Pics From the Dry Portion of Fire House Visit

Ronnie, Bryce and Caleb on top of the truck














Ronnie and Bryce on top of ladder truck














Ronnie, Bryce, Caleb, Jordan and Daniel on top of ladder truck














Guys getting off the ladder truck


















Bryce in the ladder truck trying out the back seat




















The boys "operating" the hydrant to fill up the fire truck (this is actually after the water fight)














Caleb getting set to take a ride in the ladder truck

















Bryce and Jordan getting set to go for a ride (please ignore the big booger hanging from Bryce's face - as soon as I figure out how to edit that out, I will replace the picture minus the snot!! It is the only pic I got of them in the headsets though.)










Caleb and Jordan dressed in Fire Fighter gear

















Bryce getting some help getting his gear on

















Bryce being helped (notice he is leaning to the side - that is why the fireman is behind him holding his up!!)
















Jordan is ready to go!!

Water Fight with 5 Not-All-So-Small Kids

We went to Walmart early yesterday morning and ran into Ronnie and Daniel, Bryce's heroes (the firemen he loves for those of you who don't read this regularly)!! Ronnie was driving and dropped off Daniel and 2 other firemen and went and sat in the parking lot with the truck. Daniel saw us pull in and stood at the door waiting on Bryce. They talked for a few minutes and then we went out to the truck to see Ronnie and the big ladder truck.

Ronnie and Daniel just changed stations recently and they are now driving the ladder truck, which they did not used to have. So, Bryce has not spent time "checking out" this truck, he only has seen the outside when they were doing that training a couple of weeks ago. He was really excited to see Ronnie and check the truck out with him. Ronnie, Caleb and Bryce were checking it out when there was a call that came in for an emergency. I peeled the kids away from the truck and the other guys came running out of Walmart. Ronnie asked us to come to the station later.

Well, we went and picked up Caleb's friend, Jordan, to come play for the day. We ran some errands and around 11:30 we went over there. Bryce went and knocked on the door of the fire house. He gave them an invitation to his birthday party (where they ARE the entertainment!!!). Daniel took them out to check out the "new" firestation (new to Bryce), and to finish checking out the ladder truck. After a few minutes, Ronnie came out and joined them. It started out like a normal visit until Bryce asked if they would hook the hose up and let him spray. If it had just been Bryce I would not have been too concerned about him getting wet, but I knew that since I had two 7 year olds, things would get nasty! And they did. Little did I know that the FIREMEN would be the biggest kids! They initiated most of the water fights! After 2 hours when I finally convinced the boys that we needed to go eat, 3 firemen and 3 boys were soaked! The last fireman did not get too wet until right before we left, when the second water fight broke out. SOMEHOW I managed to stay dry (maybe because I was hiding behind a tree the entire time!?)

It started with Bryce spraying the ground and trying all the different sprays. Then Caleb ran in front of the water. When Caleb took a turn at the hose - he went a little wild! He was spraying everywhere, and so did Jordan when he took his turn (but not as bad as Caleb). Well, at some point Ronnie turned the hose on Daniel while Caleb was still holding it. That was the beginning of a very wet trip! After a while, Daniel told Caleb to ask for another turn at the hose, but when he got it to turn and spray Ronnie. At some point the Daniel ended up with the fire hose, Ronnie got the water hose and things went crazy! I took lots of pictures of the fun, which the firemen say they do frequently during the summer.

After the first water fight was over (when the firetruck ran out of water) they took the truck to the hydrant to fill it up. They let the boys "operate" the hydrant. When the truck was full, they took the boys for about a 10 minute ride. With the ladder truck, it has the two front seats and then four seats in the back. They put the boys in the back, put seat belts on them, and then put the headsets on them. It was so cool, and the boys loved it!

