My four year old

Happy Fourth Birthday my Ryan Hazen!  It's hard to believe you're really four already; although at the same time I can't remember life without you!  I love watching you grow right before my eyes; you're turning into a little boy more and more every day.  You get dressed all on your own, go to the bathroom and wash your hands all by yourself, put on your own socks and shoes (as long as they don't lace), write your name and letters, play boardgames & puzzles with me, and all sorts of things that constantly amaze me.  We have real conversations and both your memory & intuition never cease to impress me.  I'm so proud of you and the person you are becoming.  I'm blessed to be your mother and am thankful that God gave us such a wonderful son!  I look forward to many many more precious years and birthdays together, let's just not rush them my sweet baby boy :) 

Ryan's Birthday!

Last week we celebrated Ryan's 4th birthday!! 

Happy Birthday my little man!! 

We had his party on Sunday afternoon the 25th.  It was a perfect day; warm, sunny, and no wind at all this year.  Just about all of Ryan's little friends made it and most of the family too.  Ryan had a blast running around the playground, eating pizza & cupcakes, and enjoying the day.  The theme was airplanes - Ryan's pick - and we decorated with gliders and parachuting frogs in the trees.  And the goodie bags were fun too, complete with finger rockets, gliders, and the parachuting frogs. 

Ryan's actual birthday was a Thursday this year.  He started the day with cinnamon toast (usually only for sick days!).  And then since it was a preschool day, Mommy & Abby brought cupcakes to the class for snack time.  It was nice to visit and sit outside at the picnic table with all his little friends.  Then after school we met up with Grandma for lunch at "welcome to Moe's."  [Ryan will be devastated one day to learn that it's only Moe's!]  And it was his pick, no prompting or suggesting from Mommy.  After a quesidilla and salsa, we dined on cream cheese cupcakes from Grandma.  Dinner was pizza night with Daddy & Mommy & Abby at Brooklyn Joe's where we also gave him our presents.  From dinner we headed to Nana and Pop-Pop's for dessert with the grandparents.  Grandma & Grandpa were there too and we all enjoyed some more dessert.  It was a busy day but certainly a fun one!!

Happy Happy Birthday my sweet Bugs!!  We love you!!

the corn maize

Maxim and family were in town for Ryan's birthday party weekend, yay!  We met up with our fav cuz, Auntie Sarah, Nana, Grandma, and Grandpa on Saturday afternoon for some family fall fun at the Cagle's Dairy corn maize.  We've been the past two years with Ryan, but this was Maxim's first time.  We started the adventure with the jumpy pillows, petting goats, and riding on horse tire swings (adorable!!). 

Once we began the maize, Ryan and Maxim immediately took their spots at the front of the pack leading us fearlessly through miles and miles of corn.  Well, maybe not miles and miles, but when you are following three year olds, it can certainly feel like that.  I think we wandered all the way to Iowa and back.  But it was a blast and Ryan will talk about it all year long, or at least he did last year. 

Dolphin Tale

Friday night the much anticipated [at least by my mom :)] movie, Dolphin Tale, came out and we were right there to see it!  Ryan and I met up with Grandma, Grandpa, and Ms. Lori to take it in.  It was a good movie, esp if you accept the facts beforehand that a.) very little of it is actually true and b.) there's a little bit of cheesiness to it.  Although, I must say, it was not nearly as cheesy as I expected! 

Ryan did very well with the movie and seemed to enjoy himself.  We had talked about the dolphin a little beforehand and read the book Winter's Tail.  We also saw Winter on one of the tv morning shows and Grandma had bought him a stuffed Winter a few years back.  And it was a 7pm showing, so he was calm and sleepy.  In fact, as soon as the credits started rolling, he jumped saying I'm ready to go home, let's go!  He was asleep before I'd even turned on to the main road in front of the theater!

If you get the chance to see it, please be sure to do so and support Winter!  She's an amazing dolphin and if you don't believe me, ask my mom!

