Happy Birthday Ty!!

Tyler celebrated a birthday while we were on vacation... he's now two years old (and acting every day of it) and he got to spend his birthday at a baseball game! The LA Dodgers were playing the NY Mets the weekend we got to California, so Shaun and I took Ty to the game. Ty was so excited! He jumped up and down on his chair and pointed down at the field yelling "Ball! Ball!" And everytime someone hit the ball- he would turn to one of us, with his mouth in the shape of an "O" and say "Whoa!" He's a little bit of a sports nut- can't imagine where he gets that from... everything he wears has to have a ball somewhere on it, otherwise it's like hog-tying a moth to get him to wear something different. Anyway- he sure had fun. He loved the hot dog and the ice cream.

After the game, we went down the the tidepools at Corona Del Mar and watched the waves. Then we crawled around on the rocks looking for different signs of sea-life. Ty took one look at a crab and wanted to run in the other direction. I think there was something about the scuttling they did that he didn't like. He loved watching the little hermit crabs though- as long as nothing got too close. The sunset that night over the ocean was just beautiful and we couldn't help but take a few pictures while we were there! Later that night, we put some candles on a cake and had him make a wish. Ty is the biggest ham and loves to be the center of attention- so a birthday party just for him was right up his alley. I can't believe that he's two already- these last couple of years have really flown by!

Sunny California!!

Hey everybody! I know that all of you are avid readers of our blog and have been eagerly anticipating a post that just hasn't come. It is not just because I am lazy, but rather- I have been on a much needed vacation!! But we're home now and it's back to sanity. For those of you still in the dark- Shaun, Ty and I spent a week in Southern California with my family playing on the beach. I have pictures, and I think it's going to either be a long blog, or a long list of blogs since I can't make my pictures all cute like Janae can (you'll have to tell me your secret later Janae!).

Hmmmm. Where to start... We actually flew in to San Diego and then drove up to Santa Ana to meet the rest of my family (mom, dad, dave, nat, miss and miss' fiance mark). We decided to head up to the Colesseum (so not spelling that right) to watch the LA Galazy take on Chelsea (soccer for you laymen out there). It was the first game that David Beckham was playing in so it was a pretty big deal. I got to take a few pictures of him coming onto the field- it was so great! It's been fun having Nat around (Dave's wife) since she is a senior on the BYU's (boo! hiss!) soccer team- she gets the rest of us excited about the game again!

Can't I skip this part?

I have to say... I am so not looking forward to this next part of my little boy's development. Seriously, potty training is starting to look like a massive hill that I don't even want to look at, much less attempt to scale. Shaun and I keep trying to prime Ty into getting excited about it. We got him his own toilet seat and a stool so that he could get up to the toilet, and a very special jar that has been labeled "Treats for Poopies". It's been kind of funny- Ty knows when he has to go- but usually tells us after he's done it in his diaper. At least that's a step in the right direction. Anyway, I went to the grocery store tonight to get some cornflake crumbs and came back to my boys hanging out in the bathroom.

Cups? Pints? Ounces?

Hey you guys! For those of you out there that know me- you know that I basically live in the kitchen these days and anytime I find something that makes my life easier is something that I can't wait to share with someone in hopes that it does the same for them. Anyway- I can't count how many times I sit and try to remember how many teaspoons make 1 tablespoon. Or how many cups are in a pint. And what about pan sizes? How do you know what you can swap out for something else? Martha Stewart came to my rescue and created some fun little reminders. I'll put the link here: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=e17d608f8532f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&rsc=dl_home03

Hopefully you'll all get some use out of them too!

Trouble Trouble Trouble

Does anyone else out there have a monkey for a kid? I came around the corner today and this is what I found: Ty had pushed our small cooler up next to the fridge and climbed on it to see what he could reach. The silly thing is- there really isn't anything worth getting or reaching up on the fridge, I think he just wanted to see if he could do it. What a goof. I just never know where I'm going to find him- tomorrow he could be on top of the washer or maybe driving the car. I guess I'll just have to keep you guys in the know so that if you see him doing the grocery shopping at Albertsons next week- you'll be able to keep and eye on him for me. Just don't blink- he'll be gone again before you know it.

I'm Melting! I'm Melting!

