Friday, August 2, 2013

Logan - June/July 2013 - 6 years old!

I am SO, SO late.  Like almost 2 months late.  You'd think summer would be less crazy and less stressful than the school year, but apparently not.  I'll start with your birthday survey and then get to the oodles of pictures from the last 2+ months.

YOUR FAVORITE...
FOOD? Spaghetti.
CANDY?  Sour Skittles (typing that made my mouth water.  I hate sour Skittles!)
PLACE TO GO? The pool.
GAME TO PLAY?  Mario
TV SHOW?  Scooby-Doo (You started the Scooby-Doo kick in our house.)
MOVIE? Land Before Time (I have no clue where this one came from.  We haven't watched that in a long time!)
 PERSON? Kashton
THING TO DO? Play with Kashton
COLOR: Greed, red & blue.
PERSON TO PLAY WITH? Kashton.
TOY? Skylander Giants (You don't even have these - Kashton does.)
HOLIDAY? Christmas and birthday.
THING TO DO WITH DADDY? Play.
THING TO DO WITH MOMMY: Go to the pool.
THING TO DO WITH GMA and GPA H? Go to the splash pad.
THING TO DO WITH GMA and GPA V?  Go get a toy.
NUMBER? 6
ANIMAL? Dogs & dragons *even though they aren't real.
CARTOON CHARACTER? Shaggy, Scooby, and Fred.
THING ABOUT ME? That you love us.
PLACE TO BE TICKLED? My armpit.
PLACE TO GO WITH MOMMY? The pool.
PLACE TO GO WITH DADDY?: To get a treat.
DRINK? Lemonade and water.
TREAT? Snow Cone (We've only had about a million this summer.)
PLACE TO VISIT? The pool.
BOOK? Magic Treehouse books.


After your last t-ball game we had some time before Tessa's game, so Grandma and Grandpa Veater took us to Moqui Cave.  You thought it was pretty cool, and Grandma and Grandpa bought you a kit where you could dig out your own fossil.  After excavating half of it in my kitchen before I noticed you took it out on the back deck and had it out in no time.  I love this picture - you look so grown up.

Since your last letter you obviously have finished kindergarten.  I took this picture of you walking up to the gate with me one last time (wearing the Angry Birds shirt I hate...).  I know the days of you letting me hold your hand while we walk is flying by, so I take it any chance I can get.

Your kindergarten circus was the week before.  You were a juggler and pretty excited about being able to "juggle."  The circus was fun, and Grandma Hillier was babysitting that day, so she was able to help with Ty so I could watch.  You were pretty dang cute.



I had to take a picture of your program (I kept it too), because you were so excited to see that your drawing of a juggler made it on the program next to your name.

At your park day the last week of school - I had to get a picture of you eating your lunch next to your "girlfriend" Kaidee.  I talked to her mom last week and she informed me that Kaidee told her that she had kissed you on the bus.  When I asked you about it you got super embarrassed.  I asked you where she kissed you and you said, "On my arm."  I busted up.  What a dork you are.

We got your T-ball pictures back.  I can't believe this was your third year playing.  You had a lot of fun and are getting better and better.

We've done a lot of playing at the pool, but we've hit the park a time or 2 to play in the splash pad.  Here you're sporting your summer hair cut that you made dad give you the last day of school.



Dad was on a fire for your birthday this year, so you just got to open your presents from mom on your actual birthday.  I think you were pretty excited though because you got the whole (current) set of Magic Treehouse books.  We discovered these earlier this year at the library, and I thought they would be good books to read together.  Turns out you would rather just read them all on your own without help!  I think dad shakes his head to see a 6-year-old so excited to get BOOKS for his birthday, but you were even more excited when he came home and gave you the presents he bought for you - a new baseball glove and a fishing pole and tackle box.  I'd say you got pretty spoiled this year.


We had your birthday party on your birthday too.  Silly mom planned it for a Saturday in the summer not thinking about baseball tournaments and family vacations that your friends might have going on.  There were still plenty of kids though, water balloons, a slip-n-slide, and pizza too, and you and Tess had a lot of fun.


We also celebrated both Grandmas' birthdays.  First Grandma Hillier where you guys got to play in the water in the backyard and have a sleepover...


And then Grandma Lori's where we got out the slip-n-slide again and had fun (and another sleepover!).


We've done a lot of Otter Pop eating at dad's softball games...

and camping and family reunion-ing...


This one was taken after we all climbed through one of the caves at Mammoth Creek.  You LOVED it and were ready to go through again and again.

Showing me your hideout.

Playing ring toss at the Hatch reunion.

You and Quade riding your fourwheelers behind dad.

The glow stick parade.
Fishing at Tropic Res.

