Kyler the Smiler turns two!

Kyler turned 2!

This little guy is just a little firecracker of energy and is happy ALL. THE. TIME! (Not really sure what's going on with his hair in this picture)!

True to form, Kyler was tickled that he had a car cake and that he received so much attention on his special day!

Somehow this little guy turned from a dark-haired little monkey, to a toe-headed bundle of personality!

Climbing is his specialty!

He is the strongest little kid we've ever seen and since birth he's blown us away with his strength. We joke that it's from his steroids that he takes for his asthma!

Whenever we can't find Kyler, he is surely in the kitchen sneaking food. His appetite is enormous and loves every kind of food except spinach! His favorite trick is to do a pull-up onto the counter, look around to see what food is there, and grab it with one hand and then put himself down and run! He's a little scoundrel.

Kyler is still small, but has made up some major ground in his height and definitely in his weight! He's now just a round little ball, and the comment we always get from others is "he can really eat!" We joke that he will run for president someday because he knows how to win people over and tries to do so almost everywhere he goes. He is always happy and is such a cheezer! He loves to give the cheesiest smiles to anyone and everyone. The food-serving ladies at Costco know him by name (even though we only go there about once a month) because they say he always makes their day with his smiles, waves, cute words, and total happiness. He's a great talker and is stringing 4-5 word sentences already! He also is ready to be potty-trained. He loves his mama, his blue blanket, his binky, his bed, food, and making others smile. He loves giving hugs, high fives, or knuckles to anyone and everyone. Occasionally, he is intimidated by loud noises or new situations but once he warms up he is completely content. He is a great sleeper. This year he only had one surgery -- which was another set of ear tubes and his adenoids out. We thought he had outgrown the residual effects of his RSV, but once sick season came around again, he continued to have lots of breathing trouble, resulting in an asthma diagnosis. We think his ravaging desire to eat is a gift from God so that he could endure all the health issues and continue growing and thriving through it all. We are wondering if his appetite will ever slow down!

Grateful fur

Somehow we didn't take a whole lot of pictures this Thanksgiving. But, we are 'grateful fur' what we have. Our memories included GORGEOUS weather (which rarely happens here), wonderful family time, and good food. Who could ask for a better day?

Dave came up with a fun idea to utilize Post-it Notes -- I mean to think about and express our gratitude (very few things in this house don't involve a Post-it Note).

We all listed multiple things we are grateful fur and created a fun gratitude wall.

But mostly, we were so thankful to share the weekend with two of our favorite people Lauren and Grandma T.

Extra hands in the kitchen mean one important blessing in this house -- Kent family rolls.

For the first time that I've hosted Thanksgiving, I agreed to the paper plates. So hilarious to see with the crystal goblets! Not my favorite thing, but at the time it was enjoyable.

'Grateful fur' is the way Lauren used to say prayers, and it has stuck as a family joke. Some things we are grateful fur on the post-it wall: Aubrie, Davey, turkey, Aubrie and Ellie reading to Ky and Tey, me!, Kyler's smiles, 'famaly,' Lauren's 'cokis', Twilight, heart, 'cranes,' Post-its, Luna Lovegood, Mommy, Harry Potter, clothes, Albus Dumbledore, Autumn, treats, Riya, books ...

Teyah's Haircut

Because Teyah's hair has never thickened up and her face is so delicate, we thought a short style would suit her better. So, here's the before picture.



Here's the brave girl.

Wow! It's amazing how a stacked cut like this can make her hair look so thick!

What a cutie!

I think her favorite part was all the attention she received from everyone she came in contact with afterwards. If they didn't say something, she made sure she pointed it out!

Sneakin' Snacks

It's that look again. The looks that says, "Oh, am I not supposed to be downing this?" We've seen this face many times after Kyler disappears into the pantry or does a pull up to the counter to quickly steal food and run.

We've seen him rip open cereal boxes, jars of peanut butter, and buckets of dry oatmeal and with both hands shovel the goods in his mouth as fast as possible. He's a sneaky little guy who LOVES to eat. If he were on 'Survival,' no doubt this kid would win. We are pretty sure this talent did indeed help him endure a rough start in his life -- when eating was physically challenging. His weight has gone from the 3rd percentile, all the way to the 75th! That's quite a jump! Whenever we drop him off at somebody's house, the comment when we return, is "Man, can that kid eat?! He ate as much as I did!" Thank goodness for his will to eat!

