Some random Ryder stories...

Just some random "Ryder-isms" for ya...and for me that I want to remember!  =)

• He put my glasses on the other morning and looked around and said, "These make everything fuzzy and big and in my face!"  Well yes son...
• Driving down the street where this is a lot of construction and a lot of curves, and some new widened roads, that aren't drivable yet...he said, "We can only go down the right side of the road, right mom?"  Pretty impressed that he noticed we were always on the right side!  :P
• He was throwing fits the other night at my parents house for some reason and I have been trying to get him to realize that throwing a fit doesn't get him any where and doesn't accomplish anything.  So after the second fit, I was talking to him and said, "What did you accomplish by throwing those fits?" And he looked up at me and said, "I accomplished being a bad boy."  I had to walk out of the room to hide my laugh...
• Over Spring Break, he seemed to lose his manners!  Like seriously...and I kept telling him, "You better find your manners before you go back to school!"  Well...he was at his Mimi's last night and she asked him something and he politely said, "No mam."  And then he looked up at Mimi and said, "Mimi!  My manners came back...I knew they would!!"

He is seriously always cracking me up and teaching me new things!  I love him to pieces and can't wait to watch him grow into who he is supposed to be!  

Happy Monday! =)

We had a good Monday!  I subbed for a math class I've had before...and it went really well!  Just makes for a good, enjoyable day...and a Monday at that!  I was ready to go get little man from school though because I was missing him!  He was outside playing basketball when I pulled up and had just made a basket!

We stopped by Maggie's for some cookies and a Sprite (his fav when he gets to have coke) and then went straight to KeeKee's to play outside (since our driveway isn't paved). 

He got this coo tricycle for his birthday and it's been a bit too long for his legs to reach until now...goes to show you how much he's grown in just the passed few weeks!  He was so happy he could finally ride it and kept saying, "Bunky and Linda Sue got me this for my birthday!"  I'm gonna hop on the back and make him ride me around soon!  Ha!

He was throwing this stick for Sister to go fetch...

Poppy came by to see us and decided he wanted Moe's...so we met KeeKee there for dinner and then Poppy insisted on taking R to Marble Slab for some ice cream...we hadn't ever been there before!  Well...good choice!  I didn't get anything, but I had a few bites of Ryder's and it was GOOOD!  We'll be going back!  =)

 That boy loves his ice cream!  He literally doesn't stop looking at it and shoveling it into his mouth until he is done!

Real quick...funny story.  On our way to church yesterday morning I told him in the car that I prayed for him to have a kind heart, and a loving heart to all the kids in his class...and he said mom, "But I can't...I only have one heart."  Well son...I guess you're right!  :P

31 day blog challenge...day 4

Day 4:  Best childhood memory

I have a few random ones I want to share...nothing too special, just great memories.

• Going to my great aunt and uncles' house out in the middle of know where with my cousin Tonya and getting to sleep under the pullout couch in the living room...making our own "tents"
• My family's vacation to St. Louis in the 3rd-ish grade?  We went to a 17 inning Cardinals game, went up in the arch, St. Louis Children's Museum, and ate on a McDonald's boat.  For some reason...very memorable!
• Getting ice cream at my Nana's when we were little, each grandkid would get the number of cherries in their bowl plus one!  So fun because I was always the oldest!  :P
• Going down to the farm with my dad and brother and our friends during the summer to ride four wheelers and fish, and "rough it" for a couple of days.
• My dad taking us to monster truck rallies, rodeos etc. just to expose us to different things!  So thankful!

That's about it...told ya it wasn't too excited, but it's my most vivid and thankful memories growing up! =)

31 day blog challenge...day 1

I'm trying something new!  I am doing a 31 day blogging challenge!  I honestly saw it on IG and thought it looked like something fun and interesting to do, so I decided to take part!  I may not do it everyday but I am most definitely going to try, because I want to!  =)  It is hosted by Fabulous Finds By Tiffany & feel free to join in!  

This may be boring to some, but I know I'll be glad I did it one day...and you might learn a thing or two about me in the process!  =)  I miss writing like I used to, so this will be good for me!

Day 1:  self-portrait & 5 random facts about me!

1. I am the oldest grandchild on both sides of the family!  A bit spoiled before all the other cousins came along!  :P

2. I was originally a graphic design major before switching to middle level education.

3.  I like my creamer with a little bit of coffee.  I'm working on reversing this though.

4.  I only let myself eat Taco Bell if it's after midnight...because it just "feels right"--& the later it is, the worse it is for you I know...dumb!

