Big shoes to fill

Just sitting around watching tv, and wearing Mommy's shoes.

:)

When Eric's away. . . .

What to do, during a long Memorial Day weekend, while Eric is out of town, for Lizzie's college graduation?

We find interesting ways to entertain ourselves.

The latest activity. . . .battling helium balloons with Nerf guns.

 Don't mess with this guy. . . .

 The warriors. . . 

 Okay, this cracks me up. . ..on the right, one of our favorite pictures of Bryce, 2 or 3 years old, fighting off Annamaria's dog with a stick.  He was looking FIERCE.  And the picture to the left, hmmm . . . strangely reminicent  of that day many years ago!

Three weeks to go!

Three weeks left of school.

Karate twice a week.

Ducks who've taken up residence in our yard.

Scooter rides.

Warm weather.

Tanner says "dinosaur" now, instead of "dine-door" I'm not so happy about that!

Yesterday I went on a field trip with Bryce's class. We didn't lose anyone - success!

That's the scoop around here!

xoxo

Tanner Land

Tanner is really loving to play in his room lately.  Perhaps it's the new shelves. Or the new big-boy bed (a twin mattress on the floor!) Or perhaps it's the million Christmas gifts that he is still really quite excited about playing with.  But for whatever the reason, we are loving his imagination and creativity.  He is usually rescuing cars, trains, and Little People by the dozens, thanks to his police cars, fire engines, and Rescue Bots.  He is on a mission, EVERY day, and there are ALWAYS emergencies to handle.  And if there isn't an emergency, then there's garbage to scoop and dump.  Every time I try to throw something in the (real) garbage, he asks me if he can have it for his garbage or recycling trucks.  Then it goes into a pile in the middle of the floor. . .the garbage dump, according to Tanner.  :)

This week, my MISSION is to update the blog.  I'll go back and get things posted in order and we WILL get this blog caught up. Christmas, new car, potty-training, checkups, school projects. . .the whole shebang.  I promise.  . . .I mean it this time!!!! :)

Christmas Eve

A few silly pictures on our way to Christmas Even service at church. . .we are sad that Eric is never in our Christmas Eve photos, but such is a pastor's life. (This is information that I am still figuring out, after HOW many years!?) 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, 

and to all a good night!

xoxo

Sleepy head!

Sleepy head Tanner fell asleep right on Eric.  

He hasn't been taking naps anymore (usually) in the afternoons, but he'll sometimes fall asleep in the car line, while we wait for Bryce after school.  And on a few rare occasions, he falls asleep at home, but that hardly EVER happens anymore! When it does. . .we are quick to capture it!

Here's one day when he fell asleep on my lap.

And I think on this day, he fell asleep in the car, and stayed asleep when I carried him inside.

Sometimes life is exhausting!

peanut butter cheeks

Mr. I-Don't-Take-A-Nap-Anymore came outside with me for a few minutes, while I took some pictures of crafty projects I've been working on. (Add that to the list of things I USED TO DO during naptime.) But it was a good photo-op for a peanut-butter-faced little person too. 

Don't say "Cheese!"

Say, "PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!"

At this moment . . .

Bryce today:

*favorite foods: steak on the grill the daddy makes, mac n cheese, french fries, BBQ at Bono's

*favorite drinks: Sunny D, lemonade, milk

*if Bryce could go anywhere right this minute, it would be: ToysRUs (i reiterated ANYWHERE in the WORLD, and still, ToysRUs is what he chose!)

*if he could buy one thing right now (Bryce chose this question!): Battle of Endor Lego set.

*best thing about school: playing football on the playground

*best thing about being a big brother: playing with Tanner and making him laugh and smile

*worst thing about being a big brother: "if I had to change Tanner's diaper"

*play inside or outside? outside.

*sneakers or Crocs? Crocs

*icecream or cookies? both. (smart kid!)

*favorite icecream flavor? strawberry (that's news to me!)

*best thing about being 5 years old: "I'm old enough for some StarWars Lego sets."

*three things needed for bedtime: Blankie, stuffed animals, water, books. (yes, i know thats four.)

