Middle Child Syndrome

Oh, Ty Ty! This sweet little guy is always there, and yet somehow is never the center of attention. These are all pictures of Ty when I was trying to take pictures of Kate. He would say, "Hey mom, here I am. Take a picture of me!" Sad. I still love you just as much, my little buddy Ty Ty!

The Bully, The Martyr, and the Mother Failure.

I'm finally getting a taste of what it's like to have a naughty bully for a child. I have had several friends that have battled this with their children and I have honestly always felt bad for them. I have never judged my friends thinking they were bad parents. I simply was just grateful that my child was not the bully. Well, what goes around, comes around. Here's a quick example of my latest challenge...

Introducing my Bully:

And the Martyr:

So the Bully decides it's a good idea to bite the Martyr on the shoulder as hard as he can. The Martyr screams as loud as he can. I observe the enormous and deep bite on his shoulder and unleash my wrath on the Bully. I spat his mouth and his bum (lightly - I promise) and sent him to his room. (I know that this is not the proper way to handle this situation, but I was acting on emotion and had never dealt with this before.) So the Bully screams like I have just bit him on the shoulder as hard as I could and he continues to cry as I put him in his room. I return to the Martyr to comfort him as he is still crying.

I say, "Are you OK?"

And he says, "I'm sad because now Ty is sad."

Me: "I was just punishing him for hurting you."

Him: "Well, I'm OK mom. I just feel bad for Ty."

Me: "He'll be OK. He knows that I love him. He just needs to learn that it's not OK to bite."

The night passes and the drama ends. The next morning I walk into the room just as the Bully is opening his jaw ready to clamp down on the Martyr. I run over to break it up.

I then say to the Bully: "No No. You do not bite your brother." - No violence this time. Calm.

The Bully laughs at me and runs away - of course.

I turn to the Martyr and say "If your brother tries to bite you again you need to yell for me to come so that I can spat his mouth again."

The Martyr replies after a moment of silence and looking at the ground: "Well then I'm not going to tell you mom, because I don't want you to hurt him."

I GIVE UP! Clearly I'm supposed to learn a lesson here, not the kids. I guess I need to find another way to punish my little Bully so that Collin doesn't feel the need to be a Martyr and continue to protect this nonsense! Suggestions parents of Bully's??? It's especially interesting to me because my Bully is 2, my Martyr is 5, and the Mother Failure is...well old enough to know how to handle this situation, and yet doesn't.

Ty's 2nd Birthday

Our little Ty Ty turned 2 on May 10th!

It was kind of a sad day because the poor little guy was sick with a chest cold, which also aggravated his asthma a bit. His birthday party was cancelled and only a few brave family members stuck around to sing to him and watch him open his presents. Lucky for him, he's 2 - so he really didn't know the difference. But he still loves to sing "Happy Birthday" - and that was probably his favorite part of the day!

His two favorite gifts were this Little People Bus and the Water Table that Grandma and Grandpa Clegg gave to him.
Happy Birthday Ty! We love you!

The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

Have you ever had a child that was seriously ill? You know the kind where they lay around on the floor and won't move because they are so sick? Temperature hovering around 102*? This goes on for a couple of days and finally you decide that maybe it's not just a cold. Ya, that's my little Ty. So, then you rush him to the Doctor and on the way he suddenly perks up a bit, and by the time you enter into the doctor's office and spot the fish tank, his temperature has dropped completely back to normal? And then by the time the nurse calls you back to the room, and the Doc enters the room your child is running around the room like it's a playground? "I swear, he was deathly ill an hour ago!" Ever happen to you? Well, it happened to me THREE times this weekend! So, after a "hyper" doctor visit on Friday, a phone call to the on-call doctor on Saturday, another "hyper" Instacare visit and X-Ray on Sunday (which I was in full tears exclaiming "He's sick, I promise!"); and finally, another "energetic" visit to the doctor on Monday. Side note: In between each of these visits Ty would go home and be sicker than a dog. I finally convinced my doctor that my child was ill; with the help of a low-grade fever and some x-rays that finally declared that my child had viral pneumonia and a double ear infection. But this was not before my doctor diagnosed my little Ty with an "Amazing left-handed curve ball" because Ty was more interested in playing ball with his doctor than laying down so that Doc could check out his ears. Our great pediatrician finally handed me a Rx for some antibiotics and probably wanted to say, but didn't, "Now get out!" - as Ty cries out "Wolf, Wolf!" and I repeat after him, making me look dumb. What a weekend! Has this ever happened to any of you? You now have my sympathy. I believe you if you tell me your child is sick.