5.  Me & my friends changed our HS marque sign once.  We stole gathered all the letters we needed from other marques around town to say what we wanted to say, and changed it in the middle of the night....It sounds dumb now, but we had a blast doing it!  =)

I'm linking up over at Fabulous Find by Tiffany!

Ryder Quotes!

Ryder is at such a funny stage in his little life...I have to do better at recording things down that this crazy kid says!  He is so observant and seriously never misses anything!  He could literally tell you how to get from one place to another around town, just from remembering!  He truly amazes me every day with his knowledge!

Here are just a few things I've written down over the passed few weeks...from the words of my little man!--Literally!  ;)

• While we were at his Dr.'s appointment, the Dr. walked in and she had about shoulder length hair that happened to be curly that day...and it looked natural and cute to me.  Ryder looked up at her and said, "Your hair looks CRAY-ZEEEE!"  OMG...and...to top it off, she was pregnant, so I'm sure that just destroyed her.  I felt SO bad!  I just tried to explain to him that it was curly and that's how it's supposed to look!  What do you do?  Oh geez!
• I asked him a question the other day in the car, and he said very matter-afactly, "Let me put my thinking cap on"...while tapping his chin with his pointer finger.
• He is into saying "NEVER!" when I ask him something he doesn't want to do...kind of disrespectful, but I don't know where he got it.  I always think of JB's #neversaynever song!  {of course I would...}
• On my lap top, I just have the generic galaxy background, I guess you could call it.  He looked at it the other day and said, "Mom...is that the whole wide world?"  I was amazed and shocked that he even sorta know what that was!  I explained to him that it was even MORE than the whole wide world!  He loved it!  
• Sometimes when he eats a lot, he has a little belly on him and it's pretty funny!  I pointed it out there other night while he was getting in the bath and he said, "Yeah...I'm getting a baby in my belly!"  I guess he has seen too many pregnant ladies at the grocery store lately...ha!
• He hates when my legs aren't freshly shaved because they are "prickly" and he told me the other night that his legs were getting to be like mine because they felt "prickly".  Sure enough...he's growing some hair on those legs!  
• While checking out at TJ Maxx, R starts to make his regular conversation with the checker-outter.  Today happened to be an older AA woman.  Her hair was very, very short, actually hardly any hair at all, but it was fixed.  She had on a regular shirt and a black blazer-like thing.  Ryder looks at her and says, "Are you a boy or a girl?"  I died.  She handled it very well and told me it was okay and that he is just honest {ya think??}.  What am I gonna do with him?
• If you're not from around here...a little preface.  At our local WM, there is a handicapped man named Brad who is the greeter.  He was in a vehicle crash in HS and has been paralyzed ever since.  It is hard to understand him when he talks, but he is the sweetest man!  I've always asked him, "How are you doing Brad?" and he has ALWAYS responded with "Very blessed" while grabbing the cross necklace he wears around his neck.  
• WOW.  Think about that.  A man in a wheel chair, that can't do most thing by himself is telling me that he is blessed!--and I am in a grumpy mood from being at school all day, it's raining outside, and I'm at WM having to spend money on dang groceries!  That will put things into perspective for you real quick!  
• Anyways...Ryder has started talking to Brad the last few times we go to WM, so this week when we were getting out of the car, R said, "Can I go see that guy when we get inside?"  I told him absolutely if Brad was working.  This WARMED my heart!  Brad isn't like the rest of us, and Ryder sees and recognizes that, but he still wants to go and visit with him before starting our grocery shopping.  We get in the store and I see that Brad's working...Ryder literally RUUUUUNS over to him and gives him a HUGE hug while Brad sits in his wheel chair and hugs him back.  Ryder says, "How was your day?" (That's what we always say at the dinner table so he asks everyone that) Brad responds to Ryder with, "Very blessed" while grabbing the cross necklace around his neck and showing it to him.  Ryder points to it and says, "That's the cross where my Jesus died" and Brad shook his head up and down.  I was crying by this point...and told R to tell him bye and that we would see him next time.  What a blessing!  Not only to me, but to all the customers of the WM on this side of town!  Brad is a true inspiration to me and hopefully to my son as he grows up visiting Brad at WM!

Few Ryder Stories

R started waking up last week telling me to get up because it was time to go to Snuggle Bug!  It made me so happy!  I took him to school on Thursday & knew my mom would be picking him up because I had class till later than they are opened, but luckily my teacher said we would always get out early, so that made me happy!

