Celebrating Rylan

4 years ago tonight, there were 8 inches of snow on the ground, and I was in the hospital terrified of what the next few hours would bring, and begging for a Wendy's cheeseburger. Little did I know that the next few hours would bring very little, but the next 26 hours would produce a miracle. We named that miracle Rylan.

I cannot believe I am about the be the mother of a 4 year-old. What an amazing journey we have had so far. Smiles and giggles, jokes and kisses, adventures and stories...every birthday of his, reminds me of all my gifts he's given me as a mom.

Tomorrow morning, I get to wake up my little man singing, "Happy Birthday!" How lucky am I?

The adventures of a boy and his lamb....

Oh Lamby, what a troublemaker you are!

On vacation to the bootheel of Missouri, my oldest suffered quite a trauma...and his lamb (Lamby) had quite the adventure!

Our Thanksgiving trip to the bootheel provided Rylan with every boy's dream. A transporation lover's jackpot!

Not only did Rylan get to visit two different firestations,

check out the flashing lights on nearly every fire truck

(both in service and retired) in town, but he got to see an ambulance,

two tanks, a helicopter, airplanes, countless tracters, a combine, cotton picking machinery,and a train!

Lamby was with him every step of the way.

But the real story hasn't even begun. Oh no. This story involved the police - and lots of them! Rylan got to take an hour drive south into Jonesboro, Arkansas to see "his Jo" (my cousin) at her house and see her police car. Lamby, as always, came along for the adventure. But when it came time to see inside the car, Lamby stayed behind inside the house to get a little rest. (Yes, a young boy's Lamby has a big job and big responsibilities, and surely deserves a rest from time to time - at least in this humble mom's opinion!)

Can you guess what happened next? It's every mom's worst nightmare - and yes, I suppose it was stressful for my son too. Lamby stayed in Jonesboro, Arkansas as we headed back north to Kennett. And her absence was not discovered until dinnertime! Upon this discovery, there was one very sad little boy, "...but Mama, I miss her SOOOO much. I need her!" If your heart doesn't break just a little when you hear this out of your child's mouth, you're either a hardened vet to the parenting thing...or you're just plain mean!

So, sprung forth any and all willing parties: Operation Rescue Lamby!!

Calls were made to neighbors and friends. Calls were made from the police department in Jonesboro. Calls were made from the police department in Kennett. Calls were made all around, spreading like wildfire across the stateline the news of the little boy who was without his Lamby. An ambulance driver heading home from Memphis heard of our sad little story. Crime and public safety...or helping a boy and his Lamb?

All hands worked together. The rendezvous point was set. A seargent covered the desk for his officer to make the drop. The handoff was made, and Lamby was on his way. Two hours and a pizza dinner later, Lamby was safe back in the arms of his sleeping boy who had cried himself to sleep without her.

All I can say is the the reunion of Rylan and his Lamby...was made possible by an entire community. To protect and to serve. And to a little boy (and his mom), they are heros.

Operation Lamby was a success!

Biggest Loser

4 weeks into the competition - I am loving it!! I am borderline obsessed, but that's okay, right?! When it's a healthy thing?? I'm working out everyday (or close to every day) and had my first cheeseburger this past weekend since we've started! It felt SOOO good to have something SOOOO bad!!

So, onto 5K's. I want to get started! I really need to find a partner. Someone who wants to go running, go climbing, wants to get into kickboxing, go riding...someone else who is making the time and making the effort!

SO, who's with me!? I've got a list of 8 races between now and the end of the year. I'm doing at least three...wanna race!?

Birthday Cake and a Playground Too

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it as "Peanut Butter Jelly & A Baseball Bat!," now does it?!

HA! Well, this upcoming weekend is one for the books.

My little Coop is turning a year old, and the festivities will be wild. We are opening up the playground for it's first full day of play!! I will take lots of pictures - if I'm not running around crazy - which is likely.

