Tyler turns 4!

Tyler turned 4 on Sunday. He made sure to let everyone at church know it was his birthday. He requested a Tiger cake this year. In my haste to get dinner ready and the cake. I only had time to make orange frosting and wasn't sure what I was going to do for a face. Tyler kept asking if he could decorate the cake. After a few seconds, I handed him the icing pen and said 'Have at it. Its your cake.' Like Andy said. - Tyler will probably remember this birthday cake more than the others since he got to decorate it himself.

Tyler's favorite present this year was his Huffy Rocket bike. Too bad it was raining and dark out when we opened presents. We let him take it for a few spins around the kitchen though. He's been out practicing riding on the driveway every day since.

Bryce, of course, had a hard time understanding why Tyler kept getting presents but he didnt. He was really determined to ride his bike too. In usual second child fashion - Bryce will now inherit Tyler's big wheel. Good thing he's too young to care if everything he gets is a hand me down.

Jimmer Mania Hits the Ferguson House

Andy, Tyler and I went to BYU's last home game on Saturday afternoon. With BYU doing so well this past season I thought we have to go to a game in the Marriot Center. We were so glad we did. Although the game was expected to be and was a total blow out, the crowd was so energized. Andy and I were loving the excitement and noise.

Tyler unfortunately thought it was a little loud. He got into it after awhile though and did "spirit fingers" with the rest of the crowd during free throws and cheered for BYU points. He kept asking me if Jimmer won.

Tyler also really wanted to make a sign. Not sure Jimmer could see it from our nose bleed seats, but its the thought that counts. Here's hoping for a good run in the tournament too - Go cougars!

Whats up with the Kids

I've been meaning for awhile to do a post of what the kids are doing right now as my own little log. Maybe its interesting to the grandparents too. Just know the detailed account that follows is more for my own record keeping then that I think everyone really cares to read it.

Bryce - 19 1/2 months

He is full of personality. Hamming it up for an audience one second and throwing screaming tantrums on the floor the next. He can be pretty intense. When he's hungry he'll act as if he hasn't eaten in days and we reguarly deprive him of food. (not the case). If his trains fall over in the living room he'll run over to me saying "Fa! Fa! (fall)" and in a panick pull on my arm until I can come assess the train crash situation.

Bryce also continues to have a "I'm going to do it my way" personality. I'm not going to crawl. I'm going to scoot on my bum. I won't walk until I'm good and ready and I'm not going to say words like you do I'm going to make up my own! I talked to the pediatrictian about my concerns that Bryce is developing his own language but he assured me its fairly normal for his age and as long as he seems to understand me okay - his hearing is probably fine.

Here is a list of Bryce's made up words to date:

Milk - guaog guaog (its a weird glotteral sound that we don't think even exists in the English lanuage, maybe Chinese..)
Chocolate milk - Mine key
Crayon (or any writing utensil) - Beebee
Please - Ree Ree (usually he just signs it)

All Done - Na na (also signs this)
Food - Nummy

Words that are actually close to the English language:
Dog - Doggie (probably his best pronounced word, also his favorite animal)
Potty - poppy
Poop - pooo
Clean up - Meanup
Car - Ca
Book - bu
Blankie - benkie
Tyler - either Ty Ty or Tibee
Ball - Ba
Juice - Ju
Toast - Toe
Nose - No
Teeth - Teef
Shoes - Foos
Broke - Bro
Fall - Fa
Train - go go
Cracker - crackie
Bucket - buckie
Back pack - baka
All Gone - aga
Costco- caco
He also says trash, yucky, stuck. Mama, Dad, Kitty cat, and monkey. There's probably others he's said that I don't remember too. Unfortunately I'm probably the only one that understands most of these. But I'm just glad we can start to communicate through more than just screams.

He's fairly independent and walked right into nursery at 18 months and never looked back. The nursery leaders said they've never had a kid adjust as well to being in nursery as Bryce. They only time they've ever brought him to me was when he had a poopy diaper and then they had a hard time getting him to leave. He doesn't even seem to care when Andy and I come to pick him up.

Things Bryce likes right now - Trains. Ever since playing with the electric train at my parents house Bryce loves gogos. He links up his small Thomas the Tank trains and makes tracks for them in the family room. He also likes playing in the potty (unfortunate for me). He loves to sit on Tyler's training potty and pretend to go potty. After a few seconds he'll make a distressed face and say "Pooo." Then stand up and give me a high five. He loves anything Tyler's doing too and wants to be just like him. Too bad they also fight over a lot of toys. He also loves sitting on mom's lap with a sippy cup of milk and his "benkie."

Tyler - almost 4 years

Tyler is at a very curious age. He probably asks me about 30 questions a day.

Typical questions Tyler asks me:
Do spiders have noses?
Do sharks have blow holes like whales do?
If I feed a bear will he hurt me?
How long will it take my poop to reach to ocean?

Possibly what Tigger looks like in Tyler's mind

I also really need to post about Tigger. Tigger has been Tyler's imaginary friend for probably over a year now. I think he was "inspired" by a character on the movie Kung Fu Panda (which has since been banned at our house because Tyler started doing Kung fu moves on everyone after he'd watched it). According to Tyler Tigger is a very large black Tiger with rings on his tail that isn't afraid of anything, talks in a very deep voice and is Tyler's best friend. We kind of think of Tigger as Tyler's alter ego. He's everything Tyler wishes he could be. Fast, strong, and most importantly fearless. When I can tell Tyler's afraid of something he often tells me he's not scared anymore because he knows Tigger can fight whatever it is he's afraid of. His child therapist father says its a good and healthy way for Tyler to work out his fears.  We know Tigger is "around" because Tyler will start talking in a really deep voice. Interesting that Tigger always "goes home" when actual kids are around for Tyler to play with though.We don't know how long Tigger will stick around, but we kind of feel like he's a part of the family and I'm glad he helps Tyler feel safe.

Well Traveled Kids

We're going to Belgium! Andy's parents have been serving a mission for our church for the past year in Belgium and the Netherlands. We knew we wanted to go visit them while they were there but figured we'd leave the kids and go on a little European vacation alone. To make a long story short - we booked our flights for the middle of April and we're bringing the kids along too! Both of our kids will now have a passport before the age of 2. Pictured above is Bryce and Tyler's passport photos, respectively. Tyler's was taken around 14 months, before we left for Samoa and Bryce is now 19 months.

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.