Zoo Addicts

Thanks to my friend Liz, we are now addicted to the zoo and proud Phoenix Zoo Members. Ryder and I tend to visit the zoo about once a week and we try to drag what friends and family we can along with us. But when no one wants to join us, we have just as much fun by ourselves. Ryder loves the freedom of running through the zoo (yes, running, why walk when you can run everywhere? must be nice to be a 2 year old). He also loves to climb up all the fences and exhibit barriers he can. The other day he actually freaked me out a bit when he climbed up the wire fence around the lions and got pretty high. I actually had to reach over my head, on my tippy toes to pull him down. He is really a monkey and belongs right at home at the zoo. Ha Ha! His favorite exhibits are the amazon fish tank (probably because he can reach his hands into the water) and petting the goats (which I find very GROSS). There are also lots of pigeons around the zoo, and he spents a good amount of time chasing them. Guess we didn't need to buy a membership, you can chase pigeons on any Phoenix street!

Here are a few pics from some recent trips:

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! I didn't get many pictures but here are a couple of Ryder, Reni, and Jordan at the 'kiddie' table. There is one benefit to having kids... you are no longer obligated to be sitting at the kiddie table. Your kids now get too! My parents, sister, and nephew Jordan came over to my house along with all of Kasey's siblings and his mom for Thanksgiving. I am thankful I get to spend so much time with my loved ones. It is a blessing to be living so close and having kids close in age. I hope these three little ones grow up the best of friends!

Whip Cream.... EVERYWHERE!

What happens when a two year old and a three year old get ahold of a cool whip tub when parents aren't looking? THIS!! Ryder and Reni took it upon themselves to wipe whip cream on EVERY surface of my kitchen. There where sticky white hand prints on every cabinet, the floor, the wall, the door, themselves, even the DOG! These pictures don't even do the mess justice. By the time we caught them, the damage was done and the kids were so happy we couldn't do anything but laugh ourselves. Let's just hope there won't be a repeat performance!

Halloween 2008

We took Ryder (as a dragon) and Serenity (as a Tinkerbell) out around the neighborhood. The kids got so much candy, they couldn't carry their buckets by the end of the night! We would push Ryder in the stroller to a house and he would leap out and run to the door. He even said "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" to everyone. Of course it sounded more like "Treeeorreet" and "Tinku". Then he would run back to the stroller, hop in and say, "More!! Dada, more."

Party Combo

Today we held a party in honor of Ryder's birthday and a housewarming party. We made sure to have a cake for Rhonda & Jandi too! (Jandi's birthday was 10/24 and she turned the big 1-8!) We rented a giant jumper for the kiddos but I think maybe they were still a tad too young for it. Except for Kasey's young cousin Deon! I am pretty sure he hung out in the jumper the entire couple hours he was over here. Late in the night Gerald and Kasey did climb in and attempt to box in it, so that was pretty entertaining. This picture to the left was us trying to sing happy birthday to Ryder, Rhonda, and Jandi but Ryder kept sticking his fingers into the icing (see his face?). It was a fun party and thank you to everyone who came by to make it special. We have the best family and friends!!


(Picture 1) Jordan, Matty, Ryder, and Serenity playing with Ryder's new toys. The kid was spoiled rotten and got lots of new, fun things.
(Picture 2) Ryder with his Great Grandma & Grandpa Nitschke (aka GigiMa & GigiPa).
(Picture 3) Happy 18th Birthday Jandi Jo!
(Picture 4) Mama and Dada try to make funny noises to get Ryder to smile... didn't work.

Ryder is TWO!!!

Tonight, Kasey & I celebrated Ryder's second birthday with our own little celebration. Since it was just the three of us, we bought a little cake and sang him happy birthday. This boy loves cake!!! I cannot beleive my little man is TWO! I know everyone says it, but time flies once you have a kid. We are having Ryder's birthday party next weekend. It will actually be a birthday party/housewarming party combo. More pics to come from that!!

And, we must remember Ryder's 10/19 birthday is also shared with his great Aunt Rhonda and Great Grandma Buskohl! All three have the same birthday. Must be the luckiest day! Two years later, I still feel so blessed that Ryder shares this birthday with them and thrilled Grandma was alive to see it happen too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYDER, RHONDA, AND GRANDMA BUSKOHL!! I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH.

Our New House!

At the end of September, we moved into our brand new (huge) home. This is my first ever 'ownership' of a home, so I feel so very OLD now. Ha! Since I work for the builder that built this home, I got to pick every thing out (within a tight budget of course) and really personalize the home. That was a very fun experience and something I've wanted to do since starting my job 5 years ago.

We live in South Phoenix, right up near South Mountain. It is so nice to be minutes from downtown, the major freeways, the airport, everything!! After two years of living in Queen Creek (which is 90 minutes outside of Phoenix), I love being near the "city" again. I no longer have a commute to work which is wonderful. The house is 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, which sounds like a lot but we needed it!!! With Jeri & Gerald living with Kasey, Ryder, and I, we use every room in this house. We even had room for Kasey's pool table to stay! We couldn't ask for more.

Here are a few pics of the new house. I really have all the furniture I need and all the walls are painted & accent painted... so now I just need to accessorize and add some pictures on the wall. That is a goal of mine for 2009! Sheri & Adam (Kasey's sister) ended up buying the house next door a month after us. Now, Serenity & Ryder get to play together everyday and having family next door is crazy-fun. Hopefully now, we can stay here for a very long time because I am really sick of moving and packing!! If I have to break down one more cardboard box & stuff it in the overflowing recycle bin, I might just have a mental break down while I'm at it.

My pride & joy is Ryder's room! The walls are a baby blue and the ceiling is midnight blue with stars painted on. The wall above his crib says: "always reach for the stars". His bedding (which is not on his crib in these photos, sorry) is striped with all shades of blues. Very "boy".

Me & Ryder Showing off the Kitchen Backsplash. The cabinet to the upper right is supposed to hold decorative plates... one of the many things left to buy!

Kitchen Nook (yes that wall is orange! but trust me, in person looks good!)Great Room (pool table/couches & TV... we need an entertainment center bad!):The Loft/Computer Area:

The Master Bathroom:
Jeri & Ryder's Bathroom:
Serenity playing with Gerald and his friend Andrew in his room:
Our Backyard: