A wonderful April weekend



Brycen wearing Daddy's "helmet" on the ride back from Grandpa & Grandma Blanchard's house

What a great weekend!   Saturday, Brycen got to see Grandpa and Grandma Blanchard both at their house in Belle Plaine and for supper at a restaurant.  Burke also converted his crib to a toddler bed on Saturday afternoon and the transition has been better than expected.  We've been talking it up quite a bit and he knew that Dad was going to change it soon.  Brycen has two rules to his new "big boy" bed.  1) He has to wait for Mom/Dad to get him out and 2) he has to go potty after getting up.  So far he hasn't broken any of the rules... we're blessed that he's such a good listener!  

Brycen napping in his big boy bed!

On Sunday, Brycen and mom went to church.  He behaved so well in church and later that day at lunch he told me his highlights... "Pastor Moe gave me fish" and "I talked in the microphone."  I had to give an announcement in front of the congregation that morning before the service started and Brycen came up front with me... he did not talk into the microphone necessarily but he did touch it once.  He must have thought it was pretty cool.  The sermon on Sunday was about how Jesus told fisherman to cast their nets and they would find fish.  Pastor Moe gave all the children pieces of bread cut out into fish.  Needless to say, Brycen was beyond excited. 



Brycen digging in the garden looking for worms

After nap time on Sunday, Brycen joined me outside in the garden and flower bed.  He had fun using a shovel to dig up dirt and find worms.  While digging in the front flower bed, he had his first experience tasting dirt.  Yuck!  I was just telling our neighbor kids (Brad & Sara) that we were going to be putting our house on the market and moving to Walford at the end of summer.  We both said that this summer would be a lot of fun and would have the chance to play outside as much as possible.  It was just then that Brad noticed Brycen had dirt in his mouth.  We were all saying yuck, and ewww when Brycen spurted out, "Don't taste good," which made us all laugh.  

Sara & Brycen hugging after sharing our news that we'd be moving

Later on, Brycen and I went on a bike ride and stopped at the park for a few minutes to play.  When we got home Brad, Sara, and Brycen jumped on the trampoline for about a half an hour.  I think their laughs and giggles were heard all around the neighborhood.  His little face was bright red from the exercise and he was out of breath at times.  He loved dog piling Brad & Sara and then proceeded to tell them to "get up."  After a bath to was the dirt out of his hair and a good brushing of the teeth he settled into his big boy bed for a good night's sleep.  



Brad & Brycen golfing in the front yard

Sometimes the best memories are made on days spent at home doing the simplest things... going to church, planting seeds, taking a quick bike ride, playing in the park, jumping around with the neighbors, having fun in the tub, and reading bedtime stories.

Sara, Brad & Brycen jumping on the trampoline

Great neighbors

Brycen absolutely adores our neighbors Sara and Brad. It's sad that he won't remember much about living in this home in Swisher or the wonderful neighbors we have.
He especially loves Sara. She gives Brycen so much love and attention. They definitely have a special bond. Here are a few pictures of Brycen and Sara...

At grandpa and Grandma's house

It's been too long since I have updated this blog! Looking back, we've had a very busy week.

Brycen spent last weekend at Grandpa and Grandma Blanchard 's house. Here is a picture from Friday evening just after we got to Belle Plaine of him feeding the horses apples. Brycen had to have apples to give to the horses. Grandma was nice enough to think ahead and keep some old apples around for this very occasion.

He had fun and when he came home Sunday after church, he was excited at see Dad and Mom. At nap time, as I was giving him a kiss goodnight, he asked if I was going to nap to. I told him maybe (just to get him to go to sleep) and he responded with, "no, you do laundry." Smart little guy!

After his nap, we enjoyed the beautiful day outside and played until supper time. It was nearly 70 degrees outside, sunny, with hardly any wind... near perfect for a spring day!

Cheese!!!

Happy Friday! Here is a cheesy smile to brighten your day and take you into the weekend. Speaking if smiles, Brycen is working on all four of his back teeth at once. We haven't heard any complaints from him but we can feel them poking through!

Dinosaur egg

One of the items in Brycen's Easter basket was an egg that hatches in water then "grows" into a toy dinosaur.  Dad and Brycen had fun on Monday night talking about it and carefully placing it in a glass bowl full if water.

It started hatching already on Tuesday morning and he gets so excited to see it poke out if the egg and now grow.  Here is a picture of Brycen and his egg last night. He's been very into dinosaurs lately and this has added excitement to the dinosaur theme!

The green dinosaur that hatched from his egg

Some final birthday pictures

I know, I know... Brycen's birthday was 2 weeks ago, but I've got some pictures from the farm and day care to share!
Enjoy!

Birthday boy eating his cupcake

Brycen shared all of his super hero capes with his friends at Jean's house on his Birthday.

Birthday party with cupcakes at Jean's house

Opening up all of his new John Deere equipment and animals from Grandpa & Grandma Fara

Katie assisting Brycen in opening up the gift

Easter weekend at the Farm!

Last weekend, we took a trip to Grandpa & Grandma Fara's Farm for Easter.  Steve, Leigh, Logan and Skylar drove up from Kansas and Eric and Katie were around as well.  It was a busy and fast-paced weekend but full of fun and memories.   

