Tessa - September 2012

Oh my silly sweet Tessa girl, as I was adjusting the pictures on this letter just now I realized that they all have something in common - a smile (except for the one where you are sleeping).  We love those silly smiles.

On our camping trip at the beginning of the month we got to get away from camp for a bit and go for a 4-wheeler ride.  After a while you got tired, so we ended up putting you in the box of grandpa's 4-wheeler.  You didn't fit as good as you did on our trip to Powell Point last year, but you thought you were pretty funny.

Another Tessa being silly shot.  You and Logan find the strangest things to entertain yourselves in the car and truck.

I was taking a picture of Tyson one morning, and as soon as you know the camera is on you and Logan always say, "Take a picture of me, mom!"  Here's your picture, with another silly little grin.

We went to the creek a lot more this year because of the pool being closed, and one day when we were there about 6 dogs came bounding out of the bushes towards where we were playing, followed by their owners.  Two of the dogs were HUGE!  I had you stand next to the biggest one so I could send it to dad and show him just how big it was.  It wasn't until later when I had posted it on Facebook that someone mentioned how brave you must have been to stand next to a dog who was taller than you were!  You were a little nervous at first, but you warmed right up to the big sweetheart pretty quick.

My favorite thing to do at the end of the day is to kiss you guys goodnight and turn off your lights.  One night as I did that you looked so sweet and peaceful and reminded me of when you were Baby Tessa.  Lately you have been my little tornado of elbows, knees, and feet going a hundred miles a minute, so I sure did love that reminder of my sweet little baby girl.

Oh your poor baby brother.  If Logan isn't trying to cheer him up by making some of the most obnoxious noises I've ever heard, he's got you sticking your fingers in his mouth or pulling on his arms and legs and pushing you over.  He's going to have to learn to be pretty patient - either that or get big enough to whomp on both you and Logan.

I was working on a new skirt for you after seeing a tutorial for a cute one, and the whole time I was working on it you were right by my side.  "Is it done?  Can I wear it now?  Can I help?  Do you need this pin?  What does that do?  Are you ironing it now?  Will it fit me?"  We had a lot of fun, and in the end it did fit you.  I've got another layer to add to the bottom, but you were so eager to get it on that I figured I could add that when it gets a little cooler...

Now to my 2 favorite pictures of the month that show the biggest and best Tessa smiles.  This day we were running off some energy after dinner one night.  Dad had been in Idaho for about 10 days by this point, and the evenings were starting to get LONG.... You normally don't like the splash pad, but we got you in there and you and Logan got soaking wet.  Somehow we ended up in a tickle fight on the grass, adn I had to try to get a picture of you laughing.  I hope I always remember that laugh!  It is such a girly high pitched squeal, and it is awesome.

And this one.  In the tub getting your hair washed and being a dork.  We were just talking the other day about how you have a million nicknames and one of them is Cindy Lou, and you definitely look a little like Cindy Lou Who in this one.  We call you Tess, Tessa Lin, Tessie, Bessie, Susie, Sus, Susie Q, Lindy Lou, Lindy, Linny, etc., I'm sure I'm missing some.  Whatever we decide to call you, we sure do love you.

 As I type this right now, at 9 p.m., you are in your room just jabbering, surely using that imagination of yours to play with your shoes or crayons, or whatever you can find.  I love your imagination.  You didn't get into preschool, but you are going to take a Kindermusik class, and when I told you about it the look on your face was 100% excitement.  I'm excited for you to learn more about music and use your imagination at the same time, and maybe, just maybe, you will be a little more musically inclined than your dad and me.  That is a BIG maybe though.

We love you sis,
Mom

Tyson - August 2012 - 8 Months

Oh Tiger, how we love you in our family.  You are such a twerp about 80% of the time, but that other 20% makes up for it all the way!  I'm not sure how that works, but I was never very good at math...

