A Peek at Our Paradise

What About Bob and Melissa?

2009-12-07T19:42:00.000-06:00

So once again I have fallen behind. The goal I have set for this blog has never been acheived, so it's time to set a new one. I think I will try to post new entries once a month. We shall see how that goes!

As promised in the last entry...no kid talk this time. Bob finished his 11 month school in June and has had an easy time transitioning to staff work. Although he liked hanging with the Army guys, he was ready to be back with his own kind. He has made a few friends at work and has made a good decision to avoid all communting traffic by carpooling and leaving earlier to work out at the gym. He coached Erica's soccer team again this Fall and loved it. He is much better with other people's five year old monsters than I am. Now that soccer is over he is finding more time to be involved in our church. The indoor helicopter he received for Christmas last year has broken and he is hoping for a new one! I guess it helps fill the gap left by the absence of real flying. I just don't appreciate him trying to land the thing on my head (could you imagine it stuck in my hair?), the ceiling fan, the cutting board (while in use), or the middle of the table right before dinner. At least it makes him smile.

As for me...Bob gave me the best birthday present ever this year. On 29 Sep(not my actual birthday) he surprised me with tickets to the U2 concert in Maryland. I couldn't believe it. U2 was forced onto me when I was in the sixth grade by my older brother (thanks Kevin!). It is hard to believe they have stuck it out for 3 decades now. The concert was awesome and I highly recommend it to everyone. What a classy group of men and they put on an exceptional show! Probably the highlight of the year for me! I am busy as usual with the caring and feeding of children but have managed to help coach Rachel's softball team and Rebecca's soccer team. I Also started going to yoga (should have started this exercise long ago) and I help with kindergarten PE a few times a month. Now that is a hoot! The school asked me to help with Art, computer and library too but I had to decline. I never liked school except for PE so I would be a terrible assistant in those classes. If memory serves me correctly, I never received any academic awards but I did received the best PE student for my grade every single year I was in school.

Other things I have been up to include painting our house in VA. Flat paint in the kitchen is never a good idea so that had to be replaced as well as the rest of the downstairs. I spent many hours on the yard this Summer. Kinda goes with the PE theme and that I love to be outside (when its not cold.) I took on a new task this Fall at the kids school and its not one I am sure I will repeat. I was the assistant director of Erica and Rachel's Christmas play. Dealing with my own four kids can be a challenge, but 22 other monsters can be miserable. In the end they put on a fabulous show so I guess I might do it again next year. The last big thing Bob and I have been working on since arriving in VA was hiring a contractor to finish our basement. That was an OK process. I will have to evaluate again once construction starts in Jan 2010 and ends six (yeah, right)weeks later. It will be nice to have the new space.

2010 brings more sports and coaching opportunities. A trip to Hawaii for me in February! Another trip to the Hemmingsen's in NC and more caring and feeding of children!
So as you can see we are busy as usual. I think I am addicted to pain. Bob seems to think so. I just tell him you can't be the best PE student just sitting around!!!

Catching Up Again

2009-09-22T20:58:00.000-05:00

A few months back when I started this blog I was going to update my postings once a week and write about more topics than just my cute kids...neither one of those things has happened. Oh well! I guess if the kids take up all my time I have no time to do other things, which includes updating this blog. I wouldn't have it any other way! This post is an update on the kids with a promise that the next post will only mention Bob and I.

ALL ABOUT NEAVE
Neave had a great Summer with her highlight being her trip to Colorado. She loved roaming around outside and her many mornings eating breakfast in Grandma's bed and evenings eating ice cream with Grandpa. She loves to watch horses and her most favorite thing to do is go the the park. She learned to jump in the pool all by her own self. She is a feisty two year old who talks alot, loves Dora and Diego, makes her opinion known, and has started hitting back (all qualities that will come in handy when used correctly).
She is trying to learn to scooter but we only have two so she hardly ever gets a turn. I thought she would miss the older three when they went back to school but this is what she said when we returned home from the first school run, "HAHA the girls are at school..the scooters are mine!"

ALL ABOUT RACHEL
Rachel has entered her different stage of sisterhood. Having three sisters makes it difficult to stand out. So...she has cut off all her hair (OK, to her shoulders) and has developed a love of softball. She is a great hitter and loves to play catch. She had a great time horsebacking riding in Colorado over the Summer. She has adjusted well to our new home and her new school. Rachel has a great ability to adapt. Its awesome. She is still a wonderful big sister to Neave. She loves Star Wars movies and sleeping til 10:00.

