1.31.2014

some puzzle time, telling stories, and lots of laughter...

Yesterday was one of those days where we started by doing puzzles on our bedroom floor, which ended up with the kids being silly and laughing together on our bed, then Ryder telling Eden stories before nap time.
 
 
 
What a sweet morning with these two...

1.30.2014

fashion according to Eden: patterned leggings

With our weather going from cool to hot in  a matter or hours, playing at parks and just generally getting into everything, the little miss has been loving her patterned leggings.  They let her move easily and they hide dirt so well.  If you ever wonder why she wears the same thing over and over again, it's because these are her favorite!
 Jeggings are always a favorite too...
Baby girl, please stop growing up so fast, ok?   
Pretty please?

1.29.2014

some more disney time...

We have been having fun going to Disneyland for a few hours every week or two, usually on a tuesday or wednesday and in the morning before nap and we pack our lunch and we eat there before we come  home.  Yesterday we had so much fun from about 1030a-130p, just going on our favorite rides, laughing together, and having fun seeing all that there is to see!
Spending some time in Bugs Land:
 Luigi's House of Tires.  It's a new favorite.
 A very fun view, while getting strolled around:
 We always end with the Astro Blasters:
 Ryder took this picture, and was very proud of himself!
(I was too♥.) 
 These two... I really LOVE getting these opportunities to be with my Littles...
I love that we have our passes and we are looking forward to getting lots of use out of them this year!

1.28.2014

giving

Something about the new year makes me want to go through the house and give away things we aren't using or wearing or playing with.  (To declutter, mainly because it feels so cluttered in my brain, I do not need my living space to add to that chaos...♥)
A big one that we have been downsizing on is our toys.  I had this idea that if there was something that Ryder didn't play with, maybe Eden would like it, or if he grew out of something, I would hold onto things for her.  We realized that there are only so many toys that can occupy my kiddos and the truth is, the simpler, the better.  Ryder loves his legos and his nerd gun and toy cars.  Eden loves her doll and her books (And getting into whatever her brother is getting into.)
We love to give our toys to church, because we get to see kids use them and we see kids that are having a tough time with separation anxiety have fun playing with something new, while they miss their parents.  
To my surprise, Ryder has been TOTALLY on board.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that he isn't one to share, it's just that he's 3 1/2 years old and giving is not the most natural thing for his little self.
Well, this little boy knocked my socks off a few days ago.
We had a made a small bag for donation of some books and little toys that he hadn't been interested in.  I went to put the bag in the garage, and Ryder came running out with his little blanket. (This blanket was made by a sweet friend of mine from high school and she gave it to him when he was 6 months old, and he has slept with it EVERY night since.)
He runs up and says, "Mommy, I want to put my tiny blankie in for the babies that cry at church. No one would cry with tiny blankie and say WAH, WAH!  Sissy says WAH! WA! when she goes to her class too."
I stood back and wanted to cry.  This was his most prized possession, his most precious belonging, and he was willing to donate it for crying babies at our church nursery.
I told him how precious and generous that was and what an amazing heart he has, but that his name was on his blanket and so maybe that was a good one that we could keep for babies that visit our house and cry.  He agreed.  We called Kit at work and Ryder told him about the babies at church that would LOVE tiny blankie...  My heart just swelled with such pride.  Blankie remains with Ryder whenever he sleeps and is the number one comfort object for my son, and everytime I see it now, I think of that selfless little act that my kiddo was willing to do.
I praise the Lord for the gift it is to be this little man's mom.

1.27.2014

sibling sweetness

Over the last few moths, I have had the privilege of watching Ryder and Eden become friends.  Don't get me wrong, I have always seen how gentle and nurturing he is with her, and how much she looks up and adores him, but I have really seen a friendship blossom between these two and it has made my heart swell with joy and pride.  We were at the park the other day and he was so sweet in helping her up stairs and catching her at the end of the slides and she just watched him with such admiration and wanted to be right where he was, doing what he was doing, not missing a thing...
 "Oh, my brother is doing that? I'm all over it..."
 He stood at the bottom saying, "I'll catch you sissy!"
 Helping her to the car...
 I love these two so much!
Don't get me wrong, I still hear about how Eden broke a lego creation of Ryder's or Eden crying that Ryder grabbed something out of her hand, but seeing little moments like this just makes my heart so happy. 

1.24.2014

creating: eden's birthday invitations

Our baby girl is going to turn 2 years old next month, on February 24!  I just can't believe it.  We are just having a small family party, but that didn't stop me from having some fun with the invitations and some of the details.
Here is what I have so far:
I just can't believe she is going to be two!  
I can't wait to keep planning this little celebration for our baby girl♥.

1.23.2014

disneyland

After being sick for a few days, we took the opportunity yesterday with the beautiful weather to spend a few hours at Disneyland.  (I can't remember the last time I was there with both kids, without Kit. )
The new favorite of Ryder's is that we start in Cars Land.
We headed right for Luigi's flying tires.
(It's a new favorite.)
 Then we got to see Lightning McQueen and Mater.
 Ryder was really excited!
 We headed to the Little Mermaid and then to Monster's Inc.
 The sweetest thing, that I couldn't capture was the Eden was waving to all the characters.
"Mike! Mike! Bye Bye!"
We ended with Disneyland and the Astro Blasters and the Jungle Cruise.
Eden was SO excited to see Buzz.  It was really sweet!
 It was a great day.  We missed Kit but we had a wonderful morning hanging out together and we are so excited to have the whole year ahead of us with our passes!

1.22.2014

comfort

Sometimes all you need is your comfy bed, your thumb, and a friend...
(Especially if your friend loves her thumb as much as you love yours...♥)

1.21.2014

down for the count

We got hit with the stomach flu on Sunday...
Throwing up is miserable, but throwing up, while both of your kids are throwing up is 1000% worse...
We are on the mend but are moving slow.
Hey and guess what I get to do this morning...
here's a hint:
"Annie, Annie, are you O.K.?"
Sheesh!