It was AWESOME!

I can't remember if I've mentioned on here how much you say "That will be awesome!" with such sincerity.  It can be for anything from Christmas and spending time with your family (which you love more than anything) to getting ketchup with your chicken nuggets.  But, the funny thing is, you mean it every time.

So, Christmas was awesome.  You were incredibly spoiled.  Not so much from mom and dad and even Santa (camping chair, Diesel train, water bottle, and a kids MP3 player) but from all your grandparents.

We made Santa some sugar cookies earlier in the day, since we didn't have any time later on.

You got a lot of Thomas the Train stuff at Grandma Colleens Christmas Eve afternoon with cousins.  Grandma Colleen also made you this amazing train that is pretty much a quiet book with snaps and zippers and cool compartments.  From there you got more cousin time (with a karaoke machine) at Cindy and Lon's.  Along with a delicious prime rib dinner, which you actually ate.

Christmas morning came and you were excited to see what Santa brought you.  I'm glad that you made that last minute request, because you loved your diesel train.  You also got a kick out the radio (mp3 player) that we gave you.  Not long after our little Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen showed up, and April.  We needed help at church since dad and I were putting on the program, so we invited them over for Christmas morning and church.  Not surprisingly you were incredibly spoiled by them.  A few Thomas the Train sets a Cars race track (which is still in the box -we're going to let you take that to their house on Thursday to play with it there).  You also got a few other cars and pj's from them.

You did pretty good at church and from there we went to Mimi and Papa's.  More cousins and presents.  Mimi and Papa are taking the whole family to California in February, so that was our main gift.  We opened a few presents from cousins and Mimi and Papa and then had to race to the Hardcastles.

More presents!  Your aunts and uncles gave you a memory game and Thomas dvd.  You also got Woody pajamas -which had to be put on immediately and worn the rest of the night.     Grandma and Grandpa got you a fun Car thing (lots of slides and an elevator) and clothes.  You had fun passing out everyone's gifts before we started.  From there we went over to Greg and Sally's -or as you refer to it as, Paige and Nacole's house.  You were very excited to go over there.  One more delicious dinner and a personalized quiet book from Great Grandma Hardcastle.  We slept over at the Hardcastles so the fun continued on Monday.  It was a long hectic weekend, which you absolutely loved every minute of it.  It was nice to finally get home (and clean up the tornado that we left for ourselves after Christmas morning).

I just have to say, I think people love giving you gifts because I have never seen a more genuine and grateful kid when you open presents.  I'm so proud of you that you make sure you say thank you and most of the time give the people hugs right after you open something.  It's so nice to see the innocence that comes along with being a kid.  We had a great Christmas weekend and you were a big reason for it.  

Last minute

I have one of these stories about a playskool shopping cart, so I thought I should write this down for posterity.

This week you started telling us (at least a few times a day) that you are so excited for Santa Clause and that he was going to bring you a diesel train.  You neglected to tell this to Santa up until this point.  In fact, you kind of just let Santa bring you whatever he knew you would like.  Dad and I talked it over, and since it didn't seem to be going away, I decided to do something about it.

Everyone knows the only place you can get a last minute request to Santa is Toys R Us (they have a direct line for him there).  I braced myself for a crazy parking lot, crazier store, and LONG lines.  I've heard the stories from moms and dads that have had similar experiences.

But to my surprise I parked right in front (it was a very full parking lot), got right to the area I needed to be in, and didn't even have to wait in any line to get out of the store (I stopped to get a few things in the babies r us section that we needed as well).  So, for at least this year, it seems like your last minute request will be honored.  It was actually harder to go grocery shopping at Target yesterday.

3rd year stats

We went to see Dr. Cox on Friday for your well child check up.  You have really don't so much better at the doctor's office lately.  Probably getting a bit more mature and bit more time between your two ER visits and now had helped quite a bit.  In fact, I took both of you in a week earlier (by myself) to get your flu shots -and you did AWESOME!  You wanted to cry, but a sucker and a big distraction about how big and strong and brave you were seemed to change your mind.  I was so proud!  (And a little surprised).

