Logan - October 2011

A poor excuse for a mother sits down to write this letter tonight because I can't even use the cop out of just pictures and their captions - because I have NO pictures of you from this month. Yeah I'm pretty ashamed of myself buddy. I did get this video of you tonight though - hopefully it works. It won't do much for you if you are reading this in the book I plan to make, but it is pretty stinking cute. I taught you a song I remember from a TV show when I was little that goes like this... "I love you in the morning and in the afternoon. I love you in the evening and underneath the moon! Skidamarink-e-dink-e-dink, skidamarink-e-doo. I. LOVE. YOU!" We sing it at night, and the best part is when you start singing it to me through the car window when I drop you off at school. Ah you melt my heart when you do that, blow me a kiss, and then turn and run down the sidewalk in your big white skater shoes and your Transformer backpack bouncing along behind you. THAT is what I need to get a picture of. I will take my camera tomorrow and try to get that moment saved forever.

You LOVE school, which makes this momma so proud. I hope you stay that way. I hope it continues to come easily for you because I know that you have a pretty strong trait in your DNA that makes you discouraged if things don't come easy right at first. No, we aren't quitters in this family, but we don't like to do things unless we are GOOD at them and right off the bat too. You've got this preschool thing down pretty dang good though. You love to come home and do your homework right after school. You only have one page of homework to do, but the other day you snuck your homework folder out of your backpack and started on the homework for the NEXT week you were so excited. I guess I need to get some more pages printed off and challenge you some more.

You also get a simple book to read each night at home, and you are getting really good at figuring out your sight words and even trying to sound out some of the bigger words. You are always asking me how to spell things and also asking me what things like L-O-O-G-N-K spell. You're making me work hard at trying to explain the crazy rules of the English language, but I am bound and determined to do it. You'll probably think I'm crazy for always correcting you, but the way you speak (and write!) says so much about the person you are, and I want people to know how smart you are! There are some things I can't explain very well though like why know and knife don't start with 'N'. We had that discussion this last week, and I think our brains both hurt by the time I decided to leave it with - because they just do!

You have been coming up with possible names for the new baby, which usually have some kind of resemblance to your own name. I've heard Breegan, Reegan, Treegan, and today it was just the letter "B." You must be looking out for your little bro with that one, thinking it would make school so much easier if you only had to learn to write one letter for your name. It has been pretty amusing to hear the names you come up with.

You are such a good kid, and I have been seriously enjoying the last few weeks with you and your sister. The break you get from us at preschool seems to have made the house run so much more smoothly. We've been going to the park almost every afternoon after school to get some fresh air and pass the afternoon somewhere besides the house, and sitting there in the cool air watching you both play or reading a book I have felt like I am living a dream getting to spend so much time with the two of you. I hope you always know how much I enjoy being home with you. I really enjoyed my job in Cedar, but the guilt I felt leaving you at day care every day was so hard to deal with. On my days off I would feel like I didn't know what to do with you. I didn't even know how to put you down for a nap! We have made sacrifices for me to be home here in Kanab, and I am so thankful your dad has a job that allows me to be here. I miss working outside of the home (I still work!), but I wouldn't miss watching you guys grow up for the world.

Thanks for being such a great kid Logan,

Mom

28 Months - October 2011

Well I think your dad was about to lose faith in me getting your letter written this month. I used to wonder what stay-at-home moms did all day - but holy cow I swear I'm about as busy now as I was when I was working! Lucky for you I got on the computer to work tonight and had some crummy, mumbling, fast-talking doctors in my queue so I took that as a sign I needed to do this instead!

September went by so fast! Logan started preschool, and we also helped out at Ms. Teresa's this month. You were wondering why Logan was the only one getting first day of school pictures so I had to snap a few of you on the first day too...
Logan did well going right into school without any problem. The problem came when I picked you up to leave!! You threw a HUGE fit and wanted to stay at school too. I tried to make you (me?) feel better by taking you out to lunch at Junction, but you were hysterical again the next day when we dropped him off. Needless to say I asked Ms. April to put you on the list for next year just in case you still have a strong desire to go to school then. You've gotten used to the routine now, and you and I quite enjoy that 2 hours in the afternoon to either hang out together or just to let you play with all of Logan's toys without him taking them away from you! It's definitely been a good thing for all of us.

