Christmas Lights

We took advantage of the warmer weather last night and headed to Temple Square. We have been wanting to see the lights for the past three Christmas' but we've never made it, mainly because of the extreme cold. Last night was a perfect night to go with temperatures in the upper 40's. We walked around for quite a while and I didn't complain about being cold once, it was great! Tyson marveled at the lights although I seem to remember there being more lights in years past. It was a great way to officially start the Christmas season!

7 Random Things...

I have been tagged by Julie.

7 things I can do...

Multi-Task
play "get you" with my little boy
Sew and embroider
Cook/bake
scuba dive (although it has been a while)
scrapbook
draw

7 things I can't do...

make decisions very quickly
be mean
be 20 again
wear wrinkly clothes
reach the top shelf in the kitchen, or most places for that matter
see my backside without a mirror (that one was contributed by Ben)
wrap my leg around my head

7 things I always say...

"I love you!"
"Tyson, can I have a hug/kiss?"
"I'm gonna get you!"
"Where's Tyson?"
"Dang it!"
"What the heck!"
"Ummmm, I don't know!"

7 things I always eat...

Vitamins
Cereal (non-sugary varieties)
chicken
veggies
Milk
tortillas
butter (NOT margarine)

7 tags...

Emy
Autumn
Tammy
Brooke
Kim
Sabrina
Marci

It's a WINNER!!!

Well, Ben's pumpkin won the yearly contest at work! He came up with the idea on his own and did it all freehand, I am so proud of him. He did a great job and the vote was unanimous among all his coworkers. CONGRATULATIONS Ben!!! He is so multi-talented!

"Dinosaur" Cousins

Emy and Mike came down for the weekend so we thought we would try getting a picture with Tyson and David in costumes. We tried Tyson's dragon costume from last year on David and it fit great! He looked SOOO...cute and of course having the two cousins together dressed as "dinosaurs" it was nothing less than priceless!

Afterwards we took Tyson out for a little trick-or-treating. We went to just a handful of houses in the neighborhood but he had a great time. There were a few houses that had dogs which of course he was much more interested in than getting the candy.

Pumpkin Carving

Last night we carved our pumpkins. Tyson didn't want to touch the slimy insides, but once we cleaned it out and carved his pumpkin he loved it! He liked to take the cut out nose and put it back in place then he would take the pieces from Ben's and my pumpkins and put them in his. Just as we were getting ready to take them outside to light them up Tyson poked one of the eyes out of his. I guess since mom carved it he needed to add his own personal touch.

Ben's pumpkin didn't make it in the picture. He had a pumpkin carving contest at work so he used the company's logo as the mouth of his jack-o-lantern. It turned out great! We will have to get a picture of it tonight and let you all know if he won or not.

Candy Dilemma

Ah yes, yet another candy holiday and the dilemma of what to do with it all. I have never been one for lots of sweets, although I do have my occasional cravings for something sweet now and again. Growing up I preferred other foods such as vegetables and fruit over candy, cakes and cookies. My mom said it was a little difficult finding things that she could bribe me with when it came time to potty train yet we go through it. When it came to any candy holidays, (Christmas, Halloween, Easter), I would stash my "loot" so that my siblings couldn't eat it, of course I wasn't planning on eating it either so needless to say I would forget about it and then find it a year or so later (I had some pretty good hiding places). By then it was really gross and had to be thrown away but the important thing was that no one else ate it. Yeah, you could say my way of thinking back then was a little skewed but hey, when you have as many siblings as I do you tend to be a little over protective of what things, or candy in this case, you do have.

Tyson has been much like me in that aspect, he's not a big candy or sweets connoisseur. Sure he'll take a bite or two of some sweet goody, but if you offer him a banana that is definitely his food of choice and he'll scarf it down and then ask for more. It will be interesting to see if his cravings for sweets increase as he gets older...I'm hoping not. But there is still the dilemma of what to do with the candy he does get. I certainly don't want to eat it and I don't need to hoard it from anyone, so I guess we can either recycle it and give it away or simply throw it away.

If any of you out there have a sweet tooth and would like a little extra candy, let us know and it is yours!

Halloween Festivities

My cute little dinosaur (dragon)!

