My Mom

My Mom came to stay with us last week while David was out being a mountain man in Montana.  He took his annual trip to hunt.  It's a great opportunity for him to get away, and a great opportunity to spend some more time with my mom!

Although, I didn't feel like I got to see her all that much.  She was playing the role of David after all, and the way are schedule is set up I don't see much of him either.

We had a little birthday celebration for Ryan with none other than Trophy Cupcakes, my Mom's favorite and ours too!  Most of our days were filled with card games, books and rocking babies and we enjoyed every minute.

Thanks, Mom! 

The only way I get things done some days.

Snug as a bug.

Trying to stay dry in the relentless rain.

The 5 year old and his cupcake.

Ryan is eying up that cupcake.

Cheese!

We love you, Grandma Sue!

Five Months

Natalie is five months old.  Already.  We're thinking she's in the beginning stages of teething because she's drooling non stop, and loves to chew on her fingers.  Most of that beautiful dark hair she was born with has fallen out and has been replaced with fuzz.  It's starting to come back in, though, and we still think it will be dark.

As you can see she adores her brother.  The photos don't capture how she lights up when he talks to her.  She loves Kendall, too, who is very sweet with her most of the time.  Kendall loves to give her hugs and kisses.  Other times she likes to lie on top of Natalie.  Not so cute.  The minute I think we've made some progress getting her to be "G E N T L E" she does something ridiculous like that.  I know they will be best buds one day.

Keeping tabs on brother Ryan.

Natalie is rolling from back to tummy, and gets so mad when she's been on her tummy longer than 2 minutes.  She loves to lie on her back and grab her toes.  Her sleeping habits have gotten worse.  She's up at least two times a night.  Those nights of uninterrupted sleep seem like a dream now.  She still likes to be held most of the day, but is entertained by her exersaucer, swing and bouncy chair for short periods.  She likes to sit in the high chair while the big kids are eating so she can join in on the fun.  She's also started singing back to me when I'm rocking and singing to her.  She answers back in her sweet little voice.  S sweet.  She also started grabbing and holding on to toys.  She loves to chew on these as well.  Ryan loves that she is "Playing" now. 

And she's down.

Fall Spelndor

The tree in our front yard was absolutely magical this year.  I loved opening the curtains to find it staring back at me every morning.

Matching Jammies

I got the girls matching pj's the other day.  Kendall wore hers the night before I pulled Natalie's out.  When I started getting Natalie in hers Kendall FREAKED out.  She thought they were hers.  She is such a drama girl these days.  Anyway, the camera was close by so attempted to get a picture of them together.  Kendall was very eager to hold Natalie so I let her.  After 2 seconds she was done and basically tossed Natalie aside.  Poor Natty.

I snatched her up, and then Kendall decided it was her turn to take some photos of me and Natalie.  After a bit of cropping they turned out pretty good for a two year old photographer! 

I just LOVE that little face.  Those cheeks are so kissable!

By the way, Natalie's pj's are size 12 months - she is only 5 months.

Solids

Natalie had her first solid food tonight.  I fed her a little rice cereal.  She did pretty good  with it, until she spit it all up 15 minutes later!

 

The Big 5

Ryan celebrated his 5th birthday last week.  He woke up on Friday morning so happy to be 5!  He was so proud, and just beaming from ear to ear.  It was pretty adorable.

We had a party for him on Wednesday after school.  He was very particular about who he wanted to invite so we just went with it.  It was very low key, but fun.  The kids all seemed to have a great time, as did the birthday boy.

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Kendall, Ravenna, Birthday Boy Ryan, Quincy and Jim (not pictured: Carter and Eliza)  I LOVE all the cheesy grins!

Ry got so many fun gifts!

I was kind of going with a sports theme, since the kid is obsessed with sports, but when I gave him the cake options of baseball, football or basketball he threw me for a loop and picked out the turtle cake he spotted.  I couldn't say no, since he's kind of obsessed with turtles, too.  It was actually pretty easy to make, and Ryan loved it which made rolling all those tootsie rolls for the shell worthwhile.

I love Kendall in the background.  She was so excited to be a part of the fun, and included at the table with the other kids.  She was totally putting on a show for Ryan's friends.  As David and I have said 100 times, she is going to be the "class clown" when she gets into school.  She thinks she is so hilarious!

Mr. Turtle Cake was so delicious!

It was odd not having his party on his actual birthday.  I'm not sure we'll do that again, but just the way it worked out this year.  He kept wondering when his friends were coming to play.  Short memory I guess!  His friend Ravenna came over in the morning, then he had school and I had planned movie night so it was a full day, but guess it just didn't feel like his birthday!  It did to me, though.  It's hard to believe my boy is 5!