After their ride, which included lots of lights and sirens, they came back. Ronnie got them all fireman hats and sticker badges and little paper firetrucks that have "Frank's Fire Safety Tips" (Frank is the name of the firetruck I assume). The firetruck was one of those that you have to fold and tuck tabs, etc. to make. It took the firemen longer than you would think it would to put them together - it was a little challenging for them!! :)

Then they each put on a firemans coat and helmet. They kept saying it was not heavy, but you could tell they were, they just did not want to admit it. Bryce was leaning from side to side and a fireman was having to hold him to keep him from falling over (but it was not heavy!!) This was the first time we could get Bryce to try one on, usually he is scared to do it! I am glad that I was able to get a picture of that.

Enjoy the pictures - the boys are as I am posting this!! For all wondering - Isaac was at school during this, that is why he is not anywhere to be seen! Pics will be posted seperately!

Caleb's First Church Performance

Videos

Okay, everyone. I know the videos suck! I went ahead and posted them for a couple of reasons. For one, I knew when I was taking the videos that it would be too dark, because I did it with a digital camera and the sanctuary was dark and we were sitting too far away. Also I could not easily make phone calls to audio blog. I could have audioblogged the sound off the camera, but I have been trying to figure out a free way to download video onto blogger. Sooo, now that I know how to do this, I will learn more about how to use the camera and make videos on it so you can see video of the kids!

Caleb's "Humps" Under His Eyes

Caleb came in this morning and asked what the purple humps under his eyes were. I told him it meant he was not getting enough sleep!!! It is bad if HE can notice circles under his eyes!! He has been staying up until about 9:30 or 10 reading at night (he is sleeping in in the morning as long as I don't make him get up to go run errands!). He is reading a Hardy Boys sized book every night. He is reading Hardy Boys, Hank the Cow Dog, and R. L. Stine books. He just found the Hank the Cow Dog books earlier this week, but seems to like it. The author is going to be at our library this summer, which we found out right after he checked them out. Now that he has read them, he is excited about meeting him!

HOOTERS

This is BAD! I had to run an errand today in an area we don't go to too often. Well, they have recently put in a Hooters there. I had Caleb, a friend of his, and Bryce. Caleb saw Hooters and started singing a song (the words were easy - it was just "hooters" over and over again. He kept asking if we could go to Hooters to eat. There is just something wrong with the word hooters coming from a 7 year olds mouth that many times in one day!!!!

Isaac's First Church Performance

Isaac's First Church Program

I know you can't really see the video, but this is Isaac's first church choir performance. It was really cute, but we were too far away to get any good video on our regular camera. Just listen!

Lazy Day of Summer

Yes, I said day - this is what went on the first summer break! Caleb did not even get dressed until it was time to pick Isaac up from school.

BAD BOY

"I not a bad boy - I a boy" Bryce - everytime you say bad boy (whether to him or someone else, or the dog, or cat, etc)

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was in the hospital last week for another sleep study. As I have also mentioned in previous posts, I have been having problems with Bryce taking naps lately. Well, when I was in the hospital, Daddy stayed home with Bryce. While at the hospital, I was instant messaging Paul with Bryce's routine. I asked if he was eating lunch yet and Paul said he was. He said he did not think he liked what he was eating, though, because he was eating very slowly. I told him that he knows that after lunch it is naptime, so he stalls.

The one time in 3 years that Daddy stays home from work with Bryce: Bryce walks into Paul. "Daddy, I need a firetruck pullup, it naptime." Paul gave him his pullup and guess what Bryce did: that is right - HE CRAWLS INTO BED AND GOES RIGHT TO SLEEP!!!!

Paul tells me this. All I had to say, "It is time for a change. I guess I need to find a job so you can stay home because you are obviously better at it than I am!"

I must say though, the next day I asked Bryce if he was going to take a nap like he did for Daddy. He said he would if I would keep his door open (which Daddy did not do). I told him that was fine as long as he would go to sleep. HE DID! Now, he is back to taking naps, but we have to leave the door open! Whatever works!!

Happy Anniversary to the Best Husband on Earth

I don't care what anyone says - I absolutely have the best husband in the world!! I spent a night and day in the hospital last week for a sleep study test. On his way home from work the evening I went in, he stopped and got me two boxes of my favorite candy and a card. It was such a sweet gesture for him to think of even though it was not a serious hospital visit.

