New Countdown....

The last major count down we had was for Daddy leaving.  Not the happiest of count downs.

But now we have a happy one.  The magic number is 20, that's right, less then 20 hours until Nana gets here!  Can I get a Woooo Hoooo?!?

That means in less then 20 hours I will no longer be outnumbered!  There will be someone here to help with the kids so I can actually get a few things accomplished.  And speaking of things that need to get accomplished, I need to get our whole crazy household packed up and moved to Washington for the next six weeks.  My WHOLE CRAZY house, that means moving two kids, two dogs and even the stupid cat.  Its going to make for a very LONG and LOUD car ride.  Please send us prayers!

The good news is, once we get the crazy household to WA it means that we will once again have more adults then children!  Its going to be a chance for me to get a break on occasion and for the boys to get some serious loving.  I know that this past few months have got to be hard on them, so I can't wait for them to have their grandparents around to help love on them and spoil them a little, they deserve it.

And its funny to think that my crazy house is going to make my parents quiet life become loud.  We are going to make their house explode to 3 adults, 2 kids, 4 dogs, and 1 cat.  Send them prayers or maybe earplugs.

Father's Day

So its Father's Day and poor Sean is far away so Ryan and I decided to show the love with a few fun videos.

And of course there is some singing.

And a little bit of Bob Marley.

The classic ABCs.

Nothing like a little love for Daddy, and of course you always want to check your work.

A message to Daddy.

We love you Daddy.  You are so amazing as a father and husband.  We miss you tons and can't wait to see you again.  But until then here is a random video of some brotherly love.

Thoughts from a 3 year old.

Recent things that have come out of Ryan's mouth.

Driving to base.
Ryan-"Look Mama, grass."
Me-"Yeah, well, driving through cattle pastures there is a lot of grass."
Ryan-"No mama, grass for the grasshoppers.  Their hiding."
Me-Stupefied by his point.

Getting to base.
Ryan-"Look Mama, its the base."
Me-"Yup, that's the base."
Ryan-"I'm in charge."
Me-"Really?"
Ryan-"Yeah, I'm in charge."
Me-"Well, I'm glad we got that cleared up."

While the boys are playing in the office, screaming noises at each other and laughing.
Me-"Ryan, that's too loud."
Ryan-"No Mama, not too loud, I make Bryce happy."
Me-Once again stupefied by his good point.

My favorite men...

Just felt like sharing my favorite moments of the day with my two little men (mainly because they were not so good most of the day an I wanted to put them up for sale at the soonest yard sale, so just trying to remind myself that they can be really cute).

So Ryan has be struggling when it comes to sharing with his brother and spends a lot of time getting yelled at for stealing toys.  But today we were playing in the kitchen an Bryce wanted to play with Ryan's truck.  Ryan of course said no and took the truck away.  Bryce starts crying and I start trying to distract him with something else while telling Ryan that he needs to share more.  I look away for a moment trying to clean up dinner and next thing I know Ryan is talking with Bryce, turns out he had gone into the office to bring out Bryce his own truck that was the same as his.  He was so proud of himself and I was equally as proud of him.  He can be such a sweet boy sometimes.

Bryce had two of my favorite moments of the day.  During dinner anytime I would hand him something to eat that he liked he would shake his head yes, and if he didn't like it he would shake it no.  It was too darn funny to watch him shake yes every time I put chicken in his month then look at me and shake no if I tried to get him to eat corn.  He had Ryan and I both laughing.

Then after bed time I heard Bryce crying in his crib.  I've been trying to get him to go back to sleep himself so I just let him cry it out for awhile, then I finally gave up and went to check on him.  He was so mad that I was ignoring him that he had taken everything out of his crib and thrown it one the floor.  Well, I guess tonight he was extra mad because he had taken off his PANTS and thrown them out too.  He was so confused to why I burst out laughing.

So focusing on the funny and good things.  Praying for better weather so we can spend more time outside with hopefully less drama.

The Sweet Life of Bryce

So I know that its been awhile but I'm going to try and get better about updating.  I've been feeling bad that  I posted about Ryan's birthday and I haven't about Bryce so this post is dedicated to my sweet baby Bryce.

My life was blessed for a second time on 17 Apr 2010 at 6:24 am when Bryce Philip Leaman entered the world.  He was a huge blessing and I feel like a miracle all at the same time.  My labor with him had been so fast.  Turns out that it was God's plan for him, that poor baby had the cord wrapped three times around his neck.  If it hadn't been a fast labor I shutter to think what would have happened.

So here he was, all 7 lbs 5 ozs and 22 inches of him.  He was a little mad about all the lights and people poking at him.

The first few weeks with two boys was a little scary.  Ryan was not a fan of having a little brother.  But quickly got used to the idea.  And as time passed we got to know our little man more and more.

May 17th, at one month we were already discovering his laid back nature.  

  

Jun 17th, by month two we discovered he loved to laugh and smile.

Jul 17, and after he turned three months old we decided he must be one of the happiest babies that ever lived.

As of Aug 17th I couldn't image life without this sweet baby.

By Sept we had a serious case of brotherly love.

Oct 17th, starting to get so big.

Nov 17th, he was starting to show his adventurous streak.

Dec 17th, loving, silly, sweet.   

Jan 17th, I LOVE MY LIFE.  Its completely overwhelmed with boys and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Feb 15th, finally getting teeth!

Mar 17th, my two sweet boys, can't believe I almost have two toddlers on my hands.

