What's in a name?

Ty came home with his first homework assignment on Wednesday.  In case you can't read the note from his teacher, it says:  He tells the cafeteria his name is TyTy.  We are trying to get him used to Rylan.

Let's tell the whole story now.  When we were searching for a name for our 2nd child I came across a kid that had submitted artwork to "The Friend" magazine with the name Rylan.  I kind of liked Ryan as a name but it was too common for me.  When I saw Rylan I fell in love with the name.  Preston picked the middle name of Ty.  I asked if he wanted Tyson or Tyler and he said nope, just Ty.  I was totally ok with that.  Not even a week after he was born Preston started calling him Ty because he said Aydon & Rylan sounded too much alike (umm...okaaaay).  Love you babe!  :)  I tried to still call him Rylan but everyone started calling him Ty so I did too.  When he was younger I would call him Rylan and he would say, "I'm not Rylan...I'm TyTy!"  So that's what he's been.  Even at preschool last year he wrote his name as TyTy.  Not so secretly, I had always hoped that when he started school he would go by Rylan.  When I registered him I asked him what he wanted to be called and he said he didn't care.  It feels weird to call him Rylan so I registered him with "Ty" in quotations after talking with the secretary on how to make sure he was called Ty.  When we went to meet his teacher the Friday before school started she had him as Rylan and I told her he goes by Ty.  She said ok but was super busy so obviously the message didn't quite register.  

So now I'm confused.  I asked Ty again what he wants to go by and again he said he didn't care.  I thought that since he didn't care it was probably good for him to learn & practice Rylan.  He also is playing football and they put the names of the boys on the back of the their helmets and they put "Rylan Ty".  I asked Preston why they put both and he didn't know either?  The thing is I can't call him Rylan at home...it's such a habit to call him Ty that I have to constantly correct myself.  As much as I've always wanted him to go by Rylan he is TyTy.  Everyone knows him as Ty & it's such a hard adjustment.  I have decided that until he says something to me about what he wants to go by that I will just leave it...let it be his decision what he wants to be called.  Now concentrate...Rylan, Rylan, Rylan.  Please no RyRy though.  :)

My baby is 1 year old!

Our sweet Keylan Drew is one year old.  Boy, how time has flown!  I've tried my hardest to enjoy my little baby.  Growing up, I always dreamed of having a little blonde hair, blue eyed boy and I got my wish!  

 I get all the time that Drew is Preston's mini-me...I think you can really see it in this picture.

 I rarely get pictures of me & my kids so I made sure to get one at his party!

 Drew is blessed with three older brothers that absolutely adore him.

All of Preston's family was out of town so it was just my family and since John's birthday is the 8th & Drew's is the 9th we had a combined party for them.  I think that's why John wanted Drew to be born on his birthday...so he was guaranteed a party every year!  ;)  We kept it simple with pizza, wings, & salad.  Drew loves to eat anything and ate about 1 1/2 pieces of pizza, little pig!  

 We put all the gifts in bags and he pulled the tissue paper out of all of them & tried his best to pull the gifts out.  He did need a little help but I was amazed at how well he did!

Uncle Garrett & family had come to visit over the weekend and left him a present.  He loved it! 

 Granny & Pappaw got him his very own chair!  He looked so big sitting in it too.

 His older brothers helping make sure all his toys worked that Sunshine & us got him!  ;)

I love that 1st picture...he didn't want anything to do with that candle.  After Ty blew it out for him he was ready to dig in.

He took a couple of huge handfuls and loved it!  Mean ol' daddy wouldn't let him just keep eating.  This was what was left of his little cake!

A picture of the birthday boys!

My baby brother is all grown up at 25 now.  He even had to work on his birthday...that's when you know!

Happy birthday to the baby boys of the family!

1st day of school 2011

Ty has been asking about this day since he graduated from preschool last year.  We are so very happy that he has Aydon's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Corum.  Aydon's in 2nd grade this year in Mrs. Bumgarner's class.  We're a little bit nervous about her because we don't know too much about her.  We've known the two aides in his previous classes so we've both felt very comfortable about class knowing someone's there to talk to me if there are any problems or comfort him if he needs it.  (which he has in both classes!  :)  He's a little sensitive like his daddy!)  

 My boys are so handsome & getting so big.  They also didn't listen when I asked them to brush their teeth before they got dressed & got toothpaste on their shirts!  Oh well, at least people know they brushed their teeth today, huh?

 The bus was super late this morning so we had plenty of time to snap pictures.  Zach wanted dressed so he could go "ride the bus" too.  We let him get dressed and he quickly got over not getting to get on the bus.  Drew had a blast walking up and down the sidewalk while we were waiting.

We were getting ready to take them to school when they bus finally showed up.  I was sad that Aydon's bus driver for the past two years isn't working anymore.  Lot's of new changes this year.  Hopefully we all adjust well.  

I'm proud to say that I did not even get close to crying this time around.  I think it's just hard on that first one letting go.  I did get a little sad though that Ty's not home with me anymore but I know he's ready.  I'm excited for Zach & Drew...they already have tons of fun but I'm sure with it being just the two of them at home it'll get even better.  I was really happy to get down to deep cleaning this house since it has been neglected all summer.  I have a list a mile long of things in & out of the house that need done so I'll be busy the next couple of weeks.

As much as I would love to have two more weeks of summer with my family I am happy to get back to a routine.  I am not looking forward to the alarm but since all my kids sleep through the night now I'm hoping I won't hate the alarm as much as I have the last couple of years.

Best brother award goes to...

Zack attack is amazing!  He loves his baby brother soo much!.  When we go to church, Zack is in nursery & Drew is at the age that he won't let me sit & listen in my class so we go to the nursery to play.  Everytime we walk in Zack's class is having snacks & Zack always makes sure Drew gets some yummy snacks and helps him find toys to play with.  At home, Zack will constantly "interpret" for me what Drew wants.  He really is a wonderful big brother.  

He gets the best "Big Brother" award though for helping Drew learn to walk.  Zack watched as I was trying to get Drew to take some steps and once Drew was taking one step Zack learned how to help him.  For the past week he has been holding Drew's hands as he walks backwards nearly dragging Drew around.  I was a bit concerned at first but everytime Zack was helping him Drew was laughing and as happy as could be so I let him do it.  Well wouldn't you know soon after Zack started walking him around Drew figured out very quickly how to walk on his own.  Thanks Zack for your help.  And can you believe my baby is walking now?

Preston's union has a party every year in August where they cook for the family, raffle prizes & have fun stuff for the kids to do & win.  We have NEVER gone.  My sister took the boys last year and they had so much fun playing that I decided I would take the boys (by myself of course b/c Preston was working) this year.  We ate, let the boys play & it was super hot & I was ready to go but the boys weren't done.  Aydon kept asking to wait for the raffles to see if he'd win a prize.  I'm glad he convinced me to stay because Zack won a bike!!  They had 2 "teen" size bikes & 1 20" bike.

Of course it is super big.  With very little convincing he let Ty have it & Ty "owes him one". 

Zack wins the "Best Little Brother" Award for letting Ty Ty have this RED bike!  :)  We love you Zack Attack.