Perfect Bed Time

I sat upstairs in the hallway, waiting for the others to come back up. Ryder hid behind me, pressing his warm body against mine. "Where did Ryder go?" I pretended concern.

He slowly crept from behind my back, his eyes twinkling, the corners of his smile showing from behind his green pacifier. He went back again putting his arms around me. "Oh no..." I said again.

Lucas made it back upstairs first, bringing Ryder his milk. He placed the sippy cup on Ryder's head. "Look it's staying!" Lucas squealed as the cup quickly toppled off Ryder's head.

Ryder picked it up and moved his pacifier to his hand and began drinking his milk. "Now Carmel is staying!" Lucas said balancing his favorite stuffed dog on Ryder's head.

"All right everyone time for prayers." Eric said when everyone made it back up.

"I will sit here, come here Ryder" Lucas said sitting in his truck chair- the same chair he had had since he was younger than Ryder. The chair was now covered with a bright orange fabric with excavators and diggers, the original blue truck cover long worn out with a hole where his legs rubbed against the fabric.

I smiled at the moment, suddenly realizing that before I knew it my two boys would be much to old to sit on a chair together. I need to enjoy this, I said to myself.

We finally got everyone to settle down and said prayers. It was Alex's turn to say the prayer. She began;
"Dear Heavenly Father. Thank thee for this day and help--' are you going anywhere tonight?'" Alex whispered to Eric interpreting her own prayer. "No" Eric whispered back. 'and help that daddy will travel to work safely tomorrow...."

Yes, I do need to enjoy this.My boys relaxing on my bed- and please ignore my ugly quilt- I am trying to find something I love to replace it

The Culd-du-sac

I rolled down the window and turned the radio up, anxiously waiting for my chance to win $1000. I knew it was long shot, but hey, if I didn't try I wouldn't win.

Ryder darted into the garage and retrieved his soccer ball. He stretched, lifting it high above his head and with all his might threw it right to me.

I stopped the ball and kicked it back. This game continued for several minutes. ' Kick it back' I encouraged. I stopped the ball, kicked it to Ryder and he swung his little toddler leg back and kicked it perfectly right to me.

The announcement came on the radio station- I quickly hit dial, already having the number programed in. Busy signal. Darn, I tried again. Nothing. I tried until the announcement came on saying a winner was picked. Maybe next time.

"Car, car" Ryder said pointing to the Little Tykes car.

I got it down for him and he climbed in. I pushed from the top as his little feet "walked" barely touching the ground. He wouldn't go anywhere on his own the way he was walking but his feet moving kept his feet from acting like natural breaks.I pushed him around our culd-du-sac. "Doggies" he said and pointed at our neighbors dogs who were now greeting us rather loudly. It didn't phase Ryder and he just stayed pointing and grunting occasionally.He then tired of the dogs and climbed back into his car. We cut across the culd-du-sac rolling over the manhole cover. He put his feet down, forcing the car to break, got out and excited pointed at the cover.

"W" he said pointing at the W in "sewer". "Good job,W!" I praised. "R" he then said.

He then climbed back in the car, this time making it across to where our house number was painted on the curb. He climbed out pointing at each number again and again wanting me to repeat the numbers. A bug then crawled in his line of vision. "Bug! Bug" he said through his pacifier filled mouth.He watched the bug for several minutes then was back in his car, little feet quickly dancing along the ground.

I smiled up at the blue sky. This was a good day.

Day: 48-59 Finishing February

Well now it has been two weeks... now you all know why I say I am not good about keeping a journal. But luckily I still have been taking pictures everyday, just losing the journal aspect of it by waiting so long. But it's a new month-- so my goal is at least every other day for this month (fingers crossed)

Day 48
Saturday, February 18thAnother beautiful day in February so another fun day at the park with the family.
Then Alex and I went and got haircuts- sadly no pictures
And did some shopping just the two of us. A good day.

Day 49
Sunday, February 19thThe only picture I took today- pretty sure it was for the instragram photo of the day...

