My baby is one!

It's a bitter sweet day. You are so happy that your baby is healthy, growing, happy and having their first birthday. But on the other hand, it feels like he's a toddler now, and not my baby. I still want him to be sleepy, snuggly and still. He is busy, loud and trouble.. but somehow I love him more everyday! He really is so sweet and had a great first birthday!

 Farm animal theme cake and cupcakes, courtesy of my talented cousin. 

 Loving the present opening experience. Thank you to all the family and friends that were so generous.

 Listening to Dad's pep talk about what to do with this cake eating business. 

 Carter is the best motivator when it comes to causing trouble!

 And he completely went after it.. no reserve. 

 4 generation picture from Rick's side. 

 4 generation pict from my side. 

The secret envelope Ryker can not open until his 15th birthday.. go ahead and make your guesses. The anticipation is killing me, and I might just have to open it before Ryker is old enough to even know what's going on. 

January was a record month of snowy weather. I seriously want to move. I'm so ready for spring, flowers, warmth, sunshine, clean air, healthy students, healthy people in general! Luckily we were able to squeeze in a little fun in January:

Ryker and the baby boy gang got together for lunch and toy sharing 101:

I love getting these boys together! They are all almost exactly one month apart. So fun to see them grow up together! Pictured from oldest to youngest: Rhett, Ryker, Rydge (who was the only one who would actually hold still and smile!) and Grayson. Everyone had to have something in their mouth to keep them occupied.

And the darling mothers who chase these busy boys day after day. We're smiling because they are all holding still :)

My baby turned 10 months and somehow grew up over night on me. He is so busy right now. He crawls faster than a spider monkey, and stands up and walks around everything. He gets into every drawer, every cupboard, emptys out anything possible. I honestly put my dresser back together every morning. All 4 bottom drawers torn to pieces on the floor! And every morning I ask myself why I even bother to pick it up.. ahh.. such a cute boy!

Hope you are surviving the winter!

Happy Holidays to You!

It was a great Holiday Season at the White house! We managed to keep Ryker away from the tree and all ornaments are still intact. A feat in itself!

 Rick did a fabulous job on our lights again this year. It's a show stopper for sure! It's so beautiful when they are all turned on. I wish we could leave them up all year. And considering how burried they are in icy snow right now, they just might be up for awhile...

We braved a snow storm and went to Temple Square one evening with the neighbors. These lights got nuthin on the White Family Show...pshhh..

  Ryker was a champ in the bundle-me we borrowed for our stroller (Thanks Bushmans!!)

 I enjoyed not having to get up and showered and going for work- so we stayed in our pajamas a little extra longer and bounced in the Johnny-jump up til our hearts content! Sometimes an hour...

 Went to way too many family parties that got us home late and poor Ryker babe is starting to fall asleep in his carseat for the night more often than in his bed. I'm looking forward to getting back on a routine. 

 Some more jumping...

 More late night car rides..

And finally it was Christmas!!!

More Christmas morning pictures coming from Rick's phone soon... here... 

A nice four second video before the camera battery died... dang it!! But he really is super happy about his rocking horse in case you don't catch that in these four seconds...

 We went to Bear Lake for New Year's for a few days, and enjoyed some time with the Nehmer fam. Bear Lake was a record cold, and these pictures show the 20 minutes Ryker went outside all weekend. 

 This is truly the son of Rick White- he wants to be outside, rain or shine...even if his mother dresses him up like Ralphy ("can't put my arms down!!")

 I stood outside for a few minutes, long enough to get a family picture. It was the kind of cold that hurts to the bone.

 My brothers are so patient with our little busy body.

 Day 2- more sledding. Even a ride on the 4 wheeler. Didn't catch that one on camera. 

Some old ole fashioned phase 10. Kelsey loves cards. SO much. This is her "I'm enjoying it" face Jordy just happened to capture at the right moment. She really is more into jigsaw puzzles than cards. But at least her 5 strand braid looks wonderful -that she learned on you tube and did on all us girls (see Leslie's braid in the background- also a 5 strand you tube miracle).

