Sprinklers & Kiddie Pools

Memorial Day 2010: God Bless our military (past & present). Thank you for your sacrifices. You give anything so we can have everything.This brings back memories of my own childhood! Today Ryder & Serenity busted out the (way too small for them) kiddie pool and sprinkler. Water is really the only way to survive Phoenix Summers!! They were using the hose/sprinkler to create "rain" so they could play with the umbrella. Since it never rains in Phoenix, I guess this is a creative way to get use of your umbrellas! Sprinkler in the face = always fun.

End of Preschool, year one!

My little man! He had his last day of preschool today. He started at Miss Stephanie's school back in August 2009 if you will remember. Here is a look back at that day here. So much has changed! Besides the few inches he seems to have sprouted... He seems so much older and wiser now. Yes, I understand, he is only 9 months older, but its leaps and bounds different!

On his last day of school, Miss Stephanie helped the kiddos make these memory beach balls which proudly say "We had a BALL at Ms Stephanies!". This ball is Ryder's favorite toy du jour. He will be onto something else next week I'm sure. Miss Stephanie helped the kiddos fill in some favorite things over the past nine months. Here is what Ryder had to say! I find these answers very cute:

- My favorite part of preschool was.... picking flowers

- Something I learned.... helper jobs

- My friend was.... Zach

- My favorite job.... outside helper

The first few months at Miss Stephanies was a little difficult. Ryder had to learn a whole new way of sharing and interacting with classmates. His cousin Serenity started the year out with him. Those two kids are thick as theives and they had a little learning curve themselves to "let others into" their inner circle and make new friends. Ryder would get in trouble now and again for stealing toys from others' hands. I don't mean to make him out to be a bad guy because he really wasn't. What I'm trying to portray is the fact that he has really overcome all that! Not to mention his letters, numbers, drawing skills, singing, etc., that have grown!! My favorite thing is to hear Ryder break out into a little kids sing he learned at school.

I'm so thankful Miss Stephanie could teach him all these things. Being a full time working mom is hard stuff folks! I felt I couldn't give him enough "lessons" on these basic skills.

Ryder still has two more years before kindergarden. Because of his birthday, he will be the oldest kid in his class but I'm okay with that. He will certainly be ready to take his kindergarden class by storm!

Itty-Bitty Sports

This spring (or summer however you want to look at it since its already high 90's) we signed Ryder up for "Itty Bitty Sports" at our local YMCA. The intent of the program is to introduce sports to toddlers. Its two week sessions of golf, basketball, t-ball, and soccer. In reality, its very close to "herding squirrls" in my book!! Take 30 toddlers and two young teachers, then try to play an organized sport. You get the picture. Ryder actually really enjoyed himself. I think he liked soccer best. Kasey took him almost every time because Ryder behaves better for Kasey at these things. When I'm there he is just ultra distracted! I hope that is not foretelling our future because I would love to be a "soccer mom" (or whatever he plays) and support him at all his future games. Then again, maybe he won't even grow up to play any sports! Who knows. Here are some pictures and video from soccer. The video gives a great view of the "herding squirrls" concept. Also, please note that my looks like the most unathletic kid in the bunch. I'm really sorry Kasey... looks like our son may have inherited all my skills!

Ryder - White Boy Dancing

This is so freaking Funny!!!!

Maggie is 3!

Happy 3rd Birthday Maggie!!! Ryder and I love you lots!!!!

No Ryder is not putting on lipstick here. I don't know what you are talking about.

My beautiful boy!

Kasey picked himself up a new girlfriend at the party. This little girl in the red striped shirt latched onto Kasey and would not let him go!!! It was sweet.

He is pedaling!

Seriously this is a little past due. For the first time today I actually witnessed Ryder pedaling his bike!! This is a major accomplishment only because he has this scooter-bike thing that has no pedals, pictured here:

Well, he is in love with this micro bike and therefore refuses to use any other of his 5 bikes that have real pedals. I'm sure he probably could pedal his bikes before this but this was the first time I saw it. And let me tell you I was one proud mama!!! I wasn't so proud of his clothing choice. These would be green girl PJ's he apparently stole from his cousin Serenity. He refused to take them off.

