Updates in the last month!

Well...a month has flown by!  July went super fast.  Scott finished up softball and the project known as the HOUSE began.  Our house was hit by hail this past Spring.  So...our roof had to be replaced and our back siding was damaged.  You can't replace one part of siding it if it the original...IT ISN'T made anymore!  The only way for us to afford to replace it was to do the job ourselves.  I say "ourselves" but I really mean Scott and our friends/family.  Wowza...we are incredibly blessed by the help around us.  I think Scott knew what the project was going to be...but I had NO IDEA!  TONS AND TONS of work.  Lots of messes.  SUPER hot days.  Our house looks AMAZING.  Not to sound cheesy/mean...but I wasn't always "proud" of our house and now I am.  I was embarrassed by the old large siding.  I know it sounds selfish because we have a roof over our heads and nothing "scary" about my home.  I am proud of how everyone helped us and how much everyone came together!  It looks like a completely different home. 

We also headed on a mini-vacation to Des Moines with my family.  The science center was a HUGE hit with the boys.  Lots of hands-on activities and plenty for space to run around!  We stayed in a Stoney Creek Inn, which was FABULOUS!  Huge rooms...bunk beds which Noah LOVED.  We tried to Farmers Market in Des Moines...never again with kids.  Too many people.  We ended up at Jordan Creek and played in the kid area.  Lots and lots of time at the pool in the hotel.  The kids had a riot with my parents in pool as well. 

We have had a crazy August!  Visit days and practices for football.  Then...we started preschool!  Noah was SOOO excited to start.  We had an open house.  And he loved the jungle-gym.  On his first day of school we asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, "A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle."  He wore his TNMT shirt and off we went.  I took him on his first day (he will go with Scott) and we went to Daddy's classroom, explored the building.  We took him to the door and off he went.  A big boy...went to school.  I had a rough drive back...didn't sob the whole way back:)  My parents picked him up and he was very excited!  Noah had a great first day.  My big boy!  In the last week since he has started...he is getting himself dressed, brushing his teeth, putting himself to bed...a HUGE helper!  Brittany (one of my BFF's) asked Noah, "how was daycare today?" (she meant how was school) and Noah responded, "You mean school."  Hands on his hips...super sassy...hahahahaha!  Hilarious!  Ryder has been a GROWING machine.  He can tell you where his belly and nose are.  He is SHRIEKING when bath time rolls around...can't out of his clothes (diaper included) fast enough.  We had his 15 month appointment...growing.  22 pounds and had his MMR shot.  Not speaking a lot of words.  New path will include separate books with Ryder and shorter ones.  He wasn't sitting with the books with Noah and it didn't sink in that it was a big deal.  So...new plan.  Kim isn't worried...but wants to see improvement by the time he is 18 months.

 IPTV--Dan

 I-Cubs game!

 Science Center!

 Pool Kid!

 Pool baby!

 Camden and Nana!

Better late than never...BIRTHDAY PICS!!!!

 This was taken on his actual Birthday...not sure why is says June 23...Noah is 4...in his underoos!

 Opened up his very own Iron Man that night!!

 Ryder-roo...or Wreck-It Ralph as your daddy calls you:)

 Construction theme...might use this for multiple years!!

 Walking tacos!!

 Ryder got cars, a signed book and new bath foam letters/numbers.  Noah got a wheelbarrow, signed book and a new collection of Little Critter books. 

 Spoiled kids!!!!!!!!!!!!

 CUTE!!!!!

Birthday boys!!!

 blowing out the candles for both!

 can't turn it...yummy chocolate!!!!!!!!!

Softball has wrapped up...vacation is about over...August is almost here!  Lots to write and catch up on!

And...June is gone!!!

