Home Sweet Home

Here are a couple of shots of our home. We love it so far and are kind of sad that we're just renting.....until we turn on the tv, internet, or open a newspaper to read about the plummeting housing market - especially here in Phoenix!!! Of all wordly posessions, our new doormat receives the most compliments. I have to admit, I copied my friend Monique. When I saw it in her house I HAD to have it for Heath....fo shizzle!

New Toy

My husband is the BEST!! And though we all joke about his fascination with buying and selling cars, I have to admit, he has become a master at it and I usually end up the beneficiary! He makes a hobby of knowing car values, ratings, and safety records....so when a good deal comes along he is poised! You may scoff a mini-van, but this is the most luxurious ride ever AND I finally have automatic doors! I don't know who was more excited, me or Ryan! :) This car has everything and it talks to me.....which is a little weird but I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Sick and tired!!

What a week! Last Tuesday Will fell off of the bleachers at Ryan's basketball practice and hurt his right leg. We did x-rays and have been to the doctor twice.....looks like it was just a bad sprain, maybe even a tear - thankfully nothing broken, but after 9 days he's still limping. On top of that he came down with the nastiest stomach flu I've ever experienced and has been sick since then. This was the first morning in 7 days that I've woken to a happy CLEAN baby (and clean pajamas and bedding!!) Heath got sick on Monday night and had to miss a day of work - you know it must've been bad!! Ryan got sick (in the car on the way to basketball) Tuesday and continued to 'get sick' until 7 am the following morning. I attribute my not getting sick to the fact that my hands and what little skin is left on them are constantly immersed in some kind of bleach, detergent, soap, or Lysol product! Needless to say, we haven't slept much this week but I always have hope!

Double Stroller

We are quickly approaching the 6 week countdown to "Baby #3" (name chosen.....it's a SECRET!) and are starting to research double strollers. I would love to hear from those of you who have a double - what you like/don't like, etc. We're leaning towards a side by side but haven't completely ruled out the tandems. We need one that will accomodate an infant car seat for the first few months. We have the Chicco Keyfit Infant carseat.....which is not compatible with any other stroller brand that I can find, nor does Chicco make a double stroller with a car seat adaptor. Ugh. Oh well - I'm looking forward to your suggestions!
Thanks!
Nat

Hoop Dreams

Okay.....so we started our first official 'competitive' sports league. BASKETBALL! Ryan knew how to shoot and dribble - the rest is a mystery. His coach told him to keep his hands up and stay with his 'buddy' (the girl he was supposed to block on the other team). It was so cute, especially when Ryan actually got the ball and froze. Everyone in the bleachers was yelling 'dribble, Ryan, dribble'. He actually moved the ball down the court for a bit! But, honestly, was more impressed with the crowd participation and came back to yell, "how's everybody doin' today?" We are quickly gaining notoriety as Ryan's parents here in Surprise, AZ!!

Our Little Performer

Wardrobe malfunction! I'll take any suggestions on how to keep a little boy's shirt tucked in! Take notice of the loud kid.......at one point Ryan did and tried to sing over him. He also told the pastor that he was kind of 'weird looking'.....in front of the church, and pointed out that the lady in the choir looks pregnant. She's not.

Big Boys Weekend, Mommy and Me!

Great news! Our car came in from Korea early so Heath took off on a last minute trip Thursday night to go pick it up in CA. He took Ryan along for company and a 'Big Boys Weekend Adventure'. The Southwest pilot (an ex-Marine pilot) invited Ryan into the cockpit and let him sit in the captain's chair and flip switches. He was impressed by Ryan's knowledge of a cockpit so Ryan proudly told him that his Daddy flies F16s in the Air Force and that's how he knows so much. Shortly into the flight the captain got on the loudspeaker and asked the other passengers to welcome Ryan, their honorary pilot, to the flight and let everyone know that Ryan confided in him that he wants to grow up to be a Marine pilot someday. I'm so sorry that I missed that!! But Will and I had a cozy little weekend together at home. We even had a date night at Chevy's - he must've known that mommy loves the fajita salad but rarely gets to eat there because Daddy and Ryan don't like that restaurant! What a sweet boy. We spent Friday at the park (and mall) and Saturday we played all day while I went through and sorted put baby clothes. Will was so helpful, making sure we each tried on every hat and wrapped every shirt around our necks. He also found the binkies (which he never took) and spent most of the day wearing my shoes, Ryan's pajama shirt, and chewing on his binky.

First Day of Preschool

Ryan started his last semester of preschool at Word of Life Lutheran School this week. We were very happy with the program, philosophy, class size, and LOCATION! We could walk there !!(though, let's face it. We probably never will) He was excited to go and is eager to make new friends. Too bad there are only 2 boys in his class though! I'm sure Bailey is thrilled to have Ryan around! He only goes 2 afternoons a week so full day kindergarten - mandatory here - will still be a big adjustment. The good news is that his school schedule aligns with Will's naptime so I may actually get a couple of hours to myself 2 days a week. At least for the next 9 weeks!

Happy 2008

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather on the 1st and went for a hike around the White Tank Mountains. There was so much more to see than we imagined! Supposedly, after a good rain (does that happen here??) there is actually a beautiful waterfall that spills into a canyon of white granite.....hence the name, because from what I've seen these hills look neither white nor like tanks. Anyway, we're off to get a backpack carrier for Will and then hope to spend more time enjoying the Sonoran Desert before our reptilian neighbors and deathly heat take over!