Tessa - April/May 2014

Oh Tessa girl, the last couple months have been a bit busier now that it is starting to get warmer.  We've gone a couple of times to Hurricane, and I had to get this picture of grandpa H. trying to get you and Logan to settle down for bed.  You guys love it when he reads to you.

This was on our way home from that trip (I think).  I remember grandma had sent me a text asking if you guys had fallen asleep on the way home, and this was my reply.  You guys crack me up.  Lately you have been staying awake in the car on our trips home from grandma's house - even when the boys fall asleep.  We must have worn you out somehow this day.

A random shot of you guys hanging out in your laundry baskets.  I will never understand the fascination.

I can't remember what you and your dad were doing at the table for this picture, but your conversation had something to do about you always liking your dad.  You said that you always would, and he made you pinky promise.  Then he told me that I had to get the camera to document it.  So here's the evidence that we will pull out when you decide to be a punky teenager - once upon a time you pinky promised your dad that you would always like him.

On one of our trips to Hurricane you and Logan took your butterfly nets into the field to catch butterflies.  You ended up with 4 that day, and after you had chased them all out of the field you did this.

We went to the Children's Museum in St. George and had a blast.  You especially liked dressing up - first as a queen...

...and then as a performer on a stage.  You sang and sang on that stage.

Then we walked over to the carousel and rode that a couple times before heading to In 'N' Out for hamburgers, fries, and shakes.  We had a really fun day.

I'm laughing at this picture now because it doesn't look like you are wearing pants - but then again neither is Tyson.  You guys sure do like your TV shows, and this is how I'll find you quite often.

T-ball started again, and you have been so excited.  You've only had 1 game so far, and in Tessa style the first at-bat you had you hit a really great hit, and then started to run to third base!  Oh how I love watching you play t-ball.  You had 3 really good hits and spent your defense time chasing every ball that came even kind of close.  I'm so glad you have fun.

After your games I felt like we deserved lunch, so it was off to Junction for lunch and some bubblegum slushies.

You in your hat and Ty in Logan's.  A couple of goofs for sure.

On our way home from Dog Valley you were the only one who stayed awake the whole time, and I have no idea how.  We'd had a long weekend in Panguitch that ended with a picnic and Easter egg hunt in Dog Valley.  The boys, and even me and dad, were wiped out - but you stayed awake the whole way home.

We went over to Hurricane for Aunt Lisa's baby shower this past weekend, and on Friday night we went over to Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe's house to see the bunnies they are raising.  They have them in all different stages from 1 week old to these that are a few weeks old, and Uncle Joe got one out for you to hold.  You were in bunny heaven of course.

The next day at the shower you were a big help setting up and getting everything ready and then sitting by Aunt Lisa and helping her unwrap her presents and put them on the gift table.  You sure do love our "girls days."  We just need Aunt Lisa to cooperate and give us another girl to have girls days with. :)

We sure do love you Tessa Sue, and I can't believe next month you will be 5.  You are so excited for your birthday but at the same time you keep telling me you don't want to be 5.  I think your dad has pretty much talked you into not wanting to grow up.  I can see his point - even though we love to see you grow and learn it is hard to see you leave the fun stages you are in right now.  It's okay to grow up though because there are always new fun adventures to come.

Love you sis,
Mom

Tyson - March/April 2014

March and April have been a bit busier as things have started to warm up.  Not only have we done more stuff inside, but you've become as addicted to my phone as I'll let you be, and that has led to you learning how to take pictures of yourself.  These two were while we were in church because holy moly child you can be a terror to try to keep from screaming, "It's time to go HOME!" loud enough for everyone to hear and laugh at.

We've had a few good storms in the last couple months, which of course makes a tempting mud puddle in the dip in our driveway.  What's funny about this is I saw the white shirt in your closet that morning and thought, I don't think he's ever worn that - probably because it's white and he'll ruin it.  Oh well.  And then I let you go outside and play in a mud puddle after telling you not to get muddy.

Sometimes I seriously doubt myself as a mother.

But you guys got to be kids, and it all comes out in the wash.

Except the mud on the white shirt.  That didn't come out.

We went to the State Basketball finals in Richfield because Panguitch was playing, and Bosten and Quade were there with grandma and grandpa too.  I was hesitant to go in the first place because you honestly are exhausting to me to take anywhere, but your dad convinced me.  We made it through the game without too much of a problem and then went to eat at Taco Time.  You guy were kind of all going crazy and I made an exasperated face and your dad said something about me blowing things out of proportion.  Then a few minutes later when I stood up to refill our drink you hit the edge of the tray that my yummy, amazing, Taco Time food was on and it flew threw the air and onto the floor.  Super.  I looked back at your dad and asked if I was still blowing things out of proportion?

