Category: Truman

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Elliot Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker

Chasing Life, and Finding Joy daily.

A catch up post as I haven’t posted in along time, and life just keeps on moving! So I apologize for the length!

I can not even begin to tell you how happy I am to state that the pregnancy fog is finally starting to lift a little bit, and I really am starting to feel a little bit better every day. Thanks Goodness! It is nice to have glimpses of normalcy again, and feel like I am not totally and completely falling behind in every aspect of my life.
As far as blogging goes, I am still behind, and unfortunately I don’t see that changing anytime soon, so for now, I will try to remember the awesome moments, and record them when I get a day when I don’t feel like I am chasing life!
So for the latest catchups:
Lately Truman has had more of a twinkle in his eye, and is full of sugar and mischief.

He is so sweet when he wants to be, and yet can be mischievous–Not in a bad way, just figuring out how the world works
With a couple days a week at preschool, Truman takes one day at a time and is looking forward to our trip to the pumpkin patch later this week. Before he started school, we began practicing writing his name. He just writes ‘Tru’ for now, but is learning how to add the Man to his name 🙂

I can’t even begin to tell you how happy those upside down u’s make me feel! He does it whenever he spells his name, here he is with some of my scrapbook letters–cutie.

Tucker has gotten into the swing of life with Kindergarten. I do hear an occasional grumble about going every day, but for the most part, he is loving going to school. I am loving the fact that we are close enough to walk him there and pick him up. We get to really chat, and it is becoming one of my favorite parts of the day. He tells me what book bear chose out to read that day, what happened at recess, the other children he is getting to know (And if they are pants-puller-upers like him, an important categorization in his eyes) and funny other things that happen throughout the day. I am dreading the weather changing, and the thought of having to bundle up to go out (we’ve only had one day where we’ve had to bundle up).

But on that same note, am not picturing any sixth grader excited to walk to school with his mom. So I shouldn’t complain about the weather.

For me, I am enjoying life right now. I must admit, I do love the changing of the seasons. I do love fall, the cool weather, the colors, the smell, back to school, our birthdays, I love everything until the leaves start to fall, and our lives become consumed with raking.

Last week Tucker picked this sunflower from our garden and took it to his teacher, he didn’t really want me to take a picture, but I couldn’t resist, maybe he’s got a crush?

She is an amazing teacher, and is challenging Tucker and keeping him interested in school. I can’t wait to get into the classroom and volunteer, to see what life is really like there for him, and his peers, with this beloved teacher of theirs! Knowing tucker is in such good hands makes me happy, and him happy. Such a blessing to have good people in your life and the lives of your children.

Here is a shot of the baby bumpage. (hurray for being over half way done!)

Totally there, and he is not super active, he already is on kind of a schedule, and I love to lay in bed at night, and to feel him kicking. (Which inevitably happens right as I get into bed, and start to relax, and right as I am about to drift off to sleep.–which I hope he doesn’t get used to. When he is here, I am want him to be sleeping when I am sleeping!)

Another sign that I am feeling better, is I am able to laugh about some of the things that have made me sick during this pregnancy.
For some reason about 3:00-4:00 is a hard hour in the day for me. Therefore we save our TV time for that time. One of the shows we’ve come to love is Word Girl.

The boys love her, she’s a superhero, and I love her too! But I don’t love the meat attacks from one of the villians, the butcher. I don’t know what it is, but seeing that much raw meat all over a person, just makes me sick!
Lately the book the boys just LOVE is the original Curious George. This picture actually made me sick with the other two pregnancies too! But I got over it.. but it’s back!

This picture of George, makes me sick. Really sick. I have even hidden the book, but the boys keep finding it! I need to learn to hide things better!
And of course there are the usual things, chinese food, tuna fish and etc. 🙂

Another sign I am feeling better? We made it back up to the Children’s Museum. (it has been months, since I have had the energy to think about going, let alone actually go!) We all still love this place, and find new ways to play everytime we go there. I keep thinking the boys might be getting tired/bored of this place, as we have frequented it many times, but they just don’t! With their developmentally changing, they seem to find new things that intrege them. So pics from our latest adventure.


The boys still adore their father, and what’s not to love about him? He even helps them build a table out of the neighbors scraps from their deck.

