Tober Family Christmas

Is the Christmas season really over already? We had a great time in Woodinville, WA celebrating with my family. A few highlights: attending the Children's Christmas Eve Service at our old church in Bellevue, eating my mom's Christmas cookies, Christmas morning, viewing the holiday lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, sunny winter weather (no rain), and attending the Nutcracker (a family tradition), where the flower girl from our wedding was in the cast.

Bundled up waiting to see Santa

The joy of Christmas

Let's EAT!

There is a mirror on this page of his book :-)

We braved the cold for the beautiful lights

Merry Christmas!

As Ilalia and I prepare to experience our first Christmas with Tyson, I wanted to share with you a simple but profound message we heard in a sermon last weekend. I have heard the Christmas story recounted many times over, but I had never stopped to look at it from the following perspective.

Jesus is God in the flesh. He humbled himself to be born in Bethlehem as a baby, God taking on flesh. God became a baby. Born through the normal birth process, wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a manger. God, the one who spoke the universe into existence, couldn't even speak an intelligent word. God, the one who holds the stars in their places, couldn't even change his own diaper. God, the one who controls the Heavens, couldn't even control his own movements. God in a body; not just any body, but the body of a human baby.

God chose to enter this world in simple humility.

Imagine you were God and you were coming into this world:
- Would you choose a backwater area like Israel, or the gold and glitter of Rome, the most famous city in the world of its day in time?
- Would you choose a little, out of the way town like Bethlehem, or the capital city of Jerusalem?
- Would you choose a nobody carpenter to be your father, or a king to be your father?
- Would you choose a young, country girl or a well-bred and educated princess to be your mother?
- Would you choose a manger in a stall, in a shed behind an inn, or a lavishly equipped palace nursery?
- Would you announce it to a group of outcast sheppards on an obscure hillside outside of Bethlehem, or with a worldwide trumpet blast?

I will leave you with a sample of one of our favorite modern Christmas songs, "I Celebrate The Day", by Relient K (click on the link for the full song). We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and we pray that you will recognize and celebrate the true reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I'm Eight Months Old Today!

Tyson turns eight months old and the Christmas season is in full swing. We can't wait for his first Christmas!!!

Being a silly baby

Buddies

Eating his book during story time

Tyson loves: eating, sleeping, looking outside the car window, cuddling, putting his mouth on anything, and watching Mom and Dad sing and dance.

Tyson doesn't love: teething pain and when we take his thumb out of his mouth.

Tender moments: play time with Tyson and his toys.

Farewell Lindsay

Our sister Lindsay is relocating through her job to North Carolina this week. We are very excited for her and the many adventures she is sure to experience while living in Charlotte. Although we will really miss her, there is no doubt that she will do great things.

Coburn Family Thanksgiving

Tyson spent his first Thanksgiving "up in the pines", as Adam would say. We traveled to Prescott (the locals pronounce it like biscuit but with a "P"...), about two hours north of Phoenix, with David, Sara, and Lindsay. We feasted with Adam's relatives at Great-Grandma Coburn's cabin (Adam's grandma), the same location where Adam spent all of his Thanksgivings growing up. So, as you can imagine, Adam has many good memories at the cabin. We enjoyed taking in the stunning views of Prescott and spending quality time with the extended Coburn family, the 26 that were present.

Thumb Butte

It's the little things...

that melt my heart. Hooray for cold weather! I love seeing my little man in a winter hat and pajamas.

I love his feet in these pajamas

Tyson is wondering why I am making him wear this

I'm Seven Months Old Today!

Tyson's FIRST ASU Football Game

Last Saturday was a day to remember...Tyson's first college football game!

On our way to the game using the light rail for the first time

Ilalia and Sara showing some Sun Devil spirit

Tyson had fun playing with Aunt Maryellen and Leonard

Halloween night... Tyson is pretty worn out after a long day.

Happy Halloween!

