My favorite time of year!

As Christmas is quickly approaching - I wanted to share pictures of our tree, Ryan and show you a little of what Elfie has been up to this morning!

I wanted to change our Christmas decorations this year, from traditional red and green (and silver) to bright, fun, candy land-like ornaments this year!  This is our tree!

Jake found most of the ornaments (new) for sale online local and I snagged the large candy ornaments on eBay!  The filler picks and garland came from Michaels.  I LOVE how the tree came out this year!

Here is the mantle, with all of our plush, dancing & singing friends hanging out by the fireplace.  Ryan loves to turn them all on and sing along to the songs!

And our little craft project where we took pine cones, sprayed with glue then dipped in bags full of glitter!  I added some extra small ornaments to the bowl for more color.  (And as I added this picture to the blog, I realize I don't have my tablecloth on!!!)  :)

This past weekend we were driving to Fresno and realized it was awfully quiet in the backseat.  This is what I saw!  Completely.  Knocked.  Out.  (With feet crossed!!)  :)

And this morning, this is where Ryan found Elfie!  I recorded a short video of Ryan trying to find Elfie in the house this morning, and he thought this was pretty funny!  (There was also a bowl and spoon on the counter before I snapped the picture, but Ryan was already eating breakfast by this time.)

And that about sums up the holiday decorations and Elfie today.  I'll post more pics of the silly places we find Elfie from now until Christmas!

One Little Indian

Ryan's class had a Thanksgiving play/production and Thanksgiving dinner at school today!

Here's my little indian!

We're getting ready for a fun-and-family-filled Thanksgiving Day!  Can't wait to have some yummy food and hang out with the family. 

Moments with my Ryan

Last night after homework was finished and dinner had been devoured, I ventured into the bathroom to dye my hair.  I had a shadow follow me - my little buddy, Ryan!  Ryan loves to be in the same room as us around the house.  I told him I wasn't going anywhere, just going to put some hair color on my hair.  He didn't care.  He wanted to hang out with me.  And ask me questions.  And count to 100.  :)  I LOVE our time together in moments like that. 

While we were talking and he was getting ready for his bath, he told me a little story about something that happened at school that day.  He told me that while he was using the restroom at school, another boy in his class "made fun of him" and told the other boys to look at his butt.  Immediately, I turned into protective mama.  I asked him to tell me what happened, again.  As if I didn't hear it correctly the first time.  He repeated his story nearly word-for-word.  I felt so sad.  I don't want other kids to tease him, even if the other kid thought he was just being funny, it embarrassed him and hurt Ryan's feelings.  Ryan was quick to say, "I didn't tell the teacher though."  When I asked why not he said, "Because I didn't want him to get in trouble."  Oh...my heart.

I struggle with the fact that I cannot be by Ryan's side 24/7, to protect him from the hurtful things other kids will say and the days his feelings may get hurt by kids on the playground or in the classroom.  I hope that what we've taught him thus far is enough to keep him strong and tough!  I try so hard to fill up his little heart with love and kindness every day!  I tell him that he is smart and kind and that I love him to the moon & back, and to the deepest part of the ocean!  I may not be able to control all the other kids and their behavior, but I hope that I've taught my son to be kind and compassionate for others.  He's such a sensitive soul, I just love that about him!  He never hesitates to tell me that I'm beautiful and that he loves me!  I LOVE that!!

I look forward to my arrival at home after work each day so I can ask Ryan how his day was and what he learned that day in school!  He's such a good student and we couldn't be more proud of him!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!!

Today my little man turns 5 YEARS OLD!!  WHAT??  How is that possible that 5 years have come and gone since we brought him home from the hospital?  Surely time doesn't fly by that quickly?  Ahh.....I suppose it is possible and it is true.  Ryan is 5 today!

Ryan,

Happy birthday buddy!  You are such an awesome kid, you truly are "my sunshine" just like I sing to you every morning when I wake you up for the day!  You have brought endless smiles and laughs to our family and we love you to the moon, to the deepest part of the ocean, and all the way around the world!