We decided to try another camping trip with you after Uncle Dusty and Aunt Sylvia invited us to go with their family.  We left Thursday, and your dad had work off clear until Sunday, but we were taking bets on how long we (as in YOU) would make it.  I'm happy to say that you did awesome!  Much, MUCH better than our last camping trip.  It still wasn't very easy by any means, but you definitely felt better and slept better than the last time we had tried camping with you.  Good call bud.  I'm pretty sure if you were a camping dud the second time around your dad might have tried to talk me into finding a good home for you ;)

One of the days we were there all adults and the big kids went for a long 4-wheeler ride while you and I stayed back at camp.  We had such a nice time!  You took a nap and then I tried to take a nap (stupid dogs kept barking!), then we got up and ate lunch....

... and then the clouds started to move in.  I thought, Oh a nice little sprinkle will feel good!  It's been too hot out here in the afternoons...  Well that nice little sprinkle turned into a downpour REALLY fast!  I tried my best to get all the camp chairs under the awnings while holding you with one arm, and then we sat down under the awning of Uncle Dusty's trailer to watch the lightning and listen to the rain and thunder.  That didn't last long, because this was the look on your face...

You really weren't as scared as that picture makes it look, but pretty soon the rain was coming in sideways under the awnings (and soaking all the chairs anyway), and the lightning was starting to hit a little too close for comfort, so we went into the trailer to listen instead.  Even with the rain we had a nice time hanging out at camp together.

You still don't have any teeth yet, so my options are still limited as far as what to feed you, but boy do you love your solid food.  This is what happened one morning when I wasn't shoveling your pears in your mouth fast enough...

It's not very smart to smack the spoon from the lady who is trying to feed you.  I borrowed a food grinder from Meridee, and your favorite thing to eat for dinner is spaghetti.  We ate it for a few meals last week (Dad left for Idaho, so we had a bunch left over), and you liked it so much that I made it again tonight.  You also love your fruit for breakfast and your cardboard (oatmeal) cereal at dinner.  You would eat an entire container of puffs in one sitting if I would let you, and Cheerios (baby crack) are right up there at the top of your list too.

Logan and Tessa still LOVE to love on you.  I caught this picture the other day.  It doesn't do the look on your face justice because I could read in your eyes that you wanted me to help you.  Yep, you are wearing Tessa's pink tutu.  Instead of helping, I pulled out my phone to take a picture.

For the most part you've been a decent baby when we try to go do fun things this summer, as long as you aren't tired, or hungry, or just cranky for no reason....  I really have to time things just right!  Here are a few pictures of you being cute and not cranky while we were out having fun...

At the Ranchos park.  The big kids played, you tried to figure out how to keep the flies off your arm.

At home after swimming at the Fredonia pool.  I threw on Logan's T-shirt to cover you up for the ride home.  Then you slept like a rock for your nap and woke up just as adorable and wide-eyed as can be.

At the splash pad in Hurricane.  We stayed and Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house for a couple nights, and you thought the splash pad was okay.

On a walk in the stroller after a summer storm.  You are kind of glaring at me in the picture, but you really did enjoy our walk.  They have become my secret weapon to stop you from being cranky for 2 hours before your bedtime.

You haven't stopped growing, and the last time I weighed you, you were over 19 pounds.  It's about time to break out the bigger carseat!  I had you in the infant carrier today as we were taking some papers in to the elementary school.  I walked about 5 steps with you that way before I turned around and put the carseat back in the truck and just hauled you in on my hip.  It's WAY to heavy to try to carry you in that thing these days, and you are sure trying your best to break my back.  You haven't really gotten too far in learning to crawl, but I can't say that I'm surprised.  Tonight you were on your belly and I put a couple puffs a few inches away from where you could reach to see if you would squirm your way up to them, and as soon as they hit the floor Logan and Tessa each reached for them to put them closer to you!  You have no need to learn to crawl - you've got 2 slaves that will DO anything for you so you don't have to move.  It's so cute to see you stretch and reach and wiggle your legs to try to move around when I do tell them to make you get things yourself.  You're just adorable.

