Sweet Tyson

Tyson is growing up so quickly! This year he started preschool. He was so incredibly excited and he loves it so much. He had to start late because Jack was in Primary Children's but he jumped right in with no problem. His teacher (Mrs. Orton) says he is a sweet boy and very bright. He is always excited to learn each new letter and number and play with his friends. Tyson will be old enough next year to start Kindergarten, but we have decided to keep him home a little longer and give him a jump start on reading and other things.

Tyson loves puzzles and doing mazes. He knows all the days of the week and is interested in telling time and learning dates on the calender. He loves building with his blocks and his magnetic cars. He still pulls out his trains and hot wheels too.

Tyson especially loves his little brother. He has a special sing-song voice reserved just for him. Tyson has accepted Jack very graciously into our lives with very little resentment. He often reminds me to change Jack and that I need to hold him in the night when he cries. :) He loves to make him laugh and show him toys.

One of Tyson's favorite days of the week is when two of my piano students come and bring their Nintendo DS's for him to play with. They have a cute relationship with him and help him learn new games. He looks forward to it all week long.

Things Tyson has to do each day before he can watch a movie or be on the computer is: get dressed, make his bed, tidy up his clothes on the floor, and get his teeth brushed. He usually wakes up and plays with toys first and then eats breakfast.

Tyson always reminds us to pray. He loves for us to read to him. He can get ready for bed all by himself and loves to choose his own jammies. He still wears Pull-ups at night but most of the time is still dry when he wakes up and is glad when his bed is not "sweaty".

Tyson loves to help mom bake and cook and pulls his little chairs from his bedroom so he can watch. He enjoys eating pickles and PB & J sandwiches. He likes to watch Mighty Machines, the Bernstein Bears, and Curious George. He is learning to read and starting to be more interested in coloring.

Outside, Tyson plays "pirates" in his tree-house and dodgeball and baseball. His sandbox gets lots of digging attention and he rides his bikes on the driveway. He accompanies Dad on lots of errands after work and enjoys being his little buddy.

Tyson has a funny thing he does with his hands when he is anxious or excited. Sometimes he combines it with running around the room, thinking about things. We think it is a tic and are hoping it's a phase he outgrows soon.

Tyson is a very good "obeyer". When he does something the first time he is asked, washes his hands, treats Jack kindly, or chooses to do a chore on his own, he gets a star on the fridge. When he has ten stars, he gets to play games on the computer. Usually he plays the Tangled game on Disney or another game on Nick Jr.

We sure love Tyson. He is a delightful child with intelligent questions, a sweet nature, and lots of energy. I am so glad to be his mother and I know Dusty loves being his father.

Baby Wishlist

My children really don't need anything. But sometimes I stumble upon things that are so cute I must share (instead of purchasing). Seriously.

I am in love with the clothes from dPaM. It's the French version of Old Navy and their clothes are so classic. They have trendy little numbers but also classy, muted colors that are hard to find for little ones. (they also ship to the US if you are interested!)

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When I saw this alphabet wall poster, the scientist in me loved it right away. The last thing I need is another ABC thing in my children's room, but this one would be my first choice if I wanted another one.

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I don't know how to knit or crochet unfortunately, so when I see something as precious as this, I want to snatch it up. Can I imagine a sweet baby wrapped in this? Yes, yes I can.

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Wow! This is just fabulous! If any of you have a blank wall, I suggest filling it with this design. So cool.

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Tyson is really getting into painting and I would love to turn him loose on these wooden people.

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There are so many times I have crayons but no paper. This would completely solve the problem. I could use one in every bag I have.

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I have never had a minky for any of my babies and I think they would love one. This one reminds me of my Grandma, who loved owls.

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An alternative to the teething rings you find in the stores, this giraffe is just waiting for little fingers and an active baby. Jack would dig into this right away.

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I must have a thing for giraffes. This plush toy is so cute. The opposite side is in another fabric and the tail is so cute!

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Another minky that I thought was fabulous! The zoo animals are not too cutesy and there are a lot of ribbons on this one.

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Somebody stop me before I order each and every one!

My past and my present

inspired by sweet Rachel at Smile and Wave

PAST

I used to be an uber perfectionist. My family would say I have mellowed out a lot over the years. Example: in order to have a perfect "curl under" in my hair, I would sit very still practicing the piano and let my hair air dry with me curling it under in a bob. I would get angry with anyone who bumped me or nudged my hair. That's just the tip of the iceburg.

My sisters and I would play pioneers by dressing up and playing in our trees. We would hang clothes from the lines between branches and wander collecting food. I'm sure our neighbors thought we were crazy.

Ballet was a major stress reliever for me from third grade until I graduated from High School. I loved stretching to piano music while delving into my own thoughts. I still do "bar work" in the kitchen against the countertops.

I was dead-set on being a surgeon when I graduated from HS. I started college pre-med, thought about med schools, and then in my sophomore year of school I felt very strongly that that wasn't what I was supposed to do. I finished my degree in Science but always wish that I had done Music or something along the lines of Graphic Design.

My first movie crushes were Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise. For awhile I thought I needed to be a fighter pilot. I was short and I had good eyesight. :) (needed essentials for pilots)

I was a complete nerd in Junior High. I hardly talked to boys and read all of the time. No. Seriously. All the time. It was when I discovered most of my favorite books.

I practiced the piano for 90 minutes everyday from eighth grade until I was a junior and life got way too busy. I feel it taught me a lot about perseverance.

I used to have nightmares that I'd show up to school and forget my locker combination.

I always shared a room with at least one other sister. Sometimes when we were little we would pretend to be talking on the phone to each other. My fake name was "Bonnie" and we would create this little world of picking up kids and doing household things.

PRESENT

My favorite candy flavors are watermelon and sour apple.

I always feel very shy and awkward around new people and doing new things. I hope people don't think I'm unfriendly and I do warm up eventually!

I don't drink coffee, but I do drink Pero every morning. I like it with sugar and this hazelnut creamer. It warms me up and makes me happy while I read my emails and facebook. My comfort food is a comfort drink.

I have a hard time maintaining friendships over distance or long periods of time, especially if I don't see someone all the time. (sorry Kimmy)

I have a thing (fetish) for bedding. No normal sheets or bedding will do. Why not spend 1/3 of your life in super soft sheets and a cozy down comforter? Thread count is important.

I would really love to take an Art class on campus. Some kind of oil painting class or design class.

I feel like I have so much under-developed potential on the piano-- and let me be clear-- I mean this is in a very regretful way, not a braggy way. I would love to continue lessons, we have lots of good teachers at the university, I just know that I could never devote enough time to practicing right now.

I love the TV show Castle. Such good writing. Not too yucky. Just enough mystery. Good characters.

I am not a super patient person. I have to work really hard not to stress out when someone is keeping me waiting for any reason. That being said, I do have enough patience to let my children go at their own pace.

My Mom and sisters are my best friends. When I start feeling bad about not having a "best friend" anymore I remember that my family is always there for me and I can tell them everything. I am just super sad that we are so spread out across the land.

I am collector of bowls and baskets. I have far too many. But I come up with new uses for my baskets almost weekly. There's always something that needs a home.

I crave quiet moments. If I don't get them in the day I feel crazy. I need silence and stillness. I am grateful that my children are mellow and allow me to have peace sometimes.