Tylers First Loose Tooth

People always tell you not to compare your children.  But over the years I've done some thinking and finally have come to my own conclusion that I don't think comparing children is a bad thing at all.  I think its actually very character defining.  It doesn't, in any way, hurt to point out their uniqueness, what makes them special, what makes them stand out and be different.  That being said,  I couldn't help but compare my two oldest children tonight :)

Tyler lost his very first tooth.  And here's how it went down... we were eating dinner.  He mentioned that his tooth was feeling funny.  So I had a look.  And I excitedly pointed out that it only felt weird because it was loose!  Wahoo!  He was a little shocked when he realized I was right.  And he examined it himself.  Then he went right to work.  And within an hour had it pulled out all by himself.  That was that.  He was SO proud.

The differences between his reaction to this situation and Brynn's were so unforgettably different.  Brynn's happened more like this... http://keddyskorner.blogspot.com/2010/02/tooth-fairy.html
She let it dangle on and on for months, wouldn't let anyone near it, but couldn't stop being worried about it, and in the end she was pinned down and practically died when it was yanked out by force because we couldn't take it anymore.  

The differences... they make me smile.  They make life more interesting.  I love my children for their differences :)

Did I mention he was pretty proud?!

Texas and Grandma Wilson...

A few weeks ago PJ's dad called to let him know that his mom/PJ's grandma, who is 96 years old, had fallen and broken her hip.  And he was wondering if there was any way PJ and his brothers could join him to go see her.  Well, everything worked out and so the three boys joined their dad for a little trip to Texas this past weekend...

Jon, Grandma Wilson, Dallin, Preston, Travis

It was a three day weekend for the kids (they had Monday, Presidents Day off of school).  So the weekend was a little long for me ;) But PJ was really glad he was able to go; it was a good trip.  He also loved the time reconnecting with his Aunts and cousins...

Of course there was a lot of yummy food involved while they all sat around chatting.  Apparently the Mexican food was to die for.  But unfortunately they didn't get in on any of the crawfish action - I got a text telling me I was really missing out...

We missed having daddy around for a few days but it was worth it...

Gulf World... again :)

The awesome thing about our season passes to Gulf World Marine Park is that we get to take four friends for free the second weekend of every month (which is an amazing deal)!  This month we were excited to take Grandma, and Blair & Milli (our friends/neighbors) for the first time... 

Kate loves Blair... a lot.  She watches out our window for him and knows when he is home because she recognizes when his car is there and when its not.  She wanted nothing to do with us on this trip... she just wanted to hang with her buddy Blair...

Having been to Gulf World several times now we've obviously seen all the shows a number of times also.  But this time we noticed a few of the animals seemed to have a mind of their own.  During the dolphin and sea lion show they were very entertaining while disobediently playing keep away with their basketball from their trainers.  And during the reptile show the bearded dragon actually moved!...

Our Valentines Activities for 2013

The first two weeks of February is always the season of love for us.  Like always we started out the month with our Family Home Evening where we got out our Love Mailboxes and had the challenge to find ways to love and serve each other and leave notes about it until the holiday arrived.  Each year I notice that more and more people are getting involved (meaning mommy isn't the only one contributing).  And while it still isn't perfect we definitely got better this year and that was awesome.

My friend Ashley also threw a fun girls night party where we ate yummy food, played games where we got to know each other better, and we exchanged valentines.  Here are the girls I got to hang out with, the valentine I took, and the fun ones I came home with...

(Amy Pennington, Jamie Owens, ME, Annette Eccles, Cyndee Young, Ashley Christensen, Becky Kindle, Brenda Brock)

And here are the Valentines the kids made for their friends...

Brynn's

Tyler's

Dylan's

Kate's - no need to be too creative here... the girl LOVES fruit snacks and it seemed only right she share that love!

Mine - I volunteer each week in Brynn's classroom and so I took in my own to the kids :)

Brynn and Tyler for their teachers

 For playgroup this month, the first week we got together we spent having the kids play and decorate their own bags and boxes to collect Valentines in.  Then the next week (the week of Valentines) we had a Valentines party where they exchanged their Valentines....

For preschool I decided to start Dylan on math - and we learned using candy hearts... actually very effect...

 The night before Valentines we took Grandma out to dinner (she had to work on Valentines) and gave her her Valentine we made her...

For Christmas I had suggested a few gift ideas for PJ's co-workers, all of which he turned down.  Well I don't know those people.  So in the end I left him up to his own devices... which meant he didn't do anything for them for Christmas :{  Stinker.  Apparently I have to do everything around here... ;) So I sent him armed with goodies to make up for it this holiday...

 ... yes again with the brownie points theme but it was just working for me this year so I went with it.  And of course I couldn't just make a batch of brownies... go big or go home I like to say :) Don't do something if you aren't going to do it right!  So I had to make cookie dough brownies, strawberry brownies, Andes Mint brownies, chocolate peanut butter galore brownies, and then I got tired of making brownies (and ran out of pans) so there weren't even any plain old brownies.  But I think I got my point across... and hopefully helped Preston save face ;) 

And we spent a low key Valentines night at home where we ate dinner and played Valentines Bingo to win a few little prizes.  Love it when love is in the air :)