Busch Gardens

Today we took a trip to Williamsburg, VA for a visit to Busch Gardens . Circuit City sponsored a family day, so we went as a family and spent the morning there. We did meet up with a friend and her son while there. Hayes had a wonderful time. He played in The Land of Dragons, rode the carousel, rode on the sky ride, ate ice cream and rode the train! It was quite a day for him, and he was completely worn out. Even fell asleep while Chris was helping him into his carseat! Bryce also had fun splashing in the water at Land of the Dragons and playing with his friend, G (my friends son.) Overall, it was a really great trip and we are looking forward to going again!

Weekend!

We just had a great weekend! Hayes and Chris started soccer yesterday morning, Chris is one of the coaches of Hayes' team! Hayes wasn't completely interested in playing soccer, but he had a good time. Evidently, he really liked the cones they used. :)


Later that day, my brother and his wife and daughter came to visit. Hayes and Grace, my niece, had such a great time playing together. We had some lunch and then went to the zoo, where the kids had a great time. It was a really nice day, so all the animals were out and about. We came back to our house afterwards and the kids played and enjoyed some pizza for dinner! They stayed the night and left this morning. Hayes was sad to see his cousin go.

First Day of Preschool

Today was Hayes' first day of preschool at Brandermill Church Preschool. He is in Mrs. Hunters 2 day a week class. He was very excited about going this morning and hopped right out of the car when the teacher came to get him. When I picked him up he said he missed me, but he had a lot of fun! He wouldn't give me specifics on his morning, but he did say " I built towers with blocks that kept falling down, so I built them again." He also had purple ink on his hands, from his stamp art. :) I would say the first day was a huge success. Hayes is already asking when he goes back.

A Visit with Friends

Yesterday, Chris and some of his friends went to the NASCAR race here in Richmond. For those of you not familiar with NASCAR this is an all day event for a race that starts at 8 pm. The guys left our house around 11 yesterday morning and stayed the night at Chris' parents house, which is much closer to the track than ours.

While the boys were out, I invited friends from Northern VA to come visit. Kelly, Caitlin and Megan came and spent the day with us. The kids had so much fun together and neither Hayes or Caitlin wanted the day to end. Bryce and Megan got to know each other a little better, since they have only been around each other as smaller babies. And Kelly and I enjoyed chatting and catching up. It was a nice day and something we plan on doing again. If only there wasn't a 2 hour drive between us!

Here are some pictures from our day.



The older kids


Bryce, Hayes and Caitlin eating dinner


Miss Megan



The beginning of a long goodbye!

Preschool Visit and Orientation

Last night, Chris and I attended parent orientation for Hayes' preschool. We learned all about the fun things he will be doing and the things he will need, including a real size backpack! We met Hayes' teachers and they are both extremely nice and seem great.

Then this morning, I took Hayes in to see his classroom and meet his teacher. He was quite apprehensive at first, but once he saw his room I could see how excited he was! He played with the toys a little, while I talked to his teacher and we did paperwork. Then he put his handprints on his placemat, which he will use for snack time. The teacher showed him around the room and asked him a few questions. I was quite proud that he was not shy at all! He answered her questions and even impressed her with his knowledge of the colors. :)

He is very excited to go back and actually did not want to leave this morning. His first day will be Tuesday, Sept 11th. I am a little nervous that he will get upset at drop off, but hopefully he will be fine. Chris will actually be out of town most of next week for a conference in CA, so it will just be me and the boys! Keep me in your prayers.

Officially on the Move!

Bryce is officially walking! He started Sunday afternoon with a walk across the family room and hasn't stopped since. Although, he still finds crawling to be more efficient. He is walking more and more everyday! It seems so strange to have 2 walking children, but my back is happy! :)

APT F Reunion

This past Saturday I drove to Newport News, VA to my friends house for a reunion with the ladies I lived with in college. It has been 6 years since all 5 of us lived together. The 3 other ladies drove to Newport News from Northern VA and we spent the day together just chatting and doing a lot of eating! We had such a great time. Can't wait for next year! Sunday morning we had a very small little shower for one of the ladies, who is expecting her 2nd child in December.

