A Friend Whereever She Goes

Spent the afternoon at Scandia- a mini amusement park. The kids ran from ride to ride, taking advantage of the small crowds. Ryder and I went at a slower pace, but he knew what he wanted to do.

"Train" he said pointing. "Bus" he then said. If I set him down he would begin walking off, arms pumping back and forth as he headed towards what he wanted to ride next. He loved the giant slide the best, laughing the entire way down as he rode on Eric's or my lap.

Alex wanted to go on the tilt-a-whirl again and again. One time was enough for Eric- and me, I didn't want to go even once. Luckily, Alex did what Alex always does and she made a friend. I never quite see how it happens--but suddenly she will be holding hands with a girl near her age running to get on the ride again. They sit in the same car, laughing the whole time as the spin round and round. When the ride stops, she quickly exits, grabs hands with her new friends and they run around to get on the ride again. After about the third time on the ride I hear her finally ask the girls name. How does she do that?

After they are sufficiently dizzy they run to the next ride together. Alex's new friend's mom and myself trailing behind.

I marvel at how fearless she is- when it comes to friends, when it comes to life-- even going on the big roller coaster with Eric. I hope she always has this ability- the ability to just jump right in, make friends and enjoy life.

A Few Days

While I am not really trying to post everyday anymore-- as let's face it- it wasn't happening- I do want to recap these last few days

Wednesday, April 4th

When you go to Costco right before lunch, you will end up wanting and eating lots of samples.

But when this little guy eats two cups of pot roast- when he often won't touch most meat-- I am more than happy to call our two (or three) rounds of samples lunch.

Thursday, April 5th

Last day of mostly kid free day to get Easter shopping done.

Yes, I am sorry we are shopping... again.

Friday, April 6th
I got a note a couple of weeks earlier, saying Lucas would be getting an award today but not to tell. We went to the school, with no clue what he would be getting. The 1st-3rd grade classes came in... we still wondered. And then we soon knew

Lucas- student of the month

We enjoyed the rest of the day outside in the beautiful weather--

though Alex brought her umbrella out as it was "too hot" which Ryder quickly took over

Shop Till you Drop

I filled out the package, Ryder stood a few feet from me.

"Peek-a-boo" the post office clerk said to Ryder. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. He just stood staring at the clerk, unsure of who she was. "Are you Superman?" she asked, in reference to his shirt. He took another step towards me. "Hi!" she said. He soon was hiding behind my legs.

Well at least I don't have to worry about him running off I thought to myself. I finished addressing the package, paid for it and then we were on our way for the rest of our morning of errands- taking advantage of both Lucas and Alex being in school.

Ryder was a trooper through it all- he carried my pink pig pajama bottoms for me that I bought at Old Navy and hugged lots of decorative pillows in Home Goods.

(Our new bedding-finally made a decision and bought at home goods)

He even gave up the yellow bus that he was holding through our stop at Toys R Us without too much fuss. I thanked him at the end with some jelly beans from the dollar store and to help him stay awake on the way home.

After lunch Alex asked if I would play with her. I said yes. She said she was glad I was playing with her as a lot of time I am busy doing my work and can't play. Ouch. I am a stay at home mom- talk about reality check.

So we spent the rest of the afternoon, until it was time to get Lucas with theseMaybe tomorrow we will actually stay home.... maybe.

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

Nourishment

I began the day by telling the kids there was no food in the fridge.

"What?!?" they said with concern hurrying to the kitchen.
"April fools!"

And yes, I did open up a can of worms with that one.

Most of the day was filled with wonderful nourishment for the soul as we watched General Conference.

So that night for dinner we decided we needed some more good nourishment for our bodies. That my friends is a burger with meat, pastrami, cheese, avocado, lettuce tomato and an over-easy egg. Oh yea good.

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 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!

Day 61: March 2nd

Friday! I love Fridays as we always go out to eat...

oh wait, Lucas started soccer practice, it is every Wednesday and every Friday from 5:45-6:30. Hmmm don't think we will be going out on Fridays anymore.

So during the day I headed to the grocery store to get something easy for dinner-- my kid favorite tortellini.

Alex would get the things off the shelf and hand them Ryder who would throw them into the cart then laugh and laugh.
After the kids were in bed, I went shopping and saw (and bought) these lovelies!My new living room will be revealed on my main blog this week.

Day 60: March 1st

I kept Alex home from preschool again today, just to be safe. Though halfway through the day I wondered if I should have sent her. If it had been Lucas, I would have sent him for sure. I am much less willing to let kids miss real school.

The photo theme of the day was up. So we took this picture.I look up a lot to see my husband who is 15" taller than me. No, I am not that short, he is just that tall, he is 6'8"

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