Happy Birthday Tyson!

I can't believe it has been 8 years since you surprised me and Dad with an early arrival!  We were blessed with a healthy, handsome, and amazing young boy!  You are growing up so fast, and have become a wonderful big brother in 8 very short years!

 

You love anything that has to do with sports and there is nothing that you won't try, so when you said you thought it would be cool to have a rip stick we couldn't resist to get you one for your birthday.  I just wish I would have done a little research on what they were before taking the plunge and getting you one!  Lets just say it has now given your mama something else to worry about:)

I think you were pretty excited about your present!

You wasted no time in trying it out...in the kitchen:)  Check out that look of determination on your face!

You quickly moved outside where you gave it a few more tries before we went in town for your birthday supper.  You ended up having quite the spill when we got back from supper.  You fell hard backwards on your bum jamming your back and knocking the wind out of you!  It was pretty scary for both you and Mom...I knew I should have done my research:)



Using the pickup to help get yourself balanced

 You chose Buffalo Wild Wings for supper, and it was a beautiful night so we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air.


CHEERS!



My 2 favorite boys!!!

 We told the waitress it was your birthday, and she thought it was very cool that you were turning 8.  When she brought out your chocolate cake and ice cream she made sure to point out she drew an 8 with the caramel and chocolate sauce...I think she had a crush on you!

Being the gentleman you are you shared your special dessert with all of us...so sweet!  I hope you had a great birthday, and I hope you know how much we love you!  You are the best big brother anyone could ask for, and will always be the gift that made your dad and I parents!

Love you buddy!!

Mom, Dad, and Aiden

Weekend at Grandma's

Scott had a busy week at work with the Sturgis Rally approaching, so the boys and I decided to take a little mini-vacation down to Grandma's house.  We started out with a quick trip up to Deadwood where we played at Gulches of Fun!  The first 20 minutes we were there the sun was out and it was perfect.  However, the clouds quickly came and it was down right chilly the rest of the day...as in the low 60's!  We weren't exactly dressed for the occasion, but we definitely didn't let it dampen our spirits.

 

Starting off with a little water boat action!

 I wasn't sure if Aiden would feel comfortable doing the boats by himself so I went with him at first, but he quickly took control of the wheel, and after about 6 cookies it was time for this Mama to get off before we had a mess to clean up:)  After that he was the big man on campus and drove that boat like a champ!


Tyson being reminded NOT to shoot the water gun at me and Grandma!

 

I'm not sure if it was the weather or the fact that it was the Friday before the official start of the rally, but there were only maybe 20 other people there.  Needless to say the boys had the run of the place...going back and forth between the go karts and the water boats.

 

We did manage to take a quick break for a round of put-put.



Look at that wind up!!



Getting ready to sink the ball in the hole.



Grandma showing the boys how it's done.

 Grandma treated us to pizza and nachos for lunch....yum...then it was off to the little play area to let our lunch settle before we headed back for some more go kart action!

The first time we did the go karts Grandma drove in one, Aiden rode with me, and Tyson drove one.  To say it was comical would be an understatement.  Let's just say Grandma was verrrryyy cautious.  Both Tyson and I lapped her several times!  Grandma decided to be a spectator after that.  She said the speed scared her.  Well I was able to convince her to one last ride with Tyson (that way she didn't have to be nervous driving it) and Aiden and I drove one.  We happened to be the only ones on the track, so Tyson and I had our pedals to the floor!  Tyson had drove numerous times by the end of the day and was very comfortable racing around the track.  He showed no mercy on me and Aiden and beat us!  Grandma quickly got out of the car and said that he scared the...well you know...out of her!  It was hilarious!  She said the more she screamed the faster and more "dare devil" he would be!  Poor Grandma...she was a trooper...and everyone made it out in one piece!

 

Coming in to the pits

 

 

 

 

They made quite the pair on the race track. 
I can't even begin to count the number of times they raced!

 After about 4 hours we decided to head back to the house where we quickly packed up our things and then headed on down to Grandma's for the rest of the weekend.  Saturday morning we played tourist and drove out to the country, so I could show the boys where I grew up.  It definitely has changed over the years.  We then went to the Prairie dog town and tried feeding the little rascals some peanuts.



Aiden making friends with this little guy



Stretch!!

You could easily tell they weren't hurting for food! Tyson got a couple of different ones to take the peanut from him, but Aiden was like the prairie dog whisperer...they were taking them out of his hands left and right.  Mom and I think it was because he was so much smaller than Tyson, so they weren't as scared to get up close and personal.



Just chillin

 

Sunday we went to church and then to the pool in the afternoon.  Monday morning came quickly and we had to pack up our things and head back home to see Dad before the busy rally week officially started.  The boys and I had a blast getting to spend time with Grandma, and we were all excited to see Dad when we got home!

Wall Celebration

We went down to the annual Wall celebration on Saturday morning.  We made it down just in time for the parade...much to Aiden's delight:) 

 

See what I mean?!

Poor little guy..the firetrucks are just waaaaayyyy to loud for his fragile little ears, I guess! :)

Tyson and Mason were right in their grabbing the candy, and made sure to share some with Aiden...so sweet!

