Happy Birthday Tyler-5 years old!

Tyler's 5 years old and VERY excited about it!

She was showered with love, attention and gifts.We started with a joint celebration the night before with a lil cake and dinner for Tyler and Grandpa Jackson.

Grandpa Tom's birthday was on the 7th!

Tyler loves her new Rollarblades-and after only a few short days she's gotten quite good on them.

On her birthday she invited a few girlfriends (payton & maliya) from school over for a party.

We made necklaces

dressed up as princesses

and decorated cupcakes

Then we opened gifts-I don't know who was more excited the receiver or the giver.

That evening when Dad got home we finished the celebrations by opening the rest of the gifts. It was just as exciting as the evening before, at least for Tyler. Poor McKenna had been a good sport as long as she could and like any kid her age started to have a breakdown, although she quickly recovered and came back down for the rest of the party.

She got games & puzzles, a new pony, squinkies and a personalized coloring book she's dying to make.

Tyler's always been good at sharing and wanted everyone to help with the last gift-a new comforter.

Then everyone got together to play with the toys.

She had a pretty great birthday!

A little about Tyler at 5 years old:

Tyler is still quite the peacemaker who loves everyone and doesn't want to make anyone feel bad or left out, including her collection of stuffed animals.

Tyler is incredibly smart, is willing to try new things and catches on quickly because she will practice until she gets really good at it. She loves to learn and to help with EVERYTHING, and always wants to be doing something, NOT watching tv unless it is her favorite show, The Wild Kratts.

She loves school and her new friends, singing primary songs, her chickens, and playing with her siblings (whether its Barbies, My Little pony or polly pockets with McKenna or riding the stick horse or playing cars with Tate). She loves being chased by her Dad, cuddling with Mom and playing games with grandma. She also loves to color, paint, and create things-she's quite the artist. Her favorite singers are Taylor Swift and Jennifer Nettles aka Sugarland, although her favorite non-church song is Jake Owen's Barefoot Blue Jean Night.

She often has a hard time falling asleep at night her mind is so busy and can be found reading, playing with McKenna or rearranging her bed.

We Love you Tyler and we're still glad your part of our family!

Driving

Driving in the car Lady Antebellum's song "Just a Kiss" was playing the conversation took place:

Tyler: "Mom you know Taylor Swift's song, "kiss me in the rain?"

Me: "yes"

Tyler: "This song is just like that one, they're both about a kiss."

Me: Silently thinking, although impressed with her observation, I wondered about the music selection I play. Tyler is very intune to kisses, especially giving them.

Me: "Tyler please promise me when you get older you won't kiss a lot of boys." I could see the disgust on her face as her nose crinkled and she appropriately responded with, "ew!"

Good Girl, can I get that in writing?

Fall is Upon Us

Literally Fall is upon us-and despite the chill we are thrilled.

This is one of my favorite things, watching the kids get a thrill out of watching the leaves fall from the trees.

Welcome Fall!

Spooner Farms-Preschool Field Trip

Spooner Farms a very popular place with the kids this year.

That's Tate, way beyond the "Do Not Enter" boundaries. He does this while I'm distracted taking pictures of other people's children :)

What kind of mother am I? He didn't enter even as I yelled, "stop Tate" laughing as he ran. At that point I decide to take his picture and not disobey the rules and then figure out how to get him out.

Pretty much sums up our whole relationship right there.

Sumner Co-op Preschool 2011-2012: 4 yr olds

They do have nice faces although capturing them at the same time....impossible

Once situated we were off to learn about the Bees, but not the birds, just bats, spiders and the things they grow on the farm.

This is a Bird Cage Gourd-or some name similar. You can actually wait for them to dry and then you have a cool rattle-thing or hollow it out and hang for the birds. Want to try that next year.

Off on our Tractor pull ride to see the farm and get a Pumpkin

This is Tyler's Teacher Mrs Withem and her friend Payton.

Tyler with Alice Welcoming everyone to Wonderland

Tate enthralled with the animals, the donkey and the earless goat.

Funny how the ears kind of complete a head.

Tate's favorite..Horses!

Coolest Horses ever!

Spider pictures

They were thrilled-when they started hanging on them, NOT climbing!

Last but NOT least the duck races. Tyler had to fight her way in , but was able to play.

Tate didn't care much for the racing, he liked collecting the ducks and taking them to the races. So helpful, but who could resist a big bucket of water with a continual stream of ducks falling into it?

Almost forgot to get this picture. You get a pumpkin as part of the Spooner Farm Tour-the small pumpkin is the one that Tate picked out (Identical to the one McKenna had picked out) which is the typical size offered. Small enough to carry for any kid. Tyler picked out the HUGE pumpkin, I think being the biggest one she could find. I opted for the middle-pumpkin which is pretty standard for a pumpkin. Pretty good representation of the person who picked it out. :)