"My kind of puppy!"

I think I am going to try and convince Ryon that this kind of "stuffed puppy" will work just fine for Hoyt right now. I do believe he is the perfect dog - no barking, no messes in the house, he does not shed, he lets Hoyt pummel him on a daily basis, when I'm tired of seeing him I just throw him in the toy basket....I could go on and on.

Hoyt is loving his little Dalmatian puppy these days, and wherever Hoyt is you can bet the puppy is there also! One morning Hoyt insisted the puppy sit in the high chair with him. While it was a squeeze, it was also pretty darn cute.

Here is Hoyt having a snack, sitting on his car, holding his puppy. Needless to say the fishy crackers ended up all over the floor!

He had to let the puppy drive the bus!

Laying on the couch (with the puppy of course) watching his "show". Hoyt will bring me the remote and say "show...show..." which means he wants to watch Imagination Movers. The kid cannot get enough of it, and will sit and watch an entire episode!

I doubt Ryon will be persuaded to put off getting a "real dog", but it was definitely worth a try!!

I Heart You!

Heart-shaped waffles and eggs over easy!

Hoyt and I taking a Valentine's Day nap...heaven!

Watching Imagination Movers with Dad

We had wonderfully lazy Valentine's Day this year. Ryon always says that the best present is seeing money stay in the savings account, so his day was completely "homemade". I was pretty proud of my heart shaped waffles and eggs for breakfast (Ryon's favorite) , and the strawberry shortcake we had for dessert that evening (another one of Ryon's favorites) was pretty good too...if I do say so myself! I got to take a nap, which was a wonderful Valentines present and Ryon grilled salmon for dinner.

Our first Valentine's Day together was when we were dating, and we spent at least a good two hours trying to find somewhere to eat. The wait at every restaurant was ridiculous, and at one point I suggested we go to A & W to get a root beer float and hamburger. Since then, we have decided to eat at home on Valentines and Ryon usually takes it upon himself to cook the main course. Most years he grills steak or tri-trip, but this year he mixed things up and grilled salmon - good job babe!

The day ended by watching Imagination Movers with Hoyt....it doesn't get much better!

A Few Days in California

Having fun with Aunt Marissa

Trying really hard to drink water out of grandma's dishwasher!

Sitting at the bar like a "big boy" eating Lucky Charms...yum

Having Uncle Caleb wheel him around the house!

Hoyt and I were able to spend a few days in California last week while Ryon was out of town. We had fun spending time with family - Hoyt loved playing with Aunt Marissa, and Uncles Caleb and Brandon. After a few weeks of being stuck inside because he was sick sick, Hoyt had a great time running around in a house filled with more people than just mom and dad!

One of his favorite things to do while we were in California was to "check in" on Uncle Brandon's guinea pig (at least 20 times per day). The first words out of his mouth as we would come downstairs in the morning would be "pig...pig", and he would proceed to pull someone with him to Brandon's room to check out the pig. He even got to feed it a carrot with grandma.

Ryon has informed me that it is time to get Hoyt a pet; he thinks a small dog would be perfect. It is true that Hoyt absolutely loves animals, especially dogs, but a dog that would spend some time in the house is a very big commitment for me to make. I think I told Ryon that it would have to be the perfect dog....no shedding, no messes, no chewing on furniture, etc. I don't think such a dog exists!!

"Average" for a 2 1/2 year-old

We had a doctors appointment for Hoyt a few weeks ago - he needed to get a shot and even though he was only 17 months our doctor decided to do his 18 month well baby check-up at the same time.

After he had weighed in at 30 pounds, with a length of 34 inches, the doctor said "Well...he's about average for a 2 1/2 year-old." We all laughed!

The Wheels on the Bus

My new school bus!

A side shot...

Just hangin' out the back window

Loving the static electricity inside the bus!

One of Hoyt's Christmas presents this year was a blow-up school bus with balls in it. (Ryon wasn't sure that Hoyt would be all that impressed with a school bus, but I assured him that he would love it!) We hadn't taken it out of the box yet, because I knew there would be a week when we would really need "a new toy". Well...let me tell you...this was the week that we definitely needed it!

Hoyt came down with a cold about a week and a half ago and it has steadily gotten worse. On Tuesday the doctor told me that it was in his lungs, so we started the breathing treatments, steroids, and antibiotics for an ear infection. Even though the poor kid is pretty sick, he still runs around the house as if nothing is wrong. He's been pretty bored staying inside, so I thought it was about time we broke out the school bus. It was a Huge Hit!!

