February in Review

Over the past week or so, I've had the best of intentions each night to update the blog. And then each night after we get the kiddos to bed, reading my book or watching a TV show sound much more appealing than typing on the computer. ;)  I always feel guilty when I don't post about things as they happen, but I'm slowly getting over that. Life is busy around here! I can't figure out how February flew by so quickly, so I literally have my calendar in front of me so I don't forget anything! Just in this past month (besides work and school each day!) we had...

• a 3-cousin sleepover

• a co-worker's wedding

• Super Bowl Sunday dinner with Steve, Ali, and Maisie
• Saturday morning flag football games

• Valentine's Day parties at school

• a "Grandparents' Tea" in Harper's class

I got to be Harper's loved one for tea and cookies since Pops and Grann couldn't make it that day. After our snack, the children sang a few songs to us that they had been practicing, and then we got to have some time with them outside on the playground.

• a field trip with Ryder's class

When Ryder first brought information home about an upcoming field trip, I immediately contacted his teacher and asked her if she needed any parent chaperones! I'm at his school every afternoon to pick him up, but I never have a chance to just spend time with him around his teacher and classmates. Selfishly, I wanted a glimpse into Ryder's day! He's really good about filling me in on what happens each day, like who gets in trouble, what he played at recess, or something funny/important/special his teacher says. Ms. H. said she would love to have me volunteer, so I filled out the necessary paperwork and made plans to take the day off work. Harper was excited for Ryder's field trip too because for her it meant Daddy would take her to school (a first!) and Grann would pick her up (another first!)

I wasn't sure if I would get to sit with Ryder on the bus or if he would choose to sit with one of his buddies instead. He picked me! :) This was his first true bus ride: he had only been on one at kindergarten orientation when it drove around the bus loop at school. We picked a seat and he buckled up first thing (seat belts on school buses?? when did this happen?? I was pretty impressed!) We rode up to Sarasota to go to the planetarium, followed by a picnic lunch and some playground time at a nearby park. Ryder's teacher sat across the aisle from me on the bus, so it was nice to be able to talk so casually to her instead of just seeing her at formal school events. She told me what a sweet boy Ryder is and how proud she is of his progress this year. What better way to spend my day than to hear someone say wonderful things about my little man? I am so proud of him--he really has had an amazing year in kindergarten!

ready for the bus ride!

It's hard to tell because of the glare, but Ryder has one finger on his lips and the other hand making a peace sign. This is the "quiet sign" the kindergarten teachers use, and the students were instructed to do this each time the bus stopped. (I think the bus driver appreciated the moments of silence!) We hit many stoplights on the way up, and it was amazing how quiet the bus would get each time. Ryder often had to remind me to participate! Ha! 

• a Cuban dinner with Pops and Grann

After Pops returned from his week-long trip to Cuba, Grann wanted to have all of us over for a family dinner. It was originally going to be a Valentine's dinner, but since Valentine's Day had already passed (which Harper kindly reminded her of), she decided to do a Cuban theme. From the music and decorations to the delicious meal and dessert, it was very authentic!

• a few quiet afternoons at home

snuggling and watching Annie--a new favorite!

Flag football and fun with family friends

(Whew! Say that title 3 times fast!)

Ryder decided he wanted to try flag football this season, so Andrew completed the registration and checked the box that said he'd be willing to help out as an assistant if needed. Well....apparently no one else was interested in coaching, so Andrew became head coach. He received the roster (a whopping 5 kids!), jerseys, flags, and an official coach shirt. Thankfully he played football so he's familiar with the game, but he's never tried to "teach" four, five, and six-year-olds. I was nervous for him! The first practice and game was on Saturday, and all of the boys had fun! There was TONS of running involved, and Ryder even scored a touchdown. :)

Coach giving a few pointers

proudly showing me his mouthguard!

At noon on Saturday we drove down to Boca Grande to have lunch and spend the afternoon with the Grahams. It had been two years since our whole group was together, and it was fun to visit and just enjoy watching the five children play together. Such a great, relaxing Saturday! 

Mr. Graham took some of our crew out for a golf cart ride.

six or sixteen???

Apparently Ryder did all of the driving, pedals and all!

The water was too cold for the adults, but of course it didn't stop Ryder, Harper, and Maisie.

sea creatures!

Watching the kids play at the beach is serious business!

Ryder and Mr. Graham's sand castle, complete with sea oats.

Maisie and Harper's castle :)

Maisie, Harper, Madeleine, Ryder, and Charlotte

3 generations of girls :)

By 6:15pm, this is how the kids looked on the short drive home. We carried them inside and put them straight to bed where they stayed until 7:30 the next morning!

Ryder turns 6!

I know I sound like a broken record, but how is it possible that my babies are growing up so quickly?! Andrew and I feel like Ryder has grown by leaps and bounds just since the summer. Overall, life as a 5 year old was smooth-sailing for our little man. Ryder has always been pretty even-tempered, but this past year he has seemed to emotionally mature so much! The only time he cries is when he is overtired, has too much sugar, or watches a sad movie (more on that in a minute!)

