Now go, write it before them…and note it in a book, that they may be for the time to come forever and ever…

Due to a very persistant friend, I am restarting my blog.  Said friend reminded me that we are supposed to keep journals, and things like blogs not only help us to keep a record of the events in our lives but they also keep us connected to our friends and family that we don’t always get to see or talk to on a regular basis.  This friend is also one who calls me several times a week and we usually see each other at least once a week.  Apparently this is not enough for her (wink!).  She is one of my best friends and in reality the group of us want to keep in better contact, so this is our way of doing it.  Thanks Jessica for reminding us to stay connected in any way we can!

Here are the happenings that have consumed our lives since the beginning of the year:

-Ben started helicopter school.  In Salt Lake.  He is never home with travel time since the school will not let him park the helo in our back yard.  He is almost done with his private pilot’s licence.  He loves it (minus the driving).  He is fulfilling one of his life long dreams and now he feels like one of his childhood heros Indiana Jones…he can now fight the bad guys AND fly everyone to safety.

-I have been killing myself training for 2 fights.  One in February and one in May.  February was fun, although it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!  The girl i fought was good.  I held my own and the fight was a draw, but it was a huge challenge .  May was easier, although still very physically demanding.  I trashed the other girl.  It felt good.  I am also a den mother for the bears in cub scouts.  Its not my favorite calling, but I am trying to do my best and not strangle any 9 year olds.

-Ryder.  Oh my big boy!  Ryder loves to wrestle, crash his cars, and run around.  He has more energy that anyone knows what to do with.  Sugar is not his friend.  He loves his sister and is very clever at how he gets her to do what he wants.  He can sneak outside, but always goes next door to Grandma’s house.  His favorite colar is orange.  And I always get in trouble when I call our jeep a car.

-Rianna is still my angel, although now she has a lot of attitude to her.  She thinks she can “cute” her way out of ANYTHING.  And if you don’t know its coming, you will fall for it.  If anyone catches her eye or is talking to Ryder, she will interrupt and say “Nana’s a princess!”.  She is very much a princess.  She loves her doll house, babies, and is a good little  nurturer, but she also loves dirt baths and tackling Ryder when is isn’t looking.

Next time I will do more than just catch up, but now we have a clean slate and everyone is up do date, right?  Good.

I didn’t realize that I didn’t actually post this!!! Opps!  Can anyone tell that its been very busy around our house?  Rianna is now 13 months old, but I still think that this needs to be posted.

Today is Rianna’s first birthday!  Wow in love I am with this girl!  She amazes me every day and I can’t really remember my life without her amazing spirit.  She is so different from Ryder and I love how different they are.  Even during pregnancy she made it known that she was different.  Most of the time I didn’t notice her and then all of a sudden she made herself known!  Kicking, squirming, stretching…the works.  Her delivery was no different either.  I felt fine all day (not something an expectant mother wants on her due date), was even told she wasn’t coming any time soon by my midwife adn then BAM!!  I was in labor and she was here 5 hours later.  Throughout the last 12 months she has continued that path.  She is always very calm and quiet until all of a sudden the eaglet screeches!! Man that girl can scream!!!  You can always hear her coming when she is upset.  She loves to eat…how she is so tiny, I have no idea!  She eats more than Ryder does!  Whenever she is getting sorta cranky, its usually because she is hungry again.  She has been walking for a few months now and if I had a penny for every time I heard “she’s too little to be walking!” I’d be a very rich mom.  She loves animals and books, especially books about animals.  She loves to just sit and read books.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing daughter.  She is the sweetest little girl I have ever met and I am so blessed to have her in my life.  It is my privileged to be her mom and to have her a part of our family.  She is our perfect little bean and we love her so much!

Last year my parents went to Hawaii for a vacation. They brought back each of the kids a cute outfit from the pineapple plant. Now that it is warm enough (most days) to wear them, Ryder gets to wear his. Each time I ask him what shirt he wants to wear he grabs that one and says “Grandpa Shirt”. And all day long if you ask him what shirt he’s wearing he will say “Grandpa Shirt, Grandpa Shirt”. He LOVES his grandpa! They really do have a special bond. Here is a picture of Ryder in his Grandpa Shirt.

On Saturday we had a wonderful birthday party for the kids.  I did a joint one since they are too young to want/need their own parties.  We went over to Bicentennial Park in Provo where we BBQ’d hot dogs and hamburgers, had wonderful salad, fruit and the like.  The kids all got to play on the playground while the adults talked and played too.  Clarissa was wonderful and made the kids a beautiful cake!  I made the 2 small ones for them to demolish as they saw fit.  Clarissa’s was much prettier than mine…I can’t thank her enough for doing that!  She is amazing!  The funny thing was that Ryder was not as interested in demolishing his cake…he did however love eating Rianna’s!  Rianna thought the cake was wonderful and was whole fisting it! 

After we all enjoyed the yummy cake, we opened presents.  That was overwhelming.  The kids had no idea how to handle all of the presents they were given.  Our kids are very loved and very spoiled.  They both got their share of cute clothes (thanks so much Taryn!) and lots of toys.  I am pleased to say that Rianna no longer has to use Ryder’s toys as dolls and now has her own.  We had such a blast and appreciate everyone who came celebrate with us! Part of the celebration for us was just knowing that we had made it!  Ben and I have made it 2 years as parents!  And both of the kids are still alive, healthy adn very happy!  Now I understand why parents go so overboard with their kids parties…its a celebration for the parents too.  Thanks again to everyone who made the party so fun and special!

Ryder turned 2 years old today!  How fast these two years have gone by.  We had a fun day playing with cousins.  We took Ryder out to Brick Oven for dinner.  It was a lot of fun just eating pizza and opening presents.  Ryder even got ice cream topped off with whipped cream and a sucker…he LOVED that sucker!  We had a fun time just us enjoying part one of his birthday (part two will be coming).

And I have to thank my parents for the clothes…we needed them in the middle of dinner when we had a little ‘problem’….thanks again!