The Starting of School Tradition

Growing up my family always had a tradition at the beginning of a new school year. One person would sit in the "special" chair and everybody would think of a memory they had from the year of school that person was going into. Then they would give a piece of advice. After everybody did this, they would get a Father's blessing. Then a candy bar card or a cake or something super awesome.

Kyler went first. Most advice was be nice, go poop in the toilet, meet friends, listen to your teachers, etc. Ryan gave him a nice blessing (of which I don't really remember anything that was said - on my behalf, it was like 4 days ago so I'm justified in not remembering). Kyler's candy bar card said:

Kyler - Don't be a "sour patch kid" be a "starburst" instead. Don't "rolo"ver on your friends. Continue to smile and bring "almond joy" to the "milky way" Oops, we mean Elementary. Love Mom and Dad.

Taegen went next. Most of his advice was be nice, don't pick your nose, meet friends, listen to your teachers, etc. Ryan gave him a nice blessing (of which I don't really remember anything that was said - on my behalf, it was like 4 days ago so I'm justified in not remembering). (I feel like I just wrote this paragraph somewhere...de ja vu?)Taegen's candy bar card said:

Taegen - A summer full of "swedish fish" +ing and now back to school.Don't pick your nose with your "butterfinger" or everyone will "snicker" at you. If you get shot with a "Musket.teers" will flow down your cheek, but your still our "starburst". Love Mom and Dad.

What can I say. Ryan and I think we are pretty funny. Poor Strider didn't get anything...I didn't even think of getting him a sympathy candy bar, but no worries...the boys shared.

First day of School

Don't be fooled by the smile on Taeg's face. He has been ecstatic to start school. All the neighborhood kids have been in school and he asks me 30 times a day if they are home yet. He was more than ready to start. We got to school around 12:25 and met the teachers. He didn't know any kids and it was new teachers. He was playing with dinosaurs and I asked if he wanted to introduce Kyler to his teachers. He said no. I said ok, we'll go home. He gave me a kiss and said bye. As we're walking out. He runs over and says he wants to show Kyler to his teachers. So we did. Then it all went down hill. He had a death grip on my arm with both of his hands. Tears were flowing...I mean, flowing down his face. Around 12:40 all the other parents had left and they were getting ready to start. We went to the carpet and sat next to Taegen. If I moved an inch away from him he would gasp and pull me back. Finally around 12:50, I really HAD to go because Kyler's bus was coming soon. The aide helped me pry his arms off of me and he was SCREAMING and KICKING. Literally, SCREAMING AND KICKING as I left with the teacher holding him on her lap so he couldn't chase me down. Poor kid. When I went to pick him up they told me he cried for a few minutes and then was fine. Taegen is extremely quiet around people he doesn't know. I am hoping he will make a few friends in his class. There are only a few boys but lots of girls. He told me that he wanted to go to school today...so keep your fingers crossed that it's a tear free, kick free, scream free drop-off.

I am such a mean mom for leaving my baby so upset but...come on kid, I have another one to get on the bus. :) :) Love you Taegs.

4 years old and growing strong.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

4 years old and growing strong.

The boys' had their 4 year well check-up last week. That's always fun. They tested their eyes and ears and then the usually check-up things. The eye chart was awesome. Kyler stood their with one eye covered but he wouldn't have known what the shapes were anyways. So, that was pointless. Taegen was a little nervous with the eye chart. The ear testing went much better. Taegen didn't hear anything the first two rounds. Then we told him to give me five every time he heard a noise. Passed with flying colors. Kyler just kept giving me five regardless of hearing noises or not. They also got some shots. Taegen always makes Kyler go first for anything. So Taegen told Kyler to go first. Kyler cried a little but poor little Taegen was curled up in the corner with his hands in his mouth and tears streaming down his face. So, when it was his turn he seriously screamed and kicked and everything. It took three of us to hold him down for his shots. Then it was over and he told EVERYONE for the next 5 days that he had shots. Kyler's leg really hurt him all day after the shots. He couldn't even walk on it. He would limp for a few steps and then just cry while holding his leg. It was sad BUT...we all survived and here are their stats.