With preschool came our first sicknesses for a while, and of course your little tiny sniffle turned into a big deal with your reactive airway crap that seems to be as prevalent in our little family as being tongue tied. Your momma is getting smarter though and had the nebulizer ready with a brand new prescription for albuterol. It is still scary though, and I have to spend a few days wondering whether I need to take you to the ER or not. I hope your lungs grow out of their overactiveness like Logan's did, and soon! At least you are old enough to be a trooper and not scream and fight the nebulizer mask and will actually hold it yourself if I need to be up and doing something else...


Your dad got lucky this year and was an alternate for a bull elk tag on the Dutton for the muzzleloader hunt. We expected him to be gone for a couple weeks, but he ended up getting a good bull after only being gone from home for 4 days. We were excited to go up and see him and stay out camping for the weekend since it might be our last time for a while, but you were sick AGAIN, and you and I ended up coming home again that night. The next day you didn't sound as bad and told me you wanted to go camp with Logan and dad, so I packed up your nebulizer and we headed back up on the mountain. You ended up having a blast even if you did still feel a little crummy.

Dad's bull! We think he's pretty cool.

Chillin' in the trailer watching Lion King

Pretty happy about stealing daddy's new cool chair.

You fell asleep after your long hike on dad and Uncle Boo's shoulders to Powell Point, so we put you in the box to ride down. I have to say I was pretty jealous of your comfy ride down the mountain!

There is an upside to this letter being so late that I just remembered I was going to add. Your dad came home last night and was holding you in the kitchen when I heard him say, "What did you just put in your mouth?" I looked over to see you give him a huge smile and say, "A BOOGIE!!" We both just laughed. You and Logan make us laugh all the time, and the two of you have been getting along pretty well lately too. It makes me wonder what we were thinking messing up this lovely little group we've got going on here by adding another one, but I also know that everyone will adjust, and pretty soon we will wonder what life was like when it was just the four of us, just like we have a hard time remembering what life was like without you in our family. We're so glad to have your goofy personality, nasally voice, high-pitched squeals in our house.

Love you so much,

Mom

51 Months - September 2011

Oh kid, I feel like I am trying to work so much to get ready for the winter that I don't really have much time to write your letter this month, but I'm going to try to remember some things that have gone on.

You started preschool at the high school this month. It's so funny because you are pretty much convinced that you are a high schooler since your preschool is there. You tell everyone you are in high school. I'm sure it will feel like you will be there in a snap for me, but it will take a little bit longer for you to get there than I'm sure you'll like.

I LOVE this picture that we got on the first day. I do not pretend to be a photographer so of course something is wrong with it (I cut off your head a bit), but I LOVE the look on your face. I was singing silly songs and putting the wrong lyrics in to get you to smile and it worked. I also didn't make the words underneath the First Day of Preschool big enough to read but they say Ms. April's Class, Kanab High School, September 6, 2011. You had so much fun the first day, and I did good and didn't cry! You were a little nervous to go back the second day...until I picked you up that is. You jumped in the car and said "Mom I didn't even MISS you!" I was a little offended and said something about how it is okay to miss me a little bit but you didn't need to be sad but you quickly replied, "I know, but mom I didn't even miss you at ALL!" Well okay buddy, that's all right I guess. I did melt a little bit later in the week when you jumped out of the car and asked me to roll down my window. When I did you blew me a kiss and yelled "Love you Mom!" I know those days of public affection for your momma are soon going to be over so I may have gotten a little teary eyed!


Not your most flattering picture, but I snapped a quick one of you in class on the first day.

The other day when we were getting ready for school I thought I smelled something that reminded me of your dad. I couldn't quite place what it was or what it could be since he had left for work hours earlier, so I didn't think much of it. After we got in the car you told me that your elbows smelled nice. I thought that was weird but, again, not too unusual. Then you said, "Mom do you want to know why my elbows smell good?" I told you I didn't, and you proceeded to tell me that you put dad's deodorant on the inside of your elbows so they wouldn't stink. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I'm sure all the girls at preschool were wondering who the nice-smelling stud in class was that day.

