Chance

Wow--this is our 100th post. Pretty cool and I have great news that is definitely post worthy. We went today and chose our puppy. Bryce has changed the name to Chance and I think that name is appropriate. It was purely by chance that we got this dog, so it seemed fitting. We chose a male puppy and he is beautiful. He actually fell asleep on my foot while I was petting him. I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE!!!
Here are some pics!







The puppies are 4 weeks old today--they were born June 3rd. They are pretty much weaned; mostly because the mom is exhausted and tired of nursing 6 puppies by this time. We can't wait to get this little guy--hopefully in the middle of July.
Tomorrow we will go and buy his leash and collar. I am going to let Bryce HELP me choose something. I can only imagine what he would choose if I let him pick a collar all on his own.

I will post more pics when we bring the "new baby' home.

Puppy coming

Well, after months of debating--me telling Jason we are getting another dog, and him saying NO--he caved. I was actually going to wait until Bryce's birthday next April. However, Jason came home Tuesday from work and proceeded to tell me how this guy he works with has American Boxers for sale. Did I want one? DUH!!!! Then reality set in and I thought about how much work it would take not to mention the cost---especially since we have to kennel 2 dogs now when we go on vacation. SO....I told him no. Then he comes home Wednesday saying that they are so cute etc. Well, I am now the one who caved. He said that he will help pay for expenses etc so I am putting that in writing should he ever debate the fact that he uttered those words. So.... Monday we are going to choose our male boxer from the litter. Bryce is so excited and has already chosen the name Carter. We have to pick out a collar and leash, but we have time since they are only about 4 wks old now. Bryce can't wait to pick out those items at the Pet store!!!
I will post pics as we get them!

Little Olympian

On Father's Day, Bryce's gymnastics school held an Olympic event. He did great. It was a little show where the kids could show their parents and family what they can do on different pieces of equipment. They all got trophies afterwards. I have to get a picture of him with his trophy. He was so proud of it, but now he doesn't want to pose with it.
He did fantastic and I cried when he got his trophy. They had a little block where the kids stood after receiving their trophies. Bryce got his trophy, proceeded to the block, and said, " TAA DAA". That is what made me cry: he was so proud of himself.

I only took pictures of him on the rings because all the other events were too far away from where we were sitting with the camera.

Bryce doing his "L" pose on the parallel bars

Hanging (pushing?) in a perfect vertical on the rings--all with his own strength

Doing his backward roll down the mat

Swimming fiend

Bryce decided on Wednesday evening that he wanted his life vest on in the pool. I put it on him, and he proceeded to glide out into the pool off of the ladder. At first he scared himself, but with a little coaching to put his legs down and his arms out, he quickly up righted himself. From there, the rest is history. He loves to swim in the pool with his life jacket on now. He loves the fact that the stroke he does is called the doggie paddle.
A few weeks ago, we couldn't get him INTO the pool; now we can't get him OUT. He is getting quite good very quickly, and 2 days later he can shoot a squirt gun with one hand as he paddles along with the other. This Monday he starts actual swimming lessons, so I am sure that by the end of the summer, even the life jacket will be gone.
I can't believe how quickly my little boy is growing up!!!

Dinner and a swim

Yes, it is a cheesy title, but that's what I'm all about!
Family has always been VERY important to me, so I love having my family all live close-by. The fact that we can all get together and have a fun night once a week is really special to me. Thursdays we all have a standing date (my immediate family) to come over to my house for dinner, swimming, smores, and fireworks--weather permitting of course, and to have a little fun and socialization. Creating great memories along the way is just an added bonus. So.....if anyone is ever around this area on a Thursday and the sun is shining, stop on in. There is probably a party going on!!!!

Here is Bryce enjoying the fireworks aspect.

