More on Four

We had Tyler's 4 year checkup the other day. I knew this one involved shots and I've been dreading it ever since I left his 18 month appointment and they said good news no more shots until he's 4! Well, 4 crept up on us pretty fast. He had a good checkup with Dr. Tomaine. He answered questions for the doctor and proceeded to tell him that he eats his boogers (and he does so he was just being honest). I write this so when we go see Dr. Tomaine for Tyler's 12 year old checkup I can remind him of this ;)

They did a hearing test and one of his ears came in under what they like to see. He said Tyler has lots of fluid in that ears o we'll just come back in a month for an ear check and if the fluid is gone we'll do another hearing test to make sure his ear is better. If he still has the fluid we'll go back monthly for 3 months and if it's still there back to the ENT to talk about tubes again. Either way I know he can hear so I'm not too stressed. Sometimes he hears things that we don't like someone knocking at the door or when Dave and I are talking in another room and he hears what we're saying.

He's weighing in at 37.8 lbs (64%) and he's 41.5 in (76%). He cried a lot when they gave him the shots, but did really great overall with getting them. Luckily, we don't have any more shots until he's 11.

Tyler partied at both Grandma's houses last weekend for his birthday. A cow cake made by Alex and Sydney, cupcakes for another party (with super duper large candles), some quad riding and we took him skiing for the first time. It was a good 4 year celebration.

Tyler did awesome his first time out skiing. We weren't quite sure how it was going to go, but he pretty much wanted to just point his skis downhill and fly. I was really surprised at how well it all went. We went on the bunny hill a few times, then went a bigger hill so we wouldn't end up at the bottom so fast. When we'd get to the bottom he'd say "That was awesome!". We skied for about 1.5 hours and he was totally pooped by time we went in to the lodge. I went for a few runs myself and came back in to him sleeping on Dave's lap. So sweet. We're proud of our little skier.

We also had about a foot of snow this past week, so Tyler and Dad got to ride the quad in more snow. We had some fortress building in the basement and lots of playing in the snow. Tyler loves playing in the snow so much. Zac would love to play in it if he would let us get his snow pants on, but he throws a fit so he stays inside and does shoveling usually while Tyler is out playing. We'll get there one day I know we will, but I just don't have the energy to fight Zac to get those darn snow pants on :)

Tyler turns 4!

Gosh, 4 seems old to me. I was ok with 3. It just hit me that when people ask about going to kindergarten my response will be "He starts school next year". Sigh. My baby isn't so much of a baby anymore. Some people say the age of three is worse than the terrible two's. For us, three was a pretty good year. I hope Tyler rocks this ripe old age of 4!

He can have real conversations with people (which sometimes frightens me as to what's going to come out of his mouth), he's really outgoing, but every once in a while he's shy when he states "I'm shy" to someone and stands next to me, he's smart, caring, funny, and has a good sense of humor. He's a cuddler and still gives kisses and hugs freely to us and please Lord don't ever let the stop.

We were in Build a Bear last week and Tyler walked in and said "Dad, I know what bear your going to pick...the princess bear!" and the women behind the counter was like "Did he just bust his Dad's chops??" Yep, he did ma'am. Her response "I love it."

The other day I said to him, "Now that you're going to be 4 we're going to have to pick out a chore for you to do." I started trying to suggest a few things he could do, but before I even got the first one out he said "Mom, no, you don't have to tell me. I know...I could sell tacos." Where that one came from I have no clue! And that's another thing now when I ask him to do something "Mooooommm, you don't have to tell me I'm 4 now."

He's learning so much it's incredible. He can write his name, color in the lines, use scissors, identifies all his letters and knows the sounds they make. He identifies numbers and is starting to be able to read the time on a digital clock. The other day Dave said to me "Should we ask K-Y-L-E if he wants to go to the movies with us (spelling out Kyle so Tyler wouldn't know what we were talking about) and Tyler said "Yeah, let's ask Kyle if he wants to come!" So much for spelling his friends names out.

His energy can outlast Dave and I combined and Dave and I have a lot of energy. Apples doesn't fall far I tell ya. Still a really good sleeper and takes a nap at school, but doesn't take a nap at home. He's getting in to trying new foods, loves to run around outside, he just loves to run in general really (I kid that I think he ran home from the hospital), still loves watching movies, likes playing with friends and playing with his brother, and likes playing baseball and riding his bike. He continues to be a good big brother and they are starting to play together a lot. The wrestle, run around, fight, hit each other, all stuff that brothers do. Even though he still throws some cheap shots around at his brother, he really loves Zac and you can tell. But Zac is starting to throw them back...get 'em. Dave took Tyler to Nitro Circus and when Tyler was done eating his chicken fingers he started wrapping them up. When Dave asked what he was doing he said "I'm wrapping them up to take home for Zac." The boy doesn't give up his chicken fingers to just anyone.

I could write and write about stuff, good and bad, but overall Tyler is growing up to be a nice young man who is making his Mama proud :)

I did a little interview with him about his favorites, here it goes:

Color: Orange
Toy: The motorcycles that race down the ramp
TV show: Paw Patrol
Movie: Finding Nemo
Food: Mac and Cheese
Friends at school: Kyle and Wyatt
Thing to do outside: Play tag you're it!
Thing to do with Mom: Play Go Fishin
Thing to do with Dad (and same answer for brother): Football tag
Song: Cruise by Florida Georgia Line
Book: Dr. Seuss Sleep Book
What do you want to be when you grow up: Monster truck driver

And there you have it. Some answers I would expect and some I wouldn't, but either way that's what he said. Now, some pictures from his birthday party at school and of the small one we had at home last night. More parties to come and celebrate this weekend.

Happy Happy in the new year

Another year gone and a new one ahead. It would take a lot to recap this past year, which is why I have this place to keep all of our memories. 2013 was a great year for us. Lots of fun and excitement, lots of ups and downs, lots of new adventures now that the kids are getting a little older, our first family vacation and surprisingly one of Dave and I's first times going to the beach together on an actual vacation, lots of learning about being parents to two boys, lots of little boys learning, exploring, testing and just being boys. The remainder of 2013 in pictures with a few new ones of the first skiing attempt gone awry in the backyard due to a little too much sticky snow. Happy, Happy to this new year and I can't wait to see the adventures that 2014 will bring!

Swinging in a blanket...an xmas tradition



Hanging with cousins



An unseasonably warm December day so we walked to the park. That big bear in the stroller comes everywhere with us.



Tyler and I on a date at Disney on Ice







Cuteness :)



The grape hoarder



Ringing in the new year at 8pm





They are convinced that we can't see them when they hide here. Best hiding spot ever!



Snow day!



Pretty darn cold here, it was 1 when we woke up yesterday morning...brrrrrrr.



A request to cover his skis in Ninja Turtle duck tape...why not? eBay special for those skis and boots :)



Build-a-bear fun!





We've got Zac's bear whose name is Baller. He chose this one all by himself and then picked out the Sixers outfit since a basketball came with it. The kid is obsessed with basketball!



And Tyler's choice his name is Thor :)



Playing ninja turtles!