We've finally broken you of watching a movie to get to sleep, and once again it was the simplest thing to do when we finally decided to do it. I swear you have spoiled me by being the easiest-going kid on this earth. We do read a book or two before we let you read or color until you fall asleep. One night as I was coming back by to turn off your light when I figured you had fallen asleep and I saw this...

and of course ran to grab my camera. You can't have too many pictures of you asleep holding a book. But as I was standing there with my camera I went to zoom in but before I could this happened...
It still makes me laugh. I was so glad I was able to witness that happen. It would have been funny to open your door and see you like that but to watch the book fall was hilarious.

Just now your dad finished tucking you in for the night and he told you that he'd love you forever, and you replied, "Yep, cause we're all sealed together." What a kid you are. You say so many smart, funny, and sometimes even mean things that surprise me every day. Tonight in the tub you and Tessa were playing nice together, which was a change from the usual screaming as soon as I leave you alone for 2 minutes. When I asked what why you were playing so nicely you told me you were pretending to be best friends. Whatever works I guess!

You are such a good kid. I'm worried now that I got my easy boy and your brother is going to be a hellion! Please be a good example to him and to Tess. I honestly, truly could not ask for a better first child than you have been and continue to be - even if you do drive me and your sister crazy sometimes.

Love you bud,

Mom

27 Months - September 2011

Well Miss Tess, August was definitely a lot less busy than July. It must have been because I looked in my August folder for pictures and only found a few from our camping trip out on the Kaibab in our new trailer. We went out on the Dutton for Uncle Dusty's bowhunt too, but it just wouldn't be me unless I forgot the camera on at least one fun occasion during the month. I guess that works out okay though because I was wondering how I was going to pick just one picture from that trip since I took quite a few cute ones of you.

Watching Logan play in the fire and looking quite relaxed...

Cheesing it for mom with your dirty face. That half-burned log in the background was your favorite place to play and you were covered in black constantly.

Walking away pouting. You did this at one point when Grandma and Grandpa Hillier were out at camp with us and got quite a ways away before someone told you to stop because there were snakes in the forest. You stopped in your tracks, snapped your head up, and turned right around and came back to camp. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.

Looking pretty excited about the piece of cheese you got for a snack...

You definitely had a good time camping, and it was nice to have a trailer again to make it more enjoyable. We took you camping when we had our old trailer when you were about 3 months old, and I have to say this was much better. You did end up falling off the bottom bunk bed somehow in the middle of the night even though Logan was on the bed with you. We assumed he would be enough to keep you from rolling off the end, but the loud thunk early in the morning proved us wrong.

You've had a lot of fun at the pool this last month too. I finally convinced Logan to give up his round tube for floaties, and you decided you wanted to wear some too. It didn't take you long to master staying upright instead of tipping backwards or face first in the water, and now you and Logan could go around and around the lazy river all day long. I go around with you still, but I am NOT allowed to touch you or try to help you. In fact if I get closer than 3 feet away you let me know that isn't cool too. I'm pretty sure if I would let you go down the big orange slide you would probably spend all day going down that by yourself too.

You've definitely got a bit of a diva attitude Ms. Tess, and I had to laugh when I was looking through pictures on my iPod today and found these that Logan had taken without me knowing while your dad and I were at the bank. There are about 20 pictures of you on there, but this is by far the best one...

That's one sassy face Miss! I think you will do just fine sandwiched between 2 brothers, and I got some good advice the other day from a friend of mine who grew up in the same situation. She told me to make sure you had a Cabbage Patch doll because they have a hard head - good for keeping those brothers in line! I still need to work on making sure I don't blame your brother for things that he didn't do though, because you are awfully good at knowing you can place the blame on him more often than not. Just yesterday I was cooking dinner and Logan was sitting at the table doing something while you ran around in the kitchen and out of sight into the laundry area. I heard a thunk that meant you had slipped and fell, and you came crying into the kitchen with the saddest look and fakest cry you could muster and said, "Mom! Logan pushed me!" Logan looked at me like, "You know I was sitting right here, right?" I had to laugh and told you that Logan couldn't have pushed you since he was about 30 feet away when it happened, but you were telling me an awfully convincing tale anyway. Be good to your brothers, especially your older brother. He loves you more than he lets on.

