Three!

Sweet Ty is now a big three! After the first thirty minutes or so of Ty insisting that he didn't want a "birfday," Rob asked if he could help Jimmy open up some of the presents (that we would of course bring back since there was no birthday to celebrate). Once Green Lantern was revealed, it was party time! We started out with a breakfast of pancakes with sprinkles and chocolate chips and then headed to FUN RUN for a little Jolly Jump heaven. Friends came over for slip 'n' sliding and cupcakes, and the day ended with a whole lot of super hero action. We love this little guy.
Ty has an amazing imagination and fabulous explanations for his actions. (For example, he wears all his underwear backwards so that he can see the super heroes printed on the bottom.) He is kind and energetic and loves his family. As always, I did the traditional interview, and, as always, let me add the disclaimer that this is just what Ty said that day--an hour later his favorites could all change.

What's your favorite:
Color: Purple
Food: Soup, bean soup
Dessert: Ice cream with brownies
Drink: Juice. Black juice. The kind that is black and then you put water in it.
Candy: Gum--bubble gum
Animal: Mountain lion (roar!)
Toy: Green Lantern (He actually didn't even own the toy during the interview. As I said before--great imagination!)
Movie: Tale Spin
Best Friend: Caden
Sport: Baseball
What do you want to be when you grow up? Green Lantern (I asked him the day before and he said "A Dad." Robbie said, "A pilot or a lawn mower guy.")
What's your favorite thing to do with Daddy: Play baseball
With mommy: Choo-choo trains
Robbie: Shrug.
Here are a few pictures I took of him this week. We love you, Ty. Happy Birthday!

A Little Love

It was once solid wood and a favorite of my moms. She had a cute little cushion on the bench seat . . . but then the dogs got to it. The arms were eaten off and scratches were gouged into like every inch of the wood. Still, I hated to see it go. Finally, after lugging it along the last three moves, it was time to become presentable. So, with a lot of wood putty and some paint later . . . viola!

The Fountains at Crown Center

We have a great playgroup here that meets twice a week, and this was a winner! Ty refused to get near the enormous water gushers (except to lay by the side), but Robbie was much braver. Jimmy, well, as long as there is milk to be had, life is just about the same anywhere.

Ty

"Mom, bad guys go poop on their moms." This totally made me laugh. He's a genius, really. I mean poop is like the grossest thing ever to a two-year-old, and to do it on your mom! The ultimate disrespect! Yep, that is definitely BAD and I am sure bad guys do it.

K: "What does it mean to repent?"
T: Shrug. "I think it's Spanish."

We were in church and Ty saw the picture of the lamb and the lion. Ty stops and says, "Mom, that's a picture of when Jesus turns into a lion!" He saw Narnia at Grandma's house.

We were reading a book yesterday and I started asking Ty questions. "What is a baby dog called?"
"Baby Dog."
I laugh.
"Where do ducks live?"
"In lakes."
"What's a baby horse called?"
Ty looks at me like I'm totally pathetic, but really panic is behind his eyes--he has no guess! Finally he smirks and says, "Mom, you don't know what that is?" And that was it. He just dumped it all on me so he wouldn't have to answer. Smooth.

Ty kept dumping dirt out of the potted plants in our house and Rob had had it. "Ty! Leave the dirt alone! Don't even touch it!" A few days later Ty was at it again. "Ty! I told you not to touch the dirt!" Ty is mad at this point and fires back, "I'm not! I have gloves on!" and sure enough--those gardening gloves were doing all the work, dumping heaps of dirt all over the floor.

Ty LOVES superheros and any kind of action-adventure. Well before we moved Ty was outside playing with the neighborhood kids. He had on his Optimus Prime mask and his friend, Caden, was wearing the Ironman mask. Though Caden is six, Ty had no problem taking him on since it was really Optimus doing the work. Needless to say, Caden drilled him. He ran to my arms crying. I tried to comfort him, but it wasn't working. Finally he says, "Mom, I thought Optimus Prime was a good fighter . . . but he isn't! And I thought Ironman was a good guy, but he's not!" So cute.

Not Too Bad

It's been a great week.
Sunday: Went to our ward for the first time; it was filled with young couples, most of them in the medical field (five resident families alone!) While dropping Robbie off at primary, I ran into a familiar face from Kirksville, my friend Jolyn Smith who happened to live across the street from me then. I have a friend here! We went to their house that night for dessert and Robbie and Ty finally got to play with some friends.
Monday: We went to Liberty Jail for FHE--the boys thought it was awesome and even asked questions.
Tuesday: Went to the Royals game! First pitch of the game was a home run and the boys were totally pumped. It got much more boring after that (I thought it was so cute how Jimmy fell asleep), but their ice cream kept them entertained. More Kirksville reunions there too--ran into Bishop Jewell from our time at ATSU.

Friday: Went to a pool party and met more friends (love the people here)!
Saturday: Drove through the crazy flood zones in Iowa to get to the Winter Quarters Temple. It was beautiful and the Visitors' Center has fabulous exhibits. The boys pulled a handcart and slept in a pioneer bed. Ran into our friends Sonja and Kevin Staples there too (they are from our Kalamazoo days!) Small world out here, I swear.
Sunday: Enjoyed church. Reconnected with another face that I recognized from my Ricks days--it's just getting crazy I tell you! Had some of our new friends over and the kids loved it!
We have truly been blessed. We are happy and excited to be here, though so far away from family. But if the next five years are as fun as this one, it's gonna be just fine.

Rite of Passage

(Robbie showing off his new backyard)
Though Rob is 31 and is married with children, I think he still never felt like a grown up. Why?

A. He was still in school
B. He didn't have a paycheck
C. We moved like nomads, mooching housing from our parents a few times

But now . . .
A. He's graduated
B. He's getting paid (well, in a few weeks)
C. He owns a house.

Still, I think he lacked his manhood until Saturday when he mowed his own lawn, with his own lawn mower. Finally, he's made it!

(It only took 70 minutes--midwest yards are enormous! Our neighbors offered their riding lawn mowers, but Rob would have none of that! We all took turns pushing it with our used Toro we are so proud of!

Congrats Babe! You can relax now . . . you've made it--you're a MAN!

The Move

Yes those are my kids washing the windows on the truck. My mom was so horrified she couldn't look.
Stopping at a park to get wiggles out.

Letting the boys relax while we all unpack. So cute.
As always, moving was hectic and long--but having my mom with me made the trip so fabulous. She seems to know how to make things fun even when they are . . . well, not. I'm sure most of that has to do for her mandatory ice cream and custard stops, the nice hotels, the fun stacks and car gadgets . . . you get the picture. But we're here and safe. We love our new house (though there was a little drama with the leaking fridge that warped our wood floor . . .) and the neighborhood and ward are great; the humidity, not so much. I keep telling people how miserably hot it is and they all laugh and say "This is actually quite nice." Can't wait for August!