"Soccer" It To Me...

Kendal Bryan is one crazy five year old soccer player. He had his first soccer practice Friday night. It was the first time he got to wear his shorts and jersey. His favorite gear are his shin guards. Get that boy behind a ball and his energy is endless.

I think he has great potential. I think it is all part of his master plan that when he kicks the ball, it jettisons off at a bizarre angle. I think he plays a little innocent when he gets someone else's ball confused with his own, and starts kicking in the wrong direction. I think he likes to hear the word "hands" over and over. My favorite is when he misses the ball all together, and ends up flat on his back in the grass. It also cracks me up when he stops practice altogether to pet a passing dog. It is almost like he has a knack for just being a kid.

I think we can all take a lesson from these five year old kids. Find joy in the journey, and take time to have fun. It is all around us, for sure, we just have to allow the kid in us to realize it.

As The Palm Trees Swayed...

So, this week has been a challenge for me (Tari). Cameron had a Perfusion Conference in Orlando , FL and was gone Tuesday until early Sunday morning. That means I have been a single parent of three for the past 5 days and 4 nights, while he was thousands of miles away staying in a swanky hotel in 89 degree weather (poor soul). He swears it was a business trip. I may sound bitter, and I am sure I will get over it.

It has been said: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Well, I am not sure how tough I am, but I have to say that I have moved a lot faster this week than I have in the past several months. I am not sure if it was because I was the only parent here and if I didn't do it, it didn't get done?, or if it was because I needed to stay busy in order to keep myself from missing my husband?, or the simple fact that the sun was shining, I wasn't great with child, and I was just sick of being indoors?, but what I do know is that even though it was difficult on a lot of levels, it was also really great!!

We went to several parks to fly kites even though there was not notable wind. We watched movies until after their bedtime. We had slumber parties in our big bed. We ate bacon at 8:30PM, just because it sounded good to Kendal. We drove to Pocatallo to eat at the Red Lobster with Grandma and Jan. I might not have been posting on the blog this week, but we were busy, and for the most part, having a good time.

Now there were meltdowns and tears, and sometimes the kids through tantrums, too, but we survived and persevered.

So, for all of you out there that do this and more on a daily basis, I applaud you and kiss the very grass you walk upon. Many of you have more children, more responsibility and, let's face it, more patience and creativity, but this blog is not about you invincible creatures, it is about the life and times of the Bryan Family.

We survived another week- that makes us our own kind of invincible.

Happy Birthday, Kendal!! No Foolin'!!

So... Kendal was a "joke on us" so-to-speak. However, he is also the most beautiful joke that has ever been played on us.

I remember living in a tiny apartment in Milwaukee, WI. My husband was finishing school, and I worked for a plasma center as a phlebotomist. I was great with child, but still had 5 1/2 weeks to go. I remember thinking it would be a great April Fool's Joke to play on our family back home in Idaho, to call them and let them know the baby had arrived. The dialogue would go something like this:

Hi, Mom.

Hello, My Beautiful Pregnant Daughter. How are you today?

Great, Mom. I am calling from the hospital to let you know you are a grandmother again.

Oh, that is wonderful!! Is it a boy or a girl??

A girl, Mom. We named her April........ APRIL FOOLS!!!!!


Well, we called everyone back home, and MANY believed it-hook, line, sinker, and lake...... But then it happened. Strange pains I had never felt before. I told my extremely concerned husband I didn't think I should go to work, where he lovingly encouraged me to shake it off and go to work. He even drove me there because I didn't think I could. First time father syndrome, I am sure.

Long story short...Kendal was born by c-section that very afternoon, not 10 hours after our little joke-fest that morning.

Imagine what we went through calling our family again that day. We had already played that joke. They were not about to fall for it again. My sister, Jan, asked to talk to a nurse to be certain it was for real. He was Baby Boy Bryan the first two days because we couldn't decide what to call him. The nurses called him "Peanut".

Kendal Noel Bryan- Born April 1st, 2003- 5lbs 15oz. 17 3/4 inches long, soft brown hair, perfect beginning to our family.


We love you!! Happy Birthday, Son!!!