Ryan's Toy Story Birthday Party!!!

Can you take it?!?!  Look at his sweet face!  He got the fire on his four candles, and he is so trying to soak in this moment. 

A little shout out to H.E.B.  For those not in this area, it's our grocery store!  Love me some red shirted folk.  I had them turn a noodle into a pancake.  They were so patient with me, and willing to do whatever I wanted.  Fantastic job!  And, the cake was pretty good!  (Just get the butter icing). 

 I got to steal the birthday boy from his friends.  Hi, I'm Horsey. 

Ryan spent the night, and the first part of the day at Mimi and Pop Pop's house so I could frantically throw together this party.  THANK YOU!  Ryan walked around for a good ten minutes just soaking in the jumpy castle, the cake, his party hats, his new "Ryan" chair from Nama and Poppy, the balloons, and the big bowl of cheetos!  He LOVED his birthday, and that sweet boy's face as he walked around made it all worth it!

Party favors!  What kid doesn't love a lollipop, right?!

Kelly and Josh broght Cole down for Ryan's birthday.  Cole is Samuel's age, and I'm super excited he has a buddy to rule the neighborhood in a few years.  Kim and I ruled Park Forest!

Ole Brown Eyes!  And, I have no idea what happened to his shirt.  Something tells me that he got some Buzz/Woody cake. 

I have so many cute pictures of the kids taking a whack at the pinata, of Nama .T with the birthday boy, Mimi's gi-normous birthday card with TONS of pictures of Ryan throughout his four years of life, Ryan and Hudson scarfing down cake...  for whatever reason I'm getting an error message when I try to add more pictures.  I guess I over did it. 

LOVED celebrating the sweetest boy! 

My FOUR Year Old

My little man is now FOUR years old.  For some reason, I've forgotten about birthday #3, but birthday #2 is very clear to me.  What I do know about #3, is that it was last minute, meet me at Sonterra, boy only, evite invitation type birthday... we were moving that following week, and I was out of my mind.  Mimi took care of the cake for me, thank you dear Lord for that amazingly generous woman!  So, I made sure that this birthday, he got his birthday hats, candles, fire (for the candles), presents and cake! 

Ryan, as many of you know, LOVES him a good birthday party.  He just wants to celebrate, bounce around and eat icing.  I knew I had to make this birthday special for him b/c next year I may get my first, "Mom, just don't embarrass me."  Okay, so that's a little drastic, but sort of having a hard time with him growing up so fast!

I want to share four random facts about Ryan as a brand new four year old!
1.  In the first three days of being a four year old, he has had his first bout of diarrhea!  I blame the candy and icing on the cake for his tummy trouble.
2.  Thomas the Tank Engine (and friends) and Cars are "so yesterday".  Hello super heroes, Transformers and monster trucks.  The Lord is good, indeed.  (Thomas about put me over the edge). 
3.  He still lets me dress him in whatever I want.  As long as I say his new shoes are "fast", or the shirt is "like daddy's" he's game. 
4.  He's still our petite, little toot, with a gi-normous smile and laugh.  When he laughs, he laughs with his whole body, right through to my heart.  Awe!

Everyday, I get to laugh because of something he says or does.  Everyday, I get to snuggle with him.  Everyday, I go from wanting to disown him during his fits, to seconds later vowing I'll never let him leave the nest.  First thing every morning, I get one of the tightest hugs from him.  Lovin' my little toot!  Happy 4th birthday to one of the sweetest, most adorable kids! 

I'm Famous! And, honored.

Happy Mother's Day!!!! Several moms were asked to be guest bloggers on "Peek in our World" blog. Yours truly was as well. Check out my very first guest post at www.peekinourworld.com.

What is even neater about her series of guest blogs is that she put me in a "trifecta" with my sister Stacy and my adorable mom!

Loved reading the advice and stories of the other moms this past week.

Enjoy!!

Five on Friday

1.  First, Happy Royal Wedding day!!!  I have been dying for this day to be over with b/c I'm so tired of the coverage.  I don't care how they make the gloves that Kate Middleton wears.  I didn't care that her mom chewed gum at some royal function.  THEN, when I woke this morning, I realized I had missed history.  It was then that I cared.  So, frantically (while telling Ryan we will NOT be watching his show) I turn on the t.v. to see William and Kate walking out of the church.  Calmly, I explain to Ryan that we need to watch the kiss on the balcony.  And, we did.  And ,it was lovely.  Kate is so cute!  You could tell she was trying so hard to soak in what she was seeing.  And, her little smirk after their second kiss... so darn cute!

