Farewell Elder Bryson!

My little brother Andy left for his mission on Wednesday. He will be in the MTC until October 31st, then off to Munich! Good luck Andy!!!

Kindergarten!!!

Taking the last link off of the Kindergarten chain!

Mason's big day finally came! He started Kindergarten at Elliott Elementary on Monday. He is is Mrs. Essell's class. She is very nice, and Mason really likes her. He did such a good job on Monday. Mrs. Essell says that he is doing great in class. The only problem we are having is the bus...
Mason has always had a problem with motion sickness. And it has been really bad this summer. Even small trips around town make him nauseous. So, I was really worried about what was going to happen on the bus.
I was just going to drive Mason to school on his first day, but a friend of mine recommended that I put him on the bus, then meet him at the school. So that is what I did. He got on the bus around 11:30, and I went to the school and waited. And waited, and waited. I was getting very nervous. I knew more time on the bus meant more time to get sick. By the time the bus finally got there, the rest of the Kindergarten class had already gone inside for music class. As I approached the bus, I heard the bus driver tell the principal that they were late because a boy got sick. But, it wasn't Mason!! (Although I did feel bad for the poor kid.) Mason got off the bus puke free and went into the school with no problems.
It was the ride home where we had problems. After a hot, tiring day at school, getting on an even hotter bus, which had to make many turns, Mason threw up. In front of the big kids. He looked miserable when he got off the bus.
I am going to pick him up from school for the next week, then if the weather is cooler, try the bus again. Wish him luck!!

Vance's 1st Birthday!!

Yesterday was my baby's first birthday!! It's amazing(and not fair!) how fast they grow up. Vance has been such a great addition to our family, and we love him so much. I'm thankful for all the little things he does that make us laugh, like making funny faces, grunting, and putting shoes on his hands and then crawling around the room. He is such a joy!
When my kids have birthdays, I usually decorate the house. Jordan says this is silly, but the boys love it, so I do it anyways. But the night before Vance's birthday, I just didn't want to do it. I was tired, I couldn't find the tape to hang the crepe paper, and Vance would never know the difference if I didn't do it. So I went to bed. Jordan, who had been watching TV in the mancave, came to bed later and told me that he was sad that there were no decorations up. Even though he thinks they are silly, I guess he likes them too. :) Mason and Miles had the same reaction when they got up the next morning. They were so disappointed. So, after church, the decorations went up. They really boost they birthday celebration mood!
Jordan's parents and his sister Lindsey came over for dinner, presents, and cake. I made my first attempt to make a round cake. It was pretty successful except for the back. I ran out of frosting. But, it was good, so that's all that matters!
Mason and Miles were very excited to help Vance open his presents. And everyone, including the adults had a great time playing with the presents once they were open!

Vance doing his best King Kong impression.

I feel really torn. I am so excited that he is growing up and getting out of the baby phase. It is so nice when they get older, and get more independent. It's great when they can get themselves dressed, buckle their own seat belts, etc.
On the other hand, there is nothing in the world like having a baby, and I am so sad that Vance is not going to be one for much longer. I just need to remember to enjoy every second!

Kindergarten Countdown

When summer first started, I made Mason a paper chain to help him understand how long he had to wait until Kindergarten. When I first made the chain, it reached all the way across this entryway, and half way down the wall. (I should have taken a picture of it then.) There were 76 days until Kindergarden. I thought we would never make it!

Amazingly enough, we did make it through the summer and there are only 11 days until school starts!!! I'm so glad I will only have to take two kids to the store! And, of course, I am really excited for Mason, and I hope that he has a great time.

Our Budding Artist

This is a recent masterpiece beautifully created by Miles.

He informed me that the subject in this picture is wearing really big boots.

I Give Up!!!

I have the most stubborn three year old ever! Miles is refusing to potty train. He just doesn't want to do it! Any suggestions out there????

I Won't be Quitting my Day Job Anytime Soon

Miles hair was starting to get to the wild stage. Jordan and I both think it looks pretty cute when it gets this way, but I decided that it was time to have it cut. Jordan is usually the one who cuts the boys hair. He just buzzes it off with the clippers. But, he refused to cut Miles hair because he liked it the way that it was.
So, on Monday I just decided to do it myself. I used the 1/2 inch attachment, and did a fairly good job with that. But then, I had to trim the back and around his ears.

I didn't do so well! He looked like a redneck juvenile delinquent!

So we had to buzz off ALL of his hair.

I made the comment to Jordan that we should carry around a donation basket! The bishop jokingly asked us on Monday night how Miles' Leukemia treatments were going. I hope it grows back very quickly!!

A couple more funny things about Miles. He calls Vance's baby formula Super Power Milk.

The other thing happened on Sunday when we were at Jordan's parents house. I took Miles to go to the bathroom, and after he was finished he wanted to flush, but I told him that mommy had to go too, and that he couldn't. He got very upset, so I told him to wait outside the door, and when I was finished, he could flush the toilet. He left the bathroom pleased with that arrangement. When I opened the bathroom door a minute later, he wasn't there. Instead of waiting outside the bathroom door, he was waiting outside the house! He was sitting on the front porch, waiting very patiently to flush the toilet! He is such a funny boy!