TJ and Aunt Jaci

TJ had on a cute new outfit so I was snapping shots with my phone. Jaci was over doing laundry and she was helping me make him smile. I thought she was doing such a great job I thought I would record her for a while...

Her tactics worked and together we got TJ to look pretty happy for some of the pictures. Although he looks really cute all on his own...

This cute outfit brought to you by: Aunt Jen Fenstermaker

Aunt Jaci is so fun!

Are you taking pictures?

Hi Mom :)

A little wobbly

His toes are really interesting

BIG SMILE!

Use arms to maintain balance

Yummy fingers

So cute!!!!

Kai and Frank

Kai has a few little friends around where we live and Frank is closest in age and location. When they get together funny things can happen. Like when they play football. For proof here are some pictures...

Pass it!

Aw, you missed....

Good throw

Kai running away, get back on the grass kid!

Kai throws the football

Frank throws it back, but it's incomplete

He grabs up the ball and runs

Frank wraps him up...

...and takes him down!

Unfortunatley I missed some shots of Kai taking down Frank and some complete passes that were made, but the important thing is that both boys had fun and they had a great time. The audience included the moms and the little siblings TJ and Adi, Frank's little sister. Yay for our boys!

A Week in the Life

So our family always has an interesting schedule. David works graveyard so that means he is sleeping when we're awake. This can make life difficult, but we do the best we can. On days that I don't teach I try to take the boys outside a lot (when the weather is good) or keep them happily occupied to minimize the screaming. I anxiously await the moment in the afternoon when David will wake up. Some days it takes a lot of self-control to not wake him up earlier to help me with the boys, but usually when the boys take an afternoon nap that is when I get my second wind for the day.

Big Smile!

When I do teach then the boys go to either their Grandma Fiso's or their Aunt Lisa's for the time I'm at work. These are the days when I think David gets better sleep, but he is really kind not to complain a lot. Our evenings are usually taken up by some sporting event or another. Be it baseball, football, basketball, or all three depending on the season. Other nights we are content to relax at home as a family watching TV, coloring, playing with toys, surfing the internet, or whatever keeps us happy.

Too cool 

Saturdays are usually at home watching football and/or with family doing fun activities. Sundays we go to church, relax, and spend time with our loved ones. Each week I try to do something fun for the boys like go visit a friend or family member we haven't seen in a while or go on a bike ride, to the library, or the park. I love my boys and we manage to live day to day and hopefully appreciate each moment we are given with each other. (Even the moments when there is a lot of whining...hehe) Following are some pictures of my boys that make me smile. TJ is starting to sit up and Kai is still sucking his thumb,

Leaning forward is the best balanced position so far

Falling over! (notice the pillow for a soft landing behind him totally not helping

Not only does TJ have a great facial expression but you can also see how impressed Kai is

Raspberries while sitting

Whatchu lookin at?

Kai decided that TJ needed sunglasses

Then he took them back

TJ is getting really good at reaching for toys

Kai likes giving his little bro toys to play with

Still my li'l gunslinger... thumb in mouth and finger in nose

Friday Night Lights

David and I love sports. Football is pretty high on the list for both of us. High School football is a family activity and our Friday nights during the fall are pretty much booked. Kai also loves football. He loves to get down in a squat on the grass and yell "Ready. Set. Hike!" and then run with the ball until he get tackled. He also loves to yell "Touchdown!" whenever he finds a "base" that justifies the exclamation. I assume that T.J. likes football as well, but that could just be me projecting.

Since Isaiah plays for Orem High, football games are a BIG Fiso family affair. The boys love to be with their Grandma and Grandpa Fiso, their aunts and uncles, and Cousin James.

Grandma always remembers snacks :)

Mike's face is priceless 

Lisa and Dan are training James young to be a OHS Tiger!

It's especially fun for me because I know so many of the students at the game (players and fans) because I have taught/coached quite a few now. (Isaiah is #1...where is he?)

Tiger's hoping to score

This was OHS Homecoming 2011

I like sharing these memories with David. I enjoy witnessing the Fiso family's strong connection with Orem High. 7 of the children have graduated from OHS so far and the last 3 will finish there as well in the next 6 years or so (Enoch will graduate in 2018). Aaron plays on the OHS Sophomore team and Enoch just started playing on a junior league team as well, so our family will be going to A LOT of football games this fall to cheer for the Fiso boys.