Day 50
Monday, February 20thRyder loves drawing, with pencils, crayons, markers-- and even chalk. He doesn't care what he is using as long as he can draw


Day 51
Tuesday, February 21stWhat happens when you give a toddler a graham cracker with chocolate frosting

Day 52
Wednesday, February 22nd
I never claimed to have good handwriting


Day 53
Thursday, February 23rd

The oldest two off at school, just me and toddler shopping so why not a reward of a donutHe completely enjoyed it

Day 54
Friday, February 24th
Today was a good day, Lucas got two awards at school

Day 55
Saturday, February 25th

Today was for me-- shopping all day with my best friend CA Girl
We found the Holy Grail while shopping!And ate a yummy lunch too

Day 56
Sunday, February 26th

Stayed home from church today with Alex since she was sickBut the boys were still feeling good.
I asked Lucas to pose and this is what I got
Day 57
Monday, February 27th

I was cleaning out my dresser and found this noteit was what Eric wrote when we were ordering wedding invitations about 11 years ago- this is what he wanted us to put on our invitations. He didn't win


Day 58
Tuesday, February 28th
See he really does like to write

Day 59
Wednesday, February 29th

This day only happens every four years and I am thinking that is good.
We spent two hours at instant care to leave with a clean bill of health for Alex. Only to have Ryder slowly get worse and worse and end up doing a lot of thisAnd when he was feeling a little better- a soft squishy ball aimed just right knocked it right off the wall, the frame did not survive

March pictures to come tomorrow!

Day: 43-47 Another week

Well almost an entire week has gone by again since I posted- so doing this week in one post again for ease.

Day 43
Monday, February 13thNo school on Monday-- so a trip to visit my best friend CA Girl was in order.
The kids played, we visited and we even decorated cupcakes for fun

Day 44
Tuesday, February 14thIgnore my makeup-less face. Too busy getting our fancy family Valentines Dinner ready.
Alex and I were surprised with roses from Eric. Alex claimed the red ones right away.
Day 45
Wednesday, February 15thRain, rain go away...
actually it hardly ever rains here, so I guess I can deal with it

Day 46
Thursday, February 16th
The skies were blue but the wind was hollowing a bitter cold wind. I was more than happy to stay inside and read a book.

Day 47
Friday, February 17th
after several cold and rainy days we took advantage of the beautiful day

and I captured a moment that will be gone too soonsinging to and rocking my toddler before his nap

Day:34-42 Playing Catch Up

I got very behind on*updating this. I have been taking pictures everyday- but rather then go back each day I am just going to try and hurry and catch up.

Day 34 Friday, February 3rd
It's been a while-but opps he did it again. Fell asleep while eating lunch, sweet boy

Day 35 Saturday, February 4th
Kids Craft at Home Depot makes for a fun morning

Day 35 Sunday, February 5th
Doing the picture a day, was supposed to take a picture at 10:00-- um this was taken in the evening, this clock just needs new batteries

Day 36 Monday, February 6th
It's done!! My Antique window!! I love it. You can read how I made it on my main blog here

Day 37 Tuesday, February 7th
Time for the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet- the cake I made, we did an aviator theme

Day 38 Wednesday, February 8th
Take a picture of my building before my little brother destroys it

Day 39 Thursday, February 9thPhoto of the Day: Our Front Door

Day 40 Friday, February 10th
Getting all pretty for date night! Dinner and a movie so nice to get out
and a sneak peak of a project I am working on

Day 41 Saturday, February 11th
Pool Birthday party when it was raining and 65 outside- the pool was very heated

Day 42 Sunday, February 12th
Cute curly boy all ready for church

Day 31: My Day

Tuesdays and Thursdays are sometimes my favorites days. They are definitely the days I can get the most done as for three hours I only have one helper; so they have definitely become our errand days.

Today we hit the dollar store, JoAnn's, Home Depot (big project coming soon!!) and Costco. I think it might have been a little much.
And where was Alex? At preschool- and today on a field trip to a bakery where she made her own bread.And we passed time in the afternoon by playing beauty parlor.It was a great day.

Day 62: March 3rd

6:40 AM- hear Ryder making noise, grateful he slept in

7:00 AM- Go running- run a different route- push it harder- yea a bit too hard

7:30- AM Breakfast, shower, get ready

9:30 AM- Lucas' first soccer game-- they lost but they had fun and played hard and the other team played a little dirty anyway

11:00 AM-Pick up my new furniture I bought last night!

11:45 AM- Lunch

12:45 PM - Alex's parent/soccer meeting

2:30 PM- Vacuum/clean van as it would be embarrassing to take it to get the oil changed in it's current state

4:00 PM- Get the oil changed in the car-- I decide the whole family should go so we can get some dinner afterwards.

hahaha sob sob hahahaha boohooo --what was I thinking??

Though I did get this cute picture of Ryder
5:00 PM Dinner at Chick Fil A

7:00 PM Eric goes to his basketball game, takes Lucas

10:00 PM Kids have long been in bed, it's dark, it's night. Eric is watching a basketball game and I am writing this post.

What a busy day. Makes me tired just reading this post!