The "Licensed Character" Disclaimer

Okay, so I have never been a fan of any kind of "Licensed Character" item. I always swore that my kid would never be the kid wearing the "Spongebob" shirt or the "Spiderman" light up shoes. Now that I'm a mother of two boys, I am faced head on with this dilemma. I still do not approve of it, and yet, I've gotten to the point that I just don't care anymore. Last year Jesse's sister bought Collin some "Spiderman" sheets for his bed. Collin was in Heaven! He was in love with his new sheets. I couldn't help but just be excited for him. I try to remember back to my days of loving "My Little Pony" or "Cabbage Patch Kids". I know for a fact that I had a couple of "Licensed" shirts that I loved wearing.

So, basically what I'm getting at here is, If you see my kid wearing a "Licensed" shirt or pajamas, this post is my:

"OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER" -

I KNOW, I DON'T APPROVE OF IT EITHER, and I know we look like we shop at Wal-mart and K-mart, and just so you know, WE DO.

So Anyway, I hope you all have a great New Year.

Christmas Morning

Collin completely forgot that it was Christmas that morning. He came into our bedroom and climbed into bed with us and did not mention a thing about it. Jesse and I kept looking at each other laughing because he had no idea what was awaiting him out in the living room. Santa was good to our little boys this year because they were good for their mommy and daddy (most of the time)!

Collin walking out amazed at all of the toys, and discovering something much bigger in the dining room...A miniature bounce house equipped with balls!Collin also enjoyed several laps around the house on his new scooter.
Ty discovering his new grocery cart and groceries, while gripping the popper gun.Fun in the bounce house! Ty was in HEAVEN!
Later that day we went over to Holly and Matt's house to enjoy some time with Jesse's family. Justin and Julie braved the awful weather and made it to Salt Lake safely. Holly got nearly two feet of snow at her house in South Jordan, while our house in West Jordan got a mere few inches! Santa brought Lauren and Lindsey the cutest American Girl dolls that looked just like them!

I don't have any pictures of this (because I'm the family photographer), but Jesse surprised me with a new IPOD for Christmas! I'm so behind the times, but I'm thrilled with it and I'm having so much fun downloading all of my favorite songs! We had a great Christmas and we are so grateful for all of the many blessings we enjoy all year long!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Decorating the Tree

The boys had so much fun tonight decorating the tree. It's going to be a long month with Ty and the tree. He wants to pull everything off of it! (Which is actually fine. I don't mind that. Everything that he can reach isn't breakable. I'm more worried about him pulling the entire tree over on top of himself!) Oh well - What do you do? Happy Decorating to you all! May your holiday season be merry and bright!

Collin carefully placing an ornament

Ty loving the new "toy" in the house!

Collin placing the star on the tree with the help of Jesse.

Best Buddies

And at the end of a crazy busy day... the sweetest moment ever!

I love my cute little boys!

Now Presenting: Batman & Robin

Starring: Collin as Batman & Baby Ty as Robin

Together they will take on Halloween with a Vengeance!

With a special thanks to their father (and my hubby) Jesse for spending hours and hours making their adorable costumes!

