A conversation with my little man (and a little from Daddy too):

Me: Hey Ryan, what's your favorite color?

Ryan: Umm, black.

Me: Black? Really?

Ryan: Yeah, cause it's my favorite. And red is your favorite, right?

Me: Right!

Ryan: So what are you going to tell me?

Dad: What's your favorite number?

Ryan: Six, or five. (Now doing some sign language with his hands!!)

Mom: Who's your favorite dirt bike rider?

Ryan: (Laughing) I can't tell you.

Mom: Why?

Ryan: I don't know.

Dad: Is it Ryan Dungey?

Ryan: Yeah, Ryan Dungey!

Dad: Or Bubba Stewart?

Ryan: Yeah, Bubba!

Mom: Do you like to sing?

Ryan: A, B, C, D..... A, B, C, D..... (and then he sang the entire ABC song!!!) :)

Mom: YAY!!! Ok, now tell me a story.

Ryan: One day...a dirt bike came and I was on a dirt bike and I ride it and I slammed. That's what I want to talk about.

Mom: Ok. What else?

Ryan: Well maybe... No, don't text it! (He wants me to stop typing!)

Mom: Are you done talking to me?

Ryan: Yeah, can I text Momma? Please?

Mom: OK.

Ryan:pkmm66yyytttttrrrrrrreeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxxxxxxdddddddddddddddddddddx

That's it for now! I'll be back soon with a real update when I have something to actually talk about! :)

Soccer Player

Last week Ryan started Pee-Wee (Fundamental) Soccer!


He plays with other 3 year olds!

He was actually really good!

He was the first kid to ask for a water break!

Then he showed us his skills with stopping the ball.

And showed us how he can run and "dribble" the ball!

Such a cutie-pie! THEN, this week, he decided he didn't really want to play after all. This soccer "league" is only 1 hour each Thursday for 4 weeks. He says he will be ready to play again next week. We shall see!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ryan!

Today is Ryan's 3rd birthday! Can you believe it, 3 years ago today I was in the hospital, anxiously awaiting the arrival of my baby boy!

Ryan: Happy, happy birthday little man! Mommy and Daddy love you so very much! You bring so much joy and excitement to our lives, we don't know what we would do without you here to keep us smiling and laughing. Your good manners make us proud and your fun, outgoing spirit make us happy. You are always dancing, talking and singing. We're sure you're going to be an actor when you grow up, because you can put on a show anytime you want! We hope that you enjoyed your Spiderman birthday party, even though you woke up today asking "When is my other birthday party" which I'm sure you meant, "when is your 'next' birthday party?" and the answer is not for 1 whole year!!
Happy birthday my Love! Enjoy being "3" because it's going to go by so fast!
XoXo, Mommy & Daddy

Yesterday afternoon we had family and friends over to the house to help celebrate and wish Ryan a happy birthday. To say he had a great day would be an understatement....he slept until 9:30 this morning, which I'm sure was a direct result of all the fun had by him and Preston until late last night.

I promise to update with pictures soon. Right now, I'm going to get all of Ryan's new clothes out of the bags and tried on him so I know what needs to be exchanged and what can be washed and put away.

More to come soon...

Go Faster, Momma!

I have a tendency when driving to talk to the other drivers around me.

For example, last night Ryan and I were on our way to Jake's softball game in Hanford and we were running approximately 10 minutes late, so I may or may not have been in a hurry! I was telling the cars in front of me, "hurry up cars!" so that Ryan would hear me because everytime I say that, he will start talking to the cars too! So Ryan starts saying, "Move cars! Awe, man, the cars are in your way mom!" I was laughing so hard! After we got through a red light in town, Ryan said, "Go faster Momma, there's no cars now!" Oh my, that kid definately learns these things from me....as I'm pretty sure his daddy doesn't talk to the other cars on the road!! :)

Weight Watchers

I have been neglecting the blog for so long....I miss it! I have been waiting to have something good to blog about, something that I thought my friends and family might enjoy reading...and I have a few drafts saved and almost ready to go, I just need to update some photos for your viewing pleasure!

