It's Christmas

Just over a year ago we moved our family back from Arizona to Utah. Dallas and I are natives of Utah ( though VERY different parts!) and we kind of had a harsh winter last year. We did survive with only one accident ( which was me.. OF COURSE) and we really thought it was cold.

Ty didn't care one way or the other. We are pretty sure he can't regulate his temperature or tell when things are hot or cold. He sweats very little in the summer. Like VERY little and his face lights up like a red hot. We keep him out of the sun for long extended periods of time. I am sure it seems weird since we lived in the Valley of the Sun but trust me. You didn't stay outside at 111 degrees.

Winter is not much different.

In Arizona a jacket was sufficient 99.9 percent of the time. Generally you didn't even need that. You could wear shorts and use a jacket for the "winter months" if you really needed one. Nights got chilly but that was about it.

Fast forward to Utah. There is a season known as fall. Sometimes it is cold sometimes it isn't. This year has been very mild. But quickly it turned cold.

Last night we had our very first snow fall. When Ty woke up this morning and the snow had stuck. He was so excited he looked at me and said " It's Christmas!"

After a little bit we went up to see daddy. ( It was his day to sleep in and he didn't sleep in or SLEEP) Tyler told D that it was Christmas and that his name was Tyler.

We haven't quite mastered the whole Thanksgiving business yet but maybe after 3 days of talking up visitors and bribing with Cousin Lexi he will let everyone have a good day.

*P.S* picture was NOT today. That was last year. Ty has the sniffles so he isn't allowed out today other than to eat it off the porch.

The neighbor kids

So while the last post was the upper at how well Ty is doing here comes the DOWNWARD spiral we call the roller coaster. Though I am proud to say it didn't sting to bad.

Ty loves going outside. LOVES it. He would spend all day out there. He doesn't realize that he is freezing and his hands are falling off. He would stay out.

And stay out he does!

When he hears the kids up the street he RUNS to them. He does. He takes off and heads up the street. And he jumps in and he does what he can. And then he comes back.

Today Elle across the street saw Tyler out playing and she wanted to play with him. I was so excited. Elle talks for Tyler. Like her little buddy. Elle knows that talking is hard for him so she does it for him. It is REALLY cute. When other girl with Elle got bored she made Elle leave. And Ty was left to himself. With his rocks. Elle Came back later and said she forgot to hug him. Then she ran back to her house.

I wish so badly that he had a playmate. I wish he was "normal" enough to be sent out the door and to find a neighbor kid to play with that I don't have to stand outside like the mother translating his every word.

But alas. We were left alone blowing bubbles and throwing rocks.

Together!

Is it Spring yet!?

We passed groundhog day and the darn thing "saw" his shadow. So they SAY that it we will have more winter. I really hope not. We are getting stir crazy indoors.

The weather has been playing massive tricks on us as we go about thinking it is winter. While it has not been NEAR as cold as we thought it would be and the last of the massive storms have long since melted. In its place it has left mud and brown grass and the SAD ( seasonal depression) and the not nice effects of hormones. The muggy nasty inversion some days is enough to make a grown person cry.

BUT yesterday the clouds broke and we had a WARM 50 degree day. It was a hard day to want to go out and DO but Ty was fine going out in the back yard and playing.

He was asking me to come on. He kept saying GO! So we went.

He saw a soccer ball and signed ball and was off to throw and play and laugh.

BUT in the corner of the yard there is still that NASTY sign of winter and Ty in no shoes was off to try and savor the moment. I think he LIKES the winter. Either that or he likes to eat the "ice."

And that nice 50 degree weather with the sun shinning and nice weather was replaced today with overcast rainy skies. Snow on the forecast for tomorrow and a winter storm warning on the horizon.

I sure hope the six weeks hurries itself up!

PS. Ty doesn't like to wear shoes. Once he is home from school getting shoes on to go play outside only works if we are LEAVING the house to go somewhere. So back off and don't judge. you don't REALLY get a cold from no shoes. Ask my brother!

The Winter

As most of you know I am back to being an official STAY AT HOME MOM! That's right. My amazingly awesome job consists of Tyler, cleaning, laundry a few meals every now and again ( ugh) and being a wife to the most amazing man EVER!

The only problem is it is Winter.

