16 months

 Ryder boy is 16 months old today and it's for me to grasp how fast he's growing up.  I vividly remember the girls at this age and he's so darn cute, just like they were.  We have a full fledged toddler on our hands.  He's busy, busy, busy, and into everything.  Never a dull moment with this kid around.  Here are a few highlights of our little man:

• Loves playing peek-a-boo with anyone and everyone.  He thinks it's hilarious and it never gets old.
• Sleeping like a champ at night, about 12 hours and taking 2 solid naps during the day.  I was trying to push him to one nap but it was backfiring, so we're back to a nap somewhere in the 9 o'clock hour and again in the afternoon.
• He's pointing at everything and loves telling me which direction to go by pointing.  When I'm putting him to bed he's always pointing out to the family room like that's where he'd rather be.
• Saying more words and signing more too.  He can say Ryan's name and it sounds like "I-an".  I've heard him say 'Reese' once.  It sounded like "eese".  He signs please, more, hurt, all done, bath, outside.
• Loves animals and the noises they make.  He says, "moo, neigh, quack, baa, chirp noises for birds, & elephant.
• Doesn't want to sit in his highchair.  He would rather stand on the barstool next to his sisters or sit on the kitchen island so he's in the mix of everything.  He climbs on the barstools in 2 seconds flat and refuses to get down.
• He loves his belly button and everyone else's.  We ask him to find Mimi or Mommy's belly button and he's running right over to lift up a shirt and poke your belly button.
• His hair is getting L-O-N-G.  It's so cute and curly in the back.  The front is getting a little shaggy but we're still letting it grow.
• Ryder LOVES daddy.  When the door chime beeps he says, "Dada" and goes running for Cory.
• The last molar broke through and he now has 16 teeth, 8 on the top and 8 on the bottom.  I think the teething is over for a bit.
• Still our little skinny guy that can wear 6-12 month pants and fit into a size 3 diaper.
• I can tell that he's understanding everything we say.  I know his comprehension completely exceeds his verbal language and it's fun talking to him, knowing he's understanding everything we say.
• He has such a fantastic personality and we love watching all his adorable expressions.  His face lights up over the littlest things.  He makes his excited face and we all crack up.

We love you so much, Ryder boy.  You are SO much fun right now and we love watching you change and grow.  Each day with you is a gift that we treasure.

Our outing with Gammie

On Friday afternoon I received a call from our dear friend, Erica Butler.  She told me that she had invited my Gammie to her daughter's 17th birthday party and my grandma was trying to drive herself to the party.  Well, Gammie has no business driving her Buick boat to Tempe so Erica asked if I would drive Gammie to the party and bring the girls along.  Of course!  We were so excited to tag along and celebrate.

 Reese didn't really want to pose for a photo.  She decided to pick a winner instead.

 When Catherine was opening her presents she had two very helpful little girls right by her side.

 Catherine, me, & Gammie.

 Catherine & the girls.

Mother's Day at Risen Savior

 The girls hosted a Mother's Day Tea at preschool.  Mimi joined us and the girls served us food and tea.  They were so sweet.

Mimi was in charge of the camera and there were many photos like this one below where my eyes were closed but it was pretty cute of the girls.  I'll take one for the team.

Ryder boy came along with us and was his usual rowdy self.  It was prime nap time and he was a sport while we noshed and listened to the musical performance.  He really loves their preschool classroom and knows right where his favorite toys are stashed.

Their class made really cute clay pots with homemade flowers and a photo in the center.  They also made an adorable recipe book of all the kids' favorite recipes.

Here they are singing their hearts out.  They knew every single word and all the motions that went along.  I was such a proud mama.

Little cuties

I bought matching shirts for Haley and the girls.  They were so excited and they decided to put on a fashion show for us.  We announced them and they strutted their stuff down the hallway and posed in the family room.  Such little cuties.

Mama' Boy as told by Mimi

Lisa,

Your little boy loves you so much!

We were having fun together playing peek-a-boo among other things.  He went into the pantry and got each of us a juice pack.  I opened one and we shared it and when we were finished, I put him down to run around.  We were in the kitchen and he just stopped on the rug in front of the stove and turned back to me.  He had the saddest little face and started to get tears in his eyes, saying, “Mama?  Mama?”   He broke my heart!

