Glasses

 Somebody REALLY needs new glasses!

And Somebody REALLY wishes he did too!

Sneaky

I turned around for less than a minute and someone decided I was taking to long.  He was ready to get in the bath--diaper, clothes and shoes on (I had to stop mid-undressing to document it :)
Never curb that enthusiasm for water Tyce!

Mr. Hotstuff

This is how Tyce spends his days lately.  On a high stool in the kitchen, checking out the counters and whatever I'm doing.  Let's just say he likes to be close to wherever I am.  At least I can walk better now (his 2nd favorite spot is glued to my leg).

Last week I was noticing how capable he was of walking everywhere just a tad wobbly, but chose to crawl.  When he would walk and then fall he always said "Uh oh".  So very cute.  Starting this week, Tyce is now choosing walking over crawling.  Wow.  15 months.  He crawled for over 5 months longer than the other two.  That's long in baby time.  The nice part has been that he's seemed littler longer because of that.  Now that he's upright he seems much bigger (and taller--especially when he's on stools :)
Tyce does this growl-grunt sound to let me know when he wants something.  He knows how to sign, but choses to growl-grunt for "more" and just chucks everything on the floor when he's "all done" and I'm not paying attention.  That may have bugged me if Oshyn did that as a baby, but I'm more into laughing about silly small stuff now.
He's starting to repeat more words and just today I could tell he was trying to say "up" for me to pick him up.  That's cool.
He says "Hi Pop Pop!" (Beau's dad) and when Pop Pop says "Hi Tyce!" back to him, Tyce says "Hi Tyce!"  Love it.
He is a "thank you", more like "tay too" man, very polite and uses it appropriately and OFTEN.
Tyce still says "hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi..." all day and holds random objects up to his ear and says "hello?"  He LOVES phones and skype.  In fact, when he is cranky, that is how I can get him to chill out--call someone or even pretend to call someone on skype.
Tyce LOVES his brothers.  It seems so fun to me to be the third guy.  He has so much entertainment and loves.  They adore him, and for the most part will do anything for him.
He recently weaned himself into one nap.  Thanks Tyce.  Everyone loves a bit more afternoon freedom.
You are a joy to have in our family and make me want to have 100 more little dudes.  (Don't worry--that is definitely an exaggeration.)

P.S.  I don't know how I forgot to mention that he is a BITER.  I mean he likes to sink his 7 teeth into my shoulder, arm, leg, toes...anywhere that seems tasty.  It was really cute before he had teeth because I think he thought of it as terms of endearment--open mouth kisses.  Well, now--it just hurts.  Bad.  The boys laugh and say "Charlie bit my finger!" (check that out on YouTube--you'd laugh too).  So, basically Tyce is not learning.  It hurts but people are laughing--so he keeps doing it.  We'll see where it takes him...

Today

I love a day when sharing seems to come easily, kind words flow out of little mouths like a full waterfall, smiles and laughter are the majority, bikes are ridden and the sun is shining.  What a fabulous day it was.

Ski Week Gone Wild!!

by guest blogger B. Nobmann

Oshyn and I both got outfitted this year with all of the ski equipment so we thought we better go big this year.  We went up to Tahoe for six days and skiied five out of six days!  We met up with the Panttaja gang and Pop Pop at the "Cab" and had a blast.  We could not have timed the weather any better.  It dumped 4-6 FEET of snow the week before and was sunny and clear all but one day.

Oshyn and Isaac tried to find every possible jump and took a few headers in the process (gotta love the new Helmet Fad!)  Dean the Machine was like a bullet, straight down the mountain and Tuke (aka Lukie) kept up with everyone.  Good work dudes!!
Getting everyone to go to sleep at night was no problem!...except Millie...those boys kept being "mean" to her :)  It's tough to be the only girl.

Me again...
First off, I have NEVER seen so much snow in my life!  When we drove up to Truckee it felt as though we were in a winter wonderland.  The snow was so heavy on everything--even the trees were loaded.  All I could think of when I saw the houses were that giant marshmallows were melted on top.  It was beautiful.

