Tyson - August/September 2014

Whew!  Last "letter" for the night.  More like a phone dump of pictures, and by the time I write a lot of this stuff for the third time it's bound to be rushed, but hey, everyone calls you spoiled and this is one time where you can say you got the short end of the stick (as you lay here sleeping next to me on the couch when the other kids had to be in their beds 2 hours ago....)

Late this summer Great-grandma Hillier came to Hurricane for a quick trip with your Great aunt Diane and Great aunt Joyce so they could meet cousin Brody.  We came over from Kanab and crashed the party so we could get in on the visit and some 4 generation pictures.  You were NOT at all wanting to be a part of those, and your face in all of them makes me laugh.  This is the best one of all of us, and I can't even say it's the best one of you because they pretty much all have you making this face.  Props to Great grandma and Grandpa H. for looking like they are not in the middle of a circus.

We took a few more opportunities to hit the pool before it closed, and there were many, many fights over goggles.  I don't know why either.

We went to Big Springs for a barbecue with dad and the crews and guess what?  You didn't fall in the pond!  We did put a hard hat on you just in case, although maybe they ought to keep a pair of water wings up there for your visits just in case.

You got to sit on the big fire dozer with your siblings and pose with dad, and dad even caught a little water snake.  You were pretty upset with him when he said he was going to throw it in one of the ponds.  He reassured you the snake could swim and would be just fine as he tossed it in.  No sooner did that snake hit the water than a fish snapped him up and swam away with him in his mouth!  We all had a pretty good laugh, except you.  We didn't tell you why we were laughing.

Dad finally had a couple days off, so we took the trailer up to Pass Creek for a quick camping trip.  On our way we stopped in Panguitch to see Grandpa Rob's new tractor.

We headed out for a fourwheeler ride the next day, and dad pulled over and asked if I wanted to go to Hatch for lunch.  I said heck yes and we took the road over to Hatch and ate at Cafe Adobe.  You kept getting cranky that the wind was in your eyes, so luckily Tessa lent you her glasses again.  Superstar!

Dad and the big kids went for another ride while we stayed back (if I remember right, you were being seriously cranky and dad had about had it).  While they were gone a TON of trailers moved in all around us, and a couple of them from Las Vegas looked like they were going to set up close enough that I could throw a rock and hit their trailer while standing on the steps of ours.  You were playing in the bed of dad's truck while I stood there hands on my hips glaring at them and daring them to set up that close.  I was NOT happy and made sure they knew it.  Then I heard you say something about how the poop wasn't in the truck anymore.  I looked over at you and asked, "What poop?"  Yep, sure enough while I had been standing there being grumpy and annoyed and occasionally yelling at people you had had your pants down taking care of business in the back of the truck right out in the open for them to see!  Maybe you were just trying to do your part to scare them off too!

That little experience humbled me a bit, and I realized they weren't going anywhere anytime soon, I started cooking up the rest of the scone dough from the night before and gave you one with honey butter on it.  You finally fell asleep while you were eating it, and I found a piece of it clenched tight in your hand.  You are a pretty big fan of that treat, and I can't blame you!

Grandpa and Grandma Veater came up to have dinner with us and made cobbler for dessert.  I think you kind of liked it.  (Look how cute you are with your crossed legs.)

We did the Western Legends thing in Kanab and spent most of our time at the 4-H exhibit visiting Brother and Sister Judd's horses and their sweet tame cow, Honey.  You were a big fan of Honey's.

And the next day we got our picture taken with Smokey as we waited for the parade to start.  We also finished off that ginormous shaved ice while we waited too!

Just because...

On Tessa's first day of school you were feeling left out of the pictures, so I let you hold the sign and stand in front of the door too.  In your underwear.  That continues to be your uniform of choice these days.

And another just because.

Your friend Kyler is back at our house for a few hours most days of the week while his mom is the aide in Tessa's kindergarten class.  At first I didn't know how I would like not having a few hours a day with just you and me, but it turns out that having Kyler over during that time is nice.  You boys play fairly well most of the time, a lot better than last year anyway, and you keep each other entertained.

On our way over to Hurricane for Peach Days we stopped in Apple Valley to pick some apples.  They were so good that you somehow ended up with one in each hand as we drove home.

When we got to Hurricane we got to love on cousin Brody for a while.  We sure do love that boy.

Then we headed off to Peach Days.  We couldn't get you to leave grandma's awesome visor at home, so you wore it as you played on the bounce houses and slides.  We had a good time hanging out with grandma and grandpa, eating, and playing.

Dad also took a day off to go up to help Grandpa Rob cube.  You and Tess rode in the cuber with him for a while, and apparently it is pretty hard work because it put you right out!  We had a fun day of working hard to help out where we could, and even if we weren't much help at least you kids are cute enough to make them smile..

Who wouldn't smile at this kid? (Don't mind the mess that is your brother's "room.")

I'm pretty sure that picture is one your brother or sister took.  I've been finding a lot of those lately, including about 20 like this....

Those happened one day when I made the mistake of leaving my phone in the car when I dropped Tessa off at Mason Barber's house and got talking with his mom for a little too long...

