Funny Ty

The other day I went to tuck Ty into bed and noticed that he had made a special bed on the floor by his bed for his action figures (spidermans and trucks). He had given them his special spiderman pillow and a blanket and even his Elmo to sleep with. I couldn't help but laugh, which he didn't like very much so I stopped laughing. He kissed them all good night (his friends) and then went to bed. I love this age, it is so much fun!

Notice he even tucked his trucks in a little bit. :)

It is funny because last week he was really into his cars (named red speed and blue speed) that his friend Summit let him borrow. He had the rest of his cars split into 'families'. We had the 'blue family' the 'red family' the 'yellow family' and the 'green family' AND the 'BIG family'. But I made him give the cars back and so he is now into his 'friends' and plays with them every day.

Perspective on Halloween......a month later

they are sure posers :)

Halloween. I am going to be honest. Not my favorite holiday. Now I do like it, because I love all holidays and days that are made to be different from the everyday, but overall........not my favorite.
Ty, naturally had his costume picked out months ahead and was indeed SPIDERMAN. No one had to really question. By Halloween his costume had approximately 5+ holes, snags, etc in it. It is definitely loved and the best $10 I EVER spent!
I gave Nate the assignment of taking Kace to get his costume one night. They came home with this scary looking thing with bones 'sticking' out of it. It was weird, but Kace was sure excited it. He likes the scary part of Halloween.

On Friday was Kace's school's costume parade so Ty and I went to see all the kids and their costumes (Ty was in his spiderman costume like he is most days.......so he didn't even need to dress up). I thought this picture was funny. He found ANOTHER SPIDERMAN (gasp!)

We went to our ward Halloween party on Friday night and had a nice dinner and had a trunk or treat. Ty was like a kid in heaven. I don't really know what Kace thought because he ran off with his friends and wasn't seen until it was over. Naturally. But when I did see him, he ran up to me and exclaimed, "I went through NINE times!" He had a big grin on his face and was so proud of himself. I was mortified..........NINE times? Then he told me that he was awarded the most 'scary costume' award, which he was very proud of.

This picture was at the costume parade. I love it because you can see Ty in the background and he is so excited to see his brother. He kept talking (well more like yelling. Anyone who knows Ty knows that he isn't very quiet!) and saying, "THERE'S MY BROTHER!" It was very cute. Ty's good friend Summitt is with him.

Once Ty got the hang of it, he was literally running through the parking lot and was SO EXCITED about the candy. I wish I had taken a picture of him with his candy. He was so excited.

The next night we took the kids trick or treating to the older people in the ward and those that we didn't see at the party. I just couldn't let the actual trick or treating part of Halloween die. I think they liked that more than the trunk or treating. Now we STILL have a big bag of candy sitting on top of the fridge waiting for whoever wants it.

family pics 2010

The day before Spiderman (I mean, "the boy with costume".......that is what Ty says when you call him spiderman) broke his arm we had family pictures taken. My mom FINALLY decided that it was time. It has been 10 years. I agree it was time :) So Kathrin (Kami's sister in law) was nice enough to brave us. She came up earlier so that we could get some family pictures of our family and some of Kace and Ty.



The first thing Nate saw when we got to the train station was this pumpkin man. Kathrin started to laugh because Erik had just had his picture taken with the pumpkin man. I had to laugh because the shirt (flannel plaid) the pumpkin man is wearing, I swear, was taken from Nate's closet. Before I met him he used to wear it to CHURCH. Are you KIDDING me :)



In most of the pictures you can definitely see Ty saying CHEEEEEEESE. They were not the best picture takers. Kathrin took about 500+ pictures that night and well over 300 were just of my family.

We just couldn't have pictures without a super hero pose. Anyone guess what Ty is doing with his hands?




Nate really does love his kids, even though he looks like he is in PAIN!


Kace 8 years old


Tydon 3 years old



Boys are weird. I have no idea where Erik was when they all started doing this, but I am certain that he would have hopped right on.


I swear we are the most closing eyes family EVER. In nearly EVERY PICTURE there is SOMEONE with their eyes closed.





Cute parents :)


I love my sisters :) Doesn't mom look like a sister too!


Dad and his soccer team :) love it!

Since we are a BYU family we had to have a BYU picture. Tydon made the same blasted face in every one of these. And naturally Cort has his eyes closed.

uh, oh. Spiderman is at it again!

Last Monday started out just like any other Monday, Ty was outside playing spiderman on the rope. He LOOOOVES spiderman.