While Beau, (Ralph & Nicole on some days) took the big boys out on the slopes Pop Pop and I got to hang with the littles.  We played, colored, watched movies, went sledding (kind of), drank hot chocolate, played pool and went grocery shopping.  Pop Pop and I even took turns going to the gym and swimming laps OUTSIDE!!  Good for cabin fever :)   The littles mostly wanted to stay inside because if they stepped in the snow, it would go up to their chin.  It was so fresh that to sled we were crawling on our hands and knees to try to pack the snow down--and even then we were sinking!  I'm okay with that though because the time we did go out to "sled" and have a snowball fight, Pop Pop was gone and putting all of that gear on 3 littles--2 that are 3 years old and a one year old was A LOT of work.

We had fun making memories and being with each other.  We left a day early because the snow was going to hit hard again.  Chains were on in the first 5 minutes and stayed on all the way down the mountain.  It felt like we were driving through a blizzard.  We made it safe and sound & much to Oshyn's dismay, made it back for school on Friday.

To my Lovely Mother on her NZ Birthday

You are the sweetest, most generous, service-oriented woman I know.  You aren't perfect, but you are human and that's part of what makes you so great.  You are always striving to better yourself and are open minded to any situation that arises.  You are supportive and lend your ear to all of my stories and complaints.  You are positive optimism at its best and you give great advice. You cater to your children, grandchildren, and others according to their needs and personalities as individuals.  You have always respected me (from 3 days to 3 years to 3 decades old!) and the choices I make.  You are always behind me 150%. 

You are a cook & baker, an educator, a book lover, and a spin class cycler, not to mention tech savvy.  I admire you and am always trying my hardest to be half the mother to my children that you are to Chad and I.  If I picked you in heaven, I sure knew what I was doing and if someone picked you for me, they sure knew who I needed for a Mommy.

Hope you have a fabulous day and know that you are loved.  And in fact I love you more than you love me!

Overloads and Cherry Blossoms

I hate to think the reason I have been lagging at blagging (I mean blogging) is my fear of computer overload.  I think our computer is mad at us for having so many home movies and pictures.  I am trying my hardest to back up and move things, but in the mean time we are taking more pictures and movies.  Plus we have 3 little boys that keep us busy (even when we're not documenting it in pictures or movies :) Today I decided that the blossoms needed to be documented though...cross your fingers our computer doesn't blow up.

Every year when these sweet little flowers start budding up on the trees outside our home, I immediately feel a smile creep across my face.  I LOVE SPRING!  Even when its jumping the gun in February--I still love its enthusiasm of blossoms covering the naked trees.  I have a few favorite trees that produce different flowers and blossoms, but Cherry trees hold a place in my heart.  It has everything to do with the Cherry tree we had in my front yard growing up and all of the wonderful memories I have growing up in that home with my fabulous parents and stellar brother (whom I respect much more now, than the days I chucked remote controls at him while I was mad and other things I'm not super proud of--like middle fingers and I'm sure a tongue & other really mature gestures--sorry Chad :)  Back to the blossoms...

There is not too much better that a tree covered in teeny tiny flowers.  Did I mention I LOVE Spring?  And that may have everything to do with the fact that after Spring comes Summer.  In case you didn't know---I LOVE SUMMER--but until then we are basking in blossoms and praying the wind and rain don't whisk them away too soon.

Our own little Pups

Just a bike

A few Saturday's ago we were enjoying the nice day and the boys had just finished their bottle rocket. After about a zillion launches that looked something like this...

we got everything together and opened our back gate to put it all away. It was then that Beau noticed our road bike was missing. Not our Walmart bike that I cruise around with Tyce in the green goodie seat, but a bike I was given as a birthday gift a few years back that resembles one you may see people in tight clothing and helmets ride--like they are working, not lolli-gagging. My heart sank and the fabulous mood that we were both in plummeted. This wasn't a bike we could easily replace. We looked around the neighborhood, but no luck. It is not an exaggeration to say that we were heart broken. I loved the feeling of flying I got when riding the Lightspeed.

As I was getting ready to go to bed a few days later Monday night, I heard a ding on my phone (meaning an email had come through). I opened up the email from one of my dearest friends and time literally stopped.

I found out earlier today that I have breast cancer.

and as I type this weeks later, I still cry--for this kind of trial and journey in a person's life are never wanted or asked for (yet still for a reason). It is all very surreal to me, yet in just a moment, it brought me back to the perspective of what is really truly important in life. Good friends, family, relationships--people in general.

