Finish With a Bang

I was certainly not done partying after my first birthday bash.  I had one more stop and reason to celebrate - Papa and Nana's house!  I am thankful for them too.  Cole and I had a blast fighting bobey and 'sploring.

Thanks for an awesome meal and a much needed nap for Dad before we hit the road back home.
Love you Papa and Nana!

First Birthday Party!

Friday was an EPIC day!  We got to spend it with all our favorite people celebrating our favorite little man!
HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BRYCE!

Ota never tires of playing with his littlest family members.  We sure did have fun throwing balloons around with him!

Uncle Adam came!  He brought a MAN who vaguely resembles this kid we used to know named Kyle.  He also brought Mom's favorite smother target - Dylan!  Sorry kid.  Now you know what I have to put up with everyday. 

I may have done a little smothering of my own.  Aunty Kat was there!  Mom was pretty sad to only get her for a little bit of time, but when it comes to Aunty Kat, is there EVER enough time?!

Papa and Nana were in there - of course!  Thanks so much for bringing the chicken!

B hardly left Uncle Mike.  Those two are crazy about each other.  Can you blame them?
Um.... how about the matching outfits.  What gives, guys?!

We were as cute and cuddly as we could be.  Can you believe they STILL went back to ATL?

Our beautiful Oma was there.  We love you Oma!

The big kids had a blast taking all the balloons upstairs and "bombing" the grown ups below.

Uncle Scott and Aunty Stephanie were there with our gorgeous (and super fun) cousins. 
How much love can the little man handle?!

Our handsome Dad pulled the party together with the quick repair and connection work he did to make Mom's movie play.

There's Nana speaking German with Oma. 

B had a fantastic time surrounded by family who love and adore him.

What a little trooper he was.

Thanks for taking care of the cake Grandma.  It sure did look and taste great!

Who better to present the little man with his first birthday cake, than his best friend - ME!

Happy Birthday dude!  I sure do love you.

I even helped him open presents.  Thanks for the commemorative coin Papa and Nana.

Dad took the second shift of gift opening.  We love this little dog who says Bryce's name and talks to him.

B loves this bow too.

Thanks everyone who came and celebrated; everyone who worked so hard to assemble and clean up after the party; everyone who gave our little man presents and everyone who loves our Brycey.
HAPPY EARLY FIRST BIRTHDAY DUDE!

Chaos and Calamity

Does Grandma ever rest?!  After putting on a huge meal and entertaining us all, she gathered up the big kids for a sugar cookie making party!  I'm not going to tell you about all the "special" ingredients we added.

We each got our own tray of cookies to cut, bake and decorate.

That's right - she even used flour!  Mom - do you even know what aisle flour is in?!

Izzy decided to do a little spa treatment while we worked.

We waited patiently for our masterpieces to bake.

Then the REAL mess started!  We decorated!!

Here's my tray of edible art.
Thanks for an awesome end to the day Grandma!

4th Annual "I am Thankful" post

Cole:

"Thank you God for Mommy, Daddy, Bryce, Boots, Bella, Sydney and Uncle Scott. (he adds Grandma, Bugga, KK, Dad, Julie, Papa, Nana, Aunty Stephanie, Shayla, Sue, Izzy, Oli, Aunty Heather, Uncle Gavin, baba, Didi, Aunty Kat, Uncle Mike, Uncle Adam, Kyle, Dylan, Aunty Heather and Gene and Pam with a reminder).  Thanks for my friends at school and my house and my toys.  Thanks for, I mean please don't let Bryce knock my stuff over and help me to be good so I get presents." 

Bryce:
"Thanks for good food, my brother, my cats (especially the fat slow one), the girls, my parents, my family, thanks for letting me get up off my knees and walk.  Thanks for blessing my family and I with good health."

Thank You!

This week I was really well reminded of all the many things I have to be thankful for. 
I'm thankful for the fantastic people in my life - most of all! 
Friends like Miss Avery and her Mom Lani who came to visit me at Grandma's house on Wednesday!

It was Avery's 8th birthday on Friday so we had a little gift exchange.
What a pretty little 8 year old princess, eh?

I'm especially thankful for the wonderful godparents and grandparents I have. 
I was bombarded with snuggles and smooches by my gorgeous Aunts Stephanie and Heather.

I couldn't quite figure out why Uncle Gavin talks so funny.  He was pretty amusing.

And I was really thankful to be able to sit at the kid's table with the cool people this year!
Oli and Cole were thankful that Grandma kept all of Uncle Scott's and Daddy's legos in her basement and Izzy was thankful for two silly boys to boss around.  Those big kids sure do love playing together.  I think the Daddy's and Uncles really enjoyed the giant lego party too.

And we are all very thankful for a Grandma who has an endless supply of energy and love for us all.  She let us have a surprise sleepover on Wednesday night, played with us non-stop, threw together an outrageous feast, and stayed up late paying games with the big kids.  Thank you God for Grandma.

Thanks for a Godfather who knows just what we little Vandy's love - roughhousing!

I was all smiles all weekend.

Cole got in on some Uncle fun too!

This is called a "Vandwich"

I'm thankful for Dad who drove us up to Grandma's and spent the weekend in the basement with Cole while Mom stayed upstairs with the ladies and one really lucky little man.

Tea parties are manly.  I don't want to talk about it.

And Mom is always thankful for Grandma's giant bathtub which seems to be able to accomodate any number of grandkids with ease.  These two rowdies even managed to get clean!

Thank you for all the blessings in our lives, but thanks especially for our loved ones.

Cuddles Cure All

Mom brought home a nasty bug from Texas so we've both been pretty sick this week.
Fevers and ear infections, sniffles and coughs - the whole bit.
Thankfully, Dad's been here to hold B non-stop and cuddle Cole too.
He even stays up through the night with us.
There's nothing our Dad can't fix!
Thanks Pop.  You're the greatest

Conversations With Cole

Mom:  Cole honey, please...  Mommy has asked you SO many times.  Please eat your dinner!
Cole:  I can't eat right now Mom.  I just have to dance.  When I hear dance, I have to do my moves.
Mom:  Cole, I'm going to turn the music off.  Sit down and eat.
Cole:  But Mom... everyone wants to see me dance.  Everyone... I mean, B will cry if I don't.


(later that same night Cole is streaking through the house stark naked)

Mom:  Is that a naked boy?!
Cole:  Nope.  I'm not naked.  I'm a superhero and Superheroes are NOT naked.

Week in Review

Here are some more random shots of our gorgeous mugs.
Mom swears we've both changed in the six days she was away.  I know
I'm walking MUCH more and talking a bunch too.

Lately Mom's been using a really strange word "No."
Are you talking to ME Mom?!

Look how big Cole is getting.  Mom says it's just not fair.

Boots is getting pretty big too.  He is pretty attached to Cole these days.

Um.. and I officially got my first Boots nibble yesterday when I extracted a massive clump of his hair
and two whiskers.  I thought it was hilarious!

The Ropes

I'm not sure, but I think I might be the luckiest kid brother ever.
My big brother is with me ALL the time.  He teaches me all the best games.

He shares his food and his treats with me.

He explains life's mysteries.

He's my best bud.  How lucky can a kid get?

I love growing up with you right by my side big bro.
Thanks for being so cool.