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