We love you Tiger,
Mom

Logan - August 2012

As I write this we are soaking up the last few days of summer before the big Kindergarten starts next week.  I have definitely noticed little changes in you as I think you are starting to feel that this is getting real, quick!  You were more nervous last week, but then we were able to stop in and meet with your teacher, Mrs. DeMille, and then went back again yesterday so you could do a few little assessments and pick your spot on the rug and find your cubby, etc.  As we were leaving yesterday you told me that you were SO excited for Kindergarten to start.  I think you really mean it, and I know that you will love it.  When I asked Mrs. DeMille how you had done on your assessments she was impressed with how well you read.  She said she has had parents ask to move their kids up to first grade that didn't read as well as you.  Good job buddy!

Like I wrote on Ty and Tessa's letters from this month, we got our family pictures taken by Aunt Lisa this summer, and this is my favorite shot of you.  You've got 2 matchbox cars in your hands that are out of sight and the silly little grin we get whenever someone asks you to smile.

For the 24th of July parade the primary kids from the entire valley rode their bikes.  I decided since Tessa wanted to ride to that I would represent the primary presidency from our ward and push Ty in the stroller while you guys walked.  Well....about a block down the road you took OFF!  You have figured out that you have to ride a certain speed to keep from tipping over on your bike, and I guess we were just moving too slow for you.  The parade route doubled back at one point on Hwy. 89 at the end of town, but I couldn't even see you coming back the other day.  I spent the entire parade with that sinking feeling in my stomach and trying to get Tessa to go as fast as she could on her bike so we could get done with the stinking parade (plus it was HOT).  As we got back to where the parade had started and where the truck was parked you all of a sudden came out of nowhere and fell in with us.  I was NOT a happy momma!  I was hysterical as I said, "What if you hadn't been able to find us?!?  What would you have done if you hadn't found us?!?"  to which you calmly responded, "But mom, I DID find you."  Yeah.  I didn't strangle you, but I wanted to!

The first weekend in August Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Dusty invited us to go on a camping trip with their family.  Dad just happened to be able to get some time off, so we spent 4 days up on Mt. Dutton, and it was fabulous!  Everyone had a great time, and you and Quade just about wore out the tires on his 4-wheeler.  You got to shoot your BB gun, go on a scavenger hunt with me and Tess, go on a long 4-wheeler ride, ride your bike down to the creek and back, and spend hours with your cousins in your "hut."

You and Tessa being goofy and trying on her helmet...

You still ADORE your little brother, look, can you tell?

Between you and Tessa that boy will never go hungry or be starved for attention.  Now that he is eating more solid food it seems like you are always putting a Cheerio in his mouth.  Whenever he starts to fuss or cry you and Tess start to make SO MUCH NOISE.  I think you are trying to distract him and make him stop, but holy cow it is enough to make me crazy!  Now not only do I have a fussy baby but I have 2 older kids making noise/baby talking/yelling/singing, etc.!  I do appreciate the gesture though.  Just tonight I had to laugh because the 4 of us were out on a walk with Ty in the stroller and you and Tess on your bikes (dad is in Idaho until this weekend), and you were literally falling off of your bike for an entire block because you were insistent on riding right next to Tyson, and I wasn't walking fast enough for you.  I had you on one side talking to Tyson and falling off you bike and Tessa on the other side talking to Tyson and falling off HER bike.  You two sure do love that brother of yours.

Well I can't wait to see what fun things I have to write about next month as you get settled into the routine of school again.  I know you will do great and make lots of friends because you are the sweetest, smartest boy I know!

Love you bud,
Mom

Tessa - August 2012

Oh Tessa Sue, another month has gone by already.  We've been busy with reunions and holidays, and I'm pretty excited for school to start so things can settle down!

I snapped this picture quick on our way home from the Hatch reunion this month.  You see your dirty foot propped up on Tyson's carseat.  You are such a little twerp.

And a self-potrait you took with the phone on my camera the morning of the Veater reunion in your camo hat.  Your dad bought it, and it is pretty cute.  It says, "If I'm wearing camo, my daddy dressed me."

Every night when we go in to turn off your light your dad and I get a laugh at the way you end up falling asleep.  This is how I found you one night, and yes, you are actually asleep standing up.

