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"