In Tyler's words, "I'm just a cute little boy!"

Christmas Morning

Riley and Jeremy spent a lot of time this christmas season making gifts for their brothers, Lane and I. All of this was their own idea and their own paper creations. We didn't even pull the craft stuff out. They just did it and then asked for help wrapping. Lane and I were a little concerned how some would be received (i.e. having the proper enthusiasm when they are side by side with all the other gifts). The boys all surpassed our expectations. Those special paper creations were the best. I enjoyed the gratitude that the boys all showed when opening one of these handmade gifts from their brother. My absolute favorite gift was one Riley made about 3 weeks before christmas. A paper taco for Jeremy. As Jeremy opened the present he pulled pieces of different shapes and colors, and Riley announced, "I made him a Taco because I love tacos and so does he!" Also included, a set of directions to assemble the taco. The picture is not a good one of Jeremy but it showed the taco. Jeremy was so pleased!

While they were sleeping

It has been over a month since we got a new water heater. When Riley saw the box that it came in he was elated. For about a month the box stood on his bed upright. It was a fort. He had written all over it warnings. My favorite was right by the rubber band, that held the door shut, hanging on a pencil protruding out of the box a stuffed monkey and the caption next to it that read, "If you open this he will 'atak' you!!!"

A couple of weeks ago the fort took a horizontal turn and became a sleeping cabin. That night as we headed up to bed we checked on the boys. This is what we saw when we looked in. I couldn't stop laughing. I loved how Jeremy was sleeping and that is a pretty routine way of sleeping for him.

In the pictures below the flash made it look like day but it was dark.

Gingerbread Houses

Decorating Gingerbread houses was a fun tradition I did on the christmases we spent with my Grandma and Grandpa Boyle. It was quite an experience. My Grandma made a smaller gingerbread house for everyone. I don't think I appreciated her efforts enough then. Don't get me wrong I LOVED it. I just never put any thought into all the baking and gluing she did. This was not graham cracker houses it was the real deal and she made at least 10 or more. At any rate it was a tradition I loved.

The first year we were married we did it. We drew plans and cut it all out and made a very awesome and unique house. A couple of years past when we didn't do it but from about the time Riley was 3 we have been doing it every year and we love it. I'm not as ambitious as my Grandma making a house for each person, nor am I as ambitious as our first year making it from the dough. We started buying the kits along with more candy and VOILA!

A couple of years we made two and gave one away. This year we invited my baby brother and his girlfriend Jennifer over. We had TONS of fun!!

A Belated Birthday Post

Lane's Birthday is on November 18th so this post is quite overdue. I wish I had taken pictures of the cards that the boys made. Riley's card directed the activities for the party. Fencing! The thing that I loved most is how important it was to the boys that we did things in a certain order. (following the order of events at one of their parties). Lane likes cake but it's not usually his desert of choice. He had been wanting root beer floats a lot the month before his birthday but they were always vetoed. Instead of birthday cakehe got a root beer float. Or if we're saying it the way the boys say it, "root beard float."

Jeremy says the cutest things!

This morning while I was busy in the kitchen Jeremy, like usual, was playing with Zach.  All the sudden he says,

"Zach has a gift and he's using it...To Crawl fast!  That's his gift!"

I went to the store this evening and took Riley and Jeremy with me  I handed Jeremy a pair of snow boots to slip on.  Riley informs us that they are HIS and that I gave them to him for christmas.  I said that was true but that they didn't fit him anymore. Jeremy then tells Riley,

"Maybe I"ll get you some for your birthday.  Maybe I'll get some cheap ones."

