Ryan's Birthday

Birthday number three came around very quickly, probably because Ryan was so excited to be four. Kevin was able to take the day off and we had fun playing together as a family. Ryan opened presents in the morning and was very surprised to get a new bike.

He got to talk to grandmas and grandpas and received a lot of phone calls from family. We asked him if he wanted to go somewhere with mom or dad but he decided he just wanted to stay home and play with his best bud Isaac. We ordered a pumpkin pizza for dinner and he was very excited to have green jello, baby carrots, and root beer. Ryan had requested a Toy Story cake with all the characters, but again mom convinced him to pick his favorite so he went with Buzz. Not my finest showing as far as cake decorating goes, but it served its purpose. He loved it and I guess that's what matters.

Some fun things about Ryan:

He likes to draw and often has some great stories behind his pictures. One time he showed me a picture with a big circle and lots of dots and explained to me that it was a spooky cave with scary bats.

He thinks the word "underwear" is hilarious and laughs whenever it is mentioned.

He loves Legos and is also very creative in coming up with new things, usually spaceships with special areas for the pilots to lay down and rest or prisons for the bad guys.

He is starting to recognize lettern patterns and can sound out basic words.

He still loves to wear hats.

He loves to play Candyland.

We love Ryan and are so proud to have him in our family. Hooray for four!

Pumpkins!

We went on our annual trip to the Big Red Barn in Santaquin to ride the tractor and go to the pumpkin patch. For some reason Zachary wasn't too sure about the tractor ride, but he loved the pumpkins. The boys had their pumpkins picked out very quickly and spent the rest of the time playing in the dirt and finding sticks to use as weapons. There was also a fun maze the kids went through. Somehow Zachary ended up going in by himself and got a little lost - not that it bothered him of course. Thanks to Grandpa Tams for finding the little adventurer. Overall it was a fun day!

On the tractor ride with cousin Isaac

Matthew and cousin Jackson

We also announced the arrival of our own little pumpkin that day. Zachary wore a shirt that said "Future Member of the Big Brother Club." It was funny to watch our family read the shirt and then do a double take when they finally realized what it meant.

Matthew's Birthday

October is such a fun and busy month for us because we have three birthdays to celebrate - Amy's, Matthew's, and Ryan's. We got to go to the Halloweenie for mom's birthday, so here is an overview of Matthew's. Woohoo!

Matthew had been waiting for his birthday forever (and I mean that literally). He was so excited when it finally came around. We had a fun weekend because he was out of school for Fall Break. We visited Grandma and Grandpa Tuft that morning where we opened some presents and had birthday cake. His first request was for an X-wing fighting a tie fighter with the Death Star exploding in the background, but I convinced him that one starship would be enough. So he settled for an X-wing.

After visiting the grandparents we came home and he went to spend some time with dad at the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. The other boys stayed home with me and we decorated the house and got his birthday dinner ready - chicken and rice casserole and pears. We finished off the night watching How to Train Your Dragon which the boys loved. I'd say he had a pretty good day.

Some fun things about Matthew:

He loves to read.

He loves to play with friends.

He likes to watch soccer and football games with his dad. He wants to play soccer for Real Salt Lake some day.

He loves Legos and can build some really cool things on his own.

Matthew is very helpful. When one of the boys wants something he has he will often willingly give it up or trade to make his brother happy.

The kid is fast! Freeze tag is one of his favorite games.

We sure love him and all he adds to our family. I can't believe he is six!

Halloweenie

*One of many October posts. Catch-up time once again!

Every year Kevin's aunts put on a great Halloween party on his grandpa's farm. They decorate the barn and the fields with all kinds of Halloween stuff. They set up fire pits to roast hot dogs and marshmallows (thus the name Halloweenie). We try to go when we can because the kids have so much fun, and this year certainly did not disappoint.

The boys looking at all of the decorations.

R2-D2!!


With Aunt Jeneile and Darth Vader

Kevin at the Dead End Cemetery

On the train cars

The tractor ride

Thanks so much to our aunts for putting on such a great event!

No Girls Allowed

Amy bought Ryan this "No Girls Allowed" shirt a few months ago because it just fit so well with his personality. Well today we found out that it was true. We are expecting boy #4 in March 2011. We are very excited and can't wait to welcome the new little guy to our family!

If you have name ideas, send us an email. Amy doesn't like any of the names that I have suggested.