I wanted to share a little something that I've touched on only briefly on the blog. In January I joined Weight Watchers. I've gone to my Tuesday night Weight Watchers meetings religiously with the exception of 1 week of vacation at the coast! As of tonight's meeting, I have lost a total of 25.6 pounds!! I am super excited about this accomplishment!! I have a goal set and I am getting closer every week. I am hopeful I will reach goal and be able to maintain that weight by the time my 1 year anniversary with Weight Watchers rolls around. It takes a lot of discipline and hard work but I know I am worth it!! :)

Finally, all of my hard work and time away from my family spent at the gym the past several months, is paying off. I was able to go shopping last weekend and purchase clothing 2 sizes smaller than I was wearing in January!! Hooray!! The good news is that I have tons of clothes from a few years ago that I will be able to fit into shortly....no need to purchase an entire new wardrobe!

To everyone that already knew about my WW journey and that has been supportive thus far, thank you, thank you! Mom & Dad, having you watch Ryan on Thursday nights (and a few Saturday mornings) so I can get away to the gym, has been a huge blessing! I truly have the best friends and family anyone could ask for! :)

I promise to update with more photos of Ryan and some funny videos and stories very soon.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Dad! I know my Dad doesn't normally read the blog - but here's just a few little facts about my Daddy!!

My Dad is a very hardworking, loyal, honest, fun-loving and fun guy! I can remember growing up, when Dad was working long, late nights, us kids would get to trade nights going out to work with Dad while he was baling hay. I remember laying across the seat of the truck, watching a little black and white tv, head on Daddy's lap and listening to the baler making a very repetitive sound. I remember hanging out in the yard, taking rides on the old red tractor up and down the driveway. I remember going with Dad to the bowling alley to buy or turn in lottery tickets, just me and him. I loved taking rides with him on the back of his motorcycle, in the evenings just to fill it up with gas. Dad was always there for all of our softball practices, games, band parades and concerts! Now Dad is "Papa" to our children. He is the greatest Papa to Ryan...letting Ryan water the trees and grass (and occasionally himself!), reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear in his own special way that Ryan prefers to my reading of the story and sharing fruit snacks and frosted animal cookies!

Dad, we love you very much! Happy Father's Day - we hope you enjoy your day doing something you love to do!

************************************************************************************

Happy Father's Day to Jake, too! I love to see you interact with Ryan...he loves spending time with you, mowing the lawns, riding the 3-wheeler/or quad, watching sports on tv and being just plain goofy together! You're a good daddy and Ryan is lucky to have you! :)

A home-run hitter in the making!

Have you ever...

seen a baseball player...

as cute as this?

*Notice the must-have items here are a baseball hat (check), sunglasses to block the sun from the outfield pop-flies (check) and batting gloves (or winter gloves) (check)! I think Ryan may have a future in the big leagues!

What we have been up to

I feel like I am neglecting the blog lately - and I guess I have been. But I have good reason - or at least I have a busy schedule that will explain why I haven't blogged much lately. Our weekly routine goes a little something like this:

Monday: Jake is up and out of the house early for work. I get up at 6:00 a.m. to get myself ready for work, get Ryan up and we're out the door by 7:25 (usually). Work until 5:00. Yoga at the gym 5:30 - 6:30. Home to make dinner, clean the kitchen, get Ryan in bed, and then head for bed myself.

Tuesday: Same morning routine. Work until 5:00. Weight Watchers meeting 5:30 - 6:30. Jake has softball at 1 of the following times, 6:30, 7:45 or 9:00. Make dinner, clean kitchen, get Ryan in bed, and then head for bed myself - sometimes while Jake is still at softball!

Wednesday: Same morning routine. Work until 5:00. Zumba at the gym until 5:30 - 6:30. Home to make dinner. Bedtime routine.