You started Kindergarten this year and you're such a great student.  You love to come home each night and get started on your homework right away.  On nights that you have no homework to do, you like to sit at the table and draw or color but pretend that you're doing homework.  I hope you always  

This week you drew your first picture for a girl in your class, Alexa.  You are so sweet!  You made sure to ask about the picture before you went to bed the night before and the first thing you asked for when you woke up that morning was, "Mom, do you still have my picture for Alexa?"  We made sure to keep it out of your backpack so it wouldn't get messed up!

You're a superstar on the BMX track, too!  You've been racing for a few months on the Hanford BMX team and you're doing great!  You have taken a few spills and gotten a few scrapes, but I imagine this is all just the beginning of your sports "injuries."

Ryan, you are the best little helper in the kitchen and around the house (unless we ask you to clean your room/toys!).  You like to mop the floors and clean the glass with Windex.  I love having your help, I just hope you like to do stuff around the house forever!!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!  We hope your fifth birthday is the best yet!

Love,
mom

Sleeping Habits

It's no secret that Ryan has been sleeping in our bed the majority of the time, since he was about 3 years old.  Yes, that is almost 2 whole years...and yes, I am in desperate need of some really good sleep!!  Usually by morning he has turned sideways, with his head in Jake's ribs and his feet in mine! 

We decided that when school started, he was going to have to be a big boy and start sleeping in his bed full time. For the past 2 weeks Ryan has done really well with sleeping in his own bed!  I think we only gave in twice and let him sleep with us in the past 2 weeks.  He has been good with the bedtime routine: lights out at 8:30 and asleep within 20 minutes!

Last night was a different story.  Last night I told him we would read some books on the couch before he had to go to his room.  He brought out 3 small story books to read.  He "read" the first 2 books to me and before I could open the 3rd book he started pouting.  I asked what was wrong and he said, "I just love you."  I told him I love him too and then started to read the book.  I wasn't even through the first 2 pages when he was full-on crying.  Again I asked him what was wrong and he said, "I want my dad."  Jake helped me get him into his bed and settled with the tv on cartoons on a timer.  Ryan was still crying.  By this time he was crying and saying, "I want my dad" over and over and over again.  Jake laid with him for a few minutes and eventually told him he needed to get to sleep because he had school and we had work in the morning.  This went on for 20 minutes. 

Jake finally asked what I wanted to do.  Since Ryan was crying for his dad, I made Jake go in to calm him down. 

And, Ryan ended up in our bed, once again.

This morning after Ryan woke up I asked him what was up with him crying last night.  He told me he just wanted his dad.  I told him that tonight he IS going to sleep in his room and there will be absolutely no crying when it comes bed time.  He said, "Ok.  But after I go to sleep maybe I will do magic and I'll come in your bed!"  HAHA!!!  Oh, my child...so funny!

(Ryan coloring and writing his numbers last night (while whistling and dancing!) - he loves to color and write all the time now since starting Kindergarten!)

New Stuff

Check out my "new" Keurig coffee maker!  YAY, I'm finally catching up with the times!
My friend, Shelley, was selling her old Keurig since she got a new one and I was quick to buy from her...and I LOVE having it at home!  Thanks Shelley! :)

I had printed some Fourth of July free party supply printables last week but forgot I had them AND we didn't really have any plans to hang out with anyone so I didn't think I needed them.  Last night I decided I'd run to the Dollar Tree to pick up a few things to create goody bags for a few special kids that I may see on Fourth of July.

Sorry the picture is kind of blurry - I need a new phone with a better camera! ;)

I got Ryan the same things I put in the bags.  He loved having the silly string and used 2 bottles last night!

Today we're headed to the Fourth of July celebration at the City Park and then for swimming and BBQ at Grammy & Papa's house later.  Happy Fourth of July, everyone!! :)

Olympic Day 2012

Yesterday Ryan raced at Air Time BMX, for Olympic Day 2012. 

Here he is, patiently waiting for his next practice lap!

Racing - GO RYAN!!

Ryan advanced through his heat races all the way to the main!  He took 3rd in the main (out of 7 kids) and did SO AWESOME!!

Here is his certificate for racing on Olympic Day.

This mama was tired this morning - staying out until 11:00 p.m. on a weeknight is completely out of my norm - usually I'm fast asleep at 10:00! :)

We're so excited for Ryan, that he is really enjoying racing BMX, he is making new friends and showing us just how tough he really is!  LOVE YOU RYAN!

