Fun times!!!!!

I forgot about a few videos we took over Christmas. I wish I took more.

Ryder with Grandpa Bowman reading his favorite Christmas book. He could hardly sit still as he was waiting for his cousin Logan to arrive.

Pardon my obnoxious laughing. Kevin did not capture Ryders full funny dance on camera. I posted some of it.

Toddlerhood

A lot has changed in a year. I am trying my best to embrace this new toddler stage. Ryder is almost 15 months old. He is learning new tricks all the time. Some good, some bad. We are transitioning from the bottle to cups, and to 1 nap. Sometimes I look at my sweet baby and see this little boy. Where did the time go? I am in no hurry for him to grow big, but he is demanding more and more independence. He wants to do it all for himself.

With his best friend Chubs.

Drinking out of his big boy cup....he loves it.

1 year ago I had this sweet laid back little guy.

It kinda makes me sad to look back at all the old pictures, but with each new stage comes new excitement too. I pray daily for patience and guidance. He is beginning to throw himself on the floor and scream when things do not go his way. We have had words a few times about who is in charge already. He also snuck up and bit me today. He has become quite the attention getter. He likes to ham it up and turn to see if I am paying attention. It reminds me of my little brother.

Each day brings something new to laugh about.

New Years EVe

We spent New Years Eve with some of my college girlfriends and their husbands. My dear friends Jamie and Brent hosted at their home. It was very low-key and relaxing this year. It was nice to catch-up with my friends and watch the kids play. The guys went ice fishing during the day while we hung out with the kiddos.

Jake & Ryder in the tunnel.

Jakers

Kenley Bean

playing with all the toys

Jake in bumbo seat

Jake & Ryder followed each other eveywhere...very active boys!

Ryder

Thanks again to our friends for hosting. We made it home by 11:00 and were in bed shortly after. How times have changed. I have endured my share of exciting New Years Eve's and have no desire to repeat a few of them.

Family Roadtrip

During my 2 weeks off we took a couple road trips to visit family. We headed south to central IL to visit my brothers family and grandparents last week. My sister in law Erin was on break from teaching and took great care of us. I enjoy watching Ryder & my nephew Logan play together. They get the biggest smiles when they see each other. They are forming a special bond already. It is near impossible to get them both to pose for pictures...so we are left with the action shots.

playing hard with all of Logans new toys

uh oh...getting into the fireplace

Ryder follows and just stares at uncle jesse

We traveled to Decatur 1 day to visit my grandparents. My grandmother made us a great lunch & we had a nice time watching Ryder play with the dogs (Abby & Dixie). Ryder had a wonderful time.

With Grandpa Sims

showing off

with grandma and aunt barbara

Ryder was exhausted by mid afternoon due to missing his nap. He refused to lay down and just kept running until he hit the car.

We enjoyed our short trip south & look forward to future visits in the spring.

Blessed

We left my parents Christmas morning and traveled back to Kevins mom's to celebrate the rest of the day. We had a good time visiting, eating, and watching Ryder open all his new toys. He hit a wall from all the travel and crashed. He slept most of the afternoon and night.

Finding his gifts under the tree

Checking out the cool new tractor from Uncle Brian.

Playing with Uncle Brian's I-phone...loves all things electronic already

Love this face when he study's things with his pudge cheeks.

With Grandma T and Uncle Brian

In his new sled

We were once again blessed with love and generous gifts from our family. I can't thank God enough for our friends and family this time a year. Sometimes I pause and realize I am in a beautiful season of life. I currently have many blessings, and people in my life that may, and will not always be there. So it may not be summer literally, but our life season is. Things are full bloom and sunshine here. Winter can stay far away.

May God bless you, and yours with love, joy and peace this holiday season!

Christmas time

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. We started our week by traveling to my parents home 2 hours west for a few days. It was nice and relaxing. We ate way too much. It is time for serious diets in this home.

Here is the finished tree we all picked out after Thanksgiving. It was a blue spruce and very nice to look at. However the needles dropped off everytime you barely touched the tree. It made a huge mess.

Moo shoo porky Christmas Eve

With grandpa playing with my old Christmas bear I received from my Grandma Bowman in the 80's.

With Grandma

Ryder looking at his Christmas book with Grandpa. He loves this flip book that counted down all the days in December leading up to Christmas. He tore a few pieces off.

Ryder loved the blue scarf.

Someones sleepy already

Loggiebear

Ryders first gift to open...an ornament from Aunt Erin, Uncle Jesse & LB...within seconds of being opened it was broke....he cried.

Opening his new potty chair...what a goofball.

Jesse, Erin & Logan

Uncle Jesse & the boys

Our family

The Boys with grandma & grandpa

After the boys went to sleep it was time for games and fun. The group decided on scattegories.

We were all supposed to get dressed up in crazy christmas sweaters, but only my mom and Erin found one. Maybe next year we will coordinate this better.

More pictures to come. I am waiting for the big family photo we took this year.

Hope everyone continues to enjoy the holidays.