So, this visit was pain-free. You weighed 36 pounds (85th percentile) and are 38 1/4 inches tall (68th percentile).  At home you're closer to 33 or 34 pounds -but don't worry, that scale always does the same thing to me!

We got a new prescription for the eczema ointment for you and Kate (winter is petty hard and both of you with your skin) and talked about sleeping.  Or you lack of.  Actually, you sleep well -once you're asleep.  A few months ago you started coming out of your room.  A lot.  Sometimes it takes and hour and a half or even two hours for you to actually stay in your room and fall asleep.  It's been a rough little while.  It's frustrating for everyone.  I started dreading night time -and so did you- and I know that you're missing out on sleep that you really need.  Naps are only happening about 50% of the time, so when you don't go to bed for until 9 or later, it really doesn't give you enough hours in the day.  So, we talked about Melatonin as a supplement.  Dr. Cox likes it and has kids take it often.  Tonight was your second night taking it.  Tonight you did awesome, yesterday was so-so.  We'll see what happens in the long run.  I hope for all of our sakes we can get a better bedtime routine going for you.

You have seemed to grow up a bit in the last little while. I no longer have to worry about taking a change of clothes when we go out, you haven't had an toileting accident for months.  You are still SUPER energetic, but have really started doing more imaginative play and being a bit more mellow when you're by yourself.  You come up with interesting and funny things to say a lot more, and you're a very caring brother.  Not all of the time, but more often than not.  I'm excited for you to move up to the Sunbeam class in a few weeks.  Our Sunbeam teacher is nothing short of amazing -Sister Debbie.  She loves the kids so much and puts so much time and effort into each of her lessons, handouts and little gifts she gives the kids.  I'm sure you'll learn to love her.

You think everyday is your birthday, or Kate's birthday, or even Grandpa Lafeen's birthday.  I suppose when you celebrate this many birthdays in such a short amount of time, it does get a little confusing.  I've had to not put out the wrapped Christmas presents under the tree this year, since you're convinced they are all your birthday present.  Poor Uncle Matt is going to be in for a surprise when he opens his Christmas gift and find that it's been opened once or twice.  With scissors even.

You're getting excited for Christmas and ask every day if tomorrow is Christmas.  We're going to start a new tradition tomorrow with the Elf on the Shelf.  I hope you have fun looking for the elf for the next 2 weeks.  I decided we'd start hiding him after Kate's birthday each year.  It will be a fun holiday, spending a lot of time with your family. who you love and love being around.  It's a good thing there are so many of them!

All tuckered out

Guess who had a ton of fun at Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen's?

The birthDAY

I was a little worried that we'd had two birthday parties and not our actual birthday, that you'd be a little confused.  You didn't seem to mind opening a couple more presents.  You are too young to ask for anything -and you have enough family to spoil you, that birthday's from mom and dad are a little mild.  I got you your own flashlight (an emergency, no battery flashlight) and some toy tools, which you seemed to like.

 I tried to have a fun day for you -we went to the aquarium and the park before lunch, and that night we decided to take you on a train ride -which is always exciting.  This was a long one, and you got a little bored after a while, but we rode TRAX downtown.  We were going to get off at the gateway, but decided to get off near the temple and city creek.  The food court at city creek was a little different than we expected, but McDonalds (for you) and A Taste of Red Iguana (for dad and I) were still open, so it was a success.  We walked over the temple for a bit and got back on the train and headed home.  I think you had a fun day.  You told us last night you still wanted to be two, but this morning I think you've decided that being three is okay.

Your party at the Hardcastles.  I made oreo cookie cupcakes.   

 Your new solomon shoes.  They make you go at least 15% faster. We all hope uncle Gordon keeps his job forever!

 Playing with your new camera.

