Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Happy 31st birthday to my wonderful husband Ryan!

Here's hoping your birthday is full of everything you love - video games, family time, chicken wings, college basketball, beer, and bacon!!

Brick by Brick

After a week of frigid temperatures, we had a beautiful and warm weekend.  Unfortunately for the first time ever, Fayetteville Public Schools decided to hold a make-up snow day on a Saturday.  So Alli went from a four day week (she was supposed to be off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday) to a six day week.  She was not too happy Saturday morning when we took her in, she said she was afraid we were going to do something fun without her.

I've got news for her - we did.  But fortunately for Alli it wasn't kid-fun, it was both of us getting our workouts on the elliptical done, playing on the floor with Riley, and enjoying coffee and grown-up talk.  So she didn't miss much.

I went to make the rounds at the Fayetteville antique stores that we love - 410 Vintage, Flying Dog, and Fayetteville Trading Post - before picking Alli up at 2PM.  Good news - she wasn't the only kid that went to school and she actually had a good time.  We went home to get Ryan and Riley, and then went dropped by our most favorite Fayetteville antique store In Retrospect.  We aren't looking for anything in  particular, but you just never know what you'll find.  I was in love with a fully restored ride-on pony called Jigger, but at "$3500 FIRM," Ryan said no way.

To make up for the horror of going to school on a Saturday, we got to take Alli to a new place called Brick by Brick.  We weren't too sure about the concept, but it was Lego-focused, so my two Lego-holics decided to give it a try.

Here's the deal - you walk in to a Lego-themed room (Lego characters on the walls, primary colors everywhere, posters of Legos, paintings of Legos…there were even Legos in the soap jars.  One wall is lined with boxes of Lego sets, which you can "check out" and put together.  There are also endless totes of random bricks, wheels, men, and plates.  On the other wall, there's a play kitchen and grocery store, a chalkboard, and a play area for the littles with Duplo blocks, coloring books, and plastic animals.

Things started a little slow.  Alli was quiet and not sure what to think, and Ryan was afraid of being "that dad" who got a kit and built it himself.  So they decided on a Lego City tractor trailer to start out.

They worked together for a little while, but once all of the policemen and the criminals were put together, Alli wandered off to do a little grocery shopping.  Ryan powered through alone.

He secretly liked it better that way so he could focus, methinks.  I played with Riley on the floor, and we got super close to crawling.

After Ryan got his police tractor trailer put together and Alli played with it, she grabbed some of the random Legos and put together this awesome intricate set of people doing a race.  She's so amazingly creative.

Brick by Brick was a super place.  We will definitely be going back - it was $15 for the four of us (Riley was free) to play for two hours.  They do drop offs and Parents Night Out, so you can even drop your kiddo off if you so desire.  The staff was extremely friendly, the decor was very creative, and Alli even made some new friends.

Now if I can just get them to do a Dad's Night In so that I can drop Ryan off to do the Ewok Village - all 1,500 pieces!  If you've got a Lego-crazy kid (or spouse), you really need to swing by Brick by Brick and try it out.  My Lego maniacs gave it four thumbs up.

Nine Fabulous Years

Happy anniversary to the love of my life - the one and only Ryan Lowe!

I can't believe it's been nine years since we first said "I do."  I knew he was the man of my dreams the second (time) we dated.

For nine years he's been my rock, my partner in crime, my best friend, my biggest fan, my equal.

We went from the humblest of beginnings, survived years apart, and built a life together that I absolutely love.

We've bought houses, raised babies, vacationed, fought, struggled, laughed, cried, comforted, celebrated.

God knew what He was doing when He paired us up - I needed a steady, level-headed, laid-back partner to bounce my wound up neuroticism off of.

He's an amazing husband,  a fantastic son and son-in-law, and one of the best fathers I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

The fact that my girls have him as an example of how a man should love a woman is the best situation I could hope to bring them up in.  He's patient, respectful, and indulgent, but he's more than willing to give me guidance, persistence, and a kick in the rear when I need it.

He's hands down one of the funniest men I know.  Our humor is perfect for each other.  He's broadened my horizons and definitely decreased my taste level in movies and TV, but I don't mind.

I am always excited about our next adventure together - the next vacation, the next day at the pool, the next baby, the next ridiculous but fun purchase, and the next Saturday night we spend drinking wine and watching a movie on the couch.

I can barely stand for us to be apart - I think it stems from the years we spent apart when he was in Iraq.  I dread business trips and nights away.  I can hardly stand to go do anything without him because he makes everything more fun for me.

I love our inside jokes, our silly routines, and the funny way we say things that only we understand.

I love that there's a person on the world who above everything else wants me to be happy.  I know that he will do his best to provide me with whatever it is that I think I need to enjoy my life, even at his own expense.  He gives me unconditional love.

He immediately blended into my family and is now an irreplaceable part of football season, holidays, and vacations.

We've not gone without our struggles.  Great marriages are filled with peaks and valleys and we've had our share of both.

Happy anniversary, Ryan.  I can't believe it's already been nine years since we joined our lives together.  Thank you for the laughs, the tears, the babies, the homes, the love, and the memories.  I couldn't imagine my life without you!!

The Small Stuff

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to a crying baby, starting another week of work a little earlier than I wanted to.  In order to keep my groggy brain awake while Riley ate, I hopped on Twitter to read tweets about last night's sports and celebrity gossip.  What I got instead was something that changed my entire outlook today.

