The Francis Family: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Discovering Shadows

Last night, Tyson and I went out for a walk and Tyson noticed his shadow for the first time! At first he would try to step on my shadow and would bust up laughing every time he did! It was so cute! He would get excited when we walked under a street light and he was pretty much standing on top of his shadow and then he walked backwards the rest of the way so he could make sure his shadow was coming along, too. Who knew shadows were so much fun?!! He was giggling the whole time and it was too cute not to drag Christian outside (even though he was studying for a test) and join us. I love these guys!!

Oh, and Christian knocked out two of his teeth playing basketball on Thursday night. We're still waiting to see if they're vital or not...cross your fingers for us! His uncle lost an eye playing ball so we're actually feeling quite blessed! Anyway, there's our craziness in a nutshell!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Growing up!

I feel like I'm going to regret taking so much for granted with the next kid. For example, Tyson is pretty much potty training himself! He tells me when he needs to pee or pooh and then I set him on the 'big boy potty' where he proceeds to do either without much help! We finally had to get him some marshmallows to reward him since he'd say he needed to pee and then when I asked him if he wanted to go to the big boy potty he would say, "No, right here!" and then go stand against the wall. He's still wearing diapers since he gets too excited when he pees on the floor through his underwear, "WOW!!" but it's been nice to see him training himself! What a big boy!

Also, ever since he has learned how to open doors he's been reveling in the freedom! Here he is after helping himself to the pancake mix in the pantry! I love his smile here! He's finally starting to eat more and he can talk so much better now! I'm nervous to start back over at ground zero with the next kid but I am really enjoying this stage in Tyson's life! He is such a sweet boy and I love him so much!!

Mondre

My mom and new step-dad came to visit us this past week! It ended up going much better than I expected (which goes to show that you really can't judge someone based on rumors and you really shouldn't judge them at all...oops! Sorry Andre!) Their visit also showed me that I'm not quite over the divorce. But, I think it's a good thing to actually face it now, so I'm glad they came up. Plus, it is always fun for me to see my mom!

We went to the Alamo!

We went to the Japanese Tea Gardens. These are cool because it is so serene and it's free! I think this is my favorite time of year to visit them because the flowers are so beautiful!

We rode the train around Brackenridge park which Tyson loved! It's only three bucks a person (Tyson is free) so I think we may end up doing this more often during the day!!

Tyson loves to be read to! I'm so lucky he'll sit through books and books over and over again!

Also, my brother Dan and his awesome wife Katie moved to Austin so we got to spend time with them, too! Dan's birthday is just two weeks after mine so we did a double celebration. Thanks Katie for the yummy dessert! Happy birthday Dan!

Still ten weeks to go! you can definitely tell there's a baby in there!

Thanks for coming to visit us guys! We love you!!

My Birthday

My Birthday was on labor day this year and we went to the beach! We were told we had to leave due to a tropical storm coming in and right when we were ready to go they told us we could stay! I'm glad we did, too! It was beautiful, there was good food, friends, and Tyson is at the perfect age to enjoy things like this! Thanks to the Hanks for driving us there and thanks to everyone who called me on my birthday! It was a wonderful day!

The day before my good friend Lyndsay Riggs made me this cake...isn't it gorgeous! She is amazing!! Thanks Lyndsay!! Wow 25 actually does feel older!!

Dad's visit

A few weeks ago my dad came up to visit and it was so fun to see him interact with Tyson. Tyson LOVED having his grandpa to play with! Dad treated us to Toy Story 3 at the theaters and Tyson has been sleeping with his cowboy puppet (thanks Nichole!) and talking about cowboys ever since! Thanks for coming out Dad! I only wish it could have been a longer visit!

We also went to Chuckee Cheeses which was really fun!

My favorite part was just being home and watching my dad be such a great grandpa to Tyson. I love you Dad!

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

A Beautiful Quote

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." Marjorie Pay Hinckley