birthday boy

Bryce and I spent the morning together to celebrate his special day.  Jason had to work so I got my mom to keep Emmy this morning so I could give Bryce my undivided attention!  Bryce has been wanting to go to the Children's Museum so we finally went today.  Nana and Pap bought us a membership so hopefully he'll get to go more often now!

 

 

4 year stats

 

Height: 38 1/2 inches (10-25th percentile)

Weight: 33 lbs (25th percentile)

Vision: 20/20

They took his blood pressure and it was 90/46.  Jason thinks kid's blood pressures are so funny!

 

Does his puppet look like him?!?  With the purchase of a membership to the museum, he got a $20 gift certificate to spend at the gift shop.  He chose these two stuffed snakes and a teething toy for Emmy (sweet brother).  We went to the candy store near the museum when we were done.  He chose a gummy snake and I just couldn't get over how long it was!

 

This afternoon we made cupcakes in ice cream cones for him to take to school tomorrow.  I've never made these and probably never will again.  I had fun trying to figure out how to transport them!

 

I was too lazy to get the camera cord so I didn't add any pictures from our family celebration tonight, but we had a great time and Bryce loved all of his gifts!  Thanks to everyone who made Bryce's 4th birthday so special.

bowling birthday party

Bryce decided quite a while ago that he wanted to have a bowling party this year.  He has been looking forward to today for months, but he couldn't understand why he wouldn't be 4 today, ha!  We had a really great time and the bowling alley staff took care of everything!  The party package included bowling and shoes for the kids, pizza and drinks, paper products, invitations, goodie bags (I filled them), and thank you cards (all with a bowling theme).  All I had to do was bring a cake!  It was definitely a low stress party!

 

 

Bryce bowled two rounds and scored a 101 and a 102.  He just liked telling everyone he got 6 spares.  He was even more excited when Jason told him he had gotten the highest scores!

 

Getting a high five from his cousin Chase.

 

Emmy got in on the action and helped Taylor bowl.

 

She ended up getting a spare!  Everyone clapped at her accomplishment so she joined in!

 

Have I ever mentioned that Jason's family owns a bakery?  I texted a picture of Bryce's birthday shirt to Jason's cousin and she made this fun cake for him. 

 

I did a pretty good job getting a picture of all his friends at the party.  These cute girls are in his class at school.

 

More friends and classmates.  One of the twins is hiding here.

 

These boys were clearly too cool to be taking pictures.

 

These sweet girls enjoyed bowling together.

 

I just have to get the group shot each year.  Two kids were missing and not many were looking at the camera, but that's what makes it so fun, ha!  Bryce got a real bowling pin to take home and all his friends signed it.

 

I just love this boy to pieces.  We had a great day celebrating him!

 

Happy "almost" birthday, Bryce-man!

a new look

This poor old blog has needed a face lift for the past year.  I have had every intention of updating the blog header and layout to incorporate Emmy and make it a more gender neutral design.  I contacted the designer about switching out a few of the pictures in the header and changing a few of the words in the title, but what I really thought would be simple and cheap changes were going to cost me $50 (more than I spent on my original blog design).  I can't believe how much a blog design costs these days.  I got brave and worked with the free designs to hold me over until I can find something that I like and am willing to spend the money on.  Anyone have suggestions for affordable blog designers?

the sun is shining, but it's still SO cold

For someone who has so little hair, it sure is out of control in the mornings!



 

Last week I blogged about my strides in weight loss and my accomplishments of sticking to my "no Diet Coke" New Year's resolution.  I guess in celebration, I decided to indulge in some not so diet friendly treats since then.  Today it was Starbucks!  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I sure do love their peppermint hot chocolate.  It was a nice treat on this cold day and I had a gift card!

 

If breaking the diet wasn't bad enough, I broke the New Year's resolution too!  This Sunday when we went to lunch after church I broke down and had a diet Dr. Pepper.  I just needed one.  And then Jason brought me a diet Coke on Tuesday.  And then we went to Sonic yesterday.  So I guess I blew that!  Oh well.  There is always next  month!