We have been busy with lots of fun Halloween events. Last Friday was our wards playgroup Halloween trick-or-treat. Tyson looked so cute in his costume and was so excited to wear it. He called it his dinosaur so we went with that. Basically the gist of the activity was to "find" all the candy that was scattered on the sidewalk. Tyson wasn't too interested at first but after a little coaxing, he was having a good time. It was cute to watch all the little kids scurrying around trying to gather their candy.

OOOO, Candy!!!



Tuesday night was our ward Halloween party and since I am on the committee it was a long day but we had a great turn out. A bit chaotic but I think everyone enjoyed themselves for the most part. Tyson did very well considering he had about an hour nap in between gathering all the food in the morning to decorating in the afternoon. He was quite content playing with the plastic spiders while mommy helped to get everything ready. What a trooper! (Sorry, I was too busy to take any pictures of this event).

As if going to the pumpkin patch last week wasn't enough, Tyson went out to the garden today to "find" the pumpkins that were strategically place by Ben's uncle Mike. There was one pumpkin that grandma and grandpa grew and kept out there for Tyson to find. He thought it was pretty cool for a brief moment before he realized where he was.....in the DIRT! Boy, nothing is better than playing in the dirt let me tell ya, at least not for a 2 1/2 year old boy. He rolled the pumpkins through the dirt, pulled some rocks out of the dirt, dug his fingers in the dirt, then proceeded to try and cover the pumpkins with, you guessed it, dirt! He even tried to plant a dead sunflower. All this while in his costume. He was having a great time, that's all that matters!

Tyson with the pumpkin grandma and grandpa grew!

WOW, DIRT!

Love this picture!

Planting the dead sunflower.

Tomorrow.... PUMPKIN CARVING!!!

Pumpkin Patch

There is no better family night activity this time of year than going to the pumpkin patch and picking out pumpkins! This was the first time we did this with Tyson and he had a great time! He was amazed at all the pumpkins that were there and he loved to touch and/or roll as many as he could. Despite our efforts to direct him around the rotting puddles of pumpkin goo that were on the ground he still managed to step in almost every one....GROSS! He was just so focused on rolling the pumpkins that he didn't even notice.

We went through the little corn maze and then let him sit on just about every tractor they had there. There were probably a dozen or so tractors of varying sizes and colors that the kids could play on. Tyson loved sitting in each driver's seat turning the steering wheels and playing with all the knobs and levers. Once again the tractors were his favorite things, we had a hard time getting him off so that we could go home.

Quiet Book for Tyson

I thought I should probably document this since it was quite the project to take on as it turned out. Last year I decided that I wanted to make Tyson something that he could play with and hopefully pass on to his children in the future. I had seen a lot of different quiet books over the years and thought they were such a good idea, but I hadn't seen any that I just loved. So, I got the crazy idea to design and make my own. My original idea was to make them for family and close friends but I was very naive in thinking that they would be simple and quick to make. My "simple" yet "brilliant" creative idea became quite the epic ordeal, but when I do something it has to be just so and the best it can be. Besides, my little boy deserves the best, or at least the best his mom can do, right?:)

It was so much fun designing the pages, but it wasn't until I scanned them in to the computer and digitized them for the embroidery machine that I realized how labor intensive this project would be. Anyway, it probably took a couple of months to complete, but to see something that started as a simple thought become reality was very gratifying! Afterall it was quite the accomplishment for me! Definately a labor of love!!!!!

I have made a couple more since, in fact I just finished the last one but they were a limited run, I don't plan on making any more. Sorry to all you family and friends, I did have good intentions when I started the project but there are other projects I would like to do and these quiet books just take too much time!

My next project, a quilt for Tyson. That should occupy me for a while especially since I've never made one before (this could be scary)!

Identifying shapes
Pick the apples to put in the basket, Identifying and matching colors

Help the monkey climb up and down the tree, COUNTING

Move or unbutton the bears arms and legs and feel his soft fur, Lace and tie the shoe

Pick (unbutton) the flowers

I bought a three ringed organizer for the back to hold coloring crayons and pencils, and included a coloring book as well. The perfect church activity book.....now, if only Tyson liked to play with it......