Taegen:
Weight - 40 pounds - 81%
Height - 41.5 inches - 77%
BMI - 16 - 72%
B/P - 104/70

Kyler:
Weight - 33 pounds - 24%
Height - 37 inches - 2%
BMI - 17 - 85%
B/P 78/58

So there you have it. Kyler made it on the charts for both height and weight and he has a higher BMI than Taegen...go figure. Oh how I wish my BMI was 16 or 17.

Soccer Mom

Soccer Mom

Okay so the boys are in Soccer this year. It is awesome. They had their first game last Saturday and it was freaking awesome. They play 3 on 3. Taegen actually did really well. He followed the ball. Kicked it and would chase it. Ryan told Taegen to kick the ball away from the other team. Taegen said "Dad can I tell you something? I did that 2 times." Also, every time I would cheer for Taegen he would stop, turn, smile and wave at me. It made me happy.

Kyler pretty much stayed at the center field. He would stand there, then sit down. Occasionally, he would walk over to me and sit down and say "done". It was awesome. Ryan would pick him up and move him to the ball and then...Kyler would just stand in that spot. It was funny. There was one time that he actually kicked the ball and then ran and followed it with the crowd. It lasted for about 30 seconds but...it was at least 30 seconds. It was so fun to watch them. Ryan is the assistant coach so they really enjoy that too. I love being a "soccer mom". I think it's so cute to see my little boys out there with their over sized jerseys. Kyler shin guards cover his entire leg. It's hard for him to walk in them but they are the smallest size I could find. They are just growing up so fast and as sad as it is to see them getting all old and stuff, it is really fun too.

Taegen has excellent form and look how high he can kick that leg.Trying to tell Kyler (again) to run and chase the ball.
Kyler kicking the ball in.
Getting their game faces on.
Daddy and Kyler boy heading to their first game.

Birthday Celebration #1

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Birthday Celebration #1

The boys were incredibly lucky this year and got to have many birthday celebrations. Since my mom and Hayes left on the 31st and the boys' birthday isn't until April 1st -we had to celebrate early. So, we went to Monkey Joe's. It's a big-bounce-houses-toy-jumping-thing playground. Sounds fun huh? Taegen once again LOVED it. I swear there isn't much that Taeg's doesn't love. Kyler LOVED it too. He was doing great climbing up all the ladders and such. Strider LOVED it too but couldn't do a lot of stuff on his own. I tell you what, it was a good thing Hayes' was with us. Taegen and Hayes and Kyler would race up and down the courses. Hayes' would help Kyler or Strider if they got stuck. He is a GREAT uncle. Kyler, Hayes and Taegen climbing.
Kyler climbing on up.
My Strider boo.
Hayes and Taegen "posing" for the camera. Cute boys.

After Monkey Joe's we came home and opened presents from grandma and grandpa Stapp.



Seriously, aren't they the cutest.

Birthday Celebration #3

Birthday Celebration #3

Since Nellie and Landon were here we decided to go to Texas Roadhouse (Thanks Scott and Shirley). It was technically the day after their birthday BUT we were still celebrating SO the boys got to get on the saddle and have everybody in the restaurant give them a big YEEHAW. They liked it, maybe even loved it. What 4 year old wouldn't want to get on a big horse saddle surrounded by loads of people. I mean, come on.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Birthday Celebration #2

So the boys' had their 4th birthday on April Fools day. We met some friends at the zoo and had cupcakes there. They splash park was open so the boys had to go play in the water. Good times.



Then that night we had a special birthday dinner of corn dogs (Taeg's favorite) and tater tots (Kyler's favorite). Then we opened presents. Taegen got a new big bike. Kyler got some fun therapy toys...scissors, fuzzy balls with tweezers, bendy straws. (In our defense, we had intended to paint Taegen's old bike and add a horn and stuff for Kyler BUT the physical therapist said that he really needs to master the tricycle before he rides an upright bike - so he got some fun little toys instead of a big boy bike). They both got a marble works set and they got soccer balls. They had a great day. I love them each so much. They are quite different but totally complement each other. At the end of the day they are each other's best friend.

Taeg's Special Pre-school Day

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I have to say that I love Taegen's hair long BUT he was constantly moving it out of his eyes. I've asked him tons of times if he wants it cut and he always says adamantly "NO" but not today, so I jumped at the chance...and welcome Summer hair.
Before...
After...