We had a parent meeting Thursday night & Ms. Carol told everybody a story about what Ryder had said that day.  He had told her he needed to go to the bathroom & she said, "Do you want to stand up or sit down?" Ryder replied with, "Sit down...standing up don't work when you have to go poo-p**!"  Haha!  Smart lil kid I tell ya!  :P

He got to go to gymnastics on Friday, like they will every Friday.  This is so nice to me because instead of it taking up a night during the week, he gets to go during the day with all his friends!

I was sad to see that when I got to school on Friday his caterpillar was on red.  :(  I asked what happened, and apparently he had pushed a kid during gymnastics & was taking toys from kids & running away instead of using his words.  It didn't seem to bother him too much, but I want it to get to the point where it does.  I'm not sure how to handle this at home, because sometimes the things he did were hourrrrrrs before & I don't know if he'll understand why I'm discipling him.  Hummm...

He stayed the night at his Dad's on Friday night & they had a big'ole time.  THey went swimming at a friends & R got to ride his motorized four wheeler with Ainsley & her motorized truck!  I bet that was a sight to see!  Saturday they go up & went & had breakfast at the Wagon Wheel & then went to an auction...man stuff!  I was glad to get my lil man back though!  =)

On our way to church this morning, Ryder said, "Mom...I have hair on my legs."  He said it as though he was SOO surprised!  I was like yes baby you do...It was just funny because I think he honestly JUST noticed!  He told me he was going to tell his friends at church that he has hair on his legs.  TOO funny!  Love him!

Ryder-isms

Just a few things crazy boy has been doing/saying lately that I want to remember!  =)

• We were in our bathroom one day & I said something along the lines of a "bathroom" & he said, "This isn't a restroom is it?"  & I said, "Yes honey it is...restroom & bathrooms are the same thing...but people may call them different things."  He said, "No they're not...restrooms are like at Target, & bathrooms are like at  our house."  Well...come to think of it two year old--your EXACTLY right!  
• I had a homework assignment due one night, & he wanted me to watch TV with him & I just nicely told him, "Let mommy finish her homework so that I can be a teacher okay?"  He just started to cry & said, "I don't want you to be a teacherrrrr!  I want you to be a Mommmmmy!!" I told him that I could be both a mommy & a teacher & he was perfectly okay with that!  ;)
• When we go to Target & Kroger, he always wants the big go carts that have the trucks on the end, of the ones with little plastic seats connected to the part you push...I always have to tell him those are for mommies with two babies & I only have one baby so I don't want to take up one if someone else needs it.  He just looked at me & said, "Do you want two babies?"  & I told him, "That yes, one day I would like to have two babies..."  So..for the rest of our shopping trip at Target, he told everyone we saw that I wanted to have two babies.  Quite embarrassing.  
• I don't particularly like him to use the word "hate" but the other night he used it & I didn't get on to him!  :P  He told me that he HATED mosquito bites!  I told him that that was okay, because I do too!  ;)
• He has a little kick board that he loved to play with in the swimming pool.  He kept calling it his "list" the day we got it & I didn't quite understand why...but sometimes as a parent, you just have to go with it until you figure out what their talking about!  Finally..it hit me!  He was calling it his "list" because it looked like the ten commandments--pretty much a "list"!  Ha!
• When we went & got his hair cut last week, he was telling Ms. Jennifer what tool she needed to use next on his hair & how to use it (the little razor/thiner thing...& the electric razor on his neck, & when he needed to hold the mirror etc.) & he was actually RIGHT!  I was DYING!  

Needless to say...I have a lot to learn from my sweet boy & he is seriously ALWAYS keeping me on my toes!!--BUT...I LOVE IT!  =)

Mid-Week Randoms

• Half way through week 2 of summer school & I have my first tests tomorrow & Friday.  Better get on it!  
• It really hasn't been too bad so far, the only homework I have to do is read, & it's for a fiction class, so it's not too bad.  The only think that is throwing me off is I'm gone 11-3, sitting in a classroom--with a ten minute break where I have to run to the parking lot, get in my car, drive across campus & run to my class, so...not much time to do anything or eat really!   So when I get home I'm seriously STARVED & literally eat my little heart out, & then by the time it's time for dinner, I'm not even hungry because I'm still so stuffed from my 3 o'clock "lunch".  Oh well...three & a half more weeks!  =) 

• I found this lil bag at Walgreens for $3.99--yes!  Seriously!  I had been using a ole little Vera bag for SS that just wasn't cutting it for all my stuff & this was the perfect size & the price was even better!  I think I'm gonna go get it monogrammed after my classes are over!