Okay. I don't know about the rest of you- but we are DYING of heat up here! It's been over 100 degrees all week and it isn't expected to go down anytime soon. In the name of "cooling off" Ty and I walked to Fred Meyer the other morning while it was still cool and picked up a little wading pool- but I think the picture on the box was a little deceptive. I really thought we were getting a small pool for Ty to splash around it- but the thing is freaking huge!! Shaun and I could swim laps in it! Okay- maybe not that big, but it definately takes up our entire deck. Anyway- Ty and I filled it bucket by bucket (we live on the second floor and don't have a hose that reaches that far) until there was enough to play around in. Ty had a blast and we'll have to do it again in the near future (like tomorrow since it will be 103).

Peanut Butter Cookies

Did you know that the average peanut butter cookie has 200 calories in it? And 12 grams of fat? Yuck. Keeping that in mind- I'm adding a new recipe to my recipe section that has all the taste of a good peanut butter cookie, but has only 130 calories per cookie and only 4 grams of fat. Whew. I feel better already.

See Dani? It's a good thing we went for that walk last night... that way we burnt off a crumb of the cookies you made!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Whew! We have been all over the place this last week for the 4th of July weekend! To prepare for the holiday, Ty and I spent the day in the kitchen making lots of goodies. We made some special red 4th of July cupcaks and some "Sparklers" (we dipped big pretzels in white chocolate and then sprinkled them with red and white sprinkles- for a "sparkling" effect). Ty is my biggest helper in the kitchen, and his favorite job is "Taste Tester". For the actual 4th, we went down to Salt Lake City to spend a few days with the Henriksen clan. We spent the day playing, and then went swimming to help cool off! Ty loves the water and cried when it was time to leave. Then we went down to the Cottonwood Club (the place that Shaun and I had our wedding reception) for fireworks on the golf course. My whole family comes out for this and we take up half of a hill! But it's so much fun! I love getting a chance to talk to everybody (Thanks again for the forced invite Gary and Roz!). Ty and his Aunt Missy ran around together and she even kifed a balloon for him. He spent the rest of the time running around with his cousin Daniel and his Aunt Nat and Uncle Dave. It was hard to tell who was more worn out! When it came time for the actual fireworks, Ty was so tired that he tried to fall asleep- but once he realized what the fireworks actually were- he kept one eye open and the rest of his face buried in grandma's shirt. I guess we'll have to try them again next year! Ty was so tired by the end of the night- that it was all he could do to keep his eyes open on the car ride home.

Ages and Stages

Ice Ice Baby

My baby is finally home (and so are we)! But before we left Salt Lake, we went over to my grandparents house and let Ty run around with the dog to get some wiggles out. When we were there- he climbed into a pine tree and got sap all in his eyebrow. I couldn't get it out- so I decided just to leave it there and let it wear off in time. Good plan I thought. But yesterday, when he took a nap, he laid on his head funny and I guess it pressed his eyebrow into the sheet really well, because when he rolled over he ripped out a chunk of his eyebrow. When I went in to see why he was crying- there was a patch of hair on his crib sheet. Poor baby. What's worse- he looks like he's trying to make a Vanilla Ice comeback. Oh well- at least we got a good picture of it!

All By Myself

Okay. I am officially bored. Ty is spending a few days with his Grandma and Grandpa in Salt Lake- and I'm all alone. And let's face it- laundry, homework and mopping the kitchen floor just don't hold a candle to my little monkey. Sure things are easier to get done- but where's the fun in doing laundry when you have to do it yourself? Ty loves being my little helper- and will put the clothes that I hand him from the washer into the dryer. And he always cleans out my lint trap for me. And I literally almost cried when I was folding his pajamas- he's just so cute. Oh well. I know he's having fun. In fact my dad sent me this email, letting me know what everyone was up to:

"Just wanted to give you the play by play. He was so funny in the backyard yesterday!!! He loves his little slide. He stays on there all day. He and Melissa would play hide and seek and he would just cackle. He took a break to pick raspberrys. He loves rasberrys. He would get down low with me and look for them and then say, "Nope", when we didn't find them. Then when we found a few he put his hand out and said, "More". He must have eaten a whole bush!!! I then started to weed and he thought that was great fun, because he could throw the dirt clods that were dug up. Dirt everywhere, especially on him. Then we had to water and he watered everything, especially Grandpa. Then he found he could swing the hose all over and it was really fun until he dumped it on his head. Bath time. Short story and a prayer and he slept like a rock!!!

Its times like this that makes us all realize how great kids and grandkids can be. Thanks for sharing.

Old Man"

Anyway. It sounds like they are having fun- it's just been funny around here. Shaun mopes around here like he's just been told they aren't making potato chips anymore. I guess that little boy has wriggled into our hearts more than we ever thought he could. We love you baby boy! Come home soon!