*when Bryce grows up he wants to be: a football player

these two are really starting to adore each other.
tanner LOVES to watch bryce play and dance and jump around and make funny faces. . .basically all the things that bryce spends his time doing.
and bryce love to give tanner toys (sometimes far FAR too many toys at one time!)
bryce also loves to go into tanner's room when he wakes up from a nap and starts crying. he says "ohhhh, it's okay!" and he calls him "Little Brother."
so sweet.

hard to believe

It's hard to believe this one was fussing up a storm at the grocery store, just a few minutes before i snapped this picture! As i was unloading the groceries, he was just sitting in his carseat looking at the very blustery wind blow the tree around in our yard. He looked so sweet, I had to go grab the camera!

This one is eating lots of baby food at dinner time. . .we've tried bananas, sweet potatoes, applesauce, and peaches. Next up is peas.

This one is still not sleeping at night. I am totally discouraged. I am TRYING my darndest to do all the right things. .. I'm not picking him up, I'm trying to let him settle himself down as much as I can. . .but its hard letting him potentially wake up Bryce, and leaving me with TWO kids awake in the middle of the night!!! One of these days it will get better. Bryce is a good sleeper. . .and we all know he wasn't ALWAYS. This too shall pass!!!

This one things it is really funny to try and eat our faces. All of the sudden, almost every time I am holding Tanner, if he's facing me, he is putting his big drooly open mouth all over me. Learning the fine art of baby kisses? Or am I just delicious? I don't know, but it is messy and adorable!!!

Cutie pie. . .goofy pie

I got a few sweet pictures of Bryce as we were sitting outside, but really the way I won him over was to take some crazy pictures of him. After a few minutes, he decided it was really funny to do crazy tricks, and then see the pictures I took of him. I will spare you most of them. Most were blurry, or not so entertaining - but Bryce thought it was HILARIOUS! He would jump in the air, and make a crazy face, and then run over to see the photograph.

He is definitely our little HAM!

XOXO

Our first week. . .

Just a few quick pictures in between everything that seems to make the days go by so quickly.

Thanks for being patient with me being SLOW to get pictures posted!!! I still haven't gotten any of them off of my camera. . .. these have all been from my mom. (Thanks mama!)

We took Bryce to Meet-the-teacher day at school on Friday, and he got to see his classroom and meet some of the kids in his class. Preschool starts on Tuesday - and so far he seems pretty excited about it. I know that on Tuesday morning he will be apprehensive, but I am so glad that for NOW at least, he is excited. There's a play kitchen (almost just like Jilly's) in his classroom, so he is really happy about that.

Tanner went for a checkup last Tuesday, and he had gained a couple of ounces, so that's good news. We go back on Wednesday, and he will get at least one shot. . .but I will be extra brave. I can handle it!!! :) He's been sleeping fairly well at night, (but I'm not saying that outloud, because I don't want to jinx it!!!! You didn't hear it from me! I didn't say a WORD!)

Bryce LOVES Tanner and likes to be with him .. . .as long as he isn't CRYING. Then he asks me to go put Tanner upstairs in his crib!!!!

Okay - time to get back to the boys!

XOXO

his typical expressions. . . and no baby yet

I am sorry I have been neglecting the blog this week!!! My mom got into town, and we have been busy knocking things off my giant to-do list. The list is finally getting smaller, instead of longer, so we must be making progress!!!

Thanks to Mimi, we have these two pictures showing Bryce's typical faces!! He figured out how to cross his eyes quite some time ago - but now he has figured out how to just turn ONE eye in . . .it must take some serious talent. I have no idea how he does it - but he loves to show that face to anyone who will look! :)

So still no baby around here yet - but we have less than two weeks till he is due (if we make it that long.) My blood pressure is starting to creep up, and my feet (along with everything else)are gigantic and swollen - but I will spare you the close-up shot of my feet that my mom took . . .unless you are one of the lucky few that she EMAILED it to!!! I'll pop back in a few days if there's anything interesting to report! We head back to the doctor on Wednesday.

Bryce and Buzz

Just a quick little picture of Bryce and his pal, Buzz Lightyear.

Have a wonderful week!

We are busy anticipating the arrival of Annamaria and the girls, coming to visit on Thursday. It feels like they have been gone for AGES,

and we are so excited to spend a few days with them.

(Watch for lots of pictures next week!)

