ROCKY

I didn't watch a lot of movies when I was young.  We didn't always have a theater in our small town, we didn't have cable, and we didn't have a VCR until I was older, so when people talk about the movies of the 80's I am usually pretty clueless, but one of the movies that we did see was Rocky.  I remember watching each one of them as they aired on TV;  I even saw the last one in the theater.  I love Rocky, I remember doing sit-ups from our bunk beds for training after watching them.  I decided this year to buy the set so my kids could see them.  Emily did not like the first one at all and could not figure out why I liked such a terrible movie, but we have now watched the first three and they are liking them.  How do I know they are liking them?  Tyson and Justin were boxing last night with mittens on their hands, and when I got on the internet this morning it was on E-bay with a search for boxing gloves.  I might be in trouble!!!

Tyson got "Jimmered"

Tyson had the opportunity to go to the BYU vs TCU game last week with the Hardy boys.  Ellen has a cousin that plays on the team, so he arranged for them to meet Jimmer Fredette and get his autograph.  This was a big deal because he has become so popular that he really can't stay out and sign autographs or he will never have time to himself.  They were the only ones that day to get his autograph.  Ellen has pictures of stuff getting signed, but I haven't gotten them from her.  Here is a picture of Tyson with his signed Jersey.

an up close of the signature

The famous Jersey

Valentines

Our Valentines day this year was super busy, I normally make the kids and Jeff a fun fancy dinner, but we had a tennis match, piano lesson, basketball practice, and a basketball game all after school, so we had our special dinner on Sunday.  I surprised everyone with crepes with strawberries and fresh whipping cream in the morning.  My kids love crepes!  I don't have any pictures, but I do have a picture of our entryway table.  I love Valentines day even if my husband doesn't believe in it.

Abigail and her Doll

Each year for Christmas we pick names and make a "gift from the heart" for a family member.  This year Ryan had Abigail and wanted to make her and her doll matching clothes.  He did a great job making Abigail's skirt, I had to help quite a bit more on the dolls dress.  Abigail loves them and always makes sure her doll has her dress on when she wears her skirt.

If you look close you will notice they even have matching bows.

Boy Do I Love This Man!

It is not very often I write about the most incredible man in my life, but with the month of February, and love in the air, I have just been thinking about how wonderful my life has been since I met my husband.  A few years ago when Ice Age 2 came out Jeff took the kids to it.  Tyson came home and said, "Mom, you and Dad are like the woolly mammoths in that movie, Dad's loads of fun and you are no fun at all, he completes you."  I don't know if Tyson has the dynamics right, I would say I am the fun one, but Jeff definitely completes me.

He will do anything to help me or our family.

Just yesterday I had to take Tyson to a UIL competition.  I was planning on just dropping him off, but I ended up having to stay and wait for him.  I was dreading coming home and getting the house picked up before I had to run another child somewhere.  When I got home Jeff had cleaned up the entire house!  I hadn't even asked. I am thankful for the many blessings in my life, and one of my greatest is my husband Jeff.

Ryan's Recovery

Ryan had to get his tonsils out last Thursday.  He has had strep throat 5 times in six months; he actually had it four times in three months.  I took him to the Surgi-center at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday.  It doesn't sound that early, but when you have to take into consideration travel time and getting everybody's lunches made and kids dressed before hand, it was early!  Jeff had to go out of town that day, but his flight left late enough that he could take the kids to school before he left!  Ryan got to go in his pajamas and he was very excited about that.  They gave him some Valium before they took him back which was a very good thing for him.  He was extremely loopy by the time they came to take him he just waved goodbye and went with them.  While we were waiting he kept talking very loud, and he even made up a story of nonsense words which is really not like Ryan.  He came out of the operation well.  When he was waking up I got to sit in a recliner and hold him.  Ryan is not one to cuddle, so I really enjoyed holding him for an hour before he was awake enough to realize what was going on.  By the time he was ready to go home he had kicked me out of the chair all together so he could sit by himself.

Ryan recovered well.  He had a few moments of unhappiness, but for the most part he was "tough" through it all.  He is still suppose to eat soft foods until Thursday, but his appetite is back.  I haven't weighed him, but it seems like he lost a bit of weight last week from lack of eating.

Here is a picture of Ryan with his stuffed squirrel that they gave him at the surgi-center.  He insisted on sleeping with it every night the first week.

Here is a picture of Ryan and Abigail "resting" together.  Through this all I still didn't ever get Ryan to take a nap other than the first day.

Christmas Program

Ryan and Abigail were both in a Christmas program at their school.  Ryan's class acted out the nativity.  They chose Ryan to be the Angel Gabriel.  He was not excited about this since he thought angels were only girls.  Ryan ended up with strep the Tuesday before the program.  While he was at the doctors office he told the doctor he was hoping he could get better by Thursday so he wouldn't miss his Christmas program.  She asked him about the program and he told her he had to be an angel and was not happy about it.  She asked him what he wanted to be and he said a shepherd or wise man.  Trying to help she suggested he could be a wise man angel.  Ryan looked at her and said, "This is a true story we are doing not a made up one!"  The doctor just laughed.  We love Ryan and all of the things he says.  Our old home teacher asked me if we were writing a book of his comments, I said no, but I really should write more of them down because I do forget a lot.

Ryan was better by Thursday and him and Abigail both performed wonderfully in their programs.  Ryan was a great Angel, and Abigail was the most animated while singing "Away in a Manger".  Here are a few pictures of them. 

He makes a wonderful Angel, but I agree with Ryan they could have made him look a little more masculine!

Abigail getting ready to perform

Ryan with the rest of his class