Just a silly, silly girl.  I wouldn't have you any other way though.

This isn't a great picture, but that's you in the black sweater with Aunt Sylvia waiting to start your race with the other 3-year-old at the Hatch reunion.  You totally smoked her, which kind of blew me away!  You had so much fun riding your new bike with Quade and Bosten and Logan.  You are such a daredevil too, riding down off the banks and flying down the campground hills with your feet out.

You with some of your goodies from teh fish pond.

You and Logan took turns trying on daddy's hard hat one night as we took him to work to say goodbye to leave on a detail - it was a little bit too big on you though!

We got our family pictures taken a few weeks ago, and we definitely got some cheesy ones from our cheesy girl, but this one is by far my favorite.

You and Logan rode your bikes in the parade for the 24th of July.  You did awesome!  You cruise on your bike like a pro, and I think you will do awesome when it is time for you to learn how to ride a bike that has pedals!

We haven't found out for sure if you are going to school this year or not, and I can't decide if I want you to go or not.  On one hand, I think you would LOVE school and would learn so much, but on the other hand I think another year with you home with me all day would be good for me!  I guess we will know by the next letter I write, so we will have to try to pack in as much fun as we can in the next few weeks either way.

We love you so much Tessa Sue!
Mom

Tyson - July 2012 - 8 Months

Well look what you learned how to do this month....

You were doing pretty good being propped up right after your 6-month mark, and within a week you were sitting up on your own like a pro.  From what I can remember about your brother and sister learning how to sit up, you figured it out quicker and with less "tip overs."  It could be that you have better balance, or it might be that extra large base you've developed in your chunky thighs over the last few weeks.  

Love that dimply bum...

You were so proud of yourself when you were able to stay up for a while on your own.

This was just a funny picture I snapped one morning as I was getting ready.  You had already pulled all the toys off your bouncy chair and decided you'd try to do a little fishing, with you as the fish.

We got our family pictures take a few weeks ago, and you weren't exactly the most smiling kid ever, but you did still manage to look pretty darn handsome.  This is a good one that shows off the feature everyone comments on, those big brown eyes.

In the last couple weeks you have started to do what the kids call your "sniffy face."  When you do it, everyone stops whatever they are doing and watches because it is the most adorable thing ever.  You wrinkle your nose and purse your lips and sniff in and out as fast as you can.  The best thing about this is that everyone who has seen you do this then turns around and does it back to you to try to get you to do it again.  I think you've got us all figured out.

I know this letter is short, but I'm already more than a week late on writing it.  It's hard to keep up with everyone and everything going on, and we have had a busy, busy summer.  I see you already starting to try to move around more and act like you are wanting to get up and crawl, and I can't believe we are already on that slippery slope to walking and "toddling."  No rush.  If you don't want to walk until you are a little older than your brother and sister were when they started, that will be just fine with me.  Unless, of course, you don't stop packing on the pounds like you have!

We love you Tiger, and we are so glad that you are our cute caboose...

Mom

Logan - July 2012

Our summer has sure been a busy one, and I swear it is flying by faster than I can keep track of the days and weeks.

I loved this moment this last month when we went to the park after stopping by the grocery store to pick up a few things, including the Lunchables you guys talked me in to.  Tessa was really cold, so she was sitting out in the sun, and you decided to leave the blanket where I was sitting with Tyson in shade to go sit next to her. You both sat there so nicely and ate your lunches and shared the treat that came with them.  For all the times I end up yelling at you guys to play nice, it seems like there are a few moments when you play nice together without being asked.

Another day we headed down the creek and tried to look for frogs.  Last year we had been able to find some little tiny ones that had just grown from tadpoles, so that's kind of what I was looking for.  After about 20 minutes of looking we decided that there must not be any frogs yet this year, and we started looking for a nice shady spot to sit down while you guys played.  Just then I about stepped right on this big momma frog.  You and the girls had a good time watching her swim (trying her best to get away), and you caught her quite a few times.  All in all it was a good day at the creek, but I haven't been that excited to go back.  I forgot just how smelly, sandy, and hot we get there!

