Learning to Ride a Bike...A Lesson in Patience

Bryant learned to ride his bike about a month ago. James wanted to wait because Bryant didn't like it the first try and "you can't make him ride his bike."
"Oh, yes you can." I bribed Bryant with a ice cream party if he learned to ride. He could have 5 friends over for ice cream outside. I asked him who he wanted to invite. He wants "Brice, and Brice, Brice, oh and Shay and Shay's friends." I told him I could guarantee Shay, but probably not his friends.
While teaching him to ride he stopped and sat on the curb, "I'm tired I need a break."
After I few minutes I said "OK break over."
"Wait, uh, I need to pray." What do you say to that, nothing, so we waited for him while he sat and prayed on the curb.
When he was done I asked "Did you ask Heavenly Father to help you ride your bike?"
"Yes, and he said to get on and keep trying." Was the reply with a smile. From the mouth of Babes.

After that he was doing pretty good, but I was still balancing him. I said "Bryant you are doing so good, good job."
"So I can have my training wheels back."
"No, I through them away." Bryant slammed on his breaks, through his bike down and walked away.
"I can not believe you did that." He yelled, "I am so mad at you!"
I could not get him to get back on, so James noticing that I needed to get away from the situation took over. Well with a little time with Dad he got back on and learned to ride. I asked James how he got him back on. He told Bryant that he could hold his training wheels when he got home. Can you believe that Hold Them. Well the next day he got his ice cream party.

Hanging out in the Hammock

The boys love the hammock James put up, especially Ethan. He got it from his Mission and just barely put it up. He goes out most evenings and lays in it with Ethan. The other two joined them this particular evening, check out how low it is to the ground, good thing for when the rope breaks.

Conner's First Day of Preschool!

Conner started his first day of preschool Tuesday the Aug. 19. I was so excited for him because he has been watching Bryant go to school for the past two years, and this last year was especially hard because he wanted to go so bad. We had the ABC breakfast then I took him. When I picked him up he had a little necklace that he made. I said "Conner did you make this!"
"No, Lana made it." Too funny. He had fun, and loves going to Lanas'.

Conner's Funny

I feel like all of the posts lately are about Bryant and how funny he is so here is a funny from Conner-bonner:
We were driving up to my Mom's house and the boys were fighting (can you believe it, fighting ;)). Well being inspired I start singing "Love at Home".
"Love at home, love at home" I sing.
Then Conner pipes in singing with a mad tone "love at Grandmas', love at Grandmas'".

Walking Home From School

I walked to the school to pick up Bryant (It takes just under 10 minutes to walk there, and almost 30 minutes to walk home). On the walk home Bryant says "Mom, I wanted you to bring the van. I don't like to walk."
"Bryant, walking is good exercise, it's good to walk."
"It is not exercise, it is not fun." Well OK then.
Then about 2 blocks from our house Bryant sits down on the curb. "Mom, I got an idea, why don't You, Conner and Ethan walk home and get the van and you can come get me."
"We are almost home and then you can have a Popsicle."
"You can bring me a Popsicle." He is such a silly boy, but he still had to walk the rest of the way.

Blue Day Show-and-Tell

Well today was blue day at Bryant's school, and just before school Bryant had a huge melt down. I will spare you all the details but lets just say I barely got him to school alive. Well we pull up and he starts freaking out because he needed a blue show-and-tell.
"Tell your teacher that you didn't have time to get one because you were busy being a brat" I said.
"I don't want to tell her that"
"Fine, get your bag and lets go. You are late."
"No, I'm not taking my bag."
"Fine, leave it and let's go."
We finally get in the school with plenty of whining, and then Bryant become paralyzed at the door. "Mom, I have to have a show-n-tell, everyone has one."
"Ethan can be your show-n-tell." I said.
"No, he's not blue."
"I will be your show-n-tell. I'm wearing blue."
"No, I don't want to show them you." He says with a little cry.
After about 5 minutes of trying to get him to go in, I finally go to Mrs. Christensen's room to get a blue show-n-tell. Of course she has one, and is nice enough to let him have it, but then he starts freaking out because he needs his bag to put the show-n-tell in, the same bag he left on purpose in the van. Well knowing that it really isn't worth it, and I will get a much needed break from him I just went and got the bag for him. (Bryant 1, Mommy 0).
When I got home I had Conner and Ethan take a nap, and I got my break.