XOXO

the post-swimming peanut butter sandwich

There's not much better than a PB&J sandwich, grapes, and an icy cold cup of water after a hot summer swimming lesson! (And you can see the remnants of the peanut butter on Bryce's cute little face!) How did this kid get so grown up? I am so glad we've been able to play at the pool so often this summer, and enjoy some time together before he starts school, and before Tanner comes. We've had a lot of fun!!!

the crazy chef

Bryce and I were looking for some particular pictures on our blog, from two years ago. . . .which caused us to sit and look at the blog for a few minutes, and look at olddddd pictures. This made me realize that I have GOT to be a better blogger. For REAL. I know in some ways it will be easier once Tanner is born, because we will have a million pictures again (of BOTH the boys) but I need to make an effort NOW.

So here is my little Chef Bryce, making muffins a few weeks ago. I don't know WHY he has this crazy look in his eyes. (Sort of makes me wonder what exactly he put in those muffins!!!!) And the apron and hat, with no shirt is makes me wonder about the policies of this kitchen! (No shirt, no shoes, no problem, apparently!!!)

And in effort to keep up better, here is a run-down of our CRAZY week ahead: Little Gym today (it's Dinosaurs and Dragons week!) Bryce's first swimming lessons Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday/Friday we are taking a quick trip to Orlando (more about that soon!) Next week I start seeing the Dr. every week, which means we are SERIOUSLY reaching baby time QUICKLY!

Have a great day!!!
XOXO

my cutie pie!

So my friend Angie has these AMAZING photography skills, and she managed to catch Bryce on the couch a few days ago, fooling around. He kept hiding from her and playing games and being generally difficult, but the light was perfect, and she was determined.

Can you SEE how badly this kid needs a haircut? (Which reminds me. . .we were supposed to do that today. WHOOPS!)

Have a WONDERFUL 4th of July!!!

XOXO

BatMan and Belle (cry alert!!!!!)

I'm not sure if this picture makes me want to cry because Bryce and Jillian are so cute and silly. . .or if it's because we know that Jilly and her family are moving soon. Probably a little of both. Maybe I can't even type this post, because now I'm crying AGAIN, and can't even see straight. . .maybe that's just me being pregnant and teary. Or maybe not. It has been one of the best things about being back in Jacksonville, having Annamaria's family move here the year after we did. When they moved here, Bryce and Jilly were both barely talking, toddling around all over the place . . ..I mean, seriously - look at this baby girl, and look at these two pals. Ughh! And don't even get me started on meeting Ava the day after she was born. . .

Geesh, my how this blog post has taken a turn for the WORST!!!! ;) All I really intended to say was "Here are Bryce and Jilly playing Dress Up at Jilly's house. Bryce is really happy she has a BOY costume now, so he doesn't have to wear the pink cape anymore."
I am going to stop rambling on and crying, and just say HAVE A LOVELY DAY! XOXOXO

"Good morning, Daddy!"

One of Bryce's favorite things to do in the morning is to WAKE UP DADDY!!!! He is USUALLY quite sweet about it, and he goes in really quietly, with his stash of stuffed animals, and says "Goood morrrrrning Dadddddy." Then he crawls into bed and makes giant pillow piles, sits on Eric's head, or makes a cave under the covers.
Along with Eric and Bryce in this picture, are Bryce's two baby dolls, Baby Nick, and Baby Abby. Baby Nick has been with us for quite some time, but Bryce recently decided that Nick needed a friend. . .so we got Abby a few weeks ago. Bryce decided that it was a girl, after MUCH deliberation, and named her Abby (probably because we were going to name our new baby, Abby, if it had been a girl!) Now all Abby needs are CLOTHES. :)

And of course there's ALWAYS time for crazy faces.

I have lots of pictures to share from our Easter preparations. . .but since I have been such a bad blogger, I am going to spread them out over the next few days, just to keep you coming back for more!!!

Love and hugs!

Happy almost Easter!!! XOXO

A little early morning artwork

Bryce wanted to sit at his table (his table which used to be MY table when I was little!) and do some artwork yesterday morning. His big box of stamps and ink pads has been out for a few days, so he set to work stamping. He has gotten pretty good at remembering to clean his stamp before he switches colors. He has some alphabet stamps, and although he doesn't realize it, is getting in some good practice with his letters and spelling, while he makes words!! (Gotta love those secret-learning experiences!!)

Here's the finished product!!!

XOXO