The Great Smokey Mtns

We decided to do a little traveling over Labor Day wknd. We headed off to the Great Smokey Mtns. It wasn't a bad drive and Bryce did well, he enjoyed Daddy sitting in the back with him. The cooler temps were awesome along with some fun exploring. The first day we spent at a water park. Bryce finally got so tired he asked me to hold him while Brian had gone to get us some lunch. A few minutes later he was fast asleep, for about 45 min to an hr. Which to most parents that wouldn't be a big deal, our kid sleeps great, but he needs his bed. So we were thrilled! The next day we had a big breakfast and hit the road to the National Park for some hiking. We drove all the way through the park and then went to Atlanta to visit Aunt Monica for a few days.

Bryce loved the water park! He learned quickly about the alarms that went off to start the wave pool, or dump large buckets of water into play areas. We found this area later in the day and he was thrilled that Daddy could lift him up to the goal.

Hike one of the day Bryce slept all the way up and down...ahhh the comfy BOB with good shocks helped!

Momma loves Bear Hugs!
Half to have a picture of this snack......how much longer do you think he will still like broccoli? This was after he ran down the hill, forgot to put his hands out when he fell and caught his cheek on the sidewalk....he couldn't land in the grass

At the top of Hike two. Bryce was all about hiking on this one and would walk off the path and say Momma, Dadda Bryce going hiking.

He did finally get a little tired and enjoyed a ride from Daddy.

Enjoyed some pool time at Aunt Monica's. I love to fly high and at 32 lbs Daddy may no be able to do this to me next Summer

Aunt Monica is teaching me how to blow bubbles.

Thanks Aunt Monica for a great weekend!

2 yrs old

Well my little man you are two! This post finds us a month and a few days in already. You are ever so active and keep us very busy. You weigh in at 32 lbs, which puts you in the 90th % for your age, height I can't remember exactly but around 34 in (just average). You look like a little firecracker. We will see if that changes with time. You talk all the time and are starting to put together 3 words. You have also started to sing the ABC song which we have to get on video. Polly Parrot if often what we call you, it is pretty cute, except when you repeat others yelling at their children in line at a check out counter.

You are obsessed with planes and jets and have already started learning the parts and types due to new bday books and Mommies stash of books from teaching. For example, you point out water planes, blimps, hot air balloons, runways or things you can use for runways, the blackbirdy (SR71), Harrier, and Hang glider. You also have an opinion on what book to read when.

You are very helpful when cleaning the house and cars. You enjoy wiping things with your own cleaning rag and like to follow me with a push toy when I am vacuuming. Unfortunately you also enjoy putting away the breakable dishes from the dishwasher. Lucky for me I can distract you with the water bottles and placing the straws with the right cups.

You have a good memory, today you reminded me that I needed to buy you yogurt at Kroger bc I forgot to get it at the Commissary. You are very upset when we go on base and don't go get Daddy. As we drive through the gate near the Commissary Daddies office is in site, so it is hard to understand why we can't always go pick up Daddy. You will not walk in a parking lot and say No No Cars coming, Bryce hold Bryce hold. Which is awesome except when I am trying to carry loads of stuff and your 32lbs in one trip. Football season has sparked a new interest. You already hike and love to toss the football to one of us. You also enjoy wearing your Steeler Jersey and like that Daddy has one too.

We went to the dentist for the first time and you got a good report. Your bottom two molars are coming in and then we think you are finished. Also should report that when I thought for sure your ears were bothering you after your surgery....it was really your top two molars. I looked once and didn't notice anything.....so I will apologize now for your/our restless sleeping for over a month of pain and suffering. But there was no drool or other teething signs...unlike now with your bottom molars, your shirts are soaked with drool and something is always in your mouth.

Not so into a lot of TV bc that means you would be sitting still. :) You enjoy Holy Baby and crack us up when you memic the baby and try hard to do the sign of the cross. Baby Einstien's, The Way We Move, is also a favorite. New things you have found an interest in are Super Why (only bc you think that the entire show is Super Why in his rocket), Seasame Street, but only really like Elmo's World, and Sid the Science Kid

We love you and are excited to explore this new world of toddler hood with you.

