Lukeisms

Okay, so I am still trying to figure out how the brain of a 4 year old functions. Sometimes the things this kid says are so far out we are laughing with tears rolling. For example tonight at dinner was some serious drama of a very tired little Luke.
Chris: Madi would you please say the prayer?
Madi starts to say the prayer.
Luke: (crying through the prayer) I wasn't ready! You can't say it. That's not fair. I want to say it!
Madi is done and Luke has tears streaming down his face. Yelling at Chris that he wanted to say the prayer. So here is the conversation between Chris, Luke and Fam.
Chris: Luke, did you want to say the prayer?
Luke: Yes, but you didn't ask me.
Mom: Can I help you say the prayer?
Luke: No, my dragon friend is going to help me.
Mom: Well get him to help you.
Luke: You have to call him.
Mom: Dragon friend come here!
Luke: No you have to call him by any name.
Chris: What's his name?
Luke: Any name.
Chris: Well can you call him?
Luke: No, you have to call him on the wall.
Prest: What's his number?
Luke: 801


To say the least dragon friend never showed and Chris helped Luke say the prayer while the rest of tried to keep kool-aid from coming out of our noses.


Dani: Hey Luke why aren't you laughing?
Luke: I can't laugh
Dani: Why not?
Luke: (With serious face) My shadow stole my laugh. It is now gone and I can't laugh

I was laying on the couch one day and Luke came and put his head on my belly. Here is what he had to say.
Luke: Mom do you like lions?
Mom: Yes, why?
Luke: Your tummy sounds like you ate a lion.
Mom: Why?
Luke: Your tummy is growling.

To say the least we love this kid and he has been a great addition to the fam. We have had some wonderful laughs together as we go through life looking through the eyes of a 4 year old.

One last thing to say. Every Monday we go to the nursing home and help the elderly play bingo. All the residents get a kick out of the little boy who never stops. His poor mom has her hands full.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

First Day Of School

I don't know who is more excited. The kids or me. I am ready to get back into a routine and have some time with Luke. The three older kids are now in school all day. Yeah! Abbie is so excited to be at school all day long, to get two recesses, eat lunch there and make more friends.

Preston is so excited to make friends. He is in class with his friends this year and is thrilled. Preston with the boys in the neighborhood walking to school.

Abbie ready and waiting for the kids so she can walk.

Madi and her friends Ashlynn and Brooklynn. I am so excited for her. She has two friends that live behind us and she is loving life now that there are girls her age close by.

Overall the first day was great. Luke loved it because he and I got to play the Wii uninterrupted. Abbie was excited to have friends in her class and make new friends at recess. Madi loves her teacher and is excited for a routine. Preston is happy to be with his friend Josh and Bryson in the same class. May that poor teacher have the patience for these boys who are very imaginative.

Newest Edition

About a month ago my friend called and asked me if we would like a dog. It took a little convincing Chris that the kids would be able to take care of her. Besides she will be a great addition while Chris is gone. Her name is Sadie. She is a pure bred Chitzu (SP?) and the most mild, patient dog I have ever seen. Luke absolutely adores her. He is always trying to pick her up and carry her around. I never thought I could care for a dog this much but I do.

The smell and sound of summer

Last night was our final trip to Lagoon-A-Beach. What a blast. I love the smell of chlorine, sunscreen, and chocolate. The sounds of water rushing, kids screaming with excitement and moms yelling at their kids because they splashed them. Actually I think it's hilarious. Why do you go to a swim park to not get wet? Let me know because I can't wait to get soaked and run around with my kids.
Luke went on the twisty slides and laughed the whole way down. He loved showing his Aunt Amy how you lay on your back cross your legs and arms and go. He loved getting wet and having adventures in the sand with his new friend Jace.
Abbie loved being able to walk around the lazy river and touch the bottom. Such a big accomplishment for a cute girl who loves to sink in water. (Two times at Lake Powell she fell in and had to be pulled out as she was going under.) Her excitement as she goes under the waterfalls and gets soaked.
Madison is such a social butterfly. She would go up to groups of girls and ask their names and then start playing with them. She loved the tube rides and trying to beat Prest.
Prest I am so sorry but Ladies First! I beat him three times down the outrigger ride. It's a waterslide you ride on with tubes. I kept catching up and then passing him the pools on the ride. He loved every minute of it. He is so like his dad and very competitive.
Chris thanks for coming with us and laughing with us. Thanks for lugging the cooler around and making sure the kids had a good time. It was great. I loved watching you on the drop slide. What a great time.
The sounds and smells of summer are great and I am sad to see them come to an end but we will do it again next year, and the year after. What a great time. Thanks family for making it a great summer.

