Top 10 of 2012

Every year, Tyler's family lists all of the big things that happened to them the last year and rate them according to importance. Tyler INSISTED that we do one of our own this year. Call us lame, but it took quite a bit of work to come up with 10 largish things that happened to us. A few people met us with laughs(Thanks, Teresa jk), but we decided they were important us and listed them anyway! I will start at the bottom.... If there are pictures, there are pictures. If not, oh, well.

10. I got crafty! Or well, a little bit! I always have big dreams about all the things I would like to make. Pregnancy made me nest, and nesting made my crafty. Kinda. I got to work on my own scrapbook, may burp rags and blankets. I also tried to patch the holes in Tyler's pants. The patches didn't last long cuz the boy is just so hard on pants!!

9. Swallow boys started golfing! I don't even know where the interest began, but I am grateful Tyler's dad always includes him. We've hit range balls. They have bought, bartered, and traded too many golf sets to count. I got to drive a golf cart. And the boys have come home laughing too many times for me to complain.

8. Tyler had the opportunity to coach Tommy's baseball team with his dad. It was soo fun!! I do enjoy an entertaining baseball game! I really enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the house and endure the last bit of pregnancy. I loved watching Tommy play and be a better player at the end of the season. Maybe this year Tyler can do it again and Grayson can tag along with his daddy! I'm so excited for this coming summer!

7. We became gun owners! It wasn't as big a deal to me because we always had guns. Hey, I got a rifle for my 12th birthday! I wonder where that is btw.. Anyways. My husband likes toys. After we went shooting after Thanksgiving, he couldn't stop talking about the guns he wanted to own. I did some undercover work and got him his lever action cowboy rifle. He sure loves it! Also, stricter gun control laws are crap and won't fix the problem. I'll step down from the soap box now.

 

6. Raise at work. Tyler got 2 raises this year. 2 of which we are VERY grateful for! Because of recent events we are learning to be grateful to just have a job. For that is more than most people can boast. It meets our needs, gives us extra for wants and will get our family through Tyler's schooling. It's all we can ask for. We have been truly blessed.

5. We both have "big kid callings". I became a visiting teacher. I'm learning to love my sisters and the service I can give to them. Tyler is the 1st Councilor in the Young Men's Presidency. He is such a good example for those boys. He wants them to succeed and find happiness in the gospel. He is a kid at heart, he fits in pretty naturally!

4. We have been very blessed in the Niece and Nephew department. In the summer of 2011. The three oldest Swallow children got married. By the end of 2012 all three of those couples had babies. We were blessed with niece Lynnlee and nephew Jace. They are such sweeties! My sisters little one, Bentley also turned one this yr. We love our families!

 

3. Tyler and I have been married a whole year!! Some may not think it is a feat, but we are happy and can't wait to spend eternity together!

 

2. TYLER GOT HIS ASSOCIATES DEGREE! Many have told me that this is not a big deal, because today an associates degree is equivalent to a high school diploma. This may be true, but my husband worked his BUTT off to get it and I couldn't be more proud of him and his fortitude! We have started USU and hope to finish in the next 20 yrs. At least that's how long it feels like it will be... just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming swimming....

1. We were blessed to have Grayson Tyler join our family! He is such a special gift from heaven!! He brings laughs, smiles and happiness to our lives!! The last pic is because, again, gun control laws are crap. The end.

 

We are looking forward to the top 10 of 2013!! It's going to be a good year!
Until next time....

Christmas 2012

I have always loved Christmas, but having your own child to have Christmas with sure changes things! I was more excited to experience things with him than I was about myself! We opened some presents early when my family came up for Tyler's birthday.
When I was growing up, every time a sibling was born my mom made them their very own stocking. I wanted to make all of my children's as well. This year I got to make Graysons!

No too bad if I say so myself!

We had my little sister Chalese for Christmas and she is a "belieber" so to say. We got her a Justin Bieber dress up book and jelly watch! I think she liked it! 

 

I didn't do too well with pictures, but my mom got us sleeping bags that we are VERY excited to use this summer! My dad got me a clock that plays hymns, Tyler a target for his new gun and Grayson a VERY warm coat! My mom also got Grayson a cool nightlight/noise machine, trucks he can chew on and books for church! They are great and he loves them very much. She got him this ball that lights up. He loves it but gets mad because he can't hold it himself!! It's super funny!! Below are pictures of his first Christmas!

 

On Christmas Eve, Tyler's side of the family started their traditional celbrations! We started by making Gingerbread Mangers. Tyler outshined all the rest with his magnificent work of art!

 

We finished by acting out the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Grayson was the only baby so he got to play Jesus. Which meant Tyler and I got to be Joseph and Mary (SCORE!). Lillie and Emma were wisewomen. Tommy was a shepard and Kendra was the angel. Notice the picture where I am 'great with child". It was a lot of fun!

 

 

 

Needless to say it is QUITE the event!!
My brother had us for Christmas this year. He and his girlfriend did a really good job! They got us Texas shirts! Each shirt has an orange longhorn on it and our name in black! Grayson got onsies to match!

We had a wonderful Christmas! We are grateful that a Savior was born to save us all! We hope you had a great Christmas and had the opportunity to reflect upon our Savior's gift! We encourage you to remember Him EVERY day!

Until next time.....

Tyler turns 24!

 

This handsome man of mine turned 24 on Dec. 23. I am grateful for that day and that am blessed to have him in mine and Grayson's lives. He is such a blessing to us! He works soo hard at early hours that we can be taken care of. He works 50 hours a week and takes two classes every semester so that we can have a brighter future. Yet, he still comes home and can't wait to spent time with our son and I. He is the best husband and an even better father. Grayson can't help but light up a room when he sees his daddy. He fulfills and calling and righteously holds his priesthood that we may have the power of God in our home. I don't where I would be without my sweet and handsome husband! He never ceases to make me laugh. I am happy as long as he love Grayson and I.
I'm sure you are tired of the sappiness, so I will move on.
We had quite the day planned for Tyler's birthday. We decided to go ice skating!! All the Swallow's went (Minus Mitch and Emily-We missed you!) and my family made a special trip to spend the day with us!
Chalese, Cal Lee and Kendra were all a little wary of the ice, but by the end all were skating alone!!

 

My Mom and In-laws watched Grayson and Jace. Apparently, this is baby sitting....


Next are pictures of everyone enjoying the ice....

 

 

Next, my husband got to open a very special present. I did a lot of run around to keep this present a secret from Tyler. I felt that he really deserved something special. You see he completed his Associates Degree in Dec. I am SOO proud of him! It was quite the road to get here! He worked very hard and took a lot of DUMB classes until we figured out what to do. After going shooting at Thanksgiving Tyler couldn't stop talking about getting a gun. He got a lever action .22 rifle! It is really cool and he calls it his cowboy gun! I'm glad he likes it! I love the look of concentration as he checks it out!! 

Until next time.....