Christmas slacking

I must admit, I let the holidays get the better of me and they took over my desire to blog. I know that doesn't make sense, because, why wouldn't I want to document all these fun times we're having with our kids growing up...well, I'm a horrible mom and the camera isn't a good friend of mine, and I forget to take pictures, let alone pictures that actually turn out.

I will say though, I did take some good pictures.
A week or two before Christmas, I was headed to bed for the night and was headed towards my kitchen window to close the blinds, when I looked out my window, and was somewhat thrown off when I saw what looked like a man, looking in my window, leaning against my mailbox. Well, as I started to get closer to my window, I saw another man looking from my front step into my kitchen window. Well, these two men, were two different 6 foot fiberglass santa's from who knows where! We still don't know who dropped these huge Christmas decorations off, but rest assured, they will be resurfacing next year...so be warned. People we tell this story to, don't realize really how big these Santa's are until they come to our house and see them in person. Its funny to see everyone's reaction.



Jefferson is getting so cute! He's a very active boy. But when he hits his wall, he hits it fast and hard. He's never really had issues going to bed or at nap time. But one day before Christmas, he must have been really tired. I had fixed the two younger boys lunch then made a phone call. Not even two minutes later, I hung up the phone, and began preparing my lunch as I heard strong, deep breathing. I turned around, and Jefferson was out! He was so cute! His little arms were folded and he just laid his head down on them. I love this little guy!



I was a major slacker, and should probably be shot for not getting any pictures of Christmas! But in my defense, we did take video. The camera is so old...like three years old, that it has MAJOR delays and by the time it actually clicks, the picture moment is gone. So rather than get frustrated, I just didn't take pictures. But I will say, Jake got a "magic bike" as he calls it. Its a little mini battery operated 4-wheeler. Jefferson loves to ride this bike. He's so fascinated by the cause and effect of pushing this little button. I wish I could have gotten the pictures I was hoping for, see excuse above, but I didn't. However, these are the best I got. He is so happy with his "big boy" adventure on Jake's bike.




Anyway, there's our holiday in a very very small nut shell. I promise to be better next year...maybe I'll get a decent camera in the days between now and next Christmas. Haha!

Let's Talk Turkey

My sister-in-law sent me an email with ideas to help us have a more "Thankful" Thanksgiving. Each night, we pull a slip from our Let's Talk Turkey jar and come up with a way to express our thanks for the item we pulled out. Some of these have included being grateful for ears, grandparents, books and the like. Well, the kids know that there are two in the jar that are grateful for sisters and grateful for brothers. So Tanner and Tyler have been telling each other what they're going to do when they pull those slips. Tanner's turn was tonight, and he thinks he knows which tightly rolled up slip is grateful for sisters. Well, as he was trying to pick the specific one, I kept shaking the jar so he would just get the one he grabbed. He wasn't too happy with me for doing that, and didn't hold back in letting me know this. I just had to laugh when I opened the rolled scroll and read, "I am Thankful for my Mom!" Now isn't that just poetic justice! I showed it to Tyson before I read it to the kids and his reaction was the same. Laughter!
Well, my dear sweat little Tyler, took this assignment to heart, and quickly took a pencil to her room to write me a note. (The helpful suggestions on the paper read "Do something nice for mom! Write her a note, good chocolate, cook and clean up dinner, do the laundry, clean any room, etc.) A few minute later, she brought me a folded up piece of paper. I opened it and it read:
Mom I Love yo
I no it is hord.
I Love are famlee.
frum tyler lybbert.
I have to say, it brought tears to my eyes. Being a mom is hard sometimes...a lot of times, but these small little rewards for a hard job, make it just that much more worth it!

Wiggly wobbly woo!!

