The Alexander Family

Merry Christmas 2012

2012-01-01T15:55:00.001-08:00

Every year I feel so blessed for the family I have. I often feel underserving of such a wonderful husband and three fabulous kids. Every day they keep me laughing, on my toes, and happy. At Christmas time these feelings ring even truer. I feel like a lot of it is about presents and who is getting what, but my favorite part is being with my family all together for a few days. This Christmas was no exception. Ryan was able to take a break from work and spend extra time with us.

To start this Christmas off, I was able to attend a Christmas party for Tyler's preschool. It is so fun to see him experience all kinds of fun things. His favorite was talking to Santa and making a gingerbread house.

The weekend before Christmas we were able to go down to Salem and have an early Christmas with Grammy and Papa. We went to a live nativity at their Stake Center, and the kids still loved seeing the camel Nigel, as well as all of the other animals in the stable. It was a sweet night, focused on that first Christmas night over thousand years ago.

The next day, we opened presents from Grammy and Papa and had a great time together. Sydney loves her beads and her bag that she got to decorate. Tyler loves his Lego table and new Spiderman car. Brady loves his construction ride-on truck and building blocks. Ryan and I LOVE our new iPad and bench that will go in our front entryway. That night we were able to hang out with Grammy and Papa and enjoy time with them. It was a great way to start our Christmas Season.

The night before we went to Utah, we were able to see Katie and spend time with her. She gave us the games of Pictionary and Twister for Christmas, and we had a great time playing it. Twister was especially fun - the kids thought it was hilarious.

Our flight out to Utah was uneventful - which makes for a good flight. When we got to Utah we were able to get some last minute shopping done and see lots of family. Ryan and I even saw two movies! We were able to spend time with Brendon and Shay and little Hudson. Hudson wasn't sure about all the attention from his cousins, but they loved playing with him and sharing our gifts to them.

Christmas Eve we had a big dinner and had a special visitor come, SANTA CLAUSE! The kids were in heaven, except for Brady. Sydney wanted a dog with a pink collar, Tyler wanted Legos and Brady wanted nothing to do with Santa. It was a great time.

Christmas morning came and the first thing that Sydney asked for was, "can I play the iTouch?", as opposed to "can we go upstairs yet to see if Santa came?" So the kids all played games on the iTouch while we waited for parents to wake up and shower. Once they got upstairs they were super excited! After we saw what Santa brought, we got ready for church. My Dad and I played Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," and did a pretty good job. It was fun to be able to do that with him. That afternoon we were able to go out and see the Didenhovers new house (which is just about finished, and beautiful!). Then we went back to my parents' house and opened presents to and from all of the family. The kids all got remote control cars from Grandma and Grandpa. They light up and do lots of tricks. It was fun to be able to see them all playing and laughing. Ryan got some new shirts and things for his garage. And we love the remote control helicopter. I got the gift of sight through lazer eye surgery earlier in the month. It was a fabulous Christmas. What a blessing it was to be able to spend time with family and enjoy everything the Christmas season brings.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to do something out of the ordinary and take a big trip to Disneyland! First we flew to Utah to visit with family and see Beauty and the Beast musical at my Dad's high school. The kids LOVED being able to meet Belle and the Beast. It was so fun to be able to enjoy that time with my family. We also were able to see Katie, Brendon, Shay and "baby Hudson." Although he isn't much of a baby anymore! The kids love being able to see cousins, aunts and uncles in Utah.

Utah was a short trip because we flew in on Wednesday and started our drive to California on Saturday. We went on the trip with my Mom, Dad, my sister Alisa and her husband Kurt and two boys Jake and Josh. We ended up staying the night in Las Vegas with my Grandma Saturday night and continued our drive on Sunday down to California. It was fun being able to hang out in the car and watch movies with my kids. I got to sit in the back seat with them and enjoy every minute with them. Monday we went to Legoland. The kids liked seeing all the things built out of legos. Their favorite part was driving the lego cars. It was a fun start to the week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we went to Disneyland. There we were joined by my brother Rob and his wife Aubrey, and my littlest brother Jeff. We got in early and did Fantasyland with all the rides. The kids loved the all the rides! Sydney got to do her favorite, the Carousel. Tyler enjoyed all the roller-coasters. It was so fun to be able to do the bigger rides with my daredevil. In fact we were standing in line for a ride and Tyler said, "Mom when are we going on more roller-coasters?" Brady was just happy being with his cousins and grandparents. He was especially happy to be hanging out with Daddy. He is a little bit of a Daddy's boy and absolutely loves being with Daddy. The second day we did a little in Disneyland and then went over to California Adventure Land. Once again Sydney LOVED the Carousel, especially since it was Ariel. But Tyler did not like the Tower of Terror. It was his idea to ride it, but he did not like it at the end. It was mine and Ryan's favorite ride. But I also liked the California Screamer.

Thursday was my favorite day! We went to Disneyland and it was all decked out with the Christmas decorations - it had been the first two days we went also but this time on Main Street we walked down and everyone waved and said hello. Also the characters were all out for the kids to meet. It was fantastic!! The kids loved seeing everyone out and saying hello. We went on a few rides and did some shopping. And then for Thanksgiving dinner we ate at Goofy's Kitchen. It is a buffet and so yummy! The kids had a very different Thanksgiving dinner of corn dogs, fries, peaches, gummy worms in "dirt", and lots of treats. Ryan and I stuck with some of the more traditional turkey and potatoes. Our favorite part was meeting all the characters there. Sydney's favorite princess is Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. She was there and Sydney was so excited!! There was also Captain Hook who Tyler really liked, and Brady's favorite was the Fairy Godmother. He loved her and was such a flirt. She came over and he pulled up his shirt and showed him his "chub chubs." So cute!!

It was so fun to be there with all the family and spend a Thanksgiving dinner with the characters. A memory that I will treasure forever. I love my little family and love being able to see life through my little kids eyes.

October Happenings

2011-11-28T13:35:00.001-08:00

We had a great October. We have a new addition to our family - A beta fish. The kids named him Spiderman Spikey Alexander. Tyler decided on the Spiderman and Sydney chose the Spikey. They absolutely LOVE this fish. Brady squeals with delight anytime I feed him or he gets to see him. It is so fun to have a new pet.

The kids had their Primary program oneof the Sunday's in October. They were so excited to sing the songs that they have learned. Grammy and Papa and Great Grandma and Granddad came up to see the program. It was great to have family there and fun to visit and eat a good dinner afterwards. I am glad that everyone made the effort to see the kids perform at their best. They were super cute all dressed up and singing on the stand. I am lucky to be in the presidency so I was able to sit right by Tyler and enjoy his first program with him.

October also brought 2 holidays for us. Daddy's birthday and Halloween. We celebrated Ryan's birthday by eating donuts for breakfast. The kids love donuts and are excited anytime they get to eat them. Sydney and Tyler colored pictures for Daddy that he was able to take to work. It was fun to see them think of things that Daddy would like and how they could make his day better. My favorite part was that we put the kids to bed early and got take-out. I love those kind of dates with Ryan.

This year for Halloween the kids partied and partied and partied. It was a little out of control - but lots of fun. It started with Tyler's school Halloween Party. Grammy came up and off we went to have a fun time at school. The boys got to play games, eat snacks, and go trick or treating around the school. Sydney also had a school party that I was able to help with. THey had lots of fun. Her favorite was making a Halloween necklace. Then we had a Trunk-or-Treat at church, trick-or-treating at the shopping mall, and trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Of course - as any good Mother does - I tax the kids on their candy and take all the Twix. :) Sydney dressed up as a cheerleader, Tyler was Spiderman (for the second year in a row - but it was what he really wanted to dress up as) and Brady was Superman. The cutest superheroes and cheerleader ever!!

Tyler's First Day of Preschool

2011-10-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tyler had his first day of preschool! He is so excited and so ready for preschool. He loves having something that he does all by himself. The first day, Ryan and I were able to stay with him and be able to ease him into this new experience. It is the same preschool that Sydney went to - so he is familiar with the school. He was nervously excited for his first day. He wanted to wear his Superman shirt and Buzz Lightyear shoes. We were able to make a scrapbook picture of our family, play with trucks, have snack, do some crafts and have a fun day at preschool!

Brady Walking and Other Cute Pictures

2011-10-11T13:38:00.001-07:00

My back is grateful, but my heart is a little sad because my baby is walking! He started about 2 weeks ago. He waited a long time, but now he is a pro. He just likes to wait his time and then take off. He did the same thing with crawling. Now I have to be careful because he is fast! He loves to climb and get into kitchen drawers. Every morning when I take him out of his crib he is so excited to get downstairs and see the family. He says Ma Ma, Da Da, and Ty Ty. Sydney tries to get him to say Syd, but I think it will take awhile. Brady is a very happy toddler. He loves to laugh and has a great big toothy grin. He loves playing with Tyler and their play tools. He loves balls and his favorite game is to go and fetch toys. When I teach piano lessons I can keep him busy by throwing balls across the room and he goes and gets them. I just love this boy!! He is with me all of the time and I LOVE IT!! We still call him Boo Boo - a nickname that Sydney and Tyler gave him.

Tyler is really growing! He has had a little bit of an adjustment having Sydney go to school. In the morning he still says he misses her when we walk her to school. But I am loving having him home and being able to spend time with him. He knows all of his Upper Case letters. I am working on the lower case. He knows a lot of them, but there are a few hard ones. He loves being in Sunbeams and is participating in his first Primary Program in a few weeks. He loves riding his bike and running around. He is a big helper in the kitchen and loves to bake treats with me. He still loves playing with dinosaurs and loves playing with them with Brady. He is such a big helper. I love my little/big boy!!

