Summer 2010

I know, I know. I am a horrible blogger. I really do have good intentions. I promise to try to do better. :) So, here's a rundown of the Bear's summer. The men unofficially kicked things off with a fishing trip on Cripple Creek. Houston had a ball and, of course, James and Dad did too.

It has been an unbelievably hot summer. We spent as much time in the water as possible!

Houston loved his water ball...

We had beach parties regularly....

We hung out in Grandmommy & Granddaddy's pool...

We had a BLAST at Hungry Mother with cousin Aly...
We even spent a day at Lake Gaston with our neighbors...
James spent as much time as possible working on our other home, the camper we bought last winter. I did something I'd always wanted to. I took a sock class! Yes, in the dead of summer I was knitting wool socks! I was very pleased with my finished project!

James and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on August 19th. We went to Charlotte, NC that weekend with some friends to see Zac Brown Band in concert. We had a great time!

On August 27th we celebrated Houston Rocker turning 2!!! Can you believe it? He's growing so fast!
Although we did have a good summer and made some great memories we also have a very sad one. We lost Granny Bear on June 9th. She would have been 92 on August 15th. She lived a long and happy life. We were blessed to have her as our Granny and she will always be in our hearts.

Easter

The Bear family had a very busy Easter weekend. It all started on Saturday with a fishing trip for James, Houston mowing the yard, and plenty of haircuts for me!

Of course there are no pictures of me-I was too busy cutting hair! I enjoyed it though! On Sunday we went to church. We went to Davis Memorial United Methodist in Atkins with Granny Bear. They were dedicating the cross that had just been put up in memory of James' grandfather, David Bear. It was such a nice service and the cross is absolutely beautiful. After the service we hopped in the car and drove back to Rural Retreat for Easter service at our church, Rural Retreat United Methodist. Our church was packed. It is always so good to see all of our friends.

After church we went to Jim & Betty's for lunch. Joanne drove up from Abingdon with the kids. Karl and Isaac "hid" Easter eggs for Houston and Josephine. Houston and Josie had a great time collecting the eggs.

Once all the eggs were in the basket Houston had to dump them all out and start all over again. They did this several times until Houston decided "game over" and started stomping them. He is all boy!!

Another trip to Bass Pro

I think everyone knows that one of our favorite things to do is go to Bass Pro Shops. Sad, I know. It does make James and Houston very happy. They were having special family activities this weekend. So, of course, we went. The main purpose of this trip was to have Houston's picture taken. I have not had formal pictures taken of him since he was 6 months old but I've had his picture made twice at Bass Pro Shops in the last 3 months!! :) He didn't get all of his nap out and wasn't very thrilled with the whole picture thing today. So, it wasn't his best shot but I still think it is pretty cute even if he is my kid!!

Calling Doctor Bear...

When Houston was 4 months old he caught RSV and wound up in the hospital. He was so pitiful. Poor little guy could barely breathe but he was still the happiest baby in the world. James and I loved the hospital where Houston was born. However, we were advised by our pediatrician to go to another hospital that had a special pediatric unit. We were not impressed with the hospital at all. When we were admitted the nurse brought in a pack of diapers that were a size too big. She said they didn't have his size but if I wanted to bring my own in that was fine. Sure, I'm going to leave my sick infant with you nuts to go to Target and buy diapers! I actually went off on one of the nurses before we left, but that is another story.

Anyway, before we were finally discharged momma got a little redneck and cleaned the place out. I figured Houston definitely didn't get the level of care that we were paying for so I would make up for it. The last of the wrong-sized diapers disappeared a few hours before we left and they had to bring us another pack. Strange... I collected every bottle of formula and Pedialyte that I could find. As I was scavenging I found a treasure-a stethoscope! Don't flip out. I'm not that bad. It wasn't an expensive one like the doctors use. It was a cheap one still in the box on the table below Houston's bed. Since RSV is so extremely contagious they have one for each child so they don't pass germs from kid to kid. No one ever used his. (My thought is who would want to? I wouldn't want to stick something in my ears after countless other people!) So, needless to say, it fit into the bag nicely beside the large diapers. :)

Jump to 1 year later. Houston found the stethoscope in the bathroom drawer and is having a blast with it. He puts it in his ears and walks around with it. It is one of his favorite toys. So who knows? His mom getting a little redneck when he was 4 months old may have very well set the stage for his future career path. Check back in 18 years!!

