Bedtime at The Fergusons

Tonight Andy had scouts so I was putting the boys to bed by myself. Bryce was all ready for bed and Tyler was working on getting his pajamas on. I'd just gone to the bathroom and was washing my hands when I heard a thud and a loud wail from Bryce - an obvious hurt cry. Tyler had been giving Bryce cheap shots all night and had already been in time out twice for kicking so I had an idea of what happened. I walked into the hallway to see Bryce bawling and just standing up from laying on the ground.

I asked Tyler "What happened?" (my first mistake). Tyler very innocently says "I think Bryce just tripped over his toy drum and fell down." I said "Considering his toy drum is in the toy closet right now I don't think thats what happened. I wish you would just tell me the truth Tyler."

While standing in the doorway to his room completely naked Tyler says this to me" I can't Mom. I'm too young. I don't understand what the truth is. I've lost my understanding."

Obviously someone has been listening to Andy and I's recent conversations on whether or not Tyler is old enough to understand the difference between lying and telling the truth. I'm thinking he does and I think he's mastering the art of manipulation too.

Christmas in Maryland

Highlights from our trip to Maryland over Christmas. The boys and I got to spend 13 days in Maryland with my parents, my sister and her husband and her daughter Anya. Andy left a few days earlier to return to work. Here are the Kippens second generation on Christmas Eve.

My dad would always read Sarah and I The Night Before Christmas before we got into bed on Christmas Eve when we were kids. I love this picture of my dad reading it to the next generation.

Santa left lots of fun stuff for the kids. Tyler got this toy guitar which he rocked out on all Christmas morning til Andy decided it had mysteriously disappeared for the rest of the day. Tyler also got the movie How to Train Your Dragon from Santa and a game called Cooties, a remote control Lightning McQueen car, legos, books, hand puppets and play dough.

I was actually really excited for Tyler to give Bryce this stuffed dog since Tyler was actually thoughtful about it and I know how much Bryce loves dogs. His face doesn't show it here but he does actually like the "doggie" now. Bryce also got a Sit N Spin, kids musical instrument set, Toy Story 3, markers that only work on the paper, a crash car, and books.

The Wednesday evening after Christmas my parents treated all of us to a limo ride to see all of the lights in D.C. We all rode in this stretch limo to see Seneca Park (a state park filled with Christmas lights), the Washington D.C. temple, and the National Christmas tree in front of the White House. We rode in style with our snacks and Marinelli's in wine glasses. We got to pull right up to each of the attractions and get out to walk around a little. We played games on the way home. It was a pretty unique experience.

We were also able to visit my Aunt Terry's family one evening for dinner. Two years ago Tyler got to ride on my Uncle Doug's tractor (pictured below) while we were visiting and he talked about it for months afterwards. We reminded him about the tractor on our way over and my uncle was nice enough to let him have another ride and brave the bitter cold outside.

We also visited the dairy farm again to feed the baby cows. We watched them bring in one baby cow that was still all wet because it had just been born that day!

My dad getting friendly with the baby cows.

Bryce wasn't as afraid of the cows this time. I think he looks cute here in his hat and huge poofy coat.

Tyler in downtown Frederick on New Year's Day.

This wall is kind of an optical illusion. The artist has painted walls all over the city that look 3D and very realistic until you see up close that they're just painted on a concrete wall. Kind of cool.

Bryce and my dad at Baker's Park. My boys really love my dad (and my mom). They always want Pop to play with them. Bryce would always follow my dad around saying "Pa! Pa!" and then motion for him to follow him into the living room to play with the electric train. He loves to be with his Pop and I know he misses him. It was a really nice trip. Unfortunately the boys and I got sick right before we left. I spent 2 1/2 hours at urgent care with Bryce on Tuesday and found out he had an ear infection in both ears. Traveling for 10 hours alone with 2 sick kids on Wednesday was not something I want to do again anytime soon. I had a major migraine by the time we got back to Provo. On the plane ride home Tyler came down with a fever too and I've spent the past two days since we got home taking care of sick kids. At least they waited til we were leaving to come down with it.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

 We are counting down the days til Santa comes at our house. On Sunday morning at breakfast Tyler told Andy "I've been waiting a long time for How to Train Your Dragon (the movie he asked Santa for)." A few weeks ago at breakfast Tyler and I had the following conversation that I just had to write down afterward to capture the extensive imagination Tyler has at this age. Here's Tyler's plan for giving Santa a present this year:
 

12/11/10

Tyler: I think Santa’s sad cause he’s never had a present. I’m going to give him a present. I think I’ll build him a rocket so he doesn’t have to use his sleigh or his reindeer anymore. I’m going to need a lot of wood and paint though.

 Julia: Don’t you think the reindeer will be sad if he doesn’t use his sleigh anymore?

 Tyler: He can just use the rocket sometimes. Well…maybe I’ll make him something smaller. I’ll build him a house! I’m going to need A LOT of wood, paint and glue. Like 5 woods, and 5 paints and 5 glues.