I love when he does spontaneous things like that, but I love even more that he can show me through his everyday actions that he loves me. He is so sweet and caring and always has my needs ahead of his own. I am so glad that in todays world I was able to find someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with, and at such a young age. It is hard to believe we are going on 11 years together and 8 years of marriage, today!

We have made it through some horrible storms together in that time. As bad as things have been and all the obstacles that we have gone through, I would not change it for the world. I don't think we would be where we are today if we had not gone through what we have. We really had to stick together and depend on each other to get through them, and if you can't do it when things are bad, we would never make it! We are so much stronger as a couple and I have never been more in love with you. It is hard to believe that as in love as we were in the beginning of how relationship is nothing with how much I love you now.

Even though you aren't here for our anniversary - just remember I LOVE YOU!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Bryce's New Phase

Bryce has started a new phase (many new phases really, in addition to all of the old ones!) It seems that the good phases go fast and we just add and add to the ones we would like to rush through.

He has started with the "Daddy, you are my best friend" stage. This continues until Daddy gets on to him for something or does not give him his way. Then you can hear him running to Mommy and saying "Daddy is not my friend anymore, Mommy is my best friend." We never REALLY know who is his friend at the moment!

Today when he got up from his nap, he came in and got in my bed (where, yes, I was napping too). He was laying on his stomach with his feet crossed at the ankle swinging his feet up and down. He was propped up on his elbows with his hands cupped around his chin. I love it when he lays like that, making different faces. He says "Mommy?" "Yes?" "Mommy, you are my best friend." "Thank you sweetie, that is so sweet." He smiles his innocent, sweet smile. "Now can you get me a drink?" He ask with the same sweet innocent smile. Boy does he know how to manipulate!!

Another Year Down

Well, Caleb finished the first grade last week. He is now a second grader (insert red puffy eyes and waterfalls of tears here)! He brought home his last report card on Friday. His final grades: Math 97, Reading 98 and Spelling 100 (his report card has looked like that all year - no surprise).

He got his IOWA test scores back last week too. It was kinda funny looking at them because he is well above average on everything except a couple of things. He was at least consistent in what he did the worse on. Everything that he did average on had something to do with listening! Makes me feel better, I guess. At least I know it is not just me he does not listen too!

Caleb, I am very proud of how well you did this past year in school. You are such a smart young man and I know that you will go far! I can't wait to see what you become, but at the same time, I hate seeing you grow so fast. I hope that you always have the excitement for school that you have now. I know sometimes it is challanging and sometimes it is boring, but you always seem to find a way through it. You amaze me with the knowledge you retain and how quickly you pick things up. You just keep working at your pace and don't worry about getting too far ahead. Daddy and I (mostly Daddy I am afraid) will help you learn what school is not ready for you to learn, although you do still have to do what school is doing, even if you already know how!

I loved listening to the excitement in your voice at dinner tonight when you were talking to Isaac about him starting school (even though we are a year away from that). You were being so sweet to him explaining that you would be at the same school and that Daddy could drop ya'll off together and you would take him to his class and watch over him. You also told him that maybe sometimes ya'll would be on the same playground and he could play with you, even though you would be in the third grade and he would only be a kindergardener. I know you get annoyed being the older brother sometimes, but I think when it really counts you will be a great brother!

I love you and am very proud of who you are and who you are becoming. Always believe in yourself and stand up for what you believe in, even if no one else is or agrees with what you are standing up for. Keep growing in Christ, as you are doing so well lately. He will carry you through everything, if you will just trust him, and follow him.

Bryce - Wanting Vegetables

Last week, on our way to Caleb's field trip, the boys were discussing with Daddy and I what they wanted for lunch. Bryce said he wanted corn. Daddy and I both got excited! I turned around and said "you want corn for lunch." Bryce says "yes (pause) corn dogs!" He had us for a minute anyway!

Bryce and His Vegetables

For those of you who don't already know this, Bryce has always had a problem with vegetables. Always - as in - since birth! It started with anything green. When he started eating baby food, we started with greens, like recommended. He has ALWAYS spit it out and if you MAKE him eat he can MAKE himself throw it up before or as soon as he swallows it.