He enjoyed sitting in it and pretending to drive for about the first five minutes, and then he began climbing in and out of the windows, leaning to each side so the bus would roll over, and standing on the front window to jump inside. I was sure the bus would have a hole in it after the first day - but to my surprise it has lasted a week. Thank heavens for the entertainment of a new toy!!

Thomas the Train!

The three of us with the Thomas stage in the background

Some of the gang who went - kind of a "ward activity"!

Before the show - when Hoyt "wasn't" running around Lawlor!

This last Saturday we were able to go see Thomas the Train at Lawlor Events Center thanks to Lisa (for thinking of us!) and Emily (for scoring free tickets!), and we had a great time. We were a little worried that Hoyt would just want to run around the entire time, but as soon as the lights went down and the music started...he was hooked! He sat on the edge of Ryon's knee the whole time and yelled "Choo...Choo".

It was a 90 minute show with an intermission, and Hoyt made it almost the whole time. For a kid who only took a 40 minute nap that day, he did pretty well! Afterwards we got some dinner, and headed home for bedtime (Hoyt said choo..choo all the way home). What a fun Saturday evening!

Loving to Read

Hoyt reading his book. He's pointing at the boots and saying "boooots"!

What an absolutely cheesy kid!!

Well, it's official....Hoyt loves to read - and I'm taking credit for this one! A few months ago I walked into his room and he was sitting on the floor, book open on his lap, reading to himself. As I watched, he would turn the page, say "La..la..la..moo" (there was a cow on the page) and then turn and read the next page. It was so cute that I couldn't move to go and get the video camera - even though I have to get him reading to himself on video!

A few days ago he was in the family room with one of his favorite books on his lap. At least this time I got the camera out and took a picture. He was on the page where there was a little boy dressed in winter clothes, and was pointing to the boots and saying "boots". He then proceeded to turn the page and read the rest of the book. I love it! During the day he will bring books to me constantly saying "book" and wants me to read them to him. He will sit and read with me for at least 15 minutes without wanting to get up - a definite record for him!!

Hats, Hats, Hats

Hoyt is LOVING hats these days! Whenever he sees Ryon with a hat on, he says "hat, hat, hat" and wants to wear one too. He also loves to look in the mirror and see himself with his hat on. The other morning he brought me all of the hats from his room and wanted to wear all of them at the same time.

Hoyt loves to wear this hat that has his name on it. Someone asked me once if we named him after the bow company "Hoyt". Sadly, I had to say no.

When Ryon comes home from the gym he wears this hat to keep his head warm - Hoyt has to wear it as soon as Ryon walks in the door!

Hoyt and I went to Target the other day. I decided to wear a hat, as I hadn't done my hair yet!! Hoyt saw my hat and insisted on wearing one too.

He wore his hat the whole time...and never even tried to take it off. He even fell asleep on the way home with it on.

And let's not forget our favorite cowboy hat. Here is Hoyt pretending to call "da-da" on his phone, while wearing his hat. Definitely all boy!!

Things we have been doing lately...

Trying to walk while standing in two pots!
Having breakfast with friends in California.
Listening intently while Malorie reads Green Eggs and Ham.
I love Hoyt's hand on Malorie's knee!
Sweeping and mopping at the same time...I love this kid!

Well, I can't believe it is 2009 - it doesn't seem that 1999 was that long ago! We are settled back into our regular routine; for some reason the whole month of December is absolutely crazy. Hoyt has been having fun playing with his "Christmas toys", and loves the broom, mop and dustpan that the Bigler's brought him all the way from Mexico. (Thanks Karen!) The other morning all he wanted to do was mop and sweep the kitchen at the same time. If I would let him sleep with the broom he probably would!

Goodbyes

I don't really enjoy saying "goodbye", especially to great friends who I know I won't see for a very long time. Last week we said goodbye to JoAnne, and her family, who will be living in Turkey for at least the next three years. We will miss them terribly. For those of you who know JoAnne, you will not be surprised when I say that she is perhaps the sweetest, nicest, kindest (I could go on and on) person I have ever known.

A few of us decided to take JoAnne to her favorite restaurant before she left. I doubt she will be having much Olive Garden in the next three years!!