He Did It!!

So either Ty is very brave- or he has very stupid parents. I haven't totally decided which it is yet. Either way- we sure had a fun weekend! We went down to Declo (again) for Father's Day and spent most of Saturday afternoon playing on the river. Papa brought out his boat again- and we had such a kick! First Jeni and I got on the tube and got the crap beat out of us, then we thought we'd try and talk Ty into getting on the tube with us... to my complete suprise- HE DID!!! Uncle Chad went nice and slow while the three of us were back there- but anytime we went over any bumps, Ty would break into a huge grin and go "bump, bump, bump" while he bobbed his head up and down. Once the tube stopped, I slipped off the back and held out my arms to see if he'd jump in with me- and HE DID!! What two year old (well- I guess he's not even two yet) just jumps into a huge river? I guess that could be construed as some big time trust for mama. Anyway- he splashed and kicked and giggled- he was so cute! I was so proud of him! Once he started to shiver though- it was time for him to jump back into the boat and snuggle with dad in a warm towel. After we got Ty safely back into the boat- Dani got on the tube with Jeni and I and we got to have the crap beat out of us again! Apparently we're gluttons for punishment- but it was just so much fun- when was the last time you got in a tube? I know it's been forever since I have. Anyway- we had a lot of fun and a lot of sun this weekend- maybe we'll go back down next weekend and do it all again!!

A Whole New World

You know what I just LOVE about being a mom? How often is it that you get to look at the world around you and point out the most ordinary things? I love being able to teach my son about trains and birds. When was the last time you stopped to really look at the world around you? Ty is not even two yet- he has so much ahead of him to learn and to see... and I love being a part of it. We went to the park this morning and he was just facinated by the Boise River (it runs along the parkway that goes through the park)- he wanted to just sit and watch the ducks go by and to throw rocks and make them splash! He pointed out the clouds and asked me "What's that?" I know I sound corny- but really- when was the last time you looked around and enjoyed the beautiful simplicity in the ordinary things around you? When was the last time you sat on the grass and dug your toes into the dirt? When was the last time that you found such joy in a rock? I know I'm 23 years older than my son- but sometimes- I think that he's actually the teacher.

Brain Damage?

Do all kids have brain damage? Or is it just mine? Don't get me wrong- there are no flies on Ty, and I think he's smart as a whip... But good grief! Just the other day, he took a car and threw it at his little friend. Whe I asked him why he did it, he looked at me so sweetly and said "I don't know." Yesterday he took apart my vacuum cleaner. When asked why, he replied "I don't know". And this morning- I had given him some Tylenol and was washing off the syringe at the sink. When I turned around, he had taken the bottle of Tylenol off the counter and was attempting to swig the rest. I took it from him and asked why he did it... he told me "I don't know." I know this one could have been partially my fault- but I thought I had put the bottle far enough away from the edge of the counter... but I swear sometimes those little arms just grow and grow. They may only look a few inches long- but in actuality they must be 8 feet or something. So what is it then? Does he really not know why he threw a car? Does he really not know to take things I told him to leave alone? Is it really brain damage? I really want to get irritated at him for it all- but let's face it... he was kind of cute covered in dust from the vacuum... and he looked so guilty with a bottle of Tylenol in his hand... I knew I couldn't laugh because all the books say that just encourages the behavior- but you would have to have a heart of stone not to be able to smile a little.

Playing on the River

This weekend we went down to Declo with Shaun's brothers and their wives to visit Grandma and Papa Kidd. Saturday afternoon we went down to the river (the Snake) and played in the water. Ty was stoked at all the rocks that were there for him to play with and chuck into the river. The water was too cold to really get in and play- but it wasn't bad as long as you were only toe deep. Ty's uncle and cousins were fishing on the river as well- and even caught a couple of fish. When the first one was landed, Ty ran over to see what all the ruckus was about- of course once he actually saw the fish flopping around on the ground- he took off running! He wanted nothing to do with that wet flippery thing! Then Papa put the boat in the water and we all got in to go for a ride. Ty didn't care much for all the wind in his face, and spent a lot of the time with his face buried in my shirt. It was a fun weekend... and Ty came home just pooped!