• Funny story about this little guy.  He had just gotten out of the bath the other night & I had been sitting on the toilet waiting on him to finish brushing his teeth (I do it first, & then he does it) & he told me to "hide under his blankie".  So he put blankie on top of my head & I just sat there a while waiting to see what he would do.  I had just bought a new bottle of tums that was on the bathroom counter, & next think I know, I can hear the bottle being messed with.  He then goes on to say, "Keep hiding mom, keep hiding...stay underneath there!"  When I realized what he was doing I was like OMG-he seriously thought that one out didn't he!  Needless to say, lil booger was CAUGHT & the tums were put away!

• Ryder's babysitter this summer, Lizzie (who he LOVES) brought him this lil treat today!  It's Muno from Yo Gabba Gabba & it's a TY Beanie Baby!  I about DIED when I saw it because you rarely see any Yo Gabba stuff for sale--or at least I've never seen any!  I loved that he was made out of minky fabric so it looks like he has his dots!  She said she got him at Cracker Barrell, so I'm thinking he made need a few more friends to go with Muno...because he hasn't put poor Muno down since I got home this afternoon!

• I wanted to let my readers in on a little secret! ;) A much awaited package arrived today...all the way from CHINA!  I scored this "J Crew" necklace that retails for around $150 on eBay for $14!  Can't beat that!--& you should get yourself one too...I know it's not real, but who cares!  :P  Even though it is stamped "J Crew" on the chain!  Doesn't it look fab with my t shirt & norts?  :P  I'm thinking about ordering some more colors...So, now you know this is legit & not a scam!  Just type in "jcrew bubble necklace" on eBay!

• I'm obsessed with pineapple right now.  I eat at least one a week.  I just wish they didn't burn my mouth so bad!  :/

• Sad to see where I went to HS finally coming down.   These were "pods"...we didn't really have legit hallways & if you walked in a circle you would eventually end up where you started.  Sometimes you had to go through classrooms to get to your classroom..it was seriously CRAY, but I loved every minute of that school & seriously some of my BEST memories were made in those hallways & classrooms.  I tried to go grab a brick the other day, but an unmarked cop car go out & told me to put it back.  I was seriously pissed off...but I'm gonna try again!  :P
• One last thing!  Erin Condren launched her pre-sale for her new 2012-2013 planners this afternoon!  They are filled with all sorts of fun new things including:
• Colored coded months
• 2 page monthly spread (instead of one)
• LAMINATED tabs!!--{can I get an AMEN!}
• "Snap in" page holder/ruler (I had this in my agenda in HS & LOVED it, worked great!}
• Study aluminum coil (instead of plastic) so that it doesn't bend or get messed up in a bag or purse
• Photo stickers!  How FUN!
• & Erin Condren PENS!  Oh my word...too much fun!
• You can also pick between a 12 or 18 month calendar AND you can pick which month you want it to start!  {For example you can order it today, but not have it start till August when the new school year starts back up}
• Hope on over there & check um out...get yourself one or put it on your birthday wish list!  ;)  Mine has been a life changer & I get compliments on it ALL the time!

Hope y'all are having a blessed week, & don't let a day go by without being thankful for all of your many blessings!  =)

Spring Break Brain Dump

• Our Spring break hasn't gone quite as planned...just because of ALL.THE.RAIN.  I pictured us playing outside all morning, making lunch, eating it outside...playing some more outside, coming in to take a bath and crashing for naps.  Hasn't happened.  :/
• Typing on my lap top keyboard is an adjustment from my desktop.  Weird...I know.
• R has actually done really well being cooped up in the house.  I have limited out TV time & he has really been doing well!  I know he misses school and his friends though!
• Speaking of friends...he confessed to kissing a girl in his class to me tonight.  I asked him to show me how he kissed her and he showed me and I literally fell over from laughter!  
• Tonight his prayer was, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for my Papa's leg.  Tell the doctors to fix it and tell him to feel better.  Amen.  I love you Poppy"  Seriously, so sweet.
• We slept in way to late this morning.  Poppy called and asked us to lunch at Panera.  Dad told us to go to Jump Zone or Play World but when I drove by those places the parking lots were TOO full for my liking (and I had already told R that's where we were going) so I talked him into a "ten dollar toy" inside WM instead!  ;)  We never cruise the toy aisle, so it was kinda fun to see what he was interested in that he doesn't have!  We ended up leaving with a 5 dollar golf set!  =)
• Mama got some SkinnyGirl lip plumping lip gloss & I like the color and it definitely makes your lips tinkle, but was NOT a fan of the chip packaging and hard as a rock plastic applicator.  Who wants to rub that all up on their lips?
• When I "think I get hungry" I'm trying to just go fill up my water bottle with more water!  {Have I mentioned I haven't had any Sonic cokes & only a few cokes in general from restaurants here and there since Valentine's Day?  This is seriously HUGE for me.}
• I'm trying so hard not to think or care about the projects I have due next week.  :/
• Last week I was all into DrawSomething.  Yeah, I'm already over it.  It was fun, but way to time consuming and I got all the colors I could get and I didn't really have anything else to work for.  Ha!
• I pulled out all of R's spring clothes today and oh my word!  I thought he didn't have "any" and was seriously gonna have to go naked half the time.  Negative.  I am almost embarrassed.  A lot of it is 2T stuff and I figured it won't fit half way through the summer anyways though, so I guess we're okay.
• If you want some true weight loss inspiration and some brutally honest truth {and every once and a while a chance to see two cute lil boys, one of which shares the EXACT birthday with my baby boy} then head on over to Mama Laughlin's blog and catch up on her amazing story!  
• It's not supposed to rain again today, but since it's so wet outside I think we're gonna stay in and try and do some fun arts and crafts...which should get interesting!  Just making memories with my boy!  ;)

