2014

Well would you look at that, I'm only 4 days late in writing this.  Maybe this new year will be a better year as far as keeping on top of your letters.  (Ok, so I had this written on the 5th and then forgot to publish it - but it was ready on the 5th!)

The winter has been pretty fun so far considering we haven't been able to go to the park as much as normal.  Dad's back seems to be getting better, and one day he decided he'd been cooped up too long, and we drove out to Jacob Lake to play in the snow and get some cookies.

I don't know what has gotten into you with the snow lately, but you can NOT see snow and not eat some.  That's normally not that terrible of a thing, but the other day we went ice fishing and you decided to snack on some of the "snow" that was around your hole, which was basically the ice that the auger had shaved as it dug the hole.  When I informed you that the "snow" you were eating was really ice made out of fishy water you didn't look so thrilled.

I can't blame you for trying though.  When we had our big snowstorm in Kanab in December the snow was so light and fluffy it looked like it would be good to eat.  You and your brothers had fun playing in it that Sunday when church was cancelled because of it.  I liked taking pictures of you best because you were the only one who didn't throw it at me!

That's a pretty common theme around here.  While you still really, REALLY hate to clean your room or the toy room, you are usually pretty good about helping me out with whatever else I need done.  I try to let you too because I definitely do not want to discourage this helpful attitude.  You are always wanting to help cook, bake, or help me with Tyson, and you are definitely his second little mother whether he likes it or not.  You are also always the perfect person to ask for a hug.  Logan will ask why, and Tyson will say no, but you will always run over and give one of the best hugs.  Everybody loves Tessa hugs.

When we went to Hurricane for Aunt Lisa's birthday dinner last month you guys got into the Play-doh and got downright silly.  We had to really work to get that big piece to stay on your tiny nose!

Aunt Lisa said that for her birthday she wanted you, me, and grandma to go with her to the Dickens' Festival in St. George.  We ended up having to bring Ty too, but you were so excited for another girls' day, and we had a good time looking at all the booths and tasting all the samples.  You got to dip a candle into colored wax and got your face painted too.

You were really into Christmas this year, probably more so than before because you got to do the fun crafts and sing the fun songs at preschool.  You told me that you were learning the songs so that you could sing them to the "really old people."  That would be the people in the Beehive Home here in town.  I thought it was pretty cute that you wanted to make sure I knew it wasn't just the old people like me and dad or maybe your grandmas and grandpas but the REALLY old people.

All month long when I asked you what you wanted for Christmas you told me the same thing, Pet Shops.  That's what you told Santa when he came to the Pollock Christmas party too.  I'm loving your consistency compared to your brother who changes his mind every time we ask.  Earlier that day we opened presents at Grandma Lori and Grandpa Rob's.  You got some cute clothes and a horse barn with some horses from Grandma and Grandpa, and a puzzle from Bosten in your cousin exchange.  Overall it was a pretty fun day.

On Christmas Eve you all finally got to open your presents from mom and dad that had been under the tree for a few weeks.  You were excited to find your new pajamas, popcorn, and movie candy to settle in and watch the movie with.

We had already gone out to look at lights, so you guys changed into your new jammies and settled down with dad to watch the Polar Express.  After the movie it was a bit tough getting you to sleep, but that's no change from every day.  Every morning you tell me that you didn't actually sleep and just had your eyes closed when I came in to check on you.  We told you that you better really try to sleep because Santa wouldn't come until you did and because we knew Logan would wake up before you would be ready to get up!

Sure enough Logan was the first kid awake, and he and I had to go around and wake everyone up.  I tried to get you up first, but it wasn't until you heard Logan's excited voice that you crawled out of bed.  I had put your hair in a braid the night before to try to keep the bed head to a minimum, but that plan didn't exactly work.  First you opened your stockings...

You loved the reindeer antlers Santa left for you.

Then you started on your other gifts.  Santa got you Pet Shops like you asked, 2 My Little Pony houses, a calendar, puzzles, some fun magnetic dress up dolls, and....

a puppet, which I hate.  Thank you Santa.

I had taken you to buy your brothers a small gift, and dad took Logan to get one for you.  Seeing you guys give each other thankful hugs was the best part of the morning for me.  (Don't mind the star on top of the tree that looks like it is going to fall off and hurt someone.  It gave the tree more charm.)

When I asked if you got everything you wanted you said yes.  I'm pretty sure Santa could have given you boxes of rocks, and you would have been thrilled with it.  We love your (usually) happy-go-lucky attitude.

The one thing I wrote down to remember for your letter this month cracked me and dad up pretty good.  We were in the car together when all of a sudden you kind of half yelled, "Mom!  I have a problem!"  I answered and asked you what it was, and you said, "Every time I sit down my pants fall off!"  Oh Tessa Sue, our life would be much more boring with you.  I said to dad just yesterday as he was saying that he had more gray hair than Grandpa Rob that it was because you had a girl and he didn't.  Dad said, "Yeah, but she's the easiest one!"  I know that probably won't always be the case, but we will take it while we can get it.

Thank you for always being happy and ready to cheer up anyone who might be feeling sad.  We are so lucky to have you in our family and love you to pieces.

Love you sis,
Mom