Happy 6th Birthday Ty!

{July 4, 2004}

Bloomington, IndianaWhen Nate and I were debating what to name our first child we both said we liked the nickname Ty, but we did not like all the names Ty was short for (Tyler, Tyrell, Tyson, Tyrone....) we just liked the name Ty. And so we named him just Ty. It wasn't until this weekend we learned that this was the absolute perfect name for our little boy. Nate's uncle Mike served his mission in Thailand. He told us that the word Ty in Thai means Independence & Freedom! Was that not the perfect name for our 4th of July baby?!!

{2005--Jacksonville, Florida}

The other cool thing we learned about Ty's birthday this week was that Ty's great-great-great- grandfather Samuel Washington Orem was born on July 4, 1832. Samuel is one of our heroes and we look up to him and love hearing his pioneer story.

{2006--Summerville, Pennsylvania}

In Ty's first six years of his life he has lived in all 4 time zones, lived in five (soon to be six) different homes, visited 24 states, and been to numerous National Parks!

{2007--Tillamaook, Oregon}

A few of Ty's favorites:
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Sport: Soccer
Favorite Thing To Do: Go swimming
Favorite Ice-cream Flavor: Rocky Road
Favorite Movie: Tom & Jerry

{2008--Northern California Coast}

A few things Ty doesn't like:
speaking in public
trying new things
being teased and laughed at
talking to strangers
most green vegetables

{2009--San Juan Islands, Washington}

Things I love about Ty:
watching him play sports
his laugh
his helpfulness
listening to him read
when he gives me huge tight hugs
that he is so clever and smart
his cute smile
playing games with him

{2010--Salt Lake City, Utah}
Six years ago our life changed and has never been the same since this wonderful boy started our little family! What a joy it is to have Ty as our son. There is no doubt in my mind why he came first to our family! Ty loves to be first, he loves to be the leader. He is a great leader and helper to his brother and sister. Ty is fun to be around. He loves to play and have a good time. He is cheerful and happy. I feel honored and blessed to be called 'Ty's mom!'

Ty's birthday began with a scrumptious birthday breakfast: red, white and blue of course in his cereal bowl--berries, and cereal with milk!

We took the kids up to temple square and went to The Music and The Spoken Word in the Conference Center with Grandma and Grandpa Lewis. What a great program, it was very patriotic.

Then we went on a self guided tour of the conference center. This was the only picture all day of our little family all together so I had to put it in--even thought it's not the greatest photo!

We went up on the roof and looked around the Salt Lake Valley. One lucky daddy to be with his birthday boy ON his birthday! The past two birthday's Nate has had to work so it was nice to have him home and celebrate with us.

For some reason Mara did not want to cooperate on pictures today. Maybe because it wasn't her birthday? This is not the first nor the last picture that she wouldn't look at the camera!

The children loved all the fountains up on the Conference Center roof, had it been appropriate they would have put their feet in and splashed around! But it wasn't!

"Oh Zion! Dear Zion! Land of the Free!"

A beautiful cool morning in Salt Lake. It was lovely not having the sun beat down on us as we walked around the grounds.

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me!"

What was I saying about playing in the water?....well it was hard to resist!

In six years my little boy will be old enough to go to the temple and also hold the priesthood--yikes, can that really be true?! Wow, slow down time I just don't think I'm ready for all this!

My three beautiful children, how I love those cute little faces.

Ty sure loves his little brother! He gives him lots of hugs and squeezes!

By the end of our walking tour the kids had had it! So much for a photo shot in front of the temple! They were done!

"I love to see the temple!"
Oh how I love this beautiful temple! It was here almost nine years ago that Nate and I were sealed together for time and all eternity! How grateful I am to be a eternal family.

We headed out to Tooele to visit my folks and celebrate Ty's birthday one more time on his actual birthday! Mimi and Papa had an extra special birthday surprise for Ty and they just couldn't wait to give it to him!
Two handsome guys!

Operation: Special Surprise!
Nate was told to take Ty out on the swing and cover his eyes. Papa gave Nate one walky-talky and he took the other one and made it into a game of how to surprise Ty. What could it be....?

he sees it...and can't believe his eyes!

Ty thinks he's dreaming! How can this be? It's too good to be true!

A new bike!! Ty thought it was a joke. He said "Mama, is that bike really for me? Is that my bike?!" He was so thrilled!

Although we have a rule: No riding bikes on Sunday--it was his birthday and we just had to see him on his new bike!

It seemed to big for Ty! But he got the hang of it! He loves it! Thanks Mimi and Papa!

Happy Birthday my little buddy! I love you Ty! May all your wishes some true!

Ty was given lots of awesome and fun gifts: moon sand from Kate & Anna, a new hat and batter's hat, a T-ball set, and new bat! I think Ty is one happy 6 year old!

One of my favorite things about Ty's birthday on the 4th of July--delicious berry birthday cakes!
This was a quadruple berry birthday cake: raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries! Yum! Yum! Yum!!!

Scott and Lorisa were in town and Jason & family came out, we were just missing Uncle Blake! We miss you Blake! Wish you were here with us! It was fun being a family and spending time with everyone. I made Kate and Anna pink capes to match Mara and Ty's and they had so much fun running around outside and being super heroes. I wish I would have taken pictures but we were having too much fun playing "Super, Super, Super Hero" (Duck, Duck, Goose!) and other fun games.