Bryce at Seaside, December 22, 2009

A New Language

So I see this tatoo on Bryce's arm....but he told me it WASN'T a tatoo. It was his new language. Something called "tionel" or Lionel or Leona? I can't remember now. But it apparently was a new alphabet and looked vaguely like Chinese. And he can translate it.

And I thought it was enough that he was learning to read English ...now he's created a new language. Or at maybe he's just wanting to be able to communicate in code.

November 2009

Aunt Jan visited Kingston for the weekend and got some photos of the family. Here are a few taken when it wasn't raining (which was only for about 5 minutes).

Turning 10

Bryce is a double-digit kid now. Ten years old. He made this wall-hanging with Aunt Bev when he visited Grandma this summer. But the part he was most excited about was the label that he designed. He did not put "Mom and Dad" because he told Aunt Bev "It has to say their NAMES."

First day of public school

The older kids get on the bus and hour and 20 minutes before Bryce does! The bus pulled up this morning and the kids made a step toward the highway (the bus had the stop sign out and the red flashers going) and a car raced paced without braking at all. There was silence for a minute and then the bus driver opened her window and said to the kids, “THIS is why you wait for ME to cross you...you don’t cross before I signal you!!” I was in tears...ok, I was in tears before that, but that just set me off. Terrifying to see your children’s lives pass before your eyes.



Bryce’s bus was 15 minutes late, which caused some anxiety. I tried to lean down and give a kiss before he got on and he leaned away, saying, “Mmmmooommm!!!” The bus driver is laughing hysterically and told Bryce as he got on the bus, “You HAVE to say goodbye!!”



I know I wasn’t supposed to kiss...I just forgot.

Scout Mission

Bryce, Sarah, Savanah, Nathanial, Brent and Colin.

A commando mission in my backyard. The neighborhood is safe once more, thanks to their self-sacrificing bravery and vigilence.

Bryce's eye patch

Latest word from the eye doctor is that Bryce and Sarah need to wear an eye patch for 30-45 minutes a day on their good eye, to make the bad eye work harder. Here is the makeshift patch until we get the real one.

A boy and his pole!

Spinning Stars Wall Hanging and the Hunter's Mask

Bryce and Aunt Bev had some fun sewing! Aunt Bev coached and Bryce sewed, cut and assembled a wall hanging called Spinning Stars!
Bryce also designed the label for the wall hanging and here he is floating the label in water to get the excess ink off the fabric.

Here is the quilt label Bryce designed---he added gold chain, red crepe paper, dandelions and fireworks. He chose all the words, colors, fonts and spacing!Aunt Bev only showed him where the buttons were on the photo program to get him the design features he wanted to include.

Perhaps his real passion came out when he designed his "Hunter's Mask" which is a complicated design of many pieces of scrap fabric he found in the scrap tote.

Quilting with Aunt Beverly

Bryce may not be embracing the concept of quilting his own quilt, but he does seem to enjoy the rotary cutter...after all, it is sort of weapon-like. It's sharp, you hold it in your hand and you don't point it at anybody as Aunt Bev has carefully instructed Bryce!

Shopping with Aunt Bev for school clothes

Patti and Alan gave Aunt Bev a list of what school clothes Sarah and Bryce need for this fall and Bev took that list very seriously. Bryce, however, did not take it QUITE so seriously! Here he is at K Mart and Old Navy.

Slip and slide

The temperature this weekend is supposed to reach 100. It is estimated to be one of the hottest on record. What better way to celebrate summer than a "slip and slide".

Bryce and Colin listening to music

Colin Borek and Bryce are sharing ear buds as they listen to an IPOD and play the guitar parts.

Bryce at Pendleton

Here is Bryce getting behind the block in anticipation of his race. I got to time two mornings, so he raced right next to me. Very thrilling for mom and dad! Bryce had a GREAT meet. 2nd in the 50 back (dropped....drum roll....12 seconds!!!!), established time in the 200 IM, 3rd place 50 Breast (dropped 4 seconds), 1st in 100 Fly (and established a time), 1st in 50 Free (dropped....drumroll...almost 9 seconds!), 1st in 100 Breast (and established a time), 3rd in 50 Fly (dropped...drumroll...10 seconds!!!), 1st in 100 back (dropped 2 sec).

