5 BUCKAROOS = FABULOUS DAY FOR ME

For only 5 bucks, I got an afternoon free from a little boy asking "guess what mom?", and "mom, watch this", and "mom, look at me." It was soooo worth it. I met up with my friend Jill, and her little boy, Tanner. She took us to a cool indoor skating rink, where kids can take their bikes and scooters, and ride their little brains out all day!! Tyson and Tanner did some boogieing in the colored spot lights. These 4 year olds knew how to "get the party started"? There was another section with a dozen jumping houses and slides. So, after a few turns doing some of these..................................and a lot of this..................... ( I must say that this kid is the master scooter rider-he was ripping it up) I got this! A tired, sweaty, frothy mouthed little boy who was ready to go home and just relax. He was silent the whole way home and didn't make a peep. He didn't ask me any questions. He didn't whine about how he wants a nicer mom (his newest request), or to buy him any toys for his upcoming birthday (December), or which superhero he looks like the most. NOTHING! That was the best 5 dollars I have EVER spent.

MY SHOPPING PARTNER

So this was my shopping partner yesterday. While going through some of Todd's old boxes in the basement, Tyson spotted a BYU hat that is probably 20 years old. Since Todd was wearing a hat, Tyson had to wear a hat (complete with a sticker that was on the visor - transferred to Tyson's forehead ???) Then, the Iron Man glasses (always a must) and of course a sticker that Grandma Christensen gave him. Then, he notices it is raining outside and wants a beanie as well. So we give him an old beanie which we thought was replacing the ball cap. No, not really. It was just added to his head and then topped off with the ball cap. Flip flops and this happy face, completed the outfit, and we were off. In the car, we were laughing so hard, so I told Tyson to smile so I could take a picture of him. This face is what I got. Ewwwww!

Guess who is walking? She is 13 months today, and she finally just "gets it". Tyson started walking before he turned 1, but not this little girl. She has taken her time. She's been attempting to walk for about a month, but gives up once her legs get all shaky (from the extra LB's she's got on that tiny little frame of hers.). That extra weight will soon be gone, because she is serious about this walking thing now. She can take up to 20 steps and when she falls, she gets right back up. She thinks she is big stuff and just laughs - a little nervous yet relieved sounding- when she reaches her destination. I love how she spreads her little fingers out as she walks. BTW : At her 12 month check up last week, she was not in the red zone.(A little too big) It is about every other visit to the Dr. that she is above the 100th percentile, but NOT this time. The Dr.'s exact words "She's back to normal." Normal being 97th percentile for both weight and height. Doesn't this girl's growth have to slow down sometime?

NO BELT.......................NO PROBLEM!!

We had a problem the other night. Tyson wanted to be a "green jagwa power ranger", (I think he means jaguar, but I'm no expert), and couldn't find a tool belt for all of his tools. So, as I frantically search the house for something that he can use as a tool belt, I come across this. He was sitting watching t.v with all of his tools on his lap (or so I thought). Except they were not on his lap, but neatly tucked inside the waste line of his pajama bottoms. How inventive!!! His idea was working perfect, until he stood up. He slowly realized that with each step that he took, one more tool piled up at the bottom of his pant leg until his "tool belt" was empty. Maybe it is time for a real one.

BASEBALL AND BOYS

Yesterday was the longest drive ever from Salt Lake to Vegas. Jaisa cried pretty consistently the whole time. She was so tired, but Tyson was trying to make her laugh. She would laugh hysterically, then cry, then laugh on and on for hours. It was a horrible trip, but we made it safe. Once we got into town, she took a nap and woke up the little happy baby that she normally is, so I am thinking about forgiving her for the drama she caused in the car. We thought it would be fun to go to my 5 year old nephews t-ball game, since Tyson was really excited to see him and "couldn't wait". Plus, it was good for us to get out and about, after being in the car all day. Jaisa was actually trying to talk to all the 5 year old boys through the gate. She would blabber and then turn around and smile jumping with excitement! I guess she wasn't getting quite the reaction that she wanted from them, so she sat down and thought of her next move. "Bingo", she saw a group of them congregating to her left and she was off. She crawled over to the dugout, where she continued to harass them. I heard one of the little boys say "look at that baby. What is she saying?" It was so funny that they were all looking at her trying to understand what she was saying/doing. She just laughed and smiled, while she tried to figure out how to get closer. Until big brother Tyson came over and scared them all away. (Actually it was their turn to be in the outfield. But wouldn't that have been a cool if he walked over and they were all scared of him for flirting with his sister, so they all ran off?) I think he is going to be very protective of her as she gets older. I love it!