ALL ABOUT REBECCA
Rebecca continues to be a great second in command. Always helpful, she is learning to be a great organizer. She loves to plan events and invite people over. She has traded her swim hat in for competitive soccer this Fall. She loved hanging out with Grandma this Summer as those two were joined at the hip. She still loves the water and tried water skiing in Arkansas over Fourth of July. She still loves to read and loves school, just the academic part. She has a harder time adjusting to all of our moves but we are confident she will find a few friends now that school has started. She also enjoyed visiting Aunt Jeni's ship, the USS Comfort, after Aunt Jeni returned home from her humanitarian mission.

ALL ABOUT ERICA
Erica still talks loud and runs full throttle until placed in bed in the evening. She too had a great time in Colorado this Summer. She has become a fantastic bike rider and swimmer. She is still a fashion expert. She has come up with some great Summer outfits, to include different colored crocs (check out one of her best outfits in the photo show below). Her Summer highlights are her birthday with many family members in Virginia, getting a Barbie jeep for her birthday, and her week long visit to North Carolina where she met up with her best friend, Mitchell. Erica didn't care where we moved as long as she got a Barbie jeep and she got to play with Mitchell. How easy was that! Erica is a great kid who wears every emotion on her face. No hiding her moods.

Good Bye Hank

2009-09-10T13:14:00.010-05:00

Hank

Sep 98 to Sep 09

On September 9th, 2009 our beloved Hanky passed away after a very short fight against liver cancer. Hank came to us from the streets of Enid, Oklahoma. Hank lived a rags to riches kind of life as he was in terrible shape when we found him. After recovering from life on the streets Hank lived a fine 11 years with us and he never took one minute for granted. Hank was an AF brat and lived in many places that included Oklahoma, North Carolina, England, Kansas and Virginia. Not many dogs can say they have been world travelers. A few of Hanks favorite memories were chasing pheasants with many dog friends in Enid, OK, learning to live with an electric fence in Goldsboro, NC, his short stay in the mountains of Colorado (also know as Doggie Disneyland), and chasing pint sized deer at Lynford Hall in the UK.

Hank's three most favorite things were rolling in the nastiest, stinkiest things he could find, playing resident princess to four little girls and morning runs with Melissa!

Hank, a peaceful and gentle soul, was completely satisfied by just hanging out with humans (even if they were in the bathroom)!

Hank will be missed by all who knew him, especially Melissa and his lifelong buddy, Rusty and we are relieved his suffering was short lived! Thanks Hank for sharing your goofy smile and keeping us company for 11 years!

FROM FRIEND TO FRIEND

You've giving me a special gift,

So sorrowfully endowed,

And through these last few cherished days,

Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing

When your best friend is in pain,

And understanding earthly acts

Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,

Beyond, into your soul,

I see in you the magic, that will

Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,

Is why I look to you today,

To do this thing that must be done,

For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,

And chose you as my friend,

And why I've loved you all these years...

My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,

You're giving means to me,

It gives me back the strength I've lost,

And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,

For that is what friends do.

And know that what you do is right,

For I believe it too.

So one last time I breathe your scent,

And through your hand I fell,

The courage that's within you,

To grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,

Dear friend, and let me run,

Once more a strong and steady dog,

My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,

For I won't be far away,

Forever here, within your heart,

And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,

Your ever faithful friend,

And in your memories I'll run,

...a young dog once again.

(Karen Clouston)

Happy Birthday Neave!!!

2009-06-23T22:31:00.015-05:00

Our baby turned 2 on 22 June. Poor Bob has yet to be with Neave on any of her birthdays. We had a simple party at the park. The kids played and ate pizza. Neave absolutely loved opening presents. She was more excited about opening them than she was about what was inside. We had cupcakes and then Grandpa took us all out for ice cream. Neave is really into horses so she received several of them. She has been so fun and we love watching her discover new things. We have also been unfortunate to experience her two year old wrath. She really does have a bad temper sometimes. Instead of asking "Why?" all the time she says, "What's that for?" She is been such a wonderful addition to our family and we are very thankful God has placed her in our lives.

Erica

Rachel and Rebecca

Neavie Kate at 2.

Erica

I love my new hat.

I love to open presents.

My new magnadoodle.

Pictures Galore

2009-06-23T08:28:00.024-05:00

Below is a sample of what's been going on for the last two months.

Outside the church after Rachel's First Communion 3 May 2009. We are so proud of her and all of her hard work over the last nine months!

