Musical Talent

This drum was the best $3 I have spent. Our kids love it. They love anything musical. I think they both have musical talent and hopefully they will do something with it when they are older.

Walking

Eliza started walking really well the past couple of weeks. She still isn't quite all the way there yet but close. She still crawls a lot but is walking more and more everyday as she learns her balance. I always said when my babies start walking they aren't considered babies anymore but I am having a hard time at saying that with her. Maybe because she still is so little. She is growing up so fast and it is a little hard on me. However, my kids will always be my babies.

Gotta Love that Hair

I am just lovin Eliza's hair right now. I have been putting it in a little pony on top because it is getting long and starting to fall into her eyes but I don't want to cut it yet so I put it in a pony almost every day. So at the end of the day when we take it out her hair sticks straight up. So funny and cute.

Ty at 3 Years Old

-Stats: Height 37.5 in (50%) and Weight 31.6 lb (48%) Can you say average?
-Favorite Things: Color-green, Food-pizza & spaghetti, Snack-marshmellows and apples, Drink-chocolate milk, Cartoon-Curious George, Toy-trains, tractors, and his tools, Song-Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam and Wheels on the Bus, Animal-Lion.
-Favorite Things to do: Play with trains, watch cartoons, play outside, swim, read books, pick on his little sister, loves to help mom do laundry (load into washer and dryer AND fold), dishes, sweep/mop. Ty also loves to climb, jump, run, and play, and cause a lot of trouble (typical boy!).
-Things Ty has learned this past year: Got potty trained in September, Learned to say prayers by myself, can dress himself and put on his socks and shoes, can count to 20 and say the alphabet and recognize the majority of them, learned his shapes and colors. His vocabulary has grown SO much. He got a back this past year and started to learn to pedal at the end of the summer, Ty also learned to suck his thumb this year (not one I am proud of).
-Things Ty has done this past year: Has been to Kansas twice in March (drove) and December (airplane), we moved to a new apartment in Spanish Fork, went to the zoo a few times, went to 7-peaks and swam several times this summer, went camping a couple of times this summer, Tyson also started a little learning group with some of the kids in our ward, was a tiger for Halloween.
Our Ty man has grown up so much this past year and learned so much. It is so fun for us as parents to see him learn and grow both physically and mentally. We love his consant energy (most of the time) and his happy attitude (when he is not throwing tantrums). We can't wait to see what this next year brings us with you and see what you learn.

Ty Birthday

We had a lot of fun for Tyson's birthday this year. Tyson loves Curious George and so we had a Curious George themed party this year. We celebrated Sunday night January 8th instead of on his birthday because Mike had work and started school on his bithday January 9th. However we did end up going to school with Mike on Monday and eating together at the school. Tyson wanted pizza but Mike and I didn't so Tyson and Eliza got pizza hut and Mike and I got Costa Vida and everyone was happy. I then to Tyson to ToysRUs that night and get him train tracks which he has wanted for a long time.
We had a lot of people over in our small apartment and had a lot of fun and Tyson got spoiled. Tyson opened all his presents in about 3 seconds and then we had cake and ice cream. Tyson had lots of family here including Grandma and Grandpa Eppich, Mcbride family, Smyth family, Shields family, Grandma Olson, Rush family, Chris Hazlett, and Troy & Coby. We had a full house. Tyson got a fire station, a game for his iXL, some clothes, CDs with kids songs on them, money for a piggy bank, cars, motorcycles, a game, and a curious george movie. Thanks everyone for the fun night and spoiling Tyson.

Mother Goose

We have a tradition for Mother Goose to come to our house on New Years and fill our shoes with a little gift. This is what Mother Goose gave us this year. This is a fun tradition that we plan to keep up with every year.

Bowling

This is the second year in which we have went bowling inbetween Christmas and New Years. Maybe it will become a tradition. We had a lot of fun. Tyson loved it and he wanted to carry the heavy ball all by himself everytime. One time he wanted to do it without the little help and the ball never made it to the pins, it actually just rolled right back to us. Until next time.

First Steps

Eliza has been having fun practicing her walking and took her first steps the night of December 11, 2011. She is still not walking on her own but takes a few steps here and there and gets braver and braver everyday.

Squints

Eliza has recently been given the nickname of "squints." I have been trying to catch her squinting and this is the closest I have been able to get. She does it all the time and we can't tell if she is scowling, focusing, or just playing with us. Whatever it is, it sure makes us laugh. It really just shows us how her personality is coming out more and more.

A love of Peppermints

While we were doing gingerbread houses Eliza found a peppermint that had dropped on the ground and stuck it in her mouth and since then has grown to love them. She ate pretty much the whole thing . We got the candy bowl out last night and she reached straight for the peppermint and picked it up and started to laugh and wave her arms up and down. Mike took it from her and she got really mad at him. Again, her personality showing through.

Christmas Day

Christmas day we woke up, ate breakfast, and got ready for church. I told Tyson that Santa wanted us to go to church before he came to our house. We got home from church and sure enough Santa made it to our house. Tyson had lots of fun opening his own gifts and also "helping" Eliza open hers. Ty got an IXL learning system, UNO moo, trains, clothes, books, puzzels, a camera, keys, and candy. Eliza got a baby doll, phone, necklace, hair clips, clothes, books, and puzzles. They both got spoiled. After opening gifts we got changed and went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for lunch. We had a great day.

Aren't these two the cutest little kids ever!


The kids Christmas stash.

Christmas Eve

We got home from the airport late on Christmas Eve but were able to still open Christmas pajamas. Tyson opened his in about two seconds flat and then cheered on Eliza for a few minutes then decided he couldn't handle how slow she was going and decided to help her. I have the cutest two kids in the world.