Tyler's Birthday

In the morning, Tyler wouldn't officially accept a birthday wish until 8:17am, the time of his birth. Tyler got to get baptized on his 8th birthday. We participated in the Stake Baptims which are the first Saturday of the month, and it happened to fall on his bday. That was fun and something we looked forward to all year. It wasn't my first choice to have him baptized in a "herd" of people he didn't really know, but I vowed to follow the rules, when I saw as Primary Presidency member those that didn't. It was a lovely service, and although he was last baptized out of 9 kids that day, he felt special and probably didn't notice those things that I noticed.

The group there to support Tyler was a good one. Lots of family and a handful of local friends. Justin and Natalie Clayton are on the left. She is one of my dearest friends here, and they watched our kids while M and I went to San Diego. Jennifer Baird and her 2 sons Daniel and Jordan are good friends of my boys. Candida Bennett--Tyler's Primary teacher. Michele Kuhn--Primary counselor. Bishop Wilding, and the Aikens dad and kids Dallin (in Tyler's primary class) and his sister Olivia. Michael's parents from Cali. His brother and family in North Texas. My family (detailed below).
Michael asked all the men present to join in the confirmation.

We headed outside and all I really wanted was a picture of my family of 5. But Alyssa had to go to the bathroom and my mom wanted generational pictures.

So here is 4 generations on my dads side with his mom, Venece, who came from Clinton, Utah...Tyler is her oldest great grandchild. The fact that she came is huge because she's been sick off and on (and even used her oxygen a bit while she was here). She had never been to Austin and it had been a while since she's been down to Texas (my parents are in Houston and have been for 14 years). I'm so grateful my Grandma Hill came (and that my Uncle "mean" Dean and Awesome Aunt Bonnie accompanied her). I love her so much, she introduced Precious Moments to me and we both have a collection.

My moms parents, Neal and Faye Ball, have come to visit us in Austin a few times. The last time was Feb. 2008 for Valentines Day. They live in Riverdale, Utah. They are strong stalwart examples of how to live a full life. Each time I see my grandpa he squeezes me and tells me that all his friends run away from him when he comes home from visiting his grandkids because they are tired of hearing him brag about us. He has always poured his love out on me. My grandma is more soft spoken, but I've recently heard her recount times of her life as a young mother and it helped me to identify and relate to her on a whole new level. I love my grandparents.
Still waiting for my other kids, we got one of Michael, Tyler, and I
Although there was a moment where I felt my role at his baptism is to just smile, I realized a lot of my work was before this day. I just wanted a big squeeze from my boy.
Here we are...aren't we cute?
Well someone got knocked on our way down and it all went south.
Michael, his dad Kent, and Tyler

We came home, and Tyler changed into the shirt that aunt Kriste made for him, a big EIGHT!

Matthew also put his "6" shirt on that she made for him last month. What a thoughtful sister in law.
The great-grandparents
Tyler and Gpa Duke

Alyssa and little P

Tyler waiting so patiently for present opening time.

He was very pleased with himself that he continued to wear his brown church socks.
Matthew cuddled by Grandpa
Uncle "mean" Dean (my dads brother) was really great with all the kids. They continued on with my tradition to call him Uncle Mean (I dubbed it as a little girl, and he's always loved it--he's a tough cowboy type).
Tyler having a nice chat with his Great Grandma Hill. It was cute to see them getting to know each other better. Tyler is so good with adults. I was in awe at how well he would pay attention, nod appropriately, and smile, even if he didn't always know what to say.
We got Tyler a Texas sized Round Rock Donut for his cake. It's a local delicacy we like to share with out of towners anyway. And some yummy donut holes on the side. (Michael's dad saw these very donuts documented on TV in Cali as the top 10 donuts in the country).




Tyler got his very own set of scriptures, and he was so excited to start reading right then and there. Every day since then, he's poured over them, it makes me happy that he is excited to have his own set.

Great Grandparents gave him a book, a card, and a little $$$ Dukes gave him Bakugan and Pokemon

Tyler's Birthday wish was to go on a bikeride with his daddy. So off they went....

When they came home, we had an outing to the park where he played tennis

We all had fun, it was a beautiful day.



After a long day....
In the afternoon my grandma Hill left with my aunt and Uncle to fly back to Utah. The rest of us ate hamburgers at Fudruckers and came home to crash, too. It was a long, fun filled day.