I have to admit that the drama queen that sometimes comes out in you made me a little relieved to find out your new sibling is a brother. I don't think you would handle having a sister very well, although by the time you read this you may be cursing me for not giving you a sister. Your dad and I thought about this when we talked about having 3 kids - how either you or Logan would grow up without a brother or a sister - but I'm pretty sure that the 3-kid thing is a permanent decision, and you're the one who ends up left out. I think about how well your Aunt Lisa and I got along, and still do, and am a little sad for you, but I also think of the girl friends I had in high school and college who became "sisters" for me too. I think the friend thing is probably the scariest thing for every parent and definitely scares me the most about you guys growing up. I had awesome friends and know that they shaped the person I am (and I'm awesome, right?). I didn't have a million friends, but I had a few real GOOD ones. Ones who didn't care what I wore or who I dated or what I believed in. Find good friends Tess. Girls are mean! Find friends who won't stab you in the back over a boy or talk about you behind your back or use you for some great talent you have. Find friends who want to be your friend because of YOU, not because you have a cute brother or an awesome mom or the highest grades.

Find yourself some sisters, Tess, and try to look on the bright side of the younger brother thing. Chances are all his friends are going to think you are gorgeous instead of having a little sister chasing after all of your boy friends!

And if you get desperate know you can always talk to your nerdy old mom :)

Love you sis,

Mom

50 Months - August 2011

Well buddy your July-August has been pretty eventful this year. We had our trip to Lagoon and the zoo, but I have to say I have more pictures of Tess than I do of you, probably because Tess and I were the ones who were limited on the rides we could go on. You, on the other hand, got to go on some of the bigger rollercoasters with your dad and Grandpa Rob. I was a little nervous about how you would do on some of them, but your dad said as soon as the ride would stop you'd look at him and say, "That was AWESOME!" I'm so glad. I'm so glad you had fun and so glad that in a few years your dad will have someone to take on some of those rollercoasters that make me sick just looking at them!

I did get a picture of us on Puff though!

And I got lots of pictures of you riding some of the kiddie rides with Tess, but I love your silly face in this one.

You also go to go to the zoo, which I was excited about because your great Aunt Jean told us they had a dinosaur exhibit there this summer, and I knew you would love it. Well I was right, and you definitely loved the dinosaurs a lot more than you did the actual animals at the zoo. All in all we had a fun trip, and it was fun to get out and take you guys somewhere different, although next year maybe we'll just take you to a hotel for a night and let you swim since you were just about as excited for that as anything!

After a rainy trip to the Veater reunion this year we started talking about getting another camp trailer, and ended up finding one a few weeks later. The weekend we had planned for our first trip out your dad ended up having to work, but we just had him pull the trailer out there one night after work and camped anyway. You love the fire, so the first thing you did when we got out there was ask if we could start a fire, and the first thing you asked every morning was when we were going to have a fire. You ended up just a little bit dirty...

One of the days grandma and grandpa Hillier came out and hung out with us and kept you and Tessa entertained. The next day? We were on our own, and I was a little worried what I would do with you two all day until dad got off work. Well, let's just say we started a fire, and all took care of itself!
Then daddy swung by before he got off the clock to show us how to put our campfires out the right way...
Last week we went in and found out you are indeed having a brother just like you wanted. Later that day though you told me that you didn't want a brother and you wanted to be the only boy. You were pretty sad about it and made me feel pretty bad. I tried to tell you that you will like having a little brother, and when daddy came home he even lied to you and told you how much he loved having little brothers (ha ha, just kidding guys, he likes you now!), and you seem to be feeling a little bit better now. I hope that you realize though that you really will be a big example to this little brother of yours, and I hope you take that responsibility seriously. I love you buddy and couldn't imagine a better big brother for the other 2 kids in our family!

Love ya,

Mom

Oh, I almost forgot to throw this in too. I was in another room cleaning something when I heard this little conversation between you and Tess. I had to run in and write it down before I forgot...

You: Tess do you know what happens when we get a new baby?

Tess: What?

You: We throw the old babies away, but I'll miss you when we throw you away.

Tess: Oh.

It was pretty funny!

26 Months - August 2001

Holy cow kid, July was CRAZY busy. Around here we think a little differently than most people and hope for a good (bad?) fire season, as in lots of fires. We haven't quite gotten that here in Utah/Arizona yet this year, but that did mean that we got to have daddy around to go to reunions, etc., and we were actually able to plan a vacation in the summer that wasn't changed at the last minute due to fire calls!

