Valentime's Day

No, I didn't make a spelling error in the title!  That is how Zac says Valentine's Day.  He was playing with some Valentine stickers and our conversation went like this:

Zac:  "Valentime's Day means I get lots of PRESENTS!"

Me: "No, Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and showing those that you love how and why you love them".

Zac: "Oh,.....love........yeah" in a very dry, rather sarcastic tone which I chuckled at!

Me: "You are such a MAN"!

Zac:  "I have no choice" and he throws his arms up in the air

So, I learned from this that men are born with a distaste for all things "love" and a gene that desires presents instead!

Dallas World Aquarium

Bear with me because these ended up all jumbled and out of order!

Looking at some penguins

Flamingos
Tyler watching as giant turtles, huge fish and even manatee swim by

This is the advertising van outside the aquarium which was also pretty cool

Grandma Gail had actually never been to downtown Dallas and we were looking for something fun for the kids to do yesterday.  We decided to go to the Dallas World Aquarium. Zac has been a couple of times but Tyler hadn't been yet either.  We had SO much fun and both boys really enjoyed it.  Grandma was also very impressed.  It's really more of a biosphere as she said.  There is a lot more than just fish and the way it is designed is really amazing.  The best part was that it was Friday so there were hardly any people there!  Usually when we've gone on the weekends it is very crowded and annoying to move around with a stoller!

Here is Zac looking at some sting rays and turtles

This is a tunnel surrounded by aquarium that you walk through with all different types of sharks and rays.  Zac is really taking it all in!

Zac posing by some fish

The highlight for the boys and me too was the Jaguar!

Early Taste of Summer

I know most of you Northerners won't appreciate this - especially with how cold this winter has been for you but it was 80 degrees here yesterday!  Tom had to travel this weekend and thankfully his mom is in town to help out.  The boys are both sick AGAIN!  Zac had a cough and seems to be better already.  Poor Tyler started with the runny nose and then a fever.  He's miserable when he's sick like that because when his nose is stuffed up, he can't suck his thumb to soothe himself.  This makes everyone miserable actually.  Yesterday was beautiful though!  I even sat out and got some color - in January!

Zac is a little more of an "indoor"  kind of guy -   Just chillin watchin some Cartoon Network

But Tyler - he would live outside and never come in if you let him!

He was doing some grilling out on the patio -

And he learned to do cheers with Mommy!

A Day at the Doctors

Tyler's surgery went very well this morning.  He was in for pre-op, surgery, and post-op all within an hour!  He wasn't too happy about waking up from the anesthesia but other than that, it was just another day for him.  Except for the fact that he was exhausted very early tonight.  He's a guy who CANNOT hold still and doesn't fall asleep on us anymore but here he is a few minutes before his bedtime.  

I haven't been feeling all that great lately either and thought I was getting a sinus infection.  So late this afternoon, I lugged both kids to the Doctor with me to find out I had a really nasty sinus infection which required a steroid shot and antibiotics.  The Doctors made good money on us today!

Tyler Gets Tubes

Tomorrow will be an interesting day for the family.  Tyler goes in at 6:30 in the morning for 7:30 ear tube surgery.  I've heard from everyone that the surgery is very quick and simple and that they immediately feel better.  That part I am very looking forward to!

The thing that I am DREADING is Tyler's appetite!  He can't have any food or water starting at midnight tonight.  Anyone who doesn't know Tyler, as soon as he gets carried downstairs in the morning, he heads right over to his highchair and basically demands to be fed immediately!  The boy loves his food and has no patients when it comes to his tummy.  

So, the drive to the medical center and whatever time we have before they put him under will be pretty interesting!  I will be bringing his full breakfast with us for when he wakes up!

Tomorrow is also my brothers last day of training in San Antonio (finally) - he was supposed to finish up in mid Dec. but weather and the holidays put him behind.  He will be driving up here and picking up our dad who has been hanging out with us since Christmas.  The two of them will be driving to my brothers house in MS so we will be without any house guests:(

Not for too long though - Tom's mom arrives next week and we're excited to see her again!

Just another weekend

Zac is very interested in cars so this morning he went out to help Daddy and Grandpa change the brakes and rotate the tires.

And here is the youngest of the wii Fit competitors.  Check out that physique!  It looks like Tyler has a lot of work ahead of him!  I know how much he'll love this photo at his High School graduation!

Fun with Grandpa and Grandma Caswell

We all enjoyed having my parents here for a visit for both Christmas and New Years.  My dad helped Tom put an actual roof on the kids playset.  We've gone through at least one canvas cover each season so it was time for something that would hold up to the elements a little better!

Grandma got to snuggle the boys.

       We all went to Chuck E Cheese...

And Grandma became a great play toy!

Happy New Year!

Tom and I haven't been out for New Year's Eve in 4 years or so since Zac was born.  Last night we got to go out to dinner along with my brother and sister in law and our niece Laura!  My parents were gracious enough to watch all four kiddos for us!  We came back to the house after dinner and played poker.  It has been great to have family in town for the holidays and the kids have had an absolute blast.  Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, David, Andrea and the girls for traveling here this year!

This is Laura, Tom, Myself and Andrea at Naan in Legacy Center.

                          This is David after ONE beer on the way home at about 10:00!  We just don't  party like we used to!