As soon as I picked him up, he just laid his head on my shoulder and snuggled with me while I rocked him back and forth.  I talked to him for a while and held him, but he also seemed tired and I put him in his crib.  He didn’t seem so sad when I covered him with a blanket, put his little stuffed dog beside him, and told him you would be home soon.

He is so precious and loves his mommy more than anything.  That is so special; enjoy every minute of it.

Mom

Kisses for Daddy

Ryder loves giving kisses. And he really loves Daddy. So sweet together.

I'm trying

I'm trying to get back in my blogging mode.  I was doing so good and then I feel like things derailed in April.  It was a busy month but I've also been SO sad about Chandler's death and I'm having a hard time writing about the day to day stuff we do.  I have such a heavy heart for the Dobsons because they aren't getting to experience those day to day adventures with Chandler anymore.  There are no words that can comfort our dear friends.  I wish there was.

Karate Program

The girls' karate class at Risen Savior has come to an end.  Their instructor owns a karate studio on Riggs Rd. and they put on a program at the studio.  The girls have really enjoyed their karate lessons and this was a great way for them to show off all the moves they've learned.  They did their performance and at the end received a certificate and a Jr. yellow belt.

Reese is a mini ninja and was so precise with her form.  She takes it pretty seriously.  Ryan is really strong and she really got into the moves towards the end.  It was so much fun watching their performance.  I can't wait for more karate next year.

 Reese is in the blue socks below and Ryan is wearing the stripe socks.  

 Bowing to Sensei Shannon when she gets her Jr. yellow belt.

 So proud of my little girls and their yellow belts.

Our little ninja warriors

Remembering Chandler

Today we celebrated the life of Chandler Michael Dobson, our sweet little friend that went to be with Jesus last Monday.  He was the sweetest little boy with the biggest smile and was so full of life.  My heart has been breaking for the Dobsons this past week as they mourn the loss of their precious little boy.  The funeral was an amazing ceremony with beautiful music, photos & videos, and his favorite color orange everywhere.  It was a testament to the wonderful life he had for three short years.  Sweet Chandler, we know you are up in heaven in Jesus' arms and giving him some good belly laughs with your sweet smile.  We love you and will miss you dearly.

Rock Van Gogh

Ryan really wanted to paint rocks.  I love our little picnic table where they can do these kinds of projects and it all gets hosed down.  She picked out some of her favorite rocks and went to town with our glitter and tempera paint.

 She had a little helper along the way.

 So pensive.  I love it that Ryan did this little project all on her own.  Usually Reese is the little craft kid, but not today.  Ryan was in full artsy craftsy mode on her own.

Easter eggs

We love dyeing Easter eggs each year.  The girls get really amped up about it and it's a fun family event for us all.  We dyed a few dozen tonight and then they'll do some at school tomorrow, and again on Saturday at Auntie CeCe's house.  That should be enough to get their fill for the year.  One of their favorite parts is dropping in the color tablets to see what colors will appear.  It's all SO exciting!

 Ryan couldn't wait to get started.  

I'm know it's weird she's in her undies but she didn't want to put clothes on and I didn't want to try to get dye out of her outfit.  It's really nothing new to see our kids in their skivvies.

We love mixing the colors up and Cory tries to get the tie-dye action going with the eggs.

 Ryder was our cheerleader from his high chair.  

Strapping him in was the only way we could keep the eggs safe.

 Some of our finished work.  

Now we're going to decorate with stickers and a few egg wraps.

 I told Cory that I'm always behind the camera and there's never any good photos of me.  So he grabbed the camera and snapped this photo.  Thanks, Honey.  Just the lovely snapshot I was hoping for with my bikini strap hanging down out of my cover up.  So classy.

The girls decided to eat the eggs that were cracked and Reese wolfed hers down but Ryan decided she didn't care for hard boiled eggs.  She ate almost all the yolk and then spit it out in Cory's hand.  Lovely.

 Ryder is so excited to show Mimi our Easter eggs. We had so much fun!

Mimi in the rain

Here is Reese's latest drawing.  It's Mimi walking a dog in the Rain.  I'm not sure why she put Ryan's name on it.  I love these little drawings and we have a pretty substantial pile around our house.  My favorite part is the dog with the leash, floppy ears, and a big bone next to him.