Sydney is so much fun! She is loving first grade. She is such a good reader and getting really good at piano! She is still a morning person and gets up early so we usually get a lot done in the morning. Piano, reading, shower, homework plus all that is involved with getting her ready for school. She loves to decorate and organize. She tells me that she wants to be a hairdresser when she grows up. She loves playing with make-up and is a really good big sister. She likes to play mini-mom. She tries to help Brady walk, even though he already knows how to. She likes to swing and play with her friends at school. Even though I keep telling her that she can't grow any bigger, she does. I miss her when she is gone, but I love having her home when she walks in the door. She tells me everything that goes on and I love hearing about her day.

School Pictures

2011-09-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

School as officially started. Sydney is started First Grade with Mrs. Woods and Tyler will start preschool with Ms. Ackerman. I decided to take my school kids out to a park for some impromptu pictures. They were super good - which was extra nice because my camera battery died soon after we got there. I will have to take Brady out another time.

Sydney loves First Grade, she said it was the best day ever! She absolutely loves school and can't wait to go. Tyler and I had a little bit of a harder time. Tyler came in that morning and asked where Sydney was. I told him that she had gone to get dressed for school and he immediately burst into tears and said, "Not again!" Poor kid. Daddy and Brady were the strong ones. I tried to make the first day lots of fun and took him to the splash park to meet some friends. He had a blast! On the second day as soon as we left the building from dropping her off he said, "Mom, I miss Sydney." He will be so excited when preschool starts in a month. And then he can be the big boy going to school. Until then, he gets to hang out with Brady and me and work on things at home. He is getting really good at his letters and sounds.

Here are a few of the best pictures.

Sprint Triathalon

2011-09-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

This is the second year I have done the Sprint Triathlon with Gayle and Monmouth Stake. It is fun, once it is over. :) It is a .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a little more than a 5K. I loved crossing the finish line with my family waiting for me - cheering me on! It is always a good experience.

Utah Trip

2011-09-06T21:17:00.001-07:00

The last trip we did for Summer was a trip to Utah. We drove out with Grammy and spent 10 days. The kids had a blast! Sydney was so excited to drive and they were really good in the car. While we were there, we went boating, to a family wedding, visited with lots of extended family and had a great time. The kids love seeing their aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. We also went to the "Up" house and the County fair. Lots of fun packed into 10 days. It's always hard to say goodbye, but it was a great trip. We were glad we got out there for a little bit this summer.

Grandma and Grandpa Visit

2011-07-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Another exciting thing that happened this month was a last minute trip from Grandma and Grandpa. It was so fun having them here for a few days. We walked the Nike path, went shopping in Woodburn, drove out to Tillamook and then along to the beach at Lincoln City. The last day we stayed home and hung out. We watched a movie favorite of ours, How to Train Your Dragon, Sydney practiced the piano, we read books and had fun! It is always sad to have them go, but we had a great time for the few days they were able to come out.

Fun in Bend

2011-07-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

This month we had lots of excitement. We went to Bend for a week with Grammy, Papa, and Katie. We loved having Daddy with us for a whole week to play with. During our stay, we did lots of playing. There is a pool across the street from the house, so the kids spent lots of time playing in it. Tyler loved his water gun and had a big water fight with Papa and Daddy. They used their kickboards for shields. Very creative! Sydney really came along with her swimming and by the end of the week didn't even use floaties. Brady also loves the water. He would sit on the side and jump into willing arms.

We also celebrated Tyler and Katies birthdays. We went to Red Robin for dinner and had yummy frozen yogurt. Then went home and opened gifts. Tyler loved his dinosaur book and water toys. His favorite was his sunglasses that he didn't take off for the rest of the night.

One day we drove to the waterfalls and hiked around. It is a beautiful area. I loved walking around and seeing new places. Tyler got tired in the middle of it so I ended up giving him a piggy-back ride. It is a memory I will always treasure

The kids loved going for a ride with Papa in his Porsche. They thought it was SO COOL! Even Brady got a ride on Daddy's lap. Don't worry it was just around the block and they all wore seat belts. :)

The last night we went to a bike race on the main street. It was fun to see the fast bike racers, especially since the kids are loving riding their bikes.

It was a fabulous week of fun and family time.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

2011-07-11T15:22:00.001-07:00

I don't know where the time has gone, but my Tyler turned 4 last week! We started the day out with our family tradition of eating donuts for breakfast. Then we went and saw Kung Fu Panda 2. Brady isn't at a great age for movies, so I went out in the hall. But all the kids loved the movie. After the movie we went home and played outside. Mom and Alisa helped me make a dinosaur cake. For dinner that night we took everyone to Papa's Pizza. They had fun playing in the play area and eating pizza and dinosaur cake. After dinner we opened presents. Tyler got a bike, a booster and a basketball. It was so fun to see him open his presents! Some things I want to remember about Tyler are:

He LOVES dinosaurs.
He is a great big brother to Brady. Brady just adores Tyler. There are nights when Ryan and I sit outside their door and listen to them giggle at each other.
He is still a Momma's Boy - in a good way.
He is great at making his bed and putting his clothes away.
He is really understanding his letters and the sounds that they make.
He loves to help me cook. He will hold my hand and turn it over to put ingredients in a bowl.
He is all boy. He loves guns, Buzz Lightyear, animals, rocks, dirt, digging in the dirt, all the things that boys love.

Tyler loved his dinosaur cake.
Jake and Sydney loved being able to spend time together. Sydney is wearing a dress made by Grandma Camille.
Waiting for the movie to start.

Tyler was so excited for his donuts!

The kids were at the table making treasure maps. It was super cute!

Fourth of July Fun!!

2011-07-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

This year for the 4th we had my family come into town. It was a BLAST!!! I love when we get to get together and see each other. Saturday we left the kids with my Mom and then Alisa, Kurt, Ryan and I went over to Nike and went around the loop. It was a fun way to start our vacation. I felt better about all the other calories that we ate. :) We mostly just hung out on Saturday. On Monday we got up and went for a hike/walk at Cooper Mountain. The kids had a fun time playing at the playground and running around. That night we went to a park and let them run around more. Then we went home and did sparklers and fireworks. Fantastic 4th!

Brady loved being on Daddy's back during the hike.

Sydney loves the slide. It's her favorite thing on the playground.

Playing at the splash park. Getting 5 children to smile at the same time is hard, but we finally got a great picture.

This is Brady at the start of the hike.
This is Brady at the end of the hike.
Tyler loved the wagon at the park.
My Prince Charming. :)

Fathers & Sons Campout

2011-07-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago Ryan took Tyler on the Fathers and Sons campout. They had a great time! Tyler loved camping in the tent and spending time alone with Daddy. They had a playground at the campground and he thought it was great. They came home the next afternoon and Tyler went and put his head down on the porch step and pretty much fell asleep. Daddy took really good care of him!

Brady's First Birthday

2011-06-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

Brady turned one on May 31. This year has flown by! I can't believe he is one already. He is such a joy in our family. For his birthday weekend, we went down to Grammy and Papas and had cake and ice cream. Great Grandma and Granddad Alexander came up to enjoy the evening with us. I made Brady's cake and was so excited for him to eat it. I made the icing out of fondant so it didn't get too messy. The next day we went and rode bikes and the tractor. Tyler loved the tractor and we put Brady in the back. They thought they were so cool. Sydney got her training wheels taken off her bike and she hasn't gotten off the bike since. She LOVES it! Ryan and Papa taught her how to better use her breaks. The actual day of Brady's birthday we ate donuts for breakfast and I gave him an extra long bath. He loves to sit and play in the tub. That night he "opened" a couple presents. He actually had no interest in opening them, but Sydney and Tyler were really excited to help. Then he ate a cupcake that I made for him and made a HUGE mess. He loved the frosting and loved licking it off of his fingers. It was a fun weekend and day.

Misc. May Pictures

2011-06-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sydney recently had an open house for her school. I am so proud of what she has accomplished this year. She loves her class and her friends. She is reading and writing really well and she loves to learn. These are a couple of the art projects she has done that are on the Kindergarten wall.

Tyler has hit a growth spurt and is full of energy. He loves to play at the school park. He climbs and runs and swings. He is complete boy who is really growing up fast. I just love all his positive energy. He is also at the cute stage where he says the funniest things. He just cracks me up! He is a great big brother and a big help with Brady.

Sydney learned how to do the monkey bars at school this year. She loves to run around and play at her "school park." She really enjoys recess at school and feels like she never has enough time to run around. We are definitely ready for summer and being outside all day long.

Brady has the best smile ever. He wakes up with a smile and it lasts all day long. He loves sitting with Daddy in the morning. He also loves playing with his big brother and sister. They have taken to calling Brady "boo boo." He loves the attention that they give him. He is also into EVERYTHING! He wants to pull everything out of cupboards, baskets, boxes, bins. You name it, he wants to get into it.

We were walking to school one day and the school had this tree blocked off. Apparently the day before, a swarm of bees came and made a hive. They had to get someone to come and take it away. The kids loved looking at it - from a distance of course.
Sydney had her first piano recital. I am very proud of all that she is accomplishing. She played two songs and did a fantastic job!

Family Pictures 2011

2011-05-10T15:27:00.001-07:00

Every so often I ask Doug to come up and take pictures of the kids and the family. I feel like they are getting so big so fast, that I want to capture every moment. Doug does such a good job and I love the pictures!!

