Wow, it's been awhile since I last posted. Ryan has eased into the age of 4 with grace. And after 13 months of struggles, we have reached potty success! We had to hit rock bottom to do it, but boy are we proud that he now he "makes good choices" when it comes to going to the bathroom. School is still going well for him and he enjoys his gymnastics class on Monday nights and therapy sessions at Hope's Playground on Tuesdays. Patrick has mastered the arts of running, climbing up and going down the steps, using a fork and spoon, throwing a ball. Soon, it will be his turn to ride the potty train. Despite a health scare with Gizmo over Thanksgiving break, we had a nice time with Dean's parents when they were here. Dean is happy to be back in the Finance Department at Baxter and has enjoyed the success of Packer football and Illini Basketball. As for me, I'm hoping to exercise more and be better about meal planning in 2013 - oh and posting blogs too.
Now for the pictures!
After much complaining, I got a new camera for Christmas. We put that baby to good use before I got to read the instruction manual. So I didn't know how to use the timer setting to get a family picture, but here are the boys and I.
Patrick wasn't that interested in opening gifts, so we let him do his own thing. The funniest part of the morning, he puts the syrup bottle on top of his Radio Flyer cart (you'll see the cart in a photo below) and rushes it into the livingroom. I wish we could've snapped a picture of it - hysterical. Instead I got him putting the syrup away.
Tumor-free Gizmo! It was a good Christmas afterall!
Papa Bernie reading "Polar Bear, Polar Bear what do you Hear" with sound buttons, from Uncle Mark.
Uncle Terry and Aunt Shirley got Ryan a Bear's sweatshirt. Dean was too embarrassed to show his face.
All the toys, noise, and excitement was a bit much for Ryan. Instead, he entertained himself with a James Patterson novel.
Christmas Number 1 was via computer phone with Nana and Papa Dale on Christmas Eve, #2 was with our household on Christmas morning, #3 was Lendman side at Aunt Marcia and Cousin Ava's on the afternoon of Christmas, #4 was with Meemee & Papa Bernie's on New Year's Eve, and #5 was Christensen side at Meemee & Papa's on January 6. The next 2 pictures are from Xmas number 4.
(Patrick with forementioned red cart). Looking sweet beyond cavities in his khaki athletic pants, new sweatshirt and slippers.
Proof that despite there being a gazillion toys, containers are a favorite plaything in our house.
As are balls (see Patrick's hand) and anything with numbers (ie Ryan's cash register)
We got to stop in and see Great-grandma Katie on our way home from Dixon. I took each boy in separately while Dean stayed with the other one and Gizmo. Grandma will be 94 years wise mid-January!
Hoping the rest of 2013 is filled with this kind of brotherly love!