Lately, we have been bribing him to eat his vegetables, but of course the bribe includes a little clause saying he can not force himself to throw up the vegetables. It is starting to work - little by little. We started with just a few bites, and every night we add a little more to what he has to eat for his dessert (or whatever the bribe for the night is). His problem - he holds the food that he does not like in his mouth forever before he swallows it. I don't exactly like food sitting in my mouth for five minutes before I swallow it either!! I guess that is our next step - getting him to swallow ASAP!

Caleb Enjoying His Own Room

It Takes A Village

to wash the dog apparantly!




Isaac - the supervisor





















Daddy - the burr picker
and Bryce the bather!














WHO IS GETTING THE BATH HERE??













Trip got covered in burrs when we went on our hike so Paul was giving him a bath. Bryce decided Daddy needed help so he got undressed and in the tub and Isaac was an on-looker. Paul had to pick every burr out one by one and Bryce scrubbed the soap in the entire time Paul was picking. Of course, when Paul was done bathing the dog, he had to wash out the tub and bathe Bryce!!

Memorial Day

You should be able to double click on the photos and enlarge them so you can see them better





The entrance sign





























Starting out the hike



















Bryce with his walking stick



















The view at the first photo blind the white dots way out in the fields were pelicans.














Bryce "being quiet and watching"
















Bryce "being quiet and watching"













one of the many pretty flowers we saw on our hike
















Isaac













Caleb and Bryce holding hands and walking
















Isaac showing me something






















another photo blind












Do you see the blue-bellied lizard? He let us get right up at him, even with the boys and the dog!



















the trail














A momma turtle laying eggs













Isaac at a photo blind (if you want to know what is behind that look at the first photo blind picture above)











Bryce at the end of the hike - he was singing and hiking in his own world














The very end of the hike














Get that camera out of my face!! I am hot and tired!











Monday we decided we wanted to do at least one little thing that was somewhat fun, so we decided to go hiking. We went to Bell Slough which "2000 acres include wetland and forest habitats that provide permanent homes or temporary stops along migration routes for over one hundred wildlife species."

The boys LOVE hiking so we usually spend weekends and holidays visiting the different parks around us. Caleb always has to be the leader, and for the most part we let him. He takes his walking stick and takes off. He finds all of the "neat" sights and points them out to everyone else.

Isaac has come such a long way since last summer. Last summer, he hiked, but it was very hard on him. He fell a lot and complained a lot and basically did not enjoy it as much as we would have liked him too. He has come so far with therapy though and I was really impressed. We did a 2.3 mile hike. He did not complain or fall one time the entire trip (other than about the mosquitos that were eating us alive!!).

This was Bryce's first time to hike the entire hike. Up until now he has always been in a carrier on Daddy's back. He did SO good. There was minimal complaining after we had gone a little more than half way. We stopped and had some water, and he finished the hike. This really is not a surprise to me because I know how he can go and never stop!!

This was probably the best hike we have ever had with all of the kids. It really makes me look forward to all of our hikes this year! Unfortunately, we did not see much in the way of wildlife, because while they hiked well, they did not keep their mouths closed!! Enjoy the pictures!

The Worse Holiday Weekend

Well, what a weekend we have had! It started with Isaac waking up at about 3:30 in the morning on Thursday. I woke up to him crying and went into his room to check on him. I was greeted with a horrible smell. I looked up on his bed (on the top bunk) and his blue sheet was a lovely shade of Taco Bell tacos, mixed with Fruit Punch! I put him in the shower and changed his bedding and got him back to bed, expecting to wake up shortly to Bryce with the same problem. I thought it was the Taco Bell, and they had eaten the exact same thing for dinner.

Well, about an hour later, I was awakened to Isaac crying again. Again, I went into his room and was greeted by the same horrible sour odor. I knew before looking that he had gotten sick again. After the third time of being awakened to the cry and the odor, I made a pallet for Isaac right in front of the bathroom door! Of course, he was fine after that.

He stayed home from school Thursday, but was fine all day. Friday morning, we get up and get ready for school. Right before we left to take Isaac, he threw up AGAIN! So he stayed home again.