I must say that I think he is pretty stinking cute either way.

Taeg's Special Pre-school Day

Taegen birthday was over Spring break so he got to celebrate his birthday at pre-school when he got back. We made ice cream cone cupcakes and had hugg's for drinks. Everybody sang to him and he even got to blow out a candle. He loved it. Strider and I stayed for playtime after they sang to him. Taegen is a great big brother.
I am going to brag about Taegen for a bit. He is amazing. He is such a great kid. He seriously LOVES his brothers. He watches out for Kyler and Strider ALL the time. He genuinely cares about them. I think he gets that something is different about Kyler but he doesn't know what and he doesn't care. He loves him.

• He loves the Wii and is surprisingly good at it.
  
• He doesn't take naps anymore and hasn't for a few months.
  
• His bests friends are Connor and Bronson from pre-school.
  
• He is very observant. I got new glasses a few months ago. Nobody noticed except Taegen. Everytime I wore them for the first month he would say "mom, I like your new glasses." or "you look beautiful in your new glasses mom".
  
• He is extremely sweet. He says "I love you" all the time. He tells his family and his friends. Sometimes his "older" friends think it's gross but he doesn't care, he still tells them he loves them. He is one of the younger kids on the street but all the kids come over to play with him. They are so great with him.
  
• He can ride a big bike but still needs training wheels.
  
• He loves basketball.
  
• He is playing soccer right now and loves it.
  
• He loves playing games. Memory, wii or hide and seek are his favorites right now.
• He loves to pretend to be a puppy. He will bring me a ball (in his mouth) and I will play fetch with him. He begs, sits, lays, rolls over and speaks. Kyler and Strider also love this new game.
  
• He sleeps on the top bunk in their bedroom. He only gets to play the wii if he stays in his bed all night and it totally works. He stays in his bed pretty much every night.
• He LOVES his daddy.
• He always tells me I look beautiful.
  
• He dresses himself.
  
• He hates eating off of plastic plates. He wants a glass plate and glass cup.
  
• He LOVES to say the prayer and says it almost every meal. He says great prayers.
  
• He loves pre-school. Whenever I pick him up from school he looks at me and smiles and says "i have a surprise for you." Then when we get home he opens his backpack to show me his surprise.
  
• He loves to have painted toenails.
  
• He loves to climb trees and throw sticks and rocks.
  
• He always wants to ride his bike in the road because that's what the big kids do.
• He always wants me or Ryan to sit by him if he's watching a movie.
• He loves coloring and drawing and cutting.

He is a keeper and we totally love him to death. I really think that his age right now has been my favorite age so far. He just says and does the cutest things and yet he is old enough to listen and obey. I am loving him.

Blessings.

Taegen was super sick yesterday. He had a temperature of 102 but he would not take any medicine. He would throw a fit if we even mentioned the word medicine. He took a nap and when he woke up he wanted to take a bath. He was in the bath crying and he said "I want daddy." I said, ok, what do you want daddy for? He mentioned something about a blessing. So, he got a priesthood blessing. Then every time he prayed he said "Thank you for me getting a blessing. Thank you for Chadd giving me a blessing. Thank you for daddy giving me a blessing."

It was cute.
He also, always will put his hands on Kyler or Striders head and say "Jesus Christ. Amen". It's kind of funny but really cute (even if it is a bit sacrilegious)

SO big...

SO big...

Lately Taegen has this thing about being "Grown up". All the time he says, "I'm growing up, huh mom? Wanna see how tall I am?" then whatever we are doing...he stops and stands up super tall.
Anyways, the other day he was getting in his pajamas and he came to me and said "mom, I need help." He had one foot in a foot hole and one foot in an arm hole and his arms in the other two holes. Anyways, that was a confusing explanation but nonetheless, this is what happened.
Totally cracks me up.

Love the hair.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Love the hair.

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Taegen's hair right now. He doesn't want it cut. I asked him if he wanted a haircut and he told me he likes it long. Yeah!

Taeg - mister

Today I had just gotten off the phone with a friend and put my phone down. Then for about 10 minutes I could not find the phone anywhere. I looked in the fridge. In the pantry. In the garbage. Everywhere. I asked Taegen if he could help me find my phone.