Not bikes.

Back in Business!

After getting a new phone, DSL filter and modem--we can hear people that call us on the phone & are up and running the internet again. Wow. 2 weeks using just my cell phone worked, but I am happy to have the bigger picture. Now its time for catch up...

**Don't worry--you are at the right place...I know after almost 4 years of the same background you may get confused with the pizazz. One would think with how often I like to change my furniture around it would have happened sooner! (...that reminds me its been a while since I pushed couches around...)**

Signs

Should I be offended? I am the only girl here...

You'll never guess the secret code!

I love stuff like this.

Kisses and -isms

All day long Tyce says, "Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi" until you acknowledge his greeting. As soon as Daddy gets home it changes a bit, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" until Beau gives him all the attention he desires. When he's not babbling "Hi" or "Daddy" he can be seen giving kisses and has changed his tongue clicking kiss sound for a real lip smacker--even an occasional fishy kiss. Now we're onto blowing kisses. Did I mention how much I LOVE ONE year olds?!? De-vine I say!

Oshyn is...let's just say comfortable in his own skin. He

doesn't hesitate to let us know how good he is at things, but he does know that most of it comes because he practices so hard. His mind is filled with numbers and often quizzes us all--even Cruz--with addition, multiplication, square roots, whatever he can think of. After quizzing me on some ginormous number times some other crazy number, I said, "I don't know".

O: "WOW! Mommy doesn't know something!"

Me: "I know just as much as you do...I just have more experience."

O: "I think I'm actually a little bit smarter."

Cruz is killing us at this point with his humor--sometimes planned, sometimes just default by what he says seriously. Either way he soaks up the laughter he provokes.

O: I'm going to EAT you!!!

C: You can't eat me--that's impossible!

O: I got two tickets for using "academical" language at school.

C: Is that Spanish?

O: I'm on the 49ers team (of course with his jersey)

Cruz looks at me and says: So that means you're 48?

C: That was WAY beyond AWESOME!

C: Mom you make good yogurt, but I don't like your dinners.

Cruz was SUPER excited to go to Sunbeams (3-4 yr) class at Church, but when he found out they don't play he asked if he could stay in Nursery (18m-2 yr) with the toys...and continues to ask EVERY week.

Kids are GRAND

entertainment everyday of the week.

All 13

Oshyn is a rock star. He memorized all 13 Articles of Faith this past year. So after spending the weekend with the Panttaja's and going to Isaac's baptism we drove back to Lodi where he and the other rock stars were recognized for their hard work.

The Articles of Faithof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535–41

1We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost.

2We believe that men will be ^apunished for their ^bown sins, and not for Adam’s ^ctransgression.

3We believe that through the ^aAtonement of Christ, all ^bmankindmay be ^csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4We believe that the first principles and ^aordinances of the Gospel are: first, ^bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,^cRepentance; third, ^dBaptism by ^eimmersion for the ^fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ^ghands for the ^hgift of the Holy Ghost.

5We believe that a man must be ^acalled of God, by ^bprophecy, and by the laying on of ^chands by those who are in ^dauthority, to^epreach the Gospel and administer in the ^fordinances thereof.

6We believe in the same ^aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, ^bprophets, ^cpastors,^dteachers, ^eevangelists, and so forth.

7We believe in the ^agift of ^btongues, ^cprophecy, ^drevelation,^evisions, ^fhealing, ^ginterpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8We believe the ^aBible to be the ^bword of God as far as it is translated ^ccorrectly; we also believe the ^dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

9We believe all that God has ^arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet ^breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10We believe in the literal ^agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ^bTen Tribes; that ^cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will ^dreignpersonally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be ^erenewedand receive its ^fparadisiacal ^gglory.

11We claim the ^aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the ^bdictates of our own ^cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them ^dworship how, where, or what they may.

12We believe in being ^asubject to ^bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in ^cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the ^dlaw.

13^aWe believe in being ^bhonest, true, ^cchaste, ^dbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing ^egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we ^fhopeall things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to^gendure all things. If there is anything ^hvirtuous, ⁱlovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith.