Some Random shots in Febrary

Riding in the play shopping cart! He is NOT for sale though!

We have SOLAR! Yeah! And didn't pay a penny for it.  It doesn't technically belong to us...but if it saves us money...it is worth it to me!

Somebody made himself a popsicle...and a large one at that.

 Cooper is such a helper...and Ryder doesn't care who feeds him..he just wants food!

 Cooper is his Daddy's son!  He has to "fix" his car too.

 Cooper loves his book from Grandma and Grandpa.  He loves that they read the story to him.

 I thought this was sooo cute.

 Hmm I think Ryder is a little too young for wrestling Cooper. Poor Ryder.

Some little things about Ryder this month..at 9 months:

*We figured out that Ryder's feet turn quite a bit.  When he crawls they turn all the way in. Not sure how this will affect his walking future. Time will tell. The doctor said it should straighten up once he is walking.

*Loves toys

*Loves food

*Loves mommy and daddy

*Sleeps in his own room

*Eats everything still...good and the bad.

*He isn't skinny, he isn't fat...he is just right.  

*His hair is really starting to grow

*He is very happy and smiley.  

*He take one good nap a day...mommy loves nap time.

Daddy Daughter Dance!

Eric took Brooklyn to her 1st Daddy Daughter Dance.

She LOVED it!!!! 

She was so excited to get all dressed up!

She even asked our neighbor girl to come over and do her hair.

Daddy did her finger nails, since he is becoming an expert on them. 

I was so excited for Brooklyn to experience this with her dad. I have very fond memories of going to these dances and activities with my dad or sometimes substitutes if he was out of town. I loved them and I was so excited that a couple puts one on for our county. 

 So grown up!

 I made that wristlet...I must say...it turned out cute and didn't fall apart!
AND look at those nails...good job daddy!

 Dinner before the dance...Jon and Layla went with them to the dance.
At Renee's in Lakeport.

 Beautiful Young Ladies!

Their picture from the dance.

Britney doing Brooklyn's nails...she was so sweet and helped get her all dolled up!

Brooklyn can't wait until next year!
She loved dancing with her daddy...especially when he taught her how to swing dance.

WICKED AWESOME!!!!

Valentine's Date in the City to see WICKED!

I have always always wanted to see WICKED!  They played in San Fran for years, and I always wished we had gone while they were there.  So... when I saw the commercial for their 4 week homecoming...I had to go. I immediately found tickets...but most were already sold out...so I asked Eric if he would take the day off work to take me. And he was so sweet and said he would.  We went on Feb 13th...so we celebrated Valentines one day early.  It as a perfect day!  It was so nice to be together without any cares...just us being together!

View over over Golden Gate Bridge!

The Stage was incredible...I actually got in trouble for taking this picture. No pictures of the stage, I guess.

 My HOT Date! He isn't a "Play" guy...but I have heard anyone likes this play. And he did!

 After the AMAZING Show...we headed to Tommy's.  Eric saw this restaurant on Man vs Food...so we had to check it out.  Eric loved his sandwich...mine had a little too much fat. But it was a good place to eat.

 And then we couldn't go to the city without getting Ghirardelli's Ice Cream!

Before we headed to the city...Eric had a surprise for me...he did my nails.  He knows I like getting my nails done, so he actually googled how to do it and bought all the stuff. He had it all ready and did a full manicure. It was so sweet...I  loved how thoughtful it was. A great gift from my love!

PERFECT VALENTINES DAY WITH MY LOVE!

Funny Smart Little Boy

Cooper cracks me up.  He is one smart little boy. One day I caught him doing this...now if only we could trust him to do Ryder's.  

Scout Hike!

Eric went with Easton for his first Scout hike. 

They hiked Mt. St Helena...beautiful view of the Napa Valley.  

They had a great time.  

Scouts has began..I remember scouts with all  my brothers...

it seemed like a lot of time and work. Easton likes it!

Ryder 8 months old

A few things I wrote down at 8 months:

*Loves to pinch..ouch is right!

*Loves to bite...ouch again!

*He has 2 teeth on the bottom

*Love to make raspberries and spit.

Eats everything..yeah..except when it isn't food. I have never had a baby who puts EVERYTHING in his mouth...And I mean anything he can pick up...it goes into his mouth.  I have to watch him like a hawk.

