Car seat

Bryce graduated to a new and bigger car seat. We have had him in the infant carrier since he graduated from the baby car bed he rode home from the hospital in. His legs were finally hanging too far over the edge of the carrier for comfort so graduation day came just this last week. I'm not sure if he likes it or not as he can't see me when he tries to look over his shoulder like he could in the other carrier. But he looks like such a big boy that I know it's the right move!

Vacation Bible School

The following post was Grady on a float sponsoring vacation bible school for our church. I volunteered to teach preK-K this year as the last 4 years I have turned them down. The first night I had 21 4-5-6 year olds all in one room the size of a small car. Not the most ideal situation and it was Super Hot in our room as it was in the tip top of the church with little air conditioning. We made it through the first night with lots of second guessing my and the classroom helpers' decision. As I walked in the second night I saw NUMEROUS little-tiny bodies running around and the whole time thinking to myself I was going to have more children. Sure enough 24 4-5-6 year olds in yet again the tiny room with no AC. We got smart and split them up the second night and I had made a trip to my classroom at school to occupy one group with little toys while I was teaching the bible lesson to the other group. By the final night we had them whipped in to shape and when all was said and done we had 26 4-5-6 year olds. Not sure what next year will bring but they better consider splitting those little critters because I will be adding one eager little boy to the group!

Old Settlers Parade

A few weeks ago Grady rode on our Churches float in the Litchfield (a small town close to Hazard) Old Settlers Days Parade. The float was promoting Bible School which starts tonight. I am the teacher for the PreK-K class and Gradster is coming with me...

This is Grady and Hope, a girl from Hazard
Here's the float they just threw some candy for the Nelson kids to gather up!

Grady with Caydence on her mommy's lap and her mommy is Cassie. They are our neighbors and both are Grady's girlfriends!!

Grady and Caydence getting ready for the kiddie games to start. The town had pizza in the park and games for afternoon entertainment. It was a great time!

Bryce was trying to survive the heat and liked being in the stroller!

Another neighbor girl, Macy was playing toss the egg game with Grady. He just wanted to see the eggs break so as soon as he got it he would throw it on the ground, laugh, and tell Macy to go get another one. He did the exact same thing with the water balloons but so did all the other young kids!

Macy trying to be patient with Grady again in the egg toss. She handed it to him because she didn't want it to break on him! She's a gem!

Bryce

Bryce has learned to shake his head 'NO' and its not just out of the blue he does it at appropriate times. The following videos are of him today at lunch refusing to eat hamburger helper. He's begun to think that jarred baby food is no longer a good thing so I've been using the baby food grinder on the foods the rest of us eat. Today was a first with hamburger helper. I took two videos because it was pretty entertaining trying to feed him today. Every time I'd give him a spoon of hamburger helper he would shake his head 'NO' big time but if I'd hand out the puffs he would smile and eat them all. Not to mention his ornery grin that followed every time he got his way! Oh and I asked him "Bryce is it GOOD!!" He looked right at me gagged and had a disgusted look on his face...Oh yes he was milking it! Such a stinker he is!

Grady's Swimming Lessons

The very last thing they get to do every time is jump in to the water into the instructors arms. Both times Grady has told her "Scoot back I'm gonna jump on you" She didn't realize that this is something he has mastered this summer and that he can jump pretty far as this picture shows him slamming in to her body, oops!
Grady is the last boy in line following his friends. They went to a 2ft area of water and played ring around the rosie and wheels on the bus. It looked pretty fun from where I was sitting!

Today the kids had to put their whole head under water. This is the top of Grady's head just before he went under. He said "did you see that mom I did it all by myself!!"

They got to throw a ball out in to the pool then swim out to get it. At this point he is watching his feet kicking rapidly in the water

They are learning to do a back float. This is Grady doing a back float and kicking his legs. There were flags up above his head that he is looking at to tell her when to turn around.

They are learning to blow bubbles in the water. The first day Grady couldn't get blowing bubbles, keeping his arms straight and kicking with his legs all down at the same time. We practiced in the bath tub how to blow bubbles. He was a champ at it today and could blow bubbles and kick his legs at the same time this morning! This is him blowing bubbles!

These are all the kids in the class and the three instructors. Grady is the boy in the blue to the right.

Garden Produce

Some of our first produce came last week out of our own garden. We have never planted broccoli but did this year and were very successful! This sink is only a small percentage of what we have producing out in our jungle! The cucumbers are also coming along nicely! Grady and I LOVE cucs! These were the first two and we had them ate minutes after bringing them in to the house. This week the bell peppers have started and the jalapenos are in full force as you can see on the back of the sink in the pic. You name it, we have it. Tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, watermelon, onions, carrots, radishes, jalapenos, bell peppers, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini and more!! Come on over for some free veggies any time ;-)

Endless Summer Activities

I am NOT finding the time I thought I would have to post on this thing so bare with me on the delays. Here's what's happened in an overview...