They’ve eaten dinner/snacks on it, and Tuckers latest plan is to collect bugs and sell them from ontop of it. Silly, silly boy. He even draws pictures about it and brings them home from school.

It’s nice to see pictures that are not about robots. He brings home pictures daily, and a large portion are robots. Some things never die, like his passion for robots.But anyways, back to the pictures, again, Kindergarten has expanded his view, the other day he brought this picture home and said, Mom this is for you.

Variety is the spice of life! Love this rainbow.

Also, a few weeks ago, thanks to some good friends, Tuck and Toph were able to attend a BYU football game. It was a big day, which started off with a family trip to ‘a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine’ at the toy store.

Then Toph and Tuck went off to the game (I only have a picture of the tickets, as I took the camera!),

Tru and I had a date. We went to Fuddruckers for a delicoius hamburger, and to a fun, fun, park with friends. It is nice to have one on one time. I’m looking forward to some time with Tuck too!

We’ve also finally gotten the boys room fully put together! The bookshelf moved in, the bunkbeds straightened, and the room totally dejunked.

(notice that above Tuckers desk, he has removed the pictures of Jesus and the temple, and hung up Bionicle/robot pictures…hmm…) Having it clean is such a good feeling, I only wish they stayed like this all the time! 🙂

Hurray for harvest time,

although I was not feeling totally up to canning things, it did feel good to get some Peach Fruit Leather,

Peach Fruit Jam and Applesauce made (Apples and Peaches from our tree). Maybe next year I will be feeling up to being more ambitious!

Super Saturday is fast approaching, and we had our first display last weekend, look at this darling material I used for a project, don’t you love it?

Also, we had our Stakewide Humanitarian Event. I can’t even begin to tell you what an awesome day that was! We have been working hard all year round for this day. We put together over 400 school kits, 400 newborn kits, gathered over 300 quilts, and tied over 35 quilts that day. It was so neat to see all of our hard work come together. I hope to be involved in Humanitarian stuff all of my life. I have felt the blessings of it just flow into our house as we have been working on it. I love it.

Other random things:
Celebrating Birthdays with good friend Hinckley,

Made these darling baby carmel apples (From Family Fun Magazine)for FHE with the Ermolaevs, thanks again for coming guys! We’re so glad to see you again!

It’s amazing when you don’t blog for a month how many fun things you do! 🙂
Hopefully we’ll be back sooner next time. This post took me way too long!

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Emily Topher Truman Tucker Uncategorized

Before my Eyes….

My children are growing older, and the last few weeks it seems like I can visually see them getting bigger on a DAILY basis.

This week is safety week at Tuck’s school. Which he is still loving (if he can just get used to the going every day thing 🙂 )

They have had so many great activities to promote safety: walk to school day (using the cross-walks, etc.), ride your bike to school day (wearing the proper gear)–seeing him riding there especially made him seem so grown up, even with the training wheels,

Bike Obstacle Course, get/decorate a bicycle helmet day (which he wore for a few days, including at breakfast),

track your steps with a pedometer for a day, Stranger Danger Day, Celebrity (local College Mascots) Crossing Guards, water bottles and tomorrow they are giving away two free bicycles per classroom. Tucker has LOVED this week. And watching him participate, and talk about this stuff, makes me realize how BIG he is, not just how big he seems.

Truman too has grown into being a preschooler. Complete with the dress up/superhero/rollerskating antics..

Not one ounce of baby left in him. NONE. He has always been pretty independent, but recently, he just looks older, acts older, and of course actually is older.

But I don’t like watching it happen. it makes me want to freeze time.:) But it is inevitable, and I do love watching them learn. Here are some pics from our field trip to the firestation today, where yet again, I kept looking at Truman and wondering where this grown up boy came from…




And a big deal to Truman, being able to take his own lunch to school, in his own spiderman lunch box…

For now, I am going to treasure the fact that my boys are still small enough to get excited about bike days and lunch boxes. I hope that as they grow up, they’ll still share the things that make them happy with me. Because these boys make me happy.

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Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker

10 Reasons why we love sister Emily….

(no this post is not about me, Emily. This is about my sis-in-law Emily…. Let’s just clarify that from the start! 🙂 ) And yes it is another list. See? I am a chronic list maker.