Well...we have survived another month of softball!  Whew...it has flown by and our kids have been awesome!  Noah has been a GREAT helper and Ryder is a full on walker!  Scott's team has a better record than last year which is great and they are improving day by day.  We are done with Saturday tournaments and he assures me that next year will be less tournaments.  Every Saturday ends up being a lot on my own, so it will be nice to have him back.  Now...back won't mean much since he will be hard at work on our house!  I will have to post pictures...but we are putting a new roof on and new siding.  Everything got damaged in a hail storm and insurance is going to pay for most of it...if Scott and folks do the work.  Ugh...thank goodness for friends and family...but it is going to be a ton of work.  Thank you so much hubs...you are the best!  Noah is officially 4!!!  I decorated his door with streamers (attempted to look like a Spiderman web...fail...but Noah thought it looked like it!!!).  I had left for work...but called when I thought he was awake and he answered, "Mommy...I'm 4 today!"  I stopped home to get a hug:)  We took him out for supper...he chose Peppers.  Which...I thought was hilarious and Daddy thought was awesome!  He is a big fan of corn dogs!  Ryder is a walking machine...more walking than crawling now...it is crazy!  He loves to "run" away from you...even funnier when he tries to get up the stairs!  Daddy saw two more teeth today..his "lateral incisor" teeth!  Wahoo!!  Kind of explains some of his fussiness.  Ryder is still in bed with us...but usually sleeps all night long.  We are also working on getting Noah is in his bed all by himself...hoping to get him to fall asleep by himself:)  Here is a few fun pics:

Birthday party pictures next time:)

MAY in pictures...

 1st swing ride!

 PURE JOY!

 Notice the date...snow in MAY!?!?!

 Roses from my boys!

 Climber...

 All smiles...

 iPad...already...

 Zoom zoom zoom!

LOVE!!

 Celebrating (one day late...Daddy had a game) with CAKE!!!

 Meeting baby cousin Camden Rokes!

 Cousin love!

 Little snuggler!

 So little!!!

Handsome:)

Catch up!!!!!!!!!!!

Well...the month of May is just about over and we have updates galore!! 

Daddy--softball is in full swing...practices were after Spring sport practices...which meant very late nights.  We had a rough two weeks...but things are getting better as school is done on FRIDAY!!  They had their first game...JV won and varsity lost, but they learned a lot and Scott's philosophy is that you always move forward.  He has a new teacher starting in English with Scott in the fall...it is one of his former students from when he coached baseball in college.  Makes us feel old!  Scott is moving to social studies and is excited for that to be consistent!  Our yard is in full growing mode...and of course he doesn't have time to do it...we look crazy on our road!  We also have a totaled roof and some of our siding on the back...which means we are going to have to totally re-side our home.  ANd...not to sound cranky...but NOT the summer to have this happen!  Scott has a tournament every Saturday.  It is going to be nuts...but when is our life not:)

Noah...still a roaring toddler!  We took our T-ball pictures...that was an overwhelming adventure!  He did great...I was beyond overwhelmed...lots of kids...I had no idea what I was doing or where he was supposed to go.  But, it all worked out.  He is LOVING being outside...so we are ready for Ryder to walk so we can be outside more!!  Noah is not pumped about doing letters at night...trying to think about how we can be creative in getting him into it.  We are still loving to read at night and he is usually excited about reading.  I am nervous about school in the fall...glad we are just doing the three year old stuff.  There is a teacher who has girls on the softball team...I am going to ask her about some things to do with Noah.  We did try riding his bike that Papa Tom and Nana Lisa bought him...not a fan.  He would much rather ride his big wheel.  The bike is pretty heavy...so I can understand, but it is the next step!  We got Noah a new Spiderman bike helmet and he was PUMPED!  Excited for our pool pass (that we still need to get) and some bike rides and double jogger time!