MMM Chocolate Chip banana cake...

Okay this is an airplane on a runway cake.....but Mommy forgot to get the extra icing so I could outline the plane....it still tasted good.

Wow August was Busy!

August was a busy month...as they all are! GaGa came to visit for a week, attempting to start potty training, and celebrating Bryce's 2nd birthday...which will be a separate post all together.

Love My Gaga....she also taught me there is no need to change clothes to have fun with the hose.
I must be reading to be on the Potty. I don't tell anyone, but I do normally go when Mommy puts me on here.
A trip to the Children's Museum in Tuscaloosa, AL. This crazy air/ball pit was awesome. It also made me really tired to play so hard all day.

Attempting to dance...this outfit was Brian's when he was around Bryce's age....it doesn't fit but the picture makes us laugh.

Colorado VACAY in Pictures Wk 3

Week one we got to spend time with daddy and view a fly over as he departed for home over the cabin. Those really never get old. Anyway we spent the rest of week 2 chasing around the cousins, hanging with Aunt Heather and Uncle Ryan and Heather's parents. Great Grandma and Grandpa too...The last week it was just us and the Great Grandparents. We still went on 3 jeep trips, played in the water, hiked, and road on the 4 wheelers. There were only a couple of times when Mommy thought, what the hell am I doing. You see the trips are 4 wheel drive ONLY, one way roads, if you run into someone you back up to a corner. I no longer have a few 4 wheelers with me, or the other jeep with a wench line, in case we get stuck. I do have NO CELL PHONE service, two 82 YEAR old grandparents, ONE very active 2 yr old, and me praying I don't get a flat tire or hung up anywhere and really wishing we had a 4 wheeler. You know they can go in front of you and check the road and go over tops of mtns and back down much faster than said Durango. We didn't have any issues, had a great time, and Mommy still prayed a lot! Here are the pictures.

What boy isn't into bones.... a very large jaw bone from something....

This swing made me laugh!

We built lots of towers.

Playing in the water, no matter how cold, never gets old!

Being silly with Gpa Jay

Bryce could open all the doors and loved to go out on the porches.

Blowing off the dandelion seeds, watch out you may get wet!

Colorado VACAY in Pictures Wk 2

Big Hail Storm.

Everyone enjoyed the rope swing. Bryce was too small and Addison wasn't interested. Here is Kaleigh going across.

The view on top of Engineer Pass, never gets old.

He broke free!

Bryce trying hard to break free and run! On our way into Silverton.

Great Gpa and Bryce sharing apples after playing hard at the park.

Playing at the park.

Great Gpa (82) reading the kids Goodnight Moon.

Sparkler Time! Bryce was not interested at all on the 4th. It was too loud and he wanted to go home. A few nights later he was interested in trying them though.

Attempting a family picture. Bryce was pretty excited to try and run away.

Colorado Vacation in Pictures Week 1

I am outta here!
Love my cousins!

The Ladies! Aunt Heather, Kaleigh, Addison, Grandma Kate


We had trouble with this one. Poor Aunt Heather...Bryce really wanted to get your nose.

The Joseph & Kelley Families at the top of Carson.

Everyone looking out the windows at Old Carson City a preserved Mining Town.

Smores mmmm

This is Aunt Heather's Mom & Dad they came to the cabin this summer too. They always had wayyy better lunches than my Mommy packed for me. Thanks for always sharing.

This is my favorite. I even figured out how to give it gas. Mommy & Daddy moved pretty fast when I gunned it...they forgot to put it in neutral.

Love the 4 wheelers!

Uncompahgre Peak 14,309. We have been to the top several times, but did not this trip. Might have been the extra 30lbs on one of our backs that held us back. Lake City is very busy in the summer bc it houses 5 of Colorado's 14,000 ft mtns.

OHHH hiking!

Kaleigh and Aunt Kris down the mnt...you can't tell but she braved it in the rain that started soon after the picture.

Old truck has been at our picnic spot since I was a kid.

Kaleigh & Addison teaching Bryce how to throw big rocks into the stream. In 3 wks this never got old.