My Ryan Boy

I can't go to bed tonight without saying a little bit about my Ryan.  He is just so. much. fun.  We have had a great week - he is my buddy.  He is enthusiastic, eager to please, conversational, cheerful, and just has a lot of personality.  And did I mention what a lover boy he is?  

Tonight we were playing Legos and he sat right down next to me.  Then he announced, "we are sitting right next to each other because we love each other."  And then he leaned in to give me a great big smooch.  And apparently he is an expert on kisses because he then instructed me that we needed to turn our heads to the side so that our noses don't bump into each other.  After sitting with me for awhile, he realized that he needed to bless the rest of his family with his presence, and so he'd take a turn with each person - saying, "Sophie, now it is time for your 'sit'" - or "Daddy, you didn't get your 'sit' yet!" 

Also today, while playing Legos, Ryan said to me, "I like it when I can't do something and then I can do it."  I love how his mind works - I love that as he sat making a Lego ship he was pondering upon the joy that comes with learning something new that seemed really hard at first.  We had a great little talk about how we can do hard things.

Every time we say a prayer in this house, Ryan insists that we pray for him to grow up and to learn to swim without a vest.  This week both prayers were answered (since they sort of go hand in hand.)  Ryan decided he was ready to try to swim without his vest and he did an amazing job! The best part of all is just how proud of himself he is.  I asked him how he was able to do it and he told me that he just didn't give up. I love my growing water baby.  And when I pray for him to grow up, per his wishes, I don't tell him that in my mind I also add, "but not too fast!" 

Ryan's Mother's Day card to me said, "Dear Mommy, I love you because you have prettiness, you give me food, you are soo nice, and you play with me.  Love, Ryan" 

I feel sooo lucky to have this little guy in my life. 

  

Kissing me on Mother's Day - love that pucker!

Ryan insisted I be a princess and he be a knight - I squeezed into this Snow White dress and he was pleased as punch

Could there be a happier face? 

Proud after showing off his new skills to Daddy

Happy Easter!

I was so lucky to be able to sing in the choir in church today - when I sing I am truly able to communicate the feelings in my heart -- today those feelings were gratitude for Jesus Christ - for the pains he suffered for me and for all of us and for the amazing hope that His resurrection brings to all of us.  I also felt joy and gratitude to be a mother - for these sweet and crazy kids that occupy my hours.  I hope that someday they can understand how much Jesus loves them.

For Will - on the occasion of your 1st birthday

the surprise of you

took my breath away -

i’d forgotten for a minute

it was your day

the perfection of you,

every crease and fold,

each change of expression

will never grow old

the joy of you,

as you laugh yourself to sleep

and giggle when I kiss your eyes,

I will always keep

the glow of you,

smiles that shine,

my sunrise in the mornings,

how is it you are mine?

the newness of you,

though it changes every day,

keeps me marveling,

and will never fade away

Guess What?

Ryan is my little social butterfly.  He is always by my side and wants to do everything together.  If he has to go to the bathroom, he wants me to come.  If I have to take a shower and leave him on his own, he'll say pitifully, "but then I will be all alone!"  

So we have been practicing with "Quiet Time" every day so that he can build some independent-play skills and so I can do really cool stuff, like the dishes.  Today, after the timer beeped, I went to his room where he was playing with Legos and 

he immediately said, "Guess what?"

"What?" I asked.

(Dejectedly) "Jaxon told me that you can't marry someone in your family."

"What do you think about that?" I asked.

"Bad," he answered.

"Who would you want to marry?" I asked, assuming it would be Sophie.

"You."

Awww.  

And in other news, he spent a cold afternoon wearing swim trunks and jumping off of the "diving board," into the "deep end," - which I didn't mind for some reason even though it involved jumping off of furniture.  I guess he just looked so cute darn cute and was in such a happy mood that I could not resist.  

P.S. Also today, I pulled out some clothes for Will that are the next size up and when Ryan saw one of the shirts he said, "oh, that is ADORABLE."  He just cracks me up.

The pictures you don't usually see

Lest you think that everyone was all smiles and everything was fun and games during our banana photo shoot, I thought I'd post a few of the failed pictures.  Even though the kids helped brainstorm what kind of silly pictures to take for Valentines Day, and even though they were super excited to take the pictures, it was still almost impossible to get a semi-decent shot of all 4 of them together.  I can't even remember why now, but somehow, Sophie's buttons were pushed and she just lost it. Somehow we were able to get her to try again, but at that point, the rest of the kids had really gone bananas and so we just begged them to make a silly face, snapped a ton of pics and hoped that something would work.

From the very beginning, Ryan's decision that he did not like the banana hat after all (even though it was his idea), was a catalyst that set a sad tone. Emmy is already looking sick and this is only picture number 3 in the batch.

Ryan: "Yeah, Mom makes us do these crazy things every once in a while. Just do the opposite of what she says. Soon she'll start bribing us with suckers.
Will: "This banana peel is gross!"
Emmy: "Why did I think this was a good idea?"
Sophie: "No one is paying attention to me.  I think I need to throw myself on the ground."

"There, that will show them."

"Woe is me!"

And she's back, but not quite ready to look our way.  Ryan has resorted to his usual M.O.: poking and prodding poor baby Will.  Emmy is hoping if she just smiles, maybe it will all be over soon.

Will has figured out that the banana peel really doesn't taste so good.  Emmy is getting tired of eating bananas.  Ryan is realizing that these bananas could also be used as some sort of weapon!

Couldn't resist another cute shot of our most compliant child - who was still smiling at the end of it all.

"How about I throw this banana, and call it a day?"

P.S. Rest assured that no bananas from this shoot have been wasted.  I have made banana cream pie, Nutella and banana sandwiches, banana smoothies, two loaves of banana bread, and a great big batch of banana crunch muffins.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Little Lover Boy

Today Ryan said to me, "I wish we had lips everywhere!"

"Why?" I asked.

"So we could give lots of kisses all over."  

Picture taken two years ago - how is he growing up so fast?