Dear Tyler, You're 5 years old!

Hi my chico lindo cutie tico Tyler tico T. Your'e 5! Do you know that I didn't want you to start Kindergarten? You didn't want to start and I didn't want you to start, yet somehow we decided that you're smart and can hang with the big kids since that's sorta what you do for a living already, hang out with your big brothers as the little guy who can almost climb as high, can almost jump as high, and who can definitely wrestle daddy as much if not more. You are sweet and still like to sleep with your blankets. You used to like the white one, but since the tags have moved on with their lives, you like the monkey one and the elephant ones more. The elephant one is your favorite. You like your Curious George monkey and still sleep with a sippy cup of water.
You growl and hiss at Julia to play fight and although she usually plays along, you don't like to quit when she gets scared or screams. She does scream a lot, but you are having a hard time being a protective big brother. You sure do help her and console her when we're not watching, but for show, you two push one another's buttons and are not quick to listen the first time.
For school lunch, you like to take your lunch and like a pre-sliced apple in the apple coosie, a cream cheese and jelly sandwich, and other lunch snacks. 

You like play tattoos and can put them on yourself. 

I cut your hair before your birthday. It was making you hot. You can write your first and last names. You are well behaved in class and like your teacher, Mrs. Winston. She was Dylan's teacher last year. 

You are cute. You are sweet and smart and have very good questions. You think things out. 
 ffp blog.

I posted the photos on my

I love you, my baby boy. 

Love, 

Mom
 

@kattilby he had a happy lunch but got sad when he realized how long he still had left of school. It made him tired and he didn't want to play outside for recess. He just sat there and put his head down. I went over and looked at him and he didn't budge. Sleepy boy would have fallen asleep on the way home. I texted Steven if I should bring our little man home with me but he said "probably not." So I left him. He had a good rest of the day. 

Julia is better

She us not tip top, but no more fever! 

I took her to Dylan's field trip. He and his friends matched! 

Julia was the center of attention to the girls there! 

Dylan's school birthday on Don's birthday

I took Tyler to Karlie's house for his second day of preschool. It was Letter B day. He was a little apprehensive but was also excited. 

He took an apple. We were tardy because I thought I had to be completely ready for the day. So there is no photo of it. 

Julia and I went to Publix to get a cookie cake and a couple of things.

Then we rushed to Chick-fil-A. I called ahead to order lunch since I was in a hurry. But they were still serving breakfast. Oops! I called the school to see when lunch was and I was like an hour off. So... Julia and I hung out until lunch food time

and got to school in time to unload and sign in. 

We took food to Isaac too. 

His lunch overlaps with his cousin Raphael's lunch. 

Dylan's turn! 

His friends Erden and Michael. 

I took lunch to the teachers too. Here is Ms. Demming. 

Both 3rd grade classes got some cookie cake but the girls liked the baby best. 

Because I was off on lunch time, Don picked Tyler up from preschool like he had the first week. They came to the school! It was Don's real birthday so we gave him one of his presents. I had gotten him a smoothie since he had a dental appointment in the morning. 

We re-visited the boys. Surprise! 

We went to his house then to Burlington Coat Factory to get him a new jacket for his birthday. 

Isaac the Phoenix Award Winner

Yay Isaac! 

You won this month's Phoenix Award from the principal.

Once a month one deserving student from each grade is chosen to be recognized in front of the school. You were chosen last year too. Steven checked his email luckily this morning to let me know we could go in for it. Good timing because I usually have to rush home to get Clara but she came early. 

This is what your teacher wrote. 

I wanted to let you know that I have chosen Issac as our Phoenix award winner this month.  It is a well deserved award as Issac always tries his very best.