He LOVES sparklers now



Adam and Breckin enjoying the "swimming aspect" of the party

Knoebel's May 2008

On Memorial Day, my brother Adam, sister-in-law Amber, nephew Breckin, Bryce, and I traveled to Knoebel's for a fun filled day in BEAUTIFUL weather. We had a great time. Breckin enjoyed his first amusement park trip, first train ride, and first carousel ride. Bryce had a fabulous time as well. He rode the cranky cars at least 10 times and his new favorite ride is the giant slide--he only rode it 3 times.
Bryce is totally in love with Breckin. Bryce keeps telling me that Breckin is his brother and not his cousin. I said it was OK to call him his brother. SO, Bryce and "his brother" had fun together too at Knoebel's. Actually, Bryce played this ping pong ball game and he won himself and Breckin medium and large sized prizes. I have to laugh only because the adults all tried the same game, spent twice as much money, and Adam only won Breckin a small prize. Bryce actually closed his eyes each time he threw the winning balls==beginners luck!

Our first ride of the day, and Breckin's first ever train ride

Bryce and Breckin--2 peas in a pod

Bryce on his favorite cranky car ride

Bryce coming off of the GIANT slide

Dorwart family picture--they had that hand carved plaque made while they waited. It is really pretty.

Butterflies

For Bryce's birthday he wanted the "grow your own butterflies" that you see advertised on TV--bugville butterflies. I paid extra money and got him 10 caterpillars instead of the usual 5 that come with the kit. The instructions say that they guarantee at least 3 of the 5 will turn into painted lady butterflies. Bryce had all 10 of his caterpillars turn into butterflies. Bryce loves to hold his butterflies and "pet them". Here are a few pics of him with his butterflies.







This is Bryce's favorite picture of him with his butterflies. He loved that it stayed on his nose.

A boy and his boots

Bryce loves this old pair of rain boots that my Mom has at her house. He wears them to go outside whenever he doesn't want to put on his own shoes while he is there. It was pouring rain today, so it was the perfect opportunity to put on THE BOOTS. My brother coerced him into putting them on---my brother thinks Bryce in his boots is the funniest thing ever. I saw for myself last week how he looks in the boots and I must admit, it was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. When he walks in them, it looks like he is walking on stilts. He jumped in a puddle last week and tottered back and forth like a seesaw. Thankfully, he kept his balance and didn't fall in the huge puddle!

Bryce's Professional Pictures

For Bryce's 5th birthday, we had professional pictures of him taken. There is a photographer in the area who took the pictures. She came right to our house and just took pics of Bryce while he played and showed off for her. They all turned out fabulous. Below are a few of my favorites.






If you want to see the rest, you can go to www.earlyyearsphotography.com Click on either link, then choose the option about online proofing/see photos Click on Bryce and you will be able to view all 37 pictures.

A man and his gnome

There is a running joke within my family about gnomes. My brother just "loves" (sarcasm there) the little darlings and my Mom is always telling him that she will get him one. Well, last Monday on my birthday, she gifted him with his first ever gnome. He loved it--see picture below. I am sure this will incite some mad gnome gift giving for a while. I can just picture birthdays and Christmases to come full of little gnomes!!

Pool time

We opened our pool this past Sunday--it will be the only Sunday I have off until the end of the month. I wanted it open before Memorial Day so that we could swim that weekend, so we decided to open it now. I was anticipating dirty water and a lot of work---this is our first time opening a pool. SURPRISINGLY, the water was clear with just a few leaves in there. I made a bigger mess with the granular shock and trying to get it into the pool.
With that being said, Jason and Bryce baptised the pool tonight for the 2008 swimming season. Jason jumped right on into the 68 degree water and Bryce went fully clothed into his raft and was floating around. They both say they are getting in again tomorrow---I will be sure to get pictures that time. Looks like we are going to get our use out of the pool this year!!!!

Great Wolf Lodge

We went to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos this past weekend for one night. We all had a GREAT time and will definitely be going back. Before we went, I thought it was too expensive for an indoor water park, but after going, it is definitely worth the money. They have the indoor water park, spa, kids spa, arcade, 2 restaurants and a snack bar, bar, and gift shop all within the resort itself. It is HUGE---it looks like it belongs at Walt Disney World when you drive up to it. Our room was gorgeous and very, very spacious! It had 2 queen sized beds + a pull out sofa (we didn't even use it) and a large sitting area + bathroom. Here are a few pics of the trip.

