Happy Birthday Tyler--February 11th

On Saturday, Feb. 11th Tyler turned 5 years old!!! I told him he's not allowed to grow up anymore, it's happening way too fast! Unfortunately, daddy had a very busy work week and it wasn't over yet. So he was gone before 7 to the office. So we had blueberry muffins and apples (per Ty's request) for breakfast without him. The mail man knocked on our door that morning and presented us with 4 big boxes! It was like Christmas morning for the kids :). Grandpa and Grandma Weston had sent lots of birthday presents for all 3 kids, so that was a fun highlight of the morning. Kenny got home around 1:30 and we went to look at another house before going to Chuck E Cheese! Tyler has been talking for literally months about going to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. When we pulled up we saw how completely full the parking lot was (we had to park far away at the Blockbuster), we wanted to turn around but we knew we couldn't do that to Ty. So we braved it anyway and the kids had a great time. It was definitley a busy place. Lots of birthday celebrations going on. We even got a pizza there (that took about an hour...) so that was a fun treat too. We hurried home and sang happy birthday to him and he blew out his candles. Then Kenny left and went back to work for the night. It was fun to spoil this sweet boy for the day and let him know how great he is.

He has been so funny about his birthday. He kept saying "I just can't believe I'm 5 years old!" haha, I can't either. For some reason he decided that 5 is THE age where he is now independent and can do anything and everything. He no longer wants help and is earnestly trying to learn to tie his shoes, etc. At the beginning of church yesterday he turns to me and sighs heavily then asks, "Do I have to learn everything when I'm 5?" hahaha. I told him he still has lots of years to learn everything he needs to, there's no rush.

I've always said, even since Tyler was a baby, that the Lord knew I needed him first. He continually amazes me with how mature he can be. The way he processes things and understands, he's wise beyond his years. Don't get me wrong, he's still the silly little boy that's cracking jokes and teasing his sisters most of the time, but he is so helpful and kind-hearted. He has a very obedient spirit and truly desires to do what's right. I feel very blessed and humbled to be his mom. He's sensitive to other people and what they are feeling, and impresses me with the questions he asks and the comments he makes. He's still a really picky eater, and it's a daily struggle for us. But he tries so hard because he knows that he should eat healthy, and he genuinely wants to, he just has a hard time swallowing a lot of foods because of their taste/texture. He likes to put his shoes on in the morning when he gets dressed, and wears them all day, I guess so he's always ready to go. His favorite sport is soccer, although he frequently acts like a ninja with awesome karate moves :). He has an insatiable appetite for reading and I can't keep enough new material in the house for him. We love our big Ty man so much and we're so glad he's in our family.