BMX - First Race

Ryan raced in his first BMX race yesterday!  We are so proud of him!  He took 3rd place and won his first trophy!

Ryan has made huge improvements in his riding and confidence since starting to ride BMX just a little over a month or so ago.

We're supposed to go to races again tomorrow, we'll update then! :)

GOOD JOB RYAN!  WE LOVE YOU AND ARE PROUD OF YOU, BUDDY!

My Sunday Date

Ryan and I had a fun day on Sunday. 

The weather had warmed up quite a bit from the previous week so we started out at Grammy & Papa's pool!

Ryan was brave enough to get in.  Me....not so much!  The water was FREEZING cold!

I bribed Ryan to get out of the pool, by telling him we could go to the movies instead!  We saw Madagascar 3 in 3D!  It was such a cute movie and I was so proud of Ryan, he kept his 3D glasses on for the entire movie!  Also a first, he stayed awake during the entire movie!  We had so much fun!

The final event on our date was dinner.  Ryan chose Burger King so he could play in the play place.  I hesitated going there because 1) the germs involved at a fast food play place make me sick to think about!! and 2) Ryan has never been excited about playing on jungle gym equipment at those places.

We headed for Burger King and once there, Ryan (as predicted) chickened out on playing on the play place.  He would go just inside the start of the jungle gym, whine about how he didn't know if he could make it up the equipment, and jump back out!  That wasn't annoying at all - HAHA!!

We had a great day together and look forward to much more time spent in the pool this summer, once it heats up of course!

Another installment of funny things Ryan says

This morning when I went in to wake Ryan up, the first thing he asked was,"Mom, when is Elfie coming back?"  (Elfie is our Elf on the Shelf that comes to visit during the Christmas holiday.)  I laughed and said, "Well, probably not until around Thanksgiving time."  Ryan thought about it for a minute and said, "Oh, so I have to wait until April?  Thanksgiving is in April, right?"  Haha!  "No, buddy, Thanksgiving is in November and you have to wait about 6 more months!"

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Again this morning, Ryan was out of bed, had eaten breakfast and we were just about to walk out the door.  I grabbed his cup and realized there was no spout inside (to prevent spills).  I asked him, "Do you know where your spout is for your cup?"  He said, "Oh man, it's in Dad's pocket, I forgot to remind him."  I told him, "That's all right.  I have another one."  He walked around the kitchen counter and said, "But bright side is, I'm still your best friend!"   AWE, So Sweet!!! :)

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One morning last week when I pulled up in front of Nanny's house to drop him off for the day, he asked if Papa was going to mow the yard.  I told him I didn't know but that it didn't really look like it needed it.  By the time I got around the car to open his door, he was asking me again.  Again, I told him I didn't know.  About that time, Nanny walked out to the porch and he yelled from the car, "Nanny, is Papa going to mow the yard today?"  She said, "I don't know but he needs to!"  He looked at her and said, "Ok, ok.  You don't gotta yell!"  Great way to start my day - laughing at his funny sayings.

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I love that Ryan is learning new phrases and thinks he knows how to use them in sentences!  He's constantly telling us a funny story or using big words.  I just love this age!!

BFF's - Ryan & Spooky

This is how Ryan totes Spooky around the house...

Spooky doesn't seem to mind (much)!  Every morning Ryan says, "Where's Spooky?  He needs to do his stretches!"  And then proceeds to hunt Spooky down, pick him up, tilt him to the left and the right, to the front and the back and then tells me that Spooky is doing ballet!  HA! 

Ryan refers to Spooky as his "brutha"!  When I asked him, "You mean your 'brother'?"  He said, "No, mom.  He's my 'brutha'!  All righty, glad we cleared that up then!

In other news, Ryan is all signed up for Kindergarten!  Can hardly believe that in 3 months my little guy will be off to school!  Everyone asked if I cried when I took him in today.  Nope!  In fact, Ryan did enough crying for the both of us I think.  He cried when we got to the District Office because he thought we were dropping him off and leaving him there for "school."  Once he understood that it was just for a quick meeting and to sign some paperwork, he calmed down a bit.  He wrote some letters and then acted shy in front of the employees at the District Office.  I can only imagine how the first day of school is going to play out.  Maybe by then I can have him completely excited and not afraid!? 