Mothers Day 2011

2011-05-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I LOVE mothers day! I have a great mother that was a fabulous example to me, and I have a wonderful husband and children who spoil me all day. This year it started off with Ryan making me hot chocolate and toast, my favorite breakfast! I read books with the kids and then we played the Wii for awhile. Ryan helped me pass a level on Super Mario Brothers that I couldn't pass. Then we went to church and Sydney went up and sang a Mothers song. Tyler wouldn't get up on the stand, but he gave me a puppy dog smile, that I can never resist. We then went to primary and the kids colored cards for me. During the last 20 minutes of church Brady had a "diaper malfunction" and we went home early. We had one of my favorite dinners of sweet pork and Ryan made some peanut butter cookies for dessert. We also watched the Princess and the Frog. I even got to spend the entire movie cuddling with my kids. It was a great day!!!

Sydney's 6th Birthday

2011-05-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

On May 6th, Sydney turned 6. She has been so excited for her birthday. She has been talking about it for months. She was really excited that she turned 6 on the 6th. The night before her birthday we went to dinner at Five Guys and ice cream at the frozen yogurt place we like with Grammy and Papa. For breakfast the next morning we had donuts and for school she took oreos for her class. She was able to wear the school birthday crown. Her request for dinner was homemade waffles and her favorite syrup that Grandma makes. And of course BACON! We opened gifts that night and she finally got her booster seat. Her favorite gift was from Tyler, A new Justin Bieber shirt. He told her that she is a "huge" fan! Saturday we had some friends over for her birthday party. She wanted to have a movie party so we rented Yogi Bear and made lots of popcorn and had lots of junk food for the kids. I think it was a success. I am so glad that she is my daughter. I asked her if she would go back in time and turn 4 in stead of 6 and she said, "You're mommy let you grow up, now it's my turn." This is so true, she is growing up so fast!

Tulip Festival 2011

2011-05-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Every year we try to make it down to the tulip festival in Woodburn with Grammy. The kids loved running around, they do not love taking pictures. This year we went down on a Thursday and the weather ended up being perfect. I was afraid it was going to rain, but instead it was just a little overcast. The kids especially liked the playground area. We packed lunches and had a wonderful afternoon.

Easter 2011

2011-05-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

This year was a special year for Easter. My Mom and Grandma were able to come up and visit for the weekend. We had lots of fun watching movies, having tea parties, and just playing with the kids. Easter Day is always special, but this year was especially so because we had so much family around for dinner. My kids were able to spend time with 6 of their 10 grandparents - including the greats :). The kids also liked it for other reasons like the Easter Bunny, good food, and all the attention they received. At church Sydney gave a wonderful talk on Easter colors and Tyler did a fantastic job on giving the prayer and scripture. He looked so big up there as a sunbeam.

General Conference Weekend

2011-04-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend for General Conference was a good weekend. Tyler woke up sick in the morning, but perked up just in time for the weather to turn good. Sydney and I went on a bike ride and then we went to the school park. The boys love the wagon. And it was so fun to be out in the semi-sunshine.

Spring Break in Utah

2011-04-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

The week before Spring Break, I worked really hard to pull off a really BIG surprise. I wanted to take the kids to Utah to visit family, but I wanted to surprise both the kids and the family. So I worked really hard, and told Sydney that the suitcases were out because I was cleaning out the closet, and I did it! We woke the kids up early on the day we left and drove to Utah. The kids were fantastic in the car. Such great travelers. We made it in under 12 hours and had a fabulous time. It was so much fun walking up to the doors and ringing the doorbell. The kids thought it was the best ever. During the week we went rollerskating with Grandma, Alisa, Jake and Josh, played in the backyard, got the kids teeth cleaned by Aunt Katie, and I ate at in-n-out three times. We also got to go to Park City and watch movies. It was so nice to relax and just enjoy the kids and all the family we were able to see. We also got a surprise at the end of the trip. My Mom bought a plane ticket and drove back with us. The kids were still great travelers, and I got someone to talk to. I loved every minute of it. It did take longer to get back because the weather was not great, but I still enjoyed the company.

January February and March Family Fun

2011-04-06T16:20:00.001-07:00

Life has been really busy lately and I haven't had time to do much blogging. We have had lots of fun the last couple months and the time has been flying by.

Sydney is still loving school (mostly). She is really coming along on her reading and writing. I love seeing what she brings home. I was having a bad day a few weeks ago, and she drew me a beautiful picture of the two of us. She also wrote how much she loves her Mom. It really brightened my day. She is such a big helper around the house and with her brothers.

Tyler is growing and continuously keeps me laughing. Just this morning he was trying to convince me to carry him up the stairs by telling me that he didn't have ankles and he couldn't walk. He is at the age where he keeps me guessing and laughing all the time. He recently started a basketball class and at first didn't like it, but last week really started getting into it. I haven't gotten pictures yet because he wants me out on the court with him. I am hoping to next week. He has lots of energy and loves to play with his little brother Brady.

Brady is getting so big and is moving around lots and lots. He is almost crawling, but until then he rolls and scoots all over the place. He dumps toys and laughs and smiles constantly. He got his first tooth and is getting his second. When he wakes up he loves to see Sydney and Tyler first thing in the morning. He also loves his Daddy. He gets a big smile and laughs whenever he sees him. He is so much fun!

Here are a few pictures from the last few months.

This is the kids leprechaun trap. They did it all by themselves. Sydney and Tyler both drew pictures for the leprechaun and had it all set up. Our leprechauns name was Lucky. Although we didn't catch him, he was nice enough to leave our milk green, Lucky Charms, and he even messed up the kids rooms.

The kids love playing out in the rain and the puddles. I think they look so cute in their raincoats.

For Pi Day, I made an apple pie. It was delicious! I really enjoyed cooking it and think I will make another one very soon. Sydney took one look at it and said, "I don't like pie." Too bad for her, but good for the rest of us - we got more. :)

Brady absolutely LOVES bath time! He was enjoying it so much the other night, that I read the older kids their nightly books in the bathroom while he splashed around. Tyler thought it was really funny.

Brady LOVES Daddy. He gets to do so many fun things that Mom won't let him do, like play on the stairs.

The kids love reading. When Papa was up, he was nice enough to read them some library books. They thought they were in heaven!

Brady loves his Grammy - and her lap. :)

Brady also loves to clap all day long. It is his favorite trick.

Tyler is such a good big brother, he plays with Brady and helps him make a big mess. Sometimes he even helps clean it up for me.

For Dr. Seuss's birthday, we had a little party with some of the kids friends. Here they are with their Cat in the Hat bags. They had a great time.

These are the Thing 1 and Thing 2 cupcakes I made for the party.

Brady is my special helper in the kitchen. He loves to smile and loves to eat what I cook.

The kids wanted to make a carriage to go riding in. I thought this is really creative. Their dolls are the riders and they are the drivers. They had so much fun doing this and I loved the happy smiles and giggles.

This is Sydney's crazy hair for Crazy Hair Day at school.

Sydney loves the snow and she also loves writing her name. Here she puts the two together.

Brady loves to smile!

This is how much snow we had when school was cancelled. Ridiculous that it was cancelled, but we had so much fun playing in it. Until it all melted by noon.

How do I not post a million pictures of my baby. He is getting so big!

This was Sydney's hair for Valentines Day. She was really good to let me do it in a heart for her.

Before Ryan's "busy season" starts, we always try to do something extra fun as a family. This year we went down to the Wildlife Safari. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. We got to drive through and see all sorts of animals in their habitat. One particular animal had a little crush on Ryan. It was so funny to see him peck at the window at Ryan. The kids loved sitting in the front seat and sitting with Mom, Dad, and Grammy. It was a fabulous day!

On the weekends we try to have family movie nights. I made homemade chocolate peanut butter popcorn. One of the best parts is that I only have to ask the kids to get in jammies once.

My darling Sydney is growing up so fast. These are her favorite shoes she got for Christmas. They have a little heel and she loves them - just like her Mommy.

Brady and Tyler both love to be outside. Brady loves the stroller and Tyler likes to just be out in the fresh air. I took this picture on the way to pick Sydney up from the bus stop.

Merry Christmas

2011-02-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

I know it is February, but I am catching up on the blog for Christmas. In my defense, we got a new computer and it is completely different from our old one. So we have had to do a lot of data transfer and figure out the new programs. It was a wonderful Christmas. We started out in Oregon and spent great family time. Then headed out to Utah for family time there. There were so many great moments and memories. Here are a few of the little ones I want to remember.

We saw a live nativity. The kids LOVED the camel named Nigel. We were able to go right up to Nigel and pet him. It was freezing, but spending time with a baby at Christmas time is just special. Holding my baby, I can only imagine how Mary felt. I loved holding Brady and thinking of how he just came straight from heaven into my arms. Such a sweet special spirit.

The kids loved Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Sydney and Tyler were SO excited. They could hardly stand it. Christmas Eve we spent time with family friends Bob and Susan. Bob brought over magic tricks for the kids and Tyler loved them. He thought it was the best. Especially one where Bob made a ball go through a toilet paper roll with a hair dryer. Such simplicity made him one happy boy.

Christmas morning Sydney was up bright and early. We told her she couldn't get up until 7:00. Every time there was a 7 on the clock, she would say Mom it's 7! So excited for Christmas! Then of course Tyler slept in. :) I swear he did it just to spite her. We had to wake him up to go downstairs. My favorite part is sitting on the stairs right before they go see their presents. They are so happy and do not want to sit for a picture!

This year for Christmas Sydney wanted a pair of clip on earrings and new bedding for her room. Tyler wanted a scooter and some dinosaurs. Brady didn't care what he got. He just wanted baby food and cereal. Maybe a box or two to play with.

Grammy and Papa were so great to the kids and gave them a Jeep Car that they can drive around. Hours of entertainment will be spent with this special gift. They drive it around their driveway and let their imagination run wild. First they will be going to a store, then they will be dropping off berries. Or they play like they are going to get gas and Papa is the gas attendant. They will love playing with it every time they are in Salem.

