Ryan's Halloween Party

Today was Ryan's first Halloween party at school! He was so excited all week. (I think I was just as excited as he was) I was so impressed with all of his singing! I love watching all the little ones sing and dance. We loved every minute of it! Mrs. Simon and Miss Bell really did a great job and I give them so much credit. Having 18 3 year olds all in one room and all under control is very impressive!

Ryan was so excited to see Daddy, Grammie and Papa at his party. I guess Me and Madison are the ones who drop him off and pick him up everyday, so we are pretty boring, but when Daddy, Grammie, and Papa come...LOOK OUT!! Gotta love him!!

As I look at the video and the pictures I took today, I have to admit I got a little teary eyed because I am seeing him grow up to be a very independent little boy! Mrs. Simon stopped Mike and I on the way out today and said, "He doesn't look like the little boy who walked in here in September, does he?" And he doesn't, he has grown so much in the last 2 months! In September he was the little boy who didn't want to go to school, didn't want me to leave, and would cry when I would leave. Now he wants to go to school, he doesn't care that I leave (he still requires a big hug and a big kiss before I leave), and he does not have any tears when I leave! What a difference 2 months and a great teacher make!! (now let's hope Mrs. Simon is around for when Madison goes to school, fingers crossed!!)

Halloween Gifts from Grammie

Ok, I don't EVER remember getting gifts for Halloween. Especially what my mom got the kids. We went to Sam's club the other night and the kids fell in love with these animals. Ryan loved the dinosaur and Madison loved the horsey. They are extremely cute but for Halloween??? What happened to candy, and Mom did you now read my last post?!? Just because both the kids cried and said they wanted one, she got it for them! They are really cute and the kids do really love them. But now I have to find room for these too! Geeze, I thought Christmas was just around the corner! If this is what they get for Halloween, I wonder what they will get for Thanksgiving??????

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT BELOW

This next picture Ryan did all by himself! I was on the computer and he kept saying... "we are all together mom" I just said "uh huh Ryan, that's great". He kept saying it and saying it, so I finally turn around and see this.........

I about died! I couldn't believe it! I was laughing so hard...of course I had to grab the camera and take a few pictures! Of course, this is all innocent to him, but to most adults, well, um..you have to admit, it's pretty damn funny! I wonder where he gets this stuff from! It must be his dad!!

Thanks again Grammie for the very friendly animals!! I just hope we don't have babies, because I DO NOT have anymore room in my house!!

Dear Santa.....

I know it's getting time when you are going to be getting a ton of wish lists from many kids. Well, when you get Ryan and Madison's list please consider these photos before full filling their wishes.

These kids have just about every toy Fisher Price makes. Believe it or not, Ryan is always complaining about never having any toys to play with. The kids could start their own band with all the instruments they have. (I must say Madison is pretty good on the piano) Remember Santa, this is only the stuff we have upstairs. Our basement and our garage is full of toys! I don't know why you would bring all these toys for Ryan and Madison each year! It just amazes me! So this year please downsize everything! Maybe a couple cars for Ryan and a couple dolls for Madison. So when you get their list or when they sit on your lap and tell you what they want, just remember these pictures!

Update on Miss Madison

First I would like say thank you everyone who called and everyone who wrote "Get Well" wishes to Madison. Also a BIG HUGE Thank You to my mom who picked up Ryan from preschool today, so I could take Madison to the Doctor. I know Thursday's are a very busy day for her and she didn't even hesitate to do me a favor. Ryan LOVED that HIS Grammie picked him up from school. I guess he ran right into her arms and Mrs. Simon said, well I guess I don't have to ID you! I love it! OK back to Madison...her temperature this morning was 104.5. Up last night with a 104 temp too. Well, first off last Tuesday when she was at the Dr. she was almost 25 pounds, today barely 23 pounds. The Dr. looked at her, and she does have a start of an ear infection and her throat is RAW! As her lymph nodes are swollen. So she is one sick little girl! We got some drugs and hopefully she will be feeling better really soon!! I hate seeing her so sick! Thanks again everyone! Oh and thank you Mom for taking Ryan for the night...I don't think I could have paid him to stay here!

