Emma and Bryce had lots of fun this year with various Halloween activities. As already mentioned in the previous post, we went to the pumpkin patch (Emma still says in her prayer "We thank thee for going to the pumpkin patch"). We also went to the Ward Halloween Party and Trunk or Treat. Emma dressed up as Little Bo Peep, and Bryce was her lost sheep. After going home and allowing Emma to change costumes (tell me about it), I went back with her to the Elder's Quorum Party, where we posed with the Grim Reaper for bottom photo, and went on a "pumpkin hunt" -- kind of like an Easter egg hunt.

In addition to that, Emma had a Costume Party at her pre-school class. At the end of class, the kids marched in a parade, and got to sign some songs for senior citizens and the kids parents at the Community Center (co-located at her pre-school).

It was a fun Halloween.

Yesterday was Bryce's 1st birthday. As with Emma on her 1st birthday, we gave Bryce his first taste of cake and ice cream. At first he was a little stand-offish about the new food (he is already showing signs of being a very picky eater like his dad), but once those sugar taste buds started to dance, he was all over it.

After dessert we had him open his presents. As was to be expected, Emma ended up opening many of the presents: a cool little toy truck from Grandma Shirley, several fun books from Grandma Everett, and a big-wheel sized dump truck from Mom and Dad. Emma had lots of fun pushing Bryce around in the dump truck. It also doubles as a walker, and Bryce likes to push it around as well.

Here are some recent photos of Emma and Bryce. These days they are quite a handful: Emma is very busy, seldom content with just doing one thing for a while. First she wants to do finger painting. Then she wants to read books with one of us. Then she wants to do puzzles. Then she wants to eat a snack. It's enough to wear us out each day.

Meanwhile, Bryce has learned to crawl, and is always getting into the wrong things. I'm just curious: why do kids 7 months old prefer things like electric cords, remote controls, and his sister's toys (always inciting Emma), when we place perfectly benign toys in front of him. I don't know, maybe there's a market for toys that appear dangerous.

At night before bed, we can barely have them in the tub together anymore because Bryce is a wildman. We'll set him down on his bottom, but he'll quickly "jump" forward, doing a bellyflop halfway down the tub. Once on all fours, he'll splash and splash, and kick and kick. He also manages to crawl around the tub in a way hazardous to his health; he keeps banging his head against the walls. But he never screams, and completely loves the bath. It's just when Emma is in there with him that problems arise.

The last time we updated the website, Bryce had just been born. He is now almost 6 months old. He and Emma are both keeping us busy, so busy in fact that we have neglected our website.


Bryce rolls all over the place now. You can put him down to play and a few moments later look down and he is out of sight. Unfortunately, he can only roll one direction and so although he manages to twist around corners, he often gets stuck against pieces of furniture or the wall. He is starting to sit up on his own but still face plants or tips to the side sometimes. The developmental milestone that we are really anxious for him to achieve is sleeping for more than a few hours in a row. One thing at a time I guess.


Emma has been, for the most part, helpful during the transition phase of no longer being the only child. Emma has really developed her vocabulary and can communicate most things to us; even if we don’t understand everything she’s saying immediately. Once we do, we usually realize that she was indeed saying the right words. Emma is a master puzzle solver now. She quickly completes all the 24 piece puzzles we give her completely on her own. After a few times on the same puzzle, she can do them very fast. She also really likes to play dress up and almost always refuses to wear anything but “beautiful dresses” each day.


Becky has returned to work at Lucille Packard Hospital as of the New Year. She generally works 2 weekends a month, and while it’s definitely a bit stressful during those weekends, we figure (hope) things will run a little smoother as time goes on.


Until next time---enjoy the pictures.