Kai doing his tiger claws

Go Tigers! (TJ after a touchdown)

Kai is silly....

As for the next generation, we will see whether Kai and TJ will be OHS Tigers, but I know the Fiso family will always support our teams!

TJ and James are already great pals

Hugs!

Kai had a sugar high followed by a sugar crash

tug-a-war

Cousins

Kai woke back up to massive cheers, so he gave James a hug

I love Daniel's face in the background :)

Sitting Up

Sitting up late at night to read, blog, and get boys in beds.

Kai sitting up in bed instead of laying down and SLEEPING!!!

T.J. Is now sitting up for long periods of time without assistance. YAY! for another milestone :)

So, this weekend was a long one with Labor Day and all and I found myself staying up much later than I should and later than normal. By nature I am a night owl and it seems to intensify over the weekends because David is home (not at work) and his schedule is different. I think part of me is so excited to have him home that I want to stay up late with him and spend as much time as possible with him. Also, when the boys are FINALLY asleep, that's when I feel like I can actually get stuff done without any interruption. During the week I try to take advantage of nap time, but that doesn't always work out with two boys on different schedules.

To illustrate this sleeping dilemma... I am currently sitting on the couch with T.J. In my lap bundled up ready for bed, but his weary eyes are battling to stay open. Kai was sent to his bed over an hour ago but the renegade is now laying on the other side of the couch. I would normal not relent to him being out on then couch with me but he is "sick" so I'm being nice. Im not dure how it works in other families, but going to bed for my boys never seems to follow the routine I attempt to lay out every night. Bath, brush teeth, bedtime story, prayers, etc. It doesn't matter what I do, most nights as soon as David walks out the door Kai is awake and alert and needing something. For example tonight, as soon as I turn the deadbolt locking the door after David's departure I hear Kai's small voice "I'm stinky". Ugh.

Sitting up and thinking/analyzing my execution of my motherly duties at the end of everyday. What did I do wrong? What did I do right? What do I need to change? How can I do better? I try to focus on the boys individually too. Am I meeting T.J.'s needs? Am I encouraging his growth and development strongly enough? Why is Kai not potty-trained yet? How can he be so SWEET and so FRUSTRATING at the same time? I pray for patience and understanding so that I can be the best mom for my boys because I love them so much and they deserve to have the best mom, just like all of God's precious children.

Sitting up is a skill we all learn as infants. T.J. is still mastering it. We develop our skills and use them according to our wills. Kai uses sitting up to stall going to sleep. We then discover how to balance our will with the demands of our lives. Mommy sitting up late to finish what she could not complete with the children awake. After realizing we can't have all that we want and need we have to find the right balance that brings the greatest happiness. Ultimately, for me this comes when I align my will with the Lord's will. I meet my children's needs that are warranted without neglecting my own. It's a continual process...

Kai is now sitting up on his dresser. Excuse me...

Nephews and Uncles

My boys LOVE their uncles. They love their aunts too, of course, but this post is dedicated to their uncles. Kai is definitely a guys' guy so far. He loves to play with his uncles and hang out with them. He really enjoys spending time with all his family, but I think he has a special connection with his teenage uncles. I think that T.J. will enjoy their company more as well, the older he gets.

 From the very beginning, the uncles are there to be with the new nephew.

And to be mischievous with the Kai.

 Uncle Tom chills with TJ







He also likes to push Kai in the swing.

 Daniel keeps the boy company in the shade at the park after we have a picnic.




Uncles can be the BEST playmates....





Enoch and TJ strolling around the mall.

Uncles can also be a strong enough and crazy enough influence to get Kai to jump into freezing cold water :) Ok... so I threw him in, but he liked it after a while.

 Kai may be small but he still likes to hang with the "big boys"

                             





Isaiah guiding Kai away from the water and into the shade

The Bandit holds TJ sporting a bandana

Taking a break with his Uncle buddies during our hike to the Emerald Pools in Zions.

Next stop, the Weeping Rock where Kai is fascinated by the water and dirt becoming mud, but still stays close to his uncles.

 Even Uncle Rick can get his nephews to smile and laugh with him.

He can also help them discover new things in new places.






I'm so grateful for these boys and men who are wonderful examples to my boys who will become men. Of course, David is the best father they could have and is a wonderful example himself and it goes without saying that he loves his boys.

David and Kai goofing around.

         









David and TJ zoning off together.

I LOVE MY BOYS!!!