The curious mind of my child

It has been so much fun playing with Riley and watching his mind work.  While I was ironing Monday I was just observing him and how he figures out how to build towers and bridges and even "garages" for his cars.  He is definetly a boys boy and can't get enough of cars and trucks and it amazingly keeps him very concentrated and still for a long time which is great to see!

Blocks-the blocks that keep him fascinated and let his imagination flow freely.

You can build towers with them...

You can watch them fall

You can build bridges and streets with them

and then drive your cars on them

You can re-arrange your cars and give them all turns on the bridges

and then you can finally look up and realize mommy has been studying you and taking pictures for 30 minutes with a smile on your face!

Living the high life!

Our day was perfecto!  Church, naptime (ahhhh), shopping, splashing, grilling, eating on the patio and ice cream deserts.  Couldn't have had a better Sunday!.

Riley rounded the day out with some love from Deucer-his best and comfiest friend!

Salvaged Saturday

So after what appeared to be a completely ruined day we managed to make it out to Springfest at Epiphany Church with Carrie, Rob and 1.5 yr old Logan.  The boys ooohed and ahhhed over everything but when it came down to it, Riley was a complete chicken!  Logan couldn't wait to get on all the rides and showed his enthusiasm with a wide open grin and lots of "ooooo's" but Derrick could hold his arms out straight and prove just how tightly Riley was holding on like a spider monkey or Level 5 cling-on!  He did go on a few rides and after watching the boys have all the fun the mommy's took the kiddos on the ferris wheel.  I don't do real well with heights but having my child, my heart, my breathe of life on my lap made me nearly faint with fear. There was no bar that came down on our laps and the rickety old doors weren't locked so you could see a crack to what lies beneath.  I managed to keep it together and surprisingly this was the one ride Riley really enjoyed!  In the end the boys won lots of prizes and had fun together so really that's what it's all about.  I can't explain the joy you get from watching your children interract and explore with other kids.  I get very addicted to it and can't do enough with Riley when it involves other kids. 

 

After the afternoon in the sun I raced home for my first annual Mom's club banquet and first without Riley event ever!  It was hosted at Billy's in Anoka and we had a blast!  The new board was 'sworn' in and between the games, prizes, dinner, cake and 80's attire we were having fun and enjoying eachother's company.  I even won an award for being a mom who juggles full time work and motherhood!  My first year with the Mom's club has been awesome and I am so thankful to all the ladies who are so easy to get along with and have accepted Riley and I from day 1!  Laura-you did a great job as president and I can't wait to see the new baby soon.  Di, Christina, Chelsea, Andrea, Michelle, Missy and the others I look forward to every play group and outing we go to and am so glad to have found you all!  I can't wait for June's MNO and Eclipse!

Girls just wanna have fun!

More pictures to come as I get some from the group...I set my camera down for the evening! : )

Fat Tuesday-not the x-rated celebration down south either : )

Our Tuesday was rated "G" for the family friendly kind of activities.  It was only 'fat' because of everything we managed to squeeze into it! 

I have finally made it to the end of the 5 weeks of "walk a mile" at work so my hours have been 5 a.m. to 13:30 and I usually was squeezing a nap in before picking up Riley but we had playgroup at 3:00 and I didn't want Riley (or I ) to miss it.  So glad we didn't because when you mix together kids and huge buckets full of water the fun never ends!  The kids amazingly didn't notice the cold water but straight from the hose I was shocked at how frigid it was after being splashed a few times.  I love our playgroup and when you add a baby, a 13 month old who is so fun to watch explore and learn, 2 toddlers and 5 and 6 year old the fun never ends. 

Riley had a blast and was soaked from head to toe by the time we raced home to eat a quick dinner, get changed and dried and head right up to softball.  We were so busy rushing around I don't think I even got a chance to talk to Derrick! 
Softball watching was fun as always and as the mommies were talking away Riley was cheering "Daddy, Daddy" and sure enough his Daddy was making a big catch out in the outfield!  I guess for now he shows no signs of my poor vision!  Little Avery is such a sweetheart and calls me "mama."  She gives out lots of hugs and wants me to take her-which I gladly do!  The second game though my cousin Dave's kids were also under my watchful eye and I learned a painful lesson about having an 8-yr-old, 5-yr-old, 2-2-yr-olds and a 1-yr-old in my arms.  April could do nothing more than just laugh since I am the one who wants 4 kids but I just kept telling myself my own kids will be 'different'?  right?!  It was an eventful evening and both Riley and I left exhausted!