Anyways, drumroll please…

1–she brings her children to our house, and comes and stays with us.
2–her children are darling, and our kids have such a great time together.
3–I get to stay up late having great conversations, about things like child birth 🙂
4–she just might like the show, Gilmore Girls.
5–she lets us borrow her car, (as ours has been in the shop for a week) so we can do essential things like take Truman to preschool.
6–she gets excited when she gets to go pick up Tuck from school.
7–she can make Ninja Eggs. Yep. Just ask her about it.
8–when she found out we weren’t doing anything big for Toph’s birthday, she stayed an extra day so we could go on a date, and she watched our kids.
9–she gets excited about our DI book finds. (almost as excited as Toph and me)
10–she is a good teacher, and helped me with my bread making phobia, and made these,

they were yummy trust me…

Thanks again Emily for a great few days. Tell you husband to go out of town more often, so you can come hang out with us again. 🙂

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Emily Topher Truman

Dear Truman,

This week you started Pre-School.

After watching your brother go to school for the past few years, you have been excited, and often talked of the days when you could go to school too.

Last week we, mom and dad, went to your ‘meet the teacher’, where you some what hesitantly explored the classroom, and learned about your new environment. You found a pirate ship toy, that you liked, but were confused when there were no pirates to play with. Mrs. Vonda showed you the room, where to put your backpack, where the bathrooms were, and your cubby–Which by the way was marked with a frog symbol.

You looked so grown up, and were so ready to be there, but we could tell you still felt a little nervous. Mom and Dad both watched you, and smiled at each other the whole time…we are so proud of you.

So when it came time this week to drop you off, me and you headed to the school, and you told me your teachers name, and asked if your Walley (Beloved stuffed animal) was still secretly stashed in your backpack, which it was. You smiled a little bit about that.

You were excited to see your classroom and teachers again, you entered, placed your backpack (the spiderman one, which looks Ginormous on your little body) in the slot, and looked around at the other children. We kissed goodbye, and I waited outside the door, to make sure you were okay.

I heard you crying, then I shot of fear rushed through my body, as my mind automatically jumped to the worst case scenario…but shortly thereafter I heard you laughing. That silenced my fears.

I left, and anxiously waited when the time would come for me to go pick you up. Our home felt so empty with out the smiles and laughter of my boys! (luckily for me, Owen, Ava and Em were still here to ease the transition…)

I arrived a few minutes early and waited outside your door, eager to hear how my first day of school went for my trubie.

The kids began to pour out the door, and no Truman, and no Truman and no Truman. I began to get that sick feeling in my tummy again…Then you ecstatically exited tell me, “Mom, it was fun. It was SO fun.” It made my heart skip.

This is a big week for you. Starting school is always an exciting thing, and I am so proud of you, and how you are growing and getting so big!


It makes me want to tell you: remember little man, you may be getting bigger, but you’ll always be my little man…but most of all remember that I love you very, very much.

Love,
Mom

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Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker

Happy Birthday Brother Eric.

So, our kids are spoiled. They have so many aunts and uncles who love them.

And after our trip to Disneyland, it was apparent Uncle Eric was loved. He was chosen nearly every ride by either Tucker and Truman, as a ‘riding buddy’.


Eric is my youngest brother, and is an awesome one. And I am not going to wax on, but want him to know that the world is a better place because he is part of it.

I love you Eric. Happy Birthday!!

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Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker

A weekend with the Cousins, and another weekend with other Cousins….

First off, thanks for all the warm birthday comments, emails, phone calls…it was a fantastic day. I appreciate you thinking of me!

I’m still playing the catch-up game! 🙂 So here’s what we’ve been up to.
The past few weekend, we have been with cousins. Have I mentioned how much I love family??

Last weekend began the cousin weekend spree—

With a great event, my Cousin Leslies wedding. It was a beautiful wedding in Park City, and I loved being able to spend the day with Leslie and Brandon celebrating their union.