Labor Day Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend! What a great way to end the summer! Ben and I celebrated our anniversary in Park City (our first night away from Tyson)! I have to say that it was a little hard to leave Tyson for that long, but I knew he was in great hands with his grandma and grandpa! We had a great time and I even managed to refrain from calling to check on him until the next morning. It was really nice to have all that time with just Ben though! We ate out, went to a few movies we had been wanting to see, did a little shopping (that was more for me), and just enjoyed our time together!

Tyson seemed to have a great time with grandma and grandpa, considering he didn't run to greet us when we got home tells me that he didn't miss us too much. Grandma and Grandpa took him to Wheeler Farm where he got to interact with the animals and play on a couple of tractors. Grandma said that the tractors were probably his favorite things. He is definitely like his dad! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for taking such good care of Tyson while we were away! We all had a great time!

Happy Anniversary to My Sweetheart!

It is hard to believe that just five years ago Ben and I were sealed together for time and all eternity. Looking back it has been an eventful five years with moves, job changes, the birth of our wonderful little boy, and many other blessings and challenges. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband! He is my best friend, confidant, counselor, comedian, and my rock, among other things. I thought I would take a moment and let Ben know just a few of the things I love so much about him:

1. your smile

2. the beautiful color of your eyes

3. how you support me in all I do

4. how you rub my feet every morning

5. how you hold my hand when we are out in public

6. your compliments

7. how you call me on your way home from work to see how my day was

8. how you send me emails just to say "I Love You!"

9. how hard you work for our family

10. your desire to find a hobby we can enjoy together

11. your unconditional love

12. your forgiveness and tender heart when I fall short

13. your ability to make me laugh even when I try not too

14. how you can fix anything

15. how lovingly you play with Tyson

16. how you love to spend time with Tyson and I

17. how photogenic you are

18. how you strive to live worthy of your priesthood

19. how you try so hard to understand me when at times I don't understand myself

20. how you make up little songs

21. your patience with my indecisiveness

22. how we seem to always think and say the same things

23. your encouragement

24. how you strive to excel in all you do

25. your imagination

26. your hugs and sweet kisses

27. how you talk in your sleep sometimes

28. the little things you do to help me

29. how you twitch just as you're falling asleep

30. the fact that we will be together forever!!!

Here's to an eternity of many more happy momories! I love you, Ben!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gardens @ Thanksgiving Point

If you have never been to the Gardens at Thanksgiving Point I would highly recommend going! It was gorgeous! Tyson and I spent the morning there with Uncle Rob (Ben's uncle). Ben wasn't too interested in going so when Rob said he wanted to go I jumped at the chance. It was a great opportunity for Tyson and I to get to know him better!

The flowers were beautiful and the weather was perfect for a stroll through the gardens. I think Tyson found every bird that was there and he spotted all the flowers and topiaries that resembled balls. The fountains, stream and waterfalls were also favorites of his; he even found a rock or two to through in when he could. I had a great time taking pictures and could have spent a few more hours there snapping more.

By the time we left to go to lunch Tyson was worn out. He fell asleep as soon as I put him in the car, which is unusual for him. The two minute drive across the property to where we ate was not much of a nap for him, but he did quite well while we ate. Tyson had warmed up to Rob and was holding his hand by the end of our outing. Rob even bought him a soft little ball while we were there.

Thanks uncle Rob for treating us to a special day and spending time with us!

Discovery Gateway adventure

Last Saturday Ben and I decided to take Tyson to the Discovery Gateway museum. We were pretty excited to go and we made sure we got there right when they opened to avoid crowds. Am I glad we did too, by the time we left it was pretty crazy in there with all the kids and adults running around.

Tyson had a great time. He got right in there and tried everything. He loved the balls and of course the water area (which had balls too). Ben was pretty fascinated with the animation exhibit. They had little figurines that you could stage and photograph allowing you to make your own little animated movie clip. There was an area where you could create your own comic strip too.

Both Tyson and Ben were getting creative with the wall of pipes. There were several different pipes that were different sizes and angles that you could move around to create your own "ball shoot".

There were things to do for people of all ages. We had a great time playing and experimenting. I can definitely say that we will be back!

Canyon Outing

We decided to take a trip up one of the canyons a few weeks ago to explore and take some pictures. We happened to pick the same random spot that we did almost two years ago when Tyson was just a baby. Tyson was in heaven with all the rocks he had to throw in the "wahrrr" (water in Tyson tongue), one of his favorite pastimes. We had a great day together!