I snapped this quick picture one morning when we were getting ready for the day.  If dad has the day off we usually all end up sleeping in a little bit later than usual, and then I go get Ty from his crib and bring him in to our bed to play for a bit before we come to terms with the fact that our day has started.  You must have good Tyson radar because not long after Tyson starts talking and making noise, pretty quick we hear you coming across the laminate floor in the kitchen to join us, followed by Tessa (unless she's dead to the world asleep like she sometimes is).  It's kind of a fun moment to have everyone lounging around in the big bed for a bit before we start our day.

Another picture from the park.  I found a nice tree that I like to sit under in the shade with Tyson while you and Tessa play, and it is across the big green lawn from the splash pad.  I watched you come running toward me and grabbed my phone to take a picture as quick as I could because it was just such a classic summertime boy moment to see you running with all you had and dripping wet from the water on a warm day.  I wish I had your energy, and I hope you keep it for a while.

We went up to the Fish Lake cabin with Grandma and Grandpa Hillier and Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe.  We like this cabin, but you and Tessa LOVE this cabin.  Could it be the little creek that runs right next to it?  Yeah I think it is considering you were constantly asking one of us to go down and watch you so you could play down there.  I'm pretty sure you talked Grandpa in to it more than anybody.

For your birthday you got a Lego set with instructions to build all sorts of different things like semi trucks, trailers, and helicopters.  I thought you would probably need quite a bit of help to build them, but you proved me wrong.  You follow the instructions like a pro and come up with things like this all the time.

On the 4th of July we went to the parade.  I normally cringe at the thought of going to the parade, and really wasn't looking forward to going with a baby PLUS you and Tess, but it was actually really cool that morning and perfect weather for the parade.  You guys got enough candy to make you happy but not TOO much, and we got to see dad riding in the back of his patrol truck with Smokey.  He is usually toward the end of the parade, and we end up hanging around for them to come back by because we know that dad will have some candy saved to hand out just for you guys, and this year was no different.

Playing with chalk paint one morning.  I LOVE your plaid and stripes.

Dad went out on a fire detail with the helicopter, and because I like to have his truck here while he is gone we had to drive him to the office.  His hard hat was in the truck, so you and Tessa and I took turns trying it on.  You guys looked pretty cool in it (even if you are wearing it backwards), and when I put it on dad said that's how he remembers me from the summer we met!

We had the Veater reunion the weekend after the 4th of July, and you learned how to ride your bike without training wheels!  It worked out perfectly because Quade had his bike there, and it is a bit shorter than yours, enough that you could put both feet down to steady yourself.  You just kept taking it up to the top of the camp and then getting on and riding it down to the bottom of the little slope at the other end of camp.  Dad helped get you started a few times, but pretty soon you didn't want anyone's help.  After we got home I took your training wheels off your Lightning McQueen bike, and after a few shaky starts (it's a little taller than what you had been used to...) you were riding like a pro.  Me and dad are so proud of you!

The next weekend we had the Hatch reunion at Tropic Reservoir.  You, Tessa, and Quade rode your bikes all day long and had a blast.  You raced in race against the other boy there that was 5 too.  You didn't quite win, but you said that it was because you were running to Uncle Dusty (since your dad was in Oregon with the helicopter), and if you had been running to me or dad you would have won!  You are such a nerd.  We went on a scavenger hunt to a few of the other Hatch camps and were the third group to make it back with our stuff.  It was a pretty fun time, and I think you will start to remember the Hatch reunion just like your dad does from when he was small.

Whew!  It was a busy month with lots of things going on, and I don't really see it slowing down until you start school next month.  We found out that you are going to be in Mrs. DeMille's afternoon class, and I think you are pretty excited.  You read EVERYTHING you can get your eyes on.  Signs on the side of the road, cereal boxes, you name it.  It is so fun to see you become so good at it and also LOVE it.  Some of the books you are reading without much trouble at all are 4th grade level!  We love to see you read to Tessa, and I hope you keep that up too.  You are learning so much so fast with your reading and bike riding, etc., and it has made for a couple of really proud parents this month.