Taegen: "If I find it can I have $50?"
Me: "I will give you a quarter?"
Taegen: "Ok" - he climbs up on the counter, lifts up the paper towel holder, reaches for my phone, pulls it out and says, "Here. Where's my $50?"

I think I'm in trouble.

Letter from mom

Taegen Boy,

You are so much fun right now (most the time). You ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS want to play games and it drives me nuts. Seriously, you ask me to play a game with you at least 15 times a day. Your favorite games are:

• Dinosaur - where we run around and try to eat each other.
• Dungeon - where I chase you boys around and have to put you in the dungeon (beanbag or jungle gym) and then you escape and I chase you again.
• Hide-n-seek - you are actually learning how to really hide now.
• Don't break the ice -
• Any adult game in the game closet. You always want to play games like cribbage or cards or something that you have absolutely zero idea how to do.

You always tell me you love me most. I then tell you that I love you most and we continue like this for awhile. I love this. Even when people are around you always say no mom, I love you most.

You also ALWAYS ask me if I'm mad. It drives me crazy. I can be happy and smiling and you say "are you mad mom?" Then if I say no, you say "are you happy mom?" Then you usually ask Kyler and Strider if there mad too.

You are an amazing big brother to Kyler and Strider. You always want one of them on your team in hide and seek and you are so patient with them. You always take Kyler's hand when you want him to come with you. You always want Kyler to sit by you in primary too.

You also have a great ability at telling me if someone is stinky. If you smell stink you go and smell Kyler and Strider's bums and tell me who is stinky. If I think someone is stinky then I will ask you just so you smell their bums instead of me. :):)

You LOVE sweets. You love donuts, cookies, brownies, candy...anything BUT you always share.

You are really fun to be around and you are really growing up so fast. Today you were on your bed for like 20 minutes trying to make your bed for the first time all by yourself. After you were done you came and told me to close my eyes because you had a surprise for me. I LOVED it. You even let Kyler help you. It had a lot of bumps in it but you (and I) were so proud of you.

The other day I caught you in the front room dancing like Alex (the lion from Madagascar). You stood in the front room and said "you put your legs out then your hands and then you shake your bum." You turned around and saw me looking at you and you got all embarrassed. It was super cute. You are sure cute when you are embarrassed.

I love you Taeg's. I'm sad that you are growing up so fast but it sure is fun to see all the new things you are learning.

Love,
Mom

There's a Bee in my bum.

Taegen had a belly ache.

Mom: "So you need to go potty?"
Taegs: "yes" proceeds to the bathroom and starts crying.
Mom: "What's the matter? Does it hurt?"
Taegen: "My bum hurts. It stings."
Mom: "It's okay."
Taegen: "Get it out!"
Mom: "Get what out?"
Taegen: "The bee. It's stinging me."

Need I say this but there wasn't a bee. Just stingy runny poop. Poor kiddo.

Superman....

Friday, February 5, 2010

Superman....

We had some GOOD times with the beanbag and grandpa. The pics say it all.

Randomness:

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Randomness:

A few random things:

I love how looking at the boys is like looking at stairs even though Taeg's and Kyler are the same age and Strider is 2 1/2 years behind. The difference in height between Strides and Kyler is about the same as between Kyler and Taegen. Love these boys. Me and the boys made a trip to the zoo on Saturday (without Ryan who was working :() because it was 47 degrees. Today it's freezing but we took advantage of the "nice" weather while we could.
Taegen LOVES LOVES snow, outside, sledding..etc. He absolutely LOVES his new sled. Thanks gma. We went sledding a few weeks ago on a hill by our house. It was rather difficult to carry Strider and the tube and try to help Kyler up the hill. Taegen LOVED it. Kyler actually went down the hill twice but wouldn't walk back up. Strider just cried the whole time.
A few days ago the boys were "going to work". They got all the things they needed and then got on their boat. Then they came in the kitchen to give me kisses and hugs. Then they gave Strider kisses and hugs. Then they got on their boat. Taegen started rowing with his horse and totally disheartened said "Mom, we're not moving!" He was so bummed that they weren't moving but they had a great time at work and when they got home they gave me and Strides a hug and a kiss again. Good times.