See?  It's been a busy summer, and we have had a LOT of fun.  Six years old has brought a little bit of defiance and wanting to be in charge, but every day I realize how much more "boy" you are than baby.  It always catches me off guard to hear you sing all the words to a song or tell me to turn the radio up because one of your favorites is on.  You'll do just about anything for some cash, but you have started upping your going rate from quarters to dollars.  You are mostly sweet to Tyson and will use some of your money to buy him a popsicle at the softball games, and sometimes (but somewhat more rare) you'll get something to share with your sister too.  Even with the defiance you continue to be a relatively easy-going kid who LOVES his dad and mostly likes his mom and sister, and we love you back.

Love ya bug,

Mom

(You had your 6-year checkup and were so happy to hear you don't need anymore shots until 2018!  You weren't very good at calming poor Tessa's fears though.  You tip the scales right at 50 pounds for 70th percentile for weight and ended up at 67th percentile for height!)

Tessa - July/August 2013

Oh sis, I'm late on your letter.  Way late, but I have a good excuse!  We've been too busy having fun this summer to get on the computer and transfer pictures, upload them, and then write.  Luckily work is really slow on Fridays, so here I finally go with getting caught up!

Two weeks after your birthday we had your party - combined with Logan's.  You had a blast with your friends and Grandma H. and loved trying out the slip-n-slide, throwing water balloons, eating pizza, and afterwards going swimming with Grandma.

We also celebrated your grandmas' birthdays by playing in teh water too.  First at Grandma Hillier's...




and then at Grandma Lori's.



You and I walked around together at the Balloon Festival in Panguitch that night, and you asked me to take your picture in front of this balloon, and in true Tessa fashion you looked away from the camera at the last second.

There's been lots of dancing...

caving...
family reunion-ing...
girl timing...

four-wheeling...

light parading...
camping....
and fishing...

We visited dad at work at Big Springs and drank from the spring...

sat in the fire enginge...
and visited the horses and ranger station at Jacob Lake.

LOTS of swimming...
and being goofy...
We've been busy having lots of fun, and I'm not sure you're ready for it to end.  Even though you and Logan have been fighting quite a bit I think you enjoy having him around all day.  I'm not sure what we are going to do when he is gone all day!  You are getting a little anxious to start school and pulled one from my book the other day when you told me that you didn't need to go to school because you could learn everything you needed at home.  If only I had the patience!  I think you are getting more excited though now that you've gotten your new school clothes and shoes and backpack that you can't touch until school starts.  

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with you and Logan both gone for part of the day now, but I know you are going to love preschool and learn so much and make fun friends.  I'm excited for you!  I never thought I'd get crazy about buying clothes for you just because you were a girl and the clothes were cute - but buying your school clothes and shoes was a blast.  I'm so glad you are in our family to be a rose between our 2 thorns and bring a different, fun-loving, 99% happy mood to the house!

Love you sis,

Mom

(We had your 4-year checkup and you came in at 13th percentile for weight and 11th for height!  The doctor always comments how you and the boys in our family must have gotten different genes!)

Monday, June 10, 2013

Tessa -June 2013 - 4 years

I kind of get a cop-out on this month's letter.  Birthday letters are kind of intimidating to me because I feel like they should be more meaningful than the others, so instead I like the birthday survey thing I've been doing with Logan even though getting the answers out of you was a much longer process!

YOUR FAVORITE...

FOOD? Spaghetti.

CANDY? All of the candy.  (I wouldn't be able to pick a favorite either).

PLACE TO GO?
 The pool. 

GAME TO PLAY?
 Learning games (On my phone).

TV SHOW? Scooby Doo.  (This one is probably thanks to Logan.  Sometimes I'm nervous you're going to end up with nightmares.)

MOVIE? Scooby Doo.  (Pretty sure you didn't realize there was a difference between TV and movies.)

PERSON? "My brothers and my friends."

THING TO DO?
 Play.

COLOR: Yellow and white.
.

PERSON TO PLAY WITH? Emrey.

TOY? My cat.

HOLIDAY? Valentine's Day.

THING TO DO WITH DADDY?
 Go for rides..

THING TO DO WITH MOMMY: "I don't know."  (Gee, thanks Tess!)

THING TO DO WITH GMA & GPA H? Go get candy and play..

THING TO DO WITH GMA & GPA V? Go get candy and play.

NUMBER? 3. (This literally took at least 2 minutes to drag out of you.  "Um.....uh....um.....uh.....um...")

ANIMAL? Cats & horses.

CARTOON CHARACTER? My Little Pony.

THING ABOUT ME? "Your computer."  (Thanks again sis!  Glad I'm around so you can play on the computer.).

PLACE TO BE TICKLED? "My foot."