One Sick Little Girl

I just want to start by saying I sure do not miss the nights of having to get up with a little baby. Last night was a big reminder on how much I need and love my sleep. Madison decided to spike a fever yesterday afternoon, I think at that point it was 102. I gave her some Motrin and it didn't seem to bring it down. So I did Tylenol about 2 hours after the Motrin. This seem to bring it down. She seemed to be perking up a little bit. I figured it was just teething. Well at 2 am she wakes up and is on fire. We put her in bed with us and she tossed and turned for about an hour. Around 3 I gave her some Tylenol and some water. She kept saying "wa wa", meaning water. Well, the water and I am guessing the Tylenol didn't stay down. I was wearing everything she had just drank. We got everything situated and took her temperature. Under the arm it was 103.1. HOLY CRAP! So actually it was 104.1 (all you moms know we need to add 1 degree to under the arm temperature) More Motrin and Mike suggested I take her in. So we ended up in the ER at 3:30. By the time we got there her temp was 103.4. They did a chest x-ray, an urine sample, and checked ears and throat. Everything came back good, so it's just a good ole' viral infection, which we have to let "run it's course." We were home by 6 am. Just in time to see Mike off to work and Ryan was getting up! I was hoping t get some sleep but that didn't happen. So needless to say, today was a very lazy day and all of us never got out of our PJ's. I think we pretty much laid on the couch all day. Madison still has the fever, although it has came down, it's only 103. 2 now. I just hope she starts to feel better soon. I just worry so much when babies get such a high fever. The doctors always say not to worry about high temperatures, but I still do! Let's just hope we get some what of a good night sleep tonight!!

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

Today is the day Mike turns 33. I am sure he doesn't mind me telling the whole blog world how old he is! I am still younger so I can do this!! When I find Mike, I found gold! For anyone who does not know him, he is wonderful! He is absolutely my best friend. He will do anything for anyone at any time of the day! He gave me 2 beautiful children, even though one of them took A LOT of work, he did not complain one bit:). He gives me anything I want. He works hard at his job, even though sometimes people don't' give him credit for it! He truly is a hard worker. The word "Lazy" cannot even fit into a sentence when you talk about him.

Mike is a great father. He loves his kids more than anything in the world. I remember when he found he we were having a boy, he was so excited. He wanted a boy so bad. He was so proud to tell everyone about his little boy! Seeing him hold that little boy for the first time made my heart melt. Then came the day when he found out we were having a little girl! He was so proud! He love s Ryan very much, but I am going to tell you there is something about Daddy's little girl, that just gets him. He loves that little girl so much and it makes me fall more and more in love with him when I see him with her, (and Ryan too). I don't know too many dads who bought their little girl a shirt that says "I love Daddy" in size 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. Yup Madison has the same shirt in all sizes. I don't know what we are going to do once she outgrows 24 months! He is just so WONDERFUL! I don't know what I would ever do without him!!

Happy Birthday Mike! You are a wonderful person and We love you so very much!!!

Mike and Ryan Mike and Madison

Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you!!

This is the way we ROLL!!

Today was the annual Pumpkin Roll in Montague. It's always a great time, hectic, but a good time. Well, this year was no exception. There were tons of (rude) people and lots of strollers. It is fun though, I really don't think they can be any more organized than they are. This was Ryan's 3rd time doing it and Madison's 1st. Ryan LOVES it, he was so excited this morning and couldn't wait to get to the big hill. It was great weather too! We started early so it was a bit cooler, but by 11am it was nice and warm.

I ran into my cousin's wife Amanda and her two boys. We stuck together and then once the kids rolled the pumpkins we kinda lost her. Like I said there were tons of people there! But I am glad our kids got to hang out and eat cookies before the event started.

Mike was the lucky one who got to stand in the herd of people with the kids and wait for starting time. I told him he could do this year, because I got to do it the last 2 years. I was able to stand on the sidelines and try to get some pictures . It was hard but I was able to get some good shots. It was great fun, but I was also glad to get out of there right after the kids rolled their pumpkins!

After the pumpkin roll we had plans to go to the Norton Shores fire department open house. This open house is by far the best in the county. It is organized great and they have great activities for the kids. The kids were able to shot a fire hose, go in a smoke house, and go for a fire truck ride. I asked the driver if Ryan and I could ride in the front and he told us to jump on in. Ryan LOVED riding in the front. He was able to pull the horn whenever he wanted and thought he was pretty special to be up front when Daddy and Madison had to ride in the back! He did keep checking on Madison to make sure she didn't fall off!

Sorry about the same picture twice, I couldn't get it outta there! This picture is of Ryan in the smoke house. He insisted he go by himself. It made me sad, because it just shows me that he is growing up and doesn't "need" Mike and I as much as before! He still needs us of course, but just these little things shows us that he is becoming independent!

Fire Trucks at the Mall

As everyone probably knows, October is fire safety month. It seems like just about every fire station has something going on. Well every year we try to take Ryan to the mall to see the great display of fire trucks and other rescue vehicles. We made it this year, however it was an icky day! It was raining, it was cold, it was just plan miserable. Didn't stop us though, I told my brother Jason and Mike to suck it up and be big boys that a little rain won't hurt them. The boys loved it, even thought it was raining. It seemed like there wasn't as many trucks there this year or people. Probably because of the rain.

Inside the mall, they have a huge set up with all kinds of different booths with activities for the kids. Well since it was raining, EVERYONE was inside. There was no way I was waiting in line for this. So what else you going to do...GO SHOPPING!! Thanks to Kristin on the great tip that The Children's Place was having a great sale! I didn't shop too long though, I was on a time limit set by both my brother Jason and Mike.