Tie my tie

This morning Tage wanted to learn how to tie his own tie. Ty showed him a couple times and told him he could practice after church. On the way home, Tage asked Ty how old he was when he learned how to tie his own tie. Ty said 12. Tage was so determined to learn how to tie his tie today so he could 'beat Dad.' And he did it!

Pre-Season Cardinals Game

Last night we went to the first home pre-season game for the Cardinals. I can't believe it's almost football time again! We ended up having great tickets that Ty found online somewhere. There were in the family section in the wheel chair area. SOFT CHAIRS! BONUS! and a whole lot of space around us!

Bring on the Cardinals!

Game was against the San Diego Chargers. They ended up destroying us. We left just before the 4th quarter (boys started asking if it was over after the 1st quarter) and the score was 17/6. Don't think we ever caught up.

The tickets came in a four pack so we told Tage that he could invite a friend. He chose Aiden.

These boys were friends in kindergarten and still love to play together at recess. They ate junk food and more junk food. That's what games are to kids right? Food, food, food that is so expensive. We told them that they could have one treat from the concession stands....they chose ice cream that was $5. Hey, could have been the pizza Ty got for $9.

I think for a moment they were actually looking at the field. Probably trying to find the mascot. They just cared about "the bird"

At times they thought it was too loud.

I think that the boys liked the thought of going to a game, but when it came right down to it I don't think that they even watched 5 minutes of it. They just played. I should have just left them home with a babysitter and would have spent the same amount of money I did on food and their tickets. They would have had just as much fun. Next time, no kids. Ty says that even I can't come. But I bet we can change that one.

"I'm leaving"

Every kid at some point in their life says that they are "running away" or "leaving."

Tage has said it before, but last night when he announced that he "was leaving" I couldn't help but to laugh.

After being in his room for just a little while hearing him scream, I walked into this pile of....

a pillow

2 blankets

his backpack

basketball shoes

football jersey

light saver

cardboard tube

I seriously started laughing

Mom: what's this pile on the floor was for

Tage: I'm running away

Mom: where are you going?

Tage: to Bridger's (cousins) house

Mom: that's a long ways away, how are you going to get there?

Tage: walk

Mom: that's a long walk

Tage: I don't care

Mom: ok

I left and then after a few minutes went back in when Tyson was talking to him

Mom: so are you still leaving

Tage: yes

Mom: well,we are going to miss you

Tage: you can come if you want, Dad said that he is coming

Mom: but I don't want to move, what about our house here?

Tage: I hate it.

then he began to hate everything in site and just wanted "to leave"

I got him downstairs to eat dinner (pizza that he made). He was still cranky. In the middle of dinner somehow we made him mad again (surprise, surprise, I think that I was laughing at him still and he didn't like that I was doing that) and he got away from the table announcing again that "he's leaving." He made it halfway up the stairs, then turned around and came back to the table, sat down and said, "I'm leaving after I eat my pizza." I tried so hard not to laugh.

Bedtime.

Mom: Ok Tage, put away this pile

Tage: but I'm still leaving in the morning

Mom: Ok, well put the stuff away and then you can get it back out tomorrow. I want your room clean before you go to bed.

This morning, happy as a clam and doesn't mention once about leaving.

Kids, got to love them.

Love you Tage, I'm glad that you decided to stay.

Shipped to Guam

When I was little my Mom would always tell us kids when we were naughty or arguing or not obeying that she was going to "ship us off to Guam." And then we would begin crying because we didn't want to go to Guam. Not even knowing if it was a real or made up place in the world. Later, I mean much later like into high school, I got smarter and found out that Guam is actually a real place. It is an island west of the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful place. Oh how would I now dream that my Mom would tell me that she is going to "ship me to Guam," I would gladly accept.

Today, I want to ship my dog to Guam. Or any place far, far, far away.

My "new" phone of just 10 days has now been Zeusitized.

Granted that this is partly my fault because I left it on the end table. But Zeus should know better. He knows its bad to get the remote that was sitting right next to the phone, so what's the difference? To a dog....new color (do dogs see in color?) and new shape. Whatever it was, he got it and began chewing it. I caught him rather quickly, but still my phone has Zeus marks all over it. UGH!!!!

Also, on Sunday, he chewed our entertainment center! Good thing that it is already that distressed looking style, we just used brown marker to fill it in. Seriously Zeus? Seriously? You are for sure going to Guam

The fort

On Sunday, Tage begged Dad to make a fort with him. He has slept in it the past 2 night and told me this morning that he never wants to take it down and will sleep in it every night.

Boating

Saturday we took the boat out just for a little bit. Tage wanted to invite his friend Kelmen to come with. The boys had a blast together. The lake was really crowded and the water only good for tubing so I didn't get any boarding in.

Tage trying to do "pop wheelies." You can't really see his face, but he is trying so hard his face shows it.

