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!

Gotta get through April...

Well...April is here and so far has not become the lamb we all wanted!  Ready for nice weather and the month to be done.  It is a long month in both of our working world and the weather makes it a long month for our toddler!  Scott and I went to UNI's Latino Ball...it was a RIOT!  We had so much fun and it was a much needed date night:)  Here are some pics:

Noah has been an incredible big brother lately.  He is very concerned about Ryder biting people...so he is quick to swoop in and stop him:)  He also helps him up the stairs (yes...Ryder is a climber!!).  I am blown away by how much of a little boy he has become.  We had a game night this week...and it was soo much fun.  Hi Ho Cheerio (???) and Rock'em'Sock'em...attempted Chutes and Ladders (too long...).  We are working on recognizing numbers now and still working on letters.   Still trying to figure out if we will sign up something to do this summer with him...art camp, soccer...swimming lessons will have to wait until the Fall.  Ryder is an eating, pooping machine!!  We had a rough two weeks with an ear infection and then a touch of the flu.  I am nervous that Ryder might have ear issues like his brother...so we are keeping a close eye on him.  Still the happiest baby around...I can't believe he will be 1 in less than 6 weeks...it breaks my heart!  But...so blessed to have a growing, happy baby boy.  My brother and his wife are expecting a boy!  We had a shower for her this past weekend and it was so fun to watch them both get ready...made me really reflect on how that change happened for us...almost 4 years ago!  Baby things change so much and with so many babies happening right now...makes me also think about another one...but then I remember that I would need a big raise...so we will need to think about it later. 

This was a hard week as the Boston Marathon was bombed yesterday...as I write this, it seems like it could be a typo...bombing at a Marathon!?!?!  This of course has shot my anxiety through the roof.   I have some glimmers of hope that things will get better...and have learned I will be this mom:  http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/10/living/guns-parenting/index.html?iref=allsearch

So...not wanting to end the blog in a sad way...praying for a better tomorrow for our world!

April...Spring!?!?

Well...the rest of March flew by!  We survived Spring Break...Scott stuck around here because of some sad losses in our area in terms of family and family friends.  My kiddos and I headed down to visit Uncle Matt and Aunt Jenna...we had a riot!!  My parents and I headed down on Sunday morning and went to the John Deere place in Moline...Noah had soooo much fun!  You can climb up into the John Deere equipment and he went to town!!  We then headed back to their house and Noah dyed Easter eggs...Ryder crawled and played all over their house with their puppy.  Good times!  Then...it was back at it...or so Scott thought!  I had told him that we were going to go out to eat for my Dad's birthday to the OP.  It was really a surprise 30th Birthday party!!!!  He turned 30 during break and we were pretty chill...we had Scratch cupcakes, Pizza Ranch and home:)  I got him UNI license plates for his birthday.  We had around 25 people come to his birthday...and he was TOTALLY surprised!  We also did Easter and family birthdays at Grandma Kress's...Alaina and Noah had fun finding eggs.  My grandparents are pretty tired at the moment...so while we normally do Easter with them...we did not this year.  We stayed home...it was great!  On Saturday we had a baby shower for one of my best friends...she is the closest thing I have to a sister and she and her husband adopted a baby girl...it was so great to meet her.  On Sunday...we snuggled in and watched Noah's new movie Hop.  We hunted for eggs at home and read Ryder's new George book;)  Today is a big day...Ryder climbed up the stairs...the whole way!  He is starting to let go and stand...hasn't taken any steps...but getting there!  Ryder also started taking steps with his walker!!!  I can't believe he is 10 months old...crazy how fast it has moved.  Here are some pics of our happenings:

 Mommy and Noah time...snow pants and fun:)

 Eating real bannas!

 Lots of standing up and down!

 Last Kindergym!

 Passed out after Kindergym...

 Love:)

 Working man!

 John Deere fun!

 Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 Playing machine!

 Birthday at the OP!!

 Mommy and Ryder:)

 Kiddo central!!!

 Happy Easter egg hun!

 Big girl Rory!!!

 Happy Easter!!!

Family Easter Pic!!!

SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!

We made it!  March came in like a lion...hoping it goes out like a lamb:)  It has been a rough month in our neck of the woods.  Work has been long for both of us...Scott with numerous snow days (sounds rough...but the kids get rowdy and now knowing that the school year is longer...ugh!) and me with a lot of visits.  Noah has been going through some tough stages of learning how to listen, follow directions and be nice!  Some minutes he is fine...the next minute...not so much.  The weather is not helping at all in this area!  He needs to be outside and playing...so today was a great day outside with Papa.  Ryder has started to dominate the food area!  He has eaten regular carrots (cooked), bananas...even BROCCOLI!!!  My two big boys would barely swallow it...he couldn't stop eating it.  We did have a crazy pooping incident in the tub...luckily Ryder was still in the baby tub...but still super gross!!!!!!!  Noah was FREAKING out...amusing to me.

It has been a sad time in our house as well...we have lost three people in the last week to cancer.  Very rough for all of us to see friends and family friends go through these rough times.  And...a realization that a lot of these folks are near are parents age....scary.  So...be thinking of Scott and those who have been taken too soon.  We also had our sump pump crap out last weekend (on number 4 now...).  Lost our flip cam...thought we had no videos of Ryder...but luckily we had up through Christmas downloaded!  And...the gutter near Ryder's room fell off...so...rough in the household area as well.  Scott's big day is this coming week...pretty pumped for him to join the big kid club:)  They decorated his door at school and brought food today...I might have let them know about it...yeah!!!

Pictures next week!!!