Day 183...Field Trip fun!

Bodie's preschool class took a field trip to a fire station today.  The kids had so much fun...and I think the firefighters did too!  You should have heard some of the questions those kids had for the firemen!




Bodie's teacher, Miss Heather, even climbed to the top of the 110 foot ladder.  I got dizzy watching it sway in the wind...and it was a little too bright for Bodie to look up!

Day 177...blackmail

We were having fun getting ready for bed last night.  Bodie was making Rhys wear a "hat", aka his PJ pants.

It made me laugh because it reminded me of...

I cannot wait to blackmail Bodie with that in high school!

That's all for today folks!

Day 176...Happy Birthday Rob!

My  Our camera is broken.  We need to get it fixed. So I don't have a picture of the celebrating we did today...but this is usually the reaction I get from Rob when I pull the camera out anyway. 

Rob is 31 years young, and I do mean that.  I love that he acts like a kid, plays like a kid and laughs like a kid.  He keeps me cracking up, and I need that.  I love that his glass is always half full, even when there are times it should just be empty.  I hope that in another 31 years he is exactly the same!  I know that he probably won't have time to read this, because he is now glued to the xBox with his 3 new video games, but...Happy Birthday babe...I love you!

Day 168...Happy Halloween!

Whew.  This is the most exhausting holiday from a parents prospective.  It started for us on Friday when McCall wore her costume to school for the kindergarten parade.  Of course, Bodie, I mean Buzz Lightyear needed to sport his costume to pick her up.  All was well and good until I tried to remove said costume and, well...all hell broke loose.  Terrible twos my butt...it's terrible three's in the Vian house and its in full swing. 

I removed the costume, after punches were thrown, (no not by me!) and Bodie then make him self physically sick.  He threw up because I made him take off his costume!  McCall isn't even that dramatic.

Saturday we went to sport the costumes for Grandpa Don.  The kids LOVE going to his house, because he has the best binoculars to look through!


Then the big day finally was here!  Pumpkins carved...
Costumes on...
Let's hit the streets! 

Thanks to Auntie Amber for the transportation (she was the wagon puller) we made good time.  They got too much candy for their own good, but they had a great time. 
I'm exhausted.

Day 164...a beautiful autumn day

I love fall.  I love the colors, the cold weather, the carmel apple spice from Starbucks :)  So I was so excited to be able to walk to Garfield to pick McCall up from school today.  Usually I am forced to drive and pick her up because of errands, appointments, or work.  But today was laid back.  How nice.

Rhys got to try out his new stroller.  What a great ride he had!  He sits up so straight and high and the sunshade is great.  I think he likes it...



Thanks Papa & Nanny!

Then after a nice lunch, the kids and I went to the backyard to play for awhile.  They played in the leaves, tried out the swings and jumped on the trampoline.  Hopefully, with all this fresh air they should sleep good.  Wishful thinking!

Day 163...Happy Birthday Rhys

Wow...what a year.  Last year our biggest worry was what to name this little guy...
Remember?  He was baby Vian for 5 days.  Now I can't imagine him being anything other than Rhys Robert. 
He was our biggest baby...tipping the scales at 6lbs. 8oz. 21 1/2 inches long.  Rhys and I celebrated, at 7:39am...he is ONE! 
 It has been one of the most rewarding and heartbreaking years.  When he was born I could have never imaged the life that he had ahead of him.  I know he will do amazing things, and I am so thankful for what he has already taught our family.  I see unconditional love when I look at him.  I see tolerance, compassion and understanding that he will teach Bodie and McCall.  I see a smile that is contagious.  He reminds me that sometimes it is okay to stop and smell the roses (or eat them like he would).  He also reminds me that life is too serious, and laughter can cure anything!  I love being his Mommy...and I know, whether he can tell me or not, that he loves me too.  If you've never had a Rhys hug, your missing out...it's the best thing ever! 

I am ready to begin a journey filled with amazing people I will meet. People who have known pain and have grown with it. People who have, perhaps against their will, thrown out "perfection" and accepted the new face of reality where not everything is glossy and Hollywood. No, it's better. It's real and deep and beautiful.  I kinda laugh at my ignorance before all this and now I can brag about this new found place of peace and acceptance and realization that this is okay. So what if he doesn't walk 'til two? Isn't that actually kind of cool? Like I just added another year window before I have to worry about baby-proofing the house again. And all the other stuff that comes along? We can handle it. Why is it people think this is so the end of the world? Because it's not. It's the beginning. 

Happy Birthday little Rhyser...we love you to the moon and back!

Day 162...First Birthday Party

We celebrated Rhys first birthday tonight.  I decided that he should have a "Milk & Cookies" birthday party...since that's what kids like best.
I think it is safe to say that Rhys loved every minute of it.  He might have actually gone into a brief sugar coma...but that is what first birthdays are all about.

Thank you to everyone for making his birthday so special.  He is truly so lucky to have everyone around to support him!