Tyler turns 14!

Tyler is 14.  He kinda had a bummer of a birthday as he was sick the entire weekend.  He said he wanted a crab boil for his birthday and cheesecake.  We were all ready on his birthday, but he said he just didn't feel good enough.  So, we put it off a day.  But, on March 16th we had a crab boil and cheesecake.  His main gifts was that he is going to go to an Imagine Dragon's concert this summer.  He is really excited about that.  He also liked a guitar book from Mammy and Grandpop and a CD from them that shows off horns.  He plays the french horn and always likes to listen for it in music so it's a fun CD to listen to.  He is really a pretty sweet kid.  We are blessed to have him in our family.  Just can't believe how fast they are ALL growing up!

14 yrs old with a photo bomber in the background.  

Trey will never be the same AGAIN

I will be the first to admit I HATE when kids start to lose their teeth.  I feel like it is the beginning of the end.  Meaning, they just start growing so fast, not to mention when the big teeth grow in they look kinda silly for a while.  But, everyone has to go through it.  It is Trey's turn.

Front tooth GONE--down the drain

Shortly after pulling his tooth out he sat down in the kitchen crying.  I asked him why and he said while he was trying to make it shiny he dropped it down the drain.  I assured him that if we wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy she could find it in the drain.  We wrote her a note and she left him some money.  She left it at the wrong drain though.  LOL.  When I asked Trey if he liked having a missing tooth he said, "No, because I look different."  He is pretty handsome still, but it did take a couple days to get use to.

Twin Day

Tyler and Trey...twin day.

Last month during Family Home Evening we were going around the room talking about the activities we had for the week.  Trey said that the following day was twin day at his school, but no one wanted to be his twin.  He said he didn't really care.  Then Tyler said, "I'll be your twin."  Trey's face lit up.  "Really?"  Tyler responded, "Yeah, you can say you are a twin with your older brother who is in middle school."  They then planned their outfits.  Jeans, a blue shirt and orange sweater.  A proud parenthood moment.  They didn't actually see each other till after school because Tyler and Kyle leave before Trey and Kory get up, but Trey was excited to see Tyler when he got home.

Kyle also went as a twin with Kory.  They picked out their outfits, but I didn't get a picture of them. They wore gray shorts, and their CSU football shirts.  Kory changed out of his gray shorts for before leaving however as it was super cold.  Kyle wears shorts everyday so the cold weather didn't phase him.

 I love that our boys have soft hearts.  We couldn't ask for better boys.

Makai is all ready for Kindergarten!

Makai had a few appointments this month.  First the dentist to get his last three cavities filled.  All 9 are now filled!  Worst mom award was pretty expensive, but whatever...no going back now.  The good news is that by the 9th filling he was a lot more mature than he was for the 1st, but I don't know if it is a good thing to have a talent for sitting well through a filling.  The dentist was actually rather talented.  He filled the cavities while Makai played a game on an IPOD.  I told him he should add that to his advertising of list of services.

Fixing the last of his 9 cavities.

He also had his kindergarten physical this month.  He wasn't a fan of the shots, but he was a good sport.  He didn't really cry, but told the nurse, "I don't like that you are doing that to me."  So sad.  He weighs 50 lbs.  A pretty solid kid.  He followed the directions the doctor gave him really well.

 He is learning how to read.  He is working hard to learn 100 sight words before Kindergarten.  After learning the first 50 he got a small Lego set.  I am surprised by how well he follows directions.  He was so excited to sit down and follow the directions.  He didn't need any help and played with the Lego for several days.  After learning 100 he'll get a bigger set.  I swore I would never buy another Lego set because we have so many, but when I watched him sitting down and focusing so well I realized that part of the fun is following the instructions and it is a good skill.  So, I just need to suck it up and realize one day I will miss stepping on Lego pieces.  ONE DAY!!  

Not the Lego set he got for reading 50 words, but a set a friend gave him and he put together on his own.  I didn't even know he could do what he did.  I underestimate him.  

Kyle 12!

Kyle is officially 12!  A young man for sure.  He lives for football!  He loves the San Diego Chargers and pretty much wears chargers gear everyday of the week.  He wants to be a professional football player when he grows up.  He thinks we are the worst parents in the world because we haven't let him play tackle football yet.  We are going to ruin his career.  We did make him try out for basketball this year.  He made JV and that was pretty hard to take.  However, after a lot of talks and tears we finally came to the conclusion it was where he belonged.  He enjoyed the season and was by far the tallest 6th grader on the court.  He is a big boy!!  He was taller than me a couple months before he turned 12.

While in California for Christmas we took him to San Diego.  Makai was sick on the day we went, but we still went.  Kyle loved seeing the stadium, but the weekend we were there San Diego had an away game.  However, it was a beautiful day in San Diego.

Kyle is halfway done with 6th grade.  It has been a real year of growth of him.  Middle school proved to be a little more challenging than elementary school.  However, after more tears and talks he is doing a lot better at turning assignments in and I am sure he will be a great success.  He does well in school, but sometimes turning in assignments is a bother.

As he turned 12, he also got the Priesthood.  It is pretty cool to watch him pass the sacrament.  He is so expressive when he passes.  Our Bishop said, "Rest assured Kyle is not going to make his living playing poker.  He is WAY to expressive."  He hit the nail on the head.  It is true.  You never know what Kyle thinks...and if you do, just have him look at you and you'll know.

