Riley's 9 month pics

These are some pictures our photog took a few weeks ago for Riley's 6 month, I mean 9 month pictures. We were a little late in scheduling his pics this time around!
This was such a fun session and we all had a blast!
She is so talented and I just LOVE this blue couch!
Who brings a couch out to a nature center?
Our awesome photographer, Marquette, that's who!

Summer Backyard Fun

Riley sitting in these cute chairs I got for them
back when I was big preggo with him.
First time sitting in it!

I don't think he really wants to sit.... he's about to fall over!

Are these not SO dang cute??

Put Riley in the sandbox for the first time since we got it.
Wasn't sure what to do with all that sand and he only tried
to eat it a couple of times! :)

"Mom, what is this sand stuff?"

"I think I'll just chew on this spoon. That sand doesn't taste so good!"

Lovin' the summertime with my boys!
Just wish it weren't so darn hot already!
97 degrees at the beginning of June? Not good!
Riley is starting to get more fun all the time and the 2 boys
are starting to play together a little more each day.
Happy Summer 2011!

Wedding Weekend

This past weekend I had the honor of being in my best friend's wedding.
It was a beautiful weekend away (sans kids) in Santa Barbara, California.
Everything was perfect from the lunch at the cute BBQ place, the rehearsal dinner,
the bridesmaid's brunch the day of the wedding, and of course the wedding
and reception itself. My friend Melissa is amazing at planning events
and this one was no different. It was gorgeous, unique, and spectacular
down to every last detail.

Melissa & I during the rehearsal dinner.

Me & my man at the rehearsal.

Melissa & her bridesmaids before the wedding.

Us at the wedding. The reception looked out over the ocean!
Look at those gorgeous tables!


The happy couple. Dalen & Melissa.

My sweet friend & her beautiful day.


Stacy, Melissa, Darla, & Me workin' it on the dance floor. ;)

Amazing cake that had 3 different flavors!

We did a little sight seeing Monday before we headed back home.

It was an awesome weekend full of lots of fun events and a little time
for ourselves too! We had an absolute ball and loved every minute of
our time together with just us. It has been a while!
Thank you Nana & Grandpa for staying with our boys and taking such
good care of them so we could have some much needed time away!


Congrats Dalen & Melissa.
Your wedding was perfect in every way & we wish you every ounce of
happiness and many blessings in the years to come!
You guys deserve it! God is SO good!

T-ball

Reid started taking t-ball classes last week and I think he has
finally found an activity he loves just as much as music!
He already looks up to his coach and is already quite good (I'm biased :)
at hitting the ball on the T, running bases, and throwing balls.
It's SOOO cute to watch him run around 1st, 2nd, & 3rd base and
do all the fun little things the coach tells him to do.

I'm LOVING this "boy mom" thing and already in love with watching
my boy play t-ball! Go Reid go!

My Guitar Hero

Reid is so musical these days. This was his first instrument he acquired from my mom & dad on his 3rd birthday. He plays it all the time and loves it! Gotta love a boy & his guitar!

Yesterday we went to birthday party at Rod's best friend's house and Reid found their older son's guitar. Complete with a pick! He was in heaven!
LOVE it! LOVE this boy! I can't wait to see what he'll be when he grows up!

You'll always be my guitar hero, Reid.

Sweet Prayers

After I heard Reid pray at the dinner table last night, I knew I wanted
to remember it for the rest of my life. I knew I had to post it.
We were sitting down to eat dinner on a normal Friday night.
Pizza. That's our usual every Friday. Who cares about calories, right?
Usually Rod prays, but this time I asked Reid if he wanted to pray.
I reached out to grab Reid's hand. Not our usual way of praying.
I felt the need to hold his little 3 year old hand.
His normal prayer is... "Thank you for this food. Thank you for this day.
In Jesus name, Amen." But this time, before the amen, he slowed down
(his prayer is usually said in a hurried fashion so he can eat)
and without hesitating, he said "And thank you for your mercy and grace.
In Jesus name, Amen."

How sweet and precious is that?
Thank you Lord for this precious little boy already being
cultivated into a heart for you at such an early age.

In the quiet moments of my day, I sit back and think.
I try hard not to get so caught up in the "I have to do" list.
Who cares about a dirty kitchen or piled up laundry when
you can make memories with your children? I have to train
myself to remember that each day.
I try to remember that in just a blink of my eye
Reid and Riley will be grown boys.
Oh how I cherish this time.
Thank you for your grace & mercy, Lord.
Thank you for gifting me with these lives that we can call our very own.
Please help me remember these moments.

Riley - Roo is 10 months!

Another month has gone by and you just get sweeter & cuter!
10 months... Really?? I can hardly believe it! I know I say it
every month, but I truly can NOT believe it!
I'm already having dreams and visions about your 1st birthday party!
Oh how I love to plan parties... especially birthday ones!

Your new favorite thing to do is grab the curtains.
You think you're pretty funny!

Look at me Mom! I've found something perfect to hold on to!

You would sit in your brother's chair if you could
figure out how to get in there!

You are getting around everywhere now. Since you turned
9 months, you've learned how to:

• get into a sitting position all by yourself
• scoot around on the floor pushing off with your right foot
• pull up to your knees and sometimes stand on your feet
  
• feed yourself puffs
• take off your bib
• make your brother laugh
• push your high chair across the floor by bucking back and forth like a bronco

You are adorable and sweet and my favorite time of day is when I get to snuggle
with you at night in the chair and give you your bottle. Not much longer and you
won't be a baby anymore! Sniff, sniff... :(
Happy 10 months sweet Riley-Roo!
We are SO in love with you!