The Christmas Post

Since our tree JUST went down yesterday and I still have an hour or 2 of cleaning to do before it is all gone, I thought I would take the rest of my "homework" time to catch up on my December. I jumped ahead to the first of the year but want to make sure the Holiday Fun was documented.


Because we live in the Deseret the evenings are not horrible and so the holidays are very enjoyable. We spent a lot of time outside and most of the time we didn't need anything more than a jacket. The boys did a lot of playing outside for HOURS at a time.

One day while we were just minding our own business the North Pole Transponder showed up at our house. I am pretty sure it was the Elf that provided books every night. But the transponder was AWESOME. It would call the North Pole once every 24 hours and we got to talk to someone. A few times it was Santa. A few times it was an Elf but every time it was FUN!

We went to a Christmas party for Hope Kids and had a great time. It was at the party that Tyler spent his entire time playing basketball, that Santa made a last minute decision to buy a basketball hoop for Tyler. 

We split up at the hope kids party and I didn't take enough photos for each of them, but Grayson had a snow ball fight and he loved it. 

Grayson undecorated and redecorated my tree a million and one times. By the end of the season, I had a section of my tree with everything from icicles to a BOWL!! I found a bowl in my Tree when we were taking it down. 

We did our traditional visit to Santa and the Farm. We have seen the SAME Santa for 4 years. He is getting old and he doesn't look overly thrilled but he is the same one! 

Feeding goats and the blind donkey was a HIGHLIGHT of our night. Oh wait, no going by the poo pond was my kiddos favorite thing! 

This rabbit is from the Velveteen Rabbit story. It was so so soft. The kids loved it. Next thing we did was go on a hayride in the dark, right past Poo Pond where they deposit the poo. HOLY gag. Cache Valley Cows are still by far my favorite smell. The poo pond was BAD.. real bad. 

We played with salt dough but it was not enough to make it smell yummy to give to our friends. So we just played with it. 

No holiday can go by without a quick run to the pediatrician's office, where we had to get our hematocrit checked. Grayson was a beast and we KNEW he was low but needed to know how low to see if we needed to be checked in or not. So off to the doctors we went. 

We are low. VERY low. But we were not admitted and we have just done what we could to get through the exhaustion.

Christmas PJ's by the Labrum grandparents and we got to FaceTime them while we opened it. 

Next up...... Christmas ( the Santa part!) and Christmas day!! 

Some Random Photos-

There is so much we want to catch up on and share with you our cute kids. There is also a few more controversial things that I want to get working on so here are the mundane journal type things that will reminds us of all the awesome stuff we did! Here are the photos- With explanations!!!

After Long days with this little dude, we sometimes go get our dinner and fixings for our dinner and even some YUMMY chocolate muffins and then spend a good portion of the hour back with the fish. Some day I will buy him a Beta. But till then, he can enjoy the dead frogs that were in the gross tanks. I guess walmart isn't in the running for an aquarium award. 

Dollar store crafts are where it is at. We went and bought 10 bucks worth of stuff to do from the dollar store.  Grayson did a great job painting with the WORST paint in the world. He loved it. A good 40 minute activity that didn't cost us a fortune! 

Because of our low iron problems, we keep looking for stuff Grayson will eat that have even a small amount of iron in it. However, he has a problem eating food and is really picky. But he has decided that blue is his favorite color. I managed to remember how to flavor/color  the eggs and he LOVES them so it looks like blue eggs for a few weeks.

We are no longer taking naps. So when we leave, he falls asleep as fast as he can. Usually it doesn't last long and sometimes it is SO needed that we MAKE ourselves  fall asleep. HE is SOO hard when he is tired. And this is how we find him when we get home. 

I might have encouraged my child to have a crush on my appliances. The detergent smells so yummy, the machine runs like a charm and WOW. I am in love. And he is in Love too!

Grayson gets Iron when we can get it down him. We can trick him for a few tries but as soon as he swallows the tricked iron he starts vomiting and vomits the rest of the night. I hate vomit. So we spend the night on the couch with Betty our Barf Bucket and he is miserable. 

Cerebral palsy is not a nice condition. It hurts. All of these showed up in one day. It was just bad. I hope and pray for a day that it will go away. 