LUCKY 7

Jaisa got all of her first 4 teeth at the same time, when she was about 6 months old. It was horrible! So, why should I be surprised that she is getting 7......yes 7 teeth at the same time- right now! All 4 canines and 3 molars. She goes from happy and content to extremely irritated within seconds. She isn't sleeping well and has been pulling on her ears. I swear Ty just woke up one day with all of his teeth. They were no big thing to him. I say lucky 7 because those are some 7 lucky teeth. That girl can eat anyone under the table, and there is not a single food that she will turn her head to. They will be worked hard(eating all day every day) but sweetly rewarded by Grandparents and her brother with lots of treats. Good thing her dad is now a Dentist and can maybe salvage them down the road. It has been over a week and there is not end in sight, as they are still just spikes above her gums. The dilemma - Do I let her cry and whine a bit at night, because there is nothing that we can do(she is already drugged)? Or do I go and get her (she always starts laughing the minute I pick her up), let her play for a minute and then give her ANOTHER bottle (which lets face it, is probably the reason she whines because she knows I will give in and get her one)? Oh, for this teething phase to be over!

A LITTLE ONE ON ONE

Now that we are living in Salt Lake, Tyson is having fun doing things you can't do while living in a 115 degree weather or in a condo with no yard. He has a big yard now and a dog to harass (better her than us). The weather is perfect and is great for riding his scooter, skateboard or best of all, playing on the basketball court. Since Todd, his brothers and his dad all played basketball for BYU, it is a given that we are encouraging Tyson to love this game. So many hours are spent on the court, while Jaisa just stares at the dog saying "dad" over and over again- I think she is a little confused!

After teaching Jaisa how to blow a whistle (yippee-loud noises), his dad challenged him to a friendly game of one on one. Because Tyson had the whistle, he was the referee and the game went something like this: Tyson would shoot the ball a couple dozen times, and count all the baskets he would make. Then, while he would run to get the ball, he would watch Todd and count the baskets Todd would make. Therefor, only seeing 1/3 of of went really went in. He even gave Todd some pointers on how to make more baskets! (a little help from dad with a slam dunk) Thus declaring himself the winner. When I asked Tyson to stop so I could get a picture of him after he won, this is what I got. It is funny to all of us who have seen Todd's team photos from years of playing ball, because this was his exact pose. (who would have thought that a boy payed that much attention to detail?)

Less than 24 hours in Salt Lake, and Tyson has already invited the neighbors over. They were just hanging out in the rain, so he invited them in. He offered them dinner and placed them gently on the kitchen counter to protect them from the dog, human footsteps, the rain and "the Jaisa monster" (what he lovingly calls his little, I mean younger sister). My thoughts are she would definitely have a taste for es cargo, but we didn't test it. We quickly ushered them back outside under the plants and discussed why we can't bring snails into the house (as Grandma wiped down the counter tops with clorox wipes). He was so excited to see these little guys since the only snail he has ever seen is Gary, Spongebob's pet. Grandma helped him make a nice little "home" in a jar, but we eventually let them go! Moral of the story: just because you and your big, buff, strong and handsome husband are scared to death of bugs, does not mean that your little boy is doomed!

Sunday Stroll

This was our last weekend living in Las Vegas and we are all so sad. Well, Todd not so much! We took a walk down the street to the golf course to see the ducks. There were only 2 today, so we fed the nasty pigeons too. Jaisa had just woken up, so we didn't have to chase her around quite yet. She was happy just sitting with daddy. When she was finally awake enough to get up and crawl around- she rolled a couple of 360's (we were on a bit of an incline), and decided that it was safer with dad.

My sister Stephanie came up from Arizona, to hang out for the weekend before Todd and I move to Salt Lake (in the next couple of days). I'm so sad to be moving even further from my sisters who live in Arizona and will have to figure out how we can see eachother more often!

KISSY KISSY!!!

Jaisa wants a popsicle and Grandma and Grandpa want a kiss. The solution: let Jaisa see you eating one and she is putty in your hands. She moves in for the "kill". No seating needed. She will make herself comfortable any way she can and wait for the next bite. (even sitting on your head or neck- as she demonstrated with Grandpa) She gets a treat and you will get ............................

A KISS!!!!!

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

My mom and dad took Tyson and his cousin Isaac to the museum here in Las Vegas for a day of fun. Apparently they were inseperable, as seen in these photos. These faces say it all! So intense!