Jefferson is providing a new world of boy. Each of our boys have had different, very different personalities. Nothing bad, just different from the other. And with each boy, we've gradually been introduced to the boyness of life. Tanner was very calm and could be content just sitting and reading books all day. Climbing was not something he even tried. With Jake, he loved to scare and get people and while climbing was something he knew about, it wasn't something he preferred. Jefferson has opened new doors. The other day, he figured out that if he pulled the stove drawer out, he could hold on to the stove handle and stand on the drawer to get a better view. He loves to climb onto the table and do a victory dance showing pure delight in his accomplishment of making it to the top of the table before mom figured out he was up there. He LOVES balls. If we even mention the word he starts looking for the basketball or bouncy ball to bounce throughout the kitchen. He's also been our wiggliest. Church is more like a wrestling match and cuddle time, while it does happen, is short and sweet. Well, tonight, Tyson was trying to get Jefferson's jammies on and the two were working up quite the sweat to get him dressed. Finally, he finished and Jefferson was off to his next destruction project. When shortly after he was dressed, he started making grunting/screaming sounds. He was able to walk over to us in the kitchen, to which we realized his one piece pajamas were on correctly on the top half of his body, but somehow, in his wiggles, they were twisted in the middle and turned so him right leg was in his left legs spot and left leg was in right legs spot. It was actually really funny, but you know the thought going through both Tyson and my heads was the same...he is SO wiggly!!! The three pictures were the best I could get. He was busy trying to get to a bubble sheet to walk all over and pop with the older kids!

First Haircut

Yes, it is that time that comes in every child's life when his hair just isn't baby cute anymore. Jefferson reached that point a while ago, but time is just not something we have around here very often. So tonight for Family Home Evening he got a haircut. I have to say, all four of my kids have handled their haircuts really well. No one has been freaked out by this buzzing thing that keeps coming at their head...it could be the sucker that has them preoccupied, but we didn't even pull the sucker out with Jefferson until after the big buzzing thing was turned off. I would say he did really well. He didn't hold still so well, but come one, what do you expect from a one-year old?

Jefferson's first "real" word

I know kids say momma and dadda pretty early on, but today Jefferson said more than those two words and more than just jibberish. However, every time I would try to have him say it for someone, he would just look at me in wonder. So, I finally broke out the camera and after many attempts, he said it again. He'd say it, just not when I was recording or when someone else was on the phone. So, to keep you all from getting endless phone calls, regarding Jefferson's first word, here is the video. Oh, and yes, he is in the bathtub, yes he did get a cracker and yes, there are now cracker floaties in the bathtub.

Crazy Jake

I tried uploading this video to Facebook, but for some reason, it wasn't working...or at least it didn't look like it was working. I just couldn't help but post this. Jake was in the weirdest mood the other night. I was able to record him for a minute before he realized that I was recording him. Its too funny.


The other night, we were going through the costume box. Jefferson had so much fun trying on new costumes and wigs. His smile is priceless!!

Miss Nelson is Missing

I'm sure we are all familiar with the book, "Miss Nelson is Missing", but if you aren't, I bet one look at this picture and you'll know the story I'm talking about.

If not, here's a quick summary. Miss Nelson is a teacher and her class is very rude. They don't listen and, you know, the typical school class. Well, one day, the kids show up to school, and Miss Nelson isn't there. For a day or two, the principal substitutes, but quickly realizes these kids are out of control. The next day, Ms. Viola Swamp. Miss Swamp turns out to be every kids worst nightmare. She whips these kids into shape, so much that they won't even sneeze without asking permission first. When Miss Nelson returns, the kids are perfect. They have done a complete turn around in behavior. They are just glad to have their teacher, Miss Nelson, back.

Tanner's class read it this week and had to fill out a story summary form. When he brought it home, I was going through his packet reading the questions he was answering, and his answers. The first questions was, How can you relate to this story. Well, Tanner answered, My mom is like Ms. Swamp. She yells a lot.

Nice! I've never met his teacher, but I'm sure she thinks I'm the worst mom around. Just with some of the times Tanner will call me from school or the way we do our spelling. I'm sure Tanner has helped paint a lovely picture of me for his teacher!

