Welcome Summer!

The last few weeks have been nice summer weather. We somehow missed spring which is quite sad because I love cooler weather and RAIN! But the second Tracen saw pictures of big suns on the weather forecast he has been begging for the swimming pool and sprinklers. So I finally turned on the sprinklers for them to run through. They were so excited and having so much fun that I was actually able to get a few things done (laundry, make my bed, laundry, BLOG, laundry etc...) So I was busily doing said things when I hear Tyler SCREAMING hysterically and banging on the sliding door. So I go running down the stairs expecting to find blood or destruction (like I usually do) but instead this is what I was greeted with:



So apparently, the boys had made a "little river" and a "dam" and painted another "beautiful masterpiece" on our fence. As you can see, Tracen was so pleased with himself and laughing hysterically at Tyler who was... well... not so pleased with himself. He had mud everywhere. But he was mostly upset with the mud plastered on his tongue. Not sure how that happened. So they obviously were not going to be allowed in the house for a good cleaning so it was to the hose we went. Tracen, again, thought it was fun to be hosed down with freezing cold water. Tyler... not so much. I so wish I could have gotten a video of what happened next. He would not come anywhere near the water yet was still screaming about the mud in his mouth, on his head and everywhere else. So I took hold of his arm and proceeded to try to "gently spray" him off. I am actually shocked that the neighbors did not call DCFS or the police. You would have thought I was beating him for how much he hollered. Tracen was literally rolling on the ground with laughter at Tyler and so was I. Needless to say, I got them clean enough to "enter" and they got a nice warm bath in "big tub".

We have also had fun spending some time with cousins. I watched my sisters kids one evening while Melanie was playing in a soccer game. They had all just had a bath and were settling in to watch a movie in this picture. I thought it was pretty cute.

Tate was sitting in this chair at grandma's house while I was vacuuming the other day when next thing I knew Madi had nestled her way next to him. In the picture she was trying to point to him and said, "That's Tate!" I love Madi. She is truly cute.

Last but definately not least. In fact this is HUGE news for Tracen. He can now ride his bike with no training wheels! He is so proud! He has been doing it for about 3 weeks now. In true Tracen fashion, once HE DECIDES to do something it is all the way. After only 1 week of no training wheels he was quick to show me how he could ride with one hand and how he could do jumps off the curb! Now he keeps trying to practice riding with no hands like Dad- much to my dismay. I have NEVER been able to ride a bike with no hands! I'm kind of a chicken. I don't think I have ever seen so many scrapes and bruises on him ever! And that is saying something. Anyway, we now go on a bike ride every night. (per Tracen's insistance) It has been so nice for Dan and I as well because Tyler is more than happy to ride in the bike trailer with Tate and Tracen is now fast enough to keep the pace moving. I love it. In fact, last week Tracen told me, "Mom, I love riding my "2 wheel bike". I feel so... so FREE!" I totally feel the same way!

That's our Boy!

This picture is of Tracen's preschool class. Do you see what I see? Yup. Our "little boy" is growing up. Anastasia was one of the girls Tracen constantly talked about. "Anastasia said..." and Anastasia did...". Flirting with the girls already. I thought this to be a funny picture. What a great moment to capture.

Lucky you!

I do not know how some people can stay so on top of their blogs. Goodness, a new post or posts every day? Anyway, because I can't keep up, you get the pleasure of reading several posts in one day. LUCKY YOU! If you get bored reading the first 2 posts and are a SUPER WHY fan, feel free to skip down and enjoy my boys latest conversation.

Congratz Graduate!

Happy graduation to my sweet boy. Tracen graduated from my dear alma mater Kiddie Kollege Preschool on Saturday May 17, 2008 and there is no looking back for him. He is so excited for Kindergarten. The preschool helped the kids put on the cutest program. They sang all the songs they had learned throughout the year. I believe it was the exact same program I did when I graduated from there. Tracen got to be "Jumbo Elephant" and dressed up in a very adorable elephant costume. We were so proud of him in his big moment. Thanks to grandma and grandpa Stratford and G-G-ma and G-G-pa for coming to support him.
Tracen really seems to enjoy school and learning and meet some great friends. Here is Tracen with his cousin Collin and "favorite friend that he talked about everyday" Garrett. Good times!

Another B-day party?

Happy Birthday Tracen! Again???
So we finally had a "friend party" for Tracen. We combined with 4 other boys (including cousin Sammy) whose b-days were all within a few weeks of each other. Therefore, we ended up celebrating it a whole month later.




We went to the Classic Fun Center in Layton. Each B-day boy invited 2-3 friends. They skated, they jumped, bounced, ran, climbed and played token games, and ate pizza and cupcakes to their little hearts content. Tracen had fun, but the sobbing on the floor over the fact that the "shock phone" he had won on the B-day wheel had thus far shocked everyone but him was a sign to me that maybe this whole thing was a bit much.
As you can see even Tyler had had enough. When we got home, I went to help him out of his seat, but his legs suddenly became jello and he laid on the floor of the van and began drifting off to sleep. (That is the string to the B-day balloon in his mouth)

So I think in the future we will stick to good old fashion, SIMPLE, B-day parties with homemade cakes, decor and a FEW friends. Yes, simple is good.

Are you a "Super Why" Fan?......

If you have never seen the PBS children's cartoon Super Why, you will not understand why this is so funny... but for those of you moms who watch it faithfully every day with your kids...

So a few days ago, Tracen and Tyler as they usually do, were wearing there Batman and Robin costumes and had been happily playing together for some time. I then began to hear them fighting and wrestling over something.

So I came in saying, "Boys, please stop fighting."
Tracen: "Mom, we can't stop fighting."
Me: "Yes, you CAN stop fighting or you will both end up in your room."
Tyler: "We can't stop fighting. See, it says so in our story. 'Batman and Robin can't stop fighting.'"

How can you argue with that?

It was bound to happen....

So... he did it. I am amazed that this is the first time this has happened. But I am positive it will not be the last for our boys. Well... maybe for Tyler. He was pretty traumatized. What happened? Well, as we were driving home from Dan's basketball game last night, and we were talking about how nice it will be to just go home, get the kids in bed and have a nice relaxing evening because we didn't have anywhere else to be, we hear Tyler in the back seat, "Ohhhhhhh Nooooo! Mommyyyyyyyyyyy!" I look back to see Tyler frantically "digging" in his nose. Of course I immediately throw off my seatbelt and practically climb into his lap as Dan is pulling the car over. "What happened Tyler!" I try to say in my calmest mommy voice. Tracen pipes in saying "He put it in his nose, mom. I told him not to do it but he didn't listen." "GREAT!" I say. "What is in your nose, Tyler. Lean your head back, let me see." "I can't get it out! It's lost in there!" Tyler sobs. I can't see it and he thus far can't seem to blow it out, so we figured we were going to have to take our "relaxing evening" and spend it in the Insta Care. When we got home, to drop Trace, Tate and myself off, Tracen was hysterical because he was so scared for Tyler. I could hear Dan in the other room saying "Just blow Tyler. Blow harder!" So I sat down with Tracen and as he had just started saying a prayer for him, we heard Dan yell, "He got it out!" It was a little red bead they had found at the game. We were so grateful to not have to take him in and pay $200 to have the doctor say "Just blow it out dear." And... we actually got our relaxing night at home.