Bryant's First day of School (quite an adventure)

Traditional "ABC Breakfast" which was really lunch. Picture by the door, and then I took him to school.
The “Office”
Bryant’s first day of Kindergarten was quite an adventure. His teacher took attendance and asked the “Princess of the Day” to take the attendance to the office. She asked if someone in the class knew where the office was and could go with the ‘Princess”. Bryant waved his hand and was on his way. He didn’t come back. The school was frantically looking for 2 Kindergarteners for 45 minutes.
Meantime, a mother happened to notice 2 little students walking the streets. She pulled over and asked, “Shouldn’t you be in school?”
“We are in school,” Bryant replied.
She asked, “What are you doing?” She didn’t understand his answer so she got out of the car and asked again.
“Going to the office, “ Bryant said proudly, holding up the attendance.
“What office are you going to?
“Where my grandma works.”
“So you’re going to the District Office?”
“Yes,” Bryant grinned.
Bryant’s grandmother works at the District Office across town and Bryant was headed there. He got a little turned around and they were on their way back when they were stopped.
When I got to the school, the principal asked me…”Are you sure you don’t want to home-school him?” Everyone thought it was pretty funny and they were very relieved.

Boating with the Snyders

The day before school started Ginger and Steve invited our family along with Haven and Ella (Colby was at round table) to go boating with them. It was tons of fun! The boys both got to try the tube, Ginger was nice enough to go with Conner. The boat came with its own Nursery in the front of the boat. Ethan looked so cute in the little lifejacket. Thanks Ginger and Steve, we all had a blast. With the help of Adobe James was able to get up on the board.

Fun at the Cabin with Friends

That is right the Francoms had some family fun with friends up at the cabin this last weekend. It was nice to get away and spend some time playing games and relaxing. The couples who joined us were: Ginger and Steve, Andy and Alicia, Haven and Colby, Michelle and Jay, and Val and Wendy, Brooke and Travis came up the last night. We had lots of fun. Thanks everyone for coming.

Thanks James!

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James is such a great husband and father. He is so good to help with the kids, and the kids have so much fun playing with him. They are so lucky to have him. He also has been working really hard on our house lately, I am so lucky to have him. Thanks James!

24th Celebration (On the 26th)

We went to the parade in Monticello and came out "rich in candy" (see 4th of July). Phil and Jen were there and it was fun to see them. Jen spent most of the time trying to keep the candy out of the middle of the road for the kids (what an advocate). The boys were tired by the end of the day which is a sign of a good celebration.

Black and White pics. of Ethan

Love, love, love these pictures of Ethan.

Bryant's Birthday!!

Bryant's 5th Birthday went great. I made him a frog cake (didn't turn out exactly like I pictured, but oh well). Shay, Candace and my Mom came to the big party. Bryant got a little dart gun from my mom, and a Bike from James and Me. We also played my own special game of bobbing for mellows off of a licorice. We all had a good evening, latter that night James got in a water fight with all the boys till late. Too fun.

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4th of July Parade

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Conner didn't like the loud noises, and he was hiding behind the tree from the water tanker. We got a lot of candy, the kid next to us said "We're rich, we're rich, we're rich in candy." Funny huh! The fourth was fun, Blanding did a good job, plus I bought new sandles.

James playing with Conner

Nicole with the Boys

James on Sunday with the Boys

James and Nicole Married Jan. 11, 2002

Shutterfly sent me a free book, so I decided to make a wedding book. I wish I had more time on it, but it turned out pretty good. It was fun going through and looking at all the pictures again.