8 Years Old!!

I can't believe Tanner is 8 years old! When did that happen!?
Tanner is such a good kid! He loves to make his younger brothers laugh and he and Tyler play so well together...most of the time. He is such a giving kid and more often than not, ends up being the piece-maker. Today, he received a cute little Thank You note from a little girl in the ward. It said, "Thanks for sitting by me on the bus on my first day of kindergarten. I was glad you sat by me the first time because you held my hand so I wouldn't trip and fall. I was a little nervous with all those kids - -some of them I didn't even know. You're really nice." That's Tanner. He'll go out of his way to make sure everyone is okay and happy.
I didn't get any pictures of his birthday. I know, I'm a bad mom. He woke up and was out of bed before anyone else was up for the day. Which toned down the celebration in the morning. He got a new bike, and not a moment too soon! His old bike he got when he turned 3! And he's long out grown it. We'll get a couple other gifts to give him on Sunday for out family celebration as well. He also got a couple of screw drivers from Grandma and Grandpa Lybbert and a birthday card with $2.00 from Grandma and Grandpa Bishop (great grandparents on the Lybbert side) and a card from Grandma Great.
Happy Birthday Tanner, we love you and are so glad we get to see you learn and grow!

Playing Catch up

As much as I wanted to update, I hate to admit, but I think summer got the best of us. We got caught up in all the fun activities we were doing, and being lazy, it overflowed into my desire to update...I just got lazy. I'd like to say the photos all go in great order, detailing every moment of our summer fun, but they don't. So I'll just put a small caption under each one.

The fam at Jordanelle Reservior. Our final vacation before the end of summer. We went with five other families and had the best time...so much in fact, we've decided to make it an annual thing.
Jake...need I say more?
Jefferson and mom testing the waters. He had a hard time with this camping trip because up until that weekend, he'd never worn shoes. Lets just say it wasn't him favorite thing...but then, neither was walking on the rocks. Needless to say, he had a lot of extra energy to burn when we got home, only to get back in the car for another hour and a half drive. (More on that later.)
The Dickamore's brought their mini 4 wheeler and the kids had so much fun on it! The funny thing about this picture, as you can see, Jake is looking down at his hand, pushing the gas while Ben was still in the process of telling him how to make it go. He'd seen Tanner and Tyler do it, and knew exactly what he was supposed to do, he didn't need instructions!
Tyler gearing up for her ride around the camp pod.
Tyson and I were both very impressed with Tanner on this trip. He took right to the 4 wheeler and was driving every other kid around. He had a little friend that he buddied right up with and on the boat, that the Pettit's were so nice to bring, he was on the yellow banana with two other girls and an adult and when it tipped, he kept his cool and just enjoyed the swimming time. He also loved going fast on the tube we tried out as well. Even mom had a hard time with that one.
Becky, Jefferson and mom getting ready for bed.
Tanner and his buddy Maja. Seriously, these two went everywhere together. We were sad to see the Biggs go after one night. Oh, and yes, they are the same age. And no, she's not standing on up on something to make her taller. She is a full head taller than Tanner.
Enjoying tinfoil dinners...well, I think Tyson is enjoying the tinfoild dinner. Jefferson and Tyler were eating cantelope and smores.
One tired little guy! Summer was hard on him. His naps were never on a schedule so he had to sleep when and where he could. The crazy thing about this picture, Jefferson is the one and only child we've had fall asleep in the high chair. The others have been close, but never made it. Doesn't EVERY kid fall asleep at least once?
Jefferson LOVES being outside. He throws a fit every time I open the door to let the dog in or out because he wants to go outside. He loves it so much, he doesn't even care if he's sitting in the stroller, he just wants to be outside. Here, he's sitting in the stroller while we unload for our second trip in one weekend.
Tanner and Tyler with Desi and Marissa at the restaurant after Grandpa Greats viewing. My grandpa died the day before we left on our camping trip, Friday. (He died Thursday morning). So after we got home Sunday morning from camping, at 11:30am, we had exactly an hour and a half to unpack the car and our bags, get cleaned up, pack back up and head out the door for an hour and a half drive up to Tremonton. Needless to say, most of us had had it at the end of that day. We spent the night in the Hampton Inn, much better than sleeping on the ground! And woke up early the next morning to go to the funeral. It was fun to see all my cousins, not so fun for the purpose, but having the knowledge we do of eternal families, I'm grateful that I will be able to see my grandpa again someday and I can't wait to see the garden he's taking care of!!Me and my brother at the same restaurant. I don't think we have any pictures of the two of us.
Just some carrots we've gotten out of our garden, yes, I have a garden! Its so fun to go out and pick a fresh tomato pretty much every day to have either a toasted tomato sandwich or my new found favorite, grilled cheese and tomato! YUM!! Not such a big fan of the fresh carrots, I think their taste is just too strong. But they're fun to watch grow. And its fun to be able to give them to people I know will enjoy them, like my grandma!

