Funny Fact about Tyler

Tyler Never Caught without His Button Shirt

I was reminded today about an interesting fact about Tyler. He is absolutely, undeniably in love with shirts with buttons. Even if there are only three near the collar, or all the way button downs, (his favorite) he has to have it on. I have no clue why. He gets pretty upset when he has to wear just a plain tee, and if I make him take off his button shirt for a plain one, its an absolute war. Today I got him out of his morning PJ's even though he was going for a nap shortly, so I let him pick out whatever he wanted to wear, b/c it didn't matter if he picked out something goofy. He insisted on a button shirt, and when I guided him towards another shirt (having no buttons) he was very persistent that he wanted the one he had picked out. His face lights up when he sees shirts with buttons on them. He would probably prefer that over any other toy. It's very strange. He loves to stare down at his buttons and twist his little fingers pretending to open and close them. I told Chris's mom about it, and she had mentioned that Chris himself had this weird obsession with dressing up nice, and that when going to school Chris would not want his teacher to see him in just jeans, but nice pants with button up shirts. I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. Have I created a polo, button shirt wearing monster? Tyler would probably not want me to share this, but I think its pretty funny. So just in case people thought I was weird for always putting him in button shirts, if you have noticed...that's why. Here's Tyler always caught wearing nothing other than a button shirt. LOL

Taxes are done

I am just so relieved. I have finally completed and sent off our taxes for 2008. I hope to get it within 8-14 days because I am going to get a new couch and decorate Emily's room, and I can't wait. Thank goodness for tax returns. I wanted to recommend using Turbo Tax, it was FREE and EASY! They got me more than through H&R. Yippee!

Book of the Month

My sister had a New Year's resolution to read at least one new book every month. It made me think about, how I should do the same thing. It just seems that I never make the time to do it. After and exhausting day with the kids, once they've gone to bed all I seem to want to do is check my mail, and watch some T.V. and yes I admit, be a lazy couch potato. That's not good, not at all. Sometimes I just feel so ignorant, because I've only held conversations with a 2 year old and 6 month old all day. Perhaps my brain is shrinking by the minute. My mother in law sent me down some really good books a while ago, and I feel so guilty that I haven't read even one..sorry Deb. I was at a bookstore with my sister and I came across a book that was on sale and so we got one for each of us, and thought we would start our own little book club. I also want to read some of the other books I got from my mom-in-law. The book we started with is a novel called Long Journey Home written by Amber Esplin. We just got it yesterday so I am only on the third chapter, but it seems interesting.

Details: Bridget McKenna has had her future mapped out ever since she was small. But when Bridget's mother dies in a car accident, her careful plans get derailed. Bridget must move across the country to live with a father she hasn't seen since her parents divorced years before. As she leaves behind the life she once knew, Bridget holds onto a single hope: make it through her senior year and then return home. Getting through the year, however, may not be so simple. Bridget uncovers secrets from the past that threaten to steer her toward an uncertain future.

If anyone wants to join us, and would like to make any book recommendations let me know.

Daddy's Big Helper

Today Chris was making himself an omelet and Tyler was very interested in the mixing process. Chris let him help stir the eggs, but Tyler wanted to do it by himself, like everything that he does now, Tyler wants to do it all alone. Chris poured the mix into the pan, and Tyler got really upset. He wasn't finished helping just yet. As much as we would have liked to let him hold it and do it himself we thought it would be much cleaner and safer to give him his own bowl, and I just put water in for him to stir around. I never knew that something so simple would bring hours of fun. Tyler could have mixed that water in the bowl for days. He was so happy, I think he felt like such a big boy helping daddy. It was just really cute how excited he was. He's a good helper, always wants to do things by himself, he's becoming very independent.

My new nephew Baby Michael is here!

Today Allison gave birth to my handsome nephew, his name is Michael. He was born today January 23 in Titusville weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches long. He has very light colored hair, and the cutest face, with really cute lips. We went to visit him today, and we got to see him eating, and open his big eyes. Then of course tons of sleeping. I love him already. Allison did really well, things went very quickly for her, and she was hardly in pain. She is recovering well. We are so happy he is here already, his actual due date was Feb. 4th. We are also happy that Baby Michael will be able to carry on the family name, thank you for being a boy Michael. Can't wait to watch him grow up. Congrats to Mike and Allison~ Oh it was really cute, Allison had mentioned that when he was born, Alicia kept saying "Thank you mommy thank you mommy". She was in the room the entire time, and thought "that's cool". What a brave, intelligent little girl she is. She is going to be such a great big sister, she is so happy he is here too.

Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies

In the mood to try some new baking recipes. I can't cook, but I can bake, so I am adding some new recipes to my menu. Came across these delicious looking brownies. Love peanut butter, Love brownies, mix the two and I'm in heaven. Give it a try, I know I'm going too. Share some recipes on your blog so we can all try something new.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup margarine, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt



DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C ). Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, cream together peanut butter and margarine. Gradually blend in the brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla; mix until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture until well blended.

3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven, or until the top springs back when touched. Cool, and cut into 16 squares.

