Wandering

Who says there is no excitement on the bread aisle at Kroger?

One of the very, very few early mornings I take one for the team when the boys get up before 6.  It had to be documented.

While Ryder and JM napped Sunday afternoon, Rhodes and I went out and about.  Rhodes was mesmerized with this Anthro worker's red weave.

Do little boys just not get cold?  It was freezing, freezing temps, hence the snow hat, coat and boots.  The legs must've just been numb...

In true Mississippi fashion, it was perfect for a backyard picnic later that afternoon.

And a canoe trip for Ryder and John Michael.

Thumbs up for a successful fish!

It's not a neighborhood outing without Ryder's favorite neighbor, Reagan.

Best buds 

Just getting creative and making the best out of summer temps in November.

Fishing with their daddies.

Ryder and his best adult friend, Mr. Dan.

Ryder had been asking about making Nanni her birthday card for an entire week. 

Snuggles.

Ryder making his shapes at TOT!  I love being one of his TOT teachers and getting to watch him learn each Thursday.

Rhodes and his little girlfriend, Emerson.

For whatever reason, Ryder always saves his major bathroom issues when we are running errands.  I think he secretly knows my hatred of public restrooms and just likes to put me to the test.  After a good 10 minutes I asked him how much longer this was going to take.  He said, "just a few more hours."  Typical.

Every moms dream is when it's almost nap time and you pull into the neighborhood and they've already knocked that one out, said NO MOM EVER!

Ryder's birthday cake for Nanni!

Baby loves his daddy.

Porter's first birthday Pow Wow!

Precious Porter and mama, Devin, who by the way, planned the most adorable birthday party ever.

Banchero's

Just a tad of the adorbs set up.

Rhodes and his bud, Tate just making trouble.

Ryder and his Indian Princess, Swayze.

Gah I wish I could explain on this blog the extent to which Rhodes goes to people, anybody.  Any, any body.  This picture is not a good example because this is our friend, Ben, but Rhodes has never seen Ben in his life, and this he was trying to crawl up in his lap at first glance (more proof to come....)

 The party mamas and mama-to-be Courtney :)

Now I can follow up with my example.  When I say Rhodes is a wanderer, he's a wonderer.  After Porter's party we went to another birthday for Ryder. This is the first lady he walked right up to, just begging to hold him.  I have never seen this lady in my life.

Next person.  Rhodes has no clue and sure don't care!

I've never seen this woman in my life, and I'm pretty positive Rhodes hasn't either.

If I don't keep an eye on the kid, he is liable to go home with anyone.  

As if Ryder doesn't keep me laughing enough, he comes up with this new song he belted out when he got mad when I told him it was time for bed.

"When you feel so mad and you want to roar - just take a deep breath and count to FOUR. [Big breath] then, One... Two... Three... Four.

While we were at the grocery store about about to buy ingredients for Nanni's birthday cake, I was just talking to Ryder to make conversation and said something like:

Me: "Are you are going to help me make the cake for sure? 
Ryder: "Who is sure? I thought you called her Sharon!"

Ohhh I laughed.

Rhodes hardly knows what rain is.  I feel like it has barely rained in his lifetime.  But when it does, he's all in.  He's trying to drink it in this particular shot.

Friday morning I was in a pickle.  I desperately need to get my hair highlighted and the only times she had available were when neither child had school.  So thanks so the iPad and wireless internet, oh and Kayla and Bennett (Ryder's Netflix providers), Ryder made it through that two hours with Netflix (or red button as he calls it).

While we were there, I couldn't resist a trim for him.  This is now his third official haircut.  I've trimmed it a few times here and there.

While I was getting my hair done for two hours, I had an extremely gracious friend down the road who agreed to watch Rhodes for me.  Rhodes and Tate had a fun playdate!  Or at least that was what his mama said!  For all I know she was ready to pass out of exhaustion between these two.

Tate and his sweet kisses.

Ryder was so excited about his wood building skills, that he actually asked if we would give him some money for his hard work.  Ummmm..... Nah!

Thanks to my pleading, these two are cranking up the fire.  MmMmMmMMMMmmm!!!!!

Since I know there is no way my slacking self will blog before Thanksgiving, I wish you all the absolute most blessed time with your families. 

From an old hymn:

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done!

Indeed, I will count my many blessings from my incredible God!

Don't Chead

A couple weeks ago Ryder woke up from his nap and came and laid in my lap on the couch.  Now, this always happens when he wakes up.  He loves for me to hold him as soon as he wakes up.  But this time, he fell back asleep in my arms.  This, on the other hand, never happens!

He woke up and got dressed real quick when I told him aunt Kayla was coming over with a surprise!

A fair prize actually put to use.

While Kayla was here, I put her to work while I kicked my feet up and watched!

John Michael was out of town, and about 45 minutes after Kayla left, it HIT.

The dreadful stomach bug.  My sweet boy slept with me and we got up several times in the night for him to throw up.  Half the time he didn't make it to the toilet :(

This crazy guy is so sneaky.  I can't take my eyes off him for one second.  And he soooo knows he's doing something he's not supposed to do.  Like run up the stairs by himself.

Nanni treated us all to mani/pedi for Anna Terrell's birthday!  Thanks Nanni!

Then we (they) carved pumpkins.

My grandmother, Mimi, has been in the hospital for weeks now.  I told Ryder that she wasn't feeling well.  I walked in the kitchen to hear Ryder talking to himself.  Turns out he was writing Mimi a get well card.

Then it was halloween.

School carnival.

The limbo.  I think he "cheaded."  That's how Ryder says cheating and it cracks me up.  He'll say, "Mom, did you just chead?"

He's currently obsessed with elephants and requested one be painted on his face.

I'll cry when it's not cool for mom to come to school functions anymore.

Vampire pumpkin.  To be honest, I was a little disturbed that Ryder was running around saying, "I'm a vaaaaaahhhmpiah, and I'm gonna suck ya bloooooood!"

Ryder grew 1/2 an inch in 6 weeks!  I knew he was growing by the way his pants were getting short!

Ryder and Rhodes have so much fun together.  Rhodes follows Ryder around and Ryder is such a boss.  He looks out for Rhodes and is always jerking things from him that he's not supposed to have.  Or pulling him out of the bathroom when he tries to play in the toilet.  Rhodes can't say a single thing except mama, dada and DA which he says about everything.  Poor child.  His brother won't let him talk!  I'm convinced that's the problem!  I'll ask Rhodes a question and Ryder blurts it out.  EVERY time.  Every time.  Wait, let me back up.  Rhodes actually did learn one trick this week.  If I ask him what the snake says, he says "sssssssssssssss" but with a precious little lisp just like Ryder's :)  Love it!

Well five days after Ryder got the stomach bug, it made its way to me.  Let me tell you that I don't go to bed with my house messy.  I just don't.  It's kind of a problem, but it is what it is.  After getting the bug late Wednesday night and having the kids all day Thursday, by Thursday night I think I was delirious and I half don't remember it.  I got in bed at 6:45 p.m.  I don't get in bed until 10:00 at the earliest every single night.  I felt awful.  So the next morning when I finally woke up (at 8:45!!!) I was disturbed by my house!!!  I had a mild panic attack.  I know, it's sad.  But I like to wake up to my house being clean!

Rhodes' first school art work.  Sweet baby! (I'm not sure I believe he really colored this... and stayed in the lines?)

Friday afternoon I scrambled myself together after the dreadful bug, and went to the coast for a little gals getaway.

The occasion was the Peter Anderson Arts Festival.

Relaxing in an awesome swing that was being sold in one of the booths.  Came close to being sold to me.

 Good weekend but nothing better than being welcomed home to the fam!

The night I went to bed early we were supposed to go to a Halloween party.  Obviously I didn't make it, but JM and Ryder did.

Ryder and his binoculars hunting for deer.

Being cowboy week at school, Ryder made a nice hat.  He looks real iffy about the way it turned out...

Then it was dress like a cowboy day.  Look at this stud!!!

 Really and truly, I'm having a hard time dealing with this cuteness.  I especially died when on the way to school he started talking in this cowboy voice and saying, "where the cowgirls at?"

Ryder was reading to Rhodes.  He should be a fiction author.  I've never heard such made up stories in all my life!

I know lots of children are real picky about their clothes and especially like to dress themselves.  This morning marks the first time Ryder has asked to dress himself.  And he did.  And then he asked if he could dress himself tomorrow too. 

We were meeting JM for lunch and while I was snapping this picture he drove up.  Which is why Rhodes is ready to jump right off this bench and run to his daddy.

Then in true Brittany fashion, we had to run errands so I could make returns.  Ryder was using the toilet and I kept Rhodes contained in the cart where he couldn't touch anything.  I really don't like public restrooms.

Little headstrong child either doesn't understand "NO" or just doesn't care.

Pretty sure he just doesn't care!

At all...

Nope, not one bit!!

Speaking of wild man, I took him to the doctor Monday for a runny nose and it turns out he's got an ear infection.  This marks his 4th.  Not bad for almost 16 months.  He weighs 23 lb.  Rhodes is so laid back you wouldn't even know he was sick.  I had no clue he had an ear infection.  I was shocked actually.  When I take him in public I get so many comments about how calm he is, and I think it's because they are comparing him to his brother, who is constantly talking and literally does not take a breath in between sentences.  Other day we were shopping and I walked around the corner to look at something. I heard Ryder keep saying, "Excuse me sir, excuse me.  Excuse me.  Sir?  Siiiiiir?"  I walked around to see what he was talking about.  He had flagged some old man down to ask him his name, his birthday and his AGE!!!"