hello,

hello, i'm ryder lee...

preschool artwork!

bowie is bringing home a few pieces of art and learning projects each time she goes to school.  way more than i can save and i only hold onto the special pieces, so here are some of her latest...

decorating rice cakes!

another kids activity that doubles as a dessert that i brought for the party was decorating rice cake "pumpkins" with orange frosting, halloween sprinkles and candy corns!

kids loved it,  parents loved it and i loved that it was a little less sugar by using rice cakes and i didn't have to bake cookies!!!  the younger kids needed supervision with the sprinkles and the older kids got into making designs, but overall this was a winner!!!  i would do this again in a heartbeat!

halloween play dough play tray!

going to a friends party and she asked me to bring a couple of activities for the kids.  my favorite go to is a play dough play tray to share!  kids of all ages love play dough and a fun theme goes a long way.  and i also find that adults can't help but play when it is set up this way.

feeling halloween inspired so this tray has; googly eyes, bugs, pipe cleaner, mesh ribbon, paper straws and glitter pumpkins.  and i made three batches of home made super squishy play dough in orange, purple and green!  the parents asked me where i got all the items and everything came from the dollar tree and walmart.

i know i seem like a one trick pony with all my play dough activities, but this was a BIG  BIG hit!  the kids sat for a very long time engaged and made all kinds of things from a scary snowmen, pumpkins to monsters.  there isn't a whole lot that kids 2 years old to 7 can all play with happily together...but every time i set one of these up it's a winner!  also, this activity is MINIMAL MESS, you can't beat that!!!

I CAN'T EVEN!!!

i hope you never get too big or too cool to give your favorite girls a smooch!

halloween treasure hunt!

set out a tray with kinetic sand and plastic halloween figures.  i gave bowie some fine motor tweezers and a muffin tin to sort the figures into once she "rescued" them.  she took one look at it and was too scared of it to play.  so i took out the halloween stuff and added some small animals instead. 

halloween invitation to create!

i'm trying to embrace fall and jump into lots of fall and halloween activities to try to trick myself to get excited.  so today i set out a tray full of open ended craft supplies to make halloween collages.  we had fun creating together!

the tray included; dot markers, tempera paint sticks, pom poms, mesh ribbon, washi tape, cut up paper strays and pipe cleaners!

bowie's on top and mom's on bottom

see you in a month gram!

it's always hard to say goodbye to family when they leave.  the company and help is so nice, bowie loves her time with grandma, jarad and i get to go on a date night and i try to get caught up on stuff around the house. 

the only part that makes it a little less sad is knowing that we will see them in california in a month!!!

bear is back!

bear cubs came back around 1am tuesday morning and left us a present by the front door, but if you look closer, i think there is a clear message LOL!

sensory table!

i did a big toy rotation over the weekend and i wanted the sensory table to have a sensory activity in it that i can leave, something geared more towards ryder.

i put a pound of penne pasta, cups, spoons, cookie cutters, ice cube tray and a colander.  he is enjoying pouring the pasta back and forth and putting it in and out of the colander.  this set up is so quick, easy to clean and very age appropriate for my 15 month old!

welcome fall!!!

i'm not ready for you, but you made an early appearance this year.  at least bowie has a cute festive outfit (thank you aunt laura and uncle tony!).

15 months old!

the last month has been a big one because you are WALKING!!!  you are gaining confidence everyday in your abilities and love to explore!  i also started doing sensory play with you last month and you also love it just like your sister.  you are working hard on talking, and you have lots and lots to say even though we can't understand you.  and when you are unhappy you make it very clear what you want, which is also new.  you love music and dancing and anything that bowie is doing. you love the shape sorter and peg dolls and your favorite thing to do is to take one at a time and relocate it and then go back and do it over and over again until you have moved them all, and then start over again.  you are also learning the skill of "transferring" and you especially like to practice this with the pasta in the sensory table.  you have a special bond with wilfred and he has exceptional patience for you.  you and bowie are starting to play more together and you guys like to play peek a boo and hide in seek in the family room together, it gets the biggest belly laughs out of you.  you guys also like to play with the play kitchen together and the food, you are working hard to sit on your own in the chair at the kids table. 

