Derek is a Sunbeam!

I can't believe Derek is already a Sunbeam! Sunbeam is the name of the first class in the Primary program at church. Primary age kids range from 3 to 11 years old and are divided into different classes based on age. Sunbeams are 3-5 years old. Derek's Sunbeam teacher, Sis. Brown, brought a cute sunshine balloon to the house earlier this month to say hi and welcome him into her class. Derek loved pulling the balloon all over the house and showing it to everyone who came over. In fact, he loved it so much, it finally gave out. He had a great first day in Sunbeams and I'm so proud of him! He didn't have a single problem and Sis. Brown gave a glowing report. He loved singing time in Primary, too. He learned "Do As I'm Doing," (a follow-the-leader Primary song) almost immediately and asked to sing it for bedtime tonight. I'm glad he's enjoying the transition and I hope it continues to be a positive experience for him every Sunday.

 

I love my Sunbeam!

The Sickies

I know they don't look so good, but this is the upswing. First Mitchell got bacterial bronchitis and Colton got strep over Christmas break and then the boys were diagnosed with the flu last Friday. Poor Bryce had an ear infection and the beginnings of pneumonia on top of that. Thank heaven for modern medicine!

 

Poor Bryce. The nebulizer and bronchodilator medication helped combat his congestion and cuddling with Daddy made it all better.  

 

 Derek wasn't too thrilled with the mask, but he was a real trooper!

 

Clara loves cuddling with Grandma. Thankfully, she didn't catch anything. So glad I got my pertussis booster and flu shot while I was pregnant with her. Studies show she could have some immunity for up to six months. So very, very grateful for modern medicine!



First Project of 2014

Can you spot the four-year-old?



Culling clothes for a family of five

Presents from Grandpa and Grandma Bazemore and Aunt Alex

My dad sent a package of presents for Derek, Bryce and Clara and it finally arrived tonight! Just as we were getting the kids ready for bed, the doorbell rang and an enormous package was delivered. Derek (helped by Mitchell) tore it open so quickly I didn't get my camera in time to get a picture of the kids discovering the wrapped presents, but these pictures are sure cute! Thanks Dad, TexAnne and Alex (formerly Denise)! ;)

 Derek unwrapped this massive fire truck and Mitchell showed him how to extend the ladder. It's HUGE!! There are four buttons on top that make a variety of honks and sirens, a rolled up hose that attaches to a real water pump (can't wait to show the kids how that one works!) and of course that awesome ladder. Derek discovered how to flip the hood up to look at the engine, too.

 

 All three of them loved playing with the truck, but Bryce was fascinated with tilting the ladder up and down and flipping the bucket at the end open and shut.

 

 Clara's gift is this sweet little pillow...

 

 ...that unfolds into this sweet BIG quilt! it's perfect for tummy time with Clara and I can even tuck a few toys inside for on-the-go needs. Love it!

Bryce had no idea what this fabric was for.
 



Derek gave him a hand though and once they figured out what these naptime rolls were for, Bryce loved it. Poor kid hasn't been feeling well so he just laid there sucking on his pacifier. 

 

 Derek ran off to play with the fire truck and Mitchell tried out Derek's nap mat.

 

Bryce loves his Daddy! Seriously, Mitchell barely gets in the door after work before Bryce comes toddling out of nowhere demanding to be held. :)

Sick Day and Bedtime Story with Dad



 Poor Mitchell got sick with bacterial bronchitis last week and still wasn't feeling well this morning, so he stayed home today. Apparently you shouldn't drive while taking codeine laced cough syrup. ;) Mitchell spent some time playing video games and painting his Warhammer 40K pieces, but he also spent a lot of time with they boys. He even taught Derek and Bryce how to play Connect Four and the kids loved it! We love sneaking some extra time with Mitchell whenever we can get it, but we're glad he's finally feeling better.