He is starting to eat a ton!!  He loves cereal and if he could have 5 boxes a day he would.  After school he goes right for the cereal!  He had a little while when he couldn't eat eggs and that was hard on him.  He said they made him nauseous, but, we gave it some time and now he is much better and he is much happier.  He also loves hamburgers and sausage.  He hates veggies and fruits even.  We are trying however to find some he likes.  He does like Kiwi's and cuties.  Oh, but hates pasta!  When I make pasta he eats like a bird!

Kyle is a sweetheart.  He is kind and funny.  His scout leader told me he is a tease.  He went on a campout this weekend, the Klondike.  A kid named Michael lost his knife.  His scout leader told me Kyle asked Michael multiple times if he could borrow his knife just to joke.  It sure sounded like Kyle.  Sometimes he is easily annoyed with his brothers.  Sometimes he can be mean, he isn't the perfect kid and he of course is a little messy leaving things around.  I don't think he knows that milk goes back into the fridge after you pore a cup of it, but he will learn.

Oh, and his favorite thing to wear:  Sports shorts, a tee shirt, and hoodie.  This is what he wears everyday to school.  It can be 10degrees outside and Kyle is in shorts and a hoodie.  I know he has pants and a coat, but they just collect dust in his closet.  To each his own.  He is bigger than me...I am not going to tell him to change.

Kyle wants to be good.  He hates to disappoint us.  When asked to do something he will usually do it without complaint.  He often asks to go to the church to throw the football around.  He also loves video games--of course he plays a football video game.

Kyle is a blessing in our lives!!  He is AWESOME!!

Christmas gift from Uncle Ryan's family.  

For his birthday we went to Salt Lake.  Monty had a conference there so we went as a family.  For his birthday lunch, Kyle got Clam Chowder!!  His favorite!!

He even got full!!

Best kids ever!

San Diego Chargers stadium in December.  Makai was in the car sick as a dog.

Nativity

For Christmas this year we went to California to be with family.  It was nice to be able to see family and watch the boys play with their cousins.  All the kids have grown so much since we lived in California.  My favorite part of the trip was watching the kids participate in the Nativity.  Each Christmas Eve the Peterson family does a nativity play.  This year was a hit.  All the kids enjoyed it and looked awesome.  I hope it is something they remember.

Trey was Joseph this year and only found it a little awkward! 

Makai was a Sheppard, but really wanted a gift the the wisemen.  

Kyle was a wiseman

Tyler was Nephi and loved it.  Kory was a wiseman too--I think.

One thing for sure...all the kids were great and the costumes were awesome.

Makai's 5

We still can't believe that Makai is 5!  He grew so fast.  We enjoy the boy he is.  He lives for Lego's!!  In fact, on multiple occasions he has said, "Mom, if the brothers die can I have all their stuff...like their legos?"  I then try to tell him we love them more than their stuff, but he isn't convinced.  We spent his birthday this year driving to California for the Christmas break.  Therefore he got to open his presents a day early.  Meaning, his legos a day early.  He was so excited for his birthday we had to make a chain about a month before so he could take a link off everyday.  I got so tired of him asking if it was his birthday yet.  Of course, the process has already begun again.  Poor kid doesn't have a concept of time.

He enjoys playing by himself with legos and would do it all day if I let him.  He usually has a lego guy with him wherever we go.  Sometimes I can convince him to leave it in the car, but usually not.  He has lost a few and it always leads to major tears, but those little guys are hard to find in stores when he puts them down.

He is learning to read, but it is a slow process.  He is pretty good at math and can do basic addition and subtraction.  I think he is happy he hasn't started school yet, but he will be ready by August for sure.  If I can get him to leave his lego guys home.

He hates shoes.  If he can he takes his shoes off anywhere we go.  He says they make his feet hot.  When we get to church, his shoes come off.  In the car, his shoes comes off, the second he gets home his shoes come off.  In fact, once while at the movies he was wearing flip flops.  After the movie we all left the theater.  After a while I looked down at his feet and noticed he only had one flip flop.  I asked him where his other one was and he said, "In the movie.  I couldn't find it."  He had no problem walking around with one.  Thankfully, they were still cleaning up and we were able to find it. I am hoping to get him to be able to keep his shoes on before school starts.  It won't be easy after summer. We are trying with church--primary!  This also helps with, Truth/Lie.  After church I will ask him if he kept his shoes on during primary.  Once he lied to me and told me he did when I knew he didn't.  Finally I told him it was more disappointing that he lied than that he took his shoes off.  Now he will tell me the truth that he did take them off.  Hey, at least he is getting some lesson out of it.  

He asks 'Why?' A LOT!  After everything actually.  Example:
Me:  "Makai it is time for bed?"
Makai; "Why?"
Me:  "Because it is late and we need to rest our bodies?"
Makai:  "Why?"
Me:  "Because we need rest so we an do what we need to tomorrow."
Makai:  "Why?"
..."Why?..."Why?"...
Me: "Goodnite Makai!"

This took place last night at 11:00pm!!  He hates to go to sleep!  He stays up the latest of any of the boys.  Of course he sleeps in too.

Makai loves people too.  He has no problem talking to anyone.  Checkout clerk, doctor, dentist, random stranger.  He will say things like, "Excuse me.  Do you like my lego?"  To a random person at any store.  I love this about him.

We love Makai.  He is my buddy.  I will miss him next year when he goes to school, but am so thankful for his sweet personality.