We TRI'd and Liked It

Today Lala and I did our very first full tri. It was awesome. I had a blast. Although it was backwards. Here we are at the start getting ready to run.
Dad and mom brought the three kids and cheered us on. Thanks Dad for being my cheerleader. You have always cheered me on. Mom thanks for bringing the kids.
Abbie and Luke were so excited. It was great to have them there.
Still waiting to start. They started 10 minutes late because of the rain earlier. They were waiting for the roads to dry a little before the start.
I love this shot of Lala.
Finishing the run. Ran 3 miles in 31 min. 24 seconds. Took 30 seconds off my time. I am so proud. I ran the whole time.
Next was the bike. Ready set pedal.
They are so cute.
Almost done. Can't wait to swim.
The swim was the best. I loved it!
And now I'm done! YEAH!

Congrats Lala. WE did it!
Madi hand in hand with Lala. She loves her so much.




P.S. When you swim make sure to take your phone out of your bra before you get in the pool. I didn't and now I have no phone.Overall it was a great success. I am hooked for life now and can't wait for the next one.

I am seeing GREEN!

Isn't it beautiful?! I absolutely love it. Jake and his crew did an awesome job. I am amazed at all the work and preparation that goes into getting a yard ready. It looks so green.


I have had sooo many comments from neighbors about my trees. They look so good. I can't wait for a couple of summers when we will get really good shade from them.

The back looks wonderful. We have to give it one week and then the kids can play all they want. For now they will just have to wait.

I am all ready waiting for spring and getting to plant in my garden boxes. We will have a great crop of corn and beans and peas. What fun it will be.

Mom and Dad gave me their peach trees and I can't wait to pick fresh peaches and enjoy. Thanks you guys. They will be perfect with the strawberries and raspberries I am going to plant. Yummy!

Overall, Jake did a great job. I can't wait for Chris to see. He will love it. Thanks Jake for taking care of us. For getting the job done right and done fast. Thanks for the hard work you and your crew put into this. I really do appreciate it. We are lucky to have you as part of our fam. What fun we will have.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Okay I know it's a little cheesy but I just have to brag. Today I am getting the best birthday present ever. That's right I am spoiling myself and getting... are you ready? You may want to sit so when you find out you don't pass out and hurt yourself. I am getting


GRASS


Yeah! I am so excited. No more growing weeds. No more mud pies in the kitchen, on the carpet or on my toes. Thanks to a wonderful sister who happens to know the best landscaper in Utah things are going to be greener. I couldn't have done it without you Jake and D. I love you guys so much.

FREEDOM!

Free! I am free.

No more training wheels. No more little baby toys, no more depending on mom and dad to get me around. I am able to go wherever I want, as long as I don't go past the stop sign one house down.

Luke asked Chris to take his training wheels off. He kept getting nervous so we bought him a new bike helmet hoping that would motivate him to ride. The next day he got on and has not stopped since. Porter came to visit and tried out Abbie's motorized scooter. Every time he came he would go straight to the garage and start riding. Those two would not stop.

I couldn't get a decent pic because they would not stay still long enough for me to try.

Happy Birthday Preston!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!!!
I can't believe that you are 11 years old, in boy scouts and almost as tall as me. It has been so much fun being your mother. I know I'm not perfect but I want you to know that I love and care for you deeply. You have been my best bud for the past 11 years. It has been so much fun being a part of your life and watching you over the years. You have always put other people first, been cautious, sincere, and always forgiving. Hope you had a great day.

Preston with his new hiking backpack for scouts. He will no longer be going to day camp but on overnighters. I am so excited for him.

If anyone has a conversation with Preston than you know he has lego on the brain or maybe just a lego for a brain. This is one of the sets he has been asking for. Glad we could get it for him.

Preston you star. Here he is at his piano recital. He loves music and has a knack for the piano. He is able to sit down and pluck out a song without any sheet music. Ask him to play "The Entertainer" for you and he will. Granted it is only about 20 seconds of the song, but he has never read the music for it. Figured it out by himself. Pretty awesome.

Happy Birthday!!

