Bryce is 9

Bryce's birthday celebrations didn't go quite as I had planned, but he still had fun.  I've been paranoid all month that one of the kids would get sick and miss their birthday party or be sick on their birthday. We made it all the way to Bryce's birthday and then Emmy came down with the stomach bug yesterday.  Fortunately it wasn't Bryce, but Emmy and I had to miss some of the festivities.  

This was going to be my first year of Monster Jam (Jason and Bryce's 7th), but I missed it.  Luckily, PaPa and Thomas wanted mine and Emmy's tickets.

Eight was great, but we can't wait to see what nine has in store!

Bryce had wanted a snowboard for the next snow!  Maybe we'll get one more snow before spring.  I'd be fine if we didn't, but you know!

Happy Birthday donut "cake".

Bryce always looks forward to his Waffle House birthday breakfast tradition.  Even though Emmy was feeling better, I kept her home a little while longer so MeMa and PaPa joined them for breakfast before church.  

Emmy and I didn't want to miss everything, so we met everyone for lunch after church.   

Both kids got Build a Bear gift cards for their birthday (another Bryce tradition) so we headed there after lunch!

I thought Emmy's card for Bryce was so cute.  They were really into curling in the Olympics this year so she incorporated it into his card.

I can't believe he's 9!  My how he's grown and changed!

Stats:

Weight - 59 pounds (25-50th percentile)

Height - 50 1/8 inches (10-25th percentile)

Blood Pressure - 106/58

Forest of Virtues

 Bryce and Emmy both received a Forest of Virtues award at school today!  There are 8 different virtues and classmates vote on a student who possesses a certain virtue that is being awarded.

Emmy received the Fairness Award.

Bryce received the Trustworthiness Award.

We're so proud of these two kiddos!

100th Day of School

Today was the 100th day of school!

Emmy had to make a project for the 100th day of school.  She could have made a poster or something to turn in, but I thought it would be fun to have a special shirt to wear.  We were going to sew 100 buttons on a shirt, but when we went to the craft store she found beads she liked so we decided to use 100 beads to write 100.

I don't know how to sew, so we had to enlist Nana's help!  Emmy was able to sew the entire number one with Nana's help!  Go girl!

We're over halfway through kindergarten! 

celebrating 9 with friends

Bryce's birthday isn't until next Sunday but we already have a busy weekend planned so we decided to do his friend party this weekend!  Four of his friends came home with him after school and Kelly dropped Chase off and we were on our way to have some fun!  This many kids in a car and house for that matter are VERY loud!

We had his party at a new indoor trampoline place.  He went back in November for a birthday and loved it.  The Ninja Warrior course was his favorite.  

He loves a challenge.

Here he is on the warped wall.  He made it over the top and slid down the pole but I stopped videoing too early. 

 

A friendly game of dodge ball.  

Bryce has been friends with Thomas (on the left) since preschool and Patrick next to him and Gracie (wearing pants) since kindergarten.  Peyton in red is Patrick's twin sister and in Bryce's class this year and they have become fast friends.  And obviously Chase, his first and forever friend!

I thought this would be a fun video!

It WAS fun until Bryce came down on someone's knee and busted his lip!  At least it was right as we were leaving and he handled it like a champ!  He's fine today!

Emmy and Taylor opted for pedicures during the party.

They joined us for pizza, cake and presents!

I had a cookie cake for my birthday last year so that's what Bryce requested.  It was SO good!

9 is kind of hard to swallow!  At least I have another week for it to sink in.

Super excited about a new basketball from Chase!

I was too busy running around with food and drinks to eat so I waited until everyone left and enjoyed a quiet meal by myself.  Happy Birthday to me!

21 years

February 3rd marked 21 years since Jason and I started dating.  We were busy celebrating Emmy's birthday that day, but decided to have a little date day the day after to celebrate us!

I think this picture was taken our sophomore year of high school.

We headed up to Wintergreen on Sunday after church to Bold Rock to try their new rose cider release.  It was a rainy icy day so it kept the crowds to a minimum.  

We even got to enjoy a seat by the fire!

We had lunch and dessert and it was so good!

I honestly can't even comprehend 21 years.  It seems like so long, but it has also gone so fast.  We've been lucky enough to grow up together and I honestly can't remember life before "us".

Here's to 21 more (and hopefully at least another 21 more)!

happy birthday emmy

We started the birthday prep for Emmy's week of fun last Friday!  I made cupcakes for Emmy's party while she was at school and when she got home we made icing and decorated them.

We went out to breakfast on Saturday morning and then did a little shopping to pass the time before her party.

Soft pretzel for lunch for the win!

Emmy chose to have a pottery painting party this year.

She decided weeks ago that she'd like to paint a plate.

Bryce painted a plate with a donut.

Emmy had said she was going to make a birthday plate with sprinkles and then decided she wanted a plate with Bentley on it.  Jason did a great job drawing and she did really well staying in the lines. 

Last year the number of party guests got out of control so we reeled it in a little bit and she just invited a few friends from school, her cousins, and a friend from church who's birthday is close to hers. 

She has been wanting high heels for quite some time and MeMa came through for the win.  Dressed and ready for church!

Here she in on Monday night saying goodbye to 5!

Hello 6!

Jason was the watch dog for the day for her birthday so we all got to ride to school together.  

Jason was able to eat lunch with Emmy and Bryce as well as help in both of their classrooms.  

Watch Dog picture.

We donated money to the library at the beginning of the year so the kids could pick a new book on their birthday to dedicate with their name.

She was excited to see a balloon flying from the mailbox when we got home from school.  Thanks Kelly!

She was excited to get a balance beam for her birthday.

She wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, but that seemed boring so I added sprinkles to make it more fun!

YUM!

A look back!

Stats:

Weight: 37 pounds (5th percentile)

Height: 42 1/8 inches (5th percentile)

Vision: 20/20

Blood Pressure: 90/54