Taking a Ride With A Champion

For Lydia and Tyler's birthday present, I arranged for them to have a horseback riding lesson.  Carly, a girl from our old ward is quite the horsewoman and Champion, her horse, is an gentle as can be.  Lydia had a blast!

 Tyler was looking forward to it until we actually got there and he saw how big the horse was.  He wanted to quit and go home after just watching Lydia, but I was firm with him.  He needed to at least sit on the horse to try to conquer his fear.

 Champion was sweet and well behaved and Carly was amazing.  So patient, yet coaxing.  Just what Tyler needed.  They started with Champion just standing there.  Then moving in a very slow walk with breaks. 

 Then regular walking.  See that smile??  Yay, Tyler!!

 One more time for Lydia.

 Thank you SO much Carly and Champion!  It was a wonderful day and you helped Tyler overcome a fear!

A Date With Just Tyler

When I was a kid, my parents had a tradition to take each 8-year-old birthday kid on a day date, just the 3 of us.  We decided to carry on this tradition with our children.

Tyler choose to go to the Aquarium and then to eat crab legs at Red Lobster (funny kid).

He thoroughly enjoyed his visit as he asked question after question to the Aquarium workers.  (We learned that Piranhas are more scared of us than we are of them and will swim away in fear if we splash in the water).

 He did not like the 4D part of the 4D turtle movie.

He did like petting the stingrays.

We had a good day. :-)

Happy 8th Birthday, Tyler!

Tyler is 8!  He is such a good kid.  He is thoughtful and sensitive.  He loves his family, his blankets and stuffed animals (and real animals), rocks, science, legos, Star Wars, Italy, and being read to.  Though still very cautious, he is getting braver and braver as he grows.  Tyler loves to come home from school and go play in the backyard with our over-the-fence neighbors, Austin and Benson or go next door and chat with the Toblers or Worker Man and Worker Lady.  He loves it when an adult will take the time to just listen and chat with him as he has so many smart ideas and things going on in his mind.  He takes church and the things he learns there very seriously.  He adores his Primary teachers and they tend to adore him right back. 

This is a big deal birthday and we have a fun-filled week planned.  Starting with today - Tyler's actual birthday.  He wanted to go swimming at the Aquatic Center and so we did!  

Tyler was excited to see Kathryn's reaction as it was her first time in a swimming pool.  She did not disappoint!  

Later in the day we all gathered over at Grandma and Opa's backyard for cake, sorbets, and presents.

He sure loves his Rescuebots.

Little Sister, just hanging out. 

 Until someone :: cough cough, Grandma Joyce :: decided to share their lemon sorbet with her.

 Tyler is really into Star Wars now, so look at the cake his awesome dad made him.  I wouldn't even know how to make black or gray frosting.  And Tyler really only wanted the rice crispy part (with cake for everyone else), so Tyson did a great job!

 Okay, quit feeding the baby lemon flavor.

 He was a happy birthday boy, with much more to look forward to in the days ahead...

 Eating the Death Star.

Happy 5th Birthday, Lydia!

This picture pretty much sums it all.  Look at those happy, grateful eyes!  Everybody needs a Lydia.

Lydia is such a joyful kid!  She loves princesses (Frozen's Queen Elsa, in particular), being read to, dancing, singing, playing in the backyard with her brother and her backyard neighbors, Austin and Benson.  She loves her baby sister, snuggling and watching videos with her parents, coloring, ballet, her grandparents, her cat, her primary class at church, and every single teacher or leader she has every had.

She is our sunshine!

This year we had planned on a friend's birthday party, but due to unemployment, we had to scale back.  Lydia was very understanding and happy to have a princess (and prince Dada) party at her Grandma's house.  

Well, it just so happened that I know Queen Elsa and was able to trade some photography skills for a visit to a special little girl's birthday for some one on one time.  Boy was she surprised!

 After lunch and a story, Lydia took Queen Elsa for a walk and a chat.

And to the park to fly a kite.

 With some help from Dada.

 We're so grateful that Elsa could come to Lydia's birthday party.  It made her day one she will never forget!

That evening, we continued the festivities at our home.

 Pretty princess sister, solemnly observing.

 Cap off the day with Lydia's first bike - a princess bike, of course.  She got the hang of it pretty fast!

 She even decorated her own cake.

Happy Birthday, sweet Lydia.  We love you!