Big Boy Haircut

Houston had his first haircut several months ago. I have actually given him 3 haircuts so far. He was asleep for the first one and the next 2 I did in the bathtub. It was great. He was occupied and clean up was a breeze! However, I realized it was finally time for a big boy haircut complete with the trimmers. The hair on his neck was too out of control for his OCD mother. :) I was so proud of him. He sat so still and didn't mind it at all! Now if only his daddy could be that good...

Meeting Santa

We braved the snow Friday night to take Houston on his first trip to meet Santa. It was so much fun! First of all we NEVER get snow in Colonial Heights so that in itself was so exciting! It really made it feel like Christmas. James looks for any excuse he can to go to Bass Pro Shops so when he discovered Santa was there-jackpot!! It really was nice. They had a whole section set up for the kids with games, race cars, and train tracks. It was every little boy's dream. Especially ours. He did OK with Santa. He wasn't very impressed but he didn't through a fit so I consider that a success. He got to run around the store after it was over and check out all the fish and animals. He had such a great time. The people who worked there even commented about how his eyes just lit up at everything. We didn't stay that long because we were nervous about the weather. We wanted to get home before the roads got bad. Poor little guy cried when we left. I guess that's James' excuse for our next trip!

My Granddaddy

Twenty years ago today our family lost someone very special, my granddaddy, Donald Sayers. My memories of him are still so vivid it is hard for me to believe it has been that long. It doesn't seem possible. He was a wonderful man and loved his family so much. He loved taking pictures, nature, and especially watching birds. No bird that came into his yard ever left hungry! He also loved Bugs Bunny. My favorite memory of him is the two of us curled up on the couch together watching Bugs. I had my head laid on his chest and soaked up the wonderful smell of his Old Spice.

I think about all of the things that have happened since he's been gone. Our sweet Amber. He would be so proud of the beautiful young lady that she has become. We have been able to meet Tony. I can't describe how special that was for all of us. We now have our little Houston Rocker. After he was born it made me so happy to hear Vivian say he has Granddaddy's mouth. There have been huge changes in technology that would have fascinated him. He would have been so happy to see that you can now get more than three channels in Speedwell! And I can't even imagine what a kick he would get out of Grandma and her laptop computer! He would be cracking up at her hopping online and sending us emails.

Today we all remember this special man and what he meant to each of us. We all love and miss him as much as ever and that will never change. I have tears in my eyes but also a smile on my face because I know his memory is always with us and he will be in our hearts forever.

Happy Halloween

This was Houston's first year of trick or treating. He was dressed as his favorite cartoon character, Clifford the Big Red Dog. He loved his costume. I made it for him. I sewed a tail on his pants and ears on his jacket. I painted his nose black. He was so cute. Kaitlyn went with us. She was dressed as a Victorian princess. She was beautiful. We parked at James' parents' house and walked around Rural Retreat. We had a great time and the kids (big and small) got lots of candy!!!

I had it coming

Houston here. I know I had it coming so I took it. I wasn't very nice to cousin Aly when she wanted to play in my Peapod a while back. So, she decided to get even. Last weekend we got together for a playdate. When I tried to play with her on her blanket she let me have it. Her mommy tried to stop it but no luck. Everybody was laughing so hard at us and I'm not sure why. Anyway, I took it like a big boy. After it was over I think she felt bad. She didn't want any hard feelings so she gave my mommy lots of kisses to try and make up. Lesson learned. I promise to be nicer next time she wants to play with my stuff.

Pumpkin patch

We had such a great time at Reese's party we wanted to take Houston to Williams' pumpkin patch in Rural Retreat. The weather was so cold and windy but we went anyway. Houston loved the hayride and could probably have done that all day. Houston helped us find a pumpkin. He was having a blast until he nose-dived over a pumpkin and ended up face first in the dirt. We finally found the perfect pumpkin and took it home.

Hunting season

Yes, it is that time of year again. The time when my husband disappears every chance he gets. Why you ask? Hunting season. He would rather be in a tree than anywhere else in the world. But that is what bears do I guess. My dad has always been a big hunter and he has created a monster with my husband. It is safe to say it has become an obsession. I'm holding on to my little boy as long as I can because I know before long he is going to be sucked in as well. :) James killed his first deer of the season on October 19. It was a doe and he killed it with his bow. Daddy and son look so proud!