Anyway, Ty was outside playing and I was in the house vacuuming when he came in screaming that he broke his arm. I, of course, said to myself, "Ya, right." I picked him up and carried him to his bed (when he gets hurt or gets in trouble he wants to go to bed) and got him his bear blanky and his sippy cup with milk (his comforts). The only problem was that he wouldn't move his left arm at all. If I bumped it he screamed. If I tried to move it he screamed. I knew something was probably wrong when I pulled his blankets up and laid them on his arm and the pressure of the blankets hurt. So I called Nate's mom (nurse Donene) and asked if there was any way to tell if his arm was broken without going in, she said no, that I had to go in and get x-rays. So we headed to Logan. We got there and got some x-rays but the doc couldn't see any fractures on them so we headed for home with the promise that he would call us later that afternoon after the radiologist had looked at them.

Poor Ty the guy.

When I got home I got a call from Nate (he had been hunting) and he asked if I specifically asked the doctor to check if it was dislocated. I had completely forgotten about that. Donene had mentioned this too and I was going to ask him about it, but just forgot. So I called him back and actually got to talk to the doctor (that never happens) and he said that he was so sorry, that he didn't check it, and that it was a real possibility. He said to bring him back in. So back to Logan we went.
Thinking about this part makes me want to cry. It was awful. We went into the exam room and he grabbed Ty's elbow with one hand and started twisting, pulling and pushing his arm trying to get it to pop. He tried it THREE TIMES. Ty was SCREAMING. It never popped. He then called the radiologist and came back in and said, "I'm so sorry. There was a fracture." He then wrapped it and gave us a sling and told us to put this on when he will let us bend his arm (after a few days) and then to wear it for 2 weeks. No need to make an appointment. I thought this was a little bit odd.

When we got home that night Kace was the only one that could get him to smile. He is such a great big brother. He was doing crazy tricks and trying to get Ty to laugh. It worked, thank goodness.

I had Kace swing on the rope to mimic what Ty was doing. They stand up by the tree and then swing down the hill. It was when he was swinging back up that he fell.

The next day his arm still really hurt and he didn't really want to do anything. I had talked to a couple of friends and Nate's mom and they all said it was really weird that he would do this and not cast it or anything. So I called Dr. Hicken, he got us in in 30 minutes, spotted the fracture right away and got a cast on (he picked black.........I was really worried he would pick pink, but black it is). And away we went.

As a side note. Ty told me that if he would have been wearing his spiderman costume then he would NOT have fallen off the rope (since he was swinging through the air like spiderman). We had to have the talk (again) that SPIDERMAN IS NOT REAL!

He is much happier now and his arm doesn't hurt. He hasn't complained at all about the cast like I thought he would. We have survived the first broken bone at our house. On the way home from the doctor Ty said that he would not drink so much juice and drink more milk so his bones wouldn't break :) I thought Grandpa would like that!

Our friend Krissy came over to see Ty after YW a couple of days after it happened. As you can see Ty loves Krissy!

I am old!

I knew this day was coming and I had tried preparing for it. We had dedicated at least 2 FHE's to baptism and discussing what was going to happen. I took Kace to his friend Christian's baptism the month before and couldn't think about anything else and couldn't stop crying. It really hit me then how important this step is for our eternal progression. However, when the morning of his baptism came I wasn't my best self (gasp). I started getting stressed out with thinking that I had sooooo much to do and not enough time to get it done. I got mad that they left their clothes on the floor after showering (at least they showered), got mad at Nate for disappearing into the shed to clean it (I thought the things I had to do were more important and he should be helping me.........selfish, I know), got mad that Kace didn't want to wear the new clothes I got him and chose to wear the too tight, floody pants. Mother of the year award I know. I am still feeling bad.

When we got to the baptism I started to simmer down and not freak out so much. Kace was so excited to be baptized and I just wanted to enjoy the spirit of that, but it is hard to feel the spirit when you have been like I was all morning. Not good. I want to cry just thinking about it. It wasn't until he came out of the water that the thought came to my mind "This is what is important......all that other stuff, doesn't matter." I know this is true. It really puts things into perspective.
Anyway, when he came out of the water he had a look about him that I don't ever want to forget, he had a look of pure joy. He was literally glowing. He looked up with a big grin first to his Grandpa Jones and then to his Grandpa Andrew. It was a great experience. I hope he remembers that and the way he felt rather then the mess of that morning.