Brady and Hudson spent lots of time checking each other out on the floor. Brady loved playing with Hudson's hands and just looking him up and down. It is so fun to have cousins close in age.

The kids love spending time with Grammy, Papa, Aunt Katie, Uncle Brendon, Aunt Shay, and Baby Hudson! Thanks for such a wonderful Christmas and all the Christmas memories.

The day after Christmas, we made our trip out to Utah. The kids are such wonderful travelers. They love watching movies in the car. I actually really like the family time that we are able to spend. It is fun talking and laughing, listening to movies or music.

When we got to Utah, we had our second Christmas of the season. The kids were just as excited as the first time! They love seeing what everyone got and playing with Jake and Josh. They especially liked the dragons and their DVD players from Grandma Camille and Grandpa Tom. Tyler really liked the movie Dinotopia in his player. Sydney likes the pink on her dragon and her pink headphones. Grandma and Grandpa know her so well!

While we were in Utah, it snowed!! The kids made a sledding hill in the backyard and went up and down a zillion times. Plus lots of snowball fights and snow angels. After being worn down and freezing, they came in for hot chocolate and movies.

For New Years, we celebrated by having fondue. It was DELICIOUS! We celebrated with the kids early and even looked up fireworks from Australia, so the kids could see that. Brady didn't care, but Jake, Sydney, Tyler and Josh put on a "show" and danced around and made lots of noise. After that died down and we got the kids to bed, we watched Inception (One of Ryan's favorite movies). It was a peaceful New Years, full of hope and happiness for the new year!

It was a fantastic Christmas Celebration with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Alisa, Uncle Kurt, Jake, Josh, Uncle Rob, Aunt Aubrey, and Uncle Jeff! My kids are so blessed to have so many family members that care and love them.

I loved the Christmas Season. It will be one I hope to never forget. Spending time with Ryan, Sydney, Tyler and Brady is the best! I am looking forward to a great year!

Brady at 6 months

2010-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

My baby is 6 months old. The time has just FLOWN by. I promise it didn't go by this fast when I was pregnant with him. He is just an angel baby. He is a great sleeper and eater. He loves to smile and laugh. He is very ticklish! His face lights up when Sydney and Tyler walk into the room. And they are such good big brother and sister. He is a bit of a Mommas boy, but the other two were too. Sorry daddy. I figure it means I am doing a good job taking care of him. :) We went and saw Dr. Mandi for his check-up/immunizations this last week. He weighs 15 pounds 2 ounces and is 27 and 3/4 inches. I always love to see where they are on the percentage list. He is in the 95th percent for height and 10th for weight. Wouldn't we all love that problem? He started on rice cereal and we are going to move that up to two meals a day to keep his calorie intake up. He is also going to be starting him on baby food next week. He is going to love it. Things I want to remember about Brady are:

~ He loves to sleep with a specific blanket and he likes to rub it against his check. That is how he sleeps for every nap and at bedtime.

~ He loves his binkie - but is very specific on the kind of binkie that he wants. As a side note - I love how Tyler calls it his pinkie. :)

~ He is getting to a phase where he wants to be held all day long, this does make it hard on my back - even if he is a skinny little thing.

~ He loves to roll over, and almost has it going from back to front. He gets clear over to his side and then just hangs out.

~ He loves to look at himself in the mirror. He thinks it is so funny.

~ His hair is growing in lighter. He had a ton of hair when he was born and then he lost it all. Now it is growing in and is lighter - almost a blond like Sydney.

~ He is such a sweetheart and I love him!!!

Christmas Tree

2010-12-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

Every year we go and pick out our tree and cut it down to bring home and decorate. The kids really get into it and love walking around in their boots to pick out the perfect tree. I get to hold Brady and wait to get back into the warm car. This year we got a mighty fine tree. It is the perfect size for our family room. Sydney and Tyler helped me decorate it. They put the ornaments in sections of "families." I think it is a beautiful tree, made prettier by the fact that my darling children put their creativity and love into it. I would not move a single ornament. It is perfect!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving 2010! This year we headed to Utah for the big holiday. It was a great time. We were able to spend time with lots of family and even met a new nephew/cousin! We were so excited to meet and play with "Baby Hudson."

It snowed lots while we were there and the kids had a great time playing with Uncle Jeff in it, while the parents stayed inside where it was warm. We went shopping and saw Tangled, watched How To Train Your Dragon. Lots of fun. Alisa and I decided to do a 10k for the Utah Food Bank. It was FREEZING! I decided when I started to run that I was only going to do the 5K, Alisa did all of it. I did feel better eating the pumpkin pie that night!

Sydney loves all the things about Thanksgiving. She especially loved Grandma Carols slush drink. She had a TON of it. She talked about Turkeys at school. One worksheet she had to do was color a turkey and then underneath fill in the blank. Hers said, "My turkey is tasty." That is what she filled in and I thought it was so creative.

Tyler really liked the snow. I dressed him up all warm (thanks to Aunt Alisa for providing the snow gear) and he actually looked like Ralphie's brother on A Christmas Story. He could barely move his arms down. It was adorable. Tyler became Uncle Jeff's little buddy. Everywhere Jeff was Ty would want to follow. They went on errands together and watched sports together. He had lots of fun with that. He also really liked watching How To Train Your Dragon with Brendon and Shay. He loves that movie and loved the cookies and treats they provided to go along with the movie.

This was Brady's first Thanksgiving and he even got to try Rice Cereal. Technically it was the day after Thanksgiving, but either way he LOVES eating it. He gets a funny look on his face and it cracks me up. He is a messy eater while he tries to figure out how to do it. He loved being held by everyone. I was excited for all the cousins to be able to play with him.

The thing I loved most was spending time with family and friends. It was great to have Ryan off work for a week and see him all day. I feel very blessed to have three beautiful children and a husband I adore.

Thanks everyone for such a great trip!

Happy Halloween 2010

2010-11-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

This was a busy October and a busy Halloween week. It started on Monday when I let the kids invite some friends over to decorate sugar cookies and play. They had a great time. Sydney LOVED the sprinkles and Tyler loved to eat the candy and icing, but not the cookie. Tuesday I took the kids to the mall where they had Halloween crafts for the to do. Friday Sydney had her Harvest party at school. That afternoon I took them to the outside strip mall and let them go trick or treating. They got a ton of candy and I got a coupon for a free massage! It was a great day for all involved. Saturday morning we went and saw Toy Story 3 with the kids and they LOVED it. Tyler dressed up as Woody for the movie, Sydney was her "marry girl" aka bride and Brady was a pirate. It was super fun. Saturday night we went Trunk-or-Treating with our ward. Once more the kids got a TON of candy. Monday the boys and I hit the after Halloween clearance sales. I got the kids their Halloween shirts and a few costumes/dress ups for next year all at 50 - 75% off. Great deals! It was a busy Halloween, but a fun one. I love my little monsters!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2010-10-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Daddy!! We had a great time celebrating with Daddy. The kids sang him Happy Birthday with him being a Rhinoceros and a Cougar. It was great. I made his favorite dinner and dessert. Thai noodle Salad and Peanut Butter Brownies. Sydney wanted to do the Lady and the Tramp scene with the noodles. Then we carved a pumpkin and opened presents. He got exactly what he wanted - a new kindle and two balloons and two cards from the kids. We love you Daddy! Thanks for all you do!!

New Family Pictures

2010-10-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

We have had a busy few weeks with family visiting and getting ready for Halloween. It has been a fun month. The kids are keeping us especially busy. Sydney started gymnastics and LOVES it. She loves going and doing all the "tricks." She continually jumps around at home and practices.

Tyler finished a soccer class and on his last class he scored a goal! It was a bunch of 3 year olds, but that doesn't stop a Mom from thinking he is the next David Beckham, without the tattoos and lifestyle. :) He learned to throw the ball in, kick it to the goal, dribble, and to stop the ball from making a goal. His coach was Coach Denny and he enjoyed taking the class.

Brady continues to get bigger and bigger. He is almost 5 months old and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Just today he rolled over for the first time! He loves his swing and is such a happy baby. He loves when Sydney and Tyler play with him - which is all the time. His favorite thing to do is blow bubbles and play peek-a-boo. He also likes to watch himself in the mirror. We did finally cut his hair so the side wings are gone. I can't say I miss them. But either way I think he is the cutest baby!

I can't believe how big they are all getting and Ryan and I just love them to pieces!!

Family Visits

2010-10-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

My parents and brother came to visit recently. It was SO much fun to have them here. We did quite a bit of sight-seeing. First we took them to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The kids loved seeing all the machinery and the cheese samples. Sydney's favorite cheese was the squeaky cheese and Tyler's was the Cheddar. After Tillamook we continued the drive up the coast and ended in Seaside for dinner. My parents treated everyone to a nice seafood dinner. Then we headed home. It was a beautiful drive.

The next day we hung out at home with the kids. They loved having all the attention and watching lots of fun movies with Grandma and Grandpa. Especially Beauty and the Beast and How to Train Your Dragon. They absolutely LOVE those two movies. Saturday we headed to Mount Saint Helens and the Ape Caves. It is fascinating how big they are. Tyler had a great time after about half way through when he realized that Mom was right and there were no monsters living there. There were even other cougar fans visiting the same day.

Sunday morning we went to church. Of course Jeff made an impact on the Young Women in our ward for how cute he is. Too bad he is WAY to old for them! We spent Sunday at home enjoying each others company. Off it was to the airport. This always makes me sad. A little while later Jeff called and had chosen to be bumped to another flight because they overbooked the flight. It was a wonderful surprise. So he came home and Monday we went shopping down in Woodburn. Tyler loved picking out tennis shoes and basketball shorts with Jeff. That night we went and saw the last Shrek at the theater. It was great to have him an extra day with him. Thanks for Mom, Dad, and Jeff for coming to visit. We always look forward to our next visit together!