I'm pretty sure this is another one you took of yourself in the messy toy room.

We had a sleepover at grandma Hillier's house one night, and grandma and I couldn't stop laughing at your hair the next morning.  I remember it being a pretty rough night trying to keep you asleep, and you definitely showed it.

One day as I sent Logan in to shower you decided you were getting in with him.  I'm pretty sure the two of you just slid back and forth in there the whole time before I made you get out.  Then Logan turned on the "fire" and you two dorks sat there and got warm for a few minutes.

I cut my hair off in September. It's not my favorite.  Neither are those glasses now that I look at them.  You're cute though.

Speaking of glasses, you found some of Tessa's one day and decided you couldn't live without them.  Don't mind the fact that you are still wearing your pajama shirt.  At least you are wearing pants.  Some days that is my biggest victory.

On another trip to grandma Hillier's house Logan and Tessa caught some butterflies from their field and put them in a jar.  You were obsessed and loved to watch them.

On that trip we also went to the Children's Museum in St. George, and you guys had a blast.

Then we went over to the carousel and found the craziest horse to ride.  Notice that your foot is all wet?  They had an exhibit where you could stand in the middle of a circle and pull a bubble up around you.  We couldn't get it to work, so you just stepped in the bubble solution and called it good.

I was at Tessa's t-ball practice talking with Haven's mom saying that I used to see pictures of kids doing crazy things and wonder why their parents didn't watch their kids and how I know better now.  She agreed, and we exchanged some stories (Haven is about 6 weeks older than you), and she said that just the other day Haven had spilled a gallon of milk on the counter.  That day had been crazy, so when we got home from practice I was in my room talking with dad when I heard someone getting the milk out of the fridge.  I didn't think much of it until I heard splashing, and I KNEW right away what was going on.  I didn't even get mad or yell, just grabbed my phone, took a picture, and went and laid down on the bed for 5 minutes before I got up the desire to clean up the mess.

Here's you just being cute in Logan's coach pitch hat.  This is why you are still alive - you can be so cute when you want to be.

You used to HATE the car wash.  I'm pretty sure I've documented that in these letters at some point.  Well the other day on our way to Panguitch dad took the truck through, and you didn't scream!  You just held on to your siblings' hands and closed your eyes tight.  You were hamming it up more than you were actually scared, but it was still pretty funny.

While we were in Panguitch we got to spend some time with cousin Paizley.  You pretty much adored her and stayed by her side whenever you could.  You also didn't mind riding in her pink jeep.

We went out to Dog Valley on Easter Sunday where Logan caught a lizard.  I thought you would be a little more afraid of it than you were, but you let us put it in your hands.

And you got your share of candy on the Easter egg hunt.  We missed our usual outing out at Kodachrome this year, but Dog Valley was a pretty good substitute.

And you only got a little dirty and tired.

You fell asleep on the way from Dog Valley to Panguitch, but then you woke up as we headed from Panguitch to Kanab.  You were still so tired but not sleeping, so this is the face you made a lot of the way home.  It was cracking us up.

And, yes, the splash pad is back on.  Summer is officially on its way now, and we can no longer go to the park without throwing towels in the back of the car in case someone decides to get in.  For some reason there is no middle ground with you guys - you either stay away or you get completely drenched.  It definitely makes me look forward to summer.

A few weeks ago we were at the park and you told me that the firs weasel was broken.  I was obviously confused and asked you to say it again, and you said, "The firs weasel is broken. It's not going."  I looked to where you were looking and realized you were talking about the big windmill in the park.  Then I realized you were calling it a ferris wheel -  not firs weasel.  I laugh about that one every time we go to the park now.  Everyone comments on how well you talk, but I love the things that aren't quite right more than anything.

You may be a terror, and even grandma Hillier agrees that I have a valid reason for you being our last baby, but we love you so much and wouldn't trade you for the world.

There's still a small chance we may try to find a temporary home while you finish getting your molars though.  Just bite me again and see what happens.

Love you kiddo,
Mom

Logan - March 2014

I'm so late I probably may as well do the next month's letter while I'm at it.  The only time of day I have to write is at the end of the day, and some days by that time I have a hard time thinking of anything nice to say about anyway.  Kidding, kidding.  I should probably quit always talking about how I'm late with these letters because the only ones who pay attention to when they are posted are your grandmas, and it's not going to really matter to you (Hi grandmas!).  At any rate, here's how late February and early March went....

