a little bit of nothing

Can you believe I hardly have any pictures with Derrik finally being home?! Me either! I struggled to find some on my phone, but found a couple that would do. I will get a post up soon with a little update with where we are at with life... I feel like we are finally moving forward. Slow and steady.... baby steps :)

Landon just hanging out the other morning


Love this one with Landon's foot just resting on Ryder's face while watching cartoons :)


Still a long ways from doing this on his own, but he's been getting those hands up there a lot lately!


Ryder got this Nintendo DS for Christmas, but has suddenly started loving it. I see lots of fights over putting the video games down in my future!


How cute are these guys?!


We hope all our PA family is safe and dry in all this crazy rain!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Turning Three - The Party

What an amazing party Ryder had for his 3rd birthday. I've never been a big believer in doing birthday parties at places because the kids never seem to get quality time with their friends so the traditional pool party is always the option for us until Ryder can decide otherwise. However he did get to pick the theme this year. We went to the party store and walked down the aisle with all the different themes. He was excited over the Cars but we've done that, he really liked the pirate stuff, Mickey is always close to his heart, but the Backy's (Backyardigan's in Ryder language) Ryder LOVEDDDDD!! There was pretty much no talking him out of it when he saw it. The Backyardigan's is a really cute cartoon with five friends that transform their backyard into imaginary stories each episode. I wasn't crazy over it because it seemed kind of babyish and not the boy theme everyone would expect, but my mom assured me there were plenty of years in the future for cute pirate parties and that he would only be three once. So Backy's it was!

We put Ryder down for an early nap that day and woke him up a little before everyone would be arriving. He woke up SO excited for his birthday party :)

Look at that 3 year old face... I just love him!

The Backyardigans cake

Auntie Hailey, Sophia, and Courtney enjoying a snack at the party

Ryder's much older friend Dakota who turned 3 the month before :)

Baby Landon loving all the attention

Tristan

An attempt at a group shot...

First: we had 18 kids! OMG

Second: well over half are girls... he'll have no problems getting a girlfriend down the road!

Love the smile when everyone is singing to him

He loves all the attention

Blowing out he candles

Auntie Ally and Riley

Megan and Connor

Love Ryder, Finley, and Sophia inspecting the icing to know were to start

Oh Jack and those blue eyes....

Yummmm

Love you and your messy eating ways Soso

Ryder and Connor... two of a kind right here :)

Dakota stayed for an after party... He's always wanting to come over and play at Kevin Winter's house, and clearly Ryder enjoys his company!

Rough playing on the couch....

Playing one of Ryder's new games

Thank you SOOO incredibly much to everyone who came to Ryder's party. It's always nice to feel so much love from friends and family after we have been away for so long :)

Turning Three - The Birthday

Sorry for the delay of birthday festivities on the blog. We have been enjoying having Derrik home, getting readjusted, and figuring out life. We still don't have it figured out, but I figured I had some time to blog :)


Ryder had an amazing 3rd birthday. I get way more excited for his birthday now-a-days then I do my own. It is so much fun watching him get so excited.

We started the morning off with some balloons and birthday donuts.

Any excuse to sing happy birthday we take advantage of because he loves it!

Taking his link off of his countdown to Daddy chain.

Little did we know just how soon he would be home :(

I tried to get a shot of the boys together before we headed out for some birthday festivities...

At least they were both looking

Love that smile!

Grammy and I took Ryder back to the little dipper pool for his birthday.

He loves this place!!!

Sophia, Dyson, and Miss Amanda came to hang out with the birthday boy too!

This was the best I could get though

Then it was back home to celebrate...

Check out all these birthday presents!!

Thanks to everyone who sent gifts :) he really appreciated it

(Thank you cards will be on their way as soon as all this job searching is over)

I loveeee when Mimi walks through the door and relieves me from baby duty :)

The birthday cupcakes Ryder and I made together earlier in the day

First sight of his lit candles and everyone singing

Checking out the big candles!!

Clapping to happy birthday

He made us sing this too him multiple times!!

He opened presents like a pro!!

Ryder had an amazing birthday! Luckily he had lots of presents to distract him from mommy's tears when she got the text that Daddy had been released moments after we finished opening. I love his innocence at this age that he can come give me a kiss and say "it's ok Mommy" and then continue to play. I hope birthdays always stay this fun for him! Lots more pictures from the party coming soon!

He's Home

and that's all that matters right now :)