Thursday: Same morning routine. Work until 5:00. Get Ryan dressed and packed to spend a few hours with Grammy and Papa. Zumba at the gym 7:30 - 8:30. Rush to get Ryan home and in bed at a decent time. Jake has softball at 1 of the 3 times listed above. Usually in bed at the same time Jake is coming home from softball.

Friday: Same morning routine. Work until 4:00. Usually some sort of shopping trip (WalMart for groceries/household supplies) then I pick up Ryan. We head home to decide what fun activity we will partake in to start the weekend!

On any given day during the week, dinner may or may not consist of a drive-thru meal and I may or may not actually clean the kitchen! Once the weekend hits, throw in housecleaning, laundry, going places, keeping Ryan entertained because he is NOT a home-body (unlike his Momma!) and we are just exhausted by the time Monday rolls around again!

This weekend will be busy visiting with family. My Uncle Augie (Jr.) passed away last weekend, so Saturday will be spent at the funeral and then gathering with all our family to celebrate his life. Although it is sad that we have to see everyone because of a death, it is so nice to gather with all our extended family. Papa & Shirley are here (Ryan calls him Big Papa because my Dad is Papa!), Aunt Jackie is coming in on the train tonight, David, Michelle, Natalie, Kevin & Shannah are all driving in to be here too. It will be a busy weekend, but what's new!?

I'll update with pictures soon. I just got some good pictures of Ryan off the camera and onto the laptop - now just to find the time to load them to the blog!! Happy Friday, all.

A message from Ryan

Today is Auntie Michelle's birthday! Happy Birthday, Michelle, we hope you have a great day!

Story Time

I wanted to share a funny thing that Ryan is doing lately - so that I don't forget!

Last night I let Debbie host Bunco at our house. So there were 12 of us girls at the house, and as we were just about finishing up, Jake brought Ryan home. Ryan came and sat on my lap watching me roll the dice and this is a conversation we had:

Ryan: Mommy, want to hear a story?

Me: Ok.

Ryan: Jaylynn locked me in the closet and then the witch came in.

Me: What? (Apparently not paying enough attention...) Jaylynn locked you in the closet? That's not nice!

Ryan: No. That's not nice.

I went on about playing Bunco until Jake asked Ryan, "Did you tell Mommy a story?" And come to find out he had been story telling all day. The deal is that he starts telling a story (it's always the same story) and it always starts out like this: "One day...Jaylynn locked me in the closet. And then the witch came in." Then he laughs and thinks he is so funny! And he is! :)

Where has the time gone?

Wow - I used to love blogging - and I still do I just haven't had anything interesting to say lately!

Had a great weekend. Michelle & David and Kevin & Shannah came into town this weekend for Shannah's baby shower. On Saturday Jake kept Ryan for me so I could have some "girl time" in town with my mom & sister, and Natalie of course! We had lunch at Panera with a long-time family friend. (Hi Chris!) Then we hit up Target, Michaels (I went to Old Navy) and back to Target! Thanks, Jake, for letting me have some ME time this weekend. It was much needed and much appreciated!

On Sunday I had 2 baby showers to attend, they started 1 hour apart and there were 10 miles in between them! I ran by Tracy's shower for a short visit but ended up mostly watching Ryan run around outside. Then we headed to Hanford for Shannah's shower. It was nice to catch up with an old friend and see some family there too. Shannah and Kevin got some really nice gifts and I bet are totally overwhelmed with getting the final touches on the room and baby's closet/dresser! We are really excited to meet our new nephew, only a few more weeks! (By the way, nephew, Uncle Jake and Auntie Patty are on vacation from work the week of June 21 - if you decide to make an early appearance, that would be a Great time!! Haha!) Sorry no photos from the weekend - I forgot the camera at home.

