Tyler has loved trains for many years now, being only 4, it's amazing how many of his years on this earth have been spent on the floor, face to face with his trains, lost in a pretend world. Lately I've been trying to take more pictures because I know it won't always be like this. Someday we'll pack all the tracks and "enjunes" away, place the box in the attic and move onto more "exciting" things. But for today it's Thomas and his friends....each morning he begins anew with his tracks....a clean canvas on which to build his railroad.
Thomas was in town a last week so each day we would drive past the railroad near our home, just to catch a glimpse. 
One day we ventured out with my sister and her children, into the maddening crowds of overly stimulated toddlers, but it was worth it! Memories take work, but they are always...always worth the effort. Tyler, I love to watch you play with your special trains....you are precious! 
Luke doesn't like the loud whistle, but he still loves to watch Thomas in real life!
"A child reminds us that playtimeis an essential part of our daily routine."
~Anonymous~
Jake's business, 
feeding little fishy crackers to the ducks, 
learning how to play a little golf and eating ice cream. 
Tyler was quite good at the game,
We were having a lovely time until Luke tripped and banged his head on a rock! And what a bruise that made...not so fun! Although I will say a little bit of ice cream helped tremendously! I love when Jake works nearby...it's fun for the kids to see him at work and see the things he is building and creating. We just found out that their business will be putting in a new park RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET this summer....how wonderful is that? It really is 
("Graduation" at preschool days....check out the cap; a plastic bowl turned upside-down w/ a sheet of consturction paper on top! Loves it!)
A few weeks ago my friend Tina came and took some amazing pictures of the boys, Paisley and I. She is so talented it's not even funny!! I had seen a picture awhile ago of little feet all piled together and just loved it. I thought that would be a neat idea for this Father's day, to get a cute pic of the kids feet all mushed together. She ended up getting so many great pictures so I think I'll do a photo book as well. There are so many personalized gifts you can do...I like using 
It's been such an adventure getting to know my "guy", being his Mama and watching him grow from a newborn into a toddler and now a little boy! I think what has surprised me the most over the years is that he may look just like his Daddy, but he is the male form of me!! I understand him, I just "get" him and I think I have patience for his little ways because I sort of know what's going on inside him, (most of the time)! This year he has, in my eyes, really transitioned from a toddler into a little boy, a young man in the making. 
I see him understanding what I tell him, being able to respond to me and to others. I see a true sincerity in him when interacting with others. Someday, should you call our home, you will be greeted with quite the joyous hello from him. He'll act as though he hasn't talked to you in years, (even if he just saw you yesterday). He really values the people around him, (even though he may fight with his best friends: his brother Luke and his cousin Chase)! He genuinely ENJOYS people and would be with his "friends" all day, every day if allowed. His imagination and pretend play has blossomed before my eyes over the past 6 months. I will say he has always had a pretend world with his beloved Thomas the tank engine. It's going on two years now and his favorite past time continues to be playing with his trains. 
Here he is playing Doctor with Luke. I heard them in there the other day, Tyler saying to his patient, "now push, puuuuuuuuuuush". Yeah, I think he watches "The Baby Story" on TLC a bit too much with me!! 
Lately he's really been cracking me up: We have a CD that has all sorts of songs on it and the one song sings about Argentina. "TINA! Oh Mama, that song is about Owen's Mom, Tina" he informs me!! Then there is a song that says "abracadabra", "Oh Mama, that song is about my cousin Deborah!" Cracking me up. Our neighbor Ginny was here the other day and Tyler just blatantly said, "Oh, you have breasts too!" (I wanted to crawl under the couch!!!!) Instead I kindly said with a half smile, "he's learning all sorts of new things since his sister was born!" um, yeah!