Ryder...what a crazy fast month.  I quit pumping two weekends ago.  Much harder for me to do than I thought.  I miss my snuggle time and the bottles are NOT fun.  Ryder on the other hand has been sleeping better...so I think he really was hungry through the night.  I am officially done...no more pumping to relieve pain and everything is washed and packed up.  Ryder has also started throwing GIANT fits when he is mad.  Like...on the floor...hitting his head on the floor...rolling around, etc.  Wowza!  I don't remember Noah doing this at 12 months!  I read in the baby week by week book that it is normal.  Ryder has also become a walking machine!!!  We have watched him take 2-3 steps and then today...it was like almost across the room!  I can't believe it.  It is hard to know what to feel...first excitement for how proud of himself he is...second for relief that he is learning how and will be able to do it outside...and thirdly sad because he is a big boy.  He is still a great eater...doesn't always want to stop playing to eat, but we are putting him at the table with us for routine and so far (not always) we are doing okay.  He loves bananas and cheerios the best!  The fruit packs are hit and miss...I think when he is more reliable he will snarf them down like Noah.  Ryder has his 12 month check this week...I am hoping he has gained some weight!!  Still a giggling and kissing machine!

Mommy--I survived my conference!  In fact...I got an award!  Not gonna lie...it was pretty awesome.  I had no idea I was even nominated...so to get voted by my peers was pretty great.  I got the Rising Star award for the IACAC state conference.  ANd...my friend Michelle for the Admissions Counselor of the Year award.  It was a pretty fun day!  I got to drink for the first time in like 2 years...gotta bit crazy (not really by most people's standards!!).  Presented and had a good time.  The nights were hard as I really missed the kids.  Scott did a great job...I totally would have gone to my parents...he is a TROOPER!!!!!  Big time issues with anxiety lately.  So...back to running and needing to eat better.  Better run...pictures tomorrow!

A fast month!

Scott and I knew this month would be a whirlwind...so we had to take it day by day!  We have survived multiple doctor's office trips...tubes for Ryder's ears...the start and end of 8th grade track...the start of softball...SNOW in early May...crazy stuff!  I will post pics the next post which WILL be this weekend.

Ryder is not walking yet...still holds onto things...can stand up and down all by himself, lets go of things...but no desire to walk!  He also uses the walker...and will walk with you holding hands...but not on his own.  If one more person asks me why he isn't walking...I might just punch them:)  Moms are the biggest culprits of this...come on!!  Ryder is also smaller than Noah was at this age...I do think it has something to do with his ears...it was uncomfortable for him.  But...he is fine and is an eating machine!  Speaking of eating...I am going to quit nursing this weekend.  I have to be at a conference next weekend starting Sunday and I don't want to pack my pump...Ryder will be 1 in less than 2 weeks (which also breaks my hear) and will continue to have breast milk.  I have a TON in the freezer...as do my parents and daycare...so no worries there.  I am struggling with this...I have really enjoyed it...my time with Ryder and snuggling.  I do think he might eat better and get more from a bottle...I have really decreased in the last week (no pumping at work)...so maybe he will sleep better.  We went to the doctor twice in 24 hours because he was FREAKING out...he cried for 2.5 hours on Sunday night.  NOTHING was wrong we found out!  Probably his eye teeth which are super super painful.  Cross your fingers that is all:)  He is still a very happy baby...and going through an attachment phase...kind of wary of strangers.  His giggle and funny noises from his mouth are hysterical.  Ryder still loves to give kisses...full mouth kisses...LOVE LOVE LOVE:)

Noah is more and more independent every day.  He is doing great at day care with listening and following directions.  Now...listening at home is a different story.  Some days are great...some days are not so good.   Last week he lost privileges twice for listening skills.  On Friday as I was explaining to my mom we asked Noah what would happen if he didn't listen and his response, "I lose all my toys...FOREVER" which was hysterical as he looked to the ground when he said forever.  My mom and I just burst out laughing...what a drama toddler!  We did decide to sign him up for t-ball in Dike (totally behind the boat on this...luckily the guy in charge I have known forever...so he was super nice about it).  I am really nervous about it because Noah does great with adults and a few kids...but has never had this experience before.  I worry about him crying or getting picked on and not standing up for himself.  Totally anxious about this...if Scott takes him, I think he will do great...but with softball it won't be all the time.  Cross your fingers!

More updates and pics over the weekend!