I almost burst out laughing with the "cheap" comment.  I had to exercise some serious self restraint on that one.  I"m a bargain hunter.  To me cheap is only good when it's something quality at a cheap price.  In other words it's the bargain that I love!   I"m a firm believer in "you get what you pay for."  So I look for quality things at a discount.  I scour the clearance racks.  For some things, I go to craigslist.  I won't get it unless it's a bargain.  Last winter Riley was really needing some pants.  All of his jeans had big holes.  I first tried to fix them.  I spent $25 on patches so I could fix all the torn jeans and reinforce the ones that were on there way to a hole.  After about three washes they all fell off and were toast.  UUUUUUGH!  I absolutely hate that!  I then went to the goodwill and a consignment store.  Now I've always been the bargain hunter and my bargains have never been found in either of these places.  I decided to give it another go.  I was so disapointed!  I am looking and looking through rack after rack of stinky old clothes only to find jeans with half worn knees for $8.  Seriously!!!  For $2 more I could buy brand new ones, NOT on a clearance rack, and have twice the wear.  So I left and I told Lane to remind me not to go back.  Instead I found name brand pants for both boys, brand new might I add, for $4.  Yes that's right folks, $4.  Now I"m going to get off my soap box now.  Sorry for the tangent.  I didn't think I'd be going there.  This post was suppose to be about Jeremy.  I get started on the cheap and bargain thing and well....there you have it!

"What thum heck?!"

Over the past week Tyler has said several things that I thought, "note to self:  remember this...blog it so I don't forget."  

Last week I went to the grocery store one evening and just took Tyler with me.  I have to just say, that when your accustomed to taking 4 boys to the store, it is a treat to just take one.  At any rate, we were in the restroom.  Tyler spotted a jump seat that on the wall that is designed to put a baby in so you can use the bathroom hands free.  Public restrooms always give me the hebejebes, jump seat included, so I try to avoid using them.  Tyler pulls down the seat and informs me they're for babies and then says,

"But I"m not a baby!  I'm just a CUTE little boy!"

What can I say....I completely agree!

A day or two later while one of the boys was misbehaving, Tyler says,

"I"m not making bad choices!  I"m just a sweet, sweet,......sweet boy!"

A few days after that he informed me again that he is just a "sweet, sweet,....sweet boy!"  I love how he pauses after the second sweet before he adds in the third.

If ever you give Tyler praise or affirmation he says that he knows.  My favorite part is how he lights up!

When Tyler says I am he actually says, "I M'am!"  I know that one day he'll figure it out and say am instead of M'am, but I'm not ready for that.  I'm loving it the way he says it.  

When Tyler says his name it sounds like "Tyr"

Today while we were at costco looking at the books, I handed Tyler a popup book.  He opened it and is surprised and so pleased.  The best part, he says,

"What thum heck?!!"

Since i"m using this blog/post as a journal of things I don't want to forget, one of Tyler's favorite things is laying down and having his back rubbed.  He can't seem to get enough!  He frequently will lay down and pull of his shirt and say,

"rub a back?!"

A strong will

The other night we were hanging out with some great friends of ours.  I don't even know why Jeremy was having issues or what he may have been upset about.  All I remember is that Lane was the "lucky" one who got to deal with it.  Lane had pulled him aside and they had some sort of discussion.  Jeremy was being completely unreasonable.  This is what we hear, 

Lane:  I am not going to put up with this!

Jeremy: (with equal vigor) Yes you are going to put up with this!

Now I know that at the time Lane was not amused.  From the outsider looking in, our friends and I busted a gut laughing.  It was so surprising to hear a five year old say that.  That kind of behavior is NOT tolerated and of course we didn't let Jeremy know we were laughing,

Zachary is 9 months old

Just look at that face!!  He is so darling!  I can hardly believe that my baby is 9 months old.  He is so sweet, calm, go with the flow, and ooooh so cute!  He is such a big boy.  He is in the 95% for height and 75% for weight.  He started taking steps when he was 8 months old.  He walks quite a bit each day but still crawls about 70% of the time.  Crawling is his fastest mode of transportation.  When mischief calls there is no time to waste.  He really is such a good baby but boy does he love to get into stuff.  Today, after one of his brothers left the stairs unblocked, he made it upstairs and was found happily splashing in the toilet.  Yuck!  If he sees a bathroom door open, he B-lines it!

Zach is so good natured and our family just wouldn't be the same without him.  I just adore him.  He's so smiley and sweet!  I could just kiss his whole face whenever I see him.  He is oh so ticklish and he drools non-stop! 

Halloween

This year Halloween was Fantastic!  Riley dressed up as Harry Potter, Jeremy as Ron (Harry's best friend), and Tyler was Buzz Lightyear.  On friday night we went to our ward trunk or treat.  It was the first one I have ever been to and I really liked it!  Riley and Jeremy enjoyed being able to run off on their own a little (not something we'd do anywhere else).  