Yard work

Our yard has been in need of some landscaping. Honestly, we have done very little to the outside since we moved in. James has started working on the flower beds and I am quite proud of him. He has gotten loads of river rock from Vulcan's Puddledock Sand and Gravel that is a few miles down the road. He is putting the rock in the two flower beds in front of the house. It gives the place some color and looks really good. Houston was very happy to give his dad a helping hand.

Reese's Birthday Party

On Saturday we went to Reese's 2nd birthday party. It was so nice. We met at Sinkland Farms in Christiansburg. They had lots of things for the kids to do. Houston tried the "Toddler Maze" but wasn't very impressed. He didn't understand why all these kids were running around the bales of hay. He would much rather pick the hay out piece by piece!After the maze we went for a hayride. Houston really enjoyed that. He loved the tractor. Of course, he loves anything with a motor and wheels! He is all boy! He also proved that when he decided to give Aly a lesson on pumpkins. He was glad to share all of his knowledge with her and she listened to every word!

Even with his vast knowledge of pumpkins Houston had a hard time deciding which one he wanted! He tried his best to get them both!

After Houston finally picked the perfect pumpkin we went back to the Pattison's for a cookout. Houston had a great time playing with all of Reese's toys. He did take a break from his play time to mow the yard for them! How sweet!

Paw Paw Houston??

I do not know what Houston was doing last night but he was cracking us up! He had on his pj's but was in no way ready for bed. He finished his bottle and was carrying it around in his teeth. Then, he must have been channeling his inner "old man" because he leaned back and started patting his belly. We were in the floor laughing at him. He is really just too much sometimes!

VA Beach

James took Houston and I on our first trip to Virginia Beach yesterday. We went to visit the Lester's. Jon and Shellee's son, Brock, turned 2 in June. He is too cute. Their backyard is a little boy's paradise! Houston had a blast. Jon built a MASSIVE sandbox for Brock. (I can't remember how many tons of sand went into this thing!) Brock also has the coolest toys which he was happy to share with Houston. Houston enjoyed riding the 4 wheeler. However, when we got him on the Cat dump truck he was in love! He rode all over the yard and did not want to get off of it! When I did finally pull him off he cried! I guess we know what someone might get for Christmas! We had a great time and hopefully can go back to visit again soon.

Finger Foods

It is no secret that Houston is a great eater. He loves anything I put in front of him. He also loves feeding himself. Annie loves it too as he always shares. He will stop about halfway through to drop her something on the floor. She isn't picky either. She will eat peas as well as Cheerios. Too cute! One thing he doesn't like is plates. He sees no use for them and immediately dumps whatever is on it off. Oh well, we'll work on manners later...

These boots are made for walkin'

Mom bought Houston these cowboy boots. I tried them on him to see if they fit. I wasn't sure that he would like them as he is addicted to the Nikes he got from Jake & Jill for his birthday. He made it very clear what he thought of them. When I tried to take them off he threw a fit! That was yesterday. This morning after breakfast here he came sock in one hand, boot in the other. They are super stylish with his onesie! His bowlegged John Wayne walk makes this priceless! How many people can pull this look off?

Our new backpack

Sadly, Houston has outgrown his Jeep carrier. We loved that carrier so much. We have toted him everywhere in that thing from the time he was a newborn. We had to move up to a backpack carrier for him. He loves it as you can see. He can see everything from his great view and when he gets bored he can pull your hair!!!

On our walk this morning we saw a bear!!! Well, let me clarify. James and my Dad saw the bear. Mom and I just saw the shadow as it was darting into the woods. It was small, only about 100 pounds, which isn't much bigger than our black lab, Jett. We're sure momma bear was very close by but we didn't get to see her. (That was probably a good thing!) So I don't have a picture of our bear to post but I did get one of this salamander! That's almost as cool, right???

Ode to Cheerios

(Green Eggs & Ham Style)

By Houston Rocker Bear

I do I do love Cheerios

From the top of my head to the tips of my toes

I will eat them everyday

Nobody better get in my way

I will eat them when I get up

I will sometimes share them with my pup

If mommy did not put them up on that shelf

I would go get them by myself

I will eat them in a chair

Or off the floor I do not care

I will eat them day or night

Take them away and we will fight

I do I do love Cheerios

And always will I suppose

All work and no play...

You know what? He asked for it. Begged actually. So I let him have the Swiffer duster. It made him happy. He played with that thing for over an hour. Is that so wrong? I consider it a win-win situation. He was happy playing and I'm happy there's no longer any dust in the vent at the bottom of the fridge. Who has time to clean that thing anyway? Seriously?