Somehow all our pictures of Leslie, came out blurry, so it’s a good thing I wasn’t in charge of photography 🙂
Here is her arrival on the fire engine:

During the ceremony, the bridesmaids, and look at Leslie’s Beautiful Dress, with the red inlay, it was so stunning (again, I wish ALL of my other shots weren’t blurry!):

How we kept Truman quiet during the ceremony:

Leslie and Brandon, during the ceremony:

And here are a few shots, while everything was getting ready:
Greene Cousins-

Sisters-

After the ceremony, we got a shot of the boys in the fireengine:

The location was beautiful, with a beautiful tree. The boys played, and played, and played in it.


Then after the tree, the boys couldn’t resist sitting on the fire engine:

It was such a good day, and such good company. We’re so happy to have Brandon in our family!

Also, that weekend, we were able to have dinner with some more cousins, Amy and Jordan Phillips. I wish I would’ve broken out the camera, but didn’t. We had a great Sunday Dinner with them, and a great visit, which we’re especially grateful for, considering they might be moving soon! Thanks again for coming guys!

Then this last weekend, Toph and the boys headed to Logan for more cousin-ey goodness…Big O’s Super Hero Birthday Bash. Which I am so sad that I missed. I have the most amazing sister in laws. Case and point. Take a look at the capes Em sewed for the guests… So DARLING. It has re-ignited the Super Hero in Truman. I wish our Air Conditioning in our car hadn’t gone out, so I could’ve been there, but here are the highlights, and my understanding of what happened:
The capes and treasure hunt:




Which led to a Pinata:


And of course the birthday boy and cake:

The boys always leave these events so happy and tired, and what wondeyful events and people to be celebrating!

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Emily Topher Truman Tucker Uncategorized

Ready or not, Kindergarten here we come!


As I write this post, Tucker is sitting in his Kindergarten Classroom–for his first day of Kindergarten. How time flies.

He was up late last night, with butterflies in his stomach because of nerves, (I used to get those too), then he woke up early this morning, got dressed, and came up this morning. He told me, “I didn’t know what time it was so I got dressed quick, so we wouldn’t be late.” We still had 3 hours until school started. Plenty of time, and nothing to worry about. But sweet that he was so excited to be there.

We had a leisurely morning of adjusting the new clothes (Can I tell you how much I love adjustable waistbands? They are the GREATEST thing ever.) And taking off all the tags, then some toast and eggs, get the backpack ready, Spiked up the hair with the gel, snapped a few pictures,

then it was time for the walk around the corner to school. (which we walked with our great neighbors, the Teasdales) For me, it was too short. But Tucker couldn’t seem to get there soon enough.

We found the door with the Stars (his classroom),

took a few pictures, then Tucker insisted on being first in the line after the bell rang, to get into classroom.

He didn’t even look back, he found his backpack hook, and his desk, and was ready for school!

Truman tagged along the whole way, (being a super Truman, hence the cape) and running alongside his big brother. Every once in awhile stating, Yeah, I am going to preschool next week. (Which I can’t believe either, but that’s another post, for another day!)

And in case you’re wondering, no I am not crying as I write this post. But I did get teary eyed as I walked away from the door!

And of course, I am excited to go pick him up, to find out how it went. But I am sure it was perfectly wonderful.

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Emily Truman Tucker Uncategorized

Summer is Ending and I’m crying about it. Really.

Where has our summer gone? It’s ENDING!!!!

And with being so pregnant, this was not the summer I imagined it would be! I had big plans for this summer…the summer before Tucker starts school was going to be one he remembered full of grand adventure, bonding moments, learning teaching moments…

The reality of my boys getting bigger and older is weighing heavily on me right now. I feel like I haven’t been able to be the best mom for my two little boys over the past few months. And there were so many things we were going to do this summer, that just didn’t happen. And I am having a hard time grasping the end of the summer is approaching, and my boys are growing, and Tucker is starting Kindergarten next week! I have began wondering if I have taught him everything he needs to know. Does he know he is a Child of God, and so should never worry about what that inevitable bully is going to say, will he remember to say please and thank you, does he know that he is such the sunshine of my soul and that smile of his can light up any room, does he know not to talk to strangers, and what to do in case of a fire? These and so many other questions and thought have been running over in my mind! I can’t believe how fast the past 5 1/2 years have gone by!

So when my Friend Diana posted about this song on her BLOG, I found it on you tube, and promptly began to cry and cry and cry as I watched it.

