Trains and more trains

We flew out to NY on Christmas Day this year so we could spend some time with J's family and attend his brothers wedding. While we are there T spends much of his time with grandpa's trains (T actually calls him grandpa train because of them). Below are a few pix of the special christmas tree trains and of the train room. Yes, I said room. Keep in mind that the picture only shows half of the room and it doesnt show the trains to are near the ceiling on a platform. Its true. Its Ts train heaven (but we all have fun with them...)





(Notice there are TWO trains with this tree. One in the middle, one underneath.)

To all those...

This is for all of you who have had "one of those days."
I saw this for the first time when I was a junior in high school.
Im sure some of you have seen it before, but its a classic.
I think I have watched this at least once a week since then.

Enjoy the most used karaoke song in America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybXrrTX3LuI

Im memory

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of the death of J's mother. She died after a very quick and unexpected battle with cancer on Thanksgiving 2006. We remember her as a wonderful woman, mother, and friend. We miss her greatly but know that she has passed her mortal test and waits for us in the eternities.
We are very grateful for the time we were able to spend with her and that in her last moments all of her children, who were around the world, were able to be together one last time as a family. We are now lucky enough that every Thanksgiving we not only have the opportunity to reflect on our blessings but also the wonderful plan our Savior as put in place for us to all be together again.

We love you Jayne!

I need to post...

I need to post and yet we have nothing to post about...

Our lives never really change. Not than I am complaining!

Lets see, T is awesome. The kid freakin cracks me up everyday. Love him to death. Minus the whole sleep issue. He is crazy. The kid needs less sleep than me. I don't get it. Then the time change...thank you lame-o daylight savings. Rid us of this stupid thing! I think we have finally worked out a new system...and it includes an earlier bedtime, him waking up happy, and me not pulling my hair out. Its a win-win. I have no sympathy for people who tell me that their 4 year old no longer takes naps...hahaha...Try 22 months people and only a 9 hour night. At least my kid has learned how to play by himself. He is content in his room alone and doesn't come out until I tell him too. Good boy...very good boy.

J is fine. His birthday was last week. I saved and saved and saved and got him something he has really really wanted. A new driver. I must admit that I don't understand nor do I support the extreme costs of his preferred sports but I support nonetheless. I got him a TaylorMade Tour Burner. Its a nice driver...like VERY nice. He hasn't gotten it yet because it got stuck in the mail. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday...
He is getting extremely anxious to finish school. Lets be honest, I am getting extremely anxious for him to finish school. The end is in sight! Not too much longer before he will officially have his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He has already started to receive "unofficial" offers. Its nice to know we have possibilities!

I am normal, the same, fine, whatever. Not much going on. I just hang out with my boys.

Shared Loves

All parents like to share their favorite things with their children. J has absolutely enjoyed sharing his love and skill of hockey with T. T has absolutely loved it. Nothing makes him happier than when daddy asks if he wants to go to the ice rink! He is doing SO well too! When his feet got big enough a few months ago we took him off of his double runner skates and put him in "real" skates. He will skate on his own for a little bit, he loves holding a hockey stick and shooting the puck but his FAVORITE thing is when daddy holds his arms and goes "speedy fast" all the way around the rink. He loves getting "snowed" by daddy almost as much. He is definitely well on his way to feeling like the ice rink is his home.

Well, I too have a deep love for something that I wanted to share with T. I was so excited last week because I had an appointment set up to take him to the dentist. I love the dentist. LOVE it. Its what I look forward too every day of my life. To me there is nothing better than having someone else clean my teeth. Ahhhh... I love it. I don't even mind the dentists lame jokes. Well, my child has less of a love for the dentist. Sad but true. He was very cooperative through his tears though. As upset as he was, when he was asked to open, he opened. When he was asked to rinse, he rinsed. He did so good...he just did it very upset.
And there may be some of you who don't know that T has a VERY sensitive gag reflex. He gags at everything. He doesn't throw up anymore (thank goodness), but he gags incessantly.
Here are a few of our favorites...
the smell of hard boiled eggs
the drip of milk that came out of a baby's mouth
the puddle of syrup from a bottle HE dropped
the aforementioned baby eating applesauce
and of course...at the dentist when his teeth were painted with fluoride.

And many, many more...

Forever weened

A few months ago we took T's pacifier away for good. He has only had it when he sleeps since his 1st birthday and we tried a couple times to take it away for good but because of moving it didn't work out. So, we tried to take it away when we knew we didn't have anything that we constitute as a "big change" for him--no traveling, no moving, he was already out of his crib, etc. Well, I was anticipating something strait out a horror film. He only had a hard time falling asleep ONE NIGHT. It took him about an hour and he wanted me to sit by his bed and hold his hand, but no tears. The next night he asked for it a few times but went to bed with no tears. After that, he just accepted that "all the other babies" get the pacifiers. Needless to say I actually had a hard time with taking it away. I felt like I was stripping him of the last thing he had that was even remotely "baby!"

Sweet comfort

As many of you know T is not known for sleeping a lot. He stopped taking naps at about 21 months unless we run him ragged (which only happens when I wake him up early and make him run everywhere in the sun). His nights are not consistent either...sometimes sleeping 12 hours, sometimes only 9! I am very blessed that when I put him in his room he stays there but because of that, if he isnt tired he makes a mess of his room! I will find books everywhere, clothes all over the floor, crayon on the walls, etc. Last night he didnt want to go to sleep when I put him in bed and I told him that I wanted him to stay in bed. He got frustrated and said his animals were taking up too much room so he had to throw them off his bed...which he did. Later I heard him talking about "camping out." When I went to check on him he had found a new place to sleep...