Pumpkins: The Hunt

Searching for the perfect pumpkin.

Found it!

 

Too far to walk back to the barn.

 We went to Pumpkin Land on Saturday evening and Ryan had fun wandering around looking for the perfect pumpkin. We picked out four big ones for carving and four little "Ryan-sized" ones.

Doughnuts

This morning Adam got up early to work at school and came home with a surprise! Saturday morning doughnuts!

Me: "Ryan, would you like a doughnut?"

Ryan:" YEEEEEAH!"

Me: "Which one do you want?"

Ryan: "Chocolate one." 

Me: "Do you want to just bite or do you want me to cut it up?"

Ryan: "No, just lick it."

And that's what he did!

On the bright side, we might not have to buy face paint if he wants to be Johnny Depp for Halloween!

The Rhino Report

• Lately, when I ask Ryan a simple question, he answers with, "Umm, not sure."
• After turning his nose up at Handel, we have finally gotten past the "Pop Goes the Weasel" phase. Last night he chose "Nutbrown Hare" which is the CD that came with "Guess How Much I Love You".  Tonight it was "A Mother's Touch" which is a folksy sort of CD I got from a great-aunt.
• On Tuesday, Ryan had fun playing with Juliana and we enjoyed being able to get our mortage finalized and test-driving a few minivans without a tag-a-long. Signing away the next 15 years of your life isn't always fun, but we are pretty confident we hit the rates at the bottom of the market. We didn't find any minivans we liked and I'm not sure the dealer was too excited about the 180,000 mile Malibu I offered as a trade in. ("You hold on to something this cherry." ~Tommy Boy)
• On Wednesday, Ryan and I skyped with my sister, Megan,  Emily, and Lincoln. It was fun having the kids talk to each other (okay, Emily did most of the talking) and showing off. Ryan shot a few hoops, demonstrated his tackling dummy, and sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (just imagine the Merrily, Merrily, Merrily part with no "r" sound.)  Lincoln sang "Happy Birthday," and told me he likes to eat at Pizza Ranch and Old Donald's. Emily showed me how fast she can run and announced that she got 7th place in her race (we told her Ryan loves watching the video of that race) and also, in case you didn't know, it is 11 days until she turns 5.
• Ryan is very emphatic about praying at meal times and at bedtime. If he wakes up in the night, we have to re-pray before he can go back to sleep. He doesn't usually contribute much besides "Dear Jesus" and "Amen" but when he's stalling to go to sleep, he will come up with a laundry list of people I need to pray for. So...Mommy, Daddy, Ryan, Nika, Gampa, Gamma, other Gampa and Gamma, Gate Gamma, Gate Gampa Vanna Kooi, Gate Gampa and Gamma M, Aunt Abbie, Uncle Wade, Baby Saaaayloooor, Aunt Megan, Uncle Austin, Em-i-lee-and-Lincoln, Uncle Andy, Aunt Keem, the 5-member household of his daycare provider, and anyone else he's come in contact with on that particular day...consider yourself prayed for!

3...2...1...

3...

 

2...

 1...

Blast Off!

A Shower and A Hog Roast

On Saturday, Adam had an all-day golf/bachelor party thing with his cousin who is getting married in 2 months. (He's a 30+ Youth Pastor, so if you're picturing a party bus, don't.) Ryan and I headed to Sibley in the afternoon with Adam's mom to attend the shower held for this same cousin and his fiancee. It was nice to see that side of the family, for Ryan to see his 6-month-older 2nd cousin, Kenley, and for us to visit with a few ladies from our old church. (The shower was put on by the church ladies at our old church).

At night, we had been invited to a big hog roast by a guy I work with. I was all worried I wouldn't be able to figure out what house it was since he lives on a farmplace and I'd never been there before. I was carefully watching the advancing dot on my iphone map and getting anxious that it wasn't telling me which side of the road it was on. Then, I got closer, I thought, "Oh. Maybe the house with 80 cars and orange lights strung up everywhere!"

It was a challenge to wrangle our food, lawnchairs, drinks, and Ryan while avoiding cars and the night cemented the fact that I'm not cut out for single parenthood. Ryan basically ate chips and a cookie and I spent more time picking up food off the ground than eating any of the fresh pork (pulled off the whole hog) and the multitude of salads/chip dips/and bars that filled 4 tables. But, it was fun to mingle with new people (about 150 of them), chat with friends, and explore the farm. There were kittens, exotic chickens, dogs, horses, and bunnies/ Ryan wanted to spend all his time in the barn! They also set up a projector in a shed to show the movie "Rio" on a white sheet. Ryan thought the coolest part was being able to sit on hay bales! It was so nice of them to invite us and it was such a fun event! We were there for the lighting of the 10-ft tall bonfire, but didn't stick around long enough to watch it dwindle.

We headed home around 8:30 and he was talking the whole way home until just when we got into town. Then, he suddenly conked out and never opened his eyes again until Sunday, even through me getting him out of the car, changing into pajamas, and going to bed! Guess the big day really did him in!

Happy Birthday, Abbie & Grandma!

On Friday, we were all planning to go to the last home football game, but with a windy and chilly night shaping up and a last minute invitation to go out for supper, I chose for Ryan and I to meet up with my parents, Abbie, Wade & Saylor to celebrate Abbie's and my mom's birthday. We had really good food at Los Tulipanes (well, Ryan had chips and salsa) and then headed to Abbie's for ice cream cake.

Saylor put on a little fashion show for us, first modeling her puppy hat:

 Then, looking a little less terrified in this cute zebra one:

Meanwhile, Ryan, Uncle Wade, and Grandpa were busy playing with Saylor's toys! They loved the school bus puzzle track she got from her other Grandpa and Grandma!

Then, Wade decided to pull out a special toy he had been saving just for Ryan...Thunder Sticks.

Grandpa says, "Thanks."

We all had fun (even Grandpa) and I was happy to get my Saylor "fix" for the week!

2 Year Checkup

Ryan had his 2-year checkup and I think he may have been coached at daycare because on the way there he told me, "See doctor, be patient, don't hurt, be brave."  He was fairly patient waiting thanks to the fun toys in the waiting room and the Teddy Grahams I packed for the office.  He did great on the scale and getting measured. He's still on the same path, weighing in at 32.6 lbs (90th percentile) and 36" (80th percentile).  The doctor said he seems to be recovering from a cold, but otherwise seems in good health. Ryan was cooperative except he would not lay down on the crinkly paper on the exam table. But, I guess he earned his sticker. Thankfully there were no shots today,  and here's to hoping we don't have to see the doctor again until his 3-year checkup!