At lunch time, Bryce threw up all over me. Of course I am wearing white pants and a light blue silk shirt AND Bryce had blueberry nutri-grain bars for breakfast, so he threw up blueberries down my back. After dealing with Isaac I knew he did not need to eat or drink. By Friday afternoon, he was acting fine, and we were still thinking Taco Bell. We went ahead and went down to Texas for the weekend.

We got into Texas and Bryce threw up again, in the car. Luckily, I got a bag in place just in time! Friday night, he got he was fine, but Caleb got it. We were at Aunt Lindsays house and he got sick all over the elevator! He was up literally every 30 minutes throughout the night!

Saturday I got it. Sunday, Paul. It was a very long weekend, and we hope that we did not get everyone in Texas sick! When we were home this weekend, I was doing laundry. Not just any laundry, bedding and clothes and towels that reeked. I should have taken it all to the laundry mat instead of trying to do it all here. I spent three days doing laundry almost all day, and I am still not done! I washed all the bedding twice with lots of soap and fabric softner to make sure the SMELL was out!

This is one long weekend I am glad is over!!

Bryce

Bryce is starting to copy everything, even when you don't think he is listening! It is so nice to have a child that does not need speech! According to the doctor he is ahead of normal (but what is normal really?). He speaks so clearly and has such a big vocabulary, you would never know he is not even 3!! It was funny how surprised the doctor and nurses were when I took Isaac in last and they heard Bryce talking!

The other day we went to get some coffee at the local coffee shop after we took Isaac to school. Bryce always goes and sits in the oversized leather chair right by the fireplace (that is never on when we are their). The lady was talking to the guy in line in front of me and said something about something being "freakin' crazy." Bryce, without skipping a beat and while continueing to play in the chair repeats "freakin' crazy." Everyone in the coffee house started laughing. She apologized and commented about how well he copied her. I said "yeah it is amazing what they pick up even when you don't think they are listening."

A couple of nights ago we were at the kitchen table eating dinner. No one was talking, we were all just eating (a very rare occurance at this house - no one talking). Out of no where Bryce blurts out "Daddy you are driving me crazy!" We all burst out laughing! I can't imagine where he heard that from??? (insert innocent face!)

Well, we finally got Isaac okay with sleeping on the top bunk, which means Caleb got his own room. We moved Bryce in with Isaac, and put Caleb in Bryce's room, which Caleb is loving...Bryce is not. He was not liking it from the moment we started moving things around!

Everything is going well, for the most part. The first couple of mornings, Isaac would not get out of bed until someone went in and watched him get down. It is really amazing though, because he has no problem getting up and down without someone watching when he is supposed to be sleeping, but is playing instead!

Caleb is getting to stay up late now. He actually is doing pretty good though. He has always needed A LOT of sleep or he is unbelievably grumpy - especially if someone wakes him up instead of him getting up on his own. We let him go to his room at 8 and read. He has read 2 books since Sunday evening!! We are talking real books, not baby books - chapter books! He got a clip on light and reads in bed until we tell him to turn the light off. We forgot to tell him last night and I went in at about 10:20 or so and he was still reading. He had read 257 pages since he had gone in there! I was really scared about getting him up this morning, but he got up on his own - before I was ready for him too of course!! We will see how he acts this afternoon!

Now everyone has had a chance of having their own rooms. Hopefully, soon we will find a house with 4 bedrooms!!

Bryce First Fire Training

This morning Bryce and I went to Walmart to get a few things. When we were leaving Bryce saw two firetrucks behind Walmart. They had the ladder raised, so we parked in a parking spot and watched. We sat there for a while and then Daniel, one of Bryce's buddies, saw him and came and got him.

They were doing a training exercise. They raised the ladder all the way and one of the firemen climbed all the way up it. They then turned it all different directions. Bryce was loving watching the man on the ladder while the ladder was moving. He REALLY loved it when they started spraying the hose.

Paul's Dream Car

This SPAMOBILE has been parked at a hotel close to us! I thought it was pretty funny!