I also took you and your brother to get your well checks (a month late...), and you, my dear, are in the 25th percentile for both height and weight. Considering your brother is in the 95th and 75th percentiles for those, you are definitely made from a different mold. Your personalities continue to clash pretty regularly, and you use your teeth to help you overcome the size difference. You've got to knock that off kid or they aren't going to let you into high school you know.

I took lots of pictures this month, so I'm going to just do a little explaining about each one and call that good for this month since I'm already almost 5 days late!

This was actually from last month. We didn't get to spend much time with Grandma and Grandpa Hillier this month, although you did get to hang out at their house a few times, which is always fun especially since the new splash pad at the Peach Days park is open. This was taken at Grandma's birthday party in June where you spent most of your time trying to drink the water coming out of the mister... What a nerd you are.

We were able to go to both the Veater and the Hatch reunion with dad this year. The Veater reunion was wet and soggy, which led us to buying a trailer a couple weeks ago. We are so excited to try it out. This was at the Hatch reunion where you, me, and daddy slept in the tent. You woke up so stinkin happy that I had to grab my camera and take a few pictures. This is you "hiding" from me. (if you close your eyes then I can't see you, right?)

Another pic from the Hatch reunion with Quade's bike helmet on your head. Nobody dared tell you it was on backwards...

Getting your first haircut! I finally got you over to my friend Kasidee to have your hair cut for the first time. You weren't quite sure what was going on, which helped you be pretty good while she cut it. It looks so nice now that it is a little more shaped and even. Thanks Kas!

The monsoons haven't been as impressive this year as they were last, and we dont' have any gutters to play leaf race in our new house, but that didn't stop you and Logan from having fun during a storm. This is actually a "before" picture. I didn't take any afters though because I was too busy trying to figure out how to get your mud-covered little bodies down the hall to the tub without getting mud all over the white carpet in this house! You actually ended up laying down on your belly in those puddles!

I finally broke down and bought you guys DVD players for the car. I was always against it, thinking that kids watch too much TV as it is, why would you put it in the car for them? Well, with a LONG trip to Salt Lake ahead of us I decided they might be a good idea. They kept your attention decently well until we gave you the headphones - then we didn't hear another peep out of you! It didn't work so well on our way home, but those TVs sure were nice to have. On our trip you also got to experience the manna from heaven that is Fat Jacks Pizza (Roy's, whatever it is called now?) since we stopped in Manti at Great-grandma Hillier's and then on to Ephraim for lunch. Pizza, breadsticks, and the best ranch you'll ever taste!

Your awesome mom won 4 tickets to Lagoon and 2 nights at a hotel in Layton so we decided we better take you guys on a real vacation this year. We had money set aside but weren't sure we'd end up going until I won the tickets, so that was definitely nice. Grandma and Grandpa Veater met us and were able to go with us to Lagoon and the zoo the next day. Your dad will probably remember this trip as the time I was grumpier than he was in the heat, but I did have a good time, and I know you and your brother had a blast. There were a few Tessa meltdowns when Logan was able to go on a ride when you couldn't, but you did enjoy the rides you were able to go on.

Riding the Puff roller coaster with dad. On every ride we took you on I kept checking for signs that you were scared. I'm pretty sure we could have taken you on the biggest rollercoaster there and you would have been just fine!

Tessa riding the whales! You did this one quite a few times when I had to calm you down while Logan was riding a few of the bigger rides...

Riding a horse on the carousel...

We went to the zoo the next day, and you and Logan were able to see some animals in real life instead of on TV or in books. My favorites are the giraffes, so I made you pose for a picture, except you weren't getting too close to that giant thing...

This last month you've decided that you don't like to go to sleep in your crib, which is super obnoxious since you used to be the easiest kid in the world to put to sleep! The other night you were in my bed watching a movie when I was ready to go to sleep. I just got in bed and was trying to fall asleep when you started pulling at my eyelashes and saying, "Wake UP!!" Your dad had come in by that time and was just laughing, but I didn't really think it was funny at the time!