Bryce Philip with his namesake my father Philip Berry.  Two of my four favorite men in the whole world.  Can't believe my baby is one.

At this point we had already discovered the HUGE personality differences with our boys.  Bryce is much more outgoing and laid back all at the same time.

How can you not love that face???

So now over a year later, I'm amazed and blessed with my little baby Bryce.  He is outgoing, sweet, feisty, determined, and so funny.  I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for my little man.

Random Thoughts from a 3 year old

Just a quick post since I'm on a roll getting homework and things around the house accomplished right now.

Here are a few recent quotes and conversations with Ryan.

Driving to base for the Easter Party there were lots of low clouds.
I hear Ryan "Wow, look Mama, clouds!"
Me, "Very cool buddy!"
Ryan "Look Mama, teddy bear cloud!"
Me "You think that cloud looks like a teddy bear?"
Ryan "Ohhhh yeah."

Before my parents got here for the weekend.
Ryan "Mama, you no go school.  Stay home with Ry Ry."
Me "Sorry buddy, I have to go."
Ryan.....almost crying.  :(
20 Mins later after Papa has already talked about how Ryan is going to help him with the tools to do some yard work.
I'm still just hanging out drinking coffee when Ryan says "Bye Bye Mama, you go school now, I play tools."

Ryan got a lot of gifts this weekend with grandparents around and a birthday party.  Today he sees one of the boxes that a toy came in.  He runs over to it.
Ryan "E, s, o, take out, batteries, play, cars."  (Basically a mix of random words and letters.)
Me "What are you doing Ry?"
Ryan "Its ok Mama, I read directions you."
Me "Thanks buddy for reading me the directions."
Ryan "Your welcome"

Sean set me just because flowers which was such a bright spot of my day.
Ryan "Mama, flowers?"
Me "Yeah buddy, Daddy sent me flowers."
I bend over and show him the card.  He grabs it and runs off.
Ryan "Bryce look, To Mama, From Daddy."  So sweet he has to "read" the card to Bryce.

Bryce is in his crib crying the other night.
Ryan shouts "Nothing scared of Bryce, Daddy in there with you!"  (Daddy got Ryan a recordable book with him reading about monsters and how there isn't anything to be scared of because Daddy is here.  And Ryan knows that Bryce has a Daddy doll in his crib just like he has one in bed.)

Driving the other day.
Ryan "Mama, Daddy work."
Me "I know buddy, Daddy is at work."
Ryan "Daddy has tools."
Me "Daddy has tools at work?"
Ryan "Yeah, Daddy fixes things with tools."
Me "Daddy works with planes buddy not tools."
Ryan "No, Daddy has tools, he fixes planes."
(Me trying not to die laughing as I think about how to tell Sean that Ryan thinks he is an aircraft mechanic instead of flying in a jet).

Please pack your knives and go....

Name that TV show!  Anyone?  Bueller...bueller.....

Well, it feels a little like Top Chef around here tonight.  Today was my last day of culinary class this semester (well, I have to go back in tomorrow but its just for paperwork).  And I must say that I'm both happy and sad.  I knew that it was going to be a challenge but it has really put me through the ringer at times this semester.  College the first time was so much easier.  Well, the classes were still hard but trying to manage having kids, a husband getting ready to and then actually deploying, pets and a house make classes this time all the more challenging.

The last three days have been a heck of a challenge too.  Four tests in three days!!!  Including a written, knife skills, herb/spice test and a culinary practical exam.  For anyone that has seen Chopped it was just like that.  No idea what we were going to have to make until we got there, then had to grab a sheet of paper that detailed the recipe, convert the recipe to a new yield then we had 30 mins to make you dish and present.  Wow.  Talk about getting your heart beating.  So glad that its all over.

On the other hand, I'm really going to miss learning new kitchen tips and tricks.  Guess I'll have to stick to trying new recipes from the internet until we start classes again in Aug.

Today was April's (my wonderful, talented, loving, amazing, nanny) birthday.  The boys love her so much which makes it so much easier for me to go to class (though I might have to start brain washing Bryce since he reaches for her now as much as me).  So the boys and I took her to a fancy dinner, Wingers.  Hey, kids eat free this month, add that to the fact that there are a whole 5 places to eat in town and you get a winner.  :)  Plus its always nice to get to go somewhere else to feed your almost 1 year old so you don't have to worry about cleaning up the giant mess he makes.  Around 1/2 way through the meal I realized that it was Bryce who was getting more difficult not Ryan (who usually has a very short attention span).  And by the end of the meal I could not believe how awesome Ryan had been.  He automatically said please and thank you for everything, ate his meal without a fight, didn't try to get out of the booth a 100 times, told me when he needed to go to the bathroom, and made funny faces to keep his brother happy.

To top it all off, he said "Thank you, have a good night" to each of the servers when we left.  After we got back to the house, he promptly walked April to the door, told her happy birthday, showed her which car was her's (he is very through), and said "April go in that car, turn, over bump bump, go home, come back and see Ry Ry tomorrow.  Night night April."  Then shut the door behind her.  I can't believe my little man was so sweet.  Now, I just need to work on getting him to realize that most people do know the directions on how to get to their own house and what their own car looks like.  But, I'll give him an A for thoughtfulness.

Now I just need to finish the rest of my online classes then "schools out for summer".  Anybody?  Well, that's probably enough random references for tonight.

"Until next time when...."   Ok, I'll stop now.