Ryder-isms

Just a few things I want to remember about my sweet lil boy at this age!

• We are now obsessed with Woody & Buzz "like year"
• Today I was waking him up from his nap & he gently pushed me back to lay down beside him & said, "Let's rest for just a few more minutes..." Umm...think he's heard that a time or two?  :P
• Tonight while at Target mom asked me if I wanted anything from Starbucks & I said no, he said, "Yoouuuu donnnn't waaaaant anyyyyythiiiiing from STARRRRRBUCKS?"  I was like no honey, I don't.  He was SHOCKED!  :O
• Before bed the other night he wanted to read ME a book!  He picked one out, opened it & said in the most country voice EVER, "Woonce apooona tiiiime" {country voice} I literally fell out laughing!  I don't think I've ever read him a book that started that way before, but he cracked me UP!
• He has been telling me "No" a lot & I send him straight to his room.  I usually send him to his room, let us both cool off, then go in there & spank him (if he needs to be punished more besides going to his room depending on what he did...) & then we talk, pray & he can get out of his room.  So during times I'm JUST sending him to his room, he doesn't know that at first, so he stands at his door & says, "I need a spankin'!" or "Come spank me Mama!"  I'm sorry...but I can't help but laugh!  & when this doesn't work, he tells me he has to go pee pee!  Oh geez...what do you tell a two year old then!  Ha!
• I was told he body slammed a girl a school yesterday.  He got one out of four smileys on his daily report as well.  THAT IS BAD.  He told me the smiley faces on his report were "crying"..."yes, honey they are."  {How do y'all discipline a two year old for things he did at school hours before you can get home & talk about it?}
• When I'm laying down with him at night, I swear he says, "I love you" a million times before he falls asleep, but it never gets old!  =)
• I tell him all the time that "I love you...SO MUCH!"  So he has started to say the same to me sometimes!  
• Every night from the bathroom to his bed where we put on his PJs, he asked me to "Carry me like a baby" & so I do!  It's one of our favorite things we do together!
• If I run to my computer for a second to print something off etc. (it's not like I sit in here all day...) & he doesn't want me on it, he'll say, "Turn the computer off Mama, turn it off!"  So...of course I do!
• If you ask him who his girlfriend is, he'll say, "Kati...." (& say my whole name, first & last!)  I love it  so much!  =)
• He can spell his name out for you...R-Y-D-E-R
• He will also tell you his birthday is September 9th
• Sometimes he will grab my checks with his lil hands & say, "Look at me"...WONDER where he got that!  ;)
• In the bathroom at a restaurant earlier this week he said, "Mama, there's not a bath in this bathroom..."
• Laying down on the floor watching a movie together, he looks up at me & says, "We're besties Mama..." (I tell him this all the time!)  Melted my heart!
• On our way to church, from the back seat he randomly said, "God made me perfect & special didn't he Mama?"  #melt

Hope y'all had a FAB weekend!  We sure did!  =)

Thank you for...

Just a few things Ryder is thankful for this week & every week...& in the own words of my lil man-

"Dear Jesus, Thank you for school...

...thank you for Chick-E-Tah cows, big cows & little cows....

...thank you for MiMi & PawPaw, & Hannah Grace... 

...KeeKee & Pops, Dah Dah,

 & Uncle G.

Thank you for Mama & thank you for gummies.  In Jesus name, Ryder, amen."