PLACE TO GO WITH MOMMY?
  The pool.

PLACE TO GO WITH DADDY?: The park.

DRINK? Water.

TREAT? All treats.

PLACE TO VISIT? Grandma's & grandpa's house. 

BOOK? All the books.

Well, I love you even though you only love me for my computer.  How could I not love this silly face?

The girl who never looks at the camera...

and loves to tell stories....

...and going for fourwheeler rides...

and wasn't quite sure about t-ball this year.

You are so much fun to have around.


And I love how excited you get about the smallest things, like a new rock for your rock collection and your new bike.  You kept telling dad over and over on your birthday, "Thanks Dad.  I just LOVE my bike."


Now I'm just counting down the days until I take those training wheels off.  I know you could do it if you tried, but you have kind of gotten used to your Strider bike and needed to relearn how to pedal!

Tess you are such a sweetheart, and while we clash more often than we used to and sometimes I think we speak totally different languages (literally!), I love you more each day.  I am excited to see how much you learn and grow over the next year.  Love you sis!

Mom

Friday, June 7, 2013

Tyson - May 2013 - 17 Months

Well buddy, this month has been a little bit better as far as you being miserable, but I'm still over a week late with your letter.  We've had quite a few changes in the last few weeks, and I hope that you are handling it all okay.  Dad's gone into fire season full swing, Logan is done with school, and I started back to work part time.  That has been the hardest thing for me, but it was a choice I made to try to be a better mom when I am home.  I have been watching you and your brother and sister like a hawk to see if I can tell if I'm causing you any damage, but so far, aside from you not always liking it when I leave, you seem to be pretty indifferent.  I don't know though, maybe it is causing some identity issues making you wear pink shoes and push a doll in the stroller?

You are full of funny faces.  We all get a good laugh when you decide to give us a look.  One night we were out getting a treat and the big kids started pulling faces, and you got in on the fun.  It's nice to see you making funny faces instead of always looking miserable.

Not that you haven't had your share of miserable moments though.  You are still working on the 2 molars I knew about last month and now have 1 more trying to come in.  I feel so bad for you and wish they would hurry up and come in so we could be done with teething.


One day I finally had to put you in the stroller and take you for a walk so you wouldn't drive us both nuts.  I think sometimes you just need a change of scenery.


You got a hold of my phone the other day and decided to take some selfies before I realized what you were doing.  You can tell that you were pretty impressed with what you saw on the camera.

It's a good thing you are so stinkin' cute sometimes.

T-ball was a bit of a challenge with you this year.  You never wanted to just sit and watch, and I missed a lot of the games chasing you down.  The last game I accidentally took you without putting shoes on, and you hardly moved at all!  You didn't like the little stones on the sidewalk, so you stayed right by me almost the whole game.  I wish I would have figured that trick out earlier in the season!

You also got to hang out with your girlfriend Haven.  Here you guys are trying on the batting helmets at one of Tessa's practices.  I think your dad and hers have already worked out an arranged marriage for the 2 of you.  You sure do like Brandon and give him good snuggles when he picks you up.

One Saturday between games we went to Moqui Cave with Grandma & Grandpa Veater.  I realized as we were walking out that you were wearing an outfit that I have a picture of Logan wearing when he was your age, so I tried to get a similar picture.  You wouldn't cooperate with me as well, but I think it's pretty dang cute anyway.

You helped me water the garden in your pajamas one night.  I'd had enough of you and put you in the bath early so I could get you to bed.  Unfortunately that hasn't been working too well lately since you get a second wind about 8:30 and are up for at least another hour.  You've been giving us pretty good snuggles though, so we'll take it.

Labor Day weekend we went out camping for Uncle Dusty's 30th birthday.  You weren't feeling the best, but you did enjoy fourwheeler rides and playing with the dogs when they weren't knocking you down.

And of course the fire.  One of your best words lately is HOT.  You kept walking by a little closer than you should have, and you'd reach up to your ear and cover it and say "HOT!"

Right on cue you have started learning more and more words.  You say Mommy with as much enthusiasm as you say daddy, and nothing makes this momma happier than to hear it.  You say "by-e" when you want a bite of something I have.  The other day at the pool you said "Co, co!" when we got into the water at first and it was cold.  You also say a bit of a "moo" sound when I ask you what the cow says.  You point to the horse and say "moo" too though, so we may have to work on that.  I love the way you say Tessa, it sounds just perfect sometimes and other times you say "Shessa."  Logan is still Gogi, and he thinks it's pretty cute.  Like Tessa said the other day, "We all just love Tyson SO much."  It's true, we do.  The teeth are a pain, and the tantrums have begun to start, but we wouldn't trade you for the world.

Love you bud,
Mom