After the parade we went down to the tent.  It was hot...as in over 100 degrees hot...so it didn't take the boys long to find the bubble tank.  The firefighters filled it with eggs filled with coins and bracelets that the kids had a blast searching for underneath all the foam!



Aiden showing off his find



Look Mom.....bubbles!!!



Mason sporting a few bubbles of his own:)

We then finished out the day at Grandma Brenda's house... in the comfort of the air conditioning.  Aunt Amy and Uncle Terry had also come back for the weekend and stayed out at Grandma's as well, so we just hung out Saturday night and went to bed early...you know...like all the "party animals" do! :)

4th of July Weekend

We hung low for the actual 4th of July since it was smack dab in the middle of the week.  Scott had to work too, and he didn't make it home until around 7pm:(  The boys and I spent the day with Marla, Tony, and the boys, and Grandma Brenda.  We went to the Piedmont parade in the morning and spent the rest of the day at Marla and Tony's neighbors-Tim and Ann.  Scott made it home in time to watch the fireworks with us from Marla and Tony's back deck. 

The 4th of July weekend we were invited to cousin Barb and Joe's in Sundance.  Scott had the day off and we jumped at the chance to go hang with the family!

 

Tyson is a quick study with just about any sport/game he tries, and he proved it while playing ladder golf!  Him and cousin Barb made a great team!

The water was filled with little fish that loved to jump on Tyson's hook.  This little guy was one of many he caught that day!

These two guys, on the other hand, kept busy throwing rocks in the water.  I think Joe was seriously thinking of hiring them out to clean up the rocks in his yard:)

Grandma was a good sport and hung with the boys by the water!

Another good catch!

Barb and Joe's dogs love fish, and the boys were sure to share their goods with them:)

Check out these 2 patriotic cuties!

 Even the "big boys" got in on the fun!  Joe has a cool set up where he shoots out clay pigeons over the water and they all took turns seeing who was the "best shot"!

Overall it was an awesome day, and we all had a blast getting to visit and hang out with everyone!  Thanks again Barb and Joe for inviting us!  Can't wait to get together and do it all again! :)

 

Kickin it with the cousins!

Janet, Jason, and the boys came back for a visit this last weekend, so we all invaded in on Grandma Brenda's house for a few days!  The boys picked up right where they had left off a year ago, and had a blast playing together!

Cooper giving loves to Aunt J.J.

Check out those pool sharks!

"Got ya!"

Spencer did a great job of playing with Aiden!  Aiden thought he was pretty special to have his own special buddy to hang out with!

These 3 spent a lot of time working on Grandma's pool and playing in the water.  It was in the 100's every day we were down there!

Sunday evening everyone came out for a Bar-b-Que.  Scott has become the designated griller...and does a fabulous job...if I do say so myself! :)

All the cousins chillin!

It didn't take long after supper for all of the "kids" to start playing baseball.  It started in grandma's front lawn, and quickly turned into chaos! :)

Finally...after a few near misses to Aunt Mary Jane's car...the game moved out to the open field!  Brilliant idea!

Umm...don't say anything...but I think that is a strike! :)

The boys thought they wanted to all have a "slumber party" in Grandma's living room.  Well after several attempts...and a lot of talking and fooling around, Tyson and Aiden ended up sleeping with me in grandma's room!  Better luck next time, I guess:)

Keeping with tradition, we went into the Drug Store on Monday.

Drew and Tyson

Aiden and Tyson

Checking out the "choo-choo"

Playing in the fountains

After lunch we went into the city pool to try and cool off!

The boys had a blast, and after 3 hours we finally called it a day and headed back to Grandma's to celebrate Drew's birthday!

Tuesday morning we headed up to Rapid City and played at Canyon Lake Park from 9-12:30pm.  It happened to be well over 100 degrees again!  The boys were quite intrigued with throwing things in the water at the ducks (the very dirty nasty water!!)  Well, if I told Aiden once I told him 20 times to be careful and not get so close to the edge.  We had several close calls in the 3 hours and 15 minutes we were there, but it wasn't until 10 minutes before we were getting ready to leave that...you guessed it....Aiden fell head first into the nasty, duck/geese poo-filled water!!!  After flailing and freaking out he ended up several feet from the edge, so I quickly jumped in after him.  He was one sandal shy (it apparently was stuck in the thick moss), but at least he was ok.  We stripped his clothes right there and washed them off under a spicket to try to get some of the stank out of them, but even then he smelled ripe!  It was almost too much for this germaphobe to handle:)  Memories!! :)  Anyway, after a quick stop at Walgreen's for a new pair of sandals we made a quick stop at the Air and Space Museum before heading our separate ways.

The boys and I got home at about 4pm and we were exhausted!  Apparently 3 full days of playing and the 6+ hours in the heat on Tuesday (and Aiden's swim in Canyon Lake) was too much!  All 3 of us woke up Wednesday morning with belly aches, head aches, and just plain old feeling woozy!  I called in sick to work and I don't think any of us left the couch for longer than a few minutes the whole day!  After a good night's sleep on Wednesday, we were all good as new by Thursday...thank goodness!  It was worth it, and we had a great time seeing Janet, Jason, Spencer, and Drew!  The boys had a blast, and we can't wait until we all get to hang out again!!