Weekend Recap

We had a nice chill weekend.  Some times I hate just staying about home with nothing to do, but it felt great to do so this weekend!  We didn't have one thing planned & I liked it that way!  =)

Friday night Ryder went to bed at 7:20 & I had some friends over to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love.  Wouldn't recommend the movie, but we had a good time.  I can say to see Ryan Gossling with his shirt off made it worth my time.  I pretty much felt the same was as Hannah did when he took it off.  Lol... {if you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about.  I hate that word, but it seemed SO appropriate at that time!  :P}

We were being too loud & lil man woke up, played some ball with Mr. Zach & then laid back down!  He is just so sweet at night & wants to cuddle with his Mama & I LOVE it!

Saturday was such a chill day...I got the house all picked up & went & helped mom & dad do somethings around the house, road the four wheeler with Ryder & dad & just pretty much chilled & hung out.

He wore big boy underwear ALL day long.  I just stayed on top of him & asked him if he had to use the big boy potty every ten minutes!  He would usually say NO!  but then a few times he would say yes!  There were also a few times when he would just stop what he was doing, almost start to cry & say, "Wyder has to go PP" & ruuuuuuun to the bathroom!  I am just glad that he is realizing when he has to go & is going!  One step closer!  I put him in a diaper last night to go to bed & this morning he woke up COMPLETELY dry!

I love that Ryder looks forward to Sundays because he gets to go to church.  He literally jumps up & down when I tell him that we get to go to church in the morning after he "takes a nap" & wakes up.

When he hears my alarm go off in the morning he says, "Gooooood Morning!  Time to get up!"  I just love it so much!  He is so chipper & happy in the mornings, which makes me in a good mood too (because we ALL know I'm NOT a morning person!)

He was also singing his version of Jesus Loves Me this morning, "Jesus-I love me...." so sweet, but we're gonna have to work on the words!

We've (mainly I) got a busy two weeks ahead of us before Thanksgiving Break.  I have tests & papers, & my Holiday Scentsy party & I'm taking the Praxis this weekend, & going to the BOTR this weekend...& I'm getting my wisdom teeth out next week.  Nothing like having two different things removed from your body two Thanksgiving breaks in a row.

Weekend Recap

• We had a good weekend!  Friday night we watched the last WS game & I let Punkin' stay up way too late!  Morgan & MacKenzie came over & hung out with us & we had a lot of fun!  I was sad to see the Rangers lose two years in a row (it just breaks my heart FOR them) but also cool to watch the Cardinals win their 11th WS Championship in 2011!  & that David Freese can call me if he ever gets bored!  ;)
• Saturday me & sweet boy got up & went & got Shipley donuts & headed out the park!  I always said I would never be that mom that took their child out in public in jeans tucked into their cowboy boots & a bright hunter orange Cabela's hoodie RIIIIIGHT?  Yeah...well I am now that mom & I really don't even care!  Because it's what makes my lil man happy & it was just Shipley donuts & the park!  ;)

Chowin' on some donut holes while sayin' "cheese!"

I made him stand there & be still so I could take a pic of his outfit to sent to Pop Pops who we were texting while he was sittin' in the deer stand!

• I do some random chores around the house Saturday afternoon & then took Ryder out to his Mimi's for the night! He loves going out there so much & it makes it so easy to let him go out there & give me a lil break!
• Saturday night was the UCA Homecoming game & one of my favorites was on Court for the second year in a ROW!  Abbey was Maid of Honor last year & we were just so proud of her to make Court again this year!  Kelly & I bundled up for the first time this season & headed out to watch her at half time!  We actually got to see her as she was walking into the field to get announced!  

Abbey with her dad!


We ran into Kyle & Brooks outside the gate & had Kyle take this picture of us! 