*Stands up at the rail to the kitchen and just waits for us to open the gate for him. He doesn't like the baby gate.

*Loves toys!

*Loves sitting with daddy while he watches TV (opposite of Cooper)

*Says "dadda"

*Loves to play and loves to be tickled.

Ryder got a boo-boo...poor baby.  Cooper gave him a kiss to make him feel better...such a nice brother.

 He is a climber...he loves the stairs.

 My happy boy!

 He loves this jumperoo...fun times while mommy cooks or cleans the kitchen. Look at that tongue twisting action!

Cooper's Fall

Monday, January 28th wasn't a happy day for any of us..but especially Cooper.  Brooklyn took Cooper outside with her and he decided to jump off the top of the rock waterfall into the lower pond...well he hit his head right on the edge of the rock slabs that stick out. (The guy who built this house did NOT have little kids...definitely not child proof..lots of dangers.) Brooklyn and Easton yell and carry him to the deck. I come out running and see lots of blood.  I had the kids run over to get my neighbor to help and I called Eric. He came home and we went to the Lakeport hospital..well it was flu season and waited for over an hour and didn't get called back and they said it would be a couple of hours before he is treated.  We finally decided to leave and go to St. Helena Hospital because we called them and they had no wait.  So Eric dropped me off at home and took Cooper by himself.  He got there, walked in, walked straight back, they glued his head and they were out of the hospital in 30 minutes.  No one was there.  (Later...I know why...I'll explain that at the end*). I would have liked stitches but the doctor said glue was better for this type of injury. (well...as we found out later...no it isn't...fast forward to May)

It was really deep as you can tell. Big cut. Poor guy.

 He was so brave.  Didn't throw a fit at all.

 Hey I am glued!

 All done!

 Time for ice cream!

Well the glue didn't stay. I was concerned it wouldn't heal right but I called the hospital and they said I could bring him back and they can glue it again but I would pay another ER visit.  I talked to my brother who is an ER doctor and he said to let it heal. So we did.

 Healing...slowly but surely.

 This picture almost makes me cry. This was the day before he fell.  He is so cute with a perfect forehead.  Sniff, Sniff. Now he is a cute kid with a scar!

*So the hospital had no wait...the other hospitals were full of flu sick patients.  Hmmm interesting...well now I know why...we got the bill and they billed his 30 minutes ER visit at a level 3 for $2800. What? Crazy? No stitches...that is for glue.  I called...they said it is what they charge because they are in the "Napa" Valley and it is more expensive to have a hospital there. I asked them to review the file to see why it is level 3. Stitches is usually level 2.  And this was glue!  She called me back finally in September and said the ER looked over the case and said it was RIGHT and there was NOTHING they could do to adjust it. I asked her to send me the ER papers and she said she would. Well she never did. I called a month later and a new lady was doing that job. She looked over the case and said the ER HAD changed it to level 2 for us and it took off $1,000 BUT said it was never processed. So she processed the change and the insurance and myself would get a refund for the difference.  I was totally shocked...this is NOT what the lady told him the first time she called me back.  I think she was being dishonest and didn't want to tell me they adjusted it and didn't process the change.  I was pretty mad but glad I called and talked to the new lady...I was proud of myself...It took a long time, many phone calls but I got it reduced to where I felt was more reasonable.  I did learn a valuable lesson...never go to any doctor in Napa Valley.  I will drive the extra 15 minutes and go to Santa Rosa. They won't get my money again.  Lesson learned!

By the way I am writing this in October...way late..that is why I am telling you what happens months later but posting the date for January. I like to keep the events in order and around the time they take place.

He knows better...little sneak!

Look what I found him doing...little sneak...he knows not to touch Mommy's camera...

at least he put the strap over his head.

Girls Day Out!

Brooklyn and I had a girls day out!  We went shopping for her new dress to wear to the daddy daughter dance next month.  We went to her favorite place to eat "Freshy Freshy" (Fresh Choice) and then went to Costco. After Costco we had time to go to some Go-Cart Racing. Brooklyn was less then a inch too short to drive one...so lamo. So she had fun with me while I drove like a crazy lady.  It was a great day with my big girl!