BUILDING BL(ayl)OCKS: Family Fun Time

We love when Bryce family events happen, because it means Oma and Papa come to town! Oma came early and stayed for most of the week with Katey, but we got her for a few days and Papa too. We first saw Oma on Wednesday! She, Katey, and Hope came down and brought all the things to do applesauce. Apples went on sale at the store and the apples from Grandma and Grandpa were ready, so we needed to do applesauce! I'm sure canning wasn't on Oma's wishlist when she came to visit, but having her helping hands was a lifesaver. She kept the process moving even when we had to stop to take care of kids. Kade was very excited to do applesauce, so he tagged along to help us remove stickers, load apples into the sink, and to do his favorite activity of pushing apples down into the saucer. He was an awesome helper all day, too. In total, we bottled 36 pints and 14 quarts, about half of our normal yearly production. The applesauce was so yummy! When I took a break to go get Jay, I told him Oma was at our house and he basically ran the rest of the way home! He was so excited! I had Hugh and Hope in the stroller, and Jay pushed it all the way back to our house. Canning is a team sport for me, and I was so grateful for Katey and Mom and coming to my house to can. We were all exhausted by the end of the day and went with a very simple dinner while Matthew was at a work event.

Kade, the apple smasher

Jay pushing Hope and Hugh

Fresh bottled fruit is beautiful!

Thursday was Jay's first school fieldtrip! We got to go to Miller Farms, which is a huge farm about a half hour north of here. I rode the bus with Jay and his class, which was very fun! Jay was very excited to get on the school bus and did very well. He was so excited to explore the whole farm as soon as we got there and it was a little hard for him to wait in line to get on our hay ride. They had huge trailers that pulled the class and all the parents around to various fields. The kids picked carrots, potatoes, corn, pumpkins, peppers, cabbage, etc. We would stop at various fields, pick, and then load up again. Jay loved it and enjoyed the changing scenery. He also enjoyed being with Mrs. Alaina and Mrs. Tiffee. We started at the front of the trailer near friends in the class, but ended up at the back with the teachers. The ride was long enough that Jay ate his lunch the last couple of stops so as soon as we returned to the beginning he was ready to play! They had a huge dirt pile to sled down, a sand pit, old fire engines to climb on, and so many other fun toys. Jay had a great time running around to everything! I did lose him once, and I was grateful for another mom who hollered, "Jay's mom, he went that way!" I was just trying to help a little kiddo get set on a sled down the dirt hill, turned away for a second and Jay was gone. Bless that woman for watching out for me. Several kids fell asleep on our way home from the farm and Jay crashed at home. Oma watched Hugh for me, so Jay and I got to enjoy the day together! Hugh was great for Oma and let all of his cuteness shine. He didn't even get sad when Oma pushed him away in the stroller and we went into the school! I was so grateful he was in good hands so I could spend the day with Jay!

Jay, very excited to see the tractor pulling us!

Massive carrot Jay found!

Jay picking a carrot

Potatoes!

Pumpkins, they were a little pokey and Jay was not excited about it after touching this one.

Corn

Fun on the machines!

Best toy, a wagon!

You can tell, he was on the move!

Enjoying the bus ride home.

Papa flew in late Thursday evening, so we got to enjoy him and Oma together on Friday. Plus, because it was a deadline week for Matthew, he got to take Friday off work as well! Papa, Matthew, and Jay raked up leaves and filled a couple bags in the morning, and then we headed to the park. The wind came up and the sun hid behind the clouds and it was chilly! Oma ended up hiding out in the car for the most part, she forgot to bring a coat from Arizona. The boys didn't even seem to mind the cold, so we adults withstood it as long as we could then called it quits and came home for lunch a little early. We had fun going out to dinner with Oma and Papa at Chile con Quesadilla, one of our favorite Mexican food places here. BYU had a big football game that evening so we played and then watched football once that started. I was so tired I went to bed at halftime. I did get woken up by the hoops and hollers at the end of the game when a big last second play scored a touchdown and we won! It's fun to hear that and I was grateful I didn't hear any little voices after that.

Papa and Jay working on leaves

Jay and Oma swinging!

Hugh driving the tractor

Hugh and Me

Hugh loves swinging!

Hugh loved reading books with Oma

Pre-nap story time

Me, Matthew, Jay, Papa, Oma, and Hugh!

Saturday was our Roxy day! She chose to be baptized and it was so fun to watch her on this special day. Roxy has spunk and energy that I love, and she is so kind and is quick to make friends. Papa and Katey gave the talks at her baptism and it was really neat to hear their testimonies and learn from them. The Spirit was truly there during the baptism and baptisms always remind me of the joy I feel as I follow Jesus! We spent the afternoon together with cousins playing at the park and enjoying being together on a beautiful fall day. Betty had a volleyball game and we all went to cheer her on! She had a big fan section this time. At the park right before dinner, there was a big party happening for a one or two year old boy. They had these huge cupcakes, the size of Costco muffins. When they opened those, Jay could not keep his eyes off and wandered very close to watch the crowd enjoy. The mom of the birthday boy noticed Jay's curiosity and offered him one. Jay was so excited! He ran to the table to get a fork and a plate to fully enjoy the experience of a massive cupcake. He shared with his cousins and enjoyed several bites himself. Jay has a way of looking so longingly, I think he could probably get anything he wanted from anyone. They offered him a drink too, but we turned them down and I tried to redirect his energy to different areas of the park. Jay, Hugh, and Hope were awesome turn takers climbing up the slide and going down. Spending time with family fills my soul, and that's what Saturday did for me. I felt full at the end of the day!