Love,

Mom, Dad, Mads, Abs, Luke Skywalker

Ladies and Gentleman This is as Ghetto as it Gets

Lala bought us tickets to the Kelly Clarkson concert for Erin's B-day. It was a blast. All 5 of us girls were together for the first time in over a year. I got hooked on her music when Lala burned me a run cd and I was listening to a fun song. Found out she was Ms. KC and have loved her music since. The best line of the concert was when she introduced a song and said "Ladies and Gentleman this is as ghetto as it gets."

She could sing. What a blast. It was perfect weather.

It has been raining the last few weeks. You would think we live in Seattle. Shay, D and I prepared for the muddy field. I was so glad we had a galoshes. Nice and toasty.

When the concert started the clouds were breaking and we had a double rainbow that went right over the back of the stage. It was so awesome.

Last Day of School

So I am usually a week or two behind on the blogs. School has now been out for a week and summer has gotten off on a busy note. We have already been to Lagoon and enjoyed the sounds and sights of summer. But I just wanted to take a minute or two and praise the teachers we had this past year at Freedom Elementary. They were wonderful and worked very hard to make sure that Abbie, Madi, and Preston had a wonderful year. I can't thank them enough.
Abigail was so excited. She was beyond ready for kindergarten. I love this pic. She is so cute.

Ms. Clark was awesome. Abbie enjoyed going to school and learning to write, read, and how to be a social little butterfly. Ms. Clark was very patient and very loving. Thank you for allowing Abigail to spread her wings and become a better person.

Mrs. Wall was incredible. Madi struggled with a few things throughout the year but Mrs. Wall helped us get through it. I am so proud of Madi. She had straight A's or A+'s the whole year. It was awesome. Madi would not have made it if she didn't have the teacher she had. She was so paitent and always had an open ear for Madi. Madi knew that if she needed a friend or someone to help her Mrs. Wall was right there. She was the best thing that happened to Madi at school. I cannot say enough. Thank you for everything you did. We have been very blessed that you came into her life when you did. We are very sad to see her transferred to another school, but another child will be blessed.

Mrs. Eddy was amazing. Preston was able to let his imagination fly. There was no limit in her class. She let Preston go beyond the sky. He would come home all the time with new art projects, and drawings. She was always encouraging him through poems, storytelling, and art. It was awesome to see his mind be open and free. He enjoyed her so much. Thank you for encouraging him and helping him to be better.

It was a great year.

P.S. Preston had been crying because he was sick that day. I took him last day to get his year book and a pic with his cute teacher. He was bummed he missed the last day.

Seattle

Over the hills and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go. Literally. For Memorial Day weekend we drove to Seattle and stayed with Chris' mom. It was great. The kids said it was one of the best vacations they went on. We went to the beach, saw a movie, went to an awesome zoo and aquarium; but most importantly just hung out and had fun.

The kids having dinner. Very rarely do they get ice cream, but what the heck. WE ARE ON VACATION!!!! YAHOOOOO!!!

I promise Luke does have more shirts. He always seems to be wearing the one that says "my parents are exhausted." So very true. Oh well, we will find him a new shirt.

The kids basking in the sun. Suprisingly it did not rain one drop in Seattle. Surpirse, surprise.

Luke and Abbie loved the water, and the beach. It was so awesome listening to the excitement in the back of the van as the kids saw the ocean for the first time. We had so much fun. I could live by the ocean, but I would truly miss the beautiful snow.

Amy, Chris' sis came down for a couple of days. She lives about three hours north of where Kathy lives. We had a blast with her. Thanks for coming. The kids loved seeing her and hanging out with her and Panga. She looks so good and is doing wonderful. I just want to take a sec and tell her I am very happy for her and the choices she is making in life. Way to go Amy. We will help you in anyway we can.

Preston, Mads, and Abs enjoying the beautiful view.

Seaweed on a stick anyone?

Our first trip to the beach. What fun it was. I loved watching the kids run along the edge of the water discovering new life. They had so much fun.

Red Robbin on the pier. That's right no seafood. Burgers for the Tylers. Chris was a good sport. He let us eat our regular and gave up the chance to eat seafood. Love ya.

Luke was so excited he found this beautiful shell with Aunt Amy that I let him keep it. It was the only one we found in one piece that didn't look like a clamshell.

Preston and Dad skipping rocks. Love that picture. They spent a long time trying to see who could get the most skips. I loved that they were doing something together and laughing. Not many more months with moments like these. It will be a long time before this happens again.

Overall it was a great time. I had a blast. The kids loved every minute. Chris was happy to just get away. Thank you Kathy for letting us crash at your place. Thank you for being a great hostess and Oma. These memories will last forever, and it is exactly what the Tyler family needed.