cute little boy

Bryce came to visit!

Bryce came all the way from Las Vegas just to come visit us. As luck would have it, the timing worked out so well that he was able to attend a work conference while he was here too. But I'm pretty sure we're the real reason he came out here. Bryce feels very strongly that siblings should visit siblings on the east coast and he certainly would never give anyone, especially his littlest sister, a hard time about not visiting him enough while he lived in New York. We had a grand old time while he was here. For those of you who don't know Bryce well I'll sum him up for you. Bryce happens to think he's very funny, he loves to share his oso humble opinion about everything, he loves to tease, he's not afraid to honk the horn for me when I'm driving, he's quite the story teller but happens to leave out key details and he is always great company to have around. Unless you ask Jeannie. She may have a different opinion. 

We went to the Udvar Hazy Museum which Bryce absolutely LOVED!  He was like a kid in a candy store.

The space shuttle is HUGE and pretty amazing to see

Connor's just putting out the vibes

We celebrated Jared's birthday with cake and ice cream.  Don't look too close at the cake.  It's not my best work but it did taste good and that's what really matters.

Bryce had one goal on his trip.  To get Connor to smile.  As Bryce put it, "not only did I get him to smile, not only did I get him to giggle, not only did I get him to laugh, I got him to belly laugh."  Connor thought it was so funny when Bryce popped his tongue.    

There's a funny story surrounding this picture.  We meet Bryce downtown one night to check out the memorials and as soon as we meet up it started to sprinkle.  So we sat at a bench under a tree to wait out the rain.  We waited and played and it started raining a little harder but we still waited and played.  Soon it was a complete downpour.  After 20 minutes everyone was completely soaked so we decided to make a run for it to the car, which happened to be a ways away.  It was raining so hard the side walk was one big puddle and the wind was blowing so much you could hardly see where you were going.  Connor loved all this by the way.  We ended up going to Bryce's hotel where Bryce was nice enough lend us some t-shirts (he was a little worried we might stretch them out, but let us wear them anyway) and dried Connor's clothes with a hair dryer.  It was quite the unexpected adventure but I have to say it was rather fun.  As Jeannie would say, "it's all about creating memories."    

Connor Makes Me Laugh

A lot.  I just think he is the funniest kid.  Multiple times a day he will make me laugh out loud.  I just can't help myself.  I have to admit,  the thought of baby girl coming makes me a little nervous.  I am constantly reminding myself not all our kids will be as good as Connor.  For a while I was even thinking it would have been nice to have had the hardest kid first and get it over with.  I have since changed my mind and realized how grateful I am to have this one on one time with Connor who is anything but a hard kid.  He is so fun to be with and such good company.  I realized in Alabama what a unique time this has been with Connor and me.  I won't have this one of one time with my other kids and it made me a little sad.  Don't get me wrong, the more the merrier, but I did realize how special this time is with Connor and am trying to take full advantage of it while I can.  Here are a few things that have made me laugh the past few weeks.

playing with corn starch  and water

he likes to help me unload the silverware.  sometimes it's clean, sometimes it's dirty.  i recommend checking your utensils before eating at our house.

who needs paper?

note to self: don't leave the peanut butter jar open when there is a little boy who loves peanut butter nearby.

second note to self: close the peanut butter jar before going to get a paper towel

this is how he sits when i'm making something in the kitchen.  he loves being able to climb up all by himself.

Alabama

We LOVE Alabama! Jared had work in Alabama for two weeks so Connor and I tagged along with him. We made the 12 hour drive to Huntsville and it was worth every minute. Not only is the BBQ AMAZING down there, but the people are so incredibly nice. I can't begin to tell you how many people told me I was so blessed to have Connor. I told them I agreed.  The pace is so much slower than in NOVA and traffic is virtually non-existent.   Connor and I are happy to go back anytime we get the chance.  What fun things did we do while we were down there you ask?

We found the best park right by out hotel.  It was huge and reminded me a lot of Tanner Park.  Connor spent lots of time in the sand.

We picked some delicious blueberries with the Greens.

This is Connors best friend Jack.  They have so much fun together.  Jack loves to make Connor laugh and Connor just adores Jack. 

Connor loved watching Baby Einstein in bed.

Over the weekend we went on this beautiful hike.  Jared works on the range down there with a guy who couldn't be nicer.  His wife is just as nice.  They were kind enough to spend their whole Saturday showing us around.  Pretty sure you can't find nicer people.  

Connor is getting pretty insistent that he walk everywhere himself.  Even on rough terrain.

Dad's shoulders were the only alternative.

Speaking of rough terrain, he had quite the face plant.  Don't worry.  It didn't phase him a bit.

Of course we had to do some swimming.

He did lots and lots and lots of reading in the car.

Bama JeanJean and Papa Wisan

 It only took 3 1/2 years to convince my Dad that he hasn't seen everything in the DC area and that it might be worth coming out again. Somehow I was able to convince him that it's OK to take a trip to the same place twice, that's not Lake Powell of course, and that doesn't involve golf. Believe it or not, I think he had a great time, saw new things, and realized how grateful he is he doesn't have to deal with VA traffic on a daily basis.   

 We spent the weekend visiting Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown.

 

 

We went to Annapolis to tour the Naval Academy.

We were lucky enough to be there when the freshman become sophomores.  In order to make thing official the freshman have to create a human ladder to the top of the statue and replace the hat.  The sophomores cover the statue with lard.  We didn't see the hat replacement.  It took just over two hours. 

He liked Grandpa reading him books every night

 By the end of the trip Connor was done with museums and preferred reading books on the floor

We were lucky enough to have "bama jeanjean" stay a few extra days, which was so very nice.  It was a much different pace that when Grandpa was here.  One of the highlights was Frying Pan Park.  Connor loved it!

from the past few weeks

We found a caterpillar on our walk.  Very interesting but Connor did not like it crawling on him.

Have I mentioned he likes dirt?

Some people liked reading snuggled up on the couch and some people like reading in Tupperware.

Stopping for a snack on our  bike ride

This is just before he drank the water.  Gross.  He threw up the next morning and I can't help but wonder if there's a connection.

Sunday night jam session