Knott's Again!

When we thought about buying season passes to Knott's Berry Farm we wondered if it would be worth the money-- well if we keep up our current rate, we definitely will!  We went again today- twice in one week.

The weather was even better this time- 70 degrees and sunny.

There were lots of smiles-- I think it is quickly becoming Ryder's favorite place.

Lucas of course loved the big train

And we went on a lot more rides- Eric and I even took turns going on a big ride for us.

There were big old hot dogs for lunch

And of course lots of "movement" which was the photo of the day.

Eric's "movment" picture- the waterfall behind us

While we waited in line for the last ride (The Pony Express) Ryder fell asleep (about 6:30) and slept for the rest of the night-- was even out cold when we took this picture, which I plan on making my kids pose for every time we go.

It was a great day- but I know we definitely won't be going twice next week since school is starting back up.

My View

"Mama! Mama!" the call rouses me from my sleep.   I sleepily walk into Ryder's room.  He is standing in his crib- arms reaching for me.

I pick him up and bring him into bed with me.  There we lay just looking at each other and smiling.  I gently rub his face- his face which everyday seems to lose a little more of the baby look.

I want to freeze this moment.

Today's photo-a-day was "the view from here"-- and this is a view I will always love.

Books

Yesterday was all about books- it began with Ryder doing some "light" reading.

After I took this picture he kept posing and asking me to "take pictures me".  This mama was happy to oblige.

Then our book day continued with a trip to the library

which always leads to us coming home and literally spent an hour reading books together.

I even ended the day by reading myself as I began "Freshmen for President" by Ally Condie

The photo of the day was "heart"

"The scar goes down almost to my belly button from when they fixed my heart when I was five."

Pajama Day

"I think today my goal may be to not get dressed" I tweeted early on in the day.  And I made my goal.   But despite the fact that I never got dressed I was actually quite productive; 4 loads of laundry done AND put away, got rid of 21 shirts and returned my hangers backwards for the New Year,

shirts I got rid of

 and cleaned out Lucas pajama drawer- he had a 4T shirt buried in there and he wear as 10!

The photo of the day was "something new"

"My daughter showing off her new rings and shirt"

Tomorrow I think I will actually get dressed.

Happy New Year!

So this whole 365 thing- I have tried it, ended it and tried it again many times.  Last year I thought I would do a picture/journal thing on this blog and it last a few months.... but well here I am at it again.  I am doing the instagram #photoaday thing- so if nothing else I will post a picture from that everyday.  I will be backdating my posts to the day they happened, though most likely I will be posting it a day late. So really this is my place just for me.

January 1, 2013

#Photoaday- "Today"

"Today I am at Knotts Berry Farm with CAGirl (Lourie) and her family.  Eating lunch right now."

Lourie's family got tickets to Knotts for Christmas and asked if we wanted to come too- and we jumped on the offer and even bought season passes for our family.

Ryder's favorite was the little race cars.

This is the new way he smiles if I ask him to smile.

He even was brave enough to go on some of the little kiddy rides- like the airplanes and this ride

 all by himself I put him on the ride and he sat there waiting for it to go and loved the whole thing.

Alex loved the roller coasters and got to go on the Pony Express twice when Lucas decided not to last minute.

Me and my girl riding one of the  many rides

Lucas favorite was the train (or trains) of course

Though after barely making it through the line (due to anxiety) but then going on the ride last minute he love loved the Jaguar- a level 4 High thrill roller coaster that we ended up going 3 times that day.

About to enter the coal mine

Me and Lourie

It was a great day- Ryder fell asleep in his stroller on the way back to the car about 6:30 and was out for the night- without any dinner unfortunately.  It was a great day though- and I can't wait to go back just Eric and I sometime to ride all the really big rides we missed out on.

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