Enjoy the little things, because one day you might look back and realize they were big things.

This simple little quote got me reconsidering everything about my day - the menial tasks, the simple routine, the minor events that all come together to comprise "just another day."  We all know to appreciate Christmas, weddings, the birth of a baby, vacations, and buying a new house.  This quote is a reminder that the little things that happen can be big things too.

As the mom of a young baby and a big kid, I'm all too aware that this time is fleeting.  Before you know it, your baby is a third grader with a sassy mouth and a mind of her own.  And then she is borrowing your car, and then you're taking her to college.  And then she has her own kids and her own house and...oh my gosh I'm going to cry.  Without further ado, here are some of the "little things" I'm appreciating right now:

• Riley's belly laugh while Alli spins in circles in front of her
• Decorating for Halloween, Alli's favorite holiday

Dinner at the table with the entire family followed by a game of Sorry with everyone trying to take down Ryan

Homework and helping Alli grow and develop as a student

Evenings watching TV on the couch with Ryan after the kids go to bed

Our walks as a family, which always stop short at someone in the neighborhood's house where we chat as the kids play until Riley declares she's had enough

Alli wearing her Ninja Turtle pajamas three nights in a row before I could wash them

• Days where I look back and wonder what we did all day, and when I'm honest I realize the answer was "just watched football"
• Alli asking for cookies after dinner every night and me wondering why I can't lose weight when I eat them with her
• Riley being big enough to sit in her exersaucer

• Landry jumping onto the couch right where you were sitting when you get up to go to the bathroom or get a drink
• Riley screaming excitedly and then burying her face in my chest
• Alli's elementary school fundraisers, including the Boosterthon Fun Run and being able to be there to cheer her on

• Alli picking out outfits to wear to school that make me cringe, but I let her wear them anyway
• Riley not being old enough to have an opinion on what she wears
• Cash coming running every time I get ice

• Riley rolling over and not being too sure what just happened
• Staying up until 2AM with my mom playing "Guess That Tune"
• Alli asking me to take pictures of her toys and text them to people

•  Alli quoting whatever movie or show she's watched recently over and over until you have to tell her to stop
• Ryan putting Riley to sleep every night after I feed her
• Snuggling with Riley

• Alli singing at the top of her lungs in the backseat of the car
• Riley grabbing everything within arm's reach and immediately bringing it to her mouth
• Hearing Riley cry on the monitor, and shortly thereafter hearing Alli on the monitor saying "It's okay, don't cry!"
• Football games with most of the family on Dad's birthday eve

I'm going to make it my goal to reflect on this quote more and make sure I'm really appreciating the little things in life that form themselves into major memories.  Each stage of life is so short - it's time to appreciate the process.  Have a wonderful week!

Little Ryan

Ever since Alli was born, I've heard that she's "Little Ryan."  When my nephew Rafe came along, Ryan's family insisted that he looked exactly like Ryan.  And now that Riley's here, perfect strangers comment that she looks identical to her daddy.

Ryan says it's his childlike features that make the babies resemble him but at his parents' house this weekend I found the proof.

I think Rafe probably looks the most like him, but I most certainly see Alli and Riley there too.  I mean look at those big eyes and that sweet face!  We had such a great time having dinner with his family and sorting through all of the old pictures and hearing the stories.  Any wonder I married this stud?

The Big 30!

A very special person turned a very special age last Monday - my main squeeze turned 30!  Can you believe it?  I've known him a little under half of that time and dated/been married to him a third of it, and what a fabulous time it's been!

First tour of duty in Iraq

 I am oh so grateful that I met this hunk and even happier that he decided to marry me.  I could not have designed a better husband.  He's almost my polar opposite - calm, relaxed, even-keeled, and lots of fun.  But our humor, opinions, and personalities mesh in the most wonderful way so that we end up being perfect for each other.

First wedding anniversary - what a year!

Above and beyond being a good partner to me, he's been just about the most perfect father to Alli.  He's funny, he's energetic, and he's up for anything.  He'll play Barbies and he'll stay up all night building Legos.  She absolutely adores him, and I know Riley will be no different.  Being pregnant with him around (he was in Iraq when I was pregnant with Alli) has been so awesome.  He's attentive, he cares, and he lets me go to bed at 6PM if I need to.  Seriously, he's the best.

To celebrate his big birthday we had several friends over Sunday night to watch the Super Bowl.  We had his favorite cookie cake, wings and tenders from Slim Chickens, and lots of dips.  He had the great time he deserved with some of our most favorite people.  Saturday night, on the premise that Alli would enjoy it, we went to a new place in town called Arkadia Retrocade.  They have vintage video games, and you get unlimited plays for just $5.  Alli and I beat Ninja Turtles but the real winner was Mr. Lowe, who was in gamer heaven.

On his birthday itself I put his new Ugg slippers outside of the shower while he was in, so when he opened the door they were sitting there waiting to hug his feet.  He was an instant fan, and even tried to find a way to wear them to work that day (I think about that all the time myself).  That night Alli had a cheer performance at an FHS basketball game, and then we went for a burger at Grubs.  Once we got home Lindsey gave him his last present of the night - a baby carrier!  He begged for one with Alli and never got it, so she wanted to make sure he got one for Riley.  We even tested it out on poor Lola.  Cannot.  Stop.  Laughing.

Happy birthday to my sweet fella.  He has handled 30 with a grace that will surely escape me in a few years when it's my turn.