From the Mouth of Tyler

My conversation with Tyler at breakfast yesterday:
Tyler: I want a dog, but not a little dog - a big dog like Brady is (My parents dog Brady is a Westie). I like Brady.
Me: I don't think we're going to get a dog anytime soon. We need to wait til we don't have anymore babies.
Tyler: But Bryce isn't a baby anymore he's big.
Me: But what if we had another brother or sister like Bryce. (No this isn't an announcement). Would you rather have another brother/ sister or a dog?
Tyler: a dog.
Me: Well we're still not going to get a dog right now.
Tyler: If we give Bryce back to the hospital can we get a dog? (Ouch, that was a fast sell out).



Why I need to remember to minimize talking during discplining -

Me: Okay, time out is over. Look at me - you don't ever draw draw on your bed with a pen ok?
Tyler: huh? uh huh.
Me: Tyler? Do you understand?
Tyler: uh uh
Me: Say: "I understand. I'm ready to go to the park now."
Tyler: I understand that I'm ready to go to the park now.

In Banana Republic with Andy on Saturday:
Tyler: Come on Dad. Lets just steal them all.


Tyler's favorite way to start a sentence "What might happen if . . . ?"

Signs our boys are growing up

My little "peanut" finally reached 20 lbs, graduated from his infant seat into a toddler seat and gets to face forward. The expression of pure joy in his face when I first put him in Tyler's old carseat was priceless. What a big boy.

Potty training finally "clicked" for Tyler these past few weeks and he's doing awesome at staying dry and even stopping playing to use the potty. This has made my life so much easier. We some how ended up with two training potties so the smaller one has become Bryce's. Whenever I tell Tyler "Its time to go potty." Bryce immediately books it down the hall to go sit on his own little potty. What a smart kid.

Bryce has also reached the age of exploring new "heights" of trouble. He's learned to get into the trash and even adjust the fire on the gas stove (yikes!) Hence the new childproof knobs on our stove. He looks a little disappointed huh?

I decided last spring to wait another year to enroll Tyler in preschool. Last week he heard about a few of his cousins starting school and preschool. He woke up one morning last week, got dressed, put on his new "school shoes," his backpack and his lunchbox and announced that he wanted me to drop him off at school. He kept begging me and telling me he was big enough to go. It broke my heart. We have set up some social playgroups, story time, and even swimming lessons to have some "big guy" social experiences this year.

The Goings On in August

I really feel like I have no regrets about this summer. We've been able to do all of the stuff I'd hoped we would over the summer: camping multiple times, trips up the canyon, farm country, swimming in our wading pool, gardening, park city, bear lake, trips to some remote areas of central Utah, and lots of time at the local parks too. Here's some random pics of the last month and the "goings on" in the Ferguson house. Above is our new tent! We like to call it the Ferguson Family Vacation Lodge! Its so roomy I can stand up and pace back and forth to rock Bryce to sleep in it! We hope to get more use out of it next summer. We did get out for 3 separate camping trips this summer.

We went to Farm Country on $2 Tuesdays with my two sister-inlaws and their kids.

We also went up to Sundance another day with my sister in-law and her girls to get suckers and enjoy the outdoors. Bryce really enjoyed his first experience with candy. He ate the sucker but I think most of it he drooled out onto his shirt.

I've also loved gardening. I'm finally getting a good amount of vegetables. This was one mutant tomato we had from our garden. I just couldn't bring myself to eat it...

Family Campout

A few weekends ago Andy, the boys, and I went camping up Diamond Fork Canyon. We borrowed this huge 8 man tent from a family in our neighborhood and loved how roomy it was. We went out and bought our own last week!

Tyler was so excited about camping all week that he insisted on sleeping in his little IKEA tent every night.

Tyler and Bryce had a lot of fun. I'm so glad boys are so amused by rocks, sticks, and dirt.

Tyler helped Andy find sticks for the fire.

The boys even helped set up the tent (sort of).

The tent can be divided into "rooms" its so big. We left the fly cover off and fell asleep watching the stars.

Bryce slept great once he was actually asleep. He did scream for about 20 minutes before going to sleep to let the whole campsite know he was not happy about going to bed before everyone else. Tyler slept restlessly but better than last years campout.

I was pretty proud of myself for making a hot meal for dinner and breakfast all by myself. Thanks to my father in laws camp stove.

We only stayed one night but went for a little "hike" on the trail at the campsite before heading home. I think Diamond Fork canyon is so pretty and peaceful. But I did get a little freaked out on our hike when I learned that its named Diamond Fork after the Diamond Rattlesnake thats found frequently in the canyon! It was great to spend some time as a family and we hope to do it more!

The Latest Tyler Quotes

"Does Jesus know when I'm in time out?" - After a brief explanation on agency and an all knowing God, Tyler said the following prayer "Heavenly Father - Tell Jesus I played with Bryce tonight and I was nice to him. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

A sweet goodbye exchange with Tyler's 5 year old cousin Caroline:
Caroline (hugging him): Good bye Tyler! I love you too much!
Tyler (waving from the door): See you Caroline! See you too much!

After getting caught looking in a box in the basement full of old cassette tapes - "I was just trying to figure out what these are."  (Ouch! Makes me feel old)