Pocahontas State Park

Today we had a family morning of fun. First, we headed to the YMCA for Bryce's swim class. Yes, Bryce is taking swimming and he loves it! The instructor even told me today he was like a little fish. At 13 months old he is already holding onto a kick board and kicking! It's great. I really must get pictures of it.

After swim class, we headed to Pocahontas State Park where they have a great pool. One of the pools has a huge playscape that shoots water and does all kinds of things. Hayes loved it! He and Chris had fun and had to take a dip in every pool there, there are 4 I think. Bryce and I had fun too, we mostly played in the baby pool but did go over to the play area pool to get cooled off by the water falls. :) We wish we had gone to this place sooner, since next weekend is the last weekend it will be open. We are planning on getting season passes next year though! Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying the water.

The boys

Not a whole lot going on with us. We took a little time adjusting back into a routine after visiting with my parents. Hayes still tells me he misses Nana on a daily basis, but he is doing well.

Just thought I would give an update on the boys.




Hayes:
~recently weighed and is now 38 lbs!
~Is really working on tracing his letters and can do all of them with help
~Can write the letter H perfectly
~Love rhyming and talks about words that rhyme all the time
~Know what sound/sounds each letter makes
~Can count to 10 in spanish, thank you Diego & Dora!
~Has really been making up his own songs and can sing back pretty much anything you sing to him






Bryce
~Recently weighed and is now 27 lbs!
~On a not so good note, has another ear infection :(
~Can take 3-5 steps on his own, as of today!
~Calls Elmo, "La La" from the Elmo's world song
~trying to use utensils on his own when he eats
~Not saying anything really clearly, but has a few words: Dog, That, Cup, Clap, Book, Mama, Dada, and Cook for cookie or cookie monster
~Loves music and is dancing if music is on

Playing with Photo Booth

We are now the proud owners of a Mac Book and Hayes has discovered the fun of Photo Booth. Just thought I would share some of his work. :)

A final summer trip to PA

Last week the boys and I spent a final week up in PA at my parents house before Hayes starts preschool and soccer in September. We had such a great time. Hayes spent most of his time in the pool and playing with his cousins. We all made a trip to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA which now has a great children's section!

Hayes started drinking out of a regular cup and Bryce had his first popsicle. We had a wonderful visit, but are a little sad to see the summer starting to come to an end.

Celebration

Last weekend Chris and I drove down to Virginia Beach sans children! My parents came down and stayed the weekend with them, so that Chris and I could attend a friends wedding and also as an anniversary celebration. We had such a wonderful time! Friends of ours also came down and we were able to celebrate one of our friends birthdays and to celebrate our friends wedding all on the same day! Virginia Beach was just gorgeous and I can not wait to go back. We decided we will be making this a yearly trip. :)

Health Update

I have 2 health related updates.

First, Bryce seems to have gotten over his ear infection finally. He had one injection of Rocephin a couple of weeks ago and after a check this past Friday the infection has cleared up after 4 weeks and 3 rounds of antibiotics! The next step would have been a visit with an ENT and the possibility of having tubes put in his ears, but for now we are clear from having to do that. :)

My second health update, is for myself. As most of you know I underwent Radioactive Iodine treatment for an overactive thyroid problem at the end of May. I talked with my Endocrinologist yesterday and it appears the treatment is working! I am not in normal ranges yet, but my levels are decreasing which is a good sign! Now, we just have to wait another 2 months to see if the treatment did its job. As of right now, I am no longer on any medications! :)

A visit to NC

Yesterday, we made the drive to High Point, NC for my niece's 2nd birthday, which is actually today. Hayes had a great time playing with Grace, my niece! Grace is just a complete joy to be around and adorable! It was also nice spending time with Andy, my brother, and Becky, my sister in law. Both sets of Grace's grandparents were there as well, which was also a nice treat. Here are a few pictures from the visit.