I took these pictures on a spontaneous walk the 2 of us took.  We went out to get the mail after dad got home on what had been a wild day because I remember the quiet of the neighborhood was welcome!  We walked up and down a few streets, and I wasn't ready to go home because the fun conversation we were having was priceless.  I hope I remember to do this with you more often.  You made my day!

(You're showing me how Mayday can drive on the road)

I have even busted out the old rollerblades in an attempt to not have to use my elliptical for exercise.  You, of course, cruise right along on your bike, although on our way home you ran out of steam and then turfed it hard right on your forehead and I had to carry you on my back while rollerblading.  Why yes, it was the longest 2 blocks home EVER.

You can see the evidence of your fall here, a nice green bump and scratch right in the middle of your forehead.  This was at Logan's soccer game and right after a big rainstorm, and you wasted no time getting covered in mud, running through the middle of the field, and eating Logan's snack!  What a kid you are.

You may be getting the short end of the stick as I write this, but honestly kid, you are spoiled rotten.  When dad's not home you get to take his side of the bed, you get to have a friend over almost every day, and you get to hang out with ME all day.  What more could a kid ask for?  In truth, I'm the lucky one who gets to spend my days with you and your brother and sister.  I'm pretty sure it's worth more to me than any job outside of this house could give me, and I just love you guys more and more each day.

Love you dude,

Mom

Logan - August/September 2014

Well Loger, prepare for another picture dump, but at least it's something!

This summer Great-grandma Hillier made a trip to Hurricane for the first time since your dad and I were married 8 years ago.  We took some 4 generation pictures in which nobody but Great-grandma and Grandpa look good in and pictures of everyone who was there including your Great aunt Diane and Great aunt Joyce and had a good visit.

We made a few last trips to the pool in August before it closed.  You became obsessed with goggles at some point and, like always, the fad spread to the younger kids too.

I took half your toys away this summer when I took you and Tessa's toy boxes away.  You HATE to clean the toy room, and it really was just WAY too much stuff for you guys to take care of.  That turned out to be one of the best moves I've made as a mom because for some reason ever since then you and Tess have played together SO well.  You play a game you created called Lego Pet Shops Star Wars Mystery Incorporated (and add on to the end the name of whatever else you've watched on TV lately like Ninjago).  I don't understand the game, but you and Tess love it and still play it.  Bad move on your part since you may never get your toys back now! (The first shot is fuzzy because I'm pretty sure Ty is behind the camera on that one.)

We took a trip up to Big Springs one Sunday afternoon to join dad and the crews up there for a barbecue.  We thew grasshoppers in the lake for the fish, played in the spring, and you guys even got to sit on the big fire dozer.

You were walking along when you jumped sideways and yelled that you saw a snake.  Dad caught it and you and Sam thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Somebody decided it'd be fun to see him swim, so dad took him over to one of the ponds.  Ty yelled at him to not throw him in and as right as dad did he told Ty that the snake could swim and would be ok.  Well, the poor thing COULD swim, but the fish swim faster and no sooner did he hit the water than a hungry fish caught him in his mouth and swam away!  It was pretty funny.  You and Sam did a little exploring up by the seasonal's cabins and even found a bat hanging upside down!

We headed up to Pass Creek on a whim on week when dad had a few days off to go camping.  We stopped in Panguitch to take a ride on Grandpa Rob's new tractor.

We had a fun time camping the first day and then the second day the entire city of Las Vegas moved in RIGHT next to where we were camped.  Not really, but within 24 hours we went from being the only ones in our spot to having 10 trailers within 100 yards on either side.  It was CRAZY.  We still had a good time after I relaxed and quit yelling at the trucks pulling in, and we took a fun ride over to Hatch on the fourwheelers and ate lunch at Cafe Adobe.  It was a quick camping trip, but a fun one.  It's always nice to get out and camp with dad when we have the chance.

You started second grade this year, and you were pretty excited to get back to it.  You talked me into letting you get a Skylanders shirt even though I try my best to stay away from "character" stuff, but you've been a pretty good sport about me just buying the shirts I like that I felt I owed you one.  Of course you chose to wear it on the first day of school.  It's been fun to take these pictures and see how you have grown from your preschool days to now.

Ack!  You kill me.  Look how adorable and squishy you were!  I have to back up a lot further these days to make sure I get the full-length shot to judge how tall you are compared to the door knobs.  So cute.  How did second grade happen??

And then there's this, that shows me that you really are still a goofy little boy still.  I love it.

You surprised me at Peach Days in Hurricane this year when you decided to take a crack at the climbing wall.  I love when you do things that are pushing your comfort zone a bit.  It is fun to see you grow that way just as much as it is to see how you've changed in your first day of school pictures.

And again, back to the goofy Logan.

And this, this is what happens when I go to Sister Barber's house to drop Tessa off and end up chatting with her for ten minutes or so while you and Ty are in the car with my phone.  I have about a million pictures like this and about 25 of Tyson.  Thanks dude!  (Check out those teeth!  They make me laugh!)