Jack, Lindsay, and Roxy

Hugh

Oma spinning Jay

Dad and Hugh

Tia and Jay

Jay thought this slide was very fun!

Jay loved teetering with Allen

Allen, Jay, Betty Jane, and Kylee all spinning together

Up one slide, down the other - Jay, Hope, and Hugh

Papa and Hugh

Uncle Jack teaching Hugh a fun trick!

Sunday we all got back together and enjoyed our Sunday dinner. I made a jello salad and a pumpkin cake. Both were a hit, and when I can make a GF dessert for a crowd and everyone loves it, that's a great win too. We had a great time visiting and playing and we got to take Oma and Papa home with us. The perk of living close to the airport is we always get the guests their first and last nights because no one else wants to do the airport run. Monday was another beautiful fall day and we spent the sunny morning hours playing pickleball! The boys did pretty well at the park, and Oma and Papa gave us enough players to have two games going! It was fun to play and great to be outside. We were sad to take Oma and Papa to the airport and say goodbye, but we had a great time with them. Naps happened for about ten minutes in the car, so when we got home I attempted nap time, but it was fruitless. Because I didn't get my personal time during naps, when Matthew got home, I ran downstairs and whipped out a hooded towel, I think I made it in 20 minutes! I was impressed with myself and took the towel to a last minute baby shower for a friend. She seemed excited and I was happy to give hers something special for her sweet baby.

Tuesday was a day I would qualify as not a great day. I took Jay to school and the van felt like it was driving funny. I had a tired appointment to get our pressure sensors fixed, and well, we didn't make our appointment. I had a flat, flat tire at the school. I pulled the van into a spot and walked home. I was going to meet a lady at my appointment to sell my BOB stroller, so I was able to throw Hugh in and get home without too much of a hassle. The lady came to my house and bought the stroller! I was sadder to see it go than I thought I'd be, but I think she'll love it! And, I have another very nice stroller so I'll be just fine. Right as I sold that, I got a call from the school that Jay had some diarrhea and I needed to come get him. We hopped back into the stroller and I walked back to the school. We played at the park and a guy came to change our tire. I had the wrong lug nuts for my spare, so he couldn't actually change it. I had to get a full on tow guy to come, so later we walked back to the school again. Matthew was able to come home an hour early so I could get to the tire shop and pick up the van. The tire was ruined, I drove too far on it, so they didn't have a replacement in stock but did put our spare on with the correct lug nuts. Wednesday, I got the new tire and all the sensors fixed so next time I have a flat I will actually know! There was a super kind woman at the park on Wednesday night where we played while we waited for the guys to work on the van. Her son has autism and she was so warm and kind and understanding of Jay. It was refreshing and helped me feel not so alone.

I didn't have the spare in the van, so it rode in the stroller back to the school.

Bye bye Van!

Thursday my friend Rachel Jones came up from Littleton. She brought this massive playdough set and the boys have been loving playing with it every day! It's been a blessing for me! It was great to visit with Rachel and share the joy of Hugh and Jay with her. The boys warmed right up and embraced her as they would any kind friend. She stayed with us for lunch and pushed the boys in the swing and taught them how to use all the cool playdough tools she brought.

Hugh, Rachel, and Jay

We had a Speech Evaluation for Jay this week with a new therapist. I am hopeful she'll be able to get us on the right path for Jay. He's still very behind in Speech and it seems like he might be realizing it more and more himself because he can't communicate the things he needs as well and people expect him to because he's almost five. I also think I got all the paperwork filled out to get him considered by the state to see if we can receive any funds for helping with his therapy bills. Woohoo! And, we're continuing to try to educate ourselves by reading our book about Autism.

Matthew made a goal around Conference time to start waking up at 5am to get his scripture study and a workout in before going to work. Jay has found this routine very exciting and usually also wakes up at 5. It's meant earlier mornings for all of us, and we're trying to adjust. A few days after Jay saw Dad reading his scriptures downstairs, I was on the couch and Jay runs up the stairs. He ran into the kitchen and grabbed several of his notebooks and said, "Jay read scriptures!" He continues to read his scriptures in the morning with Matthew, which is very sweet. I am hoping we will eventually move the wake up for Jay to a little later than 5, but for now we're doing what we can and we're all getting better study and exercise because of it. We also have a big motivation to go bed early!

Here are some fun photos of the boys, playing with things in new ways and learning every day!