Happy dance

Recently Brycen has been doing slightly better with potty training.  He goes at home after meals and before going to bed. Here is a video of him telling Daddy about going and he does his happy dance.

Everything needs to match

Ever since Brycen was about a year old, he's been involved in choosing his attire each morning.  There have been many times where he has worn his favorite royal blue socks, his orange basketball shirt (that's terribly stretched out) or other favorites.  There have been many memorable mornings where he does NOT want to wear certain items of clothing... such as jeans, his church pants, or hooded sweatshirts.  His desire to wear his pajamas turned into a "pajama day" at Jean's house a few months ago.

Most recently in the last few weeks, he has been matching his outfit based on color and won't wear anything unless it matches... or you convince him (some how) that it goes well together.  

- A few weeks ago, we were shopping and I ran into a store while Brycen and Burke stayed in the car. When I returned, Brycen told me how the exterior color of the building for the store matched Daddy's hair (burnt orange color).  

- On our drive to Walford, we pass a red barn and three horses.  Brycen had to point out that the black and the brown horse don't match.  

There are many other examples I could think of if I took more time, but it's interesting to see how he processes his surroundings by what "belongs" and how things go together.  

Coupon

I forgot to tell the story about the coupon.  The other weekend when we were running errands and needed to get a new toner. While in the car I told Burke that I had a coupon for the toner from Rapid Refill.  Brycen perked up and said, "coupon mom? You have a coupon? Can I have it? Can I eat it?"  Burke and I shared quite a laugh and responded that he could not eat a coupon. It was the that Burke realized that Brycen thought we had said "crouton" instead. Ha! By the way, we did let him see the coupon and he attempted to nibble on the corner of the post card coupon. 

Wrapping up the week

Just some quick funny stories from this week: 

Thursday, I picked Brycen up from Jean's house and he was telling me a story about how the squirrel was being naughty. Now some of the details I know that I will get a little wrong, but I'll do my best recalling the conversation.  Apparently, a squirrel was in a tree in her back yard and nibbled off some branches. They were piled up and Brycen & Jean noticed them. Jean asked Brycen what they were going to do about the bad squirrel and he responded that it needed a time out. She asked where would the squirrel sit during the time out and his response was on the steps of the deck. Jean then asked if Brycen thought that the squirrel would sit still and he replied no, and the conversation continued on from there. 

Another story from Jeans house was from Monday at lunch. Brycen isn't a very picky water, yet doesn't eat everything either. He had finished his lunch and asked Jean for more of something. (Surprise, surprise) when she told him he'd probably had enough and made a comment about him being a little piggy... He burst out a "oink, oink, oink" that had everyone laughing. 

Wednesday morning Brycen must have been sleepy. Burke always goes in to say bye before going into work. When I went into his room he was quiet rather than his welcoming "good morning mama!" I turned on his dim light and he groaned and moaned. I sat down in the floor to ask if he slept well only to have tell me he wanted to go back to sleep! Ha! I wish he would do this on the weekend!

Finding a new Daycare

We've known for a little while now that Jean will be retiring in August.  Our journey with her has been nothing short of a blessing and she and Phil have become members of our family. 

With everything going on, this task to find someone else has been on the back burner for a while.  We've been in the hunt for another in home daycare provider in the last two weeks. Brycen and I have been to five different homes in an attempt to find someone that will be a good fit. We've seen a few real bad options out there, some that might do alright, and one that were leaning towards. 

I've come to the conclusion that Jean is irreplaceable and one of a kind. We've been blessed with a woman that cares for these babes like they are her own and truly loves them. She has invested so much time into instilling good habits and values in Brycen. He has been given so much care, attention, and education in the last two years. 

As I am writing this, I realize that he has been going to her for exactly two years.   There is absolutely nothing I would change. It's a mere coincidence that we found her. We already put a payment in at another in home to reserve a spot when a Facebook friend who already had daycare arrangements posted a message about helping out a friend in need of a provider. Jean's daughter-in-law (Kim) and mother of one of the girls that goes to her commented that Jean might be taking another infant. Right when I saw it, I messages Kim to get more details and that lead me to Jean.

She's spoiled Brycen, Burke, and myself to the point that we know we will never have it as good as we do now. 

We will all cherish the next two months before she retires and continue to pray that we can get a provider that is half as good as she is. All good things must come to an end and we are do blessed to have had her and Phil a part of our life's journey.

Welcome, June!

We had a fun Sunday that started off with church. (He was much quieter this week AND we had an organist!)  He made friends with a little boy named Charlie, a grandson of Larry & Lauri Tow who must have been about six months old.  Brycen had a good time handing him books and asking him questions, and even giving him a hug during the service.  

Putting on sunscreen before playing outside

After church we stopped at the lot where Daddy was busy working on leveling off the gravel in preparation to pour the basement.  Then we stopped at the grocery store to restock the cupboards and was home just in time for lunch and nap time.

Watching Brad build a fire of all the sticks/twigs in the yard.  

After nap time we played and played and played.  We had fun with the neighbors, trimmed some trees, picked some strawberries, and played a little catch, too.  Overall, the weather was slightly chilly but sunny... not the typical June weather but we'll take it after all of the rain!

Sunday night, Brycen and Mom put together some home-made pizza. We put Canadian bacon on for meat and chopped up the olives, red onion, and green peppers for toppings... yum!  It was delicious.  Brycen loves to help... and loves to eat the olives.

Brycen (and Mom) finished a can of black olives while making home-made pizza!

Visit from Uncle Perry & Erika

Saturday, we started off with a morning full of errands in Cedar Rapids. Brycen used his charm on a lady who worked at Randy's Carpets. She won him over when she let him play with a small toy semi truck. We were there for an hour and a half and he had a fun time roaming the store and picking out colors for flooring. 

After we for home from Cedar Rapids, Uncle Perry and Erika  were at our house visiting from Madison. He was in town for the Lady A concert at  the US cellular Center.  

We took a stroll to Amana and stopped at the Smoke Shop and the Brewery.  There was a band playing at the brewery and we had a fun time just taking in the sun and good tunes for a little while.  Afterwards we stopped in Walford to take a look at the lot with Perry & Erika.  They have the walls poured and plumbing done but are waiting for some dry weather to pour the basement.

Later on, we had supper at our house and Grandma and Gramps came too.  Erika brought some poka-dotted cake with chocolate frosting that Brycen completely devoured.  We played and played that evening.  He had a great time showing them how he shoots a doe (deer) on an iPad game.  He also had fun with his i-Spy books, too.  

On Sunday morning, the first thing Brycen asked (even before saying good morning) was if Uncle Perry was at his house.  He sure enjoyed the visit!