• After the game I went & grabbed drinks with Morgan & one of her clients from work at Old Chicago & seriously came home by 10:30 & was in bed by 11 & it felt SO good!  
• A few randoms about R I want to remember.  A few weeks ago we went into the autitorium after church when everyone was gone & he said "Ryder play the drums".  He was saying this because of the drum set on stage.  Then he kept saying "high hat, high hat hight hat" over & over...he speaks very clear so I knew what he was saying, I just didn't know what he meant or what he was talking about & I felt terrible about it!  A few of the musicians were leaving & stopped to talk to us & he kept repeating it, "high hat, high hat" & one asked if he was saying "high hat" & I was like yes, but I just really don't know what he's talking about or where he got those random words.  The musician then told me that it was one of the parts of the drums.  I about DIED!  & sure enough, on Yo Gabba Gabba, they teach all the different parts of a drum set & he had just remembered it & pointed it out when he saw the big set at church!  He seriously amazes me EVERY day!
• He started singing Itsy Bitsy spider tonight.  I've never said that with him before--we kept saying it together over & over.  I was reading a nursery rhyme book to him tonight & it happened to be the very last one in the book, so I started doing the motions & he knew how to do them as well!  I was like WHAATT?  Well, come to find out KeeKee has been teaching it to him & I didn't know about it!  :P
• I just seriously love this age so much.  He is learning 5-10 new words a day.  No joke.  & it amazes me that he actually understands what words means & uses them later appropriately.  Just like that he knew scissors are "dangerous" as well as fire & knifes.  I say things to him ONE time & he will remember it for good.  & I love that HE is teaching ME things!!--what a high hat is for example!
• I can't even believe that tomorrow is November!  Where has time gone?  We were just waiting for Memorial Day for the pool to open in May, & I was just planning his birthday party at the beginning of September!  Thanksgiving is right around the corner & Christmas Break will here before we know it!  WAHOO!  & I'll be one semester closer to GRAD-U-ATING!!!
• Me & Ryder are getting our picture professionally made for the first time on Friday & I'm really excited!  I have a chocolate brown fur vest I want to wear, but what would y'all suggest I wear under it? (cough cough Amy Lynn! ;))  I have some sweaters I might wear instead, but it kinda stresses me out thinking about picking out the "perfect" outfits for us to wear!  :/
• My computer is once again out of space for pictures...so I'll be blogging phone pics for a while, or running to my moms to blog when I can!  But hopefully I'll get Trick or Treating pics up tomorrow!  We had a complete blast tonight, but this Mama is seriously WORN OUT!  

Story Time-

Just a few short stories about my lil man from this week...

• The carhop at Sonic spilled my Dr. Pepper all over the side of my car & I love the carhop who did it, so I didn't really care, but that meant we had to go straight to the car wash before it dried!  Instead of going to the regular squirter one, I went to the one that looks like mops & oh boy..Ryder hated it!  HAT-TED iiiiittt!    Poor thing, I felt so bad, but what do you do...so I just had to sit there & comfort him the entire time!  Poor baby!
• Dad & I converted his bed to a toddler bed this week, & so far it's been a no-go.  While we were converting it, a screw went missing & not two seconds before it was right on his train table!  We searched the whole dad gum room & there weren't too many places to look!  Finally, we realized Ryder had put the screw into one of the open holes on his bed!  He was just trying to help!
• I have never had to rub Ryder's back or sing him a song when laying him down to go to sleep.  I have always just laid him down, said amen, kissed him & walked out of the room.  Well, the first night we attempted the whole toddler bed thing, I sang to him to try & get him to go to sleep!  "I know a boy & Ryder is his name, Ryder is his name oh Ryder is his name........"  We have sang this to him since the day he was born & he loved it then & still loves it today!  I attempted to leave the room 3 times & every time I did he would sit up & say, "Wy-der, name...Wy-der name?"  It was so sweet I just sat there & cried & kept singing the song to him!  
• We have two Tangs (build a bear monkeys).  One is mine & one is his.  The other night we were snugglin' & we only had his, & I asked if I could have it & he said no, & I told him he needed to share.  He thought about it for a minute & then leaned over & handed me his Tang & said "share".  My heart just melted & I was a proud Mama!  =)  Not just because I got his Tang, but because he understood the concept!
• There is this sweet lil girl at gymnastics whose name is AZ.  She is a bit wild like Ryder, but REALLY wild for a girl!  But she's a sweetheart...anyways, they kissed ON THE LIPS a couple times one day before gymnastics.  She pretty much came on to him, but he just went with it!  Ha!  Sometimes he will randomly say, "AZ...kiss!"  I'm like oh my word!  He's not even TWO!  Also, sometimes he calls AZ, Daisy from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!  Too funny!
• Ryder has learned so many new words just THIS WEEK!  Including beautiful, trash truck, groceries, neighbor, scared, & dark.  He picks things up all the time & I just love it!
• When Ryder gets up in the morning the first thing he does it look up at me & say "Good Morning!-Get Up!"  So sweet!  
• I love my lil man so much & wish I could remember all the sweet & funny things that he does throughout the day, but I can't, but I try & blog what I do remember!  =)  

Happy Friday!!

It's already Monday again...?

So..what's new today?  Not a lot.

