Autism Walk

Last year we decided to do a walk for autism.  Our entire family jumped on board and we raised so much more then I ever expected.  It touched Joel and I more then we ever thought it would.  It was amazing and we are doing it again this year.  Our team won a plaque for raising so much money.  Tyson has been walking around the house all week excepting it.  He says a little speech, asks me to clap for him, and then takes a bow.  It is so cute.  Now I know we have to do what we can to get another plaque next year.  He is pretty proud!

Team Tyson & Charlie

Taking A Vote

I know it has been a REALLY long time since I blogged.  I have a lot to tell you all about.  I promise to get better this week!  Until then, Joel and I are having a debate.  Joel likes Charlie's hair long.  I think he looks like a rag-a-muffin with long hair.  I took some before and after pictures and we are asking you all to vote.  I promise there will be no hurt feelings either way.  I also want to say that I may also just do what I want whatever the vote comes to.  Here you go...

Before

After

Good thing he gave me the really cheezy smile for both pictures so you can just focus on the hair!

Winter Happenings

As most of you know, I am not a winter fan.  I hate being cold, having to bundle up the kids, and being cold!  But here are some fun things we did this winter that made it a little more bearable.

Basketball:  When we sign Tyson up for things we never know how it will go.  We have always lived by the philosophy that we will try it; if it goes bad we will move on, if he enjoys it, great!  He loves to watch basketball, but we weren't sure how that would translate into playing.  Well, yesterday was his last game and we would chalk it up to a great!  He loved it and improved so much from the beginning.  He actually has a pretty good shot.

His first made shot!!!

The celebration!

Ice Skating:  Both boys actually loved ice skating.  Tyson wanted to do it without the bar this year.  He did great.  Charlie goes all out.  He has no fear and mostly just moves his feet a hundred miles an hour while you drag him around.  But he loved it.

Building a Snowman:  Tyson and Joel built a snowman while Charlie and I stayed warm inside.  He had a blast!  And of course he was as proud as can be when he was done!

Now bring on SPRING!

Reading At Our House

So this is what reading has looked like at our house.  Mounds of handmade note cards.  I make note cards for everything and quiz Tyson nightly.  Hours and hours of quizzing.  After we do homework we read books.  As I read I will stop on a word and make him say it.  He always knows it.  He just absolutely refuses to start at the beginning of a sentence and read the whole thing.  Until last night!  Last night we sat down to read and I asked him to read it.  He started on the first word and read the ENTIRE sentence.  I started to turn the page and he stopped me.  I thought we were done.  Nope, HE wanted to turn it, so he did and read the ENTIRE page.  And then he turned it again and again and again until he read the ENTIRE story with the biggest smile on his face!  I sat there in amazement.  I was so proud of him.  I could tell he was so proud of himself too.  He works so hard and it is finally paying off.  He read an ENTIRE story to me.

Basketball Video

I got a new camera so I hope this works!  He is loving basketball as you can see!

Tyson Made the News

Tyson's teacher was nominated for Teacher of the Month.  The tv station that takes the nominations came to the school for interviews and it happened  to be the same day as their first grade program.   They taped a little of it while they were there.  If you watch the video Tyson is wearing a plaid shirt and during the dance is on the lower right side.  You can see how much fun he was having.  Also if you watch during the principal's interview Tyson gets in trouble in the background and has to leave the game.  Very funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJX542TGQ9M

February 8, 2011

This day was one of the most emotional days of my life so far.  It all started that Charlie turned 3!  I know I always say this, but really where has the time gone.  It feels like just yesterday I was carrying him around in his car seat, now he is 3!  And not only did he turn 3, he also started school.  The day I have been dreading for awhile now has come and gone.  To help ease the pain I had Tyson go with me to take him to his first day of preschool.  It helped so much until Tyson put his arm on Charlie's back and says, "Have a good day Charlie.  Be a good boy!"  Man those boys love each other.  I knew all along that it was going to be harder me than Charlie, but I didn't quite expect it to be that easy for Charlie.  He gave me a hug (only because his teachers told him to), looked at me, and waved and said, "Bye!"  That was it.  He was off having fun.

The afternoon didn't get any better.  Tyson had his first grade program.  It was seriously one of the cutest things I have ever seen.  It was a tribute to Kansas for Kansas' Birthday.  I walked in and they were line dancing with cowboy hats on.  There was Tyson, wearing a cowboy hat, dancing a line dance, and LOVING every second of it.  He looked like he even had some rhythm.  I knew he had a line to say and we had been practicing for what seemed like forever and it was his turn to go.  When he gets embarrassed these days he likes to just lie on the floor.  Anticipating that, his teacher had bribed him that he could fill the marble jar and they could have a party IF he did not lie on the floor.  He was trying with all his might to not lay on the floor, but would not say the line.  His teacher then came up to him and said that I would be so happy if he did it.  So he did.  Talking as fast as he could and then running as fast as he could back to his spot on the risers.  He did all the hand motions to all the songs and bopped his head up and down the whole time.  After every song he, and only he, would stand up and take a bow.  He was in heaven!  The last song up was to sing Happy Birthday to Kansas.  (remember it was Charlie's actual birthday)  The kids stand up to sing, Charlie starts to wonder off, I am trying to video the whole thing because Joel couldn't make it, I watch Charlie thinking he is going to stop and sit with some kids, he keeps going, I put the camera down to go after him, too late, Charlie was right in the middle of the first graders standing front and center smiling from ear to ear.  They did say to join them in singing Happy Birthday and it was his birthday!

I have no pictures and my video camera is so old school I don't know how to put them on here, so you just have to imagine it all.  Sorry for such a long post with no pictures, but I had to share.