Last month (as you can see in a previous post) our dishwasher broke. We have been washing dishes by hand, and Tucker and Truman LOVE it (Toph likes it alot too actually…) There is something about bubbles and a sink full of water that children can’t resist. Someday, when we do get a dishwasher, I think that the boys are going to miss playing in the sink, and helping me with dishes. Knowing that it won’t last forever makes this task do-able for me, but not enjoyable, but of course what mother isn’t going to enjoy having her boys happy to be standing by her side? None that I know!
(Don’t worry, we don’t usually let Tuck wash dishes like that…)
As fun as it is, I still do need a dishwasher. I am a modern woman, who misses the modern conveniences of washing dishes while I sleep at night, or even better BLOG 🙂
Category: Emily
Tucker is getting so big, after all, he is 5 years old now, and there are somethings that come with being the mother of a 5 year old. I can’t even tell you how many times I have heard the saying about “cutting the apron strings”, to allow her child to grow bigger and older, Well it is now my time to say goodbye to overalls for Tucker, in essence to cut some strings, allowing my child to grow and be the wonderful 5 year old he is and is growing everyday to be.
It is time, in fact it is past time.
Right now, the overalls are in the laundry pile, waiting for laundry day tomorrow, and after they are cleaned, they will be retired to the ‘grown out of clothes’ box, never to be worn by Tucker again.
I don’t know why, but for some reason, this makes me immensely sad. Well honestly, I do know one reason, overalls are the only pair of pants that ‘stay up’, as Tuck has no hips. 🙂
But mostly I am sad, because it is the symbolism of the end of my little boys boyhood. That is unless you live in Idaho, of course, where grown men wear overalls, (no Topher, I still don’t want to live in the countryside of Idaho, but thanks for asking).
Now, please note, that I am not saying that by any means, 5 is old, because it is not, but it is older, and old enough, to be asking to not wear overalls. I am cutting the strings….or straps as it may be.
Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me.
So, my husband has been telling me for a while now, that an ESSENTIAL and IMPORTANT part of Family Home Evening (FHE), is the treats. I kind of just ‘rolled my eyes’ and said whatever to him, until I recently, gave in….
So, I have tried to step up to the challenge of better treats (instead of just rummaging thru the cupboards to see what we have), last week we had ice-cream (even though Tuck wanted to have Cheese Sandwiches), and here are the Messy, Messy, results from our talented son Truman, he learned a few great lessons.
1–The Ice Cream Container Lid, makes a great hat (we were NOT watching closely enough, and he is getter quicker by the day.)–
2–He can hold and drink from his bowl, with no hands
Now, I know why, I would rather stick to no treats, clean up is minimal 🙂
Maybe instead of no treats, I might find a less messy treat.
We’ll have to see what the next FHE treats will hold…
I usually kind of keep up with the weather, but yesterday morning, when I woke up to find like 8′ of snow outside I was SHOCKED! I had NO IDEA a storm was coming in.
Of course, once the boys saw it, they immediately wanted to get their snow clothes on and go outside, I tried to help them get outside and play in the snow as quickly as possible, but even on snow days, somethings are mandatory, like breakfast and teethbrushing.
But unfortunately, Truman was having nothing of it, and decided to take matters into his own hands. He got his jammies off, then put JUST a hat and gloves on and pronounced, “I’m ready to go outside Mama!”
Yea, I don’t think so Tru-bee 🙂
Tuck had preschool, so couldn’t stay outside and play for too long, before carpool came, so he didn’t get the full snow gear on, but he did have some fun, including pretending to be a snowplow.
snowplow.mov
Truman and I stayed outside for almost 2 hours, shoveling the walks, and playing.
I forgot to mention, that somewhere in one of the snowdrifts, Truman lost his shoe. Yep. He walked around for quite a while without it on. I could tell by all the snow caked to his sock. There was so much there, that I didn’t realize he didn’t have a shoe on, not until he started saying “my toes is cold” did I realize, we were short a shoe. We’re going to have to wait for a sunny day to see if we can find it again!