Grayson and I find the strangest things. We are sitting in the parking lot at the store watching a dump truck and a fire truck. 35 minutes we waited. 

This is our stake county fair for Church. It was HUGE and crazy and the boys LOVED this little train. We will be finding one for Halloween at the pumpkin patch for sure.

My tat debut. Sometimes a mom will go to extreme measures for just a little piece and quiet.

We are Flooding - A catch up post!

 We are not CURRENTLY flooding but we did flood. It was a good day of just nothing but a downpour. We loved it. We were awoken in the middle of the night to some awesome Thunder and it continued all day and all night. Our park flooded and we loved it. We spent the entire afternoon outside playing in the rain and muddy puddles.

And, well, I took photos!

This is the park when there is no water. We had a great time and because we are on the surface of the sun, all the water was all gone in less than 24 hours. 

Spring Break-More stuff

We went to the spring break farm time at Superstition farms. We rode on hay rides, tried weird flavored milk, ice cream and feed the animals. We watched a cow have a baby, a 2 hour old cow and more! The best part was riding the horse!!

Oh, and the farm workers were and are amazing with Tyler. One remembered us from Santa days and came over to let him touch a chicken. He was in heaven!

 Ty rode and rode. But he had to have a hat on. HE was a awesome cowboy.

 Us on the hay ride.

 Our cow that wasn’t afraid of us.

 Grayson thought this was awesome!

 Feeding the lambs and goats

 Grayson and his ability to do whatever he wants!

 Ty walked on up to have the bunny lick him~

 The hen, they brought out for Ty to touch.

Hope Play date

On Ty's birthday I sent his cute little butt off to school and ran to the grocery store. I wanted to get some new cupcakes to send to his class. When I got to school Ty was working with the Speech therapist. As soon as I walked in he as not willing to keep working. She asked a few questions about his vision and if he can see certain things. After a few pointers, we were ready for cupcakes.


Ty doesn't drink milk. Like at all. One day he just stopped. He use to drink carnation and milk. So I laughed when he wanted milk. Miss Holly said he never drinks it but he wants it. It was even chocolate milk and he was so happy to have it.
He went back and forth between me and his cupcake. He was so funny. Another little boy in the class ate his own cupcake then walked over by the leftover cupcakes and tried to lick them. He was SNEAKY!! Ty had a great time and was not unhappy when I left.

When he got home we had lunch and then got ready to go on an activity with the hope kids. It was our first activity and he had such a great time. So did his mom. It was nice to see him so happy.

We made I spy bottles with Rice. He really liked being able to fill the bottle with the rice. He wanted to do it all by himself.

He was not convinced that we should do a whole bunch of items into the bottle instead he loaded up on the first few items. He liked the jingle bells a lot and loaded up on those too.

Next stop was making his own play doh and he kept wanting to play in the ingredients.

We played a game with a water noodle and marbles. He needed some help so I wasn't able to get a picture. He was excited to play with his friend Ben. He would race Ben's marble and laugh and laugh.

We also did a parachute and tried to keep the balls on the parachute. He thought it was pretty funny to watch the balls fall off and hit people.

Last activity was playing with the balloons as basketballs. He loved it. They had lower kid baskets but he wanted the big ones. So after a few pictures I had to hold him up and let him shoot with the big one. He was super sweet to the kids who needed help. He helped get balloons for his friends in chairs and he had such a good time.

Hula Hawaii

A vacation? Um no.

I so WISH!

Ty is obsessed with the Beach ( he says BEEshhh) and the Ocean ( oshen), water and swimming but most importantly HULA DANCING!

I am not sure the first time he learned to Hula but he stands up and hula dances for a couple of movies. He has a Barney Beach that he LOVES and has watched a TON since being sick this last week. He usually uses his blanket for his skirt.

We were SUPER tired of being in the house. Like 4 walls were VERY closing in around us. So just before noon we took off and went to see Dallas at work. He was just leaving for lunch with the guys from the office so we took off and went to Burger king.