Ryan is on a second round of antibiotics - ear infections didn't quite clear up the first time (2 weeks ago). He's having some trouble with these stronger meds and it's causing me some anxiety about whether to continue the meds and deal with the side effects OR quit the meds and pray the ear infections clear up on their own (is that even possible??). Ugh! I just got off the phone with Ryan's doctor and he pretty much said the decision is mine to make but that if I discontinue the meds, Ryan's ear infections are not likely to clear up and could possibly get worse. It's times like this that make this Mommy job really difficult! I hate to see Ryan in pain and it was hard to drop him off this morning knowing he wasn't feeling 100%.

I look forward to keeping up with the blog now, will update with more pictures soon.

The dreaded "double ear infection"

I took Ryan into the doctor this morning because since Easter morning, when he woke up a little feverish and was not all that into Easter festivities, he has been not-quite-himself. He has been skipping lots of meals, sleeping more and then the runny nose and coughing ensued. This morning after Jake left for work, Ryan would not stop crying from his room. I could hear him, through the sobs, saying "I want out of here." So I told him to come to my bed. He crawled in bed with me at 5:45 a.m., we turned on some cartoons and then we both went back to sleep. I figured it was going to be a "sick day" so I just turned off the alarm clock and ignored the fact that I should have been up getting ready for the Friday workday.

I called in sick to work, called my Mother-in-Law to let her know we wouldn't be coming today and then called the doctor's office. Ryan got in early and as always, freaked out when the nurse wanted to weigh him and take his temperature. I am not sure where the fear comes from but he absolutely hates going to the doctor! OH and then when the doctor comes into the exam room and pulls out the stethoscope, you would think he was pinching Ryan with how loud Ryan screams!

We got through the appointment to find out that Ryan has ear infection in both ears. We were prescribed some antibiotics and sent on our way with a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks. For most of the day Ryan has been napping and generally not feeling well. Besides some pancakes for breakfast, Ryan really hasn't eaten anything today. He's just fallen asleep on the couch next to me so I think it's time for medicine and bed.

I hope everyone else is healthy and enjoying the weekend ahead! Say a little prayer that by Noon tomorrow (24 hours on antibiotics) Ryan will be on the uphill mend from this ickiness!

Missing in Action

I'm still here! Since Jake asked tonight why I haven't blogged lately, I decided I better at least pop in and say hello!

We are just doing our normal, everyday routine around here. Jake is back to playing softball two nights a week, I'm attending Weight Watchers once a week and trying to get back to the gym a few nights a week too. It's been busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Ryan is doing well - he's cracking us up everyday. I love to hear his little voice talking so much! Lately, every time I give him something he responds with, "Thank you Mommy" and when I ask him to do something he says, "Ok Mommy" and it's just the best feeling! We are still experiencing amazing bedtime routines - no fuss and usually no tears! Ryan is still sleeping through the night in his big boy transition bed (thank you God - I love my sleep!). One thing we have been having a little fight with is eating. Ryan has not wanted to eat dinner much lately...I try everything I can think of! Tonight I stood in the kitchen listing off all the things I could make for him for dinner "Do you want Chicken? Macaroni & Cheese? Oranges? Pears? Hot Cereal? Cold Cereal?" and every thing I listed, Ryan just shook his head and said, "No." I am out of ideas for this child! He has not really been picky until now. Do any of you have any food ideas I could try? When I do cook (not just heat up frozen food!!) I let Ryan sit on the kitchen counter and help me "cook" so that he is part of the process...but he would prefer playing in the back yard lately.

Anyway, as you can see, not much new going on. We're just hanging in there living life!

Body Pillow

Ryan gives the term "body pillow" a new meaning!!

This is how I find Ryan sleeping most mornings when i go in to wake him up. It's hard to see in these photos but because he's so tall and does not fit across the bed, his feet are both through the bed rails and up against the wall!

All that bed, and he only likes to sleep on top of his pillow! :)

Here's a glimpse...

...at what I am working on in the craft room.