 

 

Since becoming a stay at home mom, I have cut costs and spending in ALL areas of my/our life (like going to Sonic).  I'm accepting the fact that "less is more", but sometimes a girl just needs a little retail therapy.  These days I really only shop if I have gift cards or birthday/Christmas money.  However, yesterday I splurged and bought Emmy some TOMS.  I had been looking at the knock off version at Payless, but they were $20 (which isn't much cheaper than the name brand).  So when Zulily had TOMS on special yesterday (for slightly less than the Payless version), I snagged a pair!  I wanted a patterned pair, but they were sold out of her size by the time I was shopping.  I'm pretty happy with the pink ones! 

 

I'm not sure I could pull off TOMS on myself, but when they're this size, they're just so stinkin' cute.  I resisted the urge to buy this fun pair they were offering today.

 

 

My mom found these Red Velvet Pop Tarts and they sound delicious.  I didn't try them (I've got to stick to this diet), but if they're anything like the pumpkin pie or sugar cookie versions, they must be delicious. 

 

Hope the rest of you are having better luck at sticking to your resolutions this week! 

 

just some random things

I've been in a funk, thus the lack of blogging.  I don't know about you, but I am ready for longer days, warmer weather, and a more colorful view out my window.  These cold, dreary, winter days have me down and I'm ready to move on!  Luckily the kids don't mind the weather/seasons and they're carrying on life just the same! 

 

 

Emmy and her friend Maggie enjoying some snack in the nursery at church on Sunday.

 

Clifford the Big Red Dog had a birthday recently and Bryce got to celebrate at school.  Speaking of birthdays, this boy is going to be FOUR on Monday!  Maybe that has me a little down, too!  I just can't believe he will be 4.  We have a fun friend party planned for Saturday and a family get together on Monday night.  Bryce is excited!

 

My kids may turn into donuts by the end of the week!  Jason's parents didn't have school on Monday so they took the kids to Krispy Kreme for breakfast.  My mom was taking donuts to her former co-workers this morning so we tagged along for more donuts!  Emmy likes the donuts, but not like Bryce did at her age!

 

Bryce spent some time with his cousins today and I got some cleaning done.  I hate doing it, but it always makes me feel so accomplished, ha!  Our small group is starting back up tonight and I couldn't be more thrilled to have some adult time! 

 

Happy Wednesday, y'all. 

valentine's day

We had a fun day celebrating Valentine's with our little loves today!

We started the morning with a few goodies.  Bryce was excited about his Ninja Turtle shirt and hooded Angry Bird towel.  Emmy was thrilled to shake the candy they got (way better than any other gift), but Bryce was plenty excited about Emmy's new princesses for her castle!

We headed out early (in their pajamas) to get donuts for breakfast.  Jason even went into work late so we could go as a family!  Bryce surprised me when he opted for his usual chocolate sprinkle donut and not a pink heart shaped sprinkle donut.  I guess he's all boy even down to the food he eats!  Emmy was pretty excited about her donut holes.

I headed to Bryce's school later in the morning for his Valentine party.

 He enjoyed checking out all of his goodies when he got home!

My sweet Valentine's

Bryce and Emmy were spoiled by all of their grandparents too.  They say a big THANK YOU!

Tuesday tid bits

I was excited for this book to come out on Friday.  I've been reading about it all over the blog world and I couldn't wait to get a copy.  I've read Big Mama's blog a few times and she is just so witty and so real.  I knew this would be a great read on her experiences on motherhood.  I got it Saturday and finished it last night!  Now I have to wait until June for BooMama's book to come out.

Next up on my reading list is The Story.  This Sunday we are starting a 31 week sermon series on this book.   I started it today and I'm looking forward to our small group getting back together so we can study this together.  And I'm really excited that the sermons will be on our church website because I miss a few Sundays a month to teach Sunday school and work in the nursery.  