I let him play.. for a LONG time. I was totally grossed out too! Knowing how many germs there were and that he is all over and licks walls and touches the floor and is eating his burger on ...GROSS! But I let him play. I looked up and he as CLIMBING UP THE SLIDE ( he was the only kid there) because he couldn't get up the other way. He was so funny!

We left there to run errands. First stop was the dollar store. As soon as we walked in he saw the Luau stuff. He pointed to the grass skirts and started to Hulu. Since it was the dollar store I thought HECK why not!

We went to 3 other stores and he carried the skirt around to all 3. I asked if he would leave it in the car and he said no. So he took it.

When we got home.... OH how freaking funny and cute.... He asked to put it on and he was so happy that he had a grass skirt.

He asked for Barney Beach and when BJ would put his on, so did Tyler. He would dance and dance and dance. I would LAUGH and Laugh and then try not to pee my pants. ( Just kidding! I think ) Ty also got a beach ball so we would count and he would say wreee( three) and HIT! ( kick or catch!)

He seems to really be catching on to all of the fun stuff. But really I think he just wants to go on a vacation and see the BEACH and the HULA girls.

Easter and Conference weekend

Easter and Conference weekend ended up being the same weekend this year. I was some how invovled in getting some of the word out for our mission reunion. For those not "aware" of what missions/reunion are we get together with our mission president and chit chat and see what we have all done over the years since leaving. Interesting really!

My little sister ( who is 27) babysat Mr. Toot for Dallas and I so that we could go. We were going to color eggs on Friday but due to an unforeseen accident Granny and Gramps didn't make it up in time. So instead Nicky took my kid and my sisters kids went with the G's ( grandma and grandpa) and off they went to the magical world of hanging with the G's.

Apparently this included playing at Mcdonalds and then subsequent swimming where Aunt Nicky said that Ty played till his heart was content. He also got a little "confused" when my OTHER sister got there.

So the "other" sister story....... We apparently look alike. Which we do. But for some reason no matter how long we have been apart if Ty doesn't have me there he thinks that I am here. To the point of being jealous that she is helping her own kids!

YES Tyler does know who his mommy is. BUT she looks like me and to a visually impaired kid we look alike. She is a good sport. But I think it ticks of the OTHER sister :)

Anyway, Saturday we spent the day in Logan having Easter egg hunts. The Smart me deleted his first Easter egg hung but he was doing great till he found an egg on something he really wanted to play on and then it was done.

Afterwards we drove back to my parents hotel room. They stayed in a hotel that had a small water park in it. I didn't have my suit so you get spared the photos of my CURVY body!

Ty LOVED the water park. I had Meanly told him all week when the G's got there he would be able to go swimming. Sure enough, he asked for swimming almost the SECOND they go there.

Here are the swimming photos!!! FUN!

I

I am not sure who had more fun... Grandpa or Tyler. I know that Ty NEVER stops.. so I am thinking they both went away tired. Thanks mom and dad for the great hotel and pool and LOTS of energy!

Ever had something....

Ever had something you really wanted to get off your chest but realize that you just can't seem to write it down. Even if it is YOUR own blog and no one else HAS to read it. Or that you might be judged harshly from something you say... Yeah... that would be my head right now!

I literally have SIX blogs I have started that I just can't bear to finish. I want to express so many things and feel that I need to write but haven't had a chance to really express them correctly or in a way that might not come off as negative, angry, upset or hateful.

So I am sticking to a few safe posts.... With lots of pictures. Cause I like those.

This past week has not been the best of weeks. It has been better in regards to my mental health and the Lupron and my endometriosis but I kinda sorta got sick with a cold. Dallas also got it and Mr. T didn't. I am almost certain that the little Toot that was sitting next to Mr. T on the bus sent it home with T.

Monday's therapy left me impressed with Tyler and sad that we are looking at a few months of NO therapy. Not sure what to do with out having SOMETHING. So I am on the look out for something. If not a lot of swimming is gonna be in our near future.

This week went by fairly quick though and we were back to early wake ups from Mr. T and school and all the fun stuff. Because I was sick my poor house keeping skills really suffered. And I don't get enough sleep.

Dallas has the crud and we are heading him into the docs tomorrow!

The week came and it went. Saturday we were having a Aunties lunch with my moms sisters in Provo so me and Nicky and my mom head of there. My dad and Dallas get to hold down the fort. Lexi, Koy and Kayden and Tyler are here playing.

