I Miss Vacation

The warm sand on my feet

Seeing my brother Nate

Grandma and Grandpa spoiling the kids (well, that still happens here)

Playing baseball on the beach

Walking in the waves

Sorting through sea shells

Shopping with my mom

Teasing my dad about how many naps he takes on vacation

The warm weather! Feeling the sun on my shoulders and playing outside with the kids in shorts and t-shirts...I just love it.

HOWEVER.

Vacation is not the same without Josh. My parents got a condo at the end of June in TN, and we all get to go. So excited.

Happy Birthday Uncle Nate!

Greetings from MYR

I was incredibly nervous to fly with the boys.

I have had one too many (okay, two too many) flights in which I was ill.

I flew for years back and forth from California and never got nervous, but I was all shook up Monday morning in anticipation. Not having my mom with me, I just wondered what I would do if I got sick. Bryce would never sit in his seat alone.

We got through checkout and onto the plane just fine.

Kayden was situated by the window, I was in the middle, and Brycer aisle seat. Bryce was a tad frightened, so immediately he decided to sit on my lap.

The overhead compartments were full, so an older lady stepped into Bryce's {empty} seat to see if there was room in our compartment. She happened to have a ginormous Meijers bag full of goods, which kept hitting me in the head without her realizing it.

I don't normally get claustrophobic, but with the big bag in my face, Bryce on my lap, and Kayden jumping all over me, all the sudden I couldn't breathe. I could feel my chest tightening, and the dread of being ill with nowhere to go.

I started praying. I closed my eyes and forced myself to calm down, and both the nausea and lightheaded feelings cleared. Thank God!

The rest of the flight was great- the boys did awesome. I even got a short nap from Bryce. I was so thankful when the wheels touched down. Relief. We had made it.

It is nice not having anything on the schedule. We have been shopping a few times, to the pool quite a bit, and today looks like a good beach day.

The only thing missing is Josh. I really wish he was here, too!:-)

PS

Oh, and for age 2, this kid has some mad hops:-)

Very Hard Work

I try really hard not to work when I am at home with my kids. For one thing, I am interrupted so much it is hardly worth it to even start.

Every so often, though, I have to sew something in the middle of the day for an afternoon mailing. Because Bryce wants to sit on my lap and play with thread and machine knobs, I often save it for when he takes a nap.

Kayden has a basketball hoop downstairs next to my sewing space, and loves to shoot baskets while I sew. Ever few points, he will peek his head around the door frame.

"Mom, why are you sewing?", he asks.

"So that I can buy you more cars." I answered that way once on a whim a year ago, and now we have to repeat it every.time.

"Are you working hard?", he responds.

"Yup, really hard, bud", I reply.

-------------------------------------

Friday was bike day. All of the little preschoolers take their bikes to school and ride them around the parking lot. There are a variety of different stations they can go to for a bike wash, or to decorate their bike.

As I arrived to pick him up and as he climbed into his car seat, sighed and said, "Mom, I worked so hard today riding my bike. You would be really proud of how hard I worked."

Oh, to be five and have the "work" of riding your bike.

More Hard Work, Grandparents Day:

with Grandpa and Grandma Birdy

With Grandma Van

Singing to God.

Ho-Ho-Ho-Hosanna

getting lower....

and let's not forget the hard work of playing outside on the playground.

Brotherly Love

Delusional.

That is pretty much how I would describe my vision of having two boys.

I thought there would be lots of playing ball and trains together, peppered by occasional fighting.

It's not really like that. I am not sure if it is the age difference or what, but they fight....a lot. They fight over toys, cars, balls, who is first, who is last, who gets buckled in the car seat first, who is last getting out of the car. You name it, they compete over it.

If they are in the same room for a period of time, guaranteed there will be bickering.

I have gotten used to it. Accepted it. Realized my vision was not at all reality.

Then tonight, it was as if a cloud lifted and they actually spent a considerable time playing together. Throwing the ball to one another, taking turns jumping on me, dancing with each other....it was glorious and just as I imagined it would be.

Kayden even pulled Bryce into his lap and told me to go grab my camera.

and I happily obliged.

Top 5 Spring Break Highlights

In NO particular order:

5. Bryce had a Doctor's appointment--he grew over three inches in the last five months.

Height: 36.5 inches, 95%

Weight: 29 lbs 7 ounces, 50-75%

He is still almost a full year behind his brother. Kayden was this size around ONE year:-)

A picture of my favorite dimple. I love dimples!

4. Kayden learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

Last year, we knew he was ready. However, it was the end of the season, so Josh and I both agreed that we would take them off as soon as it got warm this year.

In preparation, my mom bought this little handle that attaches to the back of the bike so that you can run behind it effortlessly.

Josh was taking it out of the package, and I told Kayden to hop on his bike and we would practice a little bit until Daddy came out and would run behind him up and down the road.

I pushed him two steps, and he took off down the hill on our driveway.

I ran after him, panicked, until I realized he was completely steady on his bike. Not one wobble; not one waiver. He took off down the road, circled around, then came back up our driveway.

I stood there dumbfounded.

You were right, mom:-) I should have taken them off a long time ago!

3. Our first trip to the ER with Kayden (I did not say all of them were good memories!)

We were unloading wood from Josh's pickup when I heard him crying,

And not that whiny, 'I got a little scrape' cry.

The one where you just know trouble has arrived.

I looked and he had blood dripping down his face and spilling onto his clothes, shorts, anything in his path.

I yelled for Josh and we headed straight to the ER. By the time we got there and into our room, the bleeding had stopped.

He only needed it taped together, but it was traumatic for him.

I couldn't believe it was his first ER trip after we have taken Bryce so many times!


2. Brycer turned TWO!

I cannot believe my little guy is now a big guy. There isn't any "baby" left to him anymore!

He is talking wholeheartedly, and today even sang me the Happy Birthday song. He is funny and bright, and full of laughs...and completely two years old. Into everything and full of attitude!

Chuck E Cheese- we were worried because it was Spring Break, but it wasn't that busy!

Bryce LOVES Chuck E Cheese.

At our house before the party.

Opening presents with Uncle Justin's help.

His present from Gma and Papa Van- a new train...

...which Kayden got a huge kick out of.

1. Great Wolf Lodge

Gma and Papa Birdy took us to Great Wolf, along with Josh's sister and her family. It was wonderful to spend some time together and relax in the water park.

The kids loved all the water slides and activities.

With his cousin

all the grandkids with gma and papa. So much FUN!

All in all, what a wonderful spring break we had. It makes me excited for summer, where Josh and I get to spend every day together with the kids.

Hope you had a good one, too!

The Milky Way

Kayden drew me a beautiful picture of the Milky Way, detailed with blacks and greens and LOTS of random scribbling.


The treasured picture was brought to Grandma's house, it made rounds to the teachers.


"Mom, I need to make sure Jesus sees this," Kayden said.


I adore the wonder and imagination of a five year old.

Arrived

Pool Supplies.

Summer can now officially start.