soccer

Today was the first official day of soccer.  Last week was the first game, but it got rained out.  Bryce and Chase are very excited to be on the same team, the Cowboys.    

Today consisted of practice and learning the skills.  Bryce did a pretty good job of listening to the coach, but sometimes he didn't attempt the skills.  Bryce is #11 and Chase is #14.  They stayed pretty close together the whole time.

Taylor enjoyed watching from the side lines.

Each kid brings their own soccer ball to the game.  Early in the session, the kids had kicked their balls into the goal.  Later, when the coach was ready for them to practice trying to score, he just randomly kicked the balls onto the field and told the kids to try and make a goal.  Bryce didn't understand that he didn't have to kick his own ball and he got very upset that someone was kicking his ball.  Jason tried to get him to kick another ball, but you can tell he wasn't very happy about it!

Jason convinced him that if he ran down the field and scored with "a" ball, then he could get his own ball back.  He got a quick hug for reassurance and then headed down the field! 

All in all, it was a good first day.  It was fun watching him learn something new!

retirement party

Today is my mom's LAST day of work FOREVER!  What a great feeling that must be.  Yesterday was her retirement party.  Unfortunately, all the group shots turned out blurry.  Congrats Mama! 



They clean up pretty well.  Now if only I could keep up with regular haircuts for Bryce!

Looking cool

Emmy wasn't all that happy at the party, but she was all smiles when we got home!



children's museum

Let me start by saying that I had 7 week pictures of Emmy to post, but my computer put them in some weird format when I uploaded them and I can't open them now!  I promise to have some pictures of her soon!

We had a lazy day yesterday and it was 5:45 before Bryce ever got out of his pajamas so we could run a quick errand.  I decided that we needed to get out today so we went to the children's museum.  Bryce had a ton of fun and Emmy slept the whole time!

Fireman Bryce

Just like his daddy.  The car was his favorite thing.  I think he changed the tires a hundred times.

He and Jason will be working on cars together someday!

happy girl

This sweet girl slept through the night last night! I fed her and put her to bed at 9 and she didn't get up until 7 this morning. I wonder if she will make it a trend or did I just get spoiled?

playing school

Since I'm not at school teaching my fourth graders, I've taken advantage of this time with Bryce to teach him!  Bryce has always amazed us with his developmental milestones.  He had a large vocabulary at an early age and he has spoken so well for quite some time.  He was quick to learn his colors and shapes and has just mastered his ABC's.  His writing/drawing has been nonexistent!  I don't know when this skill should be learned, but we thought for sure Bryce would start kindergarten without even knowing how to draw a shape or even hold a crayon!  However, I have been working with him on writing his name this past week.  I was really impressed today when he wrote his name for me.  He had nothing in front of him to copy.  This was totally unassisted!

Showing off his work! 

I would say he's ready for kindergarten (or maybe just preschool next year), ha!

what's on my mind today

• Spring is here!  I hope the warm weather stays here.  I can't stand cold weather.
• Jason left for St. Louis this morning.  He won't be home until Thursday afternoon.  That's two nights of putting the kids to bed by myself.  By far the worst part of the day.  We got a practice run last night when Jason had softball practice.  Bryce doesn't melt down at all until bedtime when Emmy is also melting down!
• We just had our heat pump serviced for the sixth time since we have been in our house (it will be two years this month). 
• I had to buy more data for my blog because I used up my 1 GB.  Has anyone ever had that happen?  I had no idea.  But I only paid $5 for 20 GB so I guess I'm good, but you have to pay it every year!
• We've gotten our federal tax return, but not our state.  I thought the state was a faster turn around than federal.
• I'm going to see my class on Thursday for picture day.  I'm looking forward to seeing them, but I'm glad I still have 7 weeks of maternity leave left.
• Did you know that I'm debating whether or not to stay home next year?
• We enrolled Bryce in preschool for next year.
• Bryce has his first soccer game this Saturday!
• I am obsessed with diet coke and diet dr. pepper and could drink it all day long.
• I thought since I did a great job of eating well during pregnancy and not gaining a ton of weight, I would be able to have it off by the time I went to my 6 week appointment.  Instead, I have gained weight every week since I got home from the  hospital.  I kicked it into gear yesterday and I'm hoping to lose the last 10 pounds before I go back to work.
• My mom is retiring at the end of the month! 

