Bryson Starts 3rd Grade!

Bryson started 3rd Grade today - boy that is hard to believe. His teacher is Mrs. Bowen and is so much fun! she has a full size sectional in the corner of her room and about 100 smilie faces as her decor... Bry loves her. When I picked him up from school that day and asked him how his day was i got "It was so freakin awesome mom!" So I guess that means good... right? Bry's class is a 3rd/4th grade split, they don't have a need for a full teacher in either grade so they take the students who are self starters and independant workers and have them in this class. What I like abou tit is ithat there are no "mean kids" as Bryson's personality often gets picked on, so I love his class to... Here is to a freakin awesome year in 3rd grade

Sporting his new Golf shirt, back to school cloths shopping with boys isn't as much fun as it could be.

Standing outside the 3rd grade door.

Running to his door, we weren't even late this year :)

Introducing and talking to a new friend

Leaving to go to class. I was so excited for him. he loves school and recess and his freinds so he is always super excited for school and that makes me super excited.

Sand Hallow

We headed down to Sand Hallow after much deliberation with our friends the Ellis's - we had given their oldest son a weekend at Lake Powell for HS graduation, however our house boat is broken down so we had to come up with an alternative. This is a nice State Park and the reservoir is just the right size, and it wasn't packed. We camped right on the beach and the water stayed shallow for a ways so the kids loved it.
The weather on the other hand was not on our side. The forecast looked awesome, however the storms came in with 2-3 hour breaks, and it was constantly windy to breezy. Despite that we had a great time, good company, and it wasn't ever really cold when it was raining. However Sunday morning was a bit intense of a storm we saw it come over the mountain and across the lake. Everyone was trooper and we now know the layout of the Wal-Mart about 10 minutes from the lake. A wonderful weekend of boating with friends

My boys and a bit of the lake, it really was a nice State Park

Preston and mud - more mud and some mud

Weston and his truck! He was in seventh heaven

Bryson playing trucks

Weston eating some lunch, in the shade, something that didn't last with the wind.

Nap time - keeping in mind that it is about 100 degrees outside. But he needed it and I was not about to move him. I did move the towel a bit and pulled him into some shade

A closer view of his cute snuggled in face

Boys will be boys and no matter what the age they were out playing football keep away. One broken toe, a few bruises, and plenty of scratches... sounds about right.

an hour later....

More action in the water - the wife's in the mean while are talking about how sore their hubbies will be in the morning...

Cool dude glasses

Seriously - what's not to love here?

The group eating lunch

my boys - yes we are a sunblock family, my boys are WHITE!

A double rainbow - the token of our rainy weekend

Bryson's Baptism

WOW!!! this day really sunk in as to exactly how big Bryson is getting. This was his first step in what I hope will be many in the church. The day was perfect! Our stake does baptism by each ward having an hour block throughout the Saturday, there were no other kids who turned 8 in July so Bryson had his baptism all by himself. It was kinda nice to have a "private" baptism with just our family. Darren did such a great job and gave him a wonderful blessing. I was so excited for him, and he was so excited to be baptised.

Boys in their suits - how handsome!

Mommy and Bryson

Before the baptism

Happy parents... which one of these is not like the other?

The boys - yep the last 8 grand kids have been boys... here are the 6 (minus Weston) that live here in Salt Lake. My poor Mom is so grand-daughter hungry

The Steck family - Darren's parent, his sister Alicia and son's Cameron and Corbin

The Ellis Family - Rich, Trina and Zach, Braydon

Uncle Kory and Travi

I love these action eating shots - Grandma Hydee, Aunt Kari and Uncle Jason

Last minute my brother flew up from Arizona (he's a pilot so he can do that :) so this is Uncle Kevin and his son Zach and Daughter Jessica

Grandpa Willis and Preston

Bryson with Steck Grandparents

Bryson with Willis Grandparents

The day before his baptism I took Bryson over to the Oquirrih Mountain Temple to get some pics in his new suit. It was kinda nice to be there with just him and the Temple was still closed for cleaning so no one was there. He is such a handsome boy

24th of July Parade

Our Neighborhood has a parade every 24th of July - actually it's the Saturday before the 24th, so this time it landed the day after Bryson's birthday. Which he thought was super cool, the weekend was needless to say crazy and none stop.

Bryson and his decorated bike.

Another shot

Preston and his bike - he just learned no training wheels about 2 months ago so I was nervous with him and this many people, but he did really good.

This is the Copper Hills HS mascot, who is also our neighbors son

Preston taking off....

Me and Weston, he did pretty good in the wagon

Bryson is 8!!!

Bryson turned 8 - WOW where in the world did that time go for me? He was so excited to turn 8 and feel like a big kid.... going to start 3rd grade... man life is good! Right on schedule the Birthday Fairy arrived and trashed his room a bit more then years past - I can only assume each year will get more intense...

Draping on the door

Confetti on the floor

Streamers and balloons from the ceiling

More Balloons on the floor

The confetti... just a side note - tiny and not entirely thought through by the birthday fairy

Bryson on his birthday morning... loving his room

We took him out for an adventure for his birthday instead of a friend party this year. Which will work out better since I have his baptism to plan still. We went to toys-R-us which is a birthday staple right? And played around then went to lunch and came home to go swimming over at the Kearns rec center - the weather was perfect.

Daddy and Weston enjoying the sun

Weston not wanting his picture taken

Bryson coming down the kiddie slide

Preston coming down the kiddie slide

Playing in the water

Bryson - I think he could have stayed there all day long

Preston - he would get cold the minute he got out of the water

After dinner we took him over to the Olympic Oval for some free skating time which he loves to do and will go as often as we take him.

Weston obviously doesn't skate - we walk the track... made it a mile this night.

Preston biffing it

The end of his fall...

Bryson telling Dad all about how fast he can go - we then started timing him on his laps... did pretty good.

On your mark... get set.... GO!

We had Grandma and Grandpa's over for a quick cake and ice cream later that night. I was totally lazy and bought his cake. hope he will forgive me.

Putting in the candles

blow hard! - Make a wish

Licking the candles - every childs favorite thing right?

Happy Birthday Bryson - Hope you had a fun day! It seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital and now.. here he is 8 years old. So Bryson, here are my favorite things about you right now...

1. You have an amazing smile

2. You are such a good big brother

3. I adore how much Weston loves you and wants to be like you, thanks for being such a good example

4. You hardly ever fight with us

5. You are willing to help

6. Your wheels... what can I say they make you... you

7. Your innocence, may it never leave

8. How nervous you are to try new things

9. How much you love the Wii

10. What a good example you are to your family