The day finally arrived. The much anticipated Robot Birthday Party! Tucker had a vision of the party, and I think it turned out pretty similar to what he had in mind. It is fun that he is getting to the age now, where he is totally into planning parties. He is always planning parties for his pumpkins (stuffed animals), poochies (robot dogs), or some other type of friend. So it was fun for him to plan his own, invite real people, and have a good time.
His Guests who were able to attend included: Andy, Andrea, Annabelle, Austin, Hinckley, Ikey, Jarett, and Truman.
We couldn’t have done it with out the help of grams and gramps, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Ryan who assisted in the clean up, crowd control, and so many other things! Thanks again guys!
We started the party by making Robot Bags,
Then went on a robot search to find the hiding robots (you can’t have a robot party with out the robots!)
Then downstairs for a robot obstacle course
Then a game of Robot says (simon says) that the kids didn’t actually really get….
Then back upstairs for Lunch…build your own robot sandwiches,
Then back downstairs for Robot Pinata
Then back upstairs for Cake (that Tucker Designed himself), Ice Cream and Presents
Then Lastly, Robot Nuts and Bolt Trail Mix for the Road.
Can you see why we were so grateful for all the help that was given?
The party was full of different activities, and we had a FANTASTIC TIME! I am grateful that there is a year inbetween birthday parties. We’ll have to wait and see what next years party will be?!?!
As if we haven’t been in our car enough lately, we decided to go to SLC again this week. This time we went with some friends, the Teasdales and Madsens, to the Children’s Museum and then met up with dad for some lunch.
We have definetly spent more time in our car this holiday season that I would have liked, but the boys have been so good about it, (it is probably because we haven’t hauled the toys back in that they keep hauling out, so it kind of looks like their toy chest out there…).
Here are a few pics at the Museum
The ball area (or the beehive) is Tuckers favorite place to be right now. We always start there and finish there.
Tucker convinced Truman to get the balls, so he could crank them through the machine. Truman ran up and down the stairs gathering the balls in the bins, It is amazing what an older sibling can convince the younger one to do, but Truman loved every second of it. I look forward to watching them grow closer together, as they get older. I hope they will continue to become better friends.
Tucker also took a screen printing class while we were there, the teacher had the students cut out shapes from the newspaper, lie them on paper, put the screen down and squigey the paint across. I just peeked in at him, but he really enjoyed himself. Who knows, maybe he will invent a robot to screen print now 🙂
And Lunch with Dad at the church cafeteria
Orange mouths
Me ticking Tucker because he wouldn’t smile…
While we were in the parking garage leaving Toph’s work, Truman was walking with his hands in his pockets. I can’t get over how cute he looked. He is so small, but yet looks so big..
While I complain about traveling so much, I am grateful that we are able to travel, and it makes me sad to think about next year when Tuck will be in school 5 days a week… It is hard on mother too as children grow up! I love our little adventures that we have!
On Tuckers Birthday, after he woke up (at 6AM), he ran up the stairs, and loudly proclaimed: “I grew bigger, I can reach the sink with out the stool, and I can even see my chin in the mirror!”
One important family tradition, is on your birthday, we all eat doughnuts for breakfast.
This year, seeing how our son is obsessed with Robots and anything mechanical, we suggested a trip to the Krispy Kreme Factory, for his birthday breakfast, and boy did we have a good time!
The only time he left the viewing window was when he ordered his doughnuts (chocolate with sprinkles). He loved watching the machines working!
After about an hour and a half, we decided it was probably about time we headed home, but I am sure he would have been content to stand there all day!
We got the house cleaned, opened a few presents from mom and dad (cowboy guns, one for Tuck and Tru), and we were off to Logan Town!
Where he was surrounded by those who love him, and he was spoiled with gifts!