I hope it brings my boys lots of smiles over the years, as it has been a labor of love from their daddy and all of their neighbors. Not to mention the grandparents who funded the project!

so many changes, so little time....

ahhhhhhhhh, oh how i have neglected my blog!

well, on the playground front, there is very little progress since my last post. life has gotten crazy busy, and the weather has gotten crazy HOT! it WILL get done.

however, about everything else around here HAS changed!

i have gone back to work full time. back to the world of graphics and printing. and in all honesty, i'm loving it! it's hard to be apart from my boys and my mom friends, but nice to be back in the adult world. so it's a bittersweet transition.

in my transition, both of the boys have gone through changes as well. rylan is going to preschool...and what a change this has been. every morning is still a bit rough...but i think we're past the "mama, don't leave me! i love you! are you going to come back?" stage. he comes home every day full of energy and with stories of how much he loves his big boy school. as his mom, i can already see huge changes in how much he's grown up in the past 2 1/2 weeks. i don't feel like quite the deserter every day, as i did the first day i left him at school (he and i were BOTH in tears that day) the change is bittersweet.

coop is currently hanging out at home with a wonderful neighbor and friend until he turns a year old and can walk. (a requirement to go to preschool.) needless to say, we've been practicing walking A Lot since his first birthday is just a couple of weeks away!! i think we'll make it! and he has a new best friend in the neighbor's dog, benny. so, so very cute.

so there's a new car (so that both are kid-carting equiped), a new job, a new schedule, new schools, and....and....almost a birthday. coop, my baby....almost a year old. we will celebrate - my little surfer baby - but i'm so sad to see you grow sometimes!

it's amazing to see all the changes that have come in the last couple of years...and it still awes me to recognize this as my life. it's a crazy life - but i'm so blessed that it is mine.

and the build goes on..and on...and on!!

The build is progressing - and we officially have a slide! It took 2 men, 5 hours, a couple nice sunburns, multiple pitchers of koolaid, and several attempts both with and without the assembly directions!

However, look at the results! It's coming along great, and I have to say, I have tested the slide out myself...the kids are going to LOVE it! Of course, in that process we also realized that the slide is not exactly up to the heavy duty adult load. But maybe if you haven't had a quarter pounder with cheese that day, you'd do alright!

Rails are going up, the clubhouse is complete (minus the sitting porch of course), and it's getting pretty close! Rylan is pretty excited and seems to think that his clubhouse windows work best for a fast-food drive up or a bank. What a lifestyle!

Here's a view from inside the clubhouse, as well as a view that shows off from one of the tall tours, showing the bridge! Yes, there is a bridge to connect the two towers!

Next up is the swing arm, finishing railings, the rock wall....and more to come. You'll have to stay posted...and then come to play and celebrate the completion!!

you're KILLIN' me ...Day 3

why did i think it would be FUN to bring two such small kids on vacation?! oh right...it is. well, mostly. but let me tell you, home is sounding pretty darn good at the moment! (it's naptime and Coop is crying loud enough to wake neighboring countries!)

today...it looked like huge thunder clouds were going to ruin any possibility of a good time. and to be honest, the pool alternative didn't go over too well for rylan yesterday...so i was a little concerned about what today had in store.

no fear, thus far, the day has turned out to be GORGEOUS! take a look.






cranky boys, but gorgeous weather. after driving around in the mountains again, we headed off for some miniature golf. this was a BLAST. rylan and jason went head to head for 18 holes of of putt-putt. jason pulled of a victory in the last couple holes, as rylan's attention span gave out. i say it was lucky for jason, i think rylan could have taken him! give him a year or two, and daddy's toast!

then there was the ski ball, the video games, the race car driving,

more video games, and to top it off....McD's for lunch. who says a day can't be all about rylan!? coop enjoyed watching daddy and rylan...and hangin' with his mama by the waterfall...

and watching the fly fishermen in the stream just on the other side of the fence at the golf course.

whew. not a bad day at all, huh? one more day to go.