Garrett 3y 9mo

Garrett has had a busy month. His room got completely rearranged. His brother moved into his room. He gave up his car bed for a "big boy" bed with the expectation that one day he will get the top bunk. In all of this he has adjusted like a star. He seems to be enjoying his brother even more now that they are sharing a room. Additionally, he is becoming quite the little bowler.

Yeah, I've seen the pictures of my daddy at this age, and you could say I look a little like him.

Earthquake!? No just my little brother trying to push me over...

I will fly my Republic Gunship and Mommy you make Princess Leia talk to them.

Hey, Daddy this is like when the clone troopers use their ascension cables?





One of my favorite spots to guard: the book rack before reading time to make sure I get the prime picks.

Bryce 19 months

Bryce continues to grow up before our eyes. He has moved into the big boy room with Garrett. Continues to amaze us with his vocabulary and recall. What he learns from his big brother or just picks up on is quite extraordinary as well. The first night that he slept in his new bed, he used every excuse to get out of bed that Garrett had been working on for the last year and a half: "hungee, gotta go potty, drink." He also learned how to lay his head down and smile from his pillow and then get up and play really, really quietly during nap time, only for his parents to find his bed covered in toys when nap time was over. Check out some of his other stuff.


Watch out if you leave the bathroom door open. I may just decide to climb up into the sink and brush my teeth with your toothbrush!

I'm learning how to play on the computer too.


What do I do with two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?

Betcha Michael Jordan can't make a jumpshot with his feet in this yellow box.

Silly is as silly was.



I didn't realize I had a chair so perfectly conformed to me.

I'm just about to start taking everything out and spreading it around everywhere.

Garrett & Bryce's Room

With the expected arrival of Griffin coming soon, we got a jump start on the transition. Garrett and Bryce are now sharing a room together, so a redecoration and reorganization were in order. The whole process went remarkably well with Garrett loving his new bed and had no problem giving up his formerly beloved car bed for the "big boy" bed. Bryce is learning to sleep outside the confines of his old crib and has enjoyed the access to more grown up toys on a regular basis.

I'm ready Mommy and Daddy to give my car bed to my brother...I can still play on it though, right?

Did you see that I have a new bed, I must be getting older!




I can only imagine...but this is a pretty cool bed, I think I could sleep on this one for the next oh, say 18 years...

Amgen Tour of California- Finish in Modesto

We had the privilege of being able to see the finish of one of the legs of the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race. We braved the wind and rain, which means that Garrett, Bryce, and Noah danced, splashed, and basically rolled in the puddles while waiting for the group to arrive. The clue that the bicycles were coming was the helicopter flying over the city providing aerial TV coverage on the Versus network. Can you see Lance Armstrong in the group of cyclists?

Josh (far right) was wowed by how fast the cyclists came into downtown AND how wet we were...

We innocently sat there and planned all the puddles we would splash in and the order in which we would do them.

Did you think that cyclists could be loud?

Valentine's Day

We got out for a nice dinner just the two of us, well technically Griffin was along for the ride too, but he wasn't really interrupting our conversation or making any messes. Sure was nice to have Valentine's Day off for a change. We also took the kids swimming and had a heart-shaped pancake breakfast.

Daddy and I putting our best faces on for this "early" morning celebration. Everyone needs some time to wake up, right?

Brett's Birthday and Bowling Celebration

We went bowling as a family with Josh and Sam and their two kids Noah and Brianna. Darth Vader blew himself up as a helium balloon and joined us at the alley to mark our territory. We enjoyed pizza, soda, and cupcakes while bowling in all sorts of different combinations. Garrett bowled a legitimate strike (no bumper aids), but some of our scores were assisted by the bumpers at times. Brett has learned to balance Bryce in his left arm as he bowls with his right. Somehow his score gets worse when he isn't carrying Bryce and Bryce wouldn't have it any other way.


Daddy, we brought Darth Vader to your party to say Happy Birthday!

Observe the nice picture before we smeared these delicious cupcakes all over our faces.

Anybody want a chocolate kiss?

Don't need help with the ball anymore, but I'll take the bumpers.


Byrce, guess what, you're not going to the baby much longer. You get to be a big brother like me.

No that is not a bowling ball under Mommy's shirt, that is our new brother.

Josh gave us all instructions on how not to cross the foul line.

Bryce says that Daddy's successful night of bowling (130) was all due to his help and had nothing to do with the bumpers on the lane.

The safe slide after the forceful release prevents me from going over the line.

Our Baby 27wks 5days in utero

We had fun getting to see our second 3D Ultrasound of our baby boy at 27weeks and 5days in utero. What an amazing opportunity to peek at what God is knitting together in Joy's womb. We have attached a 2D and a 3D image. He certainly put on a show at the beginning, playing peek-a-boo with one hand, seemingly blowing us kisses, and proving once again that he is in fact a boy. Brett was pointing out our new baby's eyes, nose, mouth, hands, and legs to Garrett and Bryce so that they can understand more about their little brother. And now the drum roll please...yes it is time to tell you all our new boys name: Griffin Andrew. All of you can breathe a sigh of relief as Anakin and Plo Koon didn't make the final cut, much to our boys disappointment.

February 2009

Happy Valentines Day! Welcome to our month in review for February, the month of LOVE. We had fun doing lots of Valentine's day crafts and activities related to the love we have for eachother, and the love God has for us. We also had a fun time celebrating Brett (whom we also love) and his Birthday, and getting to see our new baby whom we already love even though we still haven't met him out of utero. Come check out all our pictures.