Mom and Dad gave him his big present, a Robot Dog (mio-pet), which was enjoyed by all of the kids who were there! (Except Truman, who liked it most of the time, except when it was distracting Tucker from paying attention to him!)
The kids watched some of Tucks New Robot Movie
Then we enjoyed our New Years Eve Dinner of Crab, Steak, Artichokes, yum, yum, it was delicious! Not to many 5 year olds can claim to have such a fancy feast on their day!
We sang happy birthday to the birthday boy (the cake is supposed to be Wall-E), ate and off to bed!
The boys went to bed, we played a few board games, then I hit the sack about 11:00, and Toph came down and gave me a new years kiss at 12:00! New Years is not quite the same after you have children… 🙂
On New Years Day, after a good sleep in (thanks Grandma and Grandpa) the New Mr. Bean Show was watched, and I finally saw the old ladies these boys imitate (awesome picture, but could have been a better video opp. Wasn’t thinking…)
Then we headed to the Greene’s, with Poochie strapped in the backseat between the boys…
Opening Presents, and hanging out with Grams and Gramps
Another few exciting days to fill the holiday season!
Today, I spoke in Church. It was the first time since we have been married that I have spoken in church without my spouse. As I sat on the stand with the wonderful ladies who I serve with, I felt an amazing power of sisterhood. But then I looked at my family. I felt an even more powerful sense of love. I am grateful for a husband and boys who love me and support me so unconditionally. I would not be the woman I am today without them.
Tucker has decided on a theme for his birthday party, and of course, it revolves around the passion of his life. ROBOTS.
We spent sometime this week, getting a few of the minor party planning details done, including the Pinata and the Invitations. Let me tell you, if I had know what I was getting myself into, I might have thought twice about it.It was something that I wanted to record, so I can remember my little boy, a sweet memory of his patience and determination.
We had fun making the invites,
Tucker helped me make the words look like Robots, I think they turned out pretty cute. He has a good eye, and we had a good time photoshopping together.
The first dilemma came when we began our search for a Robot Pinata. Not the perfect Robot Pinata. Just A robot pinata. In the back of my mind, I knew we could make one, but if you have ever made a Pinata, (especially in the winter months) you will know why I was anxious to find one. It can be a huge Mess.
I called 10 stores, they all said No, they didn’t have one.
With no success there, we then began our search, driving from store to store to see if we could find a pinata that looked similar to a robot, similar enough so that we could “Tweak” its appearance.
After 6 stores, we came across this at the Mexican Market:
The only similarity (in my mind) that makes it look in any way robotic, is the color, a gold metallic wrapping paper on the outside, but Tucker really liked it. I was just happy the Pinata hunt was done.
Of course, Tucker does want to take off the Sponge Bob Plate and put on a Robot Sticker, and he is thrilled about it!
Right now, it is hanging in our office, which everytime I enter, get scared because I am not used to having such a large object in our home.
And when I say large, I mean HUGE, it is seriously, as big as Tucker–the kids are going to have a hard time NOT hitting it, because it is so gigantic 🙂
But the bigger the Pinata, the more candy right? The kids aren’t going to be complaining!
One of our traditions that we do at Christmas time, is prepare a baby manger for Jesus.
Every time a good deed is done, by yourself, or you notice someone else doing something nice, you get to put a piece of straw in the manger, to make it nice and soft. Our goal as a family is to fill it completely, helping us keep a Christ Centered Holiday.
This tradition began as a child for me, and I mentioned it to Christopher a few years ago, and he surprised me one Christmas Morning 4 years ago with a beautiful manager that he built.
As I was taking down the Christmas decorations, Truman found the manger, from my childhood, and put it next to the manager Christopher built.
As I have need for only one manger, I thought I better take a picture with the 2 of them together, before I pass off one to my Brother, so I can remember the Manger that started the tradition, and the manger that will continue the tradition.
(As you can see, there is quite a size difference, Toph made the big one, I guess he just wanted to make sure I was extra good during the hoilday season.)