He's baaaaaaaack

I'm not sure why I did it, I think I was just curious. I didn't actually get rid of ALL the buddy's when we had to break you of sucking on his nose (by taking him away completely). I found one in the top of a rarely used cupboard a week or two ago and gave him to you. I asked who this was. You said an elephant. I told you that his name was Buddy. It almost looked like you remembered him when you took him from me. For a couple of nights you said you needed 'teddy' when you went to bed -which was a mystery to me, until you went and found him yourself. I reminded you his name was Buddy. He's back to being your sleeping friend, or Buddy. Which is fine by me. You were so young to have to take away your security item -but we just couldn't have you suck on his nose anymore! So far he hasn't gone in your mouth, just in your bed.

Birthday Conversation Age 3

What is your favorite color?  RED

What is your favorite toy? JAMES (THE TRAIN) [I WOULD SAY ALL YOUR TRAINS AND MOST THINGS WITH WHEELS

What is your favorite fruit? ORANGES [I THINK YOU PREFER BANANA’S]

What is your favorite tv show? THOMAS THE TRAIN

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? CHICKEN NUGGETS

What is your favorite outfit? THOMAS THE TRAIN SHIRT

What is your favorite game? MONKEY (YOU WERE PLAYING A MONKEY GAME ON THE Iphone)

What is your favorite snack? PIZZA’S AND BANANA’S

What is your favorite animal? MONKEY (STILL PLAYING THE MONKEY GAME) [YOU LIKE THE STINGRAYS AT THE AQUARIUM AND THE ELEPHANTS AT THE ZOO)

What is your favorite song? ABCDEFG

What is your favorite book? I DON’T KNOW.  [CURRENTLY IT’S YOUR ‘SPECIAL BOOK’ WHICH IS “THERE IS A MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK” READ TO YOU ON THE IPAD]

Who is your best friend? THOMAS IS MY FRIEND.  THOMAS AND PERCY AND EMILY. (YOU WERE PLAYING TRAINS WHEN I ASKED) [YOU STILL LOVE LAILA, BUT PROBABLY PLAY WITH ELIJAH AND NOAH MORE OFTEN]

What is your favorite cereal? FRUIT LOOPS

What is your favorite thing to do outside? I LIKE TO PLAY OUT THERE

What is your favorite drink? I DRINK APPLE JUICE [I THINK IT’S CHOCOLATE MILK, YOU ACTUALLY HARDLY EVER HAVE APPLE JUICE, I’M NOT SURE YOU SAID THAT]

What is your favorite holiday? I NEED A CHRISTMAS TREE FIRST

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? BUDDY [YES, HE’S SORT OF BACK]

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? CEREAL [AND PANCAKES AND SYRUP]

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? A CAKE

What do you want to be when you grow up? I DON’T KNOW [I ASKED A BUNCH OF TIMES AND COULDN’T GET AN ANSWER]

What did you used to do when you were little? UMMM… CRAWL  AROUND AND BE LITTLE

Say Cheese!

Grandma Hardcastle gave you a camera for your birthday.  You love it.  I'm sure this won't be the last post of Hyrum pictures.

 Trying to wait (patiently) for Matt to get it working.

 You take really quick pictures.  

Grandpa posing for the camera.  

Your new shoes.  You can run at least 15% faster. 

Hopefully you can get a little more accurate with some practice!

Happy Birthday Party (and cake)

Birthday Party #1 with the Lafeen's and Gough's.  You got spoiled with all things train and wheels.  And you loved it. Lucky for us you also got a few clothes too.

 Here is your cake -a labor of love.  You seemed to like it.

Two little things to remember.  Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen were the first to arrive.  When you opened the door you immediately asked for your balloons.

And second, you were playing with Grandpa Lafeen later in the evening and Mimi happened to be right next to you.  You turned to Mimi and asked if Grandpa could stay over at your house.  Pretty funny for everyone that heard it.