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Tober

Last weekend my parents were in town from Washington. The weather was unusually HOT for this time of year, however we were still able to get out and explore some of the attractions Phoenix has to offer. Aside from the record heat, we all had a great time visiting a couple places we had never been to before and Tyson enjoyed entertaining Grandma and Grandpa all weekend.

Desert Botanical Garden

Guess who got new sunglasses?

Relaxing in the shade at Taliesin West

I'm Six Months Old Today!

Fall is here, I'm on Fall Break, and Tyson is six months old = wahoo!!! Below are some recent photos.

Smiling at Dad

Drooling on Dad

Resting on Dad

Crib time

Playing with Micah

Baby feet

Tyson loves: eating, flying, bouncing, playing with toys that have lights and sounds, sucking on his toes, and cuddling.

Tyson doesn't love: pain from teething and when we take his thumb out of his mouth.

Tender moments: story time with Tyson and hearing his loud giggles.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Football season is in full swing! Tyson has been enjoying his first football season and although last weekend was a tough weekend for our teams, Tyson's not afraid to show a little school spirit!

Go Sun Devils!

"There's always next week Grandpa"

Go Huskies!

The Newest Addition to the Tober Family!

On September 9, 2009, my cousins Kip and Kelly welcomed their baby girl into the world. She weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces. Kelly was a trooper and waited a full week past her due date to deliver Nora Grace Primrose. Her birth date will forever be 9.9.09- pretty cool! Congratulations Kip and Kelly! We cannot wait to meet her.

Family photo

Great Grandma Tober with baby Nora

I'm Five Months Old Today!

Adam's Birthday Weekend!

Labor Day Weekend was not only a relaxing long weekend at the Coburn Cabin, it was Adam's 29th Birthday!!! We all enjoyed the cool weather and celebrating Adam's special day.

Happy Birthday!

After this photo, Tyson wanted to eat the moose

Playing with Grandma Coburn

Guys photo

Relaxing in the air chair

Family Gathering

We got to spend some time with my Uncle Sam and cousin Laneia when they came in from out of state on Saturday. Tyson enjoyed meeting them for the first time and seeing his Uncle Eli, Aunty Christie, and cousin Atali'i. We're so glad that my uncle and cousin braved the heat to see us- we've missed you guys!

Meeting Uncle Sam and Laneia

Tyson hopes to have hair like Atali'i

Hanging out

Grandpa to the Rescue

Thank you Grandpa Coburn for watching Tyson a few times when his day care has been unavailable. Also, we're happy to report that Tyson has a new crib to sleep in! Grandpa Coburn helped Adam pick up the crib in his van and then helped us set it up as well.

Ironmen Summit Revisited

Below is a short video that our friend Reuben put together to document our gathering up in the Northwest this summer. We all had a great time! It's pretty amazing to see how the group keeps getting larger and how Travis' shorts keep getting shorter... :) Thanks for the video Reuben!

So this is what 10 years looks like...

This weekend is my 10 year high school reunion! Go Kangs (Adam gets a kick out of the fact that my HS mascot is a kangaroo). Since I just returned to work, I am not able to attend my reunion. Last month, I was able to see some good friends from LWHS during my trip to Washington.

I'm Four Months Old Today!

We can't believe that our little guy is now four months old. Time sure flies! We're having so much fun watching him grow and playing with him. Below are some recent photos.

A hot Summer day

Ilalia's First Day of School

Studying together

In the Bumbo Seat

Story Time!

Tyson loves: eating, rolling around on the floor, kicking while taking a bath, and cooing.

Tyson doesn't love: when we take his thumb out of his mouth.

Tender moments: hearing Tyson giggle in the morning while he's being dressed and watching him look at himself in the mirror.

Thanks Mom!

Where has my summer break gone? I am now back at school and trying to get in the swing of things. My wonderful mom watched Tyson last week while I was at Language Arts Workshops. Thank you Mom for flying down to Phoenix to help with Tyson. We really appreciate it!