Love you bud,
Mom

Tessa - July 2012

You heard me asking Logan the questions for his letter last month and wanted me to ask you, so here you go...

YOUR FAVORITE...
FOOD? Umm...ummmmmm.....ummm.....noodles.  (pronounced noo-doughs)

CANDY? The one we used to have, we had yesterday.  They were like gummy worms. (They were gummy bears actually. I think you are a lot like me and Logan and pretty much eat any candy in front of you.)

PLACE TO GO? To the store....with you.

GAME TO PLAY? Mario Kart.  (We like to let you play because it's funny to watch you play Princess Peach and drive off the road and off cliffs, etc.)

TV SHOW? Super Why.


MOVIE? Bambi.

PERSON? Logan and Ty.

THING TO DO? Play.

COLOR: Pink and purple and sparkly.  (I love that sparkly is one of your favorite colors.)

PERSON TO PLAY WITH? Logan. (Awww....)

TOY? My giraffe that I got from my birthday party.

HOLIDAY? Christmas.

THING TO DO WITH DADDY? Go get a treat.

THING TO DO WITH MOMMY: Go to the store.

THING TO DO WITH GMA & GPA H? Go to their house.

THING TO DO WITH GMA & GPA V? Play at their house.

NUMBER? 2.

ANIMAL? Horses and kitties.

CARTOON CHARACTER? Minnie mouse.

THING ABOUT ME? To go get treats from the stores.

PLACE TO BE TICKLED? Here (you pointed to your leg by your knee).

PLACE TO GO WITH MOMMY? To the store.  (Do guys not remember any of the other places I take you?)


PLACE TO GO WITH DADDY?:  To the store, like you. (Now I feel a little better...)

DRINK? Pepsi.  (pretty sure you don't drink Pepsi much, but I'm just writing down what you tell me).


TREAT? The treat we always get. ("What treat we always get?")  The treat that is flat.  (I still have no idea) 

PLACE TO VISIT? Grandma's house.

BOOK? The store books.  ("the books from the library?) Yeah.

Not long after your birthday you ended up getting sick.  This was my first real test of trying to keep you away from a baby brother you LOVE to smother.  For about 2 days straight I spent the majority of my time saying things like, "Tess, stay away from your brother!" and "Tess, don't cough on your brother!"  It pretty much went in one ear and out the other, as evidenced by you saying "Ok mom!" and then truning back to cough on Tyson, but we were able to keep anyone else from getting sick.  That was nice because you still get SUPER wheezy when you are sick, adn I spend the whole time giving you albulterol nebs and trying to decide if I need to take you to the doctor or not.  Poor sick girl...

We went camping to Pine Lake for Father's Day and Logan's birthday, and you and Logan sure had a good time.  I took you and Logan down to the lake one afternoon when Ty and dad were taking naps.  I thought about having you guys change into shorts and flip flops before we left, but then I decided you probalby wouldn't get in the water.  Well yeah, I was wrong.  I had just helped Logan take his shoes off when I turned around to see you standing in the water in your shoes and socks.  Oh well!

We've finally been able to get out and enjoy the park a few times, and one day I even was a super cool mom and bought you guys Lunchables to have a picnic with.  It was so cute to see you and Logan sitting together eating lunch and soaking up the sun.

Just this last weekend we went to the Fish Lake cabin with Grandma and Grandpa H.  You and Logan are a fan of this cabin becasue of the little stream that runs just a few feet away.  I need to crop this picture a little better, but I think it is a cute picture of you and Grandpa hanging out together.

And my little Tessa girl with her shoes off already.  You're definitely your momma's child because any time you walk in the door or get where you are going your shoes come right off.

You've thrown a few pretty good fits this month, even giving yourself a bloody nose as we were getting ready to leave for the cabin, but overall I think we'll keep you.  How could we not love a little girl whose favorite color is sparkly?

Love you sis,
Mom