Kindergarten Pumpkin Fun

 I LOVE fall! I love the cooler weather, pumpkins, the colors, football and settling into our schedules.  This fall is busy but I wouldn't have it any other way{ well, except Ryan's 3 football teams, but we only have 2 more games---whew}.  Ally had a field trip to a wonderful local pumpkin patch and thankfully Aunt Cary took some great pictures for me since Brady and I couldn't attend this one.

I never got the full story on this but I'm betting the read-aloud story had some winking :).

such a SWEET Kindergarten class.  Ally is having a great year!

 love this spikey-haired cousin

 The pumpkin my precious picked

 Cuties

 Ally's BFF Mia and Wyatt

 Daddy got to stop by which made her day

 Say Pumpkins!!

 Ally also got to go to Mia's Pumpkin Patch party.  Mia has a twin brother Gabe and they are both in K at WCS and we have really enjoyed getting to know them this year.  They had a very fun par-tay.  

The girls in Mrs. Sims class decided to be BU cheerleaders.  Easy enough for us since we already had the outfit---I love easy.

 pumpkin bowling

 "sharing"

and giggling

 preciousness

 bobbing for apples.  Ally wasn't too sure about this (wonder where that trait came from....hesitant to dive her head into a germy tub of water, huummmmm....sounds familiar:))

 hilarious donut game

 Thank you Mia and Gabe for inviting us this year to your pumpkin patch.  We had a great time!

Half a year.

Another month has come and gone. Our sweet, precious Brady James is 6 MONTHS OLD!  I'm not quite sure how that happened?? His biggest accomplishment this month is continually amazing everyone by his sheer size, and he started talking (da da da, ba, ba, ba, and lots of squealing).  He is a ball of joy and makes everyone in the family smile.

He's moving a lot more so my 'photo shoot' was a bit of a challenge

shaking those rings baby

 Hi Mommy!

 He loves this puppy from Grandma.  

 Trying to sit, but still doesn't have it mastered.  

 Right after this picture he fell back and hit his head :(

 one thing that always makes him happy...his silky!

 he also LOVES his bed 

 sweet boy

 too bad he never gets any attention 

 first trip to Kiddieland

 and just hang in with Sissy.  Ally tells him, "We're still partners."  It's the cutest thing, she really loves being a big sister.

Brady's 6 months stats:
Weight: 23.6 lbs
Height: 27.5 inches
New tricks: babbling, rolling everywhere, grabbing things with one hand, following our movement and expressions, screaming when I cheer at Ryan's games, laughing out loud, in a big boy car seat, outgrew your swing, bumbo seat, baby bathtub and want to be held a lot!

Wildcat Football

It's Fall, and that means football! I love fall weather and I'm so thankful that we opted to let Ryan play football instead of year round baseball because that boy is having an absolute BLAST out there.  We have logged some major family sports hours for our Ryan Wood.  Two nights a week and most Saturday we are out at the flag football fields and we all love every minute of those games. {note I said every minute of the games---not the prep, laundry, packing drinks, chairs, stroller, baby food, snacks or diners, pom poms etc...:(}  In a moment of weakness, Mark and Ryan convinced me that he could play on both the school team and at the Woodway Family Center.  In all honesty there are only SIX games at school and I thought he would need a bit longer season.  In hind-sight one team would have been PLENTY.  Oh well, I'm still new to having a NINE year old:)  I love watching him do his thing out there.  He has really turned into quite the little QB.

Nice arm bud!

I love that they have a huddle, RW in his element

 The coaches :) or their backs anyway

 Baby Brady also LOVES being outside for these games.  He is such a wonderful little guy.

 and 90% of the time he's chewing on his hands

 A Bonus this year is that Ally is cheering at all of Ryan's games.  She has a blast out there and is learning a lot!

 Mia, Ally and Hailey

 Coach Wood and squinty squinterson

 Lil' Wildcat

 trying to go night-night---poor little 3rd child that never finishes a nap at home

 We have had a rough season out there with no wins.  For my uber-competitive son and hubs that has been pretty tough.  Mark said he's never been on a team or coached a team that lost every game.  It's VERY humbling. Our Wildcats have wonderful attitudes and next year when we have all 4th graders I'm sure it will be different!

Favorite part of the game...the end:) getting ready for the cheer tunnel

 we have 2 more games

"COME ON WILDCATS"

Ryan's is NINE

I feel like he just turned EIGHT...where did this year go?? Mark would tell you it was a LOOONNNGGG year filled with a grouchy, mean, sick, pregnant wife :).  In all honesty, I do not remember Ryan's party last year because I was super sick that day.  Brady is almost 6 months old and  that also seems impossible.  I think time must have stopped for me last spring!  My baby girl is loving life in Kindergarten and starting to read and we've been in school for six full weeks now---again how??  But this post is about our amazing NINE year old so here goes...

Ryan's birthday weekend started off with Root Beer Floats at school on Friday (which I have no pictures of).  The class loved the floats and it was an early release day so that was a fun treat.  On Saturday we went to Ryan's favorite breakfast spot, IHOP, and enjoyed a nice breakfast with Grandma. Then he had a flag football game and got to open an early birthday gift from Honey and GP.  Let the festivities begin!

 Ryan is a HUGE RGIII fan so this was a must have item to wear to his football party! Thanks Honey and GP

 Ryan is very specific about his parties so planning for him is very easy.  A ex-large cookie cake was his request.

 Me and my boys.  Brady was the football--he he.  And yes I have on a BU shirt---that's how much I love my son!

 My cheerleader, football player and football....these will also be our Halloween costumes this year, nice huh?!

 Wood party of five

 Mark and his little buddy.  Brady loves his daddy SO much!

 Whoa...careful Ry-guy

 I got this mom...I'm NINE

 and I still don't like pictures

 Some of the football decorations (not to be confused with Ryan's 'sports' decorations from last year-ha!)

 invitation

 favors

 as requested a green and black birthday banner and NO balloons!

 All this was from Michaels---super duper easy.  We also had pizza a little later.

 cutest lil' cheerleader on the planet!

 These two were leading some great cheers 

 This is what the party looked like the whole time...a blur of boys playing football having a blast.

The only girls allowed :)

 RMW has some football skillzzzzz

 GP and number 6

 Honey feeding tiny:) 

For my own personal entertainment I bought some football sunglasses.  I really cracked myself up with these at the party, and forced several friends, and family members to put them on...you guys were good sports!!! They are hilarious to me still :)

Wyatt asked me to take this picture and then he requested to take them home...this boy loves some dress up!

 Caden sportin' them too

he he-Heather, Erica and Kacey

 still funny! Brent and Scotty

 Three beauties :)

 and my favorite:)))) the three C's

Most pictures of Brady look like this.  He is THE BEST baby...just chillin' in the stroller sucking his thumb.

 Ainsley and Katy Ray---two of the sweetest girls ever.

 A familiar scene...GP and his girls

 Brady and Grandma

 Party People

 Time to eat and make boy noises

 Ryan has some really great friends

 CAKE and ICE CREAM

 Can you feel the excitement???

 Josh and his mini-me

 Grandma better watch out...Ryan's going to catch her pretty soon.

 He was having too much fun at the party to open gifts so we did that when we got home.  Thank you guys so much for loving Ryan the way you do. I say this all the time but we are incredibly blessed to have such supportive wonderful friends and family.  THANK YOU!

Dear Ryan,

How are you NINE?  These years have flown by and all I can think right now is that nine is halfