Happy Birthday Linsey!

Hey guys,

So Linsey doesn't know that I'm posting this right now. Yesterday was her birthday, and it wasn't the best day ever. Truth is, this year hasn't been the best ever. So, I thought I'd blog about my wife and what an amazing woman she has been, putting up with everything that has been going on and sacrificing so much this year. As many of you know, I'm in grad school. This year I was assigned an practicum in Tucson. Two days a week Linsey is a single parent while I'm off working. Then in March I was in the Mesa Easter Pageant. So, for the whole month she had to care for the kids alone... most of that time Bo was sick with who knows what. Even the doctors couldn't give us a straight answer. She pushed through, while teaching voice on top of it all. I don't know if I can (or how appropriate it is to) express my love for her and my appreciation for her support during this year. She is indeed the reason why I'm where I'm at today, and why I continue to push forward. She is my inspiration and motivation.
I love you Linsey! My life is blessed because you said "yes."
Here's to happier Birthdays, and a lifetime to enjoy,
Tyler

Look at this guy, I mean LOOK AT THIS HAIR! Can you see why I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that it was just TIME to cut it off, and give him a summer cut??? I should have taken another before picture of the back of his hair with all the curls and waves. I love that he looks like his daddy, Ty's hair is really long and wavy/curly right now too... BUT it looks great UNTIL Cole Man starts playing and gets all sweaty. It just sticks to him and looks really yucky. SOOOO, I called up Stacey and said, "its time... we gotta do it quick while I am strong, cause I may chicken out!" Auntie Stacey cut Cole's hair the next day...


THE PROCESS.... he had A LOT of hair to cut! Here he is as an 80's rocker!


Here is the finished product. HOW CUTE IS HE!? As much as I LOVE his long hair, this is so dang cute, and it makes me tempted to keep it this way always. Or maybe we'll just have a summer haircut, and a "winter" haircut. He was so cute when he saw himself too, he looked in the mirror and said, " I like my hair!" with a huge smile on his face.

I have really been trying to take advantage of our awesome Arizona weather lately, and have been doing a lot more stuff out doors lately. Its been so fun to spend good quality time with the boys. This day, we went to the Scottsdale train park with my good friend Jayne and her grandkids and my sister in law Stacey and neice Navi.


I love these fountain things and so does Cole. Bummer that this picture is so blury. I think we'll be doing a lot of fountain visits this hot summer comin' up... there is one right in front of my new favorite frozen yogurt place Mojo at Tempe Marketplace. This one is in Gilbert right in front of Hale Theater.


Ok so this picture gives away my next post, cutting Cole's hair... but here is a pic of him at the park. We had so much fun and met up with my new friend Rachel and her kids. I love a good picnic and day at the park! And Cole loves pizza as you can tell!!!


Bo enjoyed our day at the park too! Took a great nap. What a guy!

COLE AND BOWEN

Ah, the boys. I wish I could put in to words the way I feel about these boys of ours. When I was pregnant with Bowen, I remember thinking that Cole's whole world was going to be completely turned upside down, and that he was really in for a rude awakening. It was not that way AT ALL. I realize now that a lot of his ability to adjust so smoothly to a brother was due to his age, (he was 3 when Bo was born). They are just best buds. Its so fun to see how Cole wants to include Bo in the things he likes to do, of course things that Bo is just too little to do. In turn its so fun to see Bo light up when Cole is around, and so fun to see how much he looks up to his big brother. For a while I was feeling like maybe we should have tried to have them closer together. But ya know, I think it worked out just right!

Lets Rock-N-Roll with COLE! He turned 4!

Cole Man turned 4 last Saturday. He wanted a "rock n roll" party. Uncle Travis set up Rock Band at Grandma Dars house, Ty made a guitar cake, we hit a guitar pinata, and had little blow up guitars for party favors. What a fun day! I can't believe our baby boy is FOUR YEARS OLD!






This is Cole's cousin Navi. Isn't she adorable!


I knew that the party would consist of most of Cole Man's friends playing outside, while he rocked out! That's exactly what happened. Here he is totally zoned....


My mom was cleaning out over at Grandpa DeWitts and found this guitar guy she had made years ago for my uncle. She brought it to Cole to add to his collection of guitar stuff for his room. How cute that they kinda look alike! I think I may paint his outfit red to match Cole's room better.

Some "Cole-isms"....
*yesterday I asked Cole to do something, can't even remember what, to pick something up or something like that. He stopped in his tracks, looked at me and said, "what in the world! Do you wanna go to time out?" Cole trying to send mommy to time out. Gotta love that kid.

*Grandma Dar was babysitting Cole the other day and they were counting money. She was explaining how much different coins were worth, and picked up a penny and said, "This is worth one cent. Its called a penny", he said, "No grandma its a ONE-Y".


We love you so much Cole Man. You have brought so much joy to mommy and daddy. We love watching you discover new things and learn new words. You are such a sweet boy with so much spirit and energy. We are so glad you came to live with us! Here's to many more wonderful rockin' birthdays!
Love, Mommy and Daddy.

MY TY TY

Ok so here is a picture of me and my man, Ty. THE MOST AMAZING HUSBAND AND FATHER EVER. DONE. Ok, well I can't be done there. Let me just pay a little tribute to this guy. First off, he is in his 2nd year of graduate school studying Psychology. He LOVES his field of study and is so looking forward to being a "shrink" someday. (as am I, because I need therepy often...) So for anyone who has been through grad school, AND had kids, you know that it can be very stressful. This week, he has probably gotten less than ten hours of sleep total due to writing papers and school projects and stuff. BUT let me just say that he is STILL SO helpful to me and with the boys. Always making sure that I am ok, and that I get time to myself etc. We knew this would be hard, I am not sure that either of us had any idea how hard, BUT I can say that we are doing it, and we are still in love and enjoying this crazy journey.

"Frugal is the new BLACK!"

My new favorite saying is, "FRUGAL IS THE NEW BLACK!" I am now officially a "Couponing Mom". I was inspired by my good friends Courtney and Adelle. I cut coupons, do the CVS and Wallgreens thing, and have saved a TON of money the last month while doing so. I am not buying it unless its on sale and I have a coupon for it. Ok well it at least has to be on sale. We have cut way back on eating out, and if we have, its been with a coupon. It is almost addicting! Here's to saving money!