Weight loss was not a New Year's resolution for me, but I finally decided sometime in January that I might as well attempt to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (I plateaued at the last 7 or so pounds).  Had I started a little earlier, I could have made it by Emmy's first birthday, but I didn't.  However, in four short weeks of using My Fitness Pal app, I have lost 5.8 pounds and only have 1.6 pounds to go!  Now if only I could actually get my pre-pregnancy body back, but I know that's wishful thinking (not that it was that great anyway, ha)!

It's been a month since I've given up Diet Coke and I'm doing great.  There have been a few times I wanted one, but nothing I couldn't handle!

Happy Tuesday friends!

sibling love

These two just love each other so much. I know there will be days they don't get along, but for now I will cherish their sweet relationship!

 

Watching cartoons on the computer this morning.

 

A little coloring at the table this afternoon. 

 

Bryce said he wanted to be big like us so he could hold Emmy.  We told him he didn't have to be big to hold her so we asked him if he wanted to give Emmy her bottle before bed tonight.  He loved it!

this week from my iphone

Bryce got his first report card from preschool this week.  He is doing great academically, socially, and emotionally.  He got great marks in all areas, but needs help on independent tasks such as zippers, snaps, and buttons.  Guess I need to let him be a little more independent in those areas.  Way to go Bryce!!

 

Tuesday  night, while sporting his new Blue's Clues shirt, we finished Bryce's Valentine's for his friends and classmates.  We got these fun robot and monkey Valentine's from Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago after seeing them on a blog.

 

Bryce had swimming lessons on Wednesday and he was so excited to be promoted to level 4.  He came home and practiced everything in the bathtub so he'd be ready for next week.  Occasionally they give out ribbons for meeting certain goals, but not this week, so he settled for a lollipop. 

 

Wednesday was Emmy's birthday.  She needed a lollipop from swimming too!

 

 

Thursday after school, we headed to a birthday party for one of Bryce's classmates.  They  had fun eating pizza and playing games.  The other little girl in his class had no interest in sitting with them for the picture.  Oh well.

 

12 months

Emmy girl is a year old!

Stats
Height: 27 3/4 inches (10th-25th percentile)
Weight: 17lbs 10oz (5th percentile)

 What are you up to these days?

 

You have such a sweet personality and your smile is precious (you smile all the time, except for monthly pictures).

You say ma ma, da da, na na, ba ba (bye bye), and you attempt to say baby, balloon (boon), that (dat or sometimes da da) and book.  You can make animal sounds for cow, elephant, dog, and sheep.  

You have two bottom teeth and one top tooth, but three more are coming in on the top.  

You love to eat most anything we give you.  The doctor said no foods are off limit and we can even try peanut butter and shell fish.  We're getting ready to start weaning you from formula and bottles and move onto real milk.  

You still aren't interested in walking or standing for that matter.  If I can get you steady on your feet, you will stand for a few seconds (you have even taken 4 steps), but you would rather crawl.  You pull up on everything to stand, but you did stand up totally unassisted in the middle of the living room once.

You sleep about 12 hours a night.  You take a morning nap, but it's getting shorter and shorter.  I'm hoping once you drop your morning nap you will sleep more consistently in the afternoon.  You nap anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours.

We're still not really sure of your eye color.  They are either hazel or brown.

You wear a size 3 diaper, 12 month clothes and size 4 shoes.

You definitely have girly instincts and it's so cute.  You love necklaces and put them on whenever you have the chance and you are so sweet when you  love on your babies.

 

You and Bryce have a wonderful relationship and we love to watch you play together.  I hope you will always get along so well.

Maybe you'll grow some hair in your next 12 months, ha!  And maybe even look at the camera (and smile) for pictures!  I can't wait to see what the next year brings, but I DON'T want to rush it.