Soccer Star

Tyler has been participating in Little Kicker's soccer classes for a few months now. This fall he was able to join an AYSO team. He missed the first game because we were on a waiting list and now is an official member of the Fire Running Dinosaurs!

They practice once a week. Here he is ready for his very first practice. When did he get sooo big?

 

Learning to do jumping jacks. The cutest thing EVER!

Now learning to stretch their arms. Tyler doesn't quite get it but they sure are cute trying.

There are five wonderful little boys all under 5 years old on his team. They practice once a week and then have a twenty minute game on Saturday mornings. His first game was great! They do not keep score but the Fire Running Dinosaurs did score more goals than the Monster Sharks. Tyler was a little overwhelmed with it all but for his first game, it was super fun!

A little warm-up and drills with the coaches from England. This is something AYSO provides a couple of times a season to our little ones. These ten boys listened SO well to these coaches. We decided it had to be their accents! Coach Bob and Coach Steve are currently working on their English accents!

Ready for Kickoff!

Water break

Tyler is #2!

Getting congratulations from Coach Bob!

End of the game cheer

We were SO lucky...my dad sponsored the team this year!

 

Only one was missing for the picture

We are really looking forward to watching Tyler's progress this season. His next game is Saturday! Maybe this week he'll actually touch the ball more than once?

Six Month Check Up

Yesterday I took Dylan for his six month check up. Dr. Yen reassured me that Dylan is 100% healthy and normal! That is music to a mama's ears! Here are the stats!

Tyler at 6 months                            Dylan at 6 months
Height: 25.5 in (14%)                     Height: 26.25 in (44%)
Weight: 17 lbs 10 ozs (47%)          Weight: 14 lbs 7 ozs (6%)
Head Circ: 17.5 in (64%)               Head Circ: 17.25 in (52%)

So could my boys be any more similar? Tyler is a little shorter and chubbier but we had already been feeding him solids for a month at this point. Dylan is longer and skinnier and we have not started solids. Hopefully this week!!!

Lucky to have two amazingly healthy boys! Here are some pictures of both boys then and now!

Can you guess who is who? Tyler at 6 months

Tyler John

My boys - Tyler 4 1/2, Dylan 6 months

Dylan practicing his sitting skills

Dylan at 6 months

Little Getaway

Sometimes you just need a couple of days away. That's exactly how we felt at the end of August. We had nothing planned so we packed up the car and headed down to the South Bay. It took no time to get there but we still planned to stay the night.

We started our Saturday with a trip to El Segundo for lunch at El Tarasco. The only thing about El Tarasco that has changed is the prices. Everything else on the menu and in the restaurant is exactly the same. It felt like home. Tyler enjoyed the Carne Asada - he's just like his mommy and daddy.

We then continued on down to Redondo Beach to visit the Sea Lab. It is just a cute little place where we learned about different sea creatures and even got to touch a few. Tyler was not too in to touching the live animals in the tanks because the water was too cold. But Daddy and Mommy braved it and touched a sea urchin - the tentacles are so tickly and sticky. We also touched a spiny lobster. These lobsters don't pinch, they use their spiny shells to keep them protected. We also got to touch starfish.

Inside the sea lab we got to see mini shrimp and a handful of beautiful sea horses! For as small of a place as it is, it sure was wonderful to visit. I hope we make a trip back soon!

 

Checking out the mini shrimp. They were teeny tiny!

Checking out the fish in front of the Sea Lab.

Daddy and Tyler being brave - petting the stingray. I should say, Tyler was brave...Daddy, not so much! But then again, we know how Daddy does with stingrays.

Starfish!

Beautiful seahorses!

We then headed down to the beach. Tyler was very grouchy and we'd hoped the water would cheer him up. And cheer him up, IT DID!!!

Did I mention he was grouchy? Look at that face!

Ooh, it's cold!!!

Let's do it again, this time let's be brave.

I love this boy!

Collecting sand.

They are having too much fun!

 This was Dylan's first visit to the beach. Unfortunately he just slept in the Ergo on Mommy and didn't get to enjoy all that the beach has to offer.

We then checked in to the Embassy Suites in El Segundo. The last time we had stayed there was the night before our wedding. Again, nothing has changed. It's just the way we both remembered. It was wonderful! We went swimming and then because Tyler had not napped he was not in the mood for dinner. So Collin went to get take out from Canton Low and brought it back to the room. In the long run, it was the perfect end to a wonderful day!

Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and then headed to the beach. This time Dylan got to experience the beach. He LOVED the sand. He didn't try to eat it, just enjoyed playing with it in his hand. Definitely a difference from Tyler's first beach experience!
 

The boys - the love these two share is amazing!

Daddy and Tyler built a sandcastle.

Dylan took a nap.

After a nap, touching sand for the first time.

He never did try to eat it!

Loving the beach!

And this was Tyler's first experience at the beach. Can you tell how much he loved it?

Tyler's first beach visit was August 16, 2009. Dylan's first visit was August 19, 2013. Four years apart almost to the day. That's how many of these milestones are turning out to be.

