Dylan Update

Dylan is such a funny kid! The more he grows into his personality, the more I enjoy him. Sure, he still throws a mean temper tantrum (I had no idea the 2 year old tantrums came back around full swing in a 5 year old body) but in general he is my little buddy. He picks up on everything and is very inquisitive about his world. He is learning so much. Most days he AMAZES me with his questions and understanding of his world. He learned to tie his shoes back in July, which was one of the best days ever for me. I was making him wear velcro shoes, but he LOVES the tie sketchers my mom gave him. I had showed him a few times how to tie shoes, but he always just seemed to get frustrated so I didn't push it. But my insistence on his wearing velcro was enough to motivate him to learn. He just did it one day. It's like all the times I'd showed him finally made sense to him. After he tied his shoes once, he tied them at least 40 more times that day. I don't know if he was practicing or trying to get it just right or what, but that was enough to help it stick. He even figured out how to tie a double knot by himself. What a big boy! He still loves to play with dinosaurs, animals and his tools. He is getting better and better about just playing alone when Preston is sleeping and Anthony isn't around. He knows if he asks me too many questions, I'll make him read some more. :) Actually, he LOVES stories and is starting to sound out words. Hopefully once he catches on, reading will just come easily to him. He LOVES kindergarten, but it's basically just fun and learning to obey at this point. Nothing is actually new to him. That's the hard part about kindergarten. All the kids come with a different level and ability so catching up the stragglers seems to be the focus of KG. I think preschool was actually more difficult. Anyway, I thought I'd just write down some of the things that are so common to me right now because I know in a few months I will forget how it was right now. Here are some of the funny "Dylanisms" I have managed to write down the last month or two.

• D: Mom I want to go to Fairyland. M: What's Fairyland? D: Where all the tooth fairies live.
• During the prayer at church he was burying his head in my shoulder and rolling it around. It was driving me crazy so after the prayer I told him not to do that anymore and to be more reverent during the prayer. He said, "But mom, I was praying as hard as Joseph Smith."
• Dylan saw Nick Canon on America's Got Talent and said, "Mom is that Barak Obama?"
• We were out sitting in my step dad's old pickup truck that we had borrowed to run a few errands. Out of the blue Dylan says, "I'm so glad I have a Papi who doesn't smoke."
• Every time I fill the car up with gas he begs me to get 91 grade. I always tell him no because it costs more money. When I was filling up one time he asked and I again told him no and he responded with, "But mom, if you use 91 then it's better because it will last 91 days." I told him if that was true I'd for sure buy it.
• D: Mom did you name me? M:Yeah. D: When I was a baby? M: Yes. D: What did you name me when I was a baby? M: Dylan. D: Oh, okay.
• I was trying to describe Fresca to Dylan before he tried it. I told him it was kind of spicy because he uses that word to describe anything that's not bland or that makes his tongue tingle. He tasted it and said, "No mom, it's not spicy. It's just kind of jiggly."
• The song "My Maria" came on the radio and I said, "Listen, Dylan. It's my song." He listened, started smiling and said, "Is that Papi singing to you when you got married?"
• Dylan was talking to me and said, "My principal's name is Mr. Extra." (it's really Mr. Eckstrom).
• Marcos was pushing Dylan on the tire swing at the park and Dylan said, "Faster, my brotha." Marcos laughed a little and turned to me and said, "Where did he learn that?" I told him I didn't know. Dylan overheard the whole thing and said, "From you and Nate (my brother-in-law) Papi." It's true, they always talk to each other like that. You don't think they're paying attention, but they always are!
• Dylan was in the bathtub and poured some warm water on himself and said, "This is the life."
• When we were at Wheeler Farm together as a family we were all sitting under the shade eating our picnic. It was so nice to have some shade and I said, "I love these big old trees." Dylan replied with surprise and excitement in his voice, "Pickled trees?"

Fixin stuff with his tools in his new tool belt

(a neighbor gave it to him because they don't use it anymore)

He's getting so brave. Look at his feet - he's doing "tricks" already :)

Dylan loves to be "healthy". All I have to do to get him to eat vegetables is remind him they help him grow healthy and strong. Marcos and I have been trying to workout more. Dylan loves to join us when we workout. Here are his pushups.

And pullups. He's actually getting pretty good at these.

This is the pipe cleaner forest we built. Grandma Suzanne gave crafts to the kids at Flaming Gorge to keep them busy, but this one was more complicated so we brought it home. He begged and begged me to help him so we spent an afternoon making these animals. It took FOREVER but he was so grateful and played with them all day. He's starting to like crafts and coloring more. He used to dread it, but now he looks forward to it. It helps that he can focus better now...I guess he's growing up.