The ceremony is this morning during announcements.  I am so sorry this is such late notice but I have been sick this week and I forgot. Please let me know is you can't make it and I will capture the moment for you:)

Thank you,

Mrs. Mazzei

We had a conference with her for the last grading period. She said you can start out each week with the harder spelling list because you need more of a challenge. She said you are not adraid to raise your hand and pay attention so you can answer her questions. You had a couple of red disruption remarks with the good green ones a couple of weeks in a row but now they are all 100% positive. You are a smart good kiddo. I love you my Isaac. 

Dear Dylan, You're 8-1/2 years old!

Dear Dylan,
You're 8-1/2 years old.

This week, you are the Star Of The Week in Ms. Deming's 3rd grade class!

This means you have a little extra work to do but you LOVE it. You got to decorate and fill out a poster all about yourself. I only helped with the photos.

Which reminds me, ever since Kindergarten, you have loved to color. For your 7th birthday here, you got a sketch pad and LOVED it as you can see from this photo!

There are a lot of things that have not changed over the years. You worry other parents with your climbing and jumping skills. You jump off of high things, are fearless even with roller coasters, and have been an excellent climber. One time for homework, you wrote a "How-To" on how to climb a tree the right way. I remember it included first removing your shoes in the instructions so you could grip better. You climb like a monkey but land on your feet like a cat. 

You love sports. You have many sports that you like and we will try more I'm sure. Your dad coaches your baseball team when it's in season. You can be crazy silly in the dugout but are focused and are one of the few who gets to pitch for your team. You started when you were so small! 

When we went to the beach with your Grandpa Gille, I asked what the best part of the day was and you said it was when the two of you were playing catch out in the water. You have been moving up through your Tae Kwon Do belts since you were 5 and always pass each stage with flying colors. You memorize the basic motions easily. Your favorite sport now is soccer. You play it any chance you get. If we're going to a pool party, you ask if you can bring your soccer ball. If we're going to the park, you ask if you can bring your soccer ball. You took your soccer ball to school until you finally bought one for Coach D and another friend donated one to your class. You are on a team now and run your little heart out! On your first game last Friday, you scored a hat trick which means you scored 3 goals!

That day you played at recess, in PE, in your game, then were ready to play with your friends after Isaac's game still! Here is a photo of you from your first soccer team, the Rams.

You love to swim and have been swimming since you were two. 

 You made the decision to follow Jesus' example and got baptized into our church on your 8th birthday. You pray and read your scriptures and consistently choose the right instead of making bad decisions. 

You are a good big brother. You have been since you were almost two and your little brother Isaac was born. 

You still help him along with your other brother Tyler. 

And I can tell you have a strong sense of duty to helping your baby sister Julia. When she is fussy, you are quick to figure out how to hold her, even when that means that she slobbers on your arm or down your back - yuck!

You used to like superheroes. You loved Spiderman the most.

You and Isaac shared a superhero birthday party!

But now you are into other things like Legos,

learning about rocks and gemstones, and like playing with your good friends!

Dylan, you aim to please. You are quick to say sorry and really mean it if you make a mistake. You are a good friend and include everyone who would like to join you. You are so cute! You care about your hair now and grew it out over the summer. You have your own opinions but understand when they differ from mine and when you have to sacrifice. You would love your own room but when I explained why it's good to learn how to have a room mate now, you have not asked since. I like how you know how to listen the first time I say something. You do not give me resistance in doing homework even when your brother is finished and gets to play. You like being organized. You like the beach. You like going and doing fun things but also enjoy staying in, eating pizza, and having a family movie night. You write your own talks when you give speeches in church. You are giving one in church this Sunday! You take the initiative to create. You create forts in the living room with your brothers and with your friends. You create wall art for your desk area. You created space on shelves for your treasures. You would love to create things outside and are eager to learn new things, like how to crack open a coconut. I love that I can always count on you. Even when you would rather do something else, you will help me, will share with your siblings, will scrub the dishes, will clean your room, etc. Yay for being a star student, it got me to write your half birthday letter a month late.

I appreciate and love you my Dylan.
Love, Mom