I Love....

...when Makayla "helps"me fold laundry.

Hard Knocks

Bryce has had a rough first month of school. He got sick after the second day and missed the rest of the week. He got some skin infection on his head that required antibiotics which didn't go well with the throwing up he was already doing. And we won't go into the behavior plan implemented by his teacher because he "likes to make funny noises" (his words, not the teachers').

Then this.....

I have found that when the caller ID tells me the school is calling in the middle of the day, it's never for a good reason. Apparently Bryce slipped and fell on his way to the bathroom. And at some point he forgot to use his arms to break his fall. He decided his head was a better option.

Fortunately he forgot about it not long after we got home and was back to his old self in no time.

F-I-V-E

Not only did Bryce turn five the first week of school but he got sick that first week of school and missed 3 days. He couldn't have a classroom party when we had planned (although we had one later) and he was just bummed out about the whole week. So we invited some family and friends over and had a really fun birthday party.

Here is Bryce totally engrossed in Erik working on the birthday cake. He was really excited about it.

This is the finished product. I don't know why I decide at the last minute to do something I've never done before. It just hit me one night that it might be cool to do a fondant birthday cake. I had no idea of how to do it but I looked up a recipe for marshmallow fondant and watched a YouTube video so I felt fairly competent that I could do this.

It was really easy to make and really hard to get just right to get on the cake. We finally got it on the cake and since I lack any ability to draw or be artistic in any way, I enlisted Erik to create the Batman symbol. I think it turned out pretty cool and Bryce thought it was "the coolest cake EVER!" so that makes it all worth it.

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

We had some good food and some great family and friends that came to celebrate Bryce's big birthday. I think it made his crummy week a little bit better. Happy Birthday Bryce! You are such a sweet, trouble making, sharing, kind , mischievous boy. I am so grateful that you are a part of this family! You make sure every day is eventful and fun! I love you!

First Day

Well, it happened. 2/3 of my children are gone to school ALL DAY. They woke up for the first day happy and excited and I even got Bryce to eat breakfast (which is huge!). They carefully picked out their clothes and packed their bags. We walked to school which was a big mistake since it was 90 degrees at 7:30 in the morning.

We arrived. I walked them to their teachers and walked away. Hoping that the unknown staff at this school takes care of these little boys that I love so much. That the other little precious children at this school don't make me hate them by being mean to my boys. That they have fun.



So now that the boys are gone all day, it's just us girls hangin out. It's eerily quiet in the house. Makayla and I kind of look at each other like "Now what?". I've been thinkin about potty training her. I'll get around to it soon. Maybe. Probably. Fine I'll do it. Ugh. I hate potty training!

The next morning:

Me: Boys, time to get up.
Bryce: (rubbing eyes and saying groggily) For what?
Me: Ummmmm, school? (said in a question more because I'm trying to understand the confusion in his voice)
Bryce: AGAIN?! (complete shock on his face)
Me: Oh buddy. This is for probably the next couple decades of your life.
Bryce: (mostly just looking at me like I'm speaking French)
Me: Yes Bryce. Every day.
Bryce: (shoulders slumped) This is just so early.
Me: (sigh) Tell me about it.

Vacation Bug

We recently went to Oregon to visit the Bell side of the family. Almost all of my family has moved away from Oregon and everyone was making the effort to get there so we just had to go. I was SO excited! I get to see my family and leave the 115 degree heat and stay for 3 days at a beach house and wear jeans without sweating.

SO excited!

I should know to expect the unexpected. Our awesome vacation was put on hold while the little miss was visited by the vacation bug. You know. Where you plan a getaway and look forward to it for MONTHS and someone gets sick? The throwing up with diarrhea sick?

Yeah. That.

My poor girl was sick for almost the entire time we were there. She so happily passed it to me for a couple days. Sharing the wealth I guess.

She spent 98% of the trip in her pajamas snuggled up to me and watching some movie...preferably a princess movie.


But as with most bugs, the vacation bug left Makayla....the day we got home. Gotta love vacation!