Bryce Bunch: Where Have I Been???

Well I have taken a blogging break and have decided I will try to remember some of the fun things that have happened in our family since Halloween.

November---

We were able to go to Snowflake for Thanksgiving. It was just my family this year. The kids had a blast hanging out playing in the dirt and chasing Smooch around. We had a wonderful dinner with plenty of leftovers. We then loaded up poor Jill and Lil and went for a mule ride around the block.

We stopped at a neighbor of my parents and loaded them all up with us. We had quite the load and Jill and Lil were amazing. We then came back put the saddles on the mules and rode them up and down the road. I will admit I have not been on a horse in who knows how long and when I got up on Jill I was terrified. She went over on the side of the shop and my dad had to come rescue me. My parents and sisters all had a good laugh at me trying to tell this big beast where to go. We finally made it to the end of the road and back. I was scared the whole time. Good times were had by all.

December---

When we came home from Pima first part of December we brought the Christmas tree back so the boys could decorate it. Boy were they excited. It was pretty for a few days then half the lights decided they didn't want to work even though the tree was only 2 years old. Oh well the boys still loved all the decorations. The older boys went back to Pima a few days before Christmas with Cindy and Allison and I had the tree down and in the dumpster before Chad and I left for Pima. I was done with the ugly, broken tree. But I found a new one for next year so all is good. (hopefully)

The boys all sat on Santa's lap over here at Dana Park. We went with Cyndi and Todd and the kids all did good. They gave each child a candy cane, a coloring book and some reindeer food to put out for Santa and his reindeer. It was a fun night.

Carson got to go shopping for Christmas gifts at his school store this year. All by himself. He was so excited. I had to send in money and they helped him shop, gave him bags to wrap them in and he was set to go. He came home from school that day and was so excited to wrap them for all of us. He truly is a sweetheart and thinks of others all the time.

On the 20th of December there was garden train show going on in the valley. We decided to go check it out. This man has a huge back yard that is full of model train track. His shop is full of engines and freight cars. The boys were all in heaven and thought it was the coolest thing. He was going to expand his track even more. How fun would that be to go out and drive trains all day in the backyard. Some of the trains had more than 50 cars at a time. He had about 5-7 trains going at a time. It was amazing.

We were in Pima this year for Christmas. It was wild and fun all wrapped up together. Aren't the boys so handsome all dressed up in there Sunday best.

Christmas eve we ate at Uncle Jim and Aunt Brenda's Mexican fiesta. That food is the best...Red chili, tamales, taquitos, and rice. We had a special visitor. Santa showed up and a few of my kids were in tears. They don't like Santa. But being the mean mom that I am grabbed them and made them sit on his lap. Everybody needs a picture of them crying on Santa's lap. I have my fair share and I was like 10.

Where is Parker you might ask? Parker was holding on with dear life to Chad and Chad would not let me have him. That's why there is not a picture of him. Good thing I got one of him on his lap in Gilbert.

We then went over to the stable and participated in the live nativity that the Alder's put on every year. Carson was a wise man who traveled afar. I couldn't get the twins to dress up. Oh well maybe next time.

The kids had a fun time and it was fun watching them come down the hall Christmas morning.

They all got trains, remote control cars, a batman thingy, and plenty of hot wheels.

We also had good company the whole time we were there. The kids love going outside and just running around and I love not having to worry about them. They were definitely worn out each night. This is how Parker fell asleep one night.

They can't get out and run in Gilbert unless I go down and watch them. It is fun to have cousins to play with and have fun with.

New Pictures---

I had my friend take the boys pictures for me. They turned out awesome. I love them. The one of the twins crack me up because this is my life everyday. Someone is always being picked on.

January---

We started January off with Carson losing his 1st tooth. He came home from school and worked on it all by himself. He was sitting by the couch and I was at the table. He came over and said, "mom I have a loose tooth." I just thought it was a little bit loose but when I felt it, it was really loose. I told him to pull it out. He reached in grabbed a hold and pulled it out. It was disgusting. I could hear the roots break loose and he handed it to me. I can remember laying across my dad's lap and him having to pull all my teeth. He has since lost a second one and he pulled that one all by himself also.

We put Carson in soccer. It is his first year playing and he actually does pretty good. His first soccer game happened to be on his 6th birthday.

So we were off to soccer and then straight to Red Robin to eat for the birthday boy. Grandma and Grandpa Bryce came down to watch and Aunt Mame and Chelsie came also. He had a good time and we all enjoyed the great food and company. He got a new legos police headquarters, a DS, books, nerf gun, and clothes. Thanks for all the gifts and phone calls, it really made his day.

We partied so hard Gunner could not make it and almost fell out of the high chair. Good thing Grandpa has quick reactions and was able to catch him before he fell.

He also wanted to decorate his birthday cake by himself. It was beautiful and full of sprinkles of every color.

We have spent many afternoons at the park with friends. The kids play, the adults socialize and fun is had by all.

We also took a trip to Snowflake to surprise my dad for his birthday. It didn't exactly work because he got sick and couldn't come eat at La Casita with us. The rest of us went without him and went back to the house for cake and ice cream. He got to feeling better a few days later and took me and the boys out to the new windmills they put up on the way to Holbrook. We went to the office and he asked if we could drive up to them. A guy escorted us right up to where they were. Those things are huge.

February---

Peyton and Parker were asked to go to there room and not come out till the room was clean. A while later Parker comes in the living room and I tell him to go back and clean. He then informs me Peyton is not helping cuz he fell asleep. This kid can sleep anywhere.

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month the Alder cousins that are here in the valley get together and pick a restaurant to go out to eat and enjoy each others company. Dad gets left home with the boys so mom can go hang out. This is how hard babysitting is here. Give em a bowl of popcorn with a movie and they are all happy. Chad is really good with the boys and they love having him stay with them.

Us girls have a blast. We just eat and laugh and laugh at all the fun memories we used to have living down the road from each other. This month was on Cassi's birthday. Happy Birthday Cassi!!

Carson also had his first music program at school the Friday before Valentines. They sang a few songs about Valentines for us. It was cute.

March---

We tried our hand at swimming the other day with the kids. The main pool here at the apartments is heated so we thought no big deal. The weather was nice let's go. We got over there and the water was freezing. I asked the maintenance man if it was heated year round and he said it usually is but the heater went out the other day. Bummer!! But we still had fun swimming in the hot tub with dad.