For the last 2 years we have spent the Winter in sure bliss as far as weather and temperature is concerned. ( I am not complaining of the cold I promise) It is hard going from spending every single day a few times a day in the HOT HOT pool to the temps that we are in right now. Last year we were still in the High 60's low 70's and every now and then MAYBE 50's but it was "spend the time at the park weather." We are currently struggling A LOT with activities to do.

He goes to Shriner's Hospital every Monday so pretty much the whole day is spent getting there, playing, working and crying. The ride home usually puts him to sleep. Once home only a few hours till Dad gets home. So cleaning up the mess and "deoverloading."

Tuesday - Friday he is in school half a day. Its that "other half" of the day that we are struggling. The snow has hindered the park and I am sadly disappointed that all indoor activities are not overly appropriate for Ty just yet ( or are so germ ridden that we have to abstain for now) We spent a little time in the pool this week and if I wasn't currently "sick" would might think of going tomorrow.

If anyone out there knows of any good activities that are indoor PLEASE let me know?

From Warm sun to THIS!

Coming from warm and extremely HOT Arizona the cooler weather was so nice and so cool. It was great. We enjoyed going outside and playing and having Ty's birthday party outside. It has been amazing to see the fall weather and seeing the leaves change.

We have been diligent in watching the weather to see when to change from a jacket to a coat. When to put on long pants for Tyler and keep them on. When to spend the day at the park or when to bundle up in a blanket and stay in bed. But we were SHOCKED to see the drastic drop in temperatures this last week.

While Dallas and I both grew up here we have become accustom to the nice warm, and HOT weather we had there. Tyler has never been in this weather ( that he can remember) he was only one when we moved. He spent one winter here and we came and visited for a few days. This was the first time that breathe taking wind and snow has been in his world.

The snow didn't start to fall till he was getting ready for the bus but when it did fall it was a half blizzard. He would go watch and ask to go outside. He wanted to touch the snow, feel it and most of all THROW IT! He was having such a good time.

* Side note: We found Barney Christmas and he has been watching it almost non stop. They of course have SNOW and that takes him RIGHT to the window pointing and jabbering about the snow. You should SEE him dance and sing to the 12 days of Christmas~*

For the rest of the week Ty has been asking to go outside. He has been eating the snow (GROSS!) and he has been outside with no shoes and no coat and he has been out with a coat and till his cute little fingers were red.

Ty signing "cold." Look at his lips. He tries to say BRR!

His stool that he takes over all day long. Back and forth.

Telling Dad and mom that there is snow out there. All day he does this especially when he is watching his movie with snow in it.

Not sure that there is anything me and Dallas can do to prepare for the upcoming winter, but I am pretty sure a CUTE little Miracle is ready for snow, Santa and snowballs!

"Winter storm" watch..... Arizona style

You hear the words winter storm watch and it varies depending on where you live. When I lived in Indiana it meant BIG huge snow flakes and blizzards and ice storms that we so beautiful. The beauty was short lived when you walked in it or tried to drive but it was such a breath taking sight.

Living in Utah you think cold, gray skies hoping for a snow fall to make the gray better. You expect black ice and you start a fire, sit in your PJ's and sweaters and a blanket and watch it fall.

Well, we were on a Winter storm watch here. Being our first winter here I was curious as to what this entailed. Did it mean cold, ice like weather ( yeah right) or maybe snow ( not in 70 degree weather) Or did it mean it was just gonna be less sunny.

Well sometime this Friday morning it started. I woke up from my nap to hear the sound of rain and feel the cool air. The rain didn't stop till about 2 am Saturday. On my way to work all the fields were flooded, the roads were flooded, and the street by the Church had major pot holes. But it was warm. Very warm and very refreshing. I LOVE the rain, but only when it comes once in a while and is a quiet storm with no lighting and thunder.

The one thing I can't understand.... why do Arizonans act like they have no idea how to drive when the rain starts? The normal free way speed here is 80. Today it was 60 or below. Its not like in 70 degree weather the chance of Ice increases.

None the less.. the parking lot at work was a disaster and the high IQ's of some of our customers never ceased to amaze me. Who knew when you told someone that the door was locked they would still keep walking and go and check... yeah.. like I said High IQ's.

It ended great and the storm was very refreshing. It was great to spend the day in my PJ's and in a hoodie watching the "winter storm" roll in... and then roll out!!!