5 years

5 years ago today, Chris & I were married. I can not believe today is our 5 year wedding anniversary. These past 5 years have flown by and brought so much to us. Looking back, I don't think we had any idea what was in store for us. Here we are 5 years, 2 children, and 2 moves later! I wouldn't change it for the world. :)

I would leave you with a wedding picture, but we don't seem to have any on the computers anymore and since we don't have a scanner that works, I have no way of getting them online.

Birthday Pictures

Just wanted to share the boys birthday pictures, which we had taken on July 13th for Hayes' 3rd bday and Bryce's 1st bday.

1 Year Old!

Bryce turned 1 year old on July 14th! I can not believe how fast the past year has gone by. Seems like just yesterday we were on our way to the hospital at 2 am!

We were already in PA for our vacation, so we spent his birthday celebrating with my parents, my sister and her family. July 14th just happens to also be my sisters bday! :)

Bryce really enjoyed his cake!

Since 1 is a big milestone, I think I will give an update on what Bryce is doing these days.

• Crawling all over, pulling up on everything and cruising! Has tried a few times to stand up on his own with out holding on to anything.
• Waves Hello and Goodbye to anyone who opens or closes a door, also says hi and bye.
• Words: this, that, dog, book, duck, quack, cup, clap
  
• Bought his first pair of shoes! They are so cute. :)
• On a not so good note, Bryce has been fighting an ear infection for a while now. We just finished the 2nd round of antibiotics and I am praying they worked. Otherwise there is only 1 more antibiotic to try that is stronger. After that I believe it will mean a visit to the ENT.
  
• Last weighed, Bryce was 25 lbs!
  

Hayes' Birthday

Yesterday, Hayes turned 3! We had friends and family over to celebrate at a Curious George themed party. Hayes had a wonderful time and was quite excited to have birthday cake. He got lots of great presents, including a soccer net and ball, a baseball bat with balls and a tee and a painting set.


I just can't believe he is 3 already! These past 3 years have flown by and he is becoming more like a little man everyday.

Busy

Thing have been busy around our house. The boys and I spent a week in PA visiting Nana & Granddaddy in early June. We had a great time and did lots of things. I loved having the help and Hayes loved that he had someone to do things with other than me! :) He especially loved swimming with Nana in the pool. This summer will be his first summer using floaties and he loved it! He was so proud to show me how he could swim on his own with the floaties and touch the bottom of the shallow end of the pool!


Bryce also had fun visiting with Nana and Granddaddy. He tried very hard to pull himself up into a standing position while we were there, but never accomplished it. That is, until a few minutes after we got home! So, he is now standing and has started to try to take a few steps cruising!


Since we have been home we have been busy at work preparing for Hayes' 3rd birthday party, which is this Saturday. I can't believe he is 3 already! Where has the time gone?

Missing

On May 31st I had a treatment done for my thyroid called Radioactive Iodine.
The name sounds a lot worse than it really was, but basically I swallowed a pill containing radioactive iodine which will attach itself to my thyroid and kill off part of it. I have an overactive or hyper thyroid, so my thyroid works too hard and creates too many hormones. I was unsure this was what I wanted to do, but after spending the day at MCV and seeing a great Dr, Dr. Fratkin, I was convinced this was the best option. The problem with this treatment is that it makes the person radioactive for several weeks, but the first few days you have more radiation that other people should be around. So, Chris took the boys to his parents river house for the weekend so we could avoid any possible contamination. Childrens thyroids are much smaller and more susceptible.

So, I have been home alone since Thursday night. At first, I was excited about the prospect of having some alone time. Being a Stay At Home Mom, I am with the boys all the time and that can be very tiring. After waking up Friday morning though, I missed my boys. Now, here I am Saturday morning and I'm not sure how I am going to make it through another day! The boys are coming home tomorrow and I can not wait to see them. I know it was for the best, but I can not wait to hug my boys! Just shows me that no matter how hard my days can be sometimes with taking care of the boys, I couldn't live with out them. When they aren't with me, I feel like a part of me is missing.