Julia: Don’t you think he already has a house at the North Pole?

 Tyler: Yeah, but he doesn’t like his house anymore cause he doesn’t have any doors. So I’m going to build him a new house. We’re going to need to take the windows and doors from our house.

Julia: Won’t we be cold?

 Tyler: Yeah, maybe we can take the windows and doors from the neighbors instead.  Or we could buy them from the window store for $5.

 Julia: Where are the reindeer going to sleep?

 Tyler: They can sleep in Santa’s bed. Or…maybe we could make A LOT of beds. Like 5 beds for the reindeer.

 Julia: How are we going to get the house to the North Pole?

 Tyler: We’ll have to use a lifter. Maybe Dad could use the lifter to get it there. Its going to be dark in the woods going to the North Pole though. We’re going to need a flashlight. We’re going to need A LOT of flashlights. Do you know where Dad got my flashlight?

 “Guess what dad? We’re going to make Santa a house. We’re going to lift it up with the lifter and bring it to the North Pole. I’m great at using the lifter. But I think I’m going to need a little help from you guys.

Bryce wasn't too sure about the man in the red suit. Even standing close to him was a little risky.

 

 Tuesday morning we awoke to about a foot of snow on the ground here in Provo. Andy had been praying for a good snow storm for awhile so he would have an excuse to use his step-dad's ATV snow plow on the driveway. He's like a kid with a new toy.

Tyler loves playing in the snow. He has his dad's skier blood in him I think. Bryce isn't too sure and although I bundle him up with boots and snow pants he won't walk in the snow and I have to shovel a path for him to get around. I meant to gently lob this snowball at his stomach. At least it missed his face. Sorry your mother has terrible aim Bryce.

From the Mouth of Tyler 2

This morning at breakfast Tyler walked in sat down to eat his toast and said "Does Jesus have a computer?" I said "I don't think Jesus needs a computer." Before I could expand on my reasoning Tyler says " I think he does have a computer and I have a computer too and I think thats how he sees where I'm going and what I'm doing all the time." Its the only rational explanation his 3 year old brain can comprehend I guess.


After a lengthy picture taking session today Tyler saw some Halloween candy sitting on my bed and asked Andy "Can I have that?" Andy said "That candy was for if you were good during pictures." Tyler responds "Well I did great. So...."

This next part is actually Bryce but I'll have to describe it since I didn't have a camera or video ready at the time. Bryce is usually really good about going to bed at night and as soon as I say "Its time for bed Bryce." He puts on a big smile and starts waving to everyone in the room to say good night. Last night it was getting pretty late and I could tell Bryce was ready for bed. He was already in his jammies and I had just given him a sippy cup of milk when I said "Are you ready for bed Bryce?" With his back turned toward us, drinking his sippy cup with one hand, he doesn't even turn his head around but waves behind himself at us and walks down the hall, around the corner and to his room all by himself. No need for words.

Happy Halloween!

 Tyler has been asking me to make him a super suit for months now. He has greater confidence in my sewing abilities than I do. A good deal online seemed more like my style. He's probably worn his Halloween costume half a dozen times already since it arrived at the beginning of October and last night probably won't be the last either. Tyler says he can run faster with it on. And Bryce was just about the cutest tiger I've ever seen complete with growls and roars.

 Andy wore his Cat and the Hat hat and at the last minute I decided to be Kate from the T.V. show Lost, complete with staple gray shirt, jeans, hiking boots and curly hair.

And yes! Bryce finally started walking this week! He just flipped the switch and walks everywhere now and pretty fast too. True to his personality Bryce takes his time reaching milestones and does things on his own time table. He can now get into trouble twice as fast.

Harvest Time

 Bryce helping us pick tomatoes. We ended up with such a great garden this year. Tons of squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and green peppers. About 12 butternut squash and around 15 pumpkins. We decided to pick all the orange pumpkins today to put on the front porch. Too bad none of them are big enough to carve but I was pretty proud of myself for growing them all!

 Tyler was a great help in the garden this year. He was always careful to only pick red tomatoes and big green peppers. I read that gardening teaches kids patience. I hope so.

 A rare shot where both kids are looking and happy.

 As Andy says - Bryce has a little bit of 'tude (attitude). He says his feistiness (sp?) comes from me. He was upset with me here for not letting him play in the mud.

At least he gets over it fast.

Sharing is also still tough for Bryce, especially with his brother.

Swimming Lessons

For the past month Tyler and Bryce have been taking swimming lessons at the Provo Rec Center. Tyler is in his own preschool class and Bryce and I are in the Tot class. At the beginning of the summer we took the boys to a pool and Bryce cried the whole time and Tyler wouldn't let go of us in the water. I knew they just needed more time in the water. Although neither one of them likes putting their head under the water yet, they're both so much more comfortable in the water and have loved swimming lessons. I'll add some videos once I figure out why blogger won't load them right now.