Brady is 4 Months Old

2010-10-05T14:39:00.001-07:00

Brady went to the doctor for his four month check-up. He weighs 14 pounds 2 ounces and is 26 inches tall. That puts him in the 50th percentile for his weight and 90th for his height. He is strong and healthy. Some things I want to remember about Brady at this age are:

You are so loved!
You love your swing. You swing in it every night while I make dinner.
You are such a happy baby and you love smiling.
You sleep with your head against a blue soft blanket.
You love to have your arms up in the air.
You love when people talk to you, especially Sydney and Tyler.
You are a Mommas Boy. You cried and cried one night when Daddy had you, and as soon as I took you, you stopped.
You love to have your binkie in your mouth. If the binkie is not around, you love your fist. You can almost put the whole thing in your mouth.
I love holding you at night when the house is quiet.
You drink 5 ounces every 3-4 hours. You love your bottle and get excited when you see it.
You have a HUGE burp. When you burp the whole house can hear you.
You are adorable and we LOVE having you in our family.

Sprint Triathalon

2010-09-29T14:36:00.001-07:00

After having Brady, I decided to train for a Sprint Triathlon that Gayle, my Mother-in-law, was in charge of for her stake. It was a good way to getting started on an exercise program again after having a baby. Both Gayle and I did an amazing job, if I do say so myself. :) We got up at the crack of dawn, which was not hard because both Sydney and Tyler woke us up BEFORE the alarm went of at 5:30 am. The first event was a 1/2 mile swim, followed by a 12 mile bike ride, then ended with a 4 mile walk/run. I think I did pretty good at the swim and bike ride. For the walk/run, I mostly walked and did a little running. I am glad I that I did it and proud of myself for finishing. It was fantastic to see my hubby and kids at the end cheering for me.

Soccer and OMSI

2010-09-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tyler is taking a pee-wee soccer class with his pal Brigham. He is liking soccer. He likes to pick up the ball and put it down in front of the goal and then kick it in. It is super cute. He wears his soccer shirt and orange basketball shorts and loves going to Soccer.

After Ryan's big deadline he took two days off of work. It was HEAVENLY to have him home. For the most part we just did chores and things around the house. He worked on putting the bikes up in the garage and we cleaned out our food storage and lots of things like that. Not too much fun, but needed to be done. We did take off one afternoon and took the kids to OMSI. They always like OMSI. We had fun in the dinosaur room and all the science rooms. Tyler loved making the water dance with his hands. Sydney liked building with blocks. We loved having Daddy home and spending family time together.

First Day of Kindergarten

2010-09-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sydney started her first day of Kindergarten yesterday. It was an exciting day for her. Her teachers name is Mr. "B". She was a little nervous to go for the first day. Daddy gaver her a blessing the night before and I think it calmed her nerves a little bit. We woke up yesterday and Daddy made her favorite breakfast of homemade waffles and bacon. Then we got the family all ready to and walked her to school. Tyler insited on taking his backpack too and Brady insisted on sleeping the whole time. We found her room and met her teacher and she sat right down and looked like a pro! When Mr. B said it was time for the family members to go, we left and I both Tyler and I were shedding a few tears. In truth, I only shed a few tears and Tyler went sobbing out of the school. I asked him what the matter was and he said he didn't want Sydney getting a new Mom and Dad. After I explained that she was coming home in just a few hours he calmed down a little bit. It sill took awhile for him to warm up to the idea of her being gone for a little bit everyday.

When Sydney got home she said she LOVED school. Her favorite part is recess and she knows all the rules. She gets to ride the bus home and she was a little confused and told the bus driver to go down the wrong street. But we got her home safely and she had a great experience for her first day. She is super excited to learn to read this year. I know she will have a great year and make all kinds of new friends. I am both happy and sad that she is starting. She is definitely ready to move on in life but like all moms I am not quite ready for her to leave home yet. Thank heavens it's only Kindergarten!

Lazy Days of Summer

2010-09-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Before school started I decided that I wanted to work on a project with each of the kids. We had been watching the Cake Boss on our netflix and Sydney LOVED the crazy fun cakes. So for her project we tried our hand at fondant. We made the marshmallow fondant and she waned to do a purple heart cake with yellow stars. It was a fun project. Maybe in the future our cakes will actually look good. :)
When Sydney starts school I am going to work on ABC's with Tyler. So for his project we made an ABC book. I guess I should say are making. I am hoping to get it finished put together this week. I am really excited at how the pictures turned out! Tyler is super cute in them. I think the Q is my favorite because Tyler is never quiet! :)
For Labor Day we rode the train down to Portland. with my friend Stephanie and her three kids. Boy did Tyler love the train! Such a boy. :) We stopped at the toy store Finnagans, which the kids absolutely loved playing in! They had some really cute toys. After we went and had lunch at Pioneer Court house square. Then we did a few little stores and walked the new skybridge. After we wore everyone out we rode the train back to Beaverton. The kids were definetly tired by the time we got home. Brady was a trooper and slept and smilled and didn't cry at all. He is such an angel!! It was a fun Labor Day.

Bend Trip

2010-08-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

It has a been a busy and fun summer. The kids and I went over to Bend with Ryan's family. Ryan ended up having to work. :( But we had a great trip. We did lots of swimming, visiting the fish hatchery, rode bikes, and hung out with Aunt Katie, Aunt Shay, Uncle Brendon, Grammy and Papa, and Great Grandma and Grandpa Alexander. It was a fun few days. The kids absolutely loved all the attention! Thanks for a fun trip!

Utah/Nevada Vacation

2010-07-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Our family just got back from a FANTASTIC vacation. First we drove to Utah to see family. We celebrated two birthdays, Aunt Katie and Josh. It was fun to be able to do cake and ice cream with them. We hung out for a few days and I actually saw two movies in one week. It was like I was in my twenties again! After swimming and hanging out with family in Utah, we headed down to the real heat in Las Vegas. We spent two days out on my parents boat at Lake Mead and the rest of the time in my Grandmas pool. Then we made the two day trek home. The kids were great travelers. They had a great time swimming, boating, being with family and staying in hotels. It was a fun time! Here are pictures.

Multnomah Falls

2010-07-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we took a family day and went to see some Oregon sites we haven't seen before. We went and visited the Bonneville Dam, the fish hatchery, and Multnomah Falls. The kids loved the fishes and the falls, but weren't too impressed with the Dam. By the time we got to Multnomah Falls it was really late in the afternoon. At first we were planning on only hiking to the bridge which was .2 miles. After we got to the bridge the kids wanted to keep hiking. Ryan and I told them that as soon as they were done and/or started to whine we would turn around head back down. We got 3/4 the way up when Sydney said, "OK I'm done." and we turned around. I was really proud of us for hiking as far as we did. Next time we'll make it all the way to the top. It was a really fun family day.

Tyler's Birthday

2010-07-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Tyler turned 3!!! His birthday was on July 8. We celebrated with cake and ice cream at Brady's blessing and he loved the dinosaur on his cake. When asked what part he wanted to eat he promptly said, "the dinosaur." That is so Tyler! He loves dinosaurs, spider man, balls, anything Toy Story and will even play barbies with Sydney. He gives great bedtime hugs. He is constantly stalling at bedtime by saying, "Mom I need you." He has a sweet spirit and loves saying prayers at night. If we pick someone else to pray he hurries and starts praying anyways. He loves to color and run around. He has endless energy. He loves lions at the zoo and I can frequently hear him growling. He weighs roughly 36 pounds and is solid. His favorite movie is Toy Story. His favorite TV show is the dinosaur train. His favorite food is anything that is out and available. Every night before he goes to sleep I tell him "I'll meet you in your dreams." He recently told me, "I'll meet you in your dreams." He likes to cuddle and yet still wants his own space. He is a great little brother and loves to play with Sydney. He lets her take charge, but yet still isn't a pushover. He is also a great big brother. He is so gentle and kind to Brady. They will have a lot of fun together when Brady gets a little bigger. He loves church and especially Sister Aldous at nursery. Sometimes when you call him Tyler he says, "I not Tyler, I Ty Ty!" These are just a few things about Tyler. But they are things I want to remember forever. He is such an angel and I feel privileged to be his mom.

We had a great day on his birthday. It started with donuts for breakfast, an Alexander tradition. We met some of his buddies at the school park and handed out Twinkies and ice cream sandwiches. It was super hot. but we still had a good time. That afternoon everyone took naps at the same time, which is highly unusual 0 happy birthday to Mom too :). We picked Ryan up at the train stop and met him for dinner at Costco, Tyler's request. Then we opened gifts. We gave him a t-ball set, which he loves to play with. It only occasionally gets taken away for hitting with the bat. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR "LITTLE BUDDY" TY-TY!

Family Pictures

2010-07-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

This is my sister, best friend and mentor. I call her my Yoda. She is absolutely AMAZING!! This is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

Baby Brady smiles!! SO CUTE!!Sydney graduated from preschool in June. This is her teacher Ms. Ackerman. She had a great year and we are semi-looking forward to Kindergarten. She is very excited - and I am going to cry.

Brady is just like his siblings, he hates getting a bath until it is time to wash his hair and then he is in heaven.

Every time Grandma Camille is here the kids "help" her make cake balls. They are delicious and gone very quickly.The kids love when Grammy comes up to spend the day. This day, we went to a local splash park and then came home and watched The Sword and the Stone. A personal favorite of mine.

My cute three kids. Sydney - 5, Tyler - 3, and Brady - newborn.

Happy Fathers Day!! Ryan is the best dad. The kids were so excited to get him ready to open their presents (hence teh graduation cap). We are so blessed to have a Daddy that works hard, loves us and is a WONDERFUL DADDY!! WE LOVE YOU!Visiting the Zoo with the kids. Sydney's favorite animal is the elephant and Tyler's is the lions. We have an annual pass and love going to the zoo.My two cute boys posing for a picture.

Baby Blessing

2010-07-11T20:24:00.001-07:00

July 4, 2010 was a special day for our family, it was the day that Brady was blessed at church. He is such a joy to have and we feel so blessed by all the family and friends that we had participate from near and far. He is so loved! Sydney and Tyler thought it was great because during church they got to sit with cousins and grandparents and not Mom and Dad. Thanks to all who attended a very special event for a very special baby.

Brady Douglas Alexander

2010-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Brady Douglas Alexander was born into our family on May 31, 2010 at 6:19 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz and was 21 inches long. He had a little problem with his lungs and ended up staying in the baby nursery until the day we left. He now has a clean bill of health and is a complete joy in our family. While Brady and I were in the hospital, Tyler came down with a virus and Ryan got Tyler's stomach flu from the week before. It was a little crazy! We really appreciate Grammy and Papa for keeping the kids and helping out so much! A BIG THANK YOU!!! I am also really appreciative that my Mom could come out and help. She got here Saturday night and is making the kids transition to a new sibling easier. They love spending time with Grandma Camille and want to go see her first thing in the morning (which at our house usually starts at 6). I am loving spending time with her. Sydney and Tyler are also loving their new little brother. They are both big helpers. Brady is a fantastic baby (knock on wood.) He usually only gets up once or twice in the middle of the night and then goes right back down to sleep. Last night he slept 4 hours! We are so blessed with all three of our children.

While Daddy was home for a week, Sydney had her last day of swimming lessons. She loved swimming and Tyler loved watching it. We are getting excited to swim this summer.

MY LITTLE ANGEL!!!

A Day of Racing

2010-05-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ryan was able to go to the Portland International Raceway and race cars around the track with his Dad yesterday. He had a great time! The kids and I went out in the afternoon to watch them in the cars. The kids loved watching all the fast cars zoom past and picking out which one Daddy and Papa were in. I am glad that Ryan had a good time and even more glad that he came home safe.

Happy Birthday Sydney!!

2010-05-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Sydney had her 5th birthday on May 6th. Where has the time gone! She had a great day. It started with school and passing out treats to her classmates. They sang Happy Birthday and she was able to share some baby pictures. Sydney picked out her favorite book before school and I read it to her class. Tyler was excited because he ate lunch at school with Sydney.
After school, Sydney had her first ballet recital. She loves ballet. Her teacher told them they could wear make-up and this absolutely made Sydney's birthday. I pulled her hair back in a bun with a big bow and I think she looked adorable. Tyler was a very good boy at the recital. He liked watching the dancing and taking pictures.
After the recital we went back to the house to open presents. This is always fun for a 5 year old! Then we went to dinner to Red Robin. The workers came over and sang happy birthday and give the kids balloons. It was a fantastic day!! Thanks to all the family and friends for the gifts and cards sent and to Grammy and Papa for coming up to spend the day with our family. We are so blessed to have so many loved ones care about Sydney.

After all the birthday celebration - we weren't over yet. This year for a party Sydney requested a "princess party." She had 10 friends over to play princess games and have cake and ice cream. It was a success! The kids dressed up as princesses and we had one knight. It was fun to put together. Happy Birthday Sydney! We love you!!!

The Tulip Festival

2010-05-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

In April we went to the Tulip Festival and saw all the pretty flowers with Aunt Katie and Grammy. The kids were not totally cooperative for pictures. It was still fun to go and see how pretty nature can be. Here are the pictures.

Happy Easter

2010-05-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

I do realize it is a month past Easter. But as life goes, I'm a little slow getting pictures up. I figure better late then never!
Due to certain circumstances, I quarantined my family Easter weekend. Easter this year fell on the same weekend as conference and it was a wonderful weekend to stay home! We had our own family Easter Egg hunt. Ryan started the hunt and the kids looked for the eggs and then the kids swapped. Tyler was hilarious at the hiding. He would put them in plain sight with 5 -10 eggs in a row. It was great! Sydney was a little better at the hiding and loved being in charge of where they were to be put.

The Easter Bunny came and visited (which really concerned Tyler on how a bunny could enter our house at night.) It was a very relaxing weekend that was exactly what our family needed. We even spent the whole day in our jammies!! The kids LOVED not getting dressed. It was a great Easter.

Big Boy Bed

2010-03-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the new baby, Tyler got a new "big boy bed" this weekend. He LOVES being a big boy. We picked out some Buzz and Woody bedding. He was right there "helping" Daddy set up his new bed. He looks so little on it. He hasn't figured out the pillow thing yet, and prefers sleeping next to them and not on them. And he needs a little stool to help him get up on the bed. But he has had so much fun with his new bed, he sometimes forgets to go to sleep. He keeps asking for Sydney to sleep with him so they can play on his new bed. They even had their first pillow fight with the new pillows.

Feeding the Ducks

2010-03-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

Last week it we had beautiful weather in Portland. On Friday Grammy came up and we decided to have a picnic lunch and go feed the ducks. It was fun to be able to walk in the sunshine and enjoy some much needed Vitamin D. Plus the kids got their energy out. The ducks were not too interested in our food, but we still had a good time. Sydney and Tyler really enjoy being together and I love that they are so close. After the park, we went and got some ice cream cones from Sonic and then did some shopping. Tyler was pretty tired from the park, so we didn't spend too much time at stores. It was a fun day in the sun!

Happy St. Patricks Day

2010-03-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

This past month our kids got really interested in leprechauns. They LOVE leprechauns. The leprechaun that visited us this year was Lucky. Although we didn't catch Lucky, he left us with some Lucky Charms, cookies, and green milk. He also got into some mischief while he was here and left a little bit of a mess in the playroom and in Sydney's room. Sydney said that next year she is putting a note on her door that says, "The girl that lives here does not like her room a mess!" I thought this was funny considering her barbies that are constantly on the floor. Tyler liked to call the Lucky naughty. "Naughty Leprechaun," was used all day. To celebrate St. Patricks day, we made green cupcakes and a marshmallow dessert. The kids really enjoyed the treats.

2010-03-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

This month Sydney had a party at her preschool for Dr. Seuss's birthday. The kids loved it. They wore their pajamas to school and played lots of Dr. Seuss games. Their favorite was the face painting. I even let them paint my face (no picture attached of that. :) ) Sydney made a hat at school last week that she put a "bubble" in the back. So creative!

Tyler is a hat boy and loves his new one.

They were both such good listeners at circle time.

Tyler loved the black paint on both his face and mine! We have been working on colors with him and he loves the color yellow. He is getting so good at all his colors!

Sydney planted flowers with her Dr. Seuss hat on. We came home and planted them by our front porch. Good job Syd!

Sydney loves her teacher Ms. Ackerman!

Tyler always loves the animals and kitchen area at Sydney's school. It is the first place he goes to play.

I decided to get a little crafty and make some barrettes for Sydney's hair. They were fun to make with her. She loves the pinkish purplish ones. Who would have guessed?

2010-02-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

February was another busy month. It seems like time is just flying by. Ryan is in the swing of "busy season." And the kids and I are keeping busy enjoying our last year before Sydney goes to Kindergarten. This month for Valentines we had a lot of fun activities. Sydney had a party at school that we attended, without a camera. I totally forgot. They made heart necklaces that had their names on them and passed out valentines to all their friends at school. Tyler loves going to Sydney's school because he gets to play with all the toys there. This time they had some animals set out at a table and he thought he was in heaven.

Ryan and I celebrated a week later this year and rode on the Portland Spirit. We went with some friends and totally surprised the husbands. It was great! He never guessed what we were doing, and he always guesses right. We had a lunch and YUMMY dessert on the boat and then rode up and down the Willamette River. It was a beautiful day. I had a great time with Mark and Stephanie and it was nice to spend some time on a date with Ryan. I also enjoyed seeing the pretty scenery along the river. It was a great Valentines. Plus for the real Valentines day, Ryan got me a dozen roses. I love having fresh flowers in the kitchen. I love you Ryan!

At the beginning of the month we went down and spent the day at the Children's Museum in Salem. It's called the Gilbert House and my kids love it. We went with Stephanie and her kids and met Grammy there. It was a rainy day outside and we had a great time inside. The kids love the store and dress-up. I think Tyler's favorite thing was the bubbles. He is getting so tall and can reach what he wants a lot better. Which means he got really wet for the rest of the day. But he loved trying to get the bubbles to go and then pop. After the museum, Grammy took everyone on the carousel. Which is always Sydney's favorite. We finally have gotten Tyler to ride the wagon for the ride and Sydney picks her favorite horse of the minute. It is so fun to see them enjoy activities.

The kids are each growing so much. Sydney is very interested in learning how to read and constantly asking us how to spell things. Or she makes up her own words and asks us what they are. For example, "Mom what does merahte spell?" Tyler is talking more and more and becoming such a big boy. We are continually working on potty-training. Hopefully before the next baby is born he will be out of diapers. Tyler loves dinosaurs and is constantly growling like a T-Rex. We are working on his colors and he is starting to get them down. He loves it when Sydney is home so they can play dinosaurs and barbies or princesses. It is hilarious to see him walking around the house with his big dinosaur toys and Belle on the back. It goes to show the balance of boy and girl in our home. We have re-committed ourselves to reading the scriptures daily as a family and it has been great. The kids ask such good questions. Sydney recently learned the First Article of Faith in primary and is trying to learn the second. Tyler even picked up the first after hearing it so much. They both love to sing and dance. That's a little bit of what goes on in our home. Now on to March!