Ryder finally went to sleep in his OWN bed last night since being home from vaca.  It has been a bit of an adventure getting him back in his normal routine & not sleeping with Mama any more since our return home!  I have had to spank him 4-5 times every time it's time for him to lay down for getting out of his bed!  He has even learned how to open his door now!  :O  Thank you Uncle G for teaching him this while we were at the beach!!  Last night, I heard his door open, so I walked to the end of the hallway from the living room where I could see him & he saw me & shut the door & ran to the other side of his room!  Ha!  Like I can't get him over there or something!  & every time I go in there to spank him & put him back in his bed, he has the biggest, cheesiest, fake grin on his face & I have to cover up my face because I'm laughing so hard!  This kid is too much & is ALWAYS keeping me laughing & on.my.toes!

MacKenzie spent the night with us last night so we could watch her today while her mom went to work & sister went to class.  Ryder loves her so much & calls her "Kenzie".

I have been trying to get all of Ryder's old clothes together to get tagged & organized for the Rhea Lana sale coming up.  It is a tedious process, but so worth it when you go pick up that check!

 I finished reading Bristol Palin's book while on vaca.  I bought it on eBooks & seriously never put it down.  I was reading it every where we went.  Her story is so very similar to mine so I could relate to her almost 100% of the time...minus the part of having a mom that was running for VP of the United States--not that big of a different right?!  :P

She seems to be a very bright girl with a good head on her shoulders & gives 110% to provide her son with a good life, as well as a worry free future.  I can't imagine having to go through what she did in a National spotlight.  This is a great & super easy read & I highly recommend you to read it, especially TEEN GIRLS!--This might make you think about a few things before actually doing them! :)

{Isn't she just GORG?!}

I start school a month from today, so I am going to do my best to soak up these last few weeks at home with my sweet boy!  & he starts MDO the week after Labor Day!  I am happy, but sad at the same time...he is just growing up!  But I know it will be one of the best things I have ever done for him, which is why I'm doing it!  =)

Hope y'all are having a great Monday!

22 months & Punkin's Sandbox!

Over a week ago my sweet boy turned 22 months old!  I can't hardly believe it!  Only 2 months away from 2 YEARS OLD!  Has it seriously been THAT LONG?  KeeKee got Punkin' a sandbox a few weeks back & I finally made it to Lowe's to get my boy some sand!  He was so excited!  We couldn't even get home fast enough!

-

-He has started to put words together this month like baseball game & sandbox. Words that doesn't always go together, but can go together!  It's pretty sweet I think!

-He calls snuggling "snuggle me" now because one night I was laying on the couch & said, "come snuggle me"...it's so sweet when he says "snuggle me?"

-He doesn't forget ANYTHING it seems like!  I can tell him something ONE time & he remembers it from there on out!  

-He still has to have all his animal friends with him when he goes to bed...it's so sweet, but sometimes it's annoying!

 -He LOOOOVEs gymnastics!  I can't even talk about it until it's time to leave because he gets SO excited about it & thinks we are going RIGHT now!  He is a wild child at 'nastics though, but I know he loves it!

-He seriously talks NON-STOP & communicates so well at what he wants & what he needs! I LOVE it!

-Funny story:  When he has crusty boogers at the bottom of his nose, I just wipe them off & say "gotta get your boogers" then say "got it".  Well, recently Ryder has started to look up IN my nose, say "boogers!" & then proceed to stick his thumb & pointer finger up in my nose to "get it" & then flicking it in the floor.  OH MY WORD!  I can't help but laugh EVERY time he does this!  He has even started to do this to my parents!  We just let him do it!

-He LOVES Fro Yo.  We go a lot now that it is summer & he even gets his own bowl now!--Birthday cake & orange sherbert!

-When I walk into his room in the mornings, the first thing he says is "Mornin'"--Melts my heart every time.

-We snuggle every night before bed & one night I said "come snuggle me" so now when he wants to snuggle he says "snuggle me?"  Too cute!!

-He repeats EVERYTHING & is seriously like my little parrot!

-When we got some where & I don't want him to talk in his "friends" (stuffed animals) I tell him they have to stay in the car to "take a nap" & he seems to be okay with this!  Ha!

-He LOOVES milk.  Almost too much.  I really have to work hard at making him drink SOME water every day.

-Every time he plays in his sandbox he think he has to take his shoes off.

-My crazy child still likes to wear my high heels!--Even the highest ones I own!

-He is wearing size 7 (almost 8) shoe & 24 month clothing & some 2T stuff, & size 5 diapers.

That's all I can think of for now!  Happy 22 months baby boy!  Mommy loves you so much!