Anyway, then we went to another room for the confirmation. (sorry if you read this part on Donene's blog, but I can't leave it out!) I was asked to bear my testimony and then he was confirmed and then anyone else who wanted to say something was invited to stand and bear their testimony or say whatever they wanted. So, my parents, Nate's parents and Nate all bore their testimonies. After the 3 person, Ty said that he wanted to go up and say thank you for his monster trucks (they had been playing monster trucks that morning) and I told him that he could say that in his prayer (he had been asked to say the closing prayer). But before I knew it Ty was walking to the front of the room, very slowly, deliberately and VERY sincerely. He turned around and said, "I just want to say, thank you for my monster trucks." Everyone started giggling and laughing and he was devastated. I didn't really want him to say that because I didn't want the spirit to be gone from the room with the laughing, but he was so sincere and innocent. He was just saying what he was thankful for. He then came back crying and hid under my chair until it was time for the prayer.
When it was time for the prayer I went up to give support (He could say the prayer all by himself, but he said he wanted me to come up with him) and knelt down by him so I could whisper in his ear if he needed help. He promptly knelt down next to me and said a very nice prayer (he didn't forget his monster trucks, don't worry).

We then came over to our house for some food..........it all turned out. I don't know what I was worrying about. This whole experience was a great learning experience for me. I will definitely try harder not to worry about things that aren't important and just enjoy the moment with my family. It turned out to be a great day with a lot of experiences that I don't want to ever forget :)
Sorry this is so long, but I didn't want to leave anything out of my 'journal'. Stay tuned for activities that happened a couple of days later :)

Somebody's special day :)

Kace just had his birthday. Not just any birthday, but his EIGHTH birthday. So special :) He was so excited. We celebrated at the Jones' on Sunday with the meal of his choice and of course presents :). He got a journal, book, money and a tie tack. Then on Monday some of the Andrew family came over to celebrate. Nate and I got him a bike. We were going to just get him new puncture proof tires (because they are ALWAYS flat), but a new bike was only $20 more.
When I was a kid we loved playing and competing against each other in tetherball. I suggested to my mom that Kace would like a tetherball thing. So she painted and fixed up our old one, got a new ball and it was a hit. Kami even tried to beat me. Didn't happen.

My family has an interesting tradition. I don't know when it started or why, but for the birthday song we always sing as crazy and loud and off key as possible. The first time Kace heard it (and Ty too) I think they were frightened, but now they just laugh and "sing" along. I have included a video, but keep in mind that Cort, Erik, Heidi and Clayton (always key participants) were missing, so it wasn't as good as it normally is, but you will get the idea. I am not for certain if Nate and Grandma (my grandma) like the tradition, because they always sing normal or not at all. Party poopers :)






Nate really wanted to try out the new bike. You should zoom up and see the look on his face, it is pretty funny.

Had to include a picture of Ty, who could resist this kid :)

Football is here!

Everyone who knows me knows that I LOVE football season. From the time I was little I remember watching and going to games with my family. I remember my dad drawing up a field and explaining the rules and what a first down meant when I was probably 8 years old. My parents have instilled a deep LOVE for BYU football. They have been going to all their games for 30 years.
Kace has been so excited to be old enough to play football and has said for a long time that football is his favorite sport, even though he has never played it. Maybe it is because he watched his uncle Mac and Isaac when he was little, or maybe it is because our Saturdays in the fall are devoted to football (except for Nate when he is hunting).

So football has come and Kace is playing halfback on his little team. He loves it! He also gets to occasionally play outside linebacker, but there are a lot of kids so kids don't usually get to go both ways. There has been one thing that has been hard for me. When the BYU games start next week Kace's games will all conflict with theirs. I am DYING............it is a hands down decision to watch Kace, but I love watching BYU too. Thank goodness for TiVo and the parents who get the stupid mtn. channel. Don't worry, I enjoy watching Kace I think even more than BYU. It is so much fun :)
Around here they let the 7 year olds play on their own team and the 8 year olds on their own team. We really liked this because that would mean that everybody has the same amount of experience. If he was playing with the 8 year olds, he probably wouldn't be able to play as much because there are older, more experienced kids. Anyway, it has been a great experience and so much fun! This last week they WON! This was a really great feat because the all 7 year old team (playing against 7 & 8 year olds) has never won a game in the last three years. Kace scored 2 (almost 3-he got tackled on the 1 yard line) TDs, and was so excited, he did his little strut walk. Here is one of them. Sorry it is small :)






We have been working with him at home doing different plays. Nate gets so into it. Probably because this is what he did when he was a kid. Most people don't see Nate as a football player, but he was a dang good one........or so I have been told. :) When he was Kace's age he played RB too, but also got to play more defense. He really wants Kace to play defense (as well as offense) because that is what he loved. When he got older he played outside linebacker in hs and free safety at Ricks.