-Grady enjoyed fireworks on the 4th but Bryce was asleep so the two of us just stayed home

-Bryce started playing peek-a-boo putting a blanket up and pulling it down all by himself

-Grady started swimming lessons yesterday and we go again tomorrow. Two times a week for a month so it should be interesting

-Bryce turned 10 months

-Grady and I had strep throat last week

-Grady was on a float for the Old Settlers Days in Litchfield Saturday. He loved it and playing all the kiddie games afterwards. Bryce was beat as the heat was making all of us tired.

-Summer school is over so now I have to pack up my classroom to move next door which will be great because they are about done making us a bathroom in our room!!!

-Grady and Brad went fishing where Grady caught 4 blue gill I believe. Brad said we're going to need to get a youth fishing pole as the kiddie pole doesn't real in fast enough for Gradys excitement!

-Bryce was saying dada and mom a few months ago but has since stopped. He had the hand waving down almost automatic though so I guess him not saying our names was ok. However, last week I wanted to hear him say it so I said "Brycie say mamamama" He looked at me smiling and said "dadadada". Since my eagerness to have him talk has begun he no longer waves and only says 'dada' or 'bab'. Come on!!

Fun in the Sun

I don't know all the tricks to this blog site so this is not done the way I wanted it to be. Pictures were supposed to go with each paragraph but instead you get them all at once! Some day I will have this all figured out and it will forever be perfect!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Greg!
The Boys having some fun on the boat!

Bryce in the tube held by Grandma Cyndy

Love this shot of their behinds!

Me, Mastering wind surfing!!!!

Brad showing us how it's done on the wake board!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to...

two of my wonderful family members, Greg my father-in-law and Caleb my brother-in-law! Even though we're not blood by choice we're family by choice! Love you guys!!

Yesterday was yet again another memorable day for Brycie. He got to go to the lake with us last night. He looked like a giant yellow marshmallow in his life jacket but at least we knew he would be safe. He was ok for awhile but crawling wasn't really going so well for him as the boat was bouncing around and he was cushioned in his flotation devise! He was a trooper though! We dipped his feet in the water which he smiled about but did not necessarily care for the full immersion of his body. He did get to ride in the tube and liked that but the tube never made it to the water with him in it ;-)

I, for the first time ever, tried Brad's wake board. It looks hard when he's doing it so I haven't wanted to try it. When we were in Jamaica we tried wind surfing which I was against but did it not to be labeled the 'fun hater'. Turns out I was the only one that could do it! I wanted to keep doing it and loved it but Brad was having some difficulties and wanted to return to his bar perch instead. Needless to say he was labeled the 'fun hater'! Anyways, he decided since I was all talk about being the wind surfing champ that I had to do the wake board. Well, last night I got to say "nana nana boo boo" as I got up on the first try and went a distance before falling. I did it four times in a row getting up each time but I do have to admit that it was scary! I have no idea how to steer the wake board but I will learn! The only bad thing is...my ankle is swollen HUGE today.

Family Fun

Yesterday our day started off with a picnic in the living room with just Grady and I

while Bryce man was sleeping. It was a lot of fun! Turkey, cheese and strawberries YUM!

We went to Uncle Tom's house in Grand Island for a swim with two of Mick's girls. Grady was a champ swimming around the 3 ft looking like a little tad pole. Good thing swimming lessons start in a few weeks so he can use his arms along with his legs!!

Olivia was trying to teach Grady how to swim but he thought he knew it all
and kept swimming away from her!

Grady loved Uncle Tom helping him in and out of the pool! Grady was a little unsure at first but Tom showed him a few things and his bravery shined right through!

Mick was giving "Fatherly" advise to Bryce about the goodness of beer!!

Mick's buddy Tim was at the pool too with his little girl Allie and

Bryce LOVED the attention he was getting from Tim!

Today was Bryce's first real swimming pool dip. He's been in our little pool outside and Grandma Cyndy's little pool but this one was the real deal. He gasped at first when his feet hit the water but he was soon splashing and screaming with excitement.

Mama and her adorable boys

Kenna, Bryce, and Claire were putting puzzles together at Aunt Judy's last night.

Claire is a rock star at putting puzzles together!

Judy and MF got out the ice cream and cones which the kids enjoyed! Grady was eating his upside down some how without spilling out the ice cream. Talent!

I LOVE Taylon in his glasses

This is Sue's sling which is part of her everyday wardrobe. I couldn't seem to figure it all out but Bryce did settle down when he was in it!

Gigi looking adorable nestled in with her mommy! Sadly and Happily these cousins will be moving to Japan for 3 years. This was our last chance to say good bye! Will miss and love you all!