Ryder is having a wonderful year in kindergarten and has amazed me at how much he has learned over the past few months. He knows approximately 70 sight words and sounds out EVERY word he sees! I enjoy the mornings when he reads a book to Harper and me on our way to drop him off at school. :) We were in the car one day and he randomly started chuckling. I asked him what he was laughing about, and he said, "Big Jim!" I was totally confused and asked who in the world big Jim was. He said, "I don't know, but that's what the sign said on that building!" Sure enough, we had just passed a Big Jim storage facility--ha!

He also loves math and is interested in things with numbers: calculators, watches, clocks, tape measures, etc. He's doing some basic addition and subtraction, and he likes to roll dice and add up the numbers for fun!

In addition to the academics, we are so proud of how kind and well-behaved Ryder is in school. He has come home with three different "student of the month" certificates for being a good example of certain character traits: responsibility, respect, and empathy. He is such a sweet, sensitive boy. The four of us sat down as a family one night to watch Home Alone because Andrew and I thought the kids would get a kick out of the pranks Kevin plays on the dumb criminals in the movie. (They loved the last half hour or so!) When we got to the part at the beginning where Kevin wakes up to an empty house, Ryder got teary-eyed. I asked him why he was sad, and he started crying as he said, "I just want him to be with his family again!" At the end of the movie when Kevin's mom came back home, Ryder wiped his eyes and said,"Do you have happy tears, Mom? Because I do!" His tender heart and sense of humor make him so much fun to be around!

We love you, Ryder Scott! 💖

yet another Lego set for the birthday boy

Like Harper, Ryder also requested the Japanese steakhouse for his birthday dinner, and this time the owner was there. We had heard he makes animals out of carrots--"carrotgami" instead of origami--but we had never seen him in action. He was AMAZING! He made a butterfly for Harper, an eagle for Ryder, and a fish for Maisie, all with moving parts! What a treat for the birthday celebration!

making his eagle soar

On New Year's Day, we went camping again as our last hurrah for winter break. :) Steve, Ali, and Maisie came too and stayed at the campsite right next to us. Pops and Grann joined us for dinner and birthday cake for Ryder, and Ryder loved that he got two birthday celebrations!

a new Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey

Maisie was testing her flashlight before dark. ;)

Between Christmas and New Year's Day, we enjoyed the perfect combination of being lazy and getting out of the house to feel semi-productive. :) Alison and I took the kids to the beach one day and had a great time! The kids entertained each other and had fun splashing in the cool water and digging tunnels in the sand.

snack break!

On the 29th, Steve, Alison, Andrew and I enjoyed our 2nd annual sunset dinner cruise. The three kids had a sleepover at Pops and Grann's house, so Andrew, Garcia, and I stayed at Steve and Alison's house--it was like going to a bed and breakfast for the night, complete with blueberry pancakes and eggs in the morning (thanks, Steve!)

sporting hoodies and sandals to go see Christmas lights--the perfect Florida winter wardrobe!

enjoying some cousin time :)

Ryder's 6 year stats:

vision: 20/20

hearing: selective normal :)

weight: 61 1/2 pounds (95th-100th percentile)

height: 48 inches (90th percentile)

blood pressure: 102/70

Merry Christmas 2016!

The week before Christmas, the kids and I went with some other friends and their mommies to the Cookie Cottage. We could choose to have the kids decorate cookies or a gingerbread house, so I chose the gingerbread house because it was big enough for them to work on together. I also knew they wouldn't want to eat it afterwards, thus avoiding the sugar overload! ;) They did a great job each decorating their own half--there wasn't a single disagreement!

Once we got home we needed to find a place to put the gingerbread house where it would be out of reach of Garcia. The kids decided that baby Jesus needed a home, so it became part of the nativity scene!

Christmas Eve Day

It's been our tradition the past couple of years to open presents from Grandma and Grandpa on Christmas Eve. This year instead of waiting until after the candlelight service at church, we told the kids they could open their presents on Christmas Eve morning. I probably shouldn't have said anything. I was awakened at about 4am when Ryder suddenly appeared at my bedside saying, "Mom? Aren't we supposed to open presents from Grandma and Grandpa today?" I told him that I was still sleeping because it was pitch black outside, so he had to at least wait until the sun was awake! He left my room and then returned to check on me approximately 5 times over the next few hours. I have no idea if he slept or just played in his room, but I know I didn't get much more sleep! If he was that excited about Christmas Eve day, what would he be like on Christmas morning?!

excited kids!

Harper loves her new pajamas with matching sleep mask!

Ryder built a couple of Lego chain reaction contraptions.

Harper and I worked on her no-sew craft project. She had me do most of it because I was faster, and I honestly enjoyed doing it!

Harper and her rainbow fish pillow!

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas morning at home, enjoying coffee cake and opening presents. Santa brought Ryder a huge Lego kit he has had his eyes on and a big girl doll house for Harper, complete with people and furniture. The kids also got a good variety of games, books, and other small toys.

Ryder built his Lego police station all by himself in under two hours.

Harper's doll house is sure to keep her entertained for years to come!

On Christmas afternoon we went over to Pops and Grann's house to open presents with them and have dinner with the whole family. Hal and Thelma also joined us this year, and hopefully this will become a new tradition!

I didn't take any pictures on Christmas afternoon, so here are a few pictures of the kiddos, courtesy of Pops. :)