I would like to blame it on my pregnancy hormones that brought on the tears…but I don’t know if that is a fair statement!

I’m going to treasure these moments, and I will remember them, ’cause I know I am going to miss them, even if they aren’t all grand adventures–

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Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker

Vacation Day Ten–Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog.

Again, my prego body was not handling this vacation thing too well, I woke up this day feeling not so good. Thankful again for so many helping hands, to help getting things packed, loaded, watching children, cleaning up things, and get ready for Condo checkout.

In the car, we were off– not sure if we were going to crash in Vegas or go all the way home. I was grateful again for the DVD Player, especially as I fell asleep, Toph was able to drive, and the boys were content to watch movies for a few hours. I didn’t even wake up when they stopped for gas, stopped to go to the restroom and get snacks, or anything. What good travelers my boys are!

And I was grateful that I was able to sleep (I NEVER can sleep in the car, except apparently when I am pregnant?!?! when I apparently can sleep through everything?!?!?). Toph Drove, Drove, and Drove.

Traveling was going so good, that we decided to keep on driving all the way home. We arrived shortly after 11 PM. And I was grateful to climb into my bed.

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jog.

Now, if only I can convince Truman that we went to California when he says, “Phalifornia (California) here, wwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeee come!!!”

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Emily Life Topher Truman Tucker Uncategorized

Vacation Day Nine–California Adventure

We weren’t sure if we were going to spend three days of Disneyland and California Adventure, but after watching your children on the rides, and having fun together as a family, it was enough for me. The boys were having a great time, so we headed back for our last day.

I wasn’t feel stellar, but was excited to be there, and again, thanks to the help of the other 5 adults, I didn’t hardly push a stroller, or lift a child. Making it alot easier to be healthier!

Again, the highlights.
The carousel:

Watching the riders:


While walking around we met some characters:
Frozone:

Incredibles:

Walle: (They were super excited!!! Tucker even decided to be in this one!)

By the way, Toph didn’t shave the whole time we were on vacation, look at that scruff:

Hubbas:

Amy and Tuck:

Love this shot of us all walking:

While the big kids went on the Tower of Terror, mom and the boys and I went to the Playhouse Disney show, and the boys loved it,

we saw Little Einsteins,

Handy Manney,

and Mickey,

It was a fun interactive show, complete with ‘leaves’ falling from the ceiling, bubbles, and a good time!
What’s not to Love about the Bugs Life Section of California Adventure:
Before the movie:


The Heimlich ride:


The bumper bugs:

look at Amy and Erics Funny faces on this one, good laugh:




The twisty teacup lady bugs:

The flying high juicebox ride:

Another one of our favorite rides, was the Buzz Lightyear Shooting ride:
My potato head talks to you:


It was a 3D shooting ride, and lots of fun. Tru and I rocked the house 🙂 :

Another favorite was this soaring ride, so much fun:

There were alot more ‘big kid’ rides at California Adventure, here’s a pic on the Screamer:

With the help of Trumans lifts, he was able to get on all the rides he wanted to go on, besides the Jellyfish one. The man checking height was pretty particular. Tuck and Gramps were able to go though:

The boys, minus Truman, went on this wild ride, not getting as wet as we thought they were going to!

All our days at Disneyland, the boys searched for Wall-E toys, only to be disappointed that the good ones had been totally wiped out. They only had little small yellow plastic wall-e’s and weren’t planning on getting any more or new stuff in until Christmas. What?!?!?!
There was nothing to be found anywhere, so Tucker and Truman had to choose a different toy, Buzz Lightyear, Zurg, their cars, and some of those plastic Wall-E toys. Thanks Grams and Gramps!

The pixar parade was by far one of my favorite moments of our time at Disneyland. And honestly, the funnest parade I have ever seen! So much fun! We saw so many of the characters that the boys love, while they sprayed water at us!! Christopher was behind the camera, but I think I was just as excited as the boys were! I love seeing things they’ll love.

Here’s a video I found on YouTube with the fun Parade:

Yummy, yummy dinner at the Italian Restaurant…

Then all the kids left the park, and my mom and dad stayed to watch the fireworks, and enjoy Disneyland just the two of them.

Hurray for vacation!!