2.  Rod and I are going back to the Biltmore Wednesday!!!!  I'm soooo ready for my lazy days poolside!  I will have to take a break from lounging in the sun to have my spa day!!!  I'm looking for good books to read while my feet are up.  Please comment! 

3.  Ryan's birthday party is coming up.  He's certain that he wants a giant transformer to be there and a roller coaster.  Maybe I can throw Poppy in a Transformer costume to stomp around in the backyard.  Mom, pitch the idea to Dad.  If he loves his grandson, he would....  Roller coaster?? Next year.

4. It's with great saddness that I announce the death of my rose bushes.  I sprayed weed killer at the bottom of them as those pesky things were ruining the roses' image.  A week later, I noticed that all of my roses were dead as a door nail.  How could this be????  The leaves are still green, but EVERY SINGLE rose bloom... lifeless.  Holding on to hope that they just ran their cycle of life and will be back.  Tips, Brooke or Kim???

5.   Samuel is a full on climber.  He can climb onto our raised bed, onto our bathroom sink (help of a stool), into any bathtub, up the stairs, and any play structure that isn't good for a 1.5 year old.  I hid Rod's golf club on top of the shower door to get it out of reach, and as you can guess, he tried to get himself up there to fetch it.  Speaking of "fetching", he's part Retriever.  The boy could fetch a ball for hours if you'd let him.  (or, if you had the mental compacity to do so). 

Have a great weekend!!!!

April - Donate Life Month!!!

April is National Donate Life Month!!!  And, happens to be the same month that San Antonio celebrates FIESTA!!!!  How to incorporate the two? 

Introducing Ryan's Donate Life Texas shoebox float for CHUMs fiesta parade!!!

Big man on campus!

Of course I have to make this post about me.  So, last year I dropped of Ryan for school and noticed all the kids' floats for their fiesta parade.  HAD NO IDEA!  I cried and cried my whole way to work.  I went into my office and immediately my staff came in to see what in the world was going on.  I explained that my child didn't have a float for the parade.  I had no time to make one b/c I had meetings all day. 

Not five minutes later, I had two of my employees walk in with a box and construction paper.  Both of whom are moms themselves.  (of course).  So, I quickly got on the phone to find out what time the parade started.  And, what I feared was true... they were starting in five minutes.  UGH.  Heavy heart. 

SOOOOOO, this year!  Auntie Jenny to the rescue b/c this time I was procrastinating!  She let Ryan and I head to NIOSA and she worked on his amazing float!  We had gone to the Cavaliers River Parade and each float had a cause.  So, that's what we did!  We dedicated our float to promoting organ donation. 

 Ryan LOVED his float!  LOVED it!  His sweet face was so precious when we walked into the kitchen and on the table was his very own float!!!

To register to be an organ donor, go to www.donatelifetexas.org or if out of the state, go to www.donatelife.net. 

Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list.  Every day, 17 people die waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. 

Easter Egg Hunt #1

Easter Egg Hunt #1 - Crossbridge church. 

Facts:

1.  Mom took two kids, under age four, to the hunt, by herself.

2.  Mom fended two kids, under four, from the eggs... for 20 minutes before go-time.  (the comprehension factor was not there with these two).

3.  Mom forgot a basket for her second born.

4.  Mom fed one child M&Ms and potato chips for lunch.  Other ate the intended burger.

5.  Mom secretly wanted to hunt for the eggs herself.  (there will be no time for that)

6.  And, Mom had a successful Easter egg hunt with her little toots.

PROOF:  trying to figure out why in the world we're waiting to hunt eggs.

The waiting became nonsense.

Although, the waiting WAS understood for the first five minutes.  Ryan planted himself in a good spot, waiting for the "GO". 


I figured since Samuel didn't have a basket, what's the harm in beating the clock?! 

UGH.  Okay, here's a complaint I have.  When someone asks you to take a picture, make sure you truly think it's a good one.  If not everyone is looking, take another!  The guy said that he "got it".  Really???  These pics are so few and far between, so I need them to be top of the line!  Nonetheless, I got a picture with my boys!

So, where's Dad?  He had his "guys" trip.  Went fishing.  But, he'll get to see the reall Easter bunny eggs on Sunday. 

Five on Friday -

1.  Mimi and Pop Pop got Ryan a little bike!  Ryan loves it and often asks to ride it to school.  We've had a few tumbles, but otherwise he's a bike fan. 

