Drums, Basketball, Mike(s), Swimming, and Garden!!!

DRUMS!!!

We go to basketball games to watch uncle Mike. Ryan goes to basketball games to play the drums! The South Sioux band was so nice to Ryan and cousin Addison. They let them play the drums at home games. Friends of Papa Tom and Grandma Vicki would see them playing the drums and thought the kids needed a drum set!!! Tom and Vicki ended up with TWO sets of drums...one of these sets came to our house!

Mike Wiltse!!!

I went back to Wayne to help mom at the greenhouse for Valentine's day. We had a babysitter for Ryan. I was also able to spend sometime with my brother, Mike, and a few of his friends at a "beach" party in the middle of February.

Mike Gesell!!!!

The state basketball tourney was in March. South Sioux City lost in the final game but had a great season. We still have plenty of basketball to watch since Uncle Mike G. will be playing for Iowa next year! Ryan had a lucky mohawk and looked so cute in his basketball gear!

SWIMMING!!!!

Ryan started swimming lessons this month. He LOVES swimming.

Garden!!!!

We just planted our (my) 1st garden! Ryan helped me with the final load of soil yesterday. I told him we needed to go to Lowes to get more dirt. On the car ride to Lowes he kept saying "more dirt"!!! I planted the garden during his nap time. We have an herb garden and in our raised bed we have: broccoli, onion, eggplant, peas, green beens, radishes, carrots, lettuce, spinach, asparagus, and soon we will plant our tomatoes and peppers.

Ryan's 18 month check up

Ryan recently had his 18 month doctor's appointment.

He is now 22 lbs and 31 and 3/4 inches long. This puts him in the 25th percentile for both height and weight. Still a little guy.

After the nurse took his head measurement he said "thank you" !!!

While we waited for the doctor, with Ryan in only his diaper, he kept trying to open the door to go SWIMMING. I don't blame him for being confused since we did go swimming at the YMCA just the day before.

After the doctor finished her examine he thanked her too.

I say this to Tim at least 10 times a day (to myself I say it more:)...Ryan is SOOO cute! Ryan is SOOO sweet! Ryan is SOOO funny! Ryan is SOOOO smart!

We thank God everyday (multiple times) for Ryan! We love him so much!

New Years

After Christmas we headed to Phoenix, AZ for a basketball tournament.

Ryan is well traveled!!! We hope our next trip will be back to Murray, KY to visit friends!

South Sioux City played well against the BIG schools. We were able to visit with Don, Renee and DV Cunningham. I lived with them while completing my internship in Phoenix YEARS ago! It was great to see them. I just wish we would have had more time.

New Years Eve was a lot of fun. We went to The Block Party in Tempe, AZ. It was a great way to welcome 2012 after ending 2011 a little "rough" :)

Christmas pictures

We had a great time with family and friends over Christmas and New Years.

Ryan was not afraid of Santa AT ALL. You'll see in the picture he could not take his eyes off of him!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011 has been a busy year.

We started the year in Murray, KY. We never thought we would end the year back in Nebraska! But here we are...and even though we miss our friends in Murray, we are so happy to be close to family and friends in Nebraska. We have been able to see uncle Mike Gesell play basketball, Ryan gets to play with cousin Addison and uncle Mike Wiltse has been able to stay at our house a few times when he is working near Lincoln. The grandparents love getting to see Ryan (and us:) more often. Grandma Lou has been down to visit many times and now that it is basketball season we are seeing Grandma Vicki and Papa Tom almost every weekend!

Tim has been very busy with work. He started his new job on May 24, 2011. He really enjoys working at Lincoln Industries. It is a great company!

Work keeps him busy but he still finds time to play basketball! He plays on a "Y" league, a Lincoln City league and a 3 on 3 league. So far he has been on the championship winning team in 2 leagues (he is very proud of this:).

We are thankful he has a job that he loves and that allows me to stay at home with Ryan!

Since moving to Lincoln Ryan and I have been very busy!

We moved into our house in August. So we have been organizing and cleaning...re-organizing and cleaning again.

Ryan loves Story Time at the Library which we attend a couple of times a week. We have a YMCA membership (which is across the street from the library) so I try to make myself workout a few times a week. Ryan loves going to the nursery and playing with the other kids so that helps motivate me.

Ryan also loves his Kindermusik class which we attend on Friday mornings.

Recently I started attending a women's bible study group and a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group. Childcare is provided for both so it's another opportunity for Ryan to play with other kids his age.

Starting in January Ryan will be taking a "float for life" swimming class at the YMCA. In March, we will take "Toddler Team Up" classes at the Lincoln Children's museum. Tim's work will pay for all but $50 for a year membership to the Lincoln Children's Zoo and the Children's museum so we will remain busy!

I have been able to continue teaching Body Pump. I let the church we attend know I was available to volunteer (with things that could be done with a toddler/ at home) so they have been giving me odd jobs to do mostly at home.

We are thankful for all of God's blessings in 2011 and look forward to all that He will bring in 2012.

As 2012 approaches I remember...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Merry Christmas!

WE ARE THANKFUL!!!

Ryan is growing, changing and very busy. He makes everyday exciting and new! We are so thankful we have a happy, heathy and super smart baby boy!!!

He is almost 16 months old. He is talking a lot. He can make the sounds of many animals too.

Animals sounds: dog, cat, cow, horse, chicken, lamb, bee, snake, lion, owl, etc

Favorite words: NO NO, bye bye, HI, Hello, Yum Yum, ball, help, head, hair, please, thank you, up, down, downstairs, outside, shoes, book, Uh Oh, WOW, help, etc

Some of this favorite people (that he can say the names anyway): Mama (of course!), Dada, Addi, Papa, Mima (grandma Lou), Grandma (grandma Vicki), Mike (Mike G and W), Dave, Jess, Cha Cha.

His favorite color is Yellow (Yewow), Blue, Green. He is starting to name colors but most of the time when we ask him what color something is it is YEWOW!

He is also starting to put words together. He will say Bye Bye (insert name).

He loves to dance, stomp his feet, clap his hands, spin in a circle, read books,story time at the library, kindermusik, and play with the neighbor boys.

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