Enjoy!!!

To my beautiful sister

The last week has been pretty crazy, sometimes crazy in good ways and other times not so good. Quick recap. On Monday we drove to Bellingham to help Rex's Aunt move. It was a long day, but I am glad we got to see her and Rexer was able to help a little bit. We also were able to see some other family while up there. Ryan did amazing. He was pretty happy and just went with the flow. We found a beautiful city park and let Ryan run around and let off steam. Tuesday we just relaxed and tried to catch up on sleep. Wednesday Rex was back at work, so Ry and I went up to Julie's house to stay the night. It was a blast, the kids played outside all day. The only break we took was to go pick Elisha up from the bus stop. Jul, Ry and I slept all together in Julie's bed and at some point Johanna climbed in. That did not last long. Johanna wanted to talk to Ry and then before we knew it we were all awake. We all woke up had breakfast and got ready for the day. At one point we all were in the bathroom getting ready and Johanna started to cry, Julie and I just looked at her. At that same moment Ryan came up to her and gave her a hug. It was the cutest thing in the entire world. We have not taught him hugs, but somehow he new that she was really upset. He put his arms around her and would not let go. It was one of the most pure, sweet things I have ever seen. After that Hallmark moment we had to rush Ellie to school and off to MOPS.
Today was Julie and I 's last day of MOPS. MOPS is the moms group that Julie and I attend together, last October I started with Julie. We met twice a month, so this meant that twice a month I left our house at 8am and drove to Gig Harbor. It was totally worth it. It was 6 hours a month that I got to spend with my sister with no children. I got to see her as my big sis. It was an amazing experience that helped me grow not only as a mother, but as a person. I am looking forward to doing MOPS next year, but will never be the same without my sister by my side.

So to my beautiful Sister......
I love you so much, you are an amazing wife, mother, and sister. You wear so many hats and yet somehow you are able to wear all of them with grace and a smile on your face. I am so thankful to be apart of the roller coaster ride of motherhood with you. I would not be the mommy I am today without you and your constant support, love and engorgement. Knowing that you are always by my side makes the hard moments a little easier. Thank you for always being just a phone call away (thank God for free minutes between phones). Thank you for encouraging me in my walk with Jesus. Your love for him is contagious. Something truly amazing happens when God makes sisters, it is a bond like nothing ordinary. I love you sis.

Ry's third haircut

Today Audrey, Erik, Ryan and I went to the mall to get Ryan's hair cut. He looks like such a big boy. He did pretty good while getting his hair cut. I think it was because the lady gave him a sucker, yes a sucker. Before I had time to really react he was eating it. It was pretty funny. How is it that kids know what to do with things like that, Ry has never had a sucker. Audrey got some pictures on her phone that are cute. He sat in the fire engine seat again. When she was finished she put massive amounts of gel in his hair. He looks so different, what a little man. In the last picture he decide he wanted to walk up the stairs by himself. Check out his new kicks!!!! I am not sure who he looks like, besides his cousin Loring. I am excited to head outside to plant my plants, pray that Ry takes a good nap.

Best Buds

Today Rex, Ry and I went up to the Roggenkamp's house to spend some time with Audrey and Erik. It was a visit long over due. Usually we all see each other much more, but well life has just seemed to take over in the past week or so. It is so fun to watch the boys interact. Sometimes they do not even notice one another and other times the only interactions are when they are taking the other one's toy. Today seemed to be that day. I will say Ryan was cracking me up. He has the same pair of sun glasses that Erik has but Ry will not wear his. Ry wore Erik's today all around the house. Also Ry was eating food off Erik's highchair, he would not eat anything I gave him. I guess he just loves Erik so much that he wants to be like him. :) Today about the only time we had both of them happy and quite was in the wagon. Notice Ryan's spoon, out of all the toys both boys loved to play with the spoons. This is about the best picture I could get. Honestly I think it took all of us just to get this one. It so awesome to me that one day the boys will look back at this picture and will not believe that they both fit in the same wagon. Crazy.

My new favorite thing

Ever day Ryan does something new or discovers something. A couple of days ago we were in the car and he was getting a bit fussy, so Rex turned up the music and started to sing and dance. Ryan laughed, so than I started to sing. Before we all knew it we all were singing, well Ry was yelling and laughing. It was pretty funny, we used shoes as microphone and continued to sing and lip sing the entire car ride. Yesterday I was driving and Ry started to get fussy so I turned up the radio and started to sing. It worked, he started to laugh again. I was quite dramatic in my singing and facial expression. Ry was laughing really hard. Then I got the feeling someone was looking at me. We were at a red light and Ry and I were singing. I looked over and there was a big truck, with an older man he was laughing at us singing. I looked up and smiled and he continued to laugh. So I might not have the best voice in the world, but at least I can make people laugh. Ryan also has he head nod down. When Rex and Ry are in the truck they bop their heads to the beep of the music. Most of the time when Ry hears music he will bounce his head. I love it. He seems to be so proud of himself when he does it.
The other new thing that Ry is doing is running, he gets really excited and tries to run. Well his little legs can not move as fast as he wants them too, he usually falls. Also he loves when Bunker our dog chases him. It is pretty cute to watch their interactions.