2.  Samuel is our "in-your-way-kind-of-helpful".  Just wants to be a part of whatever we're doing.  Love how Rod's biting his lip in this picture.  haha!

3.  Samuel is a big fan of swinging!  Big!  When we walk in the house each day after work/school, he goes straight to the backdoor.  While this is sweet, and the boy thing to do, I'm still in heels, work pants and DYING to get in my play clothes. (then start dinner, decide if baths are necessary (they are), lay out clothes for next day, start a load of laundry, and get Samuel's tired body to bed by 6:30).  Gosh, just realized I really took away from this joyful picture of him below. 

4.  Our yard is turning green again!!!!  My plants are GREEN.  FULL!  My rose bushes in the backyard are going NUTS with blooms.  (as they are all over San Antonio... gorgeous).  (Removed picture so predators don't try to find us).

5.  Today we celebrate my grandma's birthday!!!!!  LOVE you Nama Dotty!!!!  We're excited to celebrate you tonight!

St. Patrick's Day River Parade 2011

Fun day on the riverwalk. 

Yard Update #1 - March

The picture below is of a bed in the front of our house.  I was devastated that the freeze completely took my Nile of the Lillies.  I got them trimmed back, and look what's sprouting!!!!  I want to post this so that I can compare it in the next couple of months. 

The  new growth is so encouraging.  Still have quite a bit to clean out, but we're getting there!

The Monsters

Does anything melt a Momma's heart as much as this? 

Guess what I did today?  I emailed my boss.  Said I was leaving early to spend some time outside with the boys on this beautiful day.  So, I took both boys, by myself, to the park!!! 

We got home, ate an early dinner, and back outside we went!  Samuel is 16 months now!!! 

 Since I had my camera out, I thought it'd be cute to catch the two of them holding hands, and I'd snap them from behind.  Here's how it turned out....

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Ryan's "new home" is not sprinkler-system proof.  Nor, is it still with us.
2.  Mommy's "no", means Samuel's "yes".  And, this is loads of fun.  Yea Me!
3.  I just finished shopping for Ryan's summer clothes.  His last round was purchased almost two years ago.  (We just don't grow too quickly.)  He's set now... no more tiny 18 mos t-shirts being stretched in all directions to fit him. 
4.  Samuel had his second surgery of his life to replace his left tube.  For which he came out with two brand new, shiny tubes.  (one in each ear).  The Versed made him a crazy-monster after he woke up.  His crib was the safest place b/c he wanted to walk around, without assistance, while in his drunken state. 
5.  I think this is the Summer that swimming will "click" for Ryan!  And, Samuel will think it clicked for him.  We tested him with Mimi and Pop Pop's super cool pool.  He was willing to walk right in. 
6.  I have flowers in my yard!!!!!  I'm so excited.  Just a few, but I totally want to take credit for it!!!  Brooke, I'm still in the weeding, trimming, raking stage of this "gardening thing".  But, we can try to figure it out together!
7.  Sammy says "Mama" the CUTEST I've ever heard.  He shouts it. 
8.  I was recently in the "Working Mom Guilt-Gut Wrenching Anxiety" mode that I had to take control of.  Here's how I did it:
    a.  The obvious - prayer 
    b.  Became a sister with The Sister Project  (and the timing of this couldn't be more perfect
    c.  I now put my phone/emails/tv away while I'm home with the kids and they are awake.  (except   when the Bachelor is on)
    d.  Gardening   (so darn theraputic)
    e.  Giving myself a freakin' break. 
9.  I've gotten this question A LOT lately.  "So, what about a third?"  To that, I say "I'm 95% sure we're done."  Unless the Lord has other plans for us, and wants to shower our home with pink, we're out.  But, I do hang on to that 5%, and won't officially decide until Samuel is three. 
10.  Ryan watched Bambi for the first time last night.  (Working on my DVD Blu-ray Disney collection)  Didn't seem super excited about it.  Hmmmm. 

What Makes a Home, a Home?

For a three year old, not much.  My bar stools came in, and Ryan purchased his first home, all for the price of a whole lotta nada!  We had this box in our house for a few days with not a lot of interest.  Jenny came over for the weekend, and asked Ryan if the box was his fort.  His reply, "No, it's for the chairs."  See, the box isn't bright red, blue or yellow.  It doesn't flash, choo choo, or rock.  It doesn't go into a DVD player, and doesn't have the scent "chocolate" in it.  So, it was really of no interest to him.  Jenny was appauled. So...voila!  We have a window.

