A week of good friends!!

Our friends, Ryan and Laura, their daughter, Selah, were in town the past week for a wedding. It was so fun to visit with them and Tye and Selah enjoyed playing with each other again. They are only 2 weeks apart, and it is really fun to see them doing the same things even though they live on the other side of the world right now. We will miss them.

We also had a chance to catch up with old friends at Josh Smith's wedding, and that was icing on the cake...some of them have never met Tye and he did put on his charm. It was beautiful with some fantastic music...we would not expect anything less from that wedding (Josh did the music for our wedding and he is incredibly talented with very talented friends).

We all had a play date at the Children's Museum with the kids, and wow...was that an adventure. They had a blast and we were exhausted. If you have not had a chance to check it out, they have a toddler room that does not end...so many toys, so much fun. We actually never made it to the rest of the museum, but for $2.50 (with a coupon), it was well worth the time.

We tried so hard to get a picture of the kids together in one spot...well, you see what happened!





Here is photo of us with Ben and Donna Stuart. Donna introduced Russ to me, so they will always have a special place in our hearts.



My friend Laura and her little girl, Selah. (Great friend that is prayed for and missed).



Tye has also learned how to kick the ball...while walking! What a talented squirt :) Too cute to pass up!

Buttons...buttons...and more buttons.

Tye officially has an infatuation with buttons (I think it is pretty common among his buddies as well). He has been on a quest to find and master every button in our house. Let's see, he has found our printer power button, all of our remotes, loves the keyboard, alarm clocks, cell phones, thermometer, baby monitor, microwave, tv, and our camera. That does not include the answering machine, fax machine and copier at his grandparents house. It is amazing the curious minds they have.

He is also starting to make sounds for objects...for instance, when he sees the horse next door at his grandparents house, he makes the "ha" sound and the "ca" when he sees a car or if we walk out to the car. Sooo fun! Anyway, he is coming up on a year in a few weeks and we have been so blessed by him this year. Of course...here are a few photos and a video.

Our little button pusher in action.



A little better walking demonstration.



"My Boys" rooting for "The Boys" (Cowboys).



My son...hammin' it up as usual (especially in front of the camera)

We have a WALKER!!

Tye has started walking! I mean he is not about to enter a race, but he will walk about 10 feet or so by himself. He really likes to just cruise along the couch and then take off towards his toys. The funniest part is that it looks like he is marching...lots of steps with not really much ground covered, and of course he walks with his arms up in the air or out in front of him for protection. It is really cute and he enjoys his new way of travel.



He has also been busy trying new things...feeding the horses next door at his grandparents house, eating juicy, yummy apples all by himself, and going to the children's museum with Uncle Dave, and of course playtime with friends.









I also just discovered while taking a brief break from this post to change a diaper that he just cut his top two teeth!! I found out by the sound of GRINDING (like fingernails to a chalkboard)!! I think Tye is pretty surprised by this as well. The fun never stops!

Tye's pumpkin patch photos.

Our family trip to Albuquerque

We just got back from an amazing vacation/family reunion in beautiful Albuquerque, NM. If you have never been, you are missing out. The scenery is outstanding, the city is backed up to the Sandia Mountains and the cool, dry climate can't be beat.

It was a close call though. Tye got his first viral infection and running a 104 fever the day before we were supposed to leave...and on top of that, he had allergies and cutting his top two teeth. But, our little tough guy pulled through and his fever was down the next morning, so we decided to go, and I am glad we did. We had an incredible weekend visiting with all of Russ's aunt's, uncles, and cousins, taking worlds longest tram ride up the Sandia Mountains, experiencing the unforgettable sight of the Balloon Fiesta, and getting the tour of Albuquerque. Thanks Aunt Dee and Ralph for the amazing weekend.

Here are a few photos of the trip, and as you can imagine, Tye won over their hearts with his precious smile and laugh.

The view from the top of the tram ride was magnificent! You could see over 130 miles in the distance, and quite windy if you can't tell by the fly-away hair.


Here are some shots from the Balloon Fiesta. We left the house at 5:30AM in 40 degree weather, and it was well worth it!! As you will notice, Tye did not even attempt to remove the hat from his bald head.





The view from Aunt Dee's house...beautiful. I think I could wake up to this view every morning. How about you?


Russ's Aunt's and Uncle's (from left to right...Ralph and Dee Stone, Gary & Cecile, David & Judy Leatherman, and Tony & Nelda Brooks). They were an absolute joy with lots of laughter.


Monday, we checked out the new Sandia Resort and Casino on one of the local Indian Reservations. Here is a pic from the golf clubhouse.


Alright, alright...the last pic, Tye is appeasing his Mom by posing for this "fall" photo outside "El Pinto" for lunch.

Tye's "Beat Box" dance.

So Tye has started dancing, and dancing, and dancing. Well, I guess you would call it dancing. Any music that he hears now, he shakes his little booty. Here is a video at the top of our stairs with Russ providing the beat box.

The newest version of peek-a-boo...take 2.

At Grammy and Papa's last weekend Tye learned a new version of peek-a-boo in which he does the peek-ing and boo-ing. You just have to look amused and ask "Where's Tye?" Now that is all he wants to do. He also has learned how to dance, and shakes everything he has when he hears music or even if you just start shaking your head up and down. Can you believe he is already 10 months old? Crazy!! I need to start thinking about his birthday party plans...any ideas? Anyway...here is a video of Tye playing peek-a-boo. Hope you get a little laugh or at least a good smile out of it. Below are also a few pics from this past weekend in Dallas.


We went to Russ's 10 Year High School Reunion this past weekend and of his class of 22 people, 15 of them were there...pretty good turn out and he had a great time visiting and catching up on old times and new.


Tye blowing on the glass at Grammy and Papa's house. He loved standing up at the glass and looking outside at the trees, grass, cars, whatever babies enjoy staring at.


and this...my friends, is Tye's new fussy fit face...attractive, huh?