A Love Affair With Water

Tyson loves everything and anything that is water. It is so cute! We take regular walk/runs around our apartment complex. We live next to the car wash station and there is often water running to the drain or water in puddles left from the sprinklers or whatever. Before I can stop him, Tyson is splashing in the water and clothes are wet. A couple times he has just plopped down right in the middle of the puddle. What can I do but laugh? Well I have failed to get pictures of this, but I do have some of normal water activities. We have had so much fun in the pool and running through the sprinklers this summer. We are so happy to have a pool in our complex. We have been able to go to the lake a few times this summer as well which was way fun. Thank heavens there is so much water around to cool down in!

In the turtle pool at his friend, Ryan's house.

Running through the sprinklers at Grandma's.

Playing in the watering can at Grandma's.In the swimming pool with Mom and Dad.

California State Fair

A couple weeks ago, Ivan got off work an hour early so we could head out to the State Fair! Ivan has fun memories from going when he was younger and Tyson and I have never been so we thought it would be fun to go. Well we were right! It was still pretty warm when we first got there so we went around to the vendors (that is one of Ivan's favorite parts, although I don't get why because he hates shopping. He must like window shopping:)) and then we went around to see the animals.

We saw cows, sheep, pigs, which had just had baby piglets and they were cute:), chickens, goats, horses, bunnies, roosters, ponies, and some other animals I can't remember. Tyson loved looking at all the animals. He got to pet a few of them and feed the cows. He thought that was "so cool!" It was really hard to get pictures though because of the gates and stuff so that is why they are really far away.

There was a corn box in the kids area and Tyson loved playing in it. He was pretty mad when that girl stole the bucket from him, but otherwise it was a great time!

For some reason, Tyson thought it was hilarious to stick our heads through the hole. So cute!

Making music with Daddy on the farm instruments.
Tyson and a really weird-looking chicken.
They had an area with a bunch of fish tanks and all sorts of fish, turtles, and crawdads. Tyson was a little scared to touch the fish, but he held a turtle. It was the highlight of the fair for him. He told grandma all about it.
Tyson loved the golden bears at the entrance of the fair grounds. Don't ask me why, but we had to get a picture with the bear.

We got a ticket for buy one get one free admission into the fair and then we found free parking so overall it was $12 to get in instead of $34. We were pretty excited. We had some good food, one amazing cinnamon roll and 6 fun filled hours together as a family. We were all exhausted by the end. While walking back to the car, we saw fireworks as well and Tyson absolutely loved them!

Foodfight!

Over memorial day weekend, Ivan and I invited a few families in our ward and the sister missionaries over to have a food fight. Ivan's family used to have them on Memorial day, but they haven't had one since we got married. I guess due to the fact that all the kids had moved away, but still unacceptable. So naturally, I have been bugging them for the 3 1/2 years of our marriage to have one. Well, Ivan and I decided to take matters into our own hands and plan one. We did it at Ivan's parents house (thanks again Donna and Mike!) and it was a BLAST!

The Ammo: mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pudding, applesauce, yogurt, mayo, cottage cheese.

BeforeIvan wanted to do a war tribute, so we stood on the front line while Mike commanded the shots. This didn't last long...
And the real battle begins. We thought the kids would love it, I mean, they get to throw food! But when we started throwing, all the kids started screaming. It was funny and sad at the same time.
The damage. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Totally recommend it!Our dirty family! Tyson was not very happy. Neither was the lawn. Pretty sure there is still molding food on their lawn a week and a half later. Fertilizer right?

Tyson Tidwell is TWO!

On February 24, 2011 our little boy turned 2! We just can't believe it! What an adventurous 2 years it has been. On his birthday we played lots, went on a long walk to the park and threw the rocks (his favorite thing to do), and ate some good food. I usually have class on Thursday nights, but my class happened to be canceled:) So we got to have some fun that night and we opened his gift from my parents.

A Buzz Lightyear tike bike!

On Saturday we had the real celebration. We started the day off with the BYU vs. SDSU game and the Cougs won! A good omen. Then we got some balloons and went to Petsmart to let Tyson look at the animals. After his nap, he went on a walk with Ivan while I finished up dinner and then the festivities began. Ivan's family came over and we had an awesome Taco Salad (a humble brag!), a baseball piñata and a baseball cake with some homemade ice cream, YUM! Tyson LOVED the baseball piñata! He loves baseball and hitting the ball so we thought it would be fun and it was! He wore himself out swinging at it (video coming soon...)

The Birthday cake in all of its glory

Tyson blowing out the candles

No hesitation.

Grandpa reading one of his birthday books to him (thanks Hil and Eric!)

Pumpkin Patch

The week before Halloween we went to a pumpkin patch. I don't know if you have ever done that before or anything but apparently people tend to like to do that. Like my wife, she loves pumpkins and pumpkin patches. My "pumpkin" loves pumpkins. (wow I am good) So we took Tyson and went to this sweet pumpkin patch.

"Yeah Dad...This is the one!"

Tyson got in the wagon and loved it. Until he fell out.

Tyson would not let go of the pumpkin...we had to buy it.

Me and the most beautiful pumpkin I saw at the patch.

Pumpkins and 'Mater the truck!

You can't see it but this is Tyson and I on the tractor pulled hay ride. It was awesome.

Halloween!

I am so bad at Halloween! I think it is such a fun holiday and this time of year brings about many of my "favorite things" in life, but I always seem to be caught off guard and utterly unprepared when it comes around! I was, at the last minute of course, trying to throw a costume together for Tyson when our good friends, the Tanners, let us borrow one of their old costumes. Lifesavers! So Tyson was an elephant. And a dang cute one at that!

Sometimes a mad one.

We had a blast painting pumpkins (I thought Tyson would do better with that) and roasting the seeds of course. And on Saturday night we went to the ward trunk or treat. Dinner and dessert were great, but Tyson wasn't. The poor kid was a little overwhelmed by the huge crowd, so we didn't get to stay for the actual trunk or treat. But we did have one success of the night, I won the award for best pie! It was really exciting, because I totally didn't expect it and because I have never one anything like that before.

Brush and hand, of course.

"Good Things to Come"

At this time of life, with so much uncertainty and so many decisions to make, it is such a blessing to have living prophets who remind us and encourage us to have faith. I saw this message today, and it just struck me. Maybe because of all the car problems Ivan and I always seem to have, but I think it was something more too.
What great things we have to look forward to if we just endure to the end and bear our burdens well. And how comforting to know that those who went before us struggled with many of the same hardships in life that we do. One of the tender mercies I have received from the Lord today.