You're definitely a little mischievous thing, and the other night you faked being asleep. Dad was just about ready to move you from our bed to your crib because your eyes were closed and you weren't moving until you all of a sudden opened your eyes and gave him the biggest smile ever. Just be careful what you ask for though since he will definitely get you back. The other day he learned that you are definitely like your momma and hate to be scared. He snuck around to where you were playing nicely in the toy room and yelled. You screamed bloody murder and then started bawling for the next 5 minutes. It was so funny, but we were trying so hard not to laugh because you were so upset! Definitely keep giving your dad hell because he won't stop doing the same to you, I promise!

Love you sis,

Mom

49 Months - July 2011

Logan, Logan, Logan...Where do I start this month? You have said so many things that were funny this month. I only remember a few of them, but I guess that is a good place to start. One day just out of the blue you told me that Jesus made you with his magic wand, and the first time he made you you were made out of wood. Oh really I asked? Yep, and then he waved his magic wand again and turned you into a real boy and called you Logan. Well I'm not sure if you've even seen Pinocchio or not, but I guess one way or the other that is still a pretty good imagination you've got!

We told you and Tess about the new baby that will be coming to our family this winter, and when we aked you if you wanted a baby brother or sister you told us it was a baby brother. When we asked what would happen if it was a baby sister you said, "Well...that would be okay, but it's a baby brother." We'll see how accurate your prediction is. It seems like you predicted Tess would be a girl, so that would be 2 for 2 for you!

You are definitely a bargainer. In fact one of the things I hear out of your mouth most is "Well...." as you try to think of some way to reason with me or your dad. Like if I tell you you can't have a popsicle for breakfast you'll say something like, "Well, it's bright outside so that means it's lunch so I can have a popsicle." Or if I tell you we aren't going to the pool that day you say, "Well... we ARE going to the pool. Come on, mom, promise me we are going to the pool." It's pretty funny. For the most part you are a very well-mannered kid, but that doesn't stop you from trying to see how much bossing you can get away with.

Ever since your birthday last month whenever you see something you might like you tell me I can get it for you for your 5 birthday. I've explained over and over that your 5 birthday is not for a LONG time, but you refuse to care about little details like that.

The #1 thing that is heard around our house these days though is, "I'm 4, and 4-year-olds know everything." It seems like you've gone through this phase at some point before, but I'm afraid this one is sticking for good. It isn't helping that you are starting to realize that mom DOESN'T know everything and that my explanations for things might not quite add up. The other day you asked me if the sun floated, and that question seriously stopped me in my tracks for a minute. I really had to think about it! Does the sun float? I didn't really know for sure so we decided to ask your dad at dinner. We then both proceeded to use the salt and pepper shakers and a glass of water to explain how the earth moves around the sun (I tried to tell you for a minute that it was the other way around until your dad corrected me.) and that each time it goes around the sun is 1 year (Dad said 1 day at first, and then we had to throw in that the earth turns as it moves around the sun.) It was definitely a complicated lesson, and I think both your dad and I have some brushing up on our elementary education to do before you start needing science projects!

We've had a lot of fun enjoying camping and hanging out with family. We went to Grandma Hillier's to celebrate your birthdays and father's day and then back again a couple weeks later to celebrate grandma's birthday. She bought this squirt gun and you thought it would be smart to turn it on Uncle Joe - who later turned it on you big time!

Chasing dad too...

You also went to the balloon festival with Grandma and Grandpa Veater and then to the Veater reunion last weekend. You are definitely getting your summer's worth of fun. Now today we are off to the Hatch reunion at Tropic Reservoir and I hope to get some good pictures of you fishing with your Buzz Lightyear pole, that is, if I don't forget my camera again...(I didn't take my camera fishing, but you (and by you I mean me) caught a fish with your Buzz pole and were SOOOO mad at dad when he threw it back! I did get this one of you and Quade hanging out by the fire though.)

I've noticed more and more that if you can't do something perfect the first time you try or just don't think you can do something that you won't. I talked about this a little in your T-ball letter a while back, but I hope that you grow out of that stage, and I hope I can figure out the best way to do that. Don't be the one who holds you back, okay buddy? You are so smart and so sweet, and you should never, ever worry about failing. Easier said than done, trust me I know, but since you already know everything at 4 years old, I don't think there is anything in the world you won't be able to do by the time you are grown.

Love you bud,

Mom