you are extremely affectionate.  when you are playing you will come over to dad or i, give us a "snug" and then go back to whatever you were doing.  it's like you are checking in or letting us know you care.  you don't do it because you are scared or unsure, but you do it out of love and closeness.  it's one of the sweetest things and i hope you don't stop.  you also give kisses and it melts my heart.  you will lean in and make the "mmmmm" kissy sound and go in for a wet one.  you adore your daddy and literally scream "DA DA" for him all the time. 

you amaze us everyday and make us laugh.  you are love, light and magic!

milestones:

~24 month size clothes, some 2t shirts
~size 5 diapers
~2 new teeth (on either side of his two bottom teeth) 8 teeth total
~approximately 30 pounds
~blonde hair, brown eyes
~walking and standing up on his own
~loves to dance
~getting pickier with food
~naps in morning and afternoon, but afternoon naps can be flexible and sometimes you just play in your crib
~bedtime around 7:30pm, wake up around 7am
~loves the song "baby shark" and when sister sings
~gives high fives, points, plays peek a boo, waves and blows kisses
~great climber
~loves "stuffies" just like bowie
~does not like socks
~says "dada" "mama" "bow bow" "uh oh" and what sounds like "grandma".  he is working on talking a lot and has lots of conversations and loves to hear himself babble
~does not like the gate closed in the family room
~likes the swing and the slide at the park
~likes books

bounce house birthday party!

3.5 years old!!!

bowie rae you are officially three and a half years old!!!  lately, i have been looking at your face and your cheeks are thinning out, your features are shinning through and your expressions are hilarious.  i'd be lying if i said three is all sunshine and rainbows, it is also filled with power struggles, lots of negotiations, bribes and big emotions.  but we are still learning and growing together as a family.  you are curious, intelligent, kind, caring, sweet, funny and beautiful inside and out! 

you have completed your first month of preschool and i think we made the right choice for you!  you are bringing home so much art work, recognizing letters, becoming more confident in social skills and making friends, and i am noticing your vocabulary and thoughts are becoming more mature and complex.  you love to play, whether it be at the park, an activity bin or independent play with your dolls or magnet tiles. 

you are compassionate and empathetic.  as i am writing this, you came up to me and started to rub my back.  when you know someone is sick or sad you like to give hugs and check in on them.  you love animals, and are building a strong bond with your brother.  it can be hard to share with him, but you guys have been playing more and more.  my favorite thing to do is when i drive you to school and ryder is blabbering and you ask me "what is he saying?"  and i pretend to interpret to you.  it goes something like this:

bowie: "mom what is he saying?"
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says make sure you go potty at school and make a new friend today."
bowie: "otay ryder, i will."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says he will miss you and he wants a big hug when you get home."
bowie: "otay ryder, i will miss you too and give you a hug when i see you."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says he loves you."
bowie: "i love you too ryder."
ryder: blabber blabber blabber
mom: "bowie, he says you are the best big sister."
bowie: "i am!"

you are so sweet and kind to your younger cousins.  you can be shy around strangers, but there is no denying how much you love your family.  you gave up naps this summer, but it does make bed time a little easier and earlier.  you are a picky eater.  your normal favorites are "noonies" (some sort of pasta), fruit and cheese, but even those have been striking out lately.  you love to sing and dance and your current character obsession is paw patrol.  you are a head taller than most kids your age.  you probably loved swim class the best out of all the classes/activities you have done. 

we love you so much and you will always be my best girl!  keep spreading your light!

stats:

~5T clothes, but can wear some 6/6x
~size 10 shoes (went from size 8 to 10 this summer!)
~approximately 45 pounds
~golden light brown hair
~dark hazel/light brown eyes
~very very tall!!!
~no naps, bedtime around 7:30pm wake up around 7am
~potty trained around 3 years old but pull ups at night

beep beep!