My Big Boy

Ryder's first tooth

Ryder finally got his first tooth in on Friday. Poor kid was so unhappy, couldn't put him down for a week. But, I am happy to say that the past two days he has been playing on his own and a happy baby. Probably helps that he is on antibiotics for his ear infection too. Anyway, as soon as I get a picture of his one and only pearly white, I'll make sure to post it.

The worst Christmas ever!!!

Made you look!!!! How can Christmas be bad when you have these two adorable little boys to share the day with.

This Christmas was the 5th Christmas that Kib and I have been together for. In keeping with tradition, we got sick. This year (and only this year) it was completely my fault. I caught a bug Tuesday and was nice enough to bring it home and share it with Kib, and our exchange students, and now the boys. It's awful. We were so sick Christmas day we almost postponed it. That was the plan, until Zane woke up and started saying "Merry Christmas" all the way down the stairs. How cute is that? So we had a quite Christmas, and unfortunately, very few photos. Never fear, I plan to still take our traditional "family in front of the tree" photo before we take the tree down.

I really wish we got a redo for Christmas this year. Not only was Christmas a downer for Kib and I (hopefully not for Zane). But I also had to cancel my trip to NY. Between my stomach bug and Ryder having a double ear infection, first tooth, and a little baby asthma, there was no way we were going to hop on a plane for 8 hours. Oh well, there's always the 15 year.
Really, in the end, all that matters is that Kib and I spent Christmas with our two adorable boys (and our neighbor fed us all our meals Christmas day:)

Kib's new job!

In an effort to keep the family float, Kib found a really great paying job!!!!
Just kidding, Kib went on a ride-a-long today with one of our friends, Dave. He is a DPS officer and works the immigration, smuggling, etc. The two of them caught a couple of guys with a few hundred pounds of drugs in their car. It was very exciting for Kib, maybe not so much for Dave, it's all in a days work for him. Either way, I am grateful for their friendship and am thrilled that Kib did something fun and exciting. It was much deserved.

Dear Santa,

All Zane wants for Christmas is a motorcycle.

Zane's Christmas Performance

Tonight was Zane's first ever performance. We had his preschool Christmas performance tonight and it was certainly a night to remember. When we first got there Zane was so excited, he went straight to his chair and sat there with his arms folded for almost 20 minutes until the preformance began. Kib and I couldn't believe it, we just kept looking at each other saying "this isn't going to last long." Well, we were right. About 4 songs into the performance Zane said "mommy" and he got up from his chair and started to walk towards me. His teacher stopped him and told him to go sit back down. He did, and as soon as his bum hit the chair he let out a wail "I want my Mommy" it was so cute. He just started balling. He ended up spending the rest of the performance sitting on my lap. It was a fun night, the first of many performances. Despite the breakdown, it was just as wonderful as could be.

Our Christmas Newsletter

Make a Smilebox greeting

Only in Phoenix

Tonight was a wonderful night. The four of us went for our nightly walk into town and back, but this time we changed it up a bit. On the way home we took a long walk through some neighborhoods looking at all the Christmas lights. Zane really loved it. He was all wrapped up in blankets in his stroller, and Ryder was snuggling with Daddy. It was about 60 degrees out so it was pleasantly chilly. We had so much fun. In between houses Zane would yell "run, run, Mommy" and I would run, pushing the stroller, to the next house with lights on outside. It was a wonderful night, and hopefully a wonderful new tradition.

An update

While we have been so incredibly busy that I can't seem to find time to sit and update this blog, I can't for the life of me tell you what we ahve been doing. Or worse yet, what new and wonderful thing the boys are doing. The above picture, as horrible as it is, is of our 2 lovely exchange students who are staying with us again this year. Their names are Aimee and Jessica and they are sweet and wonderful girls that are hear from South Africa on a work exchange program and they are delightful to have around. I really look forward to seeing them each night and hearing how their day went.

AS for the boys, well, Ryder is still the ity-bitiest little guy ever. He only weighs about 17 lbs and is still in 3-6 month close (he will be nine months this weekend). I secretly love the fact that he is staying so small, it helps me to hold on to his infancy just a little longer. Anyway, he is so busy getting into things and talking up a storm, I just can't get enough.

Zane is a whole other ball of wax. He is such a smart little busy body. He has been learning Christmas songs at preschool that he sings all day longs (especially jingle bells). He is getting bigger and smarter and sassier by the minute. I just adore my big guy to the ends of the earth and back. I don't know how it is that Kib and I have been so blessed with two amazing boys. I can't wait to see what wonderful experience each new day brings.

Beep, Beep

Another day of firsts.

I love this age, not just Ryder's, but Zane's as well. Kib is out of town this week and called yesterday to say hi to Zane. For the first time, they had a converstation on the phone. Kib asked questions, and Zane responded with sentences. It was so cool. I also asked Zane yesterday to please put on his underwear, he turned to me and said "those aren't underwear, mom, they're pull ups." What a smartie-pants.

As for Ryder, well, as you can see, he helped me empty the dishwasher yesterday. He loved it, and was very helpful. He also discovered oranges. Zane was nice enough to share his orange with Ryder, and he loved it. He devoured two of them in one sitting. I couldn't believe it. My boys are getting so big:(

Thankfully the boys are great friends so far. Whenever Zane comes into the room Ryder gets so excited he starts bouncing up and down and smiling. It's precious. Zane seems to return the admiration for Ryder, as he always asks where ryder is whenever he gets up from naps, or comes home from school. They are just such good friends. Let's hope it continues.