Rachel and her Godparents, Uncle Mark and Aunt Heather.

Rebecca and our nephew Daniel at our brother-in-laws 40th birthday, 10 May 2009. Daniel is such a cutie and we love spending time with him and his parents.

Philip (Bob's sister's hubby) and his nephew George and son Daniel. Happy Birthday Uncle Philip! 10 May 2009

Bob, Erica, Rachel, chicken, and our awesome nephew Aiden. All at THE US Agricultural Hall of Fame in Kansas. Aiden will thank us for that trip some day! We were lucky enough to have Aiden to ourselves for a week. Thanks Mark and Mary! 13 May 2009

Rebecca and our niece Dinah at my brother's house in New Mexico. We had a great time hanging out there for a few days. 8 June 2009

Rachel, Dinah, Rebecca, Neave, Erica, and Grace. Visiting my nieces and sister-in-law in New Mexico. The kids set up a fair with Carmel apples, popcorn, and watermelon.

Rebecca, Grandpa, Duce, Erica, Neave, and Rachel on our way up to Madden Peak. My Dad and I took the kids up a 12,000 foot mountain. We drove up a lot of it and then hiked the rest. Rebecca, Neave and I actually made it up to the top. 13 June 2009

Grandpa and Neave getting ready to roast marshmallows at my parents house in Colorado. 14 June 2009.

Rebecca at 12,000 feet. Great job making it all the way to the top. 13 June 2009

Rebecca, Rachel, and Erica just below the last climb to the top of Madden Peak. 13 June 2009

Neave with marshmallow/chocolate face. 14 June 2009

Neave taking a ride on her horse before we ride on in to town to attend church. 21 June 2009

Catching Up

2009-06-16T14:10:00.002-05:00

So what has been keeping me from the computer the last few months...many, many things.

For starters, Bob and I traveled to Virginia to house hunt as we will be moving there in June. We were able to spend time with our brother-in-law Philip and our two nephews. We were also able to spend time with my good friend Maria and her three boys. We had a very successful trip and came home having purchased a home in the perfect location for us. Bob will be working in DC for the next few years. We visited two schools and decided on the catholic school three minutes from our home. Great for me!

As soon as we returned home we started the pre-move process. We still had many boxes to go through from our move 11 months ago. It was hard since we felt like we had just completed this particular job less than a year ago. I am a little obsessive when it comes to our moves so the pre-move process takes me at least two months. I try everything in my power to ensure the move goes as smoothly as possible.

Rachel received her First Holy Communion on May 3rd. She looked absolutely beautiful and we couldn't have been more proud. We had a great party afterward and we were very thankful to celebrate this special day with Rachel's Godparents', Uncle Mark and Aunt Heather.

We had several visitors in April and May. Bob's sister in currently deployed on the Navy's USS Comfort. Her husband and kids, Daniel and Dennis, came to stay in April and May. We loved spending time with them and enjoyed keeping Philip company as we understand how lonely life can be when your spouse is gone for a long period of time. Our awesome little nephew Aiden came to visit as well. We got to be his babysitters for a week in May. He is a great kid (must have great parents) and was a joy to have. We are really going to miss him!

We spent Memorial Day weekend cleaning and taking things apart since the movers were coming the next week. The kids and I packed up the minivan and headed off to Durango for the month of June. My Dad was gracious enough to fly out and help Bob and I that weekend and then helped me drag the kids all the way through Kansas and Colorado. He was a great help. We won't get to see Bob for a month but it has become very difficult to live in limbo for a month with four children, two dogs, and two guinea pigs.

While we have been vacationing in CO, Bob stayed and dealt with the movers, the nasty landlord, and all the outprocessing fun. He graduated from school on 12 June and then headed for DC. He was in town for 36 hours before he headed off to San Diego for his first of many "business trips."

The kids and I are enjoying the outdoors and the company of my parents. We have horseback riding, river walking, VBS, swimming, hiking, soccer camp and a visit with our cousins in New Mexico. I will be running a half marathon with my Dad this weekend. We have had a wonderful time but are looking forward to being home in VA with Bob.

We hope all is well. We ask that your keep Bob's sister Jeni in your prayers. We are looking forward to her safe return. We will send out our new address via email in the future as well as posting many pictures in our next blog. God bless you all and we are glad you are a part of our life.
Bob, Melissa, Rebecca, Rachel, Erica and Neave

WAY BEHIND!

