Spring is Here!

It's been nice to be able to get outside and release some energy!  Brody's love of hockey continues off the ice and can often be found playing street hockey with all the neighbor kids.  Addisen and Ryder even have their own sticks :)

 We have been enjoying our walks down to see the calves  Addisen and Brody have named them all.  Addisen's calf is Princess Allessia and Brody's calves are stick, puck, jersey and center (he isn't obsessed with hockey at all!).

It's funny how many traditions get passed down through the kids.  Ryder enjoys riding in the car that Brody always rode on for walks and the kids always have to stop at the same spot to pick up rocks on our way to the cows.

Addisen was excited to get on her big girl bike.  I think she might learn to ride on two wheels before Brody.  I am sure the neighbors have enjoyed watching me pushing Ryder in the car, Addisen either on her bike or scooter and Brody wearing all of his hockey pads/helmet on roller skates - we must be and entertaining site!

Ryder loves to wave and yell hi to the cows!

This week Ryder picked up an oven mitt and started to use it as a puppet before dinner.  Then as I sat down for dinner I realized he still had it and was attempting to feed himself an apple with it!  As easily as he can make us feel like we are going to pull our hair out he can turn it all around by making us laugh! 

Not too many funny stories from the week (that I can remember).  One night Addisen was talking to us at dinner about how when she grows big we will push her out of the house and get new kids.  This of course lead to a lot of tears.  I reassured her that we would not get any more kids - God has given us all that we will have :)  I also reassured her that I wouldn't kick her out (this answer might change by the time she is a teenage girl).  

Another funny story came as we were driving to school.  Addisen was asking where all the leaves were and I told her that the tree had to grow new ones.  She said "oh, they will just make an angry face?"  I just shook my head.

Back to our Normal!

 

We are all so happy to have our Daddy back home!  He lucked out last week and was able to leave his meeting from Dallas a little early to make it home on Wednesday night.  Dallas had freezing rain last Wednesday night so all flights were cancelled starting by 4pm that day and most of the day on Thursday!

Addisen has had some funny comments this week.  She was 2 when Ryder was born, but she has such a memory for those beginning weeks!  This week she was talking to Jim about Ryder being born and that mommy fed Ryder out of her lumps!  Oh my!  Then later in the week she was asking how Ryder got out of my belly.  I really didn't want to have an elaborate conversation so lucky for me Brody chimed in that he came out of my belly button!  Addisen asked how and I said that I didn't know how the doctor did it, I just asked her to get him out.  Addisen said that she knew how - they gave him a little kick and he popped out!  Oh that girl!

 

Saturday night Brody and Jim finally got to go to a MSU hockey game, but this time it was vs. Wisconsin.  Luckily it worked out that they were able to sit next to my brother and sister in law for the game.  They had a great time and MSU won!

Brody just has two weeks left of hockey lessons, I'm not sure what he will do when it is over.  Luckily the weather is starting to get warmer, so hopefully he will be excited about baseball starting.

Mr. Ryder has had a tame week.  He went for his 2 year well child appointment today.  He is in about the 70th percentile for both weight and height and developing just fine.  Both the Dr. and one of my friends at work commented on how well he spoke.  He is speaking pretty consistently in sentences and easy to understand.  I really never thought that was going to be his strong point since he didn't really start to say much until close to 18 months - I guess he is making up for it now!

 

I'm hoping for a week full of lumpless conversations!  I can only imagine what she says to her teacher at school!

Where's My Daddy?

We have been so spoiled lately with Jim not having to travel for work - but that all ended last week!  We are now on week 2 of Daddy being gone and let me tell you it has gotten harder as the kids got older! 

I really thought it would get easier - but now Brody and Addisen talk about missing him so much.  It breaks my heart because there is nothing I can do about it.  Luckily this will be the last week for a little while.

It has been fun to see Ryder talking on the phone and facetime with Jim - he has gotten a lot better with his sentences, so he can actually hold a conversation :)  Brody and Addisen typically talk for no more than 5 minutes, but at least it is something!

Not too many funny stories this week - mostly because Ryder was home sick one day last week and I was preparing for a lecture I gave last week at the Michigan Pharmacist's Association meeting.  It feels so good to have that be over and not be stressed while playing with the kids and thinking about everything else I should be doing.  My mom and dad were here this weekend to watch the kids on Saturday night while Jim and I went to a party and help me get work life back under control before Jim left again today.

Addisen did have a few things this week that made me laugh:
1.  While driving home from daycare late last week - "oh no!  Someone ripped the moon!"   I looked and the moon was faint because it was still daylight and there was only about half the moon that day, so it did actually look like it had been torn.

2.  Today she told me in the car - "I love you mom - but not when you leave.  But I do love you when you come back again"  That one broke my heart a little bit!

3.  On Friday she was asking me who brought the mail to our house.  I said the mail lady.  She asked where she leaves it.  I said the mailbox.  She said what if it is a big box?  I said she will leave it at the door.  Then she said, then you will open the box and it is a crystal ball and you will start dancing?  I said - what?  She said - that is what Mr. Clam and Sam did on Bubble Guppies - oh ok that all makes sense now!

Hope everyone is having a great week!  I hope for more time to take pictures once Jim is back on Wednesday night!