Ryan goes, "This is my new house."  Now, let's get real, you must have a friend, sister, or auntie that has the gift of decorating when you purchase a home.  So, as windows were made, and a door framed Ryan literally said, "We need to decorate it." 

Give Sammy a break.  He can't read yet. Samuel was just as excited as Ryan.  It was really cute.  I'll get real... He's just excited to be outside. 

It's all about who you know...

So, as Ryan got his PJs on, the adults (Mimi, Pop Pop, Jenny, Rod and I) thought it would be funny to say "night night" and start walking him outside to his "new house" for bed time.  We were all a little surprised when Ryan was completely agreeable, and sort of had the look of "Yep, that's right.  My new house."  So, we all headed out with him for his big night in his new home.  Ha.  I laugh b/c he looks terrified in the picture below. 

I think he's starting to question his enthusiasm. 

In we go.  Jenny told him a story, and it was "lights out" for his Thomas the Train flashlight, but Glowworm could stay on, as often as he hit the belly. (which was A LOT... every time it went out, he'd hit it again).  So, all the adults headed back inside after we fare-welled him to his new home.  Okay, so here is where my mommy-anxiety came in.  "Is he going to feel abandoned?  Will he sense we've left him for dead in the cold?  Will he remember this day as the day Mom thought it was a good idea for me to sleep in a box?"

He's pretty psyched, confused, cold....

But, I quickly went back inside to enjoy the warmth of my home.  And, to take a picture so you can see where his house is in relation to ours.  Mommy anxiety couldn't take it.  He wasn't crying, shouting, or anything.  I thought, could he actually fall asleep out t here, and we have to carry him in for the night???  Well, I couldn't take it, so I went out there.  How you see him in the pic above is how I found him.  Sucking his thumb. 

I knocked on the door to see if he wanted to come inside.  He had a HUGE smile on his face.  Not because he was getting to head inside.  It was a smile of pride that he "did it".  He "slept" outside.  It was so sweet.  He was loving his house.  The smile actually started at the point that Jenny broke ground on the front door. 

Next day, he continued unpacking and decorating his home. 

I love this picture below.  He and I set up for a puzzle and a bag of popcorn!  We were outside all weekend.  And, I LOVED it!!!! 



Side note:  I'm going to start taking pictures of our yard.  I'm now a full on gardening addict.  I don't feel like gardening is the right word though.  I'm full on pulling weeds, trimming bushes, branches, you name it.  I'm LOVING it.  It's soooo therapeutic for me. 

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Check out who got a family photo!!!!  Sort of.  (p.s. this is the day after the snow in San Antonio)

2.  Mike joined us for the train and Zoo day.  He had to sit in the front.  I think he might be the most excited of all the boys. 

 3.  Sammy was a trooper at the zoo.  Didn't fuss a bit.  I think he could feel the Vitamin D pouring into his Vit D deficient body.  This boy needs to get out in the sun more!

4.  He wouldn't smile for me.  So, when I politely demanded one, he gave me an little devilish "CHEEZE MOM". 

5.  The boys and I spent the night at Nama and Poppy's house for the ARTIC BLAST that hit San Antonio.  It was so fun to wake up over there with yummy cinammon rolls, fresh coffee, warm pjs, and snow on the ground. 

6.  Samel thought Poppy and Ryan were CRAAAAZAY for going out in the cold. 

7.I had taken this pic soon after his first hair cut!  Doesn't he look adorable!!!  Love this little booger! 

 8.  I LOVE this picture of Sue.  I just want to cover and protect her all the time.  She has one of the sweetest souls I know.

9.  Ryan spelled and sounded out the word C-A-T and C-A-R.  Easy words?  Yes.  But, I'm sure proud.  He and I worked on what "spelling" meant when reading letters, and how the sounds run together.  We used a baby book that Nana Jana got Ryan when he turned one.  Thanks Jana!  It's great for learning to read words.  I would cover up the picture so he couldn't see what letters he was reading, and what sounds he was making with the letters.  So neat!

10.  One of Samuel's tubes already came out!  Lasted a whole seven weeks.  WEAK! 

CAN YOU BELIEVE!?!  We're going to hold off replacing unless he starts getting ear infections.  Thank goodness for the Arctic Blast.  It not only gave me a day off, it also killed off any potential for the cedar count to go up until next season!  Hot diggity!