The woman behind Bryce in our lovely, NAZI NICOLE...she coaches the bronze and the adults! She's really great and makes us laugh.

Bryce and his father

Bryce's Dragon Quilt

Bryce finally (!!) got his Dragon Quilt that Aunt Bev has been working on for sometime. It turned out wonderful. And despite a lot of teasing from various family members who said they want it on THEIR bed, Bryce was cheerful and very pleased to sit on his quilt draped over a chair like a Chinese emperor's chair.

Bryce and the Lego chess set.

This is the Lego chess set that Grandma gave Bryce down at Oceanside, OR for Christmas 2007. He loved it and was very proud of it and would not let it out of his sight. Lately he's been rearranging some of the bits and pieces. I can't remember if Patti told me this was a battle seen or a factory seen. Anyway, Patti loved how he made the figure carrying something heavy lean back just like he would in real life. That kid has an eye for detail.

Dragon Quilt-top

Bryce stopped by this past week at Aunt Bev's and had some photos taken of him with his Dragon Quilt top.

Bryce chose the Dragon fabric (which is called Road to Shanghai fabric line) and Aunt Bev made a quilt around that fabric.

Aunt Bev asked Bryce to come by and have some photos taken so that when the quilt top is finished---the photos can be printed off and put on the outside of the box that is mailed to him. When he sees these photos-- he will then KNOW that he is FINALLY getting his Dragon quilt.

I have also given him instructions that when he sees these photos on the postal box---he is to make sure that there are at least TWO cameras facing him and ready to go BEFORE he opens the box!!!























It was mentioned by Uncle Don that it was a mighty pretty quilt and it MIGHT not make it out of the house.... And the subject came up that it was a rather large quilt and would fit nicely on Patti and Alan's bed...

This photo is Bryce's reaction to these statements! I think he is laying claim to it!

A laugh is good for your health

I think Bryce will always be healthy. He loves to laugh and gets his whole body into the action.

Brothers

These boys are such a hoot. They're always laughing...and good friends as well as brothers.

Bryce standing quietly (for once!)

Somehow he managed to stand quietly for 4 photos.
This was one of them.

The REAL reason for the helmet???

Is this the real reason for making the helmet, or is it "Crazy Hair and Hat Night!!!?

Iron Man A.K.A. Bryce, the inventor

Made completely with aluminum foil and scotch tape, it can protect this fierce warrior from laser beams, sword blows and mom's yells!

Bryce wins 2nd place at Awana Grand Prix

This is my car and my trophy. I came in 2nd place in the Grand Prix. I raced against my friend, Marshall. He won one, I won one, we tied one, and then he won in the last race by 1 milisecond. Sigh.....

My car....my mom helped me with it. I chose the design from the instructions that came with the block of wood. My mom helped me with the cutting and I did a lot of the sanding. My mom helped me with the light design...she thought it could be God. And so, I wasn't sure what to call it. Then my dad came up with "The Cyclops!" and I liked it! My mom suggested two gold strips and we used the sander to get it really smooth. I got to help with my sister's and my car. My mom showed me how to use it. That's Awana and that's Mom and Dad!!

Lucy and Bryce communicating

A Moment of "Eye communication"!

Bryce doing curls in dryland

A little sweat....a little burn....and the big reward? 1600 yards freestyle in the pool, NOW!!!

Chef Bryce

Bryce has been asking me for help in the kitchen more and more. Recently, he discovered he liked omelettes. I make them with sauteed ham, sweet peppers, cheddar cheese...

So, bit by bit, Bryce has been practicing how to make them himself. This is his first ALL BY HIMSELF omelette. I think I can say he doesn't need his mother anymore! He mixed the egg, added the cheese, and did the flip...completely by himself. What a chef!

The Benefits of a Long Range Goal!

This was a new toy that Bryce bought when down in Oregon this month and the part that impressed me about it----he saved considerable amount of money anticipating buying this!
(okay, to be honest-I don't have a clue what it is---some kind of new tech toy that allows games and also allows him to write on it and communicate with others who have a similar one and Sarah also got one at the same time so I think he is writing to Sarah at the time of this photo.)

Bryce watching movie with Dad

So, Bryce and Dad are watching the movie on Friday night. It would seem that "Memoirs of a Geisha" is not the stimulating action/diaster film which would typically engage these two!!