Rex is out working in the yard like a mad man, which I am so thankful for. He is so creative and has done an amazing job. I cannot wait to post before and after pictures. Ry and I have been inside baking cookies and playing for most of the day. My mom, Ryan and I went to Home Depot to get plants for the yard. I am so excited to plant them. I got some great pictures of Ry tonight. He has been really funny lately, he thinks everything he does is funny so he laughs at himself constantly. He is always talking to something or someone. Tonight I chased him around the house before bath time and got theses pictures. While I was finishing up the blog I looked down and Ryan had sat in this green container. Of course he had to have a cup of tea while in the container!

Happy Mother's Day

Today was an amazing day. I woke up this morning to my little guy giving me a homemade card that him and his Daddy made. I love homemade cards, they are the best. After some wonderful kisses and loves from my boys I got to head to Target, by myself (every mothers dream, no seriously). After I got home we headed to Seattle to the FC Sounders Soccer game. Ryan, Elisha and Johanna spent the day with their Nana (Leroy's Mom). Mom, Dad, Julie, Leroy, Bri, Amber, Rex and I all headed up North. It was a beautiful day in Seattle. We parked at Metro where our chariot awaited us to take us to the game (a Metro Bus). We had our own private bus driven by Pappy or Patrick or Pat. You never know their real names my dad is the nick name king. We had amazing seats and well no kids so the drinks were flowing, and flowing and flowing. Then came the hot dogs and garlic fries. Rex bought a blow horn, big mistake. Well not really it was totally entertaining. After the game we headed down to the water front for more drinks and appetizers. It was so great to relax and enjoy my family. It is great to get a break, but it is the best to come home to little hands around your neck and slobbery kisses. Here are some pictures from the game!!!!

Thank you so much Cindy for watching the children. You are an amazing Nana, we all love you very much!!!!!

Bath time

Here are some pictures of bath time with Daddy. I love listening to Ryan and Rex when Rex is giving Ry a bath. They both laugh almost the entire time. I had to get some pictures, seriously look at those eye lashes could they be any longer.

Check this out

I was looking back at pictures, the first picture was at the zoo when Ryan was 13 months old and the second is at the hospital when he is a few minutes old. How beautiful! Ry and his Daddy.

I was reading stories to Ryan before bed time. He was sitting on my lap. He seem to be really squirmy. Then I realized that he does not fit on my lap. He does when he is sitting up but I was holding him like a baby and his little legs were dangling down. After stories we were saying our prayers and I was talking to him. He started to fall asleep in my arms, I kept rocking him. I remember when he was the size of Rexer's forearm. When did he get so big. I continued to rock him until he was asleep. My arm was asleep, but it was totally worth it. As I moved he woke up a little and looked up at me and reached his arms around my neck. With tears rolling down my checks, I placed my little big boy in his crib. He will always be my special little boy. He is our first born. I know if we are Blessed with another child God will just give me a bigger heart so I can love them as much, but I cannot imagine that. Although I miss Rex while he is at work, I truly cherish the time Ry and I have with each other.

Lions, Tigers and bears!!!!!!

Today my amazing sister and her two beautiful daughters met Rex, Ry and I at the zoo. It was Ryan's first visit, and let me tell you I was an emotional wreck. I am going to do no justice in this blog about how amazing it was for me as a mother. At one point in my life I remember praying for a child, along with that I kept praying that one day I could take them to the zoo. I have some wonderful memories as a child at the zoo. Today I was able to take my 13 month big little boy to the zoo. It was a total gift, and I truly cherished every moment. Ryan really loved the polar bears, they came right to the glass. He just stared at them. We bought Ry a stuffed polar bear, he loves it he holds it and kisses it. This is the first connection he really has ever had with a stuffed animal. We sat on the grass and had peanut butter and jelly for lunch along with fruit and juice boxes for lunch. We took the wagon, Ryan however had a different idea. He wanted to walk, he thinks he is such a big little boy. There is also a new kid zone. Ry went crazy. He was running around, climbing and even going down a big slide. He sat with Elisha and they went down together, Ry laughed the entire time. I was that mom all day who had both the camera and the video camera going all of the time. Although I do not think I will ever forget this special day!!! Enjoy the pictures.

Thanks Nana and Poppy for the season pass to the zoo!!!!!

Mud Pies

Ryan has officially had his first mud pie. Yes I am being serious. Today while Rexer was working in the yard we stuck Ryan in the middle of a dirt mound. He was playing in in for a while and then all of the sudden he decided that he wanted to eat some dirt. It was pretty cute and really he did not eat that much dirt. He loves to throw the dirt and feel it between his toes. Auntie bought him an awesome pair of boots, but he took them off so he could put his feet in the dirt. His shirt says future firefighter, but he really seems to live the dirt so he might a gardener. It is so much fun to watch him figure it all out. He Rex was raking the lawn, and Ryan was coping him with his little rake. I need to get Ryan a little lawn mower so when we finally have grass Father and Son can mow the lawn together. Ry's will have bubbles coming out of it, but how fun!!!! Ryan is walking really well. He is getting so confident that he is actually running some times. I love the sound of his feet on the floor.