a big deal

Ryan couldn't wait to turn five and we couldn't wait to help him celebrate.

Of course now that he is five, he wants to turn six.

What a joy this boy is to have in our family.

He is funny and cracks us up.  He looks up to his big brothers.

He loves school.  He sounds out words to read and write. 

He counts to 100 and counts backwards from 20.

He loves spoonfuls of peanut butter and glasses of strawberry milk.

He still throws fits and has problems listening.

He likes scratch backs and video games.

He loves legos, hero factory's, and nerf.  

He loves being outside and looking for bugs.

Oh Ryan we love you so.

Candles that flames burn the same color, so cool!

Ryan loved all of his presents.

He shared so well with his brothers and let them build or play with whatever they wanted.

He laughed at the card we bought him, it was so fitting!

 One of his favorite gifts was from Uncle Matt.

It's from Aunt Summer too but Uncle Matt did the shopping which was so obvious.

The biggest, baddest, coolest water gun he could find.

And then two teeny tiny water guns for the older boys, they didn't laugh but we did!

 the girls

 the guys

Ryan also got some new flip flops.

The kind without the strap in the back so he is learning how to walk in them.

It's a very funny thing to watch.

The weather, the food, the company, the laughter.

I love perfect days like this.

fun to be 5

Happy 5th Birthday Ryan!

a few of the things Ryan said to me this morning...

I'm 5?  I'm 5 right now!?!

My goodness, this means I can go to Kindergarten now!

My feet are bigger!

Now I'm big like Ashy and Braden!

I won't hit anymore, okay mom!

Only three days until my friends party now!

This is so exciting!

my little boy

My little boy should be having a birthday party today.

The cutest little space party ever with his friends.

But instead he is home sick.

He has a fever and a sore neck (is how he tells it).

We are so bummed.

So now in five days we will have the cutest little space party ever.

 Look at these invitations Amanda made, I just love them.

Ryan laughs out loud everytime he see's the alien that says, "come in peace".

So today we will be resting and looking forward to the family party on Sunday.
His real birthday!

spring break part two

Tuesday

the boys were giving me a headache

Luke's play date was cancelled so he was whining and complaining

Cody's play date started later than expected so he was hyper and annoying

Thankfully Heath got home from fishing with a favorite junk food treat for me 'Chocodiles'

They are only sold at certain gas stations so they aren't that easy to come by

which is probably a good thing for me

Wednesday

Heath took the day off so we could enjoy the day together as a family

It started with a puzzle for the boys but it quickly became my project when they all gave up within the first five minutes.

Once finished I left for my much needed haircut and color

It had been ten months since I had my hair done but it was worth the wait

I love it, lots of layers, a fresh color and still working on growing it out longer

Ryan said to me, "I not know if you are mom or Aunt Coco?"

We then went to the movie 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules'

It was funny, we laughed out loud and had a good time

Thursday

I met up with my mom and the boys went home with her to stay the night

they were excited and had a great time

but decided that they would like to start going over one at a time to stay

Awhile back Luke had asked my mom about doing a sewing project with them

so she helped them each make a pillowcase

They loved it and couldn't wait to share with me everything that they learned.

They are fascinated by her machines, the rows of colored threads, the pin cushions and the tools

I left my camera with my mom so she could get some pictures

This is Ryan's new look in all of his pictures

As soon as he sees the camera he turns and smiles to get it over with quickly

Heath and I enjoyed a date night with the boys gone once he got home from work

We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and shopped at the mall

we had a good time

Friday

(the pictures stop here)

I met up with my mom and boys for the church Lenton Luncheon

We enjoyed the rest of the day hanging out at my parents house

we loved every bit of sunshine, it was a beautiful day

the boys also got those haircuts that I promised

they have all decided that they wanted to keep their hair a little longer

so maybe no more buzz cuts

Saturday

Amanda and I shopped all day long

So many things we were trying to accomplish

birthday shopping for Abigail & Ryan, Easter shopping, new Easter outfit shopping

House decorating shopping, grocery shopping, furniture shopping

and any other kind of shopping we thought of along the way

It felt so good getting so much done

Sunday

after church we met up with my sister and Jim

bought the furniture we decided on and had chinese for lunch

the boys have been difficult today, really difficult

so I'm looking forward to the end of spring break today and sending them to school tomorrow

spring break part one

Nothing big or crazy going on here for Spring Break,

just some simple things to have a little fun.

FRIDAY

movie night watching Yogi Bear

the boys have been doing a lot of drawing out of 'How to Draw'

books that they have checked out from the library

SATURDAY

a birthday party at Matt & Summer's house to celebrate Summer turning 27

she's so great in the family and knows how to keep Matt and Dad in line

Matt bbq'd up some pork and ribs for a yummy meal

my boys sure loved them

SUNDAY

after we got home from church we brought out the new play doh

then had a play date with the girls who will be gone for 5 days

the kids can't believe that they won't see each other for five whole days

it's funny how they always line up for pictures in their order of age

but no so funny that they won't just smile for one picture for me

Heath left early sunday morning for some steelhead fishing

he will be gone for three days

great news though he sent me this picture and he caught a fish

finally a fish after a couple of s-l-o-w years

MONDAY

we were treated to Subway for taking care of Jake this week

the boys LOVE Subway so we headed there for lunch today

and Ruby loves having a play date with Jake, so it's a win win

and no worries the boys will be getting haircuts this week

they are starting to look a little shaggy I know

after lunch we had a few errands to run in town

then it was back home for another play date

after dinner a lego surprise for the boys

Not bad for the first part of our stay at home spring break!

oh no he didn't..

I don't know what for sure I did to this kid but I swear he is out to get me.

Let me set the scene...

Luke had a play date after school today with one of his best friends named Luke.

They went to preschool together and since they don't live in the same town

and life is crazy busy they only see each other probably twice a year.

They were so excited to see each other today, especially since Luke will soon

be moving away for two years. It's a special friendship that they have!

So on the way home I am talking with Luke about the play date and how everything went.

I ask him about eating dinner and he said that he ate good for them because it

would be rude not too. (Why can't he just do that for me then?)

He then tells me that they had water with dinner so he asked the parents,

"Do you have anything else besides water to drink, like alcohol or beer or something?"

WHAT?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, YOU REALLY ASKED FOR THAT?

I can't even believe this.

What on Earth would possess him to say something like that?

I have to call the mother to find out if this really happened.

Sure enough, it did!

She just laughed and couldn't believe that he kept such a straight face while asking for it.

Thankfully she already knew that our kids do not consume alcohol beverages

while eating their meals or ever for that matter.

She did say that he redeemed himself during the prayer though.

She asked her Luke to say the blessing and he was a little shy to say it in front

of my Luke and said he didn't know what to say and my Luke said,

"That's easy, you start with Heavenly Father and you end it with Amen."

Good thing I love this kid!

mario & luigi

The boys surprised us with this new look today!