Your Vocabulary Score: A+

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

How's Your Vocabulary?

What I've Been Up To

When I got home from Thanksgiving I decided to get out all of our Christmas decorations. I was a little gung ho because I didn't get to decorate our home at all last year since we were busy moving. I put up the tree, the Christmas village, the nativity, and our stockings. We're ready for Santa to come! I have been wanting to add to my little village, so I went to Roberts to buy another house to paint, but they don't sell them any more apparently. Bummer. I guess I will have to find something else to paint. But the houses I do have look great together!



Take a stroll through the town......





I bought some really fun new ornaments at Taipan Trading over the break with Dusty's mom. I couldn't wait to put up my tree when I got home. I fell in love with the brown ornaments, but wasn't sure how they would look on the tree. Much to my delight they look really good with the gold ornaments I already have. Here is the tree. Thanks, Allie, for the glittering leaves you got us for Christmas. They really put the finishing touches on the tree. Also, if any of you know how small our living room is, you should be impressed that somehow we put this giant tree in and manage to still have room for everything else!




Tyson and his cousin Lily had a good time meeting each other. Tyson is just starting to notice and be interested in other babies and children, so he thought Lily was great. When Grandma Hoopes was holding them on her lap, Lily got a little shy and started to cry. Of course, Tyson decided to join in a few seconds later!




We stayed at Dusty's Grandpa Bowers house over Thanksgiving. He was heading up to Boise for the holidays and wasn't there very long, so we had to make sure we got a snapshot of Tys with his Greatgrandfather. Here is Grandpa holding Tyson before bath time!



Here is Tyson with Grandma Hoopes. These are nice photos of her and him together. He sure does have big cheeks that are just so much fun to kiss.

Gratefulness : First Installment

Since this seems to be the time of year to reflect upon things we are so glad to have in this world, I thought I would start a little list. It's pretty random and full of ordinary things, but I guess I don't have many extra-ordinary things! On second thought, perhaps some of these blessings are pretty amazing. Here's for starters:

Family ~ electricity ~ Tyson's laughter ~ clocks ~ ice cold lemonade ~ The Savior ~ game night ~ daffodils ~ Christmas lights ~ prophets ~ ice cream ~ love ~ lullabies ~ water ~ blankets ~ the beautiful earth ~ photographs ~ good books ~ disposable diapers ~ pianos ~ creative people ~ baby clothes ~ science classes ~ gingerale parties ~ morning sunshine ~ scripture ~ written music ~ comfy furniture ~ garlic bread ~ candles ~ tithing ~ umbrellas ~ colors ~ lip balm

First Piano Lesson

I gave Tyson his first piano lesson the other day. We talked about proper finger position, where middle C was, the organization of the notes, and how he "gets" to play the piano for the rest of his life basically. We kind of played chopsticks together, but mostly he pounded on the keys making his own music! I am already playing Christmas music for myself (when I'm home alone since Dusty doesn't think Christmas music should me played until after Thanksgiving). I have so many fun piano arrangements that I can hardly contain myself. The music is "joyful and triumphant". I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

My Latest Projects

Finally! I finished Tyson's stocking. Good thing children don't come around too fast. I can only average one stocking for every couple of years or so because the crosstiching takes forever. I think that it looks really Christmasy and it will match the stockings I made for Dusty and I! You can't see Tyson's name super well because it's done in gold thread (which is horrible to work with by the way; it about made me go insane)



I bought some really cute value fabric and decided to make little totes for everyday things. I think they turned out really great. Lauren thinks I need to give her the polka dotted one, but .... probably won't happen. Sorry Bubbs! (I did tell her that I would help her make one of her own..... We'll see)




I really like the ribbon that matches this bag.



Tyson will really smile big if I hold him in front of a mirror. Then I can catch both of us on camera with big grins!

Tyson and Ayda

On Monday, the 13th, Patrice and Brady delivered little Ayda Bryn. We went over to see them and got to hold her. She is just so tiny. If you don't believe me, check out the picture of her and Tyson. Of course, he is a pretty big 4 month old, but the size difference is pretty amazing.





Tyson has developed some new habits. One of his funniest ones is scratching his head. He only does it with his right hand and really goes to town. I caught this one on camera.

Shots are rough

Here are some pictures of Tyson, who was having tough day after visiting the doctor. Plus some extras just because he is so darn cute! (so is his daddy)




We got a white snowsuit for Tys, which we used for the first time at the football game. He looks just like a marshmallow.



Look at our chubby little baby!

Four months already!

So, today was Tyson's four month well check-up. I can't believe how big he has gotten. Here are his stats: He is 16 lbs. 5 oz (75th percentile), and 25 1/2 " (75%). I weighed 17 lbs when I was a year old I think. Our boy sure isn't starvin'. It's fun to see how much he has grown, but taking him in for shots is an experience I could do without. He had fallen asleep before the nurse came in to give them to him, and imagine waking up to that! Poor little boy!
We just found out that our friends Patrice and Brady had their little girl today! Ayda Bryn! We are on our way to see her! I'll put up more pictures of Tyson and his soon-to-be girlfriend (me and Patrice already discussed this) soon! Happy November!

Quelle Miracle

It finally happened. Tyson decided that sleeping at night could be a good thing to do. He only woke me up twice! Once at 11:00 pm and then at 5:00 am. He slept from 7:30 pm to 6:30 am. Pretty amazing. He was a good sleeper when he was litte, but something changed.... hopefully this new sleeping trend will last. We wrapped him up in more sheets than we usually do, so maybe that was the trick. I definately will try it again tonight.

FATHER AND SON

Tyson and I like to hang out when we can. Whether it be sleeping together or fixing the dishwasher or going to the football games.

Its here

Here is the little rascal (left). Tyson is growing like a stink weed. Our family picture changes daily because the kid seems to have a different look each time the camera appears. His hair gets a lot of reactions from people, they love the wave it makes.