January 2010

2010-01-27T07:53:00.001-08:00

We had a VERY busy January. It was a great start to 2010. The first thing that happened was that we found out we are having another boy! We are very excited for this addition to our family. Tyler will love having a little brother around to play with.

At the first of this month Sydney started ballet classes. She is loving it! She gets to wear her ballet clothes and she is in the same class as her friend Kate. She told me just last week, "Mom, I don't know why I am such a good balleter."
The next event that happened was a girls weekend for me. Alisa and I were 30 for 3 weeks together so we wanted to do something fun while we were both 30. It was so much fun to have my Mom, Grandma, Aunt LoraLee, Alisa (sister) and Aubrey (sister-in-law) here to visit. We had a nice relaxing weekend over in Bend (Thanks Doug and Gayle!). We watched movies, played games, and had lots of laughs. Ryan had the kids for the weekend and the kids loved their Daddy time. Thanks to everyone for coming out to visit. We should do girls weekends more often!

Last weekend we decided to visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. The kids loved all the airplanes. We were able to see the Spruce Goose and walk around to all the fun and interesting things they had there. Ryan will have to start working more in the near future, so it was really nice to be able to spend family time together.

On Monday it was such a beautiful day, I took the kids to the zoo. We were able to see lots of animals. Tyler was loving the snakes and monkeys. The weather stayed nice for most of the time we were there, until the very end. Then it POURED! We had to run to get out to the car, where the umbrella was. Oh well - we do live in Oregon. I didn't get very many pictures because the kids were too busy looking at the animals. Even the Polar Bear was not cooperating and turned his head at the last minute. Tyler is in a phase of I don't want to smile for pictures, I want to take the pictures. I do have a lot of pictures of the back of my kids heads, but I decided not to post those. :)

It has been such a great month. The kids are getting bigger and bigger. We are going to work on potty training Tyler, which I can't wait. He is talking so much more. He had his first nightmare last Sunday where he wanted to come and get Mom and Dad. I felt so bad that he was scared, but loved the cuddle time first thing in the morning. he loves playing with Buzz Lightyear and says Buzz before anything. "Can I say the Buzz prayer?" "I want a Buzz kiss." Too cute! We are working on teaching him his colors. He does know pink and purple with Sydney's help. Sydney is very interested in reading and learning how letters work together. We have checked many library books out and are constantly sounding out words. She is learning about space at school and her favorite planet is Saturn. She likes the rings. And as always, her favorite direction is left. They are so much fun! Love you guys!

A Merry Christmas Season

2010-01-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

This year was truly a Christmas season for our family. We had a great Christmas break and enjoyed every minute with all of our family members. This year for Christmas we headed out to Utah. While we were there, my Grandma Carol hosted her annual Christmas party. The kids were able to play with cousins and eat lots of good food. They loved acting out a nativity scene. Sydney was Mary and she took very good care of the Baby Jesus during the play. Tyler didn't want to dress up, but he enjoyed the cane of the Shepard. Every time the word "Shepard" was said, Tyler would yell it out. We had to watch him carefully to make sure he didn't hit anyone with the cane. Santa and Mrs. Clause also came and talked to the kids about Christmas. Sydney told them she wanted a Barbie for Christmas. Tyler didn't want to talk to Santa, until he started handing out candy.

We also went and visited the lights at Temple Square. It was really cold and a long night. We rode the train downtown from Sandy and it was very crowded. The lights were beautiful and the Salt Lake Temple is always very peaceful on the grounds. It was a white Christmas in Utah. Sydney and Jake had a great time with Daddy building a snowman. They loved their new snowman face and buttons that my sister gave them. Sydney lasted a lot longer in the snow this year, then she did last year. Tyler enjoyed the snow from inside. He had a cough and was taking a nap when the older kids went out and played. During the trip to Utah, they enjoyed lots of Grandpa’s chocolate milk and Grandma and Aunt Alisa's homemade goodies. They enjoyed making marshmellows and eating them in hot chocolate.

Christmas morning Santa came and visited the kids at my parents’ house. Tyler got a new dinosaur and Sydney got a Barbie. Santa left a note saying that he would deliver some other items in a few days when we were back to our own house. It was kind of Santa to think of the weight limit of suitcases for flying. We then went over to Alisa and Kurt’s house and enjoyed a nice breakfast. That afternoon/evening we opened presents with my parents and siblings back at my parents’ house. Sydney and Tyler loved all their presents, especially the Disney Cars and Princess sleeping bags from Grandma and Grandpa. And what would be Christmas without dinosaurs, trucks, dolls etc? And Mom's and Dad's favorite - cash. :) Thanks to my family for all the presents and spending time with us. It was a wonderful Christmas.

When we returned from our Utah trip, we were able to spend time with family in Oregon. Sydney and Tyler enjoyed a sleepover with their Aunt Katie at our house. We watched Madagascar 2 otherwise known as "Moto Moto" at our house. (You have to have seen the movie and pay close attention to appreciate the reference) We went down to Grammy and Papa's house for New Year’s weekend. New Year’s Eve was Christmas for the Alexander family. The kids had a great time telling people what they should open and asking if they needed any help. Tyler loves his new fire truck and Sydney's new toy mixer. Sydney really likes her new butterfly shirt and toy food, just to name a few. Plus books, games, lamps, dress-up jewelry. Thanks for all the presents and for the great family time we were able to spend together. And thanks for letting my kids "help" open your presents. :)

While Brendon and Doug were around, we recruited them to help build the Shelf Reliance canned food rotation shelf system we got for Christmas for our garage. I was very excited to have it all put together and all the cans on it. It was a great Christmas present from Grammy and Papa and we love it!

During the weekend we were able to do Sydney's favorite activity - riding the Carousel. We rode it three times. I was very proud of Tyler because he actually rode also. Daddy took him on the covered wagon and he quite enjoyed himself. Maybe next time we'll promote him to a horse. After the Carousel, we went and enjoyed a hot chocolate. The kids were in hot chocolate heaven, along with their Mommy.

We really enjoyed being able to see all of our parents, siblings, friends, and other family members. As a family, we feel so blessed for all that we have and all that we were able to do this Christmas. It is so important to us to be able to spend time with family and to just be together. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone (albeit a little bit belated)!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-12-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

I know it's a week past Thanksgiving, but life gets busy. We had a great relaxing Thanksgiving with the Alexanders. Gayle came up on Tuesday for a Nature Day at Sydney's school. Tyler loved spending time at Sydney's school. She did lots of fun activities. They sang songs in the circle, made paper, painted hands for hand prints, and made a nature frame. She also showed us the bird house she made and hung at school. The highlight was a nature walk. Grammy brought up binoculars that the kids loved! It was fun to see nature through their eyes. They love sticks and leaves. A great morning.

After Nature Day, Grammy took the kids back to her house for a sleep-over with her and Papa. Ryan and I were coming down the next day for the Thanksgiving holiday. The kids were so excited to go! They had lots of fun with Grammy and Papa. They went to lunch and each got a toy "iphone." They also painted a hanging to go in their rooms that says "I am a child of God." It turned out really cute. While they were there they helped Grammy make pies and each got to make their own individual pie. Tyler especially liked this on Thanksgiving. He ate the whole thing! He thought it was a great day. Sydney liked reading with Papa a Dr. Seuss book. They had a great time! For Thanksgiving Ryan helped cook the turkeys. They were yummy and looked absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed spending time together and having another wonderful weekend.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for many things. Mostly my family. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who takes great care of us. I am thankful for a daughter who makes me laugh and her wonderful perspective on life. I am thankful for a son who shows me life through the eyes of a child who is continually growing and learning every day. I am thankful for the little one that will be joining our family soon. We are excited for another precious spirit from our Heavenly Father. It is a great season of many thanks.

Journal

2009-11-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

I have been using this blog as a journal to keep track of what my kids are doing in their lives. So I thought I would do an update on them.

I'll start with Sydney. My little Sydney is such a joy to be around. When she is home the house is never quiet. She loves asking questions and wants to know about everything around her. She loves the direction left. She always wants whichever is on the left. She wants to sit on the left. She loves left. Random I know. She also has been very interested in what she was like as a baby. The other day at dinner she asked me, "Mom when I was a baby did you go to the hospital and pick me out of a pen of babies?" She thought that we just showed up at the hospital one day and picked her out of a play pen. I explained that she came straight from Heavenly Father into our lives and there was no "pen" involved. :) She is everything girly. She loves skirts and dresses and wears them most everyday of the week. The only time when she wears pants is when I make her because it is so cold outside. She loves to dance and twirl and is a huge fan of Taylor Swift. She is a great big sister and tries to take care of Tyler and play with him. She did teach him about monsters in the playroom, which I was not very excited about. So she also has a bit of a tease in her. Sydney loves to watch Dancing with the Stars and has specific opinions about who she likes. It depends on their color of clothes, shoes, twirl factor and music. Not much to do with dancing. In the meantime she dances like Elaine on Seinfield. She's a very interpretive dancer. She is my angel and the light of my life. We always say "I love you as big as..." And then fill in the blank. Sydney, I love you to the moon and back.