Happy 5th Birthday, Ryan!

Dear Ryan,

Today you turn 5!  You are so excited to be 5 years old.  Before you went to bed last night you told Kendall, "tomorrow I get to be 5!".  She was pretty excited for her big brother.

You have become such a strong, smart and vibrant boy, Ryan.  It has been so much fun watching you grow over the last year.  You are such a social little guy.  You love to play with your friends.  And you ask everyday if you get to go to school.  You love that you get to go 4 days this year instead of just 3. 

You have a great imagination, and I've really loved watching it get stronger and stronger over the past year.  You create your own games and will entertain yourself for hours.  They usually involve your cars, or a ball.  All summer long you played baseball.  When you couldn't be outside playing, you would create your own game inside using the rug as your baseball diamond.  Now that baseball season is over you have started doing the same thing with football.  You're such a competitor (sometimes to a fault!). 

Playing "Blue 42"

Your an awesome big brother, too!  You adore Kendall and Natalie and are so sweet to them.  Sure you and Kendall have your squabbles, but you play so nice together, too.  The two of you love to chase each other through the house squealing away!  Natalie lights up every time she sees you and there is nothing she loves more than when you talk to her.  Her face just beams.  You have just started wanting to hold her more, and you even read her a book the other night.

You are such a sweet, caring little boy.  You're always looking out for your sisters, and your friends.  You're always concerned about how other people are feeling.  You love giving and getting hugs.  If you're having a rough day a hug usually makes it better.  Your turtles, Honu and Squirt usually help too!

You and your daddy are still thick as thieves.  You have been so patient this year in sharing his attention.  With a new baby sister around it's been hard for the two of you to play as much as you'd like and you've taken that all in stride.  I'm so proud of you!  When you do play there's lots of laughs and trash talking - like "you're going down Mr. Brown"!  The two of you are always coming up with crazy things to say and do!

I'm also so thankful you have an exceptional memory.  You are always reminding me of things I've forgotten.  I'm always shocked at some of the things you can remember.  If only I could have an inkling of that!  It's really hard for me to believe that you are already 5 years old. 

I'm so proud of you, Ryan.  You are such a special little boy.

I love you!.

-Mommy

More Football

Ryan's whirlwind weekend also included a trip to the Seahawk game with Grandma Karen, Grandpa Bill and Aunt Melanie on Sunday.  Everyone came to our house before the game for brunch and a little birthday celebration for Ryan.  Grandma and Grandpa got Ryan all the gear he needed for the big game! 

If mean old mom wouldn't make him take his jersey off to wash it, he would wear it everyday!

Pumpkin Carving

We barely had time to carve pumpkins this year, but managed to cram it in.  After all, it's not Halloween if you don't carve pumpkins!  Ryan carved the tops of 4 pumpkins, and would have done 10 more.  He loved it!  He even dug his hand right in and started cleaning his out.  Last year he wouldn't do that! 

Kendall wanted nothing to do with, but Natalie enjoyed watching Ryan and crinkling up the newspaper!

My little pumpkin is getting so big!

Go Huskys!

Last Saturday we took Ryan to his first Husky football game.  He was SO excited.  He has really been into football lately so we thought it would be the perfect birthday present.  Aunt Melanie came over to watch the girls so both David and I could take him.  It was a beautiful, cool, fall evening and we had a great time.  It was an exciting game, and the Husky's ended up winning!  Ryan was ready to go by the third quarter.  It was after 10pm, so we couldn't blame him.  We were tired, too!  He was content to listen to the 4th quarter on the radio in the car and climbed right into bed when we got home. 

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween!  Ryan was very into this year, and so proud to wear his turtle costume.  Kendall wanted nothing to do with her kitty cat costume, but I told her she could have a "soccer ball" (aka sucker) if she put it on for one picture.

Thank goodness the first picture of the trio turned out:

Because moments later Kendall turned into a little monster:

She sat for one picture, and now she wanted that "soccer ball".

Her costume came off shortly after as well.  I didn't think we'd get it back on, but we did.  We went to some friends house for a potluck and trick or treating around their neighborhood.  They have a great neighboorhood full of extremely festive Halloween houses.  Once Kendall figured out the trick or treating she really got into it.  It was so much fun to watch her!  She became quite possessive of her treat bucket too!

Ryan had a blast trick or treating with his friends, and was so excited to get home and sort his stash!  Natalie loved being outside as we walked from house to house.  She was the perfect pumpkin!

Ryan and Muriel

Muriel, Eliza, Ryan, Monica and Madeline

We spent the month of October getting into the Halloween spirit by making lots of fun crafts, too!