Sharing Time

His favorite pages
He says "mmm" chocolate cake

I used to read a book to Tyler all the time before bed. Lately we have been slacking, well only because he loves to watch an episode of his Backyardigans then he goes to sleep. Today our neighbor came by and gave Tyler his birthday present, and it was a really cute book called My Best Friends. I liked it because it had good pictures, and simple words that I knew he would be able to understand. So I decided to read it to him tonight. I had asked him if he wanted to read the book instead of watching Pablo, and I was waiting for him to tell me no, but instead he said "uh huh", and he loved this book. I had to read it to him twice, and he wanted to hold on to it until bedtime. So I just wanted to share it with everyone because we really enjoyed it. It says really cute things and it teaches sharing, and how to be a good friend. My goal is to read to him every night. When we find some really good reads we will be sure to share it with everyone.

Tyler Loves the Library

Tyler being a good helper and putting his part of the story on the board.

Today Tyler went to the library with friends and his cousins. The library on beach st. is really nice because they have this really large room located inside that is filled with tons of toys for all age groups. The kids love it, there is a bunch of pretend play food that they can't get enough of, and musical toys, and a really big fish aquarium. They also do story time, with a puppet show. I just thinks its really neat and very fun for the kids. They also do some dancing and singing which is Tyler's absolute favorite part. I think I am going to have a musician on my hands, he is always so intrigued by people dancing and singing, his face always lights up. Anyways the storytellers do a really good job of keeping the kids interested. It had a been a while since we've gone to the library, Tyler never really had the patience to sit down and listen to stories. He was distracted very easily, so I wasn't sure how he would do this time. To my surprise he sat down the entire time on the mat in the circle and paid attention to the stories and loved the puppet show. He also helped by putting pieces of the story on the board. I am glad they do interesting things like this for the children so they can develop a habit for reading. It doesn't even cost anything, so the fact they plan this is really nice.

Tyler's 2nd Birthday

Birthday BoyMade the arch by hand with some help from friends
Handmade decorations..Pablo's House

Tyler's Cake

Had to help him blow out the candle

Loved all his presents

Jumping around

Bouncy House/Slide

Alicia, John, and Jathan


Some of the kids eating pizza

Mommy and Emily

My baby boy Tyler is all grown up .Today he turned 2. It was kind of sad for me for some reason. In my mind I feel like he's not a little baby boy anymore. When I say that he is 2, it sounds so old. Even though he will always be my baby, I just miss the little baby that I could swing in my arms. But he is still the loving, caring, cuddling boy that I love so much. He hasn't outgrown coming up to me to give me hugs and kisses and tell me he loves me. His party was a big success! He loved it, all the balloons and Backyardigans decorations was enough to make him smile from ear to ear. He had tons of friends over. Jathan, Alicia, Ethan, Erech, Tyler, Caleb, John, Blake, Carter, Aubree, Riley, and his sister Emily. We rented an inflatable bouncy with a slide that the kids really enjoyed. It was really cold and windy outside though, but I think the kids didn't mind, they were jumping and running around making heat. He got lots of great presents from everyone. He got books, clothes, toys, backyardigans cups, and a really neat Backyardigans toy chest to complete his room from his Nana Delmonico...he loves them all. So after a day of pizza, cake and candy the day came to an end. I hope everyone had a good time. I know Tyler did. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us to celebrate Tyler's big day. Happy Birthday TyTy.

Emily is sitting

Emily will be 6 months exactly tomorrow, its so hard to imagine that soon she will be 1. she has made me so proud, so I had to share that she is sitting by herself with no support. Ofcourse if something catches her eye, she will turn her head and lose her balance, but she is doing really well. She loves to lean forward to play with her feet. That's another thing she has discovered and loves to play with is her toes. She is such a big girl. Now she loves to sit and play with things rather than lay on her back. She is getting too big too fast.

Mommy and her princess

"Disney Park"

So for about a week we have been telling Tyler that we are going to Disney. The only way that I knew he would know that it was something exciting that he should look forward to it, is by calling it the Disney Park, since he loves the park. All week long he has been saying "going to Disney Park"? He has been anticipating it for so long, so I could not wait till Friday came. I was so excited to see the expression on his face when we got there, and for him to see all the rides and characters. It's actually also been a helpful tool in getting him to behave, its funny because if he did something wrong all I had to say was "Tyty don't do that or no Disney Park" and he listened right away and said "Disney park". I'll have to find more tricks like this. Anyways I never saw a more happier Tyler in my life, when we finally arrived and parked at Disney. There are a few rides you have to take from the parking lot to the actual park, and I think he thought those alone were fun. His first ride was the carousel, and he really loved that. His favorite ride had to be the Winnie the Pooh ride, and the best was the teapot. Chris had us spinning so fast I thought I was going to barf. I was just waiting for Tyler to throw up all over me, but he was laughing and screaming, saying "dizzy" because he heard me tell Chris, you're making him way too dizzy. He loved it. The day would have gone a little better, but Tyler did not take a nap at all, all day, so he was not the happiest waiting in lines. We did ride alot though, oh and Dumbo was awesome, I even loved it, he was not happy when he had to get off that one, especially since we had to wait 30min. in line. We had a great time, very tired, and our feet hurt. It was awesome, and I am so glad for all the memories we will have, I will never forget it. I can't wait to go again for my birthday. Enjoy some of our pics from our fun day.

Getting ready to go to Disney, He was so excited!

We finally made it.

It's hard to get Tyler to look at the camera.

He helped to spin us around on the tea pots. He's happier than he looks.

Winnie the Pooh ride.

In Mickey's house, he was trying so hard to turn the (fake) lights off. "It's stuck"

He loved the train ride

On our way too see Mickey's House

Tyler and daddy ready to go on our boat ride.

Dark pic, but Tyler is having fun.

The end of the night. He was more interested in his light up toy he got.