Memorial Day

This past Memorial Day we drove for a few hours to meet my family at Bear Lake (thank goodness for Elmo DVDs- otherwise, we may have ended up strapping Ty to the roof... traveling with two year olds is something only the mentally challenged attempt). It was nice having the extra day to play with the family- since we've moved to Boise, we don't see everyone as much as we would like to. Ty had a blast going on the four-wheelers- but you definately don't want to leave him unattended anywhere near them. He has figured out how to climb up on the seat, turn it on and hit the gas. And let me tell you... make sure if you are giving him a ride- make sure you have your hand on the brake at all times- we almost ended up in a bush because he was getting antsy- and I didn't hit the gas fast enough for him!! It was fun though- and I can't wait for the next Bear Lake adventure!

Ways Parenthood is Just Like College

1. You feel like you are constantly being tested.
2. Someone's always smarter than you (or at least they think they are).
3. Your roommates are slobs and they steal your food.
4. There's nothing in your bank account.
5. All-nighters.
6. You get kicked out of the library for leaving behind crumbs and creating a ruckus.
7. You never seem to be able to get the place to yourself.
8. Naps.
9. You hate your roommates music and they hate yours.
10. You can neither identify nor locate the source of that funky smell coming from your roommates closet.
11. Five in the morning is really, really early... or really, really late- depending on whether or not you've been to bed yet.
12. People talk to you while you are in the shower.
13. You're too exhausted to retain what you're reading.
14. You're wearing your college sweatshirt again... It's the cleanest thing you could find.
15. Someone always leaves the party crying.
16. Hey! How about pizza again?!
17. You think you're the only one who feels clueless.
18. You haven't had a shower since Sunday morning.

Thick as Thieves

For those of you that don't know, I babysit another little boy a few days a week. He's a month older than Ty- and he's been coming to our house for a little over a year now. He and Ty have become pretty good little buddies and love to play together. Lately they have discovered that they can both fit in Ty's toy bucket... and often do. With the rate that they are both growing though... they may not be able to sit in it at the same time for much longer!!

Also- I just wanted to let you know that Shaun is now officially done with school (YAY!), and the "Great Job Search" has begun. We're hoping to leave Boise, but we're not really sure where we're going to be headed, but we'll keep you updated! Keep your fingers crossed that we can get something for this upcoming school year!

Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti

I just wanted to share a few recipes... both my new favorites and latest creations. I LOVE to cook (something I never knew about myself- especially since I lived off of soup and cheese quesadillas in college), and this is a fun way to share! I hope you try them and have fun with it!

The New Van Gough?

Today we pulled out the paints! Ty loves to color with markers, crayons and also loves to use his finger-paints (Hooray for Crayola Color Wonder Paper). I tape paper up on the wall and set up a table for him full of his "art supplies" and he just has at it! It did take a while for him to figure out the difference between "color with the" and "eat the"... but I think he's got it down now- he hardly ever tries to eat the crayons now (at least while I'm looking anyway). This is his latest masterpiece... We hope you enjoy it!!

Super Slippin' Slide Saturday

We went to the park the other night- and Ty was sooo excited to go and play with the kids on the playground. He loves the slides and has just mastered going up and down all by himself (and a word to the wise- don't try and help- you'll just get yelled at). I think we all are enjoying how light it is now in the evenings, there is so much more that we all feel like we can go and do. After we went sliding, Ty wanted to go and chase the ducks (who actually ended up chasing him when he tried to "pet" the baby ducks). Then we had to go and get some rocks (I dont' know what it is with this kid and rocks- but everytime I do his laundry, I end up pulling 5-6 rocks out of his pockets everytime!!). He climbed on some big rocks and was suprised when they were warm to the touch (they had been sitting out in the sun all day), so he bent over and blew on them to try and cool them off. We had a heck of a time trying to get him back into the car though- for some reason a bath didn't sound nearly as fun as the playground... go figure!!

Tyler Cooking

I meant to add a picture for the blog I posted earlier... Apparently I'm still having some issues with this whole thing.

Mama's Little Helper

Today Tyler and I made cookies. And I do mean both of us. I let Ty measure out the vanilla and sugar. He was stoked about helping me unwrap the butter... not so stoked when he took a bite out of the cube. I guess butter isn't number one on his list of favorite snacks. The finished product however, put him on a sugar high for the next couple of hours. All he wanted for dinner tonight was a "cookie", and was extremely put out when I told him he had to eat a carrot instead. Moms are just so mean.

Let's get it started!!

Okay... I'll admit it- I am a virgin blogger. In this world of text messages, You Tube and My Space... I have never blogged before- so if I sound ridiculous, it's only because I have no idea what I'm doing (I know that inspires a lot of confidence in my readers out there).

Anyway- that said, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are now a virtual family and you can check up on us anytime you want to. I just hope this is something that we can keep current!!