Lady Antebellum

One of my Christmas gifts this past year was tickets to see Lady Antebellum in Fresno in March.  A little late, but here are a few pictures of the concert!

Thompson Square opened the show and they were SO GREAT!...

Darius Rucker was also there!  He rocked!!...

And then...Lady A!

Half way through Lady A's set, they called Thompson Square and Darius Rucker back to the stage and they all performed together!

Lady A closing the show.

I had such a great night!  Thanks for the fun concert tickets, Jake!!  Too bad we didn't take any pictures of US at the concert! :)

Funny Sayings

Ryan is always saying something hilarious.  I really should take a notepad with me everywhere I go, just to write down the funny things that Ryan comes up with!

This morning on the drive to Nanny's house, I was putting on lip liner and Ryan says, "What are you putting on mascara for?" 

Me: Laughing, told him, "It's lip liner and lipstick." 

Ryan: "What do you need that for?"

Me: "Because my lips are dry."

Ryan:  Thinking about it for a second, he says,"I just lick my lips when my lips are dry, cause I don't have lip liner."  :)

Well, all right then!  Ha ha!

A little About ME!

Today I'm linking up to Kelly's Korner blog - to meet some new people who may live near me!!

Hi, I'm Patty!  And this is my blog! :)

I live in Central California (Fresno area) and am a married, full-time working, mommy to one FUN little boy, Ryan!

I don't blog nearly as often as I'd like to, but I read blogs every single day.  :) 

We keep pretty busy around here these days.  Ryan will start school in the Fall, and right now is venturing into the sport of BMX racing!  We currently have tee-ball one night per week, swim lessons start on Monday for 2 weeks, BMX practice 2 days per week and racing on the weekends.  On top of that, Jake (the hubby) plays softball 2 nights per week.  AND, I just became a Consultant for Paparazzi Accessories - on top of my full-time, Monday through Friday job - so I'm busy with home parties and events selling Paparazzi ($5.50 jewelry & accessories)!  FUN STUFF!

So, if you're in the area, and you'd like a new friend, I always have room for new friends! :)

Happy weekend, friends!

Phone pictures

Thought the blog could use a little updating...it's been a while since I've posted!

Since I rarely take pictures using an actual camera, here are some recent pics from my cell phone:

Ryan and Natalie using Papa's Kindle to play games.  Or, actually, this looks more like Ryan not sharing Papa's Kindle!

Ryan told us he was going to watch Supercross in our room one afternoon.  This is how we found him a few minutes later, sound asleep with the remote as close as it could be to him (and wearing socks with his swim trunks - haha!)!

We got a kitty!  Ryan named him Spooky!  This is Spooky on the ride home to meet Ryan for the first time.

Here is Spooky trying to play Monster Trucks with Ryan!  It is so fun to watch him sneak up on the trucks and pounce on them!  Ryan thinks it is really funny, too!

That's about all I have for today.  Ryan starts swimming lessons and pee wee t-ball in the next few weeks.  I'll be sure to post pictures of that soon! :)

Nice March Weather

We had the most beautiful weather here this weekend!  Mid-70's all weekend, plenty of sunshine and lots of time spent outdoors!

On Saturday this was Ryan as we drove to Hanford.

 Window down, waving to the cars passing by, laughing as each one passed!

Then when we got to Grammy & Papa's house, he played out front on his tractor, that he said he was "fixing".  The funniest thing was that he thought the best way to fix it, was by laying on top of it!  HA!

Tomorrow we're looking at temperatures being back in the 50's.  Hurry back warmer weather!

Surprise...You're (Almost) 30!

On Friday night we headed out on our way to what I thought was a surprise birthday party for a friend.  When we got there, I noticed a friend of my family walking up the sidewalk....and quickly realized my suspicions were true....this was a surprise party for ME!  Jake tried to play it off, acting like it was no big deal.  But it was too late, I already had an idea and seeing our friends walk up confirmed my suspicions!

Here are some pictures from the night - huge Thank You's to Debbie, Mom & Dad, and Jake for putting so much thought into this party for me, I had so much fun! :)

Even though it wasn't completely a surprise, it was a fun night out!  OH, and I'll officially be 30 next weekend!  Thanks again to everyone who made it to the party, you all made it such a special night.