Sometimes you just need a night away. What a difference that made for all of us. It was the perfect getaway. The only one who didn't love it...poor Mongo who was left at home.

Today was just like any other day. We had some errands to run this morning and Tyler was awesome. He played with the new friend he met at one of the houses I had to stop at. He helped me measure the church's conference center for thirty minutes without complaining or making too much noise. Then he walked from the car wash to the book store (a good walk for a little one) with me in 100 degree heat.

He did all of this without complaining, asking for treats or asking when we got to go home. So after we picked up my car I said, "Thanks so much for all of your help today. I really appreciate your patience." His reponse, "It was MY pleasure Mommy. Really, my pleasure."

I just love the sweetness in his voice and how kind he was when he said it. I couldn't ask for a better son, a better helper and a more kind kid.

Then this afternoon, while climbing into his car seat to run yet another errand he kind of fell in to it a little wonky and said, "this is unbelievable! My seat is so tricky - just unbelievable." I love that he listens and has learned these great words and actually uses them. Was the situation so unbelievable, No, but the fact that he makes the attempts to use these words just makes me smile.

Preschool

Tyler started preschool today at Creative Years. It was a long search but we are soo happy with the preschool we chose for Tyler. You just knew it was a great place to be the moment you walked in the door and were greeted by the owner and office staff.

A traditional first day pose outside the front door.

Yesterday they had a meet and greet with the teacher and to find out some of the in's and out's of the actual first day. Collin stayed home so he could go with us. As we walked into the building, Tyler just held on to Collin and said "Don't leave me. You're not going to leave me, right?" That just about broke both of our hearts. Collin was having a difficult time with this and I was pretty much ok until he said that.

We found out Tyler has Ms. Sandi. We met her in the Math and Science Room. That's where they would be starting on their first day. (Each day they start in a different room!) Tyler walked right in and started playing with some toys. A few moments later he was joined by a little boy who we used to go to Gymboree with. That was fun to meet up with an old acquaintance.

Building a road

Laine and Tyler 

After about twenty-five minutes he was very comfortable in the room, with his teacher and it was time for us to go. He and his friend Miranda walked out together. They are excited to be in the same class!

Tyler and Miranda

Hug and a kiss - my little aggressive boy!

So today was the first day of preschool. Collin did not stay home and I was not sure whether to take him or not. Earlier in the week we found out Tyler had croup. It was supposed to not be contagious and he was supposed to be good to go to school today. He woke up with a runny nose and the cough was more consistent now. I debated because I don't want to be that parent but I didn't want Tyler to miss that first day. Sooo, I decided to take him and talk to the teacher.

Ready to go - stylish in this Turtle shorts, green shirt and of course, his brown loafers!

 He walked into the school today (an improvement from yesterday). We were really early so we took some pictures around the school. When Ms. Sandi arrived Tyler walked right in and got started building a road. He agreed to a few more pictures, then a VERY quick hug and kiss. He didn't even see me leave. So there it was, 9am and I was walking out of the school knowing he was in great hands. 

Enough already Mommy!

What he'll learn this month!

Cubbies!

We are the rocket class!

Tyler's green rocket. How did she know???

Getting a closer look at his cubby!

Tyler and Ms. Sandi

Picture, then a quick hug and a kiss and I was gone.

I came home and worked for a while - not really knowing what to do. When I arrived to pick him up he was very excited to see me. I got a great big hug and kiss and then he told me all about his day. He learned about shells and the ocean, then had pretzels for snack. He was too nervous about the slide so he skipped going down today. Maybe next time he said. Then it was off to the music room where he played with a bunch of instruments. They ended the day in Art and he painted with red and blue. He wanted to take his painting home but they were drying. Hopefully we can see his masterpiece soon!

He then told me when we walked out "I'm lucky. Can I come back here?". We ended the day with a celebratory lunch at In-N-Out.

In-N-Out celebration hamburger and fries!

All in all it was the best first day of preschool anyone could have. Soo lucky we found this school, we can afford to send Tyler to this school and that he loved it so much! Here's to a great beginning!!!

Funny things he says

Today Tyler was upstairs playing while I was finishing cleaning up from breakfast. He wanted me to come up and play and I told him I would as soon as I finished. He played for a few minutes and then I heard, "Mommy Elizabeth get up here right now. I said, Mommy Elizabeth get up here right now!"

He is just soo cute. I do not know why he knows my middle name is Elizabeth since it is not something he hears but apparently he does.

Then we were playing hide and seek and I hid under the sheet in my bed. He came in. Looked around. Said "guess there is no Mommy here. Just a beautiful fluffy pillow waiting for me. Aww!" followed by a big thump as he landed on me. He is such a little character.

Another very cute thing is when he says his nightly prayer. Instead of "if I mess up, I'll ask you to forgive" he says "if I messed up, I'll ask you for to give." I'm probably not getting it totally right but it brings such a smile to my face when he says it each night.

I love my boy. He makes me smile everyday. I am so lucky to have the time with him that I do!