par-tay

Brysons 'Diego' birthday party was today... I actually had so much fun planning it- especially the cake... I love planning parties- not that I'm necessarily any good at it, but it's fun to do, and was SOOOOO exciting for Bryson to get to help me out with it. There are 28 kids in our neighborhood... 28! And there are only 27 houses or so!! I only invited those whom Bryson really plays with, which are pretty much from the culdesac we live on, and there were 17 kids... including 8 cousins... it was pretty crazy how many kids were here, but we had good time... funny enough his 'older' cousins (ie: 8-12 years old) had just as much fun playing the games as the younger kids... We played 'lion, lion, hyena' (duck, duck, goose) followed by another game that didn't work out so well, and then had a photo scavenger hunt to find the 'expedition supplies'- it was a pinata... I didn't think the pinata would last very long, certainly not through ALL the kids, espcially the way the older kids were wacking it, but we got 1/2 way through the second go 'round before it finally broke.

So I found this great idea for Diego cupcakes on the Nick Jr. website- I was quite happy with how mine turned out:

Making the cake was my favorite though... Stressful and time consuming, yes, but sooo worth it- I love making fun cakes...
Yes, those are handmade banana trees, thanks for noticing! The leaves (and Diego's hair on the cupcakes) are made from melting chocolate- like what you dip strawberries or pretzels (or anything else that's yummy dipped in chocolate) in... I had left over chocolate in the bag after making Diego's hair, (you have to pipe it out to be able to re-melt it and thus reuse it) so I was playing with writing and it turned out so good, I let the chocolate words dry and plopped the 'Happy Birthday Bryson' right on the cake- I don't think I'll EVER attempt piping letters directly onto a cake with frosting ever again-- it's SO much easier (and more forgiving) with melting chocolate! You can mess up over and over and only put what you want on the cake- it's pretty sturdy once it dries. Plus, it's really yummy.

Another shot of the cake- before it was desecrated *grin* At least it was devoured (it not only looked great, it tasted fabulous- Waveney's famous recipe!) on my terms.... Dallin was within inches of his little life when he crawled up on the table prior to the festivities commencing and was about to take a paw-full when I caught him.... sheesh...


I think the overall success of the day could be measured by the filthiness of the bathwater tonight...

HA HA!! On a side note.... I just realized that Bryson is wearing the same shirt today in his birthday pictures, that he was wearing in his birthday pictures last year.... (he's wearing it in the pictures with the 'Cars' cake) Hey, it still fits, and it one of his favorites!

On this day

Four years ago yesterday, I had an unexpected surprise...



Four years ago last night, I had a very sleepless night...



Four years ago last night, I was very fearful of what the immediate future held...



Four years ago today, I had a major shift in priorities...



Four years ago today, I discovered what unconditional love really is...



Four years ago today, I became a mom...

Love at first sight
Happy Birthday Bryson
May 29, 2004 2:36pm
6lbs, 9oz 18 1/2 inches long

Four years ago yesterday, I called Nathan on the golf course and told him my water broke- a little... I was nervous because I was only 36 weeks, but also because I thought that maybe I was just wetting my pants- it was just a trickle... That night was a very long night- partly because I was very nervous for childbirth(!!) and partly because I had a slight trickle down my leg ALL NIGHT LONG! The events four years ago were beautiful and spiritual and a wonderful memory- The is no possible way it could have been any more special.

Here he's 10 WEEKS OLD- What a Chunk!

5 1/2 months sitting up

Using those chompers- 10 months

One year old

Two years old
(mommy had Dallin 5 days later)

Three years old

Four years old

My only complaint, is that he's grown too fast!

All about Bryson: (I asked him these questions while he was VERY distracted by Dora the Explorer)

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Restaurant: Old McDonalds (McDonalds *grin*)

Favorite Food: Macaroni & Cheese

Favorite Drink: Apple juice

Favorite thing to do: Go to school

Best Friend: Rhys and Jaron

Favorite Movie: Cars

Favorite TV Show: Dora the Explorer (he happens to be watching that right now...)

Favorite Toy: Dinoco McQueen car

Favorite Animal: dinosaur

Favorite Book: Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry

I love this sequence... I mean, what is a birthday without candles in your macaroni & cheese?

