2016: Epic

This year is one for the ages.  Quite likely our best yet by many measures.

This is our white board in our bedroom that displays the goals for the year

Accomplishments:

14ers  x3 (Pikes, Bierstadt/Evans for Meg)

 Finished basement 

Installed Solar

Family Mountain Trip

Immediate Family Reunion trip

Puerto Vallarta trip

Portland trip to see Will

Booked and planned (sorta) Vietnam trip with Will
*Meg's "become more articulate"-I'm not quite sure if I have indeed accomplished this but I feel like I can check this off.  It really comes down to being more brave and speaking my mind on things.  I have done this both personally and professionally and it's felt good!

Kids are great, cute, growing and developing into awesome beings, Meg and I are better than ever, our jobs are going splendidly well, and we have lots to look forward to.

Cheers!

-R&M

Rykee Boy Turns 5!

 It's crazy looking back at pictures of Ryker from this year.  He has changed so much, yet some things haven't changed at all.  His hair though.  Man, I sure miss his longer hair!  It definitely has changed his look.  This little dude loves cuddles, us playing with him, legos, cuddles (did I say that already?), his grandparents, and shows.  I'm sure he loves more but I can't think of what at the time.

One more semester of daycare and then he is off to kindergarten.  That seems crazy to me, because on one hand I think he is ready and then on the other hand this cuddly wuddly small kid voice dude doesn't seem like it is time yet.  I'm excited for him to make the jump though.  Similar to A.J. I'm ready for Ryker to have his own thing.  His own grade.  His own interests.  His own school stories.  His own friends!  And play-dates! 

Lately we have had a tremendous amount of success with taking away his nap time, in regards to him going to bed so much better at night.  THANK GOODNESS.   That is Ryker Man always teetering on being a toddler vs. little big dude.  And us trying to know what kind of support this dude needs!  In many cases it is supreme love and cuddles.  He isn't one to be pushed too hard because it doesn't work with him.  I still think it is pretty crazy how similar and different A.J. and Ryk are as people.  Sometimes I see myself in Ryk and other times I know that he is completely Russell.  I can relate to just needing to feel the love both verbally and through touch.  Oh Ryks. 




Ryk continues to have the best laugh in the house.  I double dare anyone to try and not laugh after they have heard his laugh.  It's simply the best. 

 Ryk is a great big brother to Dempsey.  They told me this amazing story from daycare a couple of weeks ago.
Ryk:  We didn't get to watch the movie.
Mom:  Why's that?
Ryk:  Well, I was laying on Dempsey.  I thought it was pretty funny.
Dempsey:  Yea you only lay on your brother when you are at home. home. home.

I just had to giggle because they two are completely tight!  I can see them being either cute and cuddly or wrestling, and picking the wrong place at the wrong time.  I wonder about how Dempsey will be without Ryker next year.  I'm sure that will be uber sad for her, but I know both of them will have time to find their true selves without each other during the day.

 Ryker continually wants to climb mountains and rocks!  It makes us so proud!   Next summer I plan to take him to our hiking spot so that he can do the Infamous Fruvellhoff Trek Solo (With Mama) to earn his camelback.  He'll have no problem!

We had a great end of the year/Ryker's birthday party was some dear friends of ours!  A little Transformers, and poppers, and the horrible evil noisemakers, cake, and yummy food, and a lots of laughs!  Here's to another awesome year of Ryker-ness!!!

Love,
Momma

The First Txtmas

We got a new family iPad, entrusted to AJ's care.  We taught him how to Txt message on it earlier today.  Just an hour ago, I received this txt from him, a family first!

 

Christmastime

With Uncle Will!

 

 

 

Parenting win!

 

Snow Squared

Snow squared.  She loves playing in the snow.  Her tolerance for the cold is top notch.

Snow.

 

I Feel Like this...

Our sweet little Ryker man has been have some struggles at bedtime.  He is claiming he is scared.  I believe the little dude. BUT man.  It has been rough lately.  I so appreciate this quiet time at night.  I know, I know I mention this all the time. BUT for reals, it is the only quiet I get in my day.  Sacred.  Anyways....the last few days have gone super well for Ryker. 

This past weekend he did a great job, slept all night, and showed up in the morning feeling like a million bucks.  We did too!  Amazing what sleep can do for everyone.  Russell and I were talking to Ryker about how you have more energy when you get sleep, which translated to him as having more power.  He immediately said, "I feel like....wait a second."  He ran upstairs, grabbed his Target toy ad, ran downstairs, and then found the page.  He pointed here and said, "THIS!  This is what I feel like!!!"

HAH!!  Now is that not perfect, or what?

A freakin' wrestler.  With power.  And energy.

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Do Dat Again!!!

Whenever you tickle Dempsey, she says:  "Do dat again!"

Whenever you toss Dempsey in the air, she says:  "Do dat again!"

Whenever you do anything fun with Dempsey-girl, she always wants to Do Dat Again!

Trust.

This picture represents Ryker in his entirety.  That speck of a person at the very top of this boulder is Ryker.  As we were hiking in the mountains last weekend, Ryker had to climb the rocks, all the rocks.  We came across this big guy (I wish I had a better perspective shot...but I'll explain why I didn't get it later) Ryker exclaimed, "THAT IS THE BIGGEST ROCK I HAVE EVER SEEN."  Followed by...."CAN I CLIMB IT?"  Who the heck says no????  I mean most of me wanted to say, "Ryker, no Dude.  That is an awesomely huge rock and you can't get up, which means you shouldn't be climbing it.  It isn't safe.  What if you fall?  You could get killed!"  The list goes on and on and on and on.  But instead I said, "yes!"  Which by the way...there have been times recently where I will say yes to something crazy that Ryker says and then he replies with a, "WHOAH.  Mom.  I didn't think you were going to say Yes!"  Me either Ryker.

Anyways, I propped him up onto the boulder and watched in horror delight as he made his way up to the very top.  I wanted so badly to run far away and snap a picture to show the perspective.  BUT damnit if I wasn't going to try and stay close enough so that if when he came tumbling down, I could catch him.  So I settled for this photo of his little chipmunk head sticking out.  His grandparents watched and I was really wondering if they were questioning my parenting abilities, and I couldn't blame them because I was too.  Ryk made his way down to me, partially sliding on needles that had fallen from the trees.  I was pretty relieved when his little big feet touched the ground.  He said immediately, "I can't believe I climbed that WHOLE rock."  You could hear his pride, and I felt it too.  He went racing off to tell the others of his wicked feat that he had accomplished.  When I reached Russell I went to tell him how awesome it was and how far Ryk had climbed, but Ryk had already beat me to it.  The dude was so proud of himself.

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Thanksgiving 2016

We had an excellent visit from Papa Fruhwirth, Granny Barb, Cousin Annie and Cousin Ellie.  So much fun we had!!  Sleep was rough, tempers were hot at times, but the laughter and adventure was so WORTH it.  Here are some pictures of the weekend!

If you ask the boys what their favorite part was of the whole thing it was throwing rocks in the water with their family!  We are definitely living in the right place!!  Thanks for the fun memories this weekend family!

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