We finished out President's Day weekend with my birthday, which included a picnic, a hike, and some fun in the sand.

You guys were tree huggers.  Dad happened to move just in time so I didn't get the photographic evidence that he is one too.

There is a driveway dip at the end of our driveway that is just getting ridiculously deep.  When it rains it fills up just perfect, and you guys LOVE to throw rocks in and see how big they'll splash.  I keep hoping that if I let you keep doing this you'll fill in the dip, but I don't think it's going to happen.

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house for a sleepover, and grandpa did his best to settle you and Tess in by reading to you guys.

One of the downsides of taking so long to write your letters is that I forget what's going on in the picture.  I'm pretty sure this was on our way home from Hurricane because I remember grandma texting to ask if you guys fell asleep on the way home, and this was my answer.  You guys always get worn out whenever you go to either of your grandma's houses.

That's pretty much all the pictures I've got for late February/early March.  Pretty lame, I know, but we're kind of in between "stuff" right now.  The excitement of the holidays and basketball is over, and spring and coach pitch hasn't really started yet.  We still have our share of fun though, and you've continued to spend a lot of time reading, playing with friends, and being a pretty good big brother.

Love you bud!
Mom

Tessa - March 2014

The month of February wasn't all that exciting, and I'm starting to feel bad for your dad and grandmas who read these letters as I write them since this will be the third time I recap this boring month for them.  It's the first time you're getting it though, so here we go.

We spend a lot of time just being silly and playing, especially in the mornings when Kyler is here and before you go to school.  The other day I noticed just how much you help me when I have Kyler (mediating between him and Ty and such) that I gave you a few dollars in payment.  You looked at me with the biggest smile on your face and had the first realization that you could/should get paid for doing something like that.  You were so excited to go to the dollar store and spend your hard-earned money.

At night you almost always sneak out and ask if you can come sit by me on the couch. Ty is usually still up, and sometimes he'll have talked me into watching a show, so I can't exactly tell you that you can't stay up and watch too.   One night you two decided to give me a makeover while you were at it.  I have to say I much preferred you brushing my hair to Ty, who thought it was funnier to hit me with the wrong side of the brush instead.

The Saturday of President's Day weekend your dad, me, and Logan went to Panguitch Lake to go ice fishing with Grandpa Rob, Uncle Dusty, Quade, Bosten, Uncle Boo, and Coby.  We had spent the night before in Panguitch, and Tinsley was there spending the night too.  When we asked if you wanted to come fishing or stay with grandma, Tins, and Tyson you had no doubt in your mind what you'd rather do and had a fun morning helping grandma out with the little kids.

You got to come out and have lunch with us when we finished up for the day, and first thing you did was ask dad to take you out on the ice in the sled behind the fourwheeler.

We ate our lunch while you guys played and ate, and then dad took you guys out again on the fourwheeler and spun donuts.  I was only a tiny bit nervous you were all going to fall through the ice.  Tyson didn't like it too much, but you sure had a blast.  It's always fun when you guys get together with your cousins.  You love having another girl to play with, and you and Bost have always been fast friends.

On my birthday we went out to the Ponderosa Grove campground and had a Subway picnic.  Then we walked around for a while and called it a "hike," while halfway looking for horns on the ground.

And taking a few pictures of the 3 cutest kids around.

Then we drove a little further down the road and stopped to play in the sand.  You and Logan would roll down the hill and then hike back up and then roll back down.  I told dad his truck was going to be filled with sand, but I think he underestimated just how MUCH sand accumulates in pockets and shoes when you roll down a sand hill.

 But you guys had a blast, so it was worth it (says the mom who didn't get sand in HER car).

You are growing up so fast lately it seems.  Just the other day I noticed you looked taller, and just that night your dad said the same thing.  You are also starting to read, and it's been fun to watch you catch on and memorize sight words and read whole chapters out of the old-school Dick and Jane book we got from the library.  I hope I can keep your confidence up and keep you moving.  I've seen from Logan just how easier being able to read makes life and school, and while I try not to compare you two too much, I think you are heading in the same direction.

We love how loving and sweet you are to everyone you come across.  I've had 2 of your teachers comment to me about how sweet and caring you are.  You never want anyone at home to feel left out or sad, and you are always right there with a hug and a smile and a compliment.  You are a breath of fresh air in our home, and we love you so much for it.

Love you sis,
Mom