I'm still here!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! My holiday weekend started on Wednesday, I went and saw New Moon with some girls I work with and then Ray and I came home and baked sugar cookies for us to take to Thanksgiving dinner. We spent our Thanksgiving at Alvin's Aunt Linda and Rory's house like we do every year. Its always alot of fun, until Ray decides he wants to cry and I mean unstoppable crying! He did really good for awhile then he just lost it. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I think he was tired and wasn't feeling all that great. We ended up leaving earlier than we wanted. He feel asleep pretty much right after we left. All the food and company was good and I really cant believe it was Ray's 2ND Thanksgiving, that blows my mind. I don't have any pictures from Thanksgiving day but here are some of Ray making cookies...



Friday I took Ray to have his hair cut. He really needed it, it was hanging over his ears and I couldn't stand it any more. I took him to Cookie Cutters again and he didn't do as good as last time, but she got the job done. There are a few spots I'm not that happy with, but I know how hard it is to work on moving/crying children, so its good enough for me.
Then Saturday, I really don't want to get started on it but I will. I was ready to throw in my mommy towel! I love Ray lots but he really pushed my buttons. I should have known with the way the morning was going that swim lessons was going to be a night mere, but I went any way. Needless to say, we left early!!! It started off not to bad, but he saw some bar bell on the side of the pool and he wanted it. I kept telling him "its not ours" but he cryed and cryed so the teacher said he could use it, well he didn't want to use it the way she told him to, so he got mad about that, then I thought "well I will just do my own thing with him" oh no, I couldn't even move him away from my body with out him crying. So I told the teacher we were leaving. I was so embarrassed and wanted to cry. Then of course we usually have the locker room to ourselves, but this time there were 3 other people in there on a day Ray has a melt down! I have not made up my mind if I will go back, it was that bad!! I took him home and put him down for a nap! We both needed that, and I think the terrible 2 thing is really hitting hard!
Alvin got home and finished putting up the outside Christmas lights. Then we went and got our Christmas tree. We got a real one this year. I can never remember my family getting a real one so I wanted to try it. Its up and decorated, I know I need to water it but trimming it I'm not so sure about. So far I'm happy with it.
Checking out his stocking, and sitting on a pampers box...his stocking is a dog and his ears move up and down, its really cute.

In front of the tree...

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...

I am noticing that in all but 1 of these pictures he either has his shirt or pants off, I swear the kid really wears clothes.
Bye for now!!

Meeting!

Ray and Alvin got to meet Dylan on Monday night! Ray calls him "D". He really seemed to like him and he was very concerned when Dylan would cry. Here's a few shots of them...
I think this one is cute (I wish it weren't blurry) it looks like he's telling him "its alright, it will be OK" or "stop crying, your being to loud"

Helping Daddy...

Taking a good look...

Then Mike and Rachel asked if they could borrow the swing we had for Ray. So we got to go over there again on Wednesday night. I cant believe Ray was once smaller than him! That swing worked wonders for us and I just hope it can help them.

We really haven't been up to much this week. Grandma and Grandpa have been out of town so Ray has spent the last week and a half over at his Aunt Dawn's house. I really don't think he minded. He seems to really like to go over there and I am so grateful that I have somewhere to take Ray at times like these, rather than me taking off work.
Tomorrow we have swim lessons and after last Saturday, I'm ready to QUIT!!!! He is awful at them. He doesn't want to blow his bubble's or kick his legs, or doing anything other than whine and cry! So I am hoping tomorrow will be better. I'm sure all the other parents would appreciate a non whiny child in the class (so would I).

Here are just a couple other shots I took that I like...
We have been letting Grandma and Grandpa's dogs out at night so we gave him his bath in their "big" bathtub...


GO COLTS!!!

The holiday's a approaching fast, I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving.
Bye for now!!!

He's here!!!

Introducing....Dylan Michael!!
He was born this morning at 8:00, weighing in at 8lbs 11oz and 22 inches long! He came a day earlier than expected, I guess he didn't want to be born on Friday the 13Th! Congrats to Mike and Rachel! He is absolutely perfect!!!!!!


Bye for now!!!

Happy 1st Birthday!

To my future daughter-in-law Kayla! It was on Friday night so Ray and I went to help celebrate the happy day. I work with her mommy Holly. Holly and I joke that we are going to arrange their marriage. She is so cute...

Ray gave her a flower, I wish I had gotten a better picture..

Hey can I have some?

You might remember a picture like this..it was taken at Ray's 1st birthday party. They both have grown up ALOT!!!!

It was a nice party and Ray got to spend some time with lots of kids!

What a WONDERFUL weekend! The weather was grrrrrreat! We played outside and opened up the house, I love being able to open the house up. Here's some pictures of the weekend.
Look at that hair...

"Hi Mommy"....

Remember a few posts back that I said Ray loved playing in the leaves...playing with them yes, sitting in them, not so much...


"Cheese"...that's what he is saying in this picture.

Swimming lessons didn't go over so well this week! The teacher had them put on life vests, he didn't mind at 1st, but boy was he ready to get that thing off. He cryed and didn't want to do anything!
I just have to share a very "proud" moment we had on Saturday. Alvin, Ray and I went to Sam's Club and we ran into Alvin's Uncle Simon. Simon reached out to shake Rays hand and Ray shook it!! Instead of cowering away like he normally does. I was so so proud! Just had to share!
We are going to have a new addition to the family this week!!! Mike and Rachel are scheduled to have baby Dylan on Friday the 13Th! I cant wait!!!!
Bye for now!!!

My little Vampire!

I hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween!!
We had a good one. Ray's costume turned out pretty cute. I wanted his face to be white but it didnt stay that way for long. I took mascara and darkend his eyebrows. I tried making his hair come to a point but it never stayed there so I ended up spiking it, I think I liked it better that way.
He did really good with the whole "trick or treat" thing. We went over to his Aunt Dawn and Uncle Steve's house so that his cousins Jess and Brandon could show him how to do it, he did it just like them, wasnt scared or anything. Jess was a big help with him, she took his hand and made sure he got his candy. I'm sure the last thing on her list was to help her little cousin trick or treat! We went to a few houses with them and then we called it quits, but did go to a few of or neighbores.
I think this first picture he looks a little like Goldie Locks with the hood on, but it was cold!!!




How cute is this pictures, its Alvin in his old man mask, I think its creepy, but Ray didnt seem to mind!

The witch, the vampire and the ninja..

Swim lessions went really good, I loved it cause I was getting all kinds of hugs from him cause he was so excited. He is in the class with 2 little girls that are both older than he is. He blew his bubbles on his own but when the teacher asked him to blow them, he of course didnt. Kicking was the same. I think he thinks its play time. This is Ray waiting for his turn in the pool...

Ray and Daddy in their hats....like father like son!


Bye for now!!!!

Pumpkin Carving and More...

1st off this is what my thieves left that morning...

Lovely isn't it? I guess I should be happy that my van was still in the drive way!

Anyway back to the real reason of this post. We have been enjoying the mild temperatures, so we had a little "cook out" Monday night and we played in the leaves we have in our back yard, (you can count the leaves back there) I wish my parents or Alvin's mom and dad lived in there old houses, cause Ray would have had so so much fun with all those leaves!



Then tonight we carved our pumpkin, Ray didn't do much to help us but he liked it after..



See the gift Ray gave to Gabrielle, its a beanie baby that looks just like her. He just took it over to her and placed it right there and she kept it there for quite awhile. He really loves her, to bad the feeling isn't mutual...she does pretty good with him, he really has to continue to bother her before she will hiss at him and that breaks his heart!


Ray and I went over to my sister-in-laws house today to get a few things finished up before baby Dylan comes! We went to Babies R us to get a few things she needed and I had to get some things also. I offered to take her walking around the mall so she would go into labor LOL. It was fun to see the nursery set up and help her with some things. I hope I made a few things a little easier for her. She is 38 weeks so he can come anytime now, he's fully cooked and her house is ready, and I want to meet the little guy!
My next post will be about Halloween, he's going to be a Vampire this year. Ray also starts swim lessons this Saturday. I think he will have alot of fun this year. He was only 8 months old when we did it last time, so I think he will be alot better at it! He's got a busy weekend ahead, I for see lots of pictures!
Have a great Halloween!!
Bye for now!!!

Pumkin Patch

We had a great and very short visit with my sister and her family! They got here around 1:00 Saturday and left about 4:00 Sunday! But we had a great time. Saturday night my brother, his girlfriend and my nephew Zach came over. Ray had so so much fun with his cousins, they ran around the house like they were outside, wrestled and just had to much fun! Then on Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch, I was glad we got there right when it opened cause when we left, the line was crazy to go on the hay ride. We picked a green pumpkin! I think its pretty neat. We will get an orange one to go with it!
Here's some pictures of the weekend..
Well not this one, it was taken this time last year.

This year...He's changed a little don't cha' think?

Ray and his cousins..

Him and Kayla, I love this picture!

A very requested (by my mom and dad) picture of the 4 out of 5 grand kids, we missed you Kaden!!!

I just had to post this one, it is very normal for Kayla to act crazy, I just think she is way to funny! This will be picture we look at in 20 years and just laugh about!

We have had alot of things happen to us this past week, 1st we replaced our fireplace. That was a MESS!!! What was supposed to be a fairly easy job turned out to be very difficult for Alvin, his dad and brother Steven! It went in fine but they couldn't get the chimney connected and you know that is kinda important, for smoke reasons and for Santa in a couple of months! But by Thursday night they got the job done.
Beginning of the job, I was getting a little worried...

I told Alvin I was nervous, but that I had complete faith in him that he would get the job done and look he did..

So "Thank you" Steve and Dad, for all the hard work and taking time out of your own projects to help him! Thanks to mom and Dawn and kids for coming over and keeping me company!
Then Friday night I get a call from our bank trying to verify a five HUNDRED and something dollar charge to Western Union on Alvin's card! I called Alvin and asked him if he had done that, and he hadn't so in other words "some (excuse me) Jack ASS stole his credit card #" So they stopped the card. No harm was done because the bank declined the charge, but Alvin has no way of getting money or pay for anything until he gets a new card in 5 to 7 days!
Then on Sunday night/Monday morning some (excuse me)JACK ASS tried to steal my van! I had put $4.00 in my console on Sunday (it was not in sight) and I had told Alvin to get in Monday morning (bc he didn't have any money) he came back in the house and said it wasn't there. I thought "some kids went snooping and found it" I was upset but it was only 4 dollars, (my car us out side because of the mess from the fireplace) Well I took Ray out and snapped him in the car seat and then reached over to start the car and noticed copper wires hanging out of my ignition. I went over and got my neighbor that is on the police department and he helped me. My car has a security feature (I think all newer cars have it now) that wont let the car start if it is being "hot wired" so they didn't get it. But we had to have it towed to Alvin's work, I am in a rental car now and its going to cost us our deductible. All I can say is I hope the people enjoyed their (excuse me, MY) 4 dollars!
I hope that is all the bad luck we have for awhile! I hope every one is having a better start to the week than we are!
Bye for now!!!