Getting Ready for the Holidays!

My little reindeer

I have always had a "rule" that you cannot take out Christmas decorations or put up the tree prior to Thanksgiving. Well, I changed my mind this year. As Ryder started to recognize all the Christmas decorations in store and neighboring houses, he questioned where our Christmas stuff was! Then my Aunt Mary mailed us some new Christmas ornaments and Ryder begged for the tree to go up. Soooo... early Sunday morning we pulled everything from storage and put the tree together! A full 5 days before Thanksgiving. I cannot beleive I did that!

Ryder playing Scrabble (or at least what he thinks is playing it!):

Camping, again!

As we near the end of summer for northern Arizona, we squeezed in one more camping trip. While northern AZ was about to experience fall & winter, we folks down in Phoenix will enjoy 100 degree temps through most of October. Joy. Anyways.... Kasey's sister's family the Nish's (Sheri, Adam, Serenity), Kasey's mom Jeri, and Kasey's sister Jackie joined the three of us on this trip to the Prescott Valley area. This was the first time Serenity & Ryder camped together. Funny thing, I thought it would be EASIER to have the two camp together because they are so good at playing with each other. In hindsight, I think I was wrong! They actually fought quite a bit. In between the fights they did have fun, I will admit! Oh well, we had a great camping trip anyways.

Campfire time:

Ryder & Serenity were having "art time" which quickly turned from painting on paper to painting themselves & each other. They looked like little indians covered in war paint when it was all said and done!

The little, dirty, indians eating dinner in the tent because it started to rain on us. Luckily it was a short rain and we enjoyed rest of the night out side of the tent.Kasey & Adam tried fishing quite a bit but didn't catch a thing. The kids enjoying the lake:

Upside Breakfast

So, I wake up one morning and walk downstairs to find Ryder laying upside down on the recliner and eating his breakfast while watching cartoons. Where do kids come up with these things?!

One word: Potty training.

We have a lot of success with letting him "be nakey" (as he puts it)... and giving prizes, like stickers. End result:

Yes, I know he will hate me when he is older. Sorry Ryder, love you!!

When Grandma Babysits...

My mom watched Ryder & Jordan so Kasey and I could go to dinner and a movie. The kids entertain themselves with the hose spigot. Cheap fun I suppose!!

When I got home I tried to get a nice picture of the boys together. Jordan runs off and Ryder picks his nose. Oh well!

Camping with Friends

This weekend, Ryder & Kasey & I packed up the car and went camping up on the Mogollon Rim! It was only about 2.5 hour drie from our house and the weather was amazing. It was near 80 during the day but so cold at night. Coming from 110+ weather, I was actually chilly most of the fime. This was Ryder's second camping trip EVER and he was really good and had a great time. We went camping with my girlfriend Bethany and her boyfriend Steve. And then Bethany's friends Amber & Andy. It was the first time meeting them and they were awesome! (Thanks for the use of your fishing boat and putting up with my sometimes - moody son!). Night one, Bethany heard a bear roar in the middle of the night but we never spotted a bear, thank goodness! I ate more s'mores than I should have. On night two, Kasey sat on his serving of hot apple cobbler, burning his butt. We all laughed until we cried at that! I am now addicted to camping and plan to go a couple more times before the summer is over. I realized the shower you take when you get home is like a drug addiciton, its the best thing you've ever done in your life! HA HA

Ryder's 1st day of Preschool!

Oh what a bittersweet day today was!! Ryder started a two-day a week preschool with Ms. Stephanie. His cousin Serenity goes there with him. Day One: he decided he needed to wear an orange bracelet and blue band aid with his outfit. He told me orange was a boy-color! Okay, whatever!

He loves the school but how bizzare for me to drop him off there. It was really a shocker to realize I had a kid old enough for SCHOOL! I know every mom says this, but I really remember him being 7 lbs and laying in my arms 24/7 just yesterday. Time REALLY flies once you have a kid. There is nothing like it!