Bzzzzzyyyyyy

Friday marked Derrick's 9th time leaving me for the annual MN fish opener.  I remember a time when I would have tears in my eyes at his exit and now I am just so used to it and so busy that the weekend's without him fly by.  Lucky for me Friday was my day off and I spent it with my favorite little boy running around like crazy and enjoying the beautiful weather.  We started off the day with a refreshing 2.5 hour nap followed by a quick pit stop at a friends house to deliver some Happy 30th B-day flowers and a sneak peak   at our "mommy and me" pictures.   Some I absolutely love and some make me cringe...you can check them out if you want at  http://rstrand.photobiz.com/cart/ just type in your email and the password is "riley."  He had a blast sitting on their comfy couch with the lights turned down low while listening to music and watching our pictures appear on the wall screen.  He couldn't help but yell out Mommy at every new picture that appeared and when he saw a bridal picture on the wall he got uber excited and cried "Tee tee" which is code for Katie.  Afterwards we stopped at McDonald's and Riley ate his first ever happy meal and boy was he happy with everything from the super cool box to the milk jug, apples, chicken nuggets and of course the donkey toy from Shrek.

I thought he could use the playplace but he is still a bit too small but gasped in amazement as we entered into it.  He even got a little bag of cookies-I would have to say that for 2.99 it was well worth the fun and our nutrition could be put off for one meal.  Although that is the most I have eaten apples for awhile!  We headed straight to the dam for some Mom's club park play and had a blast soaking up the sun.  Riley is at an age now where he can go up and down the ladder and slides without my help (at least the toddler slides) so I just sat back and watched him play with the kids while I talked about the June calendar and upcoming Mom's Banquet next weekend.  I did eventually go down a few slides racing Riley as he requested but he giggles too much when we sit slide by slide and I always won no matter how hard I tried not to because he just sits and giggles and giggles and giggles.  I also had to get a few quick shots of Riley and the river and am very pleased with how they turned out!

We raced home to meet Tee Tee who brought us over some pizza and company to close out the day and even more exciting Riley peed in the potty!  YES, I said he actually went wee wee in his big boy potty chair!  I was shocked and so was he!  When I picked up the bucket to show him he stuck his head in there excitedly and then spilled the wee wee everywhere.  He still earned his M & M's though and was smiling ear to ear.

Days off with Mommy are sooooo fun!

The great potty chair experiment.

So we are coming upon week two of the pee pee chair being in our house and so far no pee pee has made it into the chair : (  He did pee once but it was on the carpet as we undressed him so that doesn't count but was pretty funny.  Our new nighttime routine is to have Riley sit on the chair for a good 15 minutes while we brush his teeth and read stories together and he sits there like a pro (or any man) and seems to really enjoy himself.  I try to explain how he should go "pee pee" but he just repeats "pee pee" laughs and points to the 'real' toilet and says "Daddy."  So we will keep up with this until he gets it and I have M & M's stashed and ready to go for the first trickle or turd for that matter : )  We have been thinking about a toddler bed but Riley loves his crib so much and has never even attempted to climb out so at this point we are content as long as he is.  And I mean he really loves his crib after naps or in the morning he sits and talks with the puppies on his crib bumper or he lays up and looks at the ceiling while he relaxes.  If he is crying after a nap it's a very bad sign that something is wrong.  We haven't heard any crying as of late!  : )

Ya gotta love the little boy shield!  

Made to be a Mommy

Yes, I believe from a very early age this was exactly what I was meant to do.  I have memories of going through the Sunday paper and cutting out of the ads everything you would need for a baby like a stroller, car seat, crib, cute sheets and of course I would find and cut out a cute baby.  I was crushed when I went to my first baby shower and realized that there was no baby as of yet!  I was utterly excited at the chance or even prospect of holding a baby and continued to babysit until I was nearly 20 because I simple love kids and figured that would hold me over til' later.

Riley has been dreamed about, imagined and loved for many, many years and as I celebrated my 2nd Mother's Day with my family I was so content, peaceful and relaxed and truly happy that this is exactly what my life should be like.