Jefferson's new found joy! He LOVES opening and closing the dishwasher and climbing inside. The best is when he stands up and opens the drawer and sees all the fun things his hands have only been able to feel up to the point of this realization.
And now our summer has come to an end! Tanner on his first day of school! I can't believe he's in second grade!
Tanner has Mrs. Armenta this year.
Best buds...well, most of the time! These two really are best of friends. They have their sibling quarrels, but really, who doesn't!?
Tyler on her first day of school. She has Mrs. Sperry. That's the same teacher Tanner had last year. We've told Tanner that even though its the same teacher, she may do different things this year, so he doesn't need to give her a play by play of what they are going to do this year. Even Mrs. Sperry told Tyler some things will be different, so if Tanner tells her how its supposed to be, to let him know, this is a different year.
She looks so grown up!! When did that happen?
Jake just hangin' with Charlie, waiting for Tanner and Tyler to get home from school.
Jefferson playing around. Notice the "toy" in his hand. For some reason, both he and Jake have found these "toys" to bring hours of fun. Well, maybe not hours, but its lots of fun to pull them out of the box, and put them back in. Or not even put them back in, but walk around the house all day with them, and leave them around.
Jake and Fritz waiting at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come take the kids to school.
And that wraps up our summer. I'm not so good at taking pictures or else I'd have more pictures to document on. Now back into the daily grind of school, homework, reading and lessons. I love routine!!

My Money Man

I have never been so excited and waited so patiently for a magazine subscription to arrive!! Even back in my high school days of Teen magazine and whatever other magazines that appeal to those awkward teenage years. And just for my OCD friends, yes, I would organize them on my night stand by publish date and size of magazine. But, today, my favorite magazine of all time arrived, FamilyFun Magazine. I get this magazine in hopes that my children's claim that our family is not fun, will in fact, be something of the past...we're still working on that. This months issues did not disappoint. I've been really struggling to get my kids to work and be motivated to do anything because, according to them, I never let them do anything fun, I never let them play, I always make them be my slaves so I can sit on my computer all day. Those are their thoughts. Isn't it funny how the kids make the same claims that the parents make. I swear I feel like I'm the one that does all the work, and to avoid the complaints that come when I do ask them to do anything, I let them continue playing so I can have my piece and quiet. In any event, there was this great idea for the kids to earn dad dollars to spend at the mom market. I'm hoping that they will see the money as an opportunity to buy things that they really want and would like, while not using real money, but still teaching them the value of a dollar. I can hardly wait! But here is our money man and our dollar bill! So excited!! If you'd like to do the same thing, with any face, you can go here.

I call this picture of Tyson his Bronco Mendenhall face.

And he's off!!

I feel like a horrible mom, because I haven't documented the exact moment that any of my kids have started walking. Partly because I'm not exactly sure when to document it. Is it the actual "first step" or is it when they can take more than a step without falling into the ground, or is it when they are in fact walking? Well, Tanner, Tyler and Jacob all started walking at about 13 months. Jefferson was acting like he'd walk before then, just because he would take a step or two and then fall to the ground, before his first birthday. But to be able to feel like I can actually document that he is in fact walking, I felt that he needed to be able to take more than those first few steps. So, he followed the family pattern and is now walking at just about 13 months. For a while, it was something that he had to be in the mood to show off, but now, he'll get up and just start walking. I think he still prefers crawling to walking, just because he's still picking it up, but I'm sure it will be no time at all and that will change!