Bryce actually sitting still for a minute so I could take this photo. Life jackets are complimentary--cool benefit!

Bryce running away from Jason to get to another slide.

Bryce coming off of the orange slide---he only braved it after Jason bribed him with $5.00
Bryce in front of the large fireplace in the lobby.

Jason and Bryce posing for the camera. In the background you can see the kiddie slides--from left to right it is orange, blue, green, and then yellow. Bryce braved all 4 by the end of our trip

Saturday April 26th--Scott and Nicki's Wedding

This past Saturday, we went to my cousin and his now wife's wedding. It was a beautiful day and the ceremony was just as pretty. I got a few pictures, but I spent more time dancing and goofing around than taking actual pictures. I worked the night before, so I was going on 3.5 hours of sleep and my allergies were awful. Thankfully none of the pictures of me were close-up so you can't see my bloodshot, puffy eyes!


I really like this photo because of the bubbles. That is my cousin Scott, Nicki, and Brady.

A really good picture of me and Bryce together.

Bryce showing off his dancing skills at the reception

Dad, Bryce, and Breckin---they look like they are checking each other out!

How does your garden grow?

Jason decided to start his garden in doors this year. Our bay window was the perfect place for these seedlings to grow as noted by the literal explosion of plant life that has lived there for the past 6 weeks or so. Today, we finally moved it all outdoors. We have tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, zucchini, green peppers, and onions. Bryce helped carry all the plants outside and is right now helping to plant the vegetables. He was so excited to help. Thankfully, Bryce can count to 120--roughly--because he was up to 104 last time I heard for a plant number.

Posing for a picture with 3 little plants in his arms


Concentrating on carrying all those plants outside

Random pictures

Here are a few random pictures from over the weekend.


My big 5 year old boy


Pap Adam and Bryce--2 handsome men


Bryce, Nana, and Pap for a group shot

Breckin and Bryce snuggling together

Happy Birthday Bryce

Friday April 18th was not only Bryce's birthday, but the day of the week that he was actually born. Cool coincidence and he also turned 5!!!!
We had his birthday party last night and he had a great time. He was so WELL behaved and he had so much fun. I was soooo proud of him. When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was yesterday he said, "Opening all those presents!"


Posing with one of his favorite gifts--can't you tell by the smile. It is a remote controlled tarantula.


Opening MORE Thomas the train things, and you can see his ball and bat on the floor beside that.


Digging in a big present bag!


Bryce's choice for cake. He always wants an ice cream cake--no complaints here. This year he wanted a Cars cake with Lightning McQueen and Doc racing in the desert. The ice cream store owners literally know us on a first name basis, and we love to visit them often.


Getting ready to blow out the candles!

Bryce's solo gymnastics day

For Bryce's birthday, we paid for him to have a 45 minute personal lesson. It was basically 45 minutes where he could go and play with ANYTHING his little heart desired! He had a blast--as you can see by the pictures. His favorite was the cheese pit. It is a huge rectangle in the floor that is 6 feet deep (3 feet down I am told there is a trampoline to give it bounce)that is filled with foam cubes. Bryce LOVED jumping down into it over and over and over again. Since Bryce is 5 now, he moved up to the older class and is now out in the "big" gym. He has only gone 2 times, so this was also a chance to see what else he will be doing with the older boys.

Bryce warming up with his spider walk up the wall.


Bryce smiling big after he landed in the cheese pit


Climbing up the rock wall with assistance from Ms T.C. He made it to the top and was able to ring the cow bell up there.


Here he is holding himself up on the parallel bars. It looks like he is easily doing it, but he had to hold there for a while since my camera had to reset. He did great waiting and holding!!!


Doing a hand stand, and using the mat for a little assistance.


Doing a flip on the rings with assistance.


Finally, an action shot. Here is Bryce mid-air after jumping off of the springboard.