Next Chapter

Tommy and I do not believe in making slow decisions- life will pass you up if you sit around deliberating. That said, we are buying a house in North Carolina! Why North Carolina? Because for our friends that have not yet heard, Tommy accepted a position with Western Carolina and we will be moving in the next few months. We have been looking at homes and fell in love with one in particular our last trip house hunting. Mountains, here we come!

A Crappy Situation

Babies put everything in their mouth. Three year olds put everything on their heads. Don't ask how it happened, but Tyler managed to get his Dora toilet ring stuck on his head. No ears were harmed in the making of this video...

The Skillet Band

One of the lesser known local bands of Knoxville. Starring Tyler "Ladle" Hodges on the mixing bowl and Carson "Soup Spoon" on the frying pan.

Self Sacrifice of a 3 1/2 Year Old

Tyler was watching a show on Nogin the other day called "Yo Gabba Gabba". Picture grown man dancing around in tights and marching band hat and surrounded by puppets. Tommy passed by the television, and the following conversation ensued:

Tommy: Tyler, I cannot stand this show.

Tyler: You do not like "Yo Gabba Gabba"?

Tommy: No, I do not like it.

After a moments pause...

Tyler: Well, I do not like "Handy Manny", but I still watch it.

Room For Two

It is Arctic Cat season again, and this year it is holding a passenger. First of all, let me reassure the readers that this picture was taken while the vehicle was not in motion. Second, when the Cat is moving- a bat is rigged to secure the opening on Carson's side and one adult is walking flushed up against Carson with usually a hand on his shoulder just in case. So, don't worry about a baby tumbling out of the motorized vehicle intended for kids ages 2 and up. Now that we have that cleared up...Carson LOVES it! He squeals and smiles the entire ride. Tyler also feels important and pays extra close attention to the road when behind the wheel while transporting his brother. My favorite part of this picture is actually Tyler's goggles worn like a visor. Has anyone seen VH1's show "The Pick Up Artist"? The guy named Mystery wears this as part of his "look" (Tommy and I only caught a few episodes. And if you are going to make fun of me watching it, make fun of Tommy too...not that I am throwing him under the bus). Ride on boys!

Sidewalk Artist

The other day Tyler was in the back seat of the car drawing with my mom and she said, "Good Tyler- is that you?" I looked back expecting a scribble ball of lines and was floored to see a real face!! Apparently, I am the only one that was not aware Tyler has switched to drawing REAL faces. I am lost, saddened, confused and a little bitter at how this transition escaped me. The only thing I can think of is that he must draw a lot at school, and well- we are guilty for taking a lot of walks at home. Tyler, please forgive me for not realizing how big and accomplished you have become. So, without further ado...Tyler's Faces 2009:

Story Teller

I am well aware that my blogs are picture heavy, but if Tyler keeps getting funnier, that might all change. I am not that great at documenting daily funnies that are said in our home. I guess I am just so use to Tyler's wit. But lately, he has been coming up with some stuff that is cracking me up. Take tonight for example. Every night we have a routine: After bath, Tommy reads Tyler two books of his choice and then I enter to tell two stories of his choice. In the past several months, I have made up the stories on my own. "Sammy the Seal" and "The Bear Went Over The Mountain" were Tyler's favorites for the longest time. Then we slowly integrated "Andy The Ant Finds A New Home" and "Sylvester The Snake Wanted To Live In The Bunny Hole". In the past few weeks,  Ty has requesting the usuals, but with an added twist. For example, instead of "The Snake That Wanted To Live In The Rabbit Hole", he would request "The Rabbit That Wanted To Live In The Snake Hole". Pretty clever. In the past few nights though, Tyler has taken it to a new level of creating the entire story plot. I thought tonight's in particular was quite creative.

Me: Ok, Tyler you have one more story.

Ty: Hmmm. Let's hear "A baseball player named Leo who wanted to be a snake."

By the way, when given extraordinary requests, the main character in the story ends up falling asleep only to wake up as the impossible animal/person/object. They have an adventure only to dose off again and realize it was a dream. Here's to making the impossible, possible.

Another Saturday Adventure

Who: Me, Tommy, Tyler, Carson, Becky, Dawson, Sophia & G-Ma
Where: Ijams Nature Center and The Rock Quarry
What: Hiking, rock throwing, snack eating, fort playing, exploring, climbing
Outcome: Immense fun and great memories

Family Hazing

Tyler has taken to a new hobby. Gum chewing. I fully realize this is not the most accepted or agreed on activities for a 3 1/2 year old, but well- it's all Tommy's fault. And while Tyler does not have access to gum on a regular basis- when he is given a piece, he chews it for hours. I hear Tommy asking every hour or so if he is ready to spit it out. "No- not yet" is the only response until meal time and he is forced to part with it. Apparently last night Tommy and Tyler were talking about gum chewing and Tommy was trying to reinforce gum etiquette. The conversation went a little like this (at least this is what I got out of it as Tommy was laughing hysterically trying to retell it).

Tommy: Now Tyler, when we are finished with our gum, we put in a the trash can.

Tyler: Or a napkin.

Tommy: Yes, or a napkin...that is to be put directly in the trash can.

Tyler: Or we could put it in mama's underwear.

Next Time Just Say Underwear...

After coming in from a long evening of sledding and playing in the snow, Tommy exclaimed "Tyler, your drawers are all wet!". Confused, Tyler ran directly into his bedroom to touch all of drawers on his dresser.

Conquering The Hill

We finally got some respectable snow today. While the kids were sleeping, I took off to Mayo Garden Center to buy sleds. Tyler LOVED sledding and wanted faster runs and bigger hills, while Carson did not yet fully grasp the concept that this was something that was meant to be fun.

Carson sitting on a sled and watching Carson and Daddy tackle the hill. Carson turned 11 months old today!!!

Tyler and Tommy probably went down at least four different hills- in constant search for one faster than that last. They went down each hill about 10 times. Tyler better sleep really well tonight.

I wanted one picture of the three of them sledding. Again, Tyler loved the thrill while Carson cried and bucked the whole way down. We did not make him go down again, we will try next year.