2009-04-21T09:05:00.024-05:00

So The Bryants are way too far behind on their blog. We have been super busy and we will get to that in our next blog. Hopefully you won't have to wait so long this next time.

The kids and I traveled to my parents house in Durango, CO for Spring break. We had a great time as usual. We were able to spend some time with my brother Ross and his family. We haven't been able to do that in a long time. We loved trips to Grandpa's River, the Grandma Pool, and we were able to experience some Colorado snow.

The highlight of the trip was the adventure Grandma arranged. We were able to go dog sledding. It was awesome and we all had a blast. The company that took us on our trip was fantastic. It was awesome to watch the dogs get ready as they barked and howled constantly until we took off. It was a total hit and we were able to inner tube and snow sled after as well.

Dinah and Neave throwing ricks in the river.

All the kids by their club house and down by the river with Grandpa

Rachel, Dinah, snowman, Rebecca and Maggie.

Rachel, Neave, and I on our sled. The dogs were awesome!

Rebecca and one of the dogs.

Grace and Erica dressing up.

Catching Up

2009-03-08T16:38:00.013-05:00

OK...so I have been super busy the last few weeks so I am going to try and catch up. This will be a random entry so I can catch up as quick as possible.

Rebecca has been swimming on a swim team this year and has really become a great swimmer. She peaked at just the right moment to qualify for the state swim meet in the 100 and 50 style races and the 50 back stroke. What is so awesome about Rebecca is that she has my competitive spirit (there is nothing fun about losing!) and Bob's nerves (super nervous about big things.) So Rebecca can't eat the mornings of her meets and we really have to get her to relax before she swims. As she became a better swimmer she started to swim her first race, get out of the pool, throw up and then swim her next race. Poor girl! We are so proud of her and hope that she will eventually keep the competitive spirit but out grow the nervous vomiting!

So our last post had our early Spring weather and now we are onto late Winter weather. Above, Rachel is being a sweetheart and helping me shovel the driveway and below old dog Rusty is enjoying his frolic in the snow which hopefully won't be his last!

Just a cute picture of the oldest and youngest. Neave is getting so big. We can't believe she is almost two. So is really starting to talk and loves to try and sing in church. She almost had the Priest cracking up a few weeks ago. With the talking comes her ability to express her likes and really express her dislikes. She is a gem and we all adore her.

Lastly, we are on the move again this June. We are headed to Washington, DC. We are sadden to be leaving family and the rural lifestyle we are accustomed to as we head to a much bigger city. But keeping a positive frame of mind...we will be close to Bob's sister Jeni and her family as well as my good friend Maria!

Stay tuned for an entry about our awesome trip to Durango, CO!

Two Day Spring

2009-02-09T14:25:00.007-06:00

Living in the middle Midwest we thought we might actually get to see some snow this year. Everyone is equipped with boots, snow pants and good gloves. Unfortunately, all we have had is freezing temperatures, frost bite causing wind chills, and WIND, WIND, WIND! Fortunately we had temperatures in the 60s this weekend. These temperatures were very uncharacteristic for this time a year but we enjoyed every minute of it.

We were outside all day Saturday. Rusty was able to enjoy several walks around the block and I think the girls were at the park from 0930 until 1600. We live right across the street so Bob and I are able to monitor the kids from our drive way. Bob and I cleaned up the garage and even had some time to go through boxes of old stuff that needed to find new homes.

Sunday was almost just as nice so we headed outside again for a day of walking, running, parking, playing soccer, scootering, bike riding and a little more garage work. Our family just loves the outdoors and for some sick reason I love to clean the garage. It is a gene I think a received from my father. He too likes to clean the garage. One of the benefits of playing outside is that our kids get along better and sleep wonderfully after a day outside. I love placing four dirty, tired kids in the bath after a day of hard play. Neave was especially cute with the dirt around her mouth. I think I wiped her mouth 100 times but the dirt still managed to creep up to her mouth.

We thanked God on Sunday for the wonderful weather, our time together as a family, and the best weekend we have had in 2009!

2009-01-28T14:14:00.004-06:00

Wow, we are already through January. I was going to add a new post to this blog every week and already I have failed. Very naughty. The Bryants had a great Christmas. We were very happy to be able to celebrate together again this year. I was lucky enough to escape the family life for a few days over the New Year. I spent an awesome five days with my good friend Maria and her family in DC while Bob played mister Mom back home.

Maria and I have been friends for 17 years now. We were friends before the boyfriends, husbands, careers and kids. We haven't been able to see each other much so it was nice to spend enough time with her to know she hasn't changed a bit. I enjoyed getting to know her kids Caleb, Cory, and Carter as well.