If only I were a better artist, this would be an easier project!!

Monster Jam!

Do you know...

Who LOVES Monster Jam???

Do you know who sat through a few hours...




Of watching Monster Jam and Megasaurus???

Do you know who LOVES Grave Digger???

And loves loud nosies and things that go VROOM???

If you guessed...

Ryan, you would be correct!

We're so glad our little man does so well with the loud noises and big trucks!

She's the Princess

Last weekend we had a great little visit at Kevin & Shannah's house with them, Michelle, David, Natalie, Papa & Grammy!

Here I am - Ryan on 1 arm and Natalie on the other. She eyeballed Ryan's sippy cup the entire time!

She finally got the cup in her mouth - and Ryan thought that was pretty funny!

And here she is with her Grandpa! She was just hangin' out!

It was a great day at the coast. Natalie sure is growing and changing and soon (in a few months) we'll be meeting our newest nephew when Kevin & Shannah's boy arrives! We look forward to many more fun, family visits with all the cousins together!

Where's my Motorcycle?

Hi Grammy!!

Check out Ryan's new motorcycle gear, on loan from our friend and neighbor, Bailey!

Ryan loves all things motorcylce related. In fact, his tricycle has become his new "motorcycle"!

I'm afraid I'm going to be a motorcycle mom instead of a soccer mom --- and that's ok, so long as there's enough Xanax within my reach!! HAHA (totally joking...well, maybe)!

Random Thoughts

• As I type this, I am sitting in the bathroom watching Ryan take his bath. For the past 3 nights, Ryan has insisted on taking a bath (usually we skip a day in between, unless he's played outside and really needs to wash!) and he will stay in the bath tub for an hour if we would let him!
• I should be doing something productive while Ryan is in the bath --- like clean the bathroom counters and sort laundry (but I would rather blog!).
• I started working on some CUTE Easter gifts for the kids. I bought a little inspiration today at WalMart and have some motivation to work on them this weekend.
• Ryan just told me, "I'm filfy" (translation: filthy)! HAHA! So funny!
• I have 4 no-sew fleece blankets to make in order to finish my obligation for Disneyland Give a Day, Get a Day volunteer project. I need to just take the time to sit down and get busy!
• Tomorrow is Friday and that means we are going to Monster Jam this weekend! Ryan is really excited. Every time we see the commercial on t.v. he stops what he's doing and says, "I want to go!"
• I need to make some time to see my friends --- Tracy, I need to see your baby belly before little Hudson makes his appearance!! But I am also working on a crafty project for Hudson and I want to finish that to give you A.S.A.P.
• I have a lot to do! I better get going and do at least 1 more thing before I call it a night and sit down to watch American Idol results show.

Happy (almost) Friday everyone! I've got some posts almost ready to publish with some recent pictures of the goings on in the Avila household lately...I'll get them up soon.

Crafting

I have got an itch to be crafty again! I have found a way to "mistreat" my windows and as soon as I can get to a fabric store, my living room and master bedroom will thank me!!

I've also got an idea for a really cute hand-made gift for a certain upcoming holiday. I am going to head to Michael's tomorrow to purchase everything I need for my newest craft venture. I can't be any more specific regarding what I will be making because I will be making them for all my nieces and nephews (including unborn Baby Boy F - he can save it for next year)! I can hardly wait to get them done so I can deliver them to you guys!

Ahhh --- I may just go ask Jake if he wants to go to Michael's right now!

We went to a graduation party today for a friend of ours who just graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy. It was pretty cool to see the video of his graduation. A total of 117 Officers graduated. Congratulations Matt! I also have to brag on Ryan for a minute - usually when we go to outings Ryan is clingy on me and shy with the other kids. Today though, Ryan walked straight through the house and to the backyard where all the kids were playing. He was SO GOOD! After about 2 hours at the party, he was ready for a nap when we got home!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Stay tuned for the reveal of the new crafts!