When daddy got home for lunch, I had to let Bryson open one present- well, daddy brought it in while Bryson covered his eyes... his reaction was priceless, and I caught it on camera-

He has totally outgrown his other little bike, and worn the rear tire almost completely bald...
this bike is actually a hand-me-down from Aunt Sandy- and her boys... Thanks SO much!

Have you ever seen such a little kid on such a big bike? It really freaks me out, but he loves it!

on responsibility

As a mom of young kids, I've come to grips with the things that are constantly needing to be done.... things like laundry and preparing the next meal... but no one ever told me about fingernails. I am personally responsible for trimming 80 nails on an ongoing basis; 40 fingernails and 40 toenails- 3 kids and myself... it seems like there are always more sharp little nails to trim! If Dallin grew 1/8th as much as his nails, he'd be 6 feet tall by now. I knew a lot of the things that being a mom entailed before I had kids, or so I thought, but I was NOT prepared for the never ending responsibility of trimming nails...

Campout

So Friday night was Nathan's first 'official' father and sons camp out with the Boys... When Bryson was finally old enough two years ago, I was ready to pop with Dallin and I didn't dare let Nathan leave me overnight- so they camped out in the backyard (and came in around 2am)... The next year (last year) we were on our cruise- a fair trade, I'm sure he'd agree. So after we spent the night in Coeur d'Alene for our anniversary on Thursday night, he packed up the boys (Eli stayed with me of course) and went camping...

Of course they loved the tent... and the oreos and gatorade- for some reason, that's the traditional food for Nathan and his boys on their father son camp outs... Around 10pm, my cell phone rang- caller ID said it was Nathan, but all I could hear was Dallin fussing and Nathan obviously trying to get him to sleep- the phone was in his pocket and called me by mistake via speed dial... I called him back and he said that Dallin was just too excited about the tent and everything to lay down- he just wanted to sit up and look around, especially at the shadows cast by the camp fire...

This year, they made it to 5am before they came home... Nathan started to hear other kids squawking and since he couldn't sleep (thanks to the rocks he was sleeping on!), he put the kids in their car seats, packed up the tent and came home... poor daddy, he was beat!

Sadly, when Nathan had asked me what I was going to do with myself and no boys ('cept for Eli) I realized just how pathetic my life is (just kidding, I LOVE my life) when I excitedly replied, "CLEAN THE HOUSE IN PEACE!" And it even stayed clean!!! until 5am...

My life just got a lot more complicated...

Did you see the look on his face when he turned around
before he went outside? It said "FREEDOM!!"

Eight Years Already?

May 18, 2000

How can I possibly have been married eight years? I'm only 23 *grin* (I guess since this is on the internet, I should clarify... I did NOT get married when I was 15)- I just can't believe it's been eight years... I mean we have accomplished quite a bit in that time, but it's really flown by- mostly because I have such a wonderful husband, which I recognize nearly everyday- he is such a patient, loving, affectionate, helpful and amazing man- I am so blessed that he's mine forever!

I love you Nathan

The beginning of our lives together...

big boy in a little onesie

Why yes, that IS a 0-3 month onesie on my two-weeks-shy of a four year old! Thanks for noticing! What a silly boy...

Say it with me...

RAG-A-MUFFIN!!
Sheesh he has crazy hair!

A hard days work...

It's tough being a baby...

Dirt don't hurt

At least I hope so...


As Daddy built the addition to our deck, Bryson and Dallin sure had fun playing in the dirt patch we call a backyard.


Boys will be boys I guess!

To all the moms...

Do you have any idea what it took to get this picture? At least they're finally LOOKING at the camera... Happy Mothers Day to my fabulous mom- she's such an amazing lady in every aspect. I love you mama. And I'm so lucky to have an equally fantastic mother in law- it's a privilege to call her 'mom'

Birth Order of Children

I got this from a friend the other day... too true!! Don't bother reading if you don't have kids...

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
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Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
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The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
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Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
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Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
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Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
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Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics,Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.
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Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
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At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
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Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!
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Pass this on to everyone you know who has children . . . Or everyone who KNOWS someone who has had children . .

(The older the mother, the funnier this is!)

GRANDCHILDREN: God's reward for allowing your children to live.