Marching Band video

So I'm not sure if that was really cool or really scary (yes, Auntie Sarah, I know I should be scared).  I found the Pride of the Mountains marching band on facebook and was watching a video some random person had posted to Youtube from Saturday night's game.  After it was done, I was going to copy the link to share with my large number of blog fans, but instead it had an option to put it on my blog and I clicked and there it was.  Just like magic.  It did that last post all by itself.  So enjoy!  Or be weirded out.  Either way is okay.

WCU's Pride of The Mountains Marching Band - 2011 Club Swagger

WCU

This past weekend we took a trip up to Cullowhee, NC to visit Western Carolina.  I went to school there for a year, but haven't been back since.  It was a fun walk down memory lane.  We started the day at my old favorite spot - a beautiful picnic on the river.  After we ate, we wandered around and I even got Ryan to wade through the water with me!  Then we drove through Sylvia & Dillsboro.  We walked around a little and ate ice cream at the general store, yumm.   

Then it was time to check out the campus.  We drove by my old dorm, bought a few souvenirs at the bookstore, and then watched the Pride of the Mountains marching band warming up.  If you like marching bands, you've got to figure out how to see one of their shows one day, amazing!  It was Ryan & Abby's first football game of any sort and they did okay.  Fortunately it's a very laid back atmosphere without the typical college crowds; we're certainly not ready for Athens anytime soon!  In fact, Abby and then Ryan befriended the lady sitting in front of us and she basically babysat them the first half.  She was great with them and seemed to truly enjoy hanging out with them.  And then it was halftime.  I always knew that the band was a big hit there, but I guess I didn't realize how much.  As soon as they lined up to march on, people were on their feet and clapping.  It was crazy!  The band really truly is the highlight of the evening.  The did their usual contemporary funky show; this year it's called Club Swagger and features music from the likes of Usher & Lady Gaga.  Humm, could you ever see the Redcoats doing that?!  I loved both WCU and UGA's bands, they are just so completely different!  Ryan and Abby really got into the show too.  Ryan moved into the aisle so he could see better and Abby was dancing.  So much fun.  After that, we (along with a whole lot of other people) made our way out.  After a quick dinner at Subway, we headed for home.  What a fun day!  In fact when we asked Ryan what he liked best, he said something along the lines of: "I like Everything we did today!"  At another time, he said he liked " the picnic, going into town, and the football game."  Two things about that: 1. the "going into town" was hilarious; he'd fit right in.  2. If you're a parent you probably realize how rare it is for them to like what you plan!  It's usually some small, obscure detail that they love.  I think we did well today! 

Tomato Soup

I love tomato soup.  Coleson not so much.  So when I eat it, I have it for lunch and enjoy it all to myself.  Today however, Ryan was asking about my soup.  I told him it was like ketchup and asked if he wanted to try it.  He had a cautious bite before deciding he did indeed like it.  I gave him his own little bowl and he eat every bit of it.  I even saw him dipping his pb&j in it at one point.  As we were cleaning up, he told me again that he liked it and asked if he'd had it before.  I told him no, but now that I know he likes it, we can have it again soon.  "I think we should have it for dinner too!" 

Point Team Mommy.  Next up, mushrooms & black olives :) 

Happy Football Season!

Aunt Jennifer mailed the kids some adorable outfits the other day with the messsage "Happy Football Season" and I think that sums it up perfectly!  We have been very excited to be watching football again and teaching Ryan & Abby all about the Georgia Bulldawgs.  And of course we've been having to learn about loyalty recently too :)  Win or lose (although winning would be nice), there's just something special about a gameday Saturday, dressing up in red & black, eating lots of snacks & dips, and everything else that makes college football awesome. 

Life Ain't Always Beautiful

I know most of you don't share my love of country music, but this was the song playing on my ipod this morning.  It's by Gary Allan. 

Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart

Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day

But the struggles make you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' its sweet time

[chorus]
No, life ain't always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life ain't always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

Life ain't always beautiful
Some days I miss your smile
I get tired of walkin' all these lonely miles

And I wish for just one minute
I could see your pretty face
Guess I can dream, but life don't work that way

But the struggles make me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' its sweet time

No, life ain't always beautiful
But its a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride