At the Beach

Asleep in the car

South Beach State Park

The Beach

Cayden at the Enchanted Forest

We went to the beach last week with my mom and I only took a few pictures. Sometimes I am just not motivated to get the camera out. I took these few with my phone and have finally gotten the card so that I can post them on here. I am going to try to not be so lazy in Hawaii. Wish me luck!

Camping with the kids

The four of us went camping with some friends this last week. It was Bryce's first time to sleep in the camper. He did great - snuggled right between Jeff and I. The original plan was for him to sleep in the Pack and Play and he actually started there. However, because of the temperature he ended up in bed with us. We were in a beautiful area and went on a couple of hikes. From our campsite we got to watch an antelope mom and her babies play and we saw deer on our hike. Cayden loves camping but usually gets a little worried at night when it is dark. He always wants to know "if there are bears here?" We are headed to the beach to camp next week so wish us good luck!



Family picture

On our hike

Cayden watching wildlife

Bryce playing peek a boo

Bryce looking

Cheese

Cheese!

I grabbed a couple of pictures of Bryce tonight. He is at the stage where he likes his picture taken and gives his best "cheese" whenever the camera comes out.

Bryce at 15 months

Bryce had his 15 month doctor appointment on Tuesday. He is definetely growing. I always compare the boys to see if they are growing the same. It is really the only way to compare them since in every other aspect they are different. Unfortunately, I don't have any data on Cayden at 15 months but here is how Bryce compares at 15 months to Cayden at 18 months.

Bryce = 35 " tall (above the 97th percentile)
Cayden at 18 months = 33 3/4 " tall.

WOW

Bryce = 30 lbs 8 oz (90th percentile)
Cayden at 18 months = 30 lbs

WOW again

Bryce might always be the younger brother but may not be the "little" brother.

P.S. Bryce is currently dealing with the after effects of his MMR vaccine. He had a 103.5 temp last night. Motrin seems to help some put the poor kid just sits around and points to the things he wants you to bring him. Hope that in another day or two he will be back to normal.

P.P.S Bryce also had his appt with the Ear/Nose/Throat Specialist. HIS EARS ARE CLEAR! After 60 days of antibiotics and 30 days of another medicine which I cannot spell his ears are clear. Yippee.

I love summers except....

One of the great benefits of being a teacher is having the summer to play with the kids. I love everything about it except for the question, "What is for lunch?" For some reason having to think of what to make three meals a day just drives me crazy. I enjoyed packing lunches for Cayden because, generally, he wanted the same thing every day. However, he doesn't want the same thing every day now that we are at home. I am running out of ideas.

Geocache

in the Ochocos at Smith Rock

on the Deschutes in the Ochocos

at the Deschutes

Our family has found a new past time - geocaching. We love to hunt for the treasures while seeing the sites of the state we love. Here are some pictures from some cache hunts in the last month.

I am so Lucky

Sometimes I sit back and think how lucky I am. I have a wonderful husband that is much more forgiving of my flaws than I am of his. I have two healthy boys that make my life hectic. I have a job that I love and that challenges me.

Here is my update on Son #1: Cayden's current favorite song is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". Yep, the old Cindy Lauper song. His love of singing amazes me and makes me giggle. He even hums through the parts he doesn't know and makes up the words when he doesn't know what the singer is saying. Ridiculously terrible singing might be the one trait he got from me. We are both terrible singers but love it anyway and sing constantly. He sings all the time - in the car, in the shower, and while he is playing in the yard. He still loves Star Wars and wants to have light sabre fights a lot. I need to find the time to do that with him even though it is not the kind of playing I enjoy. Cayden will finish Kindergarten this year. He has learned an amazing amount of information. His reading level is at the end of the first grade year. One of my favorite things is to listen to him read but he still would rather be read to. Cayden hates to clean his room and has recently been caught hiding clothes under his bed and putting clean clothes in the hamper.
While I am lecturing him part of me is smiling because he is learning that mom knows to look under the bed. I love to tuck him in at night and have him say the words he always says, "Mom, check on me in a few minutes and before you go to bed. And, mom, tell dad to check on me too".

And Son #2: Bryce's favorite thing is to be outside. He is definetely his father's child. The first thing he does in the morning after breakfast is to go to the front door and say "aaah". Apparently, that is as close as we are getting to the word "outside" right now. He doesn't care if it is 30 degrees outside, he just wants to be out there. He is finally saying a few more words and doing more sign language. Watching him sign "please" is the cutest thing. Bryce sleeps well and in the morning needs to have his "B" (blanket) and "Fi" (pacifier) with him. After a bit of time you can ask him for his "fi" and he will hand it over but if you try to take it away before that he gets GRUMPY. There isn't much that doesn't have the potential to make him grumpy. He has not grown out of that. He likes to play with his brother unless his brother wants to smother him and then he gets grumpy. See the previous sentences about that... Bryce also loves to help with the laundry and dishes. However, it is not always helpful! Watching him grow has been a blast!

I am a lucky lady! Take the time to enjoy those dearest to you!