Last 72 hours

Thursday night we had this guy from Saladmasters come over and cook us a gourmet meal. (I won it at the Working Womens Survival Show...I think most did). But I was excited, I love stuff like this and since I was given very strict instructions not to sign up for anything, this worked well since I "won" it!

Well Brian came out and made us his gourmet meal from his $10,000 pot set. That's right, $10,000. I must say, it was all very impressive, I would love to have the set, but I would love to have a brand new car...and that would only cost a few thousand more!

The dinner was good, it was a little weird having him do all this but, hey it was free and my parents and brother got to join us. I felt a little bad that he made no money, but I mean come on what to you expect. Oh yeah and by the way, OUR pans are very poisonous, they will give us Alzheimer's and give any future children we may have many birth defects, and could kill small animals from the vapors.

Then on Friday my aunt and uncle from Connecticut came in town, so we went out to lunch at Pappy's off Olive then to Soulard Market. What an experience...45 minute wait at Pappy's in line, then no high chair, then my dad didn't have the stroller so that was a battle the whole time we were at the market...great veggies and fruit though for dirt cheap. That will be a week to every other week trip from now on. I forgot my camera that day, so we had no pics of my aunt and uncle, which kinda stunk since Ryan and them got along so well, he warmed up to them immediately and laughed and played with him all day.

Then we all went to Dandy Inn for dinner with the whole family. By the time Saturday rolled I around I was dead. My back has been killing me lately. It always has a little bit of soreness, but this pain can bring me down to my knees. So after battling him all day Friday (which he was extremely crabby/needy/whiny that day.), my back was horrible Sat. morning, and of course we had horrible yucky weather and I promised Matt I would get his sticker from the DMV for his plates. Oh my, the line was all the way out the door. This is why I work part time, so I can do this stuff during the week, so I don't have to wait in long lines on Saturdays. Well, here it went again, it took everything inside me not to sit on the floor and cry. I had a screaming child in my arms, whaling all over. It was so quit in there so of course everyone was staring. I think it was the worst public experience with him yet. Partly him, partly me. Then when got closer in line, there was a sign that they wanted ID, of course I only had cash and the re-newel form. So I asked the women behind me to save my spot in line so I could run out to the car in the pouring rain to get my wallet, and of course she said yes, but insisted on keeping Ry with her. WHAT... are you crazy, I don't care how miserable I am or look, your not getting my baby. She looked like a nice normal woman, but that is what the last women said when she came back and her baby was gone. After I came back in she turned away from me and wouldn't talk to me any more. So I got the sticker went back to the car and cried, feeling so sorry for myself...how pathetic am I?!?

We were supposed to meet Matt in Maryville and have lunch at this park a co-worker keeps telling me about, then go get free ice-cream at Bobby's...of course it was raining so we stayed home for lunch and went to Bobby's on the way to Matt's parents house.

Matt's parents watched Ryan for us so we could go to Jason and Loni's fire dept. $10,000 dinner dance. This was the first year we bought a ticket, which is $100 per couple. Everyone has a chance to win $10,000 or $1000, and $100 and $250. It is process of elimination through out the whole night...Matt and I's ticket was the 3rd to be pulled out...go figure, just our luck. I did not take many pictures either.

Edwardsville Children's Museumm Field Trip

Ryan and I went on a field trip today to the Children's Museum in Edwardsville. I have only toured it once, but never got to play there. It is a very cool place, lots of running around, and every thing imaginable to play with. We had tons of fun, I think we needed some stress relief time, we just wish daddy could have been there to have fun with too :(

Ry giving me kissy lips because he was so happy we were some where soooo cool!
In the long mirror, not only does he love to see himself, but this was even more fun to see himself sing and dance in!

In the library someone painted a lot of book titles and their covers on the wall, this is one of his favorite books, he brings it to us saying mooon, moooon!Makin' the money at the bank, he kept bring us all money...if only it were real!

Then he found the train tracks, we stayed there for quit some time, racing up and down hills, through tunnels, and all over the tracks.

Look how big my baby is...yes I am on the bottom stair taking his picture, but he looks all grown up :(

Ryan and Breonna in jail together...Ry and his girls, they are always getting into some sort of trouble.

After we left there we got to go have lunch with Jay Jay and Ya Ya (Jason and Loni), Ryan was very excited when I told him that, and when we saw them. They had an unexpected day off, o we got to meet for lunch...it was a nice treat, hopefully daddy can be there next time!!!

eating like a big boy

I know this should have been happening a long time ago. And I think it might have been, but just not at my house. I HATE, and I mean hate...I know that is a strong word, but I hate it when food touches me and objects around it. So 70% of Ry's food is still fed to him by me. Every now and then we let him do the messy stuff, but when he is naked, then we can run straight to the bath.

Well he keeps reaching for the spoon and fork, and we will fight over it. I know shame on me, but I just can't stand even the thought of the mess, and the amount of baby wipes I use to clean it up. The thought of that staying on a wash rag or towel grosses me out. I would never be able to use it again for cleaning purposes.