Our summer, Warning: Picture overload!

I thought I was going to be so good to document all of our summer happenings. I'd like to say its because our summer has been non stop fun and crazy busy, but really, its just due to my laziness. Actually, I can't say that we haven't been doing things, but its just little things here and there. My sister and her kids were here for a few weeks in between moving. We were lucky enough to have the kids cousins here for the week while my sister drove her car from New Jersey to Utah. It brought back to my memory, all the times I spent the night with my cousins and how much fun we had when we were little. We spent half of a weekend in St. George. It was a quick trip, and by quick, I mean we left at 6pm Friday night arriving around 9:30pm, and were headed home at 8:30 Saturday night. We went down for my cousin to take our family pictures and we should have stayed longer, but I had a meeting to be back for Sunday morning and Tyler had a talk to give in primary, so it worked better to do it that way. If you want to see a few of the pictures she took, you can see them on her blog LC Photography. You'll have to scroll down a little bit to her entry titled "Mayhem". We've gone up to the Disney Radio fair and had lots of fun there. We've gone swimming and thanks to my mother-in-law, got free passes to the Children's Museum. Anyway, we've had lots of fun this summer, but the best is when the kids want to do something else and we say no, they go into this full on fit of how we never do anything fun blah blah blah. So we just list all the things we've done this summer and tell them if those things were not fun, then we won't do any of them next year. They're quick to take back their complaining...well the complaining doesn't end, but they just move onto something else. Anyway, I'll let the pictures show our fun.
Tanner playing news ancor at the Childrens' Museum
Tyler on the horse at the museum.
Babyland at the Childrens' Museum
Jefferson playing with the potatoes out of the Childrens' Museum garden. This really is a happy expression.
Tyler playing checker at the Childrens' Museum grocery store.
Camping out on Tyler's floor. Tyler was in her bed and cousins Marissa and Desi along with Tanner and Jake on the floor. It was one crowded bedroom!
Jefferson trying to throw the potatoes at me, enjoying his freedom to crawl around at the Childrens' Museum.
Cousin Marissa on the horse at Childrens' Museum
Cousin Desi at Childrens' Museum
Tyler and cousin Desi at Childrens' Museum
Jake at Childrens' Museum
Cousin Marissa at the gateway fountain.
Tyler pouting because she wanted to get wet, but didn't want to get wet if she wasn't in her swim suit.
Tanner and cousin Desi in the fountain at the Gateway cooling off.
Jefferson and Grandpa Lybbert at the Lybbert family reunion up Big Cottonwood Canyon. This is the one and only picture I got of the entire day. Its a little difficult to be camera happy when you are without your husband.
Radio Disney fair. They all got a free creamy for sitting in a line to put a sticker milk stash on, but hey, isn't that what summer's all about!
In front of the hotel in St. George.

Tyler learning to swim in the pool.
Tanner and Tyler.
Along with all our summer fun, Tyler had to take a trip to the dentist to have her first two teeth puller. Her adult teeth were pretty much all the way in and the baby teeth were showing no interest in coming out. Reason being, the roots were still 100% there instead of the adult tooth eating away the root, which in turn makes the tooth become loose and fall out. So, to the dentist we went. I could not believe how long her teeth were! I had to measure them. I know, gross! But both teeth were half an inch long! She was a trooper. The dentist had to pull out the pliers, every kids worst nightmare!! But he was twisting and yanking and pulling to get those teeth out! She had laughing gas and a numbing shot, but still, this was one of those times where her drama was lagit! Anyway, here are the pictures of Tyler's first two teeth!



Anyway, I warned you, picture overload!