Tyler is another joy in my life and completely opposite of girly. He loves his camo pants and wants to wear them every day. He also loves his Kachow slippers and is so cute when he runs around the house in them. He moves at a million miles an hour, but still gives the best hugs. He will randomly come up to me and give me kisses. Yesterday he was playing doctor and kept giving me pretend shots, and I would cry and say Ouch! He would immediately follow it with a kiss. It was a great game. Tyler loves dinosaurs. He has a big box of dinosaurs and puts them in a boat, a train, a car, whatever he can and plays with them all the time. He also loves cars and trucks. He likes to walk around with a toy in each hand. He is growing so big and being so helpful. He likes for me to give him chores around the house. I have found a few things that I can ask him to do and he loves it. I will ask him to take something and throw it away or go hand me something. He loves to be a helper. Whatever Sydney is doing Tyler wants to be involved in. He likes to sing and has such a sweet voice. He doesn't like loud noises like the vacuum or my hair dryer. He likes to be around people and yet enjoys his naps and playing alone sometimes. He loves hats. He will keep a hat on his head for hours, but he doesn't like shoes or socks on his feet. Every time we go somewhere in the car the first thing he does is take off his socks and shoes. Tyler is talking more and more everyday. The other day I was changing his poopy diaper and I said, "Tyler you stinky." He immediately replied, "I not stinky, I poopy!" I love my little boy!

Both of the kids bring Ryan and I such happiness. We are so blessed to be able to spend time with them and be their parents. Love you two!

Happy Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a 2 day celebration. On Thursday Sydney had a party at her preschool all morning. They had games and food and trick-or-treating to the classrooms. It was an adventurous day. It started out with games and the kids loved painting their ghosts with marble paint. Then it was off to trick-or-treat. After the 2nd classroom the fire drill went off. It was really loud and scared poor Tyler. We all had to exit outside in the POURING rain and stand until the fire drill was over. Somebody had gone in and grabbed Tyler's coat, but he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and a short sleeved shirt and Sydney had a short sleeved dress on. I convinced her to wear Ty's coat and then when we went back inside she didn't want to take it off because she thought we were going to have to go back outside. After the drill Tyler kept asking to "go home," but we finally got him to enjoy the last of the trick-or-treating. Like I said, an adventure. One thing I love about my kids is that they are usually really nice to each other. Sydney was so excited to have Tyler at her school and enjoy what she enjoys every week. She wanted him to sit by her at circle and watched out for him in the big halls. When Sydney was picked to help during a story, she made sure that "Mickey" could help too. Tyler was very excited to be doing whatever Sydney was. It was a special day to see them love being together.

Luckily Halloween day was less eventful - no fire drills. We did chores in the morning and ran some errands around lunch time. We did run into Snow White at Costco. Sydney loved that and went over to tell her to say hello to Mickey. She even had a Snow White name tag! In the afternoon we all took naps (except Ryan, he had a church meeting - so he got blessings and we got rest :) ) I fixed the kids their favorite dinner, Macaroni and Cheese with peaches on the side. And it was finally time for some trick-or-treating. The kids dressed up as Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Tyler did a great job leaving his Mickey ears on. It was fun to see them so excited to dress up. This year Ryan took them around to the houses and I stayed home and passed out candy. We got a total of 14 trick-or-treaters, including our 2 little mice. So I think I got the easier of the two. The kids loved going with Daddy and came home with way too much candy!! It was a great Halloween.

Happy 30th Birthday Ryan!!

2009-11-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

Last week was Ryan's big 30. It was a fun day for our family. We started with our tradition to have donuts for birthday mornings. The kids were very excited for Daddy's birthday so they could have a donut. Since Ryan is 30 and not 2 or 4 I decided to forgo the sprinkled donuts for a cheese danish. After breakfast it was off to work as usual, or so Ryan thought. We were able to surprise him with a cake at work and the kids came in and sang Happy Birthday to him. They had a great time eating cake for lunch. Sydney loved serving the people at Ryan's work with the plates and napkins. Daddy was a good sport to let us show up at work and disrupt everything he was doing.

That night we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for dinner. This is a favorite in our family. The kids love their grilled cheese sandwiches and we like the burgers. It is a great family style place to eat because my kids aren't the noisiest there. Or at least not too noticeable. After our lovely and healthy day of food (donuts for breakfast, cake for lunch and fast food for dinner) we were headed to the mall. Ryan decided he wanted to join the iphone cult. :) He loves his new phone and I love hearing Tyler say "iphone." It just makes me laugh. Happy birthday Ryan. We hope you had a great day and love you lots!

First Day of School

2009-10-08T19:30:00.001-07:00

Sydney had her first day of preschool this week. She is attending preschool at Liberty High School at their preschool program. Her teachers name is Ms. Ackerman. So far she has really liked it. She goes from 9:00 am - 12:45 pm. She stays for lunch and likes all her student teachers in her class. This year there is another Sydney in the class so Sydney is known as Sydney A. She loves going outside to the playground and playing in the sand box. She also likes to play in the kitchen area and the block area. She enjoys calendar time and loves sitting on a letter during circle time. Tyler and I are adjusting to the quieter house. While Sydney was gone the first day, Tyler asked where she was every 5 minutes. "Where Sydney go?" was a constant. He even cried when she left the car. They are best of friends and love playing together. He gets very excited when it is time to pick her up. Here are a few pictures of her first day.

Weekend at Pacific City

2009-10-08T19:08:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we were invited to go to a beach house in Pacific City with our friends the Rignells. We left Friday afternoon and they had dinner ready for us. I know great serviceable friends! We hung out Friday night and caught up on lives. The kids loved playing with their two girls.

Saturday morning I was able to spend some one-on-one time with Sydney. She is always up early and Saturdays and vacations are no exceptions. We were all sleeping in the same room and we didn't want her to wake up the whole house, so she and I went to get some hot chocolate at this cute cafe. We were a sight - she was in her pink nightgown and I forgot to grab shoes for her, so I was carrying her around. We found a seat by the table and saw that the surfers were out. We got in the car and parked right by the beach and sat and watched the surfers and drank our hot chocolate. It was a fun morning.

When we got back to the house the others were up so it was breakfast time. After breakfast we went to the beach with the kids. The weather was cool, but beautiful. The sun was out and clear skies. The kids loved playing in the sand and running up and down a big hill. We stayed clear of the water, but enjoyed land. Thanks to the Rignells for a great time. Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Last Days of Summer

2009-10-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

One thing that Sydney wanted to do this summer again was to ride the carousel. She loved the carousel in Disneyland. It was her favorite ride. As you can see, it is not Tyler's. Sydney had a good time with Grammy and Papa. Her favorite horse's name was Razzle Dazzle. It had the colors pink and purple on it. Who could ask for more?

I have been trying to get some pictures of my kids together. As you can see, it is a difficult task. They are both darling, but I can't get both to focus on the camera at the same time and smile. It's a good thing their cute.

My little Tyler is all boy. He loves to make a mess when he eats. In the one picture he is "eating" applesauce. He kept asking for more to eat because it kept missing his mouth and getting in his hair. Oh well, bath morning.

Every night Ryan and I go check on Sydney and Tyler to make sure they are covered and sleeping in their beds. This was one night when we went and checked on Tyler. He LOVES his cars. This night he had every car in his room on his bed.

Sydney really likes to bake. Here she is baking with Daddy. I love when they bake together. They both have a great time and I get to eat something yummy.

End of Summer

2009-09-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

It is the end of the summer - well for most people. Although the weather is slowly changing, Sydney doesn't start school until October 2 and Tyler will still be home with me. So I am enjoying every last bit of the summer that we can. The kids have done some really funny things lately. I'll give a short update on both.

I recently purchased some workbooks for Sydney to work on before school starts. She is very interested in how to spell words and we have been working on sounding out letters. She loves the books and calls it her "homework." This is VERY serious business to her. She loves doing her homework. She has even had Daddy check her work before he goes to work. She has a vivid imagination and has been having nightmares recently. She had one about "stinging bees" a few weeks ago. Daddy told her to think of the bees in the Bee Movie. He said, "they don't sting people." And she said, "Yes they do Daddy they sting the fat guy." It was hilarious - even at 3:00 in the morning. Her most recent dream was also hysterical. She dreamt that Tyler took all the lids off the markers and let them dry out so she couldn't use them to color. She was crying so hard about these markers. I went to the playroom and assured her that they were ok and she could color with them the next day. She was VERY upset about the markers. Oh how her little mind works.

Tyler is getting bigger and bigger. He talks a lot now. He's saying full sentences and loves having conversations. He loves to read books about "big trucks." He also knows how to count to 13. I thought it was only 10 but then last night he surprised me. I was organizing our closet last week and Tyler came running in and said, "Sydney hit me back." I was laughing so hard - of course after I told him not to hit. He was tattling on Sydney for hitting him after he hit her. Now that we know what he is saying he is also getting used to more time outs. But he is still as sweet as ever. He loves to give big hugs and kisses and worships Sydney and repeats whatever she says. He is getting so tall and losing his baby fat. He loves nursery and going to church on Sundays. He also likes to say prayers. He is getting better during sacrament meeting. It is nice to be able to stay in as a family, instead of one of us always being out in the hall.
Here are a few pictures from the last month.

Grammy and Papa came up for dinner and Sydney loved coloring with them.

We went down to Salem and visited the Childrens Museum with Grammy. The kids love the museum. We colored with markers and enjoyed the warm outside. They especially like the grocery store area.

We planted some flowers this fall in our front yard. We talked about seeds and how plants grow. We are still waiting for the seeds to grow, but it was fun.

The kids pulled out the play dough and made some very interesting creations. They both liked the play scissors to cut their dough.

Daddy has been working really hard lately so we went downtown to see him and go to lunch. The kids really enjoy going to see Daddy at his office. They aren't the most quiet, but they get so excited to see Daddy in the middle of the day.

Tyler is so fun to cuddle with. He loves to sit on the couch with me and just relax.

I cleaned out the car and scrubbed down their carseats. The kids thought this was great to have the carseats in the house. They tipped them over a million times and laughed and laughed.

This is Sydney and Tyler hiding from the vacuum. They do not like the vacuum, especially Tyler. One advantage is that they clean up really fast so their toys don't get vacuumed.