 Thanks to Leslie and the handicrafts of China, we had awesome Paper Lanterns to light on fire and let off.. I was skeptical I admit, but here it is... actually launching. Even Jared is watching in amazement.

 For the record, that's the cold clouds my camera caught.. not smoke from the lantern. It was too cold to even let off smoke. These actually flew high and far. Cool!!

Santa Clause came to town

I had an especially busy day at work one day this week. My sweet mom agreed to babysit Ryker all day. I was feeling bummed that I had to be away and busy all day, and feeling bad to impose on my  mom. I sent Ryker to Grandma's in an ugly sweatshirt and sweat pants from Khols, as I figured he wasn't going anywhere special. My super fun mom took him shopping, but him a new outfit, and took him to meet Santa and get his pictures taken. And managed to get this all done between morning nad afternoon nap- way to go! When I picked him up that night I had such a good surprise- darling pictures, new outfit, happy baby! I just love this boy! And I have to brag, because the photo people said he was one easy, happy baby to photograph. 

 Going for a ride...

 Giving him a present gets this face...

 taking a present away gets this face....

 Love that you can see his two bottom teeth!

Seriously... have you ever seen a baby so happy to go to a stranger in a white beard?! I love that they crop them all to avoid Santa's face. That way you don't have a creepy man in  your picture, and it's more about the child. 

"Thanks again Grandma Jen for being a fun grammy and taking me to get my pictures. We had a fun day, and mom loved the surprise!"

Merry Christmas everyone! 

From, Ryker

Winter is coming... though Santa may not ;(

It started like this: a beautiful snow storm that dumped over a foot at our house. It snowed all weekend. It was great fun. Ryker loved it. I was loving it...

 Then in one of my many trips from South Jordan to Farmington that fateful Sunday... ended like this:

Arg!! It was sunny and beautiful in South Jordan, so I set out for church in Farmington. Only to hit a crazy blizzard in North Salt Lake. I promise I slowed down... there were people going faster than me Rick! But nonetheless, I lost control, skidded all over the freeway, and finally slammed into the cement barrier. Ryker screamed. I cried. I felt like a horrible mom. Thank you to the Highway Patrol Officer that got me turned around and out of oncoming traffic.

Now I just await the bad news of the total $. Bumper gone, wheel well bent, suspension off, light gone, cords dangling. It's all adding up to Santa telling me I get no presents! Ahhh... Happy Winter.

A month of Firsts

October was a month of many firsts for Ryker:

 First Bath in the sink... Rick's idea, and quite a good one! It's the perfect size for him to sit up and  have enough water to keep him warm.  And despite this sinister looking face, he is quite a sweet boy!

 First time playing in the snow... don't mind the miss-match outfit.. this is about the experience!!

 First crush...... Ah... which girlfriend shall I choose?

 First piano concert....

where most of the melody was carried by Jared (who has quite the ear for any song, self taught mozart here!)

 First spoon fed lunch at the babysitter's...

 In which he did NOT 

appreciate the flavor I chose!!  Sorry Jen, the presentation was great. Bad choosing on my part. Great picture taking on your part!

 First Halloween...... A costume party at Grandma's. We won the most original!

First time playing in the leaves... who wouldn't have fun with a chubby puppy boy like this!

Fall Favorites

I honestly wish I had the life of a seven month old! 

Three meals a day, spoon fed in the high chair. Mess on your clothes, sure. Spill on the floor, no problem. Feel like banging your hands on the tray with wild screeching, in pure happiness- Go for it buddy!! You make me smile!

 Some play time in the Johnny jump up, which includes happy chatters with Mr. Oreck. 

A leisurely walk in the stroller to the mailbox,

 followed by eating the mail key while we sit on the porch swing and watch for Daddy to come home (poor buddy did get his first official Farmington Mosquito bite the size of a marble right between the eyes.. welcome to the swamp my boy).

A bath with toys, two people smiling and watching me, and not a care in the world.