Our little boy is becoming very independent. He always has been in some ways, he has always been very content. Well he is wanting to do even more on his own. So I have to break, I have to give in and face the mess and gaging as we go along. These last couple times, he has done so amazingly well, so that is why I think he gets to do all this at both grandparents houses.

It does make eating for me much easier, we actually ate lunch together, verse me feeding him, then me shoving food in my mouth.

bubble with our bath

We found some bubbles in the sun room today, so it has kinda been the theme for the day. So we just went bubble crazy when it was bath time...the pics don't capture most of them, but it was definitely bubble mania today!!!

Thank you Corie

I just wanted to thank my friend Corie for letting us spend a couple of hours with baby Chloe today. We were scheduled to watch her on Friday morning while Corie went to see her new baby nephew. Well Amy's water broke before her scheduled c-section, so we got to watch Chloe today instead. And we had a blast, Chloe is such a good baby and a real joy to play with. So, thanks Corie for letting Chloe hang out with us todayShe was really mesmerized by Clementine snoring on the couch. She would look at her, look at me, and look back at her. Clementine is REALLY loud when she sleeps...to say the least. She keeps me from falling asleep at night because she is sooo loud!

I wanted to send these pics and videos to you, Corie, but I could not get them to open. So hopefully you don't mind me posting her. These videos were to cute not to share.

Ry's new do

When Matt's mom came and got Ry this morning, I asked her if she had time, would she please get his hair cut. We have been trying for weeks, but we never made it. Well I told her to go pretty short on the sides and longer on the front...well that is exactly what it is. I think I would have had a panic attack sitting there watching it. It was perfect in my head, and it is exactly what I asked for. But my heart could not handle the dramatic change from this morning to this evening. He is a boy, a big boy! I asked him where my baby went, with the tears in my eyes.

It just seems like a completely new child, till he comes up to you and smiles and says "maaa". The haircut is good within itself, but I really don't like it. I want my long scraggly haired baby back.

His hair in these photos doesn't really look like what it looks like, it is better in person.

Through this entire blog, I want Tami and Kathy to know they were thought of. I have now become the person who is being told to blog. I am always the one telling people it has been way to long since there last blog...so this blog goes out to Tami and Kathy :)

Also, I want them and others to know, how awesome our Bible study is. We are small now, but a very close and intimate group. I wouldn't have it any other way! I love everyone and everything about it. Its a home away from home.

P.S. Thanks Tami for the cupcakes, they were awesome. Ry is still up dancing and singing in circles from all the icing and its 9:45...Only for you is this allowed.

Our new kitchen table...finally!

Well, after months of talking about it, we finally went out and bought a kitchen table/chair/bench set. For you who have been to our house know how little our breakfast nook/eating area is. So when we first re did the kitchen, we went to IKEA. They are famous for their unfinished, small apartment items. So we got a table the attaches to the wall and can fold down. It only sits two (if I were smarter I would have a before and after pic). It worked for us for very long time, almost 5 years. And as you know, Ry will be turning 2 in April and it was time to make the switch to a booster seat.

The table set is awesome, it fits perfectly in the corner and the bench is under neath it, so when we have people over for dinner or games, we don't all have to go downstairs, we can actually stay on the main level...yay!

Ryan is just in love with his new "big boy chair". I kept his highchair in the sun room just to be safe for a couple of weeks, and so far we have had no problems. I think he was ready to make the switch a long time ago, but mommy wasn't ready. We even have all our snacks at them table. Daddy and Ryan love to share dry cereal and ants on a long.We have also bought him a new place mat for the table, he loves to point out the pictures and tell you (and you tell him) who everyone and everything is. But the best part about it is, we found some dry erase markers....and he LOVES to color on it. We actually fight when the time is over. He wants me to write his name then he draws over it, he circles(somewhat) each characters head when asked where they are, and draws and connects everything. I don't know why this is any different from any other craft/drawing project I try with him, but loves it!!! And if anyone knows this characters name, I would love to know it, he gets so mad and just keeps pointing to him, because I don't know it. I have never seen this monster before. (Maybe that is a good sign, maybe we don't watch TV as much as I thought we did)

"Tot Time" at the library

Every Tuesday morning we go to the library for "tot time". Ms. Barb reads, sings, does a craft and gives the tots a snack. And some how she manages to do it all in a half hour. Its a fun time for the tots. The first time we went by ourselves, and since then our good friends Annabel and Audrey have joined us. And Kathy is right, I have a or had a sweet baby who would just sit there and pay attention, and not make a peep, and now for what ever reason he feels at the library he can show off his true colors. He is the child wanting to run from one end of the room to the other, while the rest sit there like good little tots. But we are continuing this adventure because he truly does have a good time!

Every week they have made some sort of animal, and he has done really good with putting the pieces where they go. Well Ms. Barb really encourages the tots to do most of it themselves. So this week the topic was 'helpers', and Ryan did make his police car, but your first response would be, "what is that?" Notice all the other kids sitting paying attention!
The first day we went it was raining...and he INSISTED and carrying the umbrella, while I got all wet, but it was super cute.