My Lil' Punkins

We went to Arctic Circle tonight because Collin's been begging for one of those "square pumpkin kid's meals". He got a pumpkin flashlight in the kids meal, and of course, he was more interested in the box that the meal came in than the toy! After we were done eating, Collin asked me to cut out the pumpkins on the box so that he could wear them as masks. Ty thought it was a great idea too. They had so much fun with these tonight. Cute boys.

"Secret"

Do you remember building huts/forts as a kid? They were one of my favorite things to do when I was young. Collin calls his hut a "secret". I think it is derived from "secret hide away" - but I'm not 100% sure. Collin asks for a "secret" on a daily basis. Ty loves them as well. They entertain themselves for hours at a time in one of these babies! So, if you have bored kids, give a "secret" a try! FYI - A queen or king sized sheet works a lot better than a heavy blanket for the roof of the secret!

It's Like a Toy Bubble Bath!

Collin is always creative in entertaining himself. Poor Ty is usually the brunt of the entertainment. Collin yelled out to me "MOM! Come see, It's like a toy bubble bath!" Ty was sitting there patiently covered in toys while Collin was pushing him around the house in the laundry basket. Collin has decided that this skeleton shirt and short green shorts are his new favorite PJ ensemble. What do you do? It's totally ghetto, but he's happy as a lark.

Let the Games Begin!

Collin started T-ball this week. These pictures are from their first practice. All I can think is...Let the games begin! I have seen the serious nature of sports in children through my sister Wendy's boys. I always knew that I would be the "soccer/baseball/football mom" but actually beginning the process is a little overwhelming. Collin has 2 games per week. It seems a little over the top for a 4 year old. But, the most important thing is that he loves it! He likes baseball better than soccer (so far). Cute little leaguer
Collin's biggest fan - Ty (Who was squriming in his stroller, dying to play ball with the kids!)
Collin's team mate and good friend Johna Tucker

Four Year Old Fashion

Collin is cracking me up lately! He changes his clothes about 4-5 times a day. He refers to this particular outfit as his "Inja Clothes" (Ninja). Totally Funny! Ty is in his 15 month old fashionable outfit, known as his diaper, after playing in the toilet and soaking his clothes. It's always an eventful disaster around here! It's a good thing they're so cute!

Sweet, Nerdy Boy!

Fun at the Fountains!

We went downtown to Gateway yesterday with Wendy and her kids. When I told Jesse we were going to shop, eat lunch & play in the fountains, he laughed and said, "Oh you're joining in white trash Monday at the fountains?" Real funny! We had a great time there and didn't feel the least bit white trash! It's a good time for the kids and I was able to get a couple of things while we shopped, which was truly a miracle, because if you know me - I HATE to SHOP!

The Littlest Climber

Our little Ty has managed to conquer every piece of furniture in our house that there is to climb. This is an average day at our house; We need to constantly make sure all of the chairs are pushed into the table and that all the bathroom doors are closed. Yes, these pics were all taken within a couple of hours this morning! He is so proud of himself for his accomplishments and I have to admit that it's totally funny! Obviously, the mother in me screams that he's going to fall and crack his cute little head open, so down we take him, with a "no no"! And then he laughs, points his little finger, and says "no no" to himself! This is such a cute age, regardless of the constant energy! Then there's little Collin, minding his mother, and sitting quietly on the couch.

On the kitchen table...


On the bathroom counter top...


On the train table...


Sweet little Collin...

Independance Day Fun with the Fam!

More good times at Wendy's pool. The pool was such a great addition to our family. Here is the father of this crazy brood - Steve Clegg, survivor of all things. Cally & Me
Hot hubby & Baby Ty
Mom, Collin, Cambree, Kassidy & Brad
Brian with his girls Emelyn (in his arms) & Grace
Ty & Hailey
Mom & Grandma - They are the best aren't they? My grandma June still works out several times a week. She just turned 93 in June and is expecting her 100th great grandchild this summer! She is the ultimate role model on how to live your life to the fullest, and my mom Deanne is following right in her footsteps!
And last, but certainly not the least, Wendy - the "Lifeguard"