New teacher, Mrs Striplin

New teacher already?! Tage has only been to school 4 days! Well there has already been changes and his teacher, Mrs Lisack, has gone to Vistancia elementary. They divided up her class amongst the other 3 teachers. Tages first grade teacher is now Mrs. Striplin. I worried a little about this because Tage liked his teacher and I didn't want his new class to have a million kids in it. Turns out there is 23 kids now in his new class and I'm ok with that, as long as it doesn't get bigger. (which I'm sure it will get bigger being that it is only the beginning of the year and in a new-build area with lots of room to grow. Wishful thinking only I guess)

Each day this week when I have asked Tage how his day was he has told me "better that yesterday!" Great! I would tell him. This was our conversation today when I asked him how his day was and how his new class and teacher was

Tage: "fine."
Mom: "just fine? not better than yesterday?"
Tage: "no"

Bummer I thought. He doesn't like his teacher. The reasons I came to find out is that she doesn't have fish or gerbils or any animals. And I think that he got in trouble today for what he said was just turning his head.

Tage: "I just turned my head like this Mom (and he showed me) and she told me not to look that way."
Mom: Obviously you weren't paying attention then.
Tage: "But I was, she just told me not to look that way"
Mom: "Ok Tage, that's fine, just next time always look at your teacher and pay attention."

Going and coming "all by myself"

Today marked the day of Tage's first day going to school and coming home alone! He has been talking about this day forever and he was so excited that I finally let him go alone.

We had practiced several times this week locking and unlocking his bike. He has got it mastered. I work 3 days a week, so on those days he couldn't ride his bike home because by the time I pick him up from PM program they have the bike area locked. But I did let him ride his bike to school, then I just walked his bike home after we practiced locking it.

7:40am off he goes....

3:05pm home happy....

IN MY HOUSE!

A SCORPION IN MY HOUSE!

I was cleaning my downstairs bathroom today and found a LIVE scorpion behind the toilet! I let out a quiet, but girlie shriek then instantly got the heebiejeebies! Ewww, a scorpion in my house! I finished cleaning my house carefully and cautiously with shoes on!

We have lived here over 2 1/2 years and this is this first scorpion I have seen in my house! (Ty saw a baby one on the wall by the back door within the month. I was out of town or don't remember where I was.) This is really only the 3nd scorpion I have ever seen here in AZ! The first one was on the discovery trail DEAD. The 2nd was probably a few months ago OUTSIDE, up and around the corner, in the middle of the street and my neighbor killed it!

I have cleaned my whole house, washed all the bedding and still feel like creepy crawly things are everywhere!

1st grade

We sure like to pack things tight around here....we just got back from Utah yesterday and today was the first day of school! Were did the summer go!?

Tage is so excited to be in 1st grade! There is a new elementary school just up and around the corner form us. Tage is so excited that he could now ride his bike to school. He likes his teacher, Mrs. Lisack, he says she is nice. Loves the class pets which are gerbils and fish, and overall just loves school! I am just glad to have a schedule and consistency back!

The dog....

I'm sure that you have heard the sayings :

the dog ate my homework

the dog made me late

the dog did this, the dog did that....

but what about....the dog chewed the crap out of my phone and broke it?! Honestly!

I thought that I lost my phone this morning but I found it in the backyard tonight chewed up and broken. Darn dog! That is one expensive chew toy Zeus!

Visit to Utah

Ok, Ok, I am really am back now! After just 2 days of being home from New York, we headed to Utah for a week to visit family. We stayed with my family for a few days, then went up to Bear Lake with Tysons family.

We went hiking up Sessions canyon and played in the river. My family loves to take river hikes.

Mom, Michelle, Wesley and Tage

We had a baby shower for my sister Jennifer who was also in town from Iowa!

Had to get some family pictures! Tyson HATES pictures, but I twisted his arm hard enough that he joined in. Thanks Dad.

Bear Lake, UT

Tysons family heads to Bear Lake each year for the Felt family reunion. This, along with the 24th of July at the cabin, has been a tradition for practically all of Tysons life. We missed last year, so he was excited to be there this year.

The water was cold! That's normal for Bear Lake. But it just seemed extra cold to our Arizona bodies. We did go prepared though and brought our wet suits which helped, I think.

Tage would have spend every minute on the beach if he could. He loved playing in the sand and making 'hot tubs' with his cousins.

The weather seemed to get worse the longer we were up there. The last day it just rained and rained. At least within the first 2 days we got out to wakeboard a few times.

Here is Ayden in a huge hole Tyson dug. He did not like being in it.

Filling up the hole

Tage, Gavin and Conner in the sinking mud hole

Tage is getting too big for Ty to do this with, but with enough begging Tage did, Ty managed to get enough strengh and energy to pull him up.