We had a good time reminiscing about the old and crazy days. We especially loved remembering our times with a other two good friends, Carrie and Colleen. Unfortunately Carrie and her son Lucas passed away last January 6th in a terrible auto accident. It was in Carrie's wonderful spirit that I decided to visit Maria. Carrie had a wonderful way of keeping in touch with friends and she had many. So it was with great joy and sorrow that I travel to DC to reconnect with an old friend.

One of Carrie's other friends thought it would be great if we could all send Carrie and Lucas a message in heaven via balloon at the time of their death on January 6th. So the girls and I joined Carrie and Lucas's many friends around the globe in releasing a balloon in their honor.

So to all my friends out there. Thank you for being a big part of my life. I hope and pray we will be able to be reunited at some point in our future. And always know that I love you and miss you!

We Say Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T15:18:00.007-06:00

While driving around town last week I saw a bumper sticker on a car that stated, "We Say Merry Christmas." It was a reminder to other drivers how crazy society has become and how Christianity is attacked more and more each year, especially around Christmastime. But nothing reminds me of God's precious gift more than watching a bunch of preschoolers preform at their Christmas program. One of the many benefits of our children's private schooling is the opportunity for our kids to actually celebrate Christmas as a Christian Holiday without any outside interference. Below is a video clip or Erica's program. It was so encouraging to see these kids sing about Christ's birth with so much heart.

And here is Rachel at her program.

At Christmas every year it is fun for us to remember all of our past Christmases and where we were at the time and with whom we celebrated with. Because we have lived in a variety of places and have celebrated with a variety of different people we have added either new foods or new traditions to our celebration each year. Here is a quick run down of some of the things we do and why.

We eat cheesy corn because it is very good and it reminds us of our friends, The Yelles, from Enid, OK. We also eat a Smithfield ham because it too is delicious and reminds us of our friends, The O'Rourkes, who used to work for Smithfield in North Carolina. We make and eat almond bark and M&M covered pretzels shared with us many years ago by our friends the Prichards in Oklahoma. My friend Brooke gives her kids new PJs every Christmas eve so her kids have something new to wear on Christmas morning. We are doing the same thing with our girls this year. We will be adding three things to our celebration this year. In the UK they have Christmas crackers set on their tables for Christmas dinner. You are supposed to open them and then wear the hat that was inside the cracker at the dinner. We will all be opening crackers and wearing hats at dinner this year in remembrance of all our UK friends. We will also be sipping warm German wine and Irish coffee mainly because they are darn good.

I must now go as our Christmas festivities are underway. We would like to takes this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and we are very thankful to have you as a part of our lives.

How Do I Do This?

2008-12-11T12:03:00.004-06:00

So I have broken down and decided it was time to start a blog. For some reason I actually have time today to start one. Please keep in mind that we didn't even have email in college until our senior year, therefore I will not be an expert at this new blogging thing.

Actually, the real reason I have decided to start one is that I am not very good at keeping up with communication. We have wonderful friends all over the world and I think this would be the best way for everyone to keep up with The Bryants.

So here is a quick update on the Bryants.

Bob is loving school, even some of the homework. He had time to coach Erica's soccer team this year. He is waiting to find out where we will be moving in June, that's if we don't stay here one more year.

Melissa is pretty much the same. I coached Rachel's soccer team this Fall. Rachel scored her first two goals and I must say it had to have been my expert soccer/coaching skills. I have been trying to run a lot. I spent a nice weekend back at USAFA in September visiting old friends and attending the Graduate Memorial Ceremony with my friend Carrie's family. It was nice to see them, especially her wonderful daughter Ashley, and it was nice to honor her memory as well. I don't really have much time for anything else, but I have been asked to help with the development of a local Pro-Life organization through our church.

Rebecca is still loving school. She is nine and in the fourth grade at Xavier Catholic School. She played soccer this Fall and is on a swim team. She has won several ribbons at meets.

Rachel is seven and in the second grade and loves school but dislikes homework. She played soccer as well and is swimming on the same team as Rebecca.

Erica played soccer for the first time this Fall and is excelling at swim lessons. She is a very bold girl who also loves school and can't wait to be with the big kids next year.

Neave is now 17 months and thinks she is a big kid. She is starting to talk like crazy and is into everything. I think picking up after her is currently one of my biggest jobs. She is adored by all of us and has become very assertive.