 

Playing Connect Four



Clara loves to be swaddled no matter where she is

 

Aren't they cute? :)

Christmas at Gamm's

Amy, Val and I took the kids to do Christmas at Gamm's house last night. It was a pretty quiet drive. :) My cousins Jeff, John and Beth were there as well as their mom, my Great Aunt Kathy and Aunt Jenn and Uncle Tim were there with Ally and Tyler. My Uncle Tom was there too! There were lots of great finger foods that Gamm made and, between the toys and cousins, Derek was pretty well entertained. Bryce was happy to interact with anyone and Clara was an immediate magnet, haha! I spent most of my time talking with adults, which was a great Christmas present in and of itself. Thanks for watching the kids, Amy!

 

Gamm gave Derek and Bryce each a present and they ripped into it with gusto. I wish I had recoded Derek's reaction when he realized that he unwrapped a big stegosaurus. It was so cute! Bryce unwrapped a Thomas train with a bee car that really buzzes. It's compatible with the wooden train tracks they got for Christmas, too. It was a great visit.

 

 No wonder it was a really quiet drive. :)

 

 Rob and Val. Aren't they cute?

 

 Bryce made himself right at home traipsing all over the house

 

 Derek and Declan played so well tonight! They were both sharing cars with each other and playing very nicely.

 

 My beautiful cousin, Beth!

 

 Ally and Tyler were scoping out all the presents

 

 It was so good to see Andrew! I can't remember the last time I saw him. Amy was such a trooper to feed Bryce. He loved the meatballs and ham.

 

 Jillian is growing up so fast! She and Derek are about two years apart and roughly the same size.

 

John was one of the first to requisition Clara, haha! Gamm gave her this adorable little dress with some cute sock shoes and her first pair of tights!



 Derek's "sloth slur" is so cute. When he opened the box, he yelled, "Oh wow! A Shtegoshaurush!" We're still working on his S sound, but it's cute nonetheless.

 

 Jeff had just gotten to hold Clara when she decided she was hungry, so he was the first to hold her after she was fed. We met his girlfriend, Kellie, tonight and she's really nice.

 

 Bryce happily toddled over to John and climbed, unsolicited, up into his lap. He's such a friendly little kid.

 

Gamm finally got her hands on the little ball of pink lace.



Bryce loved all the different toys - particularly this phone...



...and this doll. He patted this doll and carried it around for a while before he moved on to another toy. It just reminds me to keep a close eye on him when he's around Clara. Just til she's a little bigger.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Mitchell got up with the boys so I could sleep in. Best husband ever! We had decided last night that we were going to do presents at 8, so the boys played with their stockings til then. We all gathered in the living room and Mitchell acted as Master of Ceremonies, passing out presents to everyone and I stayed fixed behind the camera. :) The boys had an absolute blast! There were toys, treats and smiles all around. Clara was warm and comfy in Aunt Amy's matching leopard print lap, lol. Mitchell and I have started a new method for buying presents for the kids. The rule goes: one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing you wear, one thing you read. This year, we only did the want/read parts and got the kids a toy and book. I loves this tradition and I can't wait to see how the kids respond to it in the future.

 

One of the gifts Clara received from Nana was a whole slew of 32 hair bows. They're the perfect size for her right now. Just for fun, I put one bow in Bryce's hair, but he clearly didn't approve. Derek, however, wanted to put bow after bow in his hair til we had covered his head in all 32 bows. It looked like a custom swim cap and we all had a good laugh about it. I can't wait to pull them out for his 18th birthday and show any future girlfriends, haha.

 

Good morning!

 

Derek opened the very first present - a book from Mom and Dad



Uncle Colton reading Bryce's new book to him



Aunt Amy and Clara have matching footed onesies. :)



The Leopard Ladies!



Derek loves these binoculars we put in his stocking and Bryce approves of Nana's gift, Candyland



Derek was very curious about such a big present...



...and was thrilled to find the batcave!



Sweet "spot"



Bryce was a little timid at first, but he figured out how to unwrap presents pretty quickly



Uncle Colton scored a game of Munchkin



Bryce begged Daddy to show him how to work the walking puppy

 

The boys ended up playing with the other's gifts, haha!



I think Clara will like this soothing, singing seahorse



He doesn't approve, lol

 

My silly, funny boy

 

 The top view

 

The pageant pose - Aunt Amy's idea