Below Harry Potter and his cohorts.  (Nice touch with the Quibler Sidney!)

Tyler had his best bud, in real life and in the movies, with him.  Buddy (AKA Caleb)

Whenever I put this costume on Tyler he giggles a lot!  It almost sounds like a nervous giggle it is so darling!!  

Some cars even had games.  This was the boys favorite!

Saturday night we went to another trunk or treat.  That one was a triward event, needless to say it was HUGE.  It poured, still fun but the rain was a little much.

Saturday night I baked a bunk of goodies which we delivered on Sunday to family and a couple of friends.  All in all it was a great Halloween!  The kids had a great time.  

Trophy Time

Soccer season has come to an end. Riley and Jeremy had their last games on Saturday as well has their soccer parties. Of course they were oh so happy about the trophies. I wish I had caught Jeremy's face on film when they called his name and gave him his trophy. It was gold!! He was so proud!

The Pumpkin Patch

I absolutely LOVE fall!  It's my favorite season.  I have been wanting to take the kids to the pumpkin patch for a couple of weeks but things have been so busy I just hadn't gotten my act together.  This weekend we finally went with our some good friends of our.  We had such a great time.  

Lane had pulled out the camera and started taking pictures of Zach.  As soon as he did Zach turned on it on.  He was such a ham bone.  He seemed to know Lane was taking his picture.

I love LakeView Farms but this year their pumpkin selection was lacking.  I reckon it was because of one or all of the following reasons.  

1.  They were just picked over

2.  A lousy crop this year

3.  They are rationing their pumpkins to last the season and that's all they put out for that day.

I wasn't too excited about paying a high price for a green pumpkin.  Fortunately I had my thinking cap on.  We suggested to the boys that we'd get a better pumpkin from the grocery store.  I was surprised when I didn't have to work for that one.  They readily agreed.  Despite the fact that we left without a pumpkin, it was sooooooooo worth the trip.  I love this patch!  I love that the boys get to ride a train to the patch and a boat back.  I love that it is beautiful!

I did not take the picture of Riley and Chad below.  Melissa did.  It is such a great picture.  As Melissa put it, "They look tough.  Cowboy tough."

The boat ride back.  Zach was a little nervous about it. 

Random:

Just thought of something I overheard Riley telling one of his friends.  It cracks me up.

"My Mom can type so fast!  And she doesn't even look!!"

First Day of School 2010

I really wasn't sure how Jeremy would take the whole going to school thing.  He is a home body and can be quite the contrarian.  Really there is no one sweeter than Jeremy!  Last spring when I took him to the kindergarten round up I was really worried.  He shocked me!  I expected him to be upset and not be happy about it.  He was quite the opposite.  He maintained this attitude all summer long today was no exception.  He was so excited for his first day of school.  He is in afternoon kindergarten.  Now it's only been one day so I'll have to post about this later, but so far I think afternoon kindergarten is the way to go.  On our way to school I asked him if he was excited.  He said he was.  He was excited because he was going to learn so many new things.  He had a great day and is excited to go back.

I just had to include this picture below.  It shows the contrast.  Below is Jeremy's first day of preschool.  He was three years old.  He was not happy about it.  I didn't send him last year and I"m glad I didn't.  He needed to be at home and this year he was ready to go!
Here is Riley.  He too was very excited!  He loved his teacher.  When he came home I asked him how is day was.  First he told me, "It was HORRIBLE!"  I was shocked and concerned and asked why.  He was kidding.  HE said it was so good!

I"m so relieved and happy that today was such a success!  Even Tyler, who felt like he got the short end of the stick because he wasn't going to school, had a good day!

Tyler Turned 3!!!

I can hardly believe that Tyler is 3 already!  Time just flies by.  We had a birthday party for him at the park and it went great!  He loved being in the spotlight.  

The pinata was a hit of course.

(pun intended)

One of my favorite parts of the party was when we sang Happy Birthday.  Tyler the whole thing with gusto.
He got a Buzz Lightyear costume from us and Grandma and Grandpa Cook.  He loves it!  Just look at his face!