Halloween 2011

At 6:48pm my boy turned 5.  He helped make his cake (his choice).  We cracked 7 eggs, the cake recipe called for 2.

"These eggs are slippery mom, they just sneak away and fall, or the shells crack and spill, and sheesh this cooking stuff is hard work!"

He spilled 1/3 cup of oil all over the kitchen table.  He dumped an entire bottle of Halloween sprinkles on top of the cake (on purpose).  He insisted on having a number 5 candle, but also having five candles total on his cake.  Chocolate icecream to go with it too.

I love that he has an opinion, about everything...hopefully someone can remind me of this when he is a teenager :).

and I love him.  To the moon, and back, times infinity.  Always.

Even when I am up at 10:30pm cleaning 1/3 cup of oil off the kitchen floor, because you know girlfriend will be crawling her little self in there first thing tomorrow morning and I wouldn't want her to slip.

Happy birthday Ryker Paul. I look forward to a lifetime of birthday cake baking with you, we'll perfect it...someday.  And if we don't we'll continue to use Funfetti cake mix, and you'll love it just the same (because I'm still going strong on my love of Funfetti cake, probably because of all the memories, oh good, sweet memories).

*****

Girlfriend had two costumes - this one was purchased specifically for our Joviebug (love that Nana), but wasn't warm enough to keep our 12lb 13oz ladybug warm enough tonight.

so we used a hand-me-down from her little-big brother Kip.

Goodness my kids are cute giraffes (cue perfect moment to make their Nana melt).

2009 Kip the Giraffe - 2 months old

 Halloween 2009 - my little giraffes.

and our JovieGiraffe 2011

and while I was finding pictures of the boys as giraffes, I also came across 3 year old firefighter Ryker.  Same kid, same costume, just 2 years older.  After Ryk debated over costume choices this year, he resorted to his fireman outfit.  He had just talked about firefighters at school the week prior to Halloween, so he was all jazzed about em,' that and the fact that we waited until the week before Halloween to think about costume selections...well it was slim pickings in the store.  Clearly he was unaffected by the re-use of an "old" costume...

                

and the drumroll picture of Halloween 2011...

To explain this picture -

Little sister being a pest, older brother tired of waiting around for "the babies," and the middle guy who, well tolerates it all.  Perfect birth order personalities displayed fully.  This picture makes my heart happy.

and he, well he always makes my heart happy!

Our running monkey.  At first he was timid of the scary houses, but once he figured out the business of saying something and getting a candy in return, well he was totally thrilled.  He'd bust up the stairs to the front door, and say "or treat" (genius kid of ours - only 2 and already has it down, no tricks, just treats).  Then he would woo the candy giver with his sweet "thank you" earning him another candy.  I kid you not, we will be throwing candy away we have so stinking much!

a glow stick kept our tiny giraffe occupied while the big brothers ran around.

and Ryk's exciting birthday present...which will really be a long term gift for P and I this winter.  We will be able to burn off some of that rowdy little boy energy regardless of weather conditions outside this winter!

pumpkin patch

We decided to go to a pumpkin patch on Tuesday, because we can.  One of the perks to being a RN, and the wife of a professor allows for a fun filled family day in the middle of the work week.  We loved being the only ones at the pumpkin patch!

 There was a huge castle made of hay, Ryk had SO much fun climbing on it.  It was so tall, he was timid at first, but once he conquered his fear of heights he had a blast!

Probably one of my favorite pictures, ever.

                                               
Then we came home, planned out faces to carve on the pumpkins, and (I) carved the pumpkins.  Ryk had no part in the scooping of the guts - "way too disgusting mom!"  Kip was too busy just rolling his little pumpkin around like it was a ball.   

 He was so proud of the faces he created on the pumpkins.

but decided that having the "hat" on the top - the piece of the pumpkin with the stem, was just silly, and decided to throw that piece away before placing it on the front porch.

There is a bug in my house...

I just love the faces Ryker made on our pumpkins!

Turning 5

It is so cliche to say, but it seriously feels like yesterday when I was here, with him. He was a brand new, 6lbs 14.9 oz bundle of love.

 

and then I took a breath, and he started walking.

He use to need my help to stack these

I cannot believe it.  This little boy of mine is 5, tomorrow.

He is growing, and changing, and goodness it has me so emotional.

Pictures and a journal help me to remember the past 5 years.  A great guy told P and I to keep journals for our kids, you know of the milestones and such.  As tedious as it seems somedays, putting that pen to paper to write out the details, I LOVE to look back...I'm sure someday he'll love to look back on it too.

To remember his first word (dada), his first trip to the ER, his first soccer game, the first time he said the word crap (my fault), or spelled out s-h-i-t (thanks P)...you know, those things.

because as fast as the last 5 years have gone by, I am sure the next 13 will too.

He won't be my little guy forever, I won't always get Rykles (our word meaning Ryker snuggles), or be able to tuck him in at night, or be able to read to him while he sits in my lap.

He already goes to school, has a favorite color - yellow, writes his name, knows his address, counts to 50, is learning to read...

 

and he is tender, sweet, and makes me so proud of the little person he is becoming.  

Five years old is going to be great, just like one, two, three, and four were...because well, he is great.  

He has plans for trick or treating at the zoo tonight, bringing in cupcakes to school tomorrow and being the teacher's helper for the day, and trick or treating around the neighborhood tomorrow night.  

I asked him what he wanted for his birthday - he said "a surprise, but for sure a balloon and some decorations!"  There is probably nothing greater in the world than celebrating special occasions the way a kid wants to.  Seeing his eyes get so big and excited when he wakes up to see decorations and balloons, and watching his shy smile form as he opens his gifts.

and goodness, the gift that Nana and Papa sent, well we didn't even need to get him anything.  I cannot wait to see his reaction to that gift...pictures to come tomorrow - and probably a video too.

Best day ever.

I set my alarm last night, anticipating a work day today.

Instead of the beep of my watch to wake me at 5:20am, I got a phone call at 5:10am.

It was my work, asking me if I'd accept a "budget day."

For those of you non-medical working type - a "budget day" refers to the hospitals way to stay afloat when there are not any patients.  They call a nurse, or two, or however many and ask them not to come in if there are not enough patients.

and so today, I was that nurse that got the call. I went back to bed.  I woke up to Jovie babbling, and Kip informing me over the baby monitor that he's poopy.  After a quick diaper change and throwing his dirty sheets down to get washed, we were up snuggling back in my bed in no time.  Nothing beats morning snuggles, in a cozy bed, with loved ones.  If only P and R were there - P was at work, R was at school.

For some reason, Kip decided to bring in a toy bin, emptying the contents all over the bedroom floor so he could put it over his head.  I guess it was worth it for 30 more minutes spend in a cozy bed.


Kip is seriously a character...


 Now, instead of running around like crazy for 13 hours taking care of sick people, I get to be home with my kids.  Goodness do I love this!



                                            

Not only does it rock that I get to spend the day with them, but I am getting paid to do so.  See a "budget day" allows me to use my flex time.  We don't have sick or vacation hours, we get "flex time" that can be used for sick days, vacation days, or budget days.

 Paid to play connect four

and watch him share with her



and then see Swiper swipe from her too


and explore the possibilities that the recycling bin of stuff brings - a newspaper fight, lasting over an hour, complete with Ryker belly giggles that just do something to my soul. Yes, you will notice unfolded clothes in a laundry basket in this picture.  No, I have no guilt about it.  I was WAY too busy dodging newspaper wads to attempt laundry folding.

                         

Yes, today, I like today.  My kids did too.  So did Paul.