We signed you and Tess up for soccer, and I don't know about you but I LOVE it.  Just kidding, you seem to love it too.  You've only played 2 games so far - one was super hot with no subs so you guys ran a LOT, and the second was after a huge rainstorm where you guys sunk in puddles and face planted in mud the whole game.  The atmosphere though is AWESOME.  I like it so much better than T-ball/baseball/coach pitch whatever.  You tend to like to be the "goofy" one on the team and fart around and kick the ball almost to the goal and then dramatically turf it, which makes me CRAZY, but all that matters it that you have fun.  I think I could really like this soccer mom thing kiddo.

I have guilt that I haven't done more personalized letters lately.  It's been a long time, and these letters are a far cry from what I started them out as and what I want them to be, but it is something, and I hope you guys can cut me some slack and give me credit for that. I said it in Tessa's letter, and I'll say it in yours, I'm so glad I get to be home with you guys every day - to run you here and there and do homework and go to the library and schedule afternoons with friends, etc.  While you and I haven't seen eye to eye for a while and continue to have some pretty good rounds, I am SO grateful for you and your kind heart.

Love you bud,
Mom

Tessa - August/September 2014

Tessa dear, where did our summer go?

Great-grandma Hillier made a trip down to Hurricane for the first time since dad and I got married 8 years ago to see one of her youngest Great-grands, Brody.  We had a fun time visiting with her and Aunt Joyce and Aunt Diane and got some 4 generation pictures to document the occasion.

Uncle Joe stole my phone and took creepy pictures on it but managed to get a cute one of you too.  Thumbs up Tesser.

We had a few more trips to the pool before it closed, and you dorks decided that goggles were the way to go.

I can't remember if I mentioned this in your last letter or not, but about halfway through the summer I took away you and Logan's toy boxes.  There was just way too much crap in the toy room, and there was no way you guys could keep it clean.  This was the best thing I have EVER done because for some reason ever since then you and Logan have played together SO well.  It's a game called Lego Pet Shops, Star Wars, Mystery Incorporated, and apparently it is the bees knees.  Here are some pictures Logan or Ty snapped of you playing.  Even after the summer ended you guys have continued to play together well, and I don't think you'll ever get your toy boxes back!

We took a trip up to Big Springs one Sunday afternoon and hung out with dad and the crews up there when they were having a barbecue, and yo guys got to sit on the big dozer.

You also got to try out Grandpa Rob's brand new tractor too.

We did the Western Legend's thing and spent most of our time at the 4H display with the horses and Brother and Sister Judd's cute and tame cow, Honey.

And had a photo op with Smokey at the Western Legends parade the next day.

You started school the week after Logan, and you were READY.  I let you pick out your clothes and may have cringed a little at your choice of lime green shirt and sparkly pink jeans, but I just couldn't love ya any more when I look at the pictures from that day.

Luckily dad was in town that day because I had just told the bus driver you wouldn't be riding that day but would be from then on when we jumped in the car and it wouldn't start!  Dad saved the day and picked us up and walked you in.

You didn't seem to nervous and were excited to be back with friends from preschool and church.  You love Mrs. DeMille and Mrs. Kabonic and think school is pretty great.

I did really good and didn't really cry - just maybe a little teary if anything.  The next day you were SO excited to ride the bus.  You begged me to let you ride it last year to preschool, but it just didn't make sense with me having to drop Kyler off at that time of the day anyway.  We ate lunch and went outside to wait, and when it pulled up you ran right up and jumped right on (you have to put your knee on the bottom step because it's too tall, so I guess you didn't really jump), and as it pulled away THEN I cried.  I even found an excuse to load up Tyson and Kyler and head into town pretty quick after to make sure you made it ok.  You've loved riding it every day since and get kind of upset when for some reason you don't get to.

We went over to Hurricane for Peach Days that weekend adn played with cousin Brody who is growing up too too fast.

And you and your brothers played on the bounce houses

 and you even dared do this spinning thing with Logan!

Your primary teacher is just the best ever, and she has been working with your class to help you learn the Articles of Faith.  AFter you learn a few she takes your class to Three Bears to get ice cream.  She loves it, and so do you.

You and Brennan eating your ice cream.  I just adore Brennan, and I think he feels the same way about you!

Every year the kindergartners get to participate in the high school homecoming parade.   It's always fun to try to catch your kid as the truck rolls by, and I did manage to get a picture with you in it and even one with the pom pom that you are holding completely covering your face!

This is the best I've got, and wouldn't you know two of your best boy friends, Latimer and Mason, are in the shot too.

We signed both you and Logan up for soccer this year, and you have only been once but LOVED it.  In fact, every day since last Tuesday you have said at least 5 times, "I can't WAIT for Tuesday so I can play soccer!"  I just thnk you look adorable in your shin guards that go all the way from the middle of your knee clear down to your ankle and the soccer socks that go clear up your leg.

I know I haven't been the best at writing these letters and making them more than just a picture dump of the last few months, but I am trying to make time to at least do that much.  I honestly believe that I am right now living in the best days of my life with you guys.  I am so grateful I am able to be home with you all every day, and I hope that when you are a mom you get that opportunity too.

We love you sweets!

Mom