Aubrie's first volleyball

Growing up, my biggest desire in life was to be a 5'10" left-handed setter. But, since I only grew to be 5'4" and was very right-handed, that dream obviously didn't go very well. But, of course when my first-born daughter first showed signs of being a lefty at age 1, my dream was rekindled -- maybe my daughter could be the above-mentioned successful setter?


In Minnesota, third grade is the age to start volleyball, so we signed Aubrie up for her two-month trial run. Watching third graders play volleyball is probably about as exciting as watching paint dry. The sad thing is that I think it's only about that fun for them too!


We tried to stay positive and remind her that nothing is fun until you put a lot of work and effort into it -- because that is when you finally get some strong skills. It was a good lesson, I think, because by the end of the season, she started to enjoy herself more and have a little more confidence.


I had always promised myself that I would try to not push my childhood dreams and goals onto my children, but it was certainly fun to see my lefty playing my game! Who knows if Aubrie will want to play again, but for this year, I am pretty sure she and I both learned a lesson or two.

Aubrie's writing

Perhaps this post is for Grandparent's appreciation only. But every once in a while the kids bring home a piece of artwork, writing, or test score that makes a mother proud. I wanted to preserve this piece. Aubrie's teachers were thrilled to share it with us at parent conferences and we are thrilled to share it to the world. Here is our little writer's work. Note: All spelling and punctuation is hers.

A Windy, Windy, 'Windsday'

By, Aubrie, age 8

We were sooooo exited.

My family and I were staying at Blue Harbor Resort, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Blue Harbor had a waterpark, and was on the beach, next to Lake Michigan.

We walked to the relaxing beach. The waters were sparkling, and the lake seemed to go on forever and ever.

We were on the beach, and it was beautiful. The sky was blue, it was very sunny, and the soft sand wasn't too hot, or too cold.

I was walking walking in the lake. I loved the smooth, bumpy, texture of the lake's bottom. We were all relaxed, and having fun.

What a beautiful day this is, I thought, gazing dreamily up at the sky. Suddenly, I saw the sun go behind the clouds.

Suddenly, I felt a strong, cold, wind, that made me shiver and think of the phrase; 'Jack Frost nipping at your nose' from the song I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.

Teyah shrieked.

"M..m-m-m ... Mom?" Ellie stammered.

I walked over. So did Dad.

I watched the news last night, and the weather said it was going to be stormy. Maybe we should go." Mom said.

"Noooooooo!" Ellie and Teyah said together.

So we stayed.

But soon it grew windy. It got windier and windier. Eventually the wind howled. The grass was swaying wildly, and I could literally see the sand blowing in groups 'round the beach, like little fish swimming in classes through the ocean.

Sand blew in my eyes. Teyah and Kyler screamed.

"We need to go." Dad said, grabbing our raft. He headed down the sandy trail, that led to the hotel.

"Okay." Mom said as she grabbed the book she had been reading, and put it in her bag. Then she handed us towels, picked Kyler up, and followed dad.

Me and Ellie picked up sand toys, and followed on the narrow trail. And Teyah followed us.

It was like we were a family of ducks, crossing the road, marching in a single file line.

It was hard to see the path, because my eyeballs seemed to be filled with sand. I found myself squinting. I felt like I might blow away.

But we kept walking. But soon, I realized I no longer was walking, I was running!

"Wait for meeee!!" I heard Teyah scream. (She's four, so she can't say R's and L's)

Apparently, no one heard her. I ran back, and picked her up. Then I ran to catch up.

"I we-wee, we-wee DO NOT wike da wind!" Teyah yelled.

"I know Teyah." I said.

Soon, we arrived at the hotel. I put Teyah down. She gave me a hug.

I felt like a hero.

Then we headed for the waterpark. And on our way, Teyah said, "I wuv you Aubwee." She gave me a big hug.

"I love you too." I replied.

THE END!

About the Author

Aubrie lives in Minnesota with her parents, two younger sisters Elliana and Teyah, and little bro Kyler. She is eight and three quarters, and in 3rd grade. She enjoys soccer, swimming, sewing, crafts, singing, drawing, dancing, and reading. Her favorite series is: Harry Potter, and she is currently reading the fifth; Harry Potter And the Order Of The Pheonix. She loves animals, and wishes dearly that her parents will let her have a pet.