When Bryce came…

We were so thrilled when my sister-in-law, Laurie, called a few weeks ago and asked if her son could stay at our house for a couple of days. Levi was so excited and every day would ask, “ Is Bryce coming today?”

When the day finally came, and Bryce was finally here, we enjoyed every minute of it. I was really worried about him getting homesick while he was here…but, thankfully that really didn’t happen. I think it helped a lot that we would skype Tim and Laurie every evening, so he was able to see them for a few minutes each night before bed. He also played non-stop during the day, either inside or outside and was pretty tuckered by the time he crawled into bed.

The boys making a “petting zoo” out of duplo blocks.

Each day, I not only got an endless supply of hugs from Bryce (and when I say “hugs”, I mean BIG squeezes!), but I also got an endless supply of, shall we say, “question and answer” sessions. Bryce asks LOTS of questions…not only with me, but anyone who is in the proximity of him. So, Levi got asked lots of questions too. :)

Here’s one example that I overheard between Bryce and Levi…this occurred while they were watching Joel skin a pheasant in front of our living room window (I know, gross).

Bryce: “Levi, why does your Daddy like to kill birds with chicken inside"?”

Levi: “ Because my Dad likes to shoot ‘em and eat ‘em!”

Bryce: “Oh.”

I actually could tell quite a few stories, but I should probably keep a lot of them to myself, because I don’t know what his parents would think of me letting them out to the public. :)  Let’s just say that he’s definitely his “father’s son”!….we’ll just leave it at that. (I should also add, seeing that in him, made me love him all the more. ;)

When I asked what they were up to in this picture, Bryce said “Driving the motorcycle to the store and getting some exercise.”

Bryce stayed until Sunday afternoon and then his grandparents picked him up and brought him to their hotel so that they could leave early on Monday morning for Illinois. When they came and it was time for Bryce to say “goodbye” he came up to me and started bawling and hugging me so tight. It tore at my heart to let that sweet little guy go! I knew he’d have a hard time leaving, because he’s so tender-hearted and was having so much fun….but I also knew that he was more than ready to see his Mommy and Daddy and siblings again. I really loved watching him play so well with my little Levi, who is only a few months older than him…I also had fun getting to know him better, since I don’t get to see him very much due to the fact that he lives so far away!

I mentioned to him, earlier in the day on Sunday, that he would be leaving our house later on that day. He gave me a big pouty face, and replied with “But, Auntie Michelle, how am I going to remember Levi?!?!”  So, right after church, I snapped a few pictures of these boys together to send to him….

On Monday, Levi was back to teasing his little sisters endlessly. When I would discipline him for it and tell him to figure out something else to do, he would say “But Mom, I don’t know what to do!”

He really misses Bryce and was so happy that he could come out here for awhile.

Thank you so much for letting Bryce come for a few days Tim and Laurie! I know it was so hard for you to let him travel so far away, but we really loved having him here and would love to try it again sometime! :)