SPOTLIGHT: All about Ty

So I've been doing some thinking...and thanks to someone that I consider one of my closer friends...I've decided that I need to appreciate me, my life, and my children a lot more than I have been. So I thought that I could share with all of you who read or come across my blog 3 positive aspects of my life; MY CHILDREN! I tend to get caught up in my own emotions and dwell upon all the frustrations that I have with being a mom. I need to adjust and start thinking about the positive qualities that my children have. I have decided to spotlight my first child, Ty. In doing so I not only want others to know what a unique kids he is, but also it will help me to think of all the great qualities he has to offer to me, our family, and anybody else he comes in contact with...so here is

TY JOSEPH UTLEY

From the moment I could feel Ty in the womb, I knew he was going to be active. And I realized very early in his life (around 6 months) that he was going to be very strong willed and only do the things that he wanted. One of Ty's best qualities is how strong-headed he can be...it's also very stressful for me! I have no doubt in my mind that Ty will be leader among his friends when he gets older. My prayer is that that leadership is in the right areas...

Even though Ty's energy can be exhausting, his energy is full of life. He wakes up each morning with a charge to tackle the day (he might tackle his brother and sister while he's at it.) Ty loves to have fun! Ever since he's learned to laugh, it isn't hard to get him into hysterics. He has a contagious laugh that makes me love him so much! He loves to have fun with anything that he's doing...he doesn't have quite the imagination that I thought he would have (I thought that since I had imaginary friends, my kids would too) but he is able to take the weirdest things and turn them into toys, ex: my hair clips that I use to do my hair with are now his "sharks" because they have teeth just like sharks do. And he goes around pretending that his "shark" is eating anyone or anything.

The hardest part about being Ty's mom is that he is too smart for my own good! Now, I'm not trying to be one of those moms who say, "my kids the smartest kid ever!", but he surprises me with the stuff that he remembers...he can remember that he left his hat at Grandma Utley's house on Christmas Eve, but can't remember that hitting his brother or sister gets him 3 minutes on the naughty step. Ty is a very observant kid...and along with that comes curiosity. There are innumerable questions throughout the day that are because he watches everything around him.

I love my Ty! I'm so happy that he's in my life! I love it when, after we've had a conflict of opinions, he tells me, "mommy, Ty so sorry you yelled. I love you." That's my kid! Next time you see him, ask him for a "thumbs up", he loves to give them (especially to the garbage men!)

Mommy look...I color!

This is a CLASSIC mom moment. The day is coming to an end. We have made it through dinner unscathed and are spending the rest of the evening upstairs. I look forward to 7:00 every evening...that means that I can start our bedtime routine:

• 7:00 p.m. : bath time-play time, wash time
  
• 7:35 (ish) p.m. : getting-dressed time-drying off x 3 kids, lotion x 3 kids, dressing x 3 kids = 25 minutes of time passes!
  
• 8:00 p.m. : BED TIME! The babies routine consists of laying them in their cribs, make sure the pacifiers are with them and blankets are on them...easy. Ty on the other hand can take some finessing...I lay with him, sing "I'm A Child Of God" about 4 times, and read him 1 book. On really good nights I'm "done & done" by 8:30 and on my way to...
  
• 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. : Stacey time...need i say more? Any mother knows ALL about this time of the day.

So, we were upstairs playing with toys and having fun; I was running around getting the bath going, setting out pajamas & diapers, making sure things were ready to go for bath time. I may have stopped by the computer to do some quick checking of the email...I must have left Ty alone a little to long because when I came into his room I found his lovely art work! What did I do about this? I did what every mom would do in this situation...

Me (somewhat elevated voice, slightly aggrevated): "Ty what did you do?"

Ty (totally innocently, excited that he "colored"): "Umm, Ty colored Trace."

Me (very motherly): "Oh, Trace, let me just get a quick picture or two & then I'll put you in the bath ."

...I took pictures so that I could blog about it later!!

2 peas in a...basket!

There are very few situations that I enjoy having twins. Most of the time I silently complain to myself that my life is just too stressful. But then there are times like this...when having twins is perfect for pictures like this. I love the expressions on their faces...there were about 6 people standing around trying desperately to get them to smile...all we got was this! I think the expressions says everything! I think this will be one of those pictures that will get pulled out when they are teenagers and totally into doing their own thing and they will say "mom, why did you do that to us?" My answer: have your own twins and maybe you'll understand.

EaSTeR eGG HuNt...

The Day after the PARTY, Grandma Utley had us over for a Easter Brunch and an egg hunt for all the cousins. TY had so much fun finding his own eggs (grandma utley wrote names on all the eggs so everyone had the same eggs.) Despite all 5 of us being exhausted from the night before, we had a good time (as we usually do with momma utley) hanging out with family! We love you, Grandma!!

THE PARTY OF ALL PARTIES!!

OK...so it wasn't the party of ALL parties but, WOW, what a blast!! We all had so much fun...at least I did...and we didn't even need any liquor! None of it could have been done without the help of many people. Thank you to Stacie and Lyn, Jenna, and Mom & Dad! Trace and Tori were a sticky mess after the eating of the cupcakes and Trace ate EVERY single bit of that cupcake! CUte Ty had so much fun playing with all his friends that night he CRASHED on the couch right before it all ended. Because there are so many pictures, I am going to attempt to run a slide show...hopefully it will work. Sorry to those who missed it, because it ws F-U-N!!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!!!!

...ThEn...

...NoW...!!!!

Two Down...One to go...

This week has been 1 crazy week...every night this week I have been busy doing something. Two major events that I had to deal with are now over (pampered chef party and YM/YW activity) I can now focus entirely on tomorrow...March 21, 2008. I've finally made it through one whole year of surviving twins! There will definitely be some pictures posted of the big event! Thanks to a great friend, here 's the invitation that was sent out to family and friends.

Ask me if I ready...I'm not...i did manage to finally locate beach pails with shovels and tiki torches thanks to this place. I think a strawberry-mango"rita" is in need of after all this...

better late than never...that's what I always say!

So about 2 months ago, we took a small family vacation to our favorite city...San Luis Obispo, CA! We had a great time visiting with Mike and Beth and their kids. Our days were filled with visiting the elephant seals (it was their mating time...very national geographic!), feeding the ducks, and visiting the beach (from our car.) And our nights were filled with lots of talking and laughing, our first taste of guitar hero, "just adults" dinners, and late night snacks! Thanks Mike and Beth for letting us come and visit! We gotta move there!

...so sick...

So I thought for sure we were clear of any more sicknesses for the season and then we were hit with a nasty cold/flu bug! This time it got all 3: Ty, Trace, and Tori. Trace got the worst of it, like usual. Trace went to see the doctor yesterday and we found out that he has a double ear infection, some sort of chest infection and if he didn't see the doctor soon, he may have ended up with pneumonia. Ty keeps telling me over and over all day long, "Mommy, Ty so sick, need medicine." He isn't that bad with the exception of a cough and a slight scare the other night of croup. But today is a new day and we are on our way to getting better. Here are some pictures that I took only because Trace always looks so sad when he gets sick. And of course there is Ty, hamming it up when there's a camera around...I just hope this is the last of our colds for the season!