Doesn't get any more random than that.  I just needed someone to talk to since the kids are sleeping and Jason won't be home for days!  Bryce is very much looking forward to doing face time with Jason tonight.  However, Bryce was a mess the last time Jason went out of town for work.  The phone call may make it worse.  Wish us luck!

6 weeks

Emmy was 6 weeks old yesterday! 

Her acne is getting much better!  Her sleeping is also getting into a routine.  For the past four nights, she has been getting up between 3 and 3:30 to eat and then goes back down until the morning.  I love her smile and little giggles.  She is becoming more aware of her surroundings and enjoys laying on her activity mat and watching the toys swing on her car seat.  She doesn't seem to be as fussy in the evenings now and she is usually happy when she is awake.    

Bryce wanted me to take a picture of him holding Emmy's hand, ha!

All three kids!  They love each other.

Last week we had our small group over to watch basketball and the kids enjoyed some time on the trampoline.

a day at the zoo

We decided to take advantage of the nice weather on Jason's day off today and head to the National Zoo in DC.  Too bad the spring weather hasn't made it there yet!  It was cold and cloudy there, but at least it didn't rain!  We had fun, but we decided the 2 hour drive and traffic just isn't worth it.  The zoo here in Richmond is just as good!

Can you spot our little prairie dog?

Climbing through the tunnels like a prairie dog.

My little monkeys!

I'm still looking like an elephant six weeks after having Emmy!

spring has sprung

It's not officially spring, but the spring weather is here!

We met Jason at work today to feed the ducks and have a picnic lunch.

Bryce was so cute talking to the ducks while he fed them.

This picture is to prove that Emmy was indeed there with us!

Love these boys! 

A nice man offered to take our picture for us!  We don't have many family shots.

Emmy will be sitting on Jason's other knee soon!

Hope you're enjoying some spring weather today too!

the perfect picture

I'm sure it will be years before I can get the perfect picture of these two, but they're still pretty cute!

Emmy got this Minnie shirt and hat this weekend so I decided to play a little dress up.  Even though the highs were in the 80's today, she still needed to stay warm, right?!?  Bryce wants to do just about everything that Emmy does so he broke out his Mickey ears for the occasion.

She really is a happy baby and gives us some smiles!

a visit from mama pat

Mama Pat came up for a visit this weekend and boy did she spoil us.  She wasn't able to come to Bryce's birthday party this year, so she brought the party with her this weekend!  Mama Pat is a Mickey Mouse fanatic (to say the least).  She has even been nicknamed "Ms. Mickey".  Luckily for her, Bryce loves Mickey too! 

Mama Pat had a friend make this special cake for Bryce.  He enjoyed opening his gifts from her.  One of his favorites was this Thomas tent.  He attempted to sleep in the tent on his bed, but I think he was too distracted by it to actually sleep! 

Emmy was not forgotten in all of the celebrating and gift giving.  Mama Pat brought tons of goodies and such precious clothes for her.  Mama Pat and my mom went to a craft show on Saturday while she was visiting and they got Emmy this sweet little outfit.  I think both kids are more than ready for Disney World this summer!

3 year stats

Bryce went to the doctor on Tuesday too, but he never stopped playing monster trucks long enough to snap a picture!  I got Jason to take some pictures with my phone yesterday so I could blog, but my Blogger app wouldn't upload my post.

weight: 30 pounds (25th percentile)

height: 35 3/4 inches (10th percentile)

He got a great report and didn't need any shots.