My Sweet Jaden

I am taking pictures this weekend for a wedding that will be held mid-day in the hot, hot Texas sun so I needed to get in a little practice before hand. Ideally, this is not the "best" time to take pictures for many reasons but here are a few - it's REALLY bright, people squint, its REALLY hot, people sweat, I sweat, and yucky shadows :( Normally people think about needing to use their flash when it's dark or there isn't enough light but this is another circumstance where flash can help a lot. I'm just not used to using flash because I like to use the "natural" light.

Fortunately, Jaden was more than happy to cooperate with me and let me take his picture. He was such a big helper and I looove the pictures that I got of him. He is so handsome. Just wish I knew who he looked like...

Making a gingerbread house

Actual Date of these pictures - December 24, 2009
Grandma bought this gingerbread house I don't even know when. We've had it for a while! Finally, we got our stuff together and got to decorate it. It was sooo much fun!!
Of course, many of the little candies were eaten before they ever made it to the house (and then some even once they did make it to the house) - thanks mostly to Luke. But the kids had a good time.
It was the prettiest little gingerbread house I've ever seen!

December 25, 2009

I am waaayy behind on updating our blog so, I'm going to try very hard to bring everything up to date.
I'm not sure what I was doing at the time, but for some reason I found pictures on one of our other cameras and this was on there. Daddy took some pictures and they are sooo cute! I'm so glad that I found them. Good job Daddy at capturing this moment.
How fun to wear Christmas stockings on your feet! Great idea Jaden :) You are so sweet!

What have I been up to?

Taking pictures!!

During the week I am busy taking care of these three munchkins but on the weekends I've had the privilege of taking pictures for people. I am finally getting started with my own little business. It is wonderful! I am so happy!

I have much to learn since I am definitely NOT a business woman. But the picture taking part I love.

I've been fortunate to get my baby fix by spending a few hours on the weekends with some of the most gorgeous babies on the planet!! And I've also gotten to capture a very important life transition for some gorgeous teenagers as they prepare to graduate from High School.

This profession suits me well. I am able to be home with my children most of the time and escape for a few hours on the weekends to capture precious memories for others. It's perfect for me.

You can see more at my website: www.julietyreephoto.com :)

A little more help

Last June Jaden was evaluated by the school system to see if he qualified for speech services. He had been receiving speech therapy (with a WONDERFUL therapist) from BACH. But, BACH only provides services to children under 3. The good news was that the school personnel who conducted the evaluations did not feel that Jaden needed the extra help at that time.

They did make sure to tell me that even though they don't qualify at this time doesn't mean that they won't later. We were very happy at the progress he had made to that point and felt that starting preschool in the fall would help to move things along a little more "naturally". We thought that the interaction with the other children and the desire to communicate to play with them, etc... would encourage him to continue to develop his language skills.

While Jaden is pretty vocal and interactive at home turns out he is very shy and quiet at school. He isn't really exhibiting the kind of behavior we had hoped for. He needs to actually talk in order for his speech to be reinforced, corrected, etc... Fortunately, a speech therapist came to the school to do evaluations. I was not surprised when I got a phone call about my little Jaden. She felt that he would benefit from some extra help - particularly on his articulation.

So, he had another evaluation. The good news is that his language and comprehension are actually a little above his age level (3 years 10 mos.) but his articulation is WAY below (2 years 4 mos.) The speech therapist believes he has something called apraxia. He is going to speech therapy two days a week now. We are hoping that we can give him the support he needs now so that by the time he starts school his speech skills will be indiscernible from his peers. In just two sessions he's already mastered the "d" sound. Now, we'll be building on that and practicing lots at home. He's going to need to work really hard but we know he will be great!

I will be anxious to post updates on his progress. But I'll admit I'll be a little sad when the day comes that he doesn't say "all-wight" anymore :)

Sweet & Sassy

This year we celebrated at Sweet & Sassy. This is the girliest of all "girl" stores. A little girl's dream! Anna was talking about it for weeks before her birthday. She was so excited about sending out invitations and getting dolled up.
So, I was looking forward to watching her have a great time. When we got there the young ladies who worked there took the girls behind the curtain to pick out their dresses. Jessica came out first - looking so cute and full of smiles. Then came Anna. What a transformation - no smile. In fact, a pout. I have no idea what happened. One minute things were going good then next - this ->

Nicole getting her hair done.
Ari's turn - hair and nails all at once!

Jessica getting her hair done with her make up already applied. Beautiful!

The finished product! Her hair looked so cool. I wish I could do this for her :)

Lots and lots of glitter today. Here is is all over her hands!

Little Miss Nicole - she's a regular at getting glammed up!

Next, they took the girls back behind the curtain again and this time they all came out on the stage to sing and dance...except Anna....

Hey, at least the girls had a good time!

We moved into the cake room to have some pizza, special cupcakes, and open presents. Anna's smile came back :)

-I think she was just overwhelmed by everything. It was a lot to take in when we got there. Many things happening at once and lots of people around and music, lights, etc... She was better in the smaller room after her belly was filled :)

Seven!

I know that I am very late at posting these. But, finally here they are - Pictures from my little photo shoot with my SEVEN year old little girl!!! When I look at these pictures I have a hard time believing she is SEVEN! She looks so much older but seems so much younger in my mind. I think I have her frozen forever as the little baby I used to rock in my arms not so long ago...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

There really weren't any "great" ones of us with everyone looking at the camera and forget everyone smiling. It's just very hard at this age for everyone to cooperate - especially when cousins Justin and Alex were being so silly. We had a lot of fun trying though and I'm grateful to Aunt Kelli for taking these for us. We'll work on getting some more this year.
But, these were probably the best of the bunch.

Merry Christmas from the Tyree's!

Jaden's Christmas Program

We were so excited this year to get to go to Jaden's school and watch him in his first Christmas program. He was a donkey in the manger scene and he was soooo cute! He stood up there very bravely and participated with his class. They sang "Silent Night" and "Happy Birthday Jesus!" and a couple of other songs. Afterward, we all got to munch on some yummy cookies and pink lemonade.

A rare picture of me with my braces...

Me and my boys!!

The fam...minus Anna (she was still in school)

Splish Splash!

We've got two of the silliest little boys! But they can be so much fun. Lately they've been finding new things to play with in the tub. On this day it was swimming goggles. At least they are appropriate for the water (I can't say that everything they choose is!). I can't believe they kept them on. If I wanted them to wear them of course they would be screaming and hollering and rolling on the floor :)