Ty had a blast with his cousins.So that is what we are writing about. And posting photos about...

So here you go!! The kids playing...

And then after we went to Cabella's, feed the fish, walked through the free aquarium and then sent everyone home... HOORAY for quiet.

The day was good. The day was long. Tyler was EXHAUSTED. He has so much fun with the kids. I half wish we would have "Started" a little earlier in our endeavor to produce more spawn so he would have more friends. But I guess that is what it is.

Stay tuned for some fun and exciting honest, blunt and raw feelings.

Random Tyler stories

- The other day we went outside to play. After his birthday party the ball pit got left out and it had water in the bottom. We dumped the balls out so the pool could dry and we could take it back inside. Ty decided he still wanted to play. We watched him for a good hour just "running" and playing. I think the consensus is we have a lot of balls for him to play!



- As big Barney fans we love watching Tyler act out some of the scenes. Makes us laugh a lot. The birthday cake last week had us in stitches. Today because of my craft night we had some paint brushes. There is a scene where BJ is naughty and paints the Caboose all different colors. He gets in trouble and Ty tells him No no when he is painting. But we gave him a paint brush from craft night and he painted the walls whenever the song came on that BJ was painting with. It was so funny. The look on his face while he waits is so funny!



- The other day we had my sisters kids over to play. Kayden and Koy are about Ty's age so it was good for Ty to have them around. They had gotten some play guns for their birthday and I went out check on them. I asked Kayden what they were doing and he said " Nana we are NOT shooting at the fence." ( they were shooting at the fence) So I asked Koy what they were doing. He answered " we are throwing the balls over the fence." It was kinda funny.

- The boys ( Ty, Kayden, and Koy) were wanting to watch a movie. Given Ty's lack of buddies he doesn't understand sharing. So he was standing up watching a movie like always. He was SMACK in the middle of the TV. Kayden was sitting on the floor and he said " Nana could you move brother ( Tyler) over." It was so cute. He called Tyler Brother.

- Since we moved in we have had a mysterious pet. I do not like it. In fact I hate it. I hate it so much I have almost stopped taking out the trash. Well the other day I opened the garage to have it slither past. I freaked, hopped in the car and took a picture. I took the boys over to the neighbors from their ball throwing and didn't see our pet and today I watched closely as I took out the trash only to discover our "pet" at the bottom of the stairs that I almost stepped on. I freaked out and still shiver. I HATE SNAKES!



( If anyone knows how to get rid of snakes please let me know!)

Our day

Today was a good day. Ty had school today. He had a BAD BAD night but was up and in the mood to get out the door and fast. He ate a huge breakfast and kept signing more. Finally after 2 full waffles I gave him a carnation drink that he drank most of. He also decided he needed his bum changed JUST as we were walking to the bus. Stinker :)!!

After he got home we ate lunch together, read a few books and hung out. We also decided to go out and put water in his pool. He had a great time. We spent over an hour outside splashing and refilling.

The afternoon was filled with movies, kisses and books and Dad.

These are the days that make it so much fun to be a mom. The house was cleaned and the boys were happy. It was so nice to have it all work together. It makes me realize just how lucky I am.

Here are the pictures of the day!!

He is a fish in the water. He has no fear. He can go underneath, over the top, where every he wants and his body follows in the water.




Laying down chilaxin... Getting ready to kick those legs.





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He was not mad in this picture he does this scrunchy face when he is being silly. That is what he was doing. It was cute.


After he asked for his blanket he laid down because he was sad. It was almost time to get out and he was showing it.
The pout face. Poor kid. Lucky he was almost done!! He had a blast. This is Ty signing for his blanket. He was ready to get out and was sad because he was told he wasn't hurt. He is such a sweetie.

We all had a blast. We were happy people today. He ate like a champ and he mimics all of his dads actions. He is getting so big. We are so so proud of him.


When I finally fully started realizing that he is who is he. And he does what he does. And we work to get him to do things. Then I was able to embrace him. I am able to understand him. I am more patient when things don't progress. He is more of a miracle each day. I will always be so proud of him.