We had a wonderful day that started out at church where Riley sat the best that he has EVER sat in the pew with us.  He is now a certified little pray-er...(he folds his hands when Pastor announces "lets pray", bows his cute little head and even clenches his eyes shut!)  It was a wonderful service filled with lots of encouragement and great music.  Perfect way to start the day! (that and a Mother's day mocha from my favorite little Anoka coffee shop!)  Afterwards Riley was exhausted from his day trip up to Garrison and he napped for 3 hours.  So I got 4 loads of laundry washed-dried-and nearly folded, dishes washed, dusting, vacuuming, bathroom chores and window cleaning done and I get a sick pleasure from accomplishing house cleaning so I was one happy Momma!  Riley did lend a hand with his little vacuum and Daddy finished up the dishes so it was more of a team effort!

We went to my parent's for a BBQ and enjoyed a special yummy treat of ice cream and brownies, nothing was sweeter than my victory over Derrick in ping pong though.  It was an intense game and one that I have been training to win for years and finally on my day everything was in my favor.  Riley was cheering for Daddy but Mommy was making sick shots and hardly touching the whites of the table before Daddy was whiffing at the balls.

Riley-without you I am not a Mommy.  You have changed my life, priorities and my future.  You are my breath of life and I thank God every time I get to say goodnight to you.  I love to kiss your owies and hold you when you are sleepy.  I love making sandwiches for you and getting you to dressed.  I have never been more proud of anything I have ever done-YOU make everyday special and I am so lucky to be YOUR Mommy.  Thank you for the beautiful flowers and card-You and Daddy make a good team!  I am looking forward to our special opener's weekend together because we also make a good team!

I love you Mom for teaching how to be a wife and mother and for the wonderful example you continue set.  I love you Kathy for raising a son that loves me beyond my wildest dreams and is an even better Father than I realized he could be.   I love you Derrick for believing that I could be a great mother and giving me that chance.  I love you Riley for being my Son and amazing me around every corner we have taken together.

My Mother's Day high ended in a quiet movie with Derrick on the couch and I was so giddy from the whole day I even flossed my teeth which despite my dentist's recommendations never happens for pure lack of energy by that time so I would say it was a GREAT DAY!

Bath boy loves his Daddy

Biker boy

Riley is a bit too un-coordinated for his bike but he sure looks good on it!  You just have to learn how to pedal little man!

Katie-does the size of his helmet still make you laugh?

Your whole heart for your whole life!

Although Ben and Katie have now been married 40 some days we got the chance to really celebrate on Friday at the post Mexico reception.  I only worked from 5-9 and was able to help out with some set-up over at the hall, pick up flowers for Katie, get a pedi/mani and even enjoy an afternoon lunchdate with my hubby.  Working early has it's perks!  Grandma T came down to stay the night at our house so we could bring Riley for a short time and then he could still get a good nights sleep! 

First things first: To Jen my dear friend who had a heck of a day making the fabulous cake-You are AWESOME, the cake was gorgeous, tasted delicious and was perfect!  Your first wedding cake was a hit with everybody!

Secondly thank you so much to everyone who shared the night with us!  I was so proud to be watching my little sister happily enjoying the evening surrounded by family and friends as she walked around in her dress with a smile glued to her face. 

Thirdly-the night was perfecto!  The hall (The Fountains of Ramsey) was very nice and I can't believe that that was our fist wedding there!  The appetizer's were delish and everyone ate until they were plump full!  My cousin's brought along little Owen who ate up the crowd and prouldly proclaimed "hi" to everyone he looked up at and squealed with joy as he ran from one thing to the next.  Riley and Owen and eventually Evan (my other cousin's son) couldn't keep off the dance floor.  They loved the speakers, the big open space and peering out the windows at the choo choo's!  It was a riot and I am so glad they had a blast!  Riley wanted nothing to do eating with Mommy and Daddy and he weasled his way up to the head table and sat with the most gracious and loving Cassie who let him take over her plate since she was too nauseous to eat with the impending speech!  Riley reveled in the pretty dresses, the attention and the dancing!  He stayed until about 9:30 at which point Daddy insisted that it WAS time for bed and after some pouting from me I gave in and said my goodbye's to the sweet little boy that had saved a few dances just for Mommy!  The rest of the night was busied with numerous conversation's, lots of dancing and very little drinking on my part!  Between all of the excitement I only made it up to the bar twice!  Derrick and my Dad on the other hand were bombed along with Ben and Katie.  I danced my little legs right off (almost!) and Katie, Kyle and I closed out the night practically alone on the dance floor.  I traded in my camera for dancing shoes and had a blast ; )  My camera was neglected most of the night but here are a few pics I managed to take...(and a few Annie took also : )

Thanks for all the help setting up, taking down and celebrating everyone!  
(Anne and Chad you guys should have stayed later!)