Brycen & cousin Logan having fun outside



 Saturday morning started off with an exciting volcano experience in the kitchen with Aunt Leigh the scientist.  The boys and Skylar watched as Leigh poured vinegar into a flower vase with green food coloring and baking soda on the bottom.  We've got a video and I'll have to add it later.

Brycen, Grandpa Fara and Logan petting a newborn calf

It wasn't but a few minutes later that we were all strapping on our boots and spending lots of time outside!  Logan and Brycen were able to help Grandpa Fara feed the kitties cat food and the "big daddy" bulls two buckets of corn. All week Brycen jabbered about going to the farm to see the baby calves and he actually was able to pet a newborn calf!  Bycen couldn't get enough of just watching the cows. He kept commenting on how some were sleeping, others were eating and moving, etc. 


  



Brycen's silly face

 Next was time on the four wheeler.  Brycen, Logan and Grandpa hopped up and just as they started it up Brycen decided that he was not up for a ride so Logan and Grandpa went around the farm.  Brycen then built up some courage and Grandpa suggested that he might ride with mom... so that seemed okay.  After the four wheeler ride, the boys moved on to the new Massy tractor.  They decided they would drive down to the bridge and throw rocks in the water.  They must have had fun because they were down there for at least 15 minutes.  

Brycen & Mom riding the 4-wheeler



Logan, Grandpa Fara & Brycen riding in the tractor

Next the item on the list of activities was to paint Easter eggs.  They had little rollers with paint to decorate the 12 hard boiled eggs for the Easter bunny.  (Another video to post sometime.)  Logan did a great job making colorful eggs and Brycen needed a little help from Aunt Leigh but had fun decorating the eggs.  

Something was funny while painting Easter eggs






Brycen & Grandpa Fara in the pool

 

After a very quick nap, we all packed up and went to the Manning Rec Center for a quick swim.  It was a fun time to spend throwing balls, rings, and occasionally kids around in the pool.  

Logan & Brycen bundled up in towels after swimming



Kendall (3), Brycen (2), William (7), Logan (3), and Carson (5) before the egg hunt



Immediately after the pool we went to Great Grandpa and Grandma Fara's house a few blocks away.  It was a special treat to have nearly everyone on the Fara side together again and see everyone more than just at Christmas.  We had a delicious supper, let the little ones have an Easter egg hunt, and topped it off with ice cream birthday cake. 

 





 

Brycen on Easter morning



Sunday morning brought a nice surprise that Brycen (and Otis) slept in until 7:00! It can be difficult sleeping in the same room together sometimes but I think we were all exhausted after a long and busy Saturday.  Brycen came downstairs to an Easter basket full of a new book, race car, bubbles, a stuffed rabbit, and some new toys.  There wasn't much time to play because we were getting ready for breakfast at church followed by a full house at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irwin. 



 





Grandpa Fara & Brycen holding his new book "The Sitter" which Brycen really needs... he's not been too nice to the most recent babysitters. 



Aunt Sharon & Skylar



Uncle Burke & Skylar





Easter Egg hunt!



After church, we stopped by Uncle Eric's new house and checked out all the improvements he has been keeping himself busy doing.  It's real nice and I think he looks forward to finishing some of the little touches off and making it his own.... (with a few "minor" ideas from Katie!) 

After we got back to the farm, the boys were ready for some quick pictures and then another egg hunt at Grandpa & Grandma's house.  They each found 18 eggs while Skylar watched in Katie's arms.  Brycen had green & pink and Logan had blue & purple.  He got some candy, money, and a new blue race car.



Brycen, Logan, "Zoe-Cat" and the farm cats all looking for eggs



Checking out what is in his eggs



The boys having a seat at the table & munching on fruit waiting for the adults to eat.

 It seemed that the boys had another thing on their minds as they made their way to the kitchen were waiting at the table to eat while the rest of us were still sitting in the living room. 



A wonderful Easter lunch was ready and we stuffed ourselves.  We were careful to not fill up too much because we had angel food birthday cake and Katie had made some incredible cup cakes!  Yumm!

The very last thing to check off the list for the weekend was a quick birthday party for Brycen.  As if he wasn't spoiled enough with the egg hunts, baskets, love and attention... he got presents on top of it.  He now has lots of new tractors, wagons, animals and a play mat to put them all on.  He also got a new book and alphabet/letter "game" as Brycen put it.   

Dad & Brycen putting his Easter egg money in the bank. 

We loaded up the car and headed for home. Brycen is getting a little less tolerant of these long 3 1/2 hour car rides and we're beginning to realize how much effort it takes to entertain him.  When we got home and unpacked Brycen found his last surprise of the weekend... TWO more Easter baskets that the Easter bunny had left him by the front door.  He got a new baseball glove, two baseballs,  fun new toys, clothes, and two new puzzles (which we opened and immediately put together).  He had a quick supper and skyped with Uncle Ross & Aunt Sarah.  Then it was bathtime followed by reading books before going to bed a little early. 

As I'm typing all of this up, I realize how eventful our weekend was! (And how much fun it was.)  I know Brycen had a great time at Grandpa & Grandma Fara's because on the way home, just past Des Moines, he started pouting for Burke to turn the car around and go back to Grandpa Fara's house.