Grandma and Grandpa Shaw came and watched his game this last week and so did Kami. Kace was so excited that someone was coming to watch him. Thanks to them and thanks to Kami for speeding so fast to the game that she got pulled over. Sorry sister :)

please

please comment on kace's blog post, he checks multiple times a day for comments. He is sure he is going to get TONS! :)

The weird bat

This is Kace adding a new post to our blog.

Everyone should know that we have a shed getting built. The people who were putting the siding on were working when they saw a bat. One of them got his staple gun and started shooting at the bat. So now we have a dead bat right in front of our shed.

PS show this to your kids. They will love it.

"You wanna see my......."

So our little Ty the guy has a really hard time saying his "c" and "k" and "g" sounds. We try to help him and say it slower and all that, but it isn't really helping. He can say the sounds by themselves, but putting them altogether in a word is a different story.

Ty also loves his kittens. There are about four left that haven't "disappeared" and whenever anybody comes over ty always runs up to them yelling (he doesn't have a quiet voice), "DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY TITTIES?" um...........WHAT?! Mostly people laugh and laugh and then want him to say it again (as if he really didn't say it the first time). Ty, of course, has no clue and patiently asks them again......this time saying he has LOTS of TITTIES. :) Don't know what to do with him and don't know what I would do without him! Obviously in the above picture he is sad because Kace is holding his tittie and he wants to be the one to hold it. All is well when he gets his way (see bottom photo)!

Pianoman Kace

Kace has been playing the piano for one year now. He started at the beginning of 1 grade taking lessons from Carolyn Francom. She is WONDERFUL! I haven't really had to bug him (too much) about practicing. He has picked up on it quick and is a good little pianist!

A month before school got out a talent show flyer came home and I asked him if he wanted to do anything for the show. He said, yes, and then tried to decide what he should do. Piano, singing, tell jokes, juggle, hit a ball. He finally concluded that he would play the piano. I was pleased with his choice, mainly because it FREAKED ME OUT to play the piano in front of people when I was younger. I remember the music lady calling me weekly and every time I she called I would get an anxious feeling in my stomach, knowing that I should say yes, but always saying no. I was just too scared. My fingers would go cold and clammy and I would basically FREAK OUT! So I was really pleased that Kace would WANT to do this.

He had a piano recital a couple of weeks after that. He is always nervous about the bow and it is always pretty funny :)

chickens and the vet

Last Sunday we went to Nate's cousin's homecoming talk and then came back to our house with the rest of the Jones family to celebrate Father's Day. We started out by looking at the shed that we are building (or the "great and spacious"-that's what I call it)! It is coming along nicely and they should be done framing by the end of this week. :)



Anyway, we were all sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather when Donene (Nate's mom) wrote her name on the back of their camp chairs (she was going to girls camp that week and wanted her chair's to still be her's when she got home). So Ty wanted to write his name on his chair as well, I didn't want that so much, and there was this chicken that was running around in the front yard so Nate said, "Go chase that chicken and color on it!" That's what every little boy wants to hear so Ty took off with a big grin on his face. Imagine our SHOCK when he got the chicken and actually started coloring on it. Caitlin said, "It has got to be sick to let him just run up and grab it like that."

So the next day I went over to the Roberts' to take something back to Kim and left Kace home to do his chores and I accidentally left my cell phone in the car. So after visiting for a little bit (okay it was probably a little longer than that) I asked Keaton (Kim's son) to call Kace and make sure he was okay and still staying on task finishing his jobs. I heard Keaton start laughing and said something about a chicken. I then asked to talk to him and heard a tearful Kace tell me that the chicken was sick and one died and that he wanted to call the vet. I said we can't call the vet for a chicken. That was when he told me that he already had called the vet. WHAT SEVEN YEAR OLD WOULD CALL A VET?!

He looked the number up in the phone book (didn't know he could do that!), called, and then explained to whoever answered the phone his chicken situation. Thankfully, they told him that he needed to ask his mom first. :)

When I called Nate and told him that Kace had called the vet for the sick chicken his response was, "No, no, no, no, NO! Not for a CHICKEN!" It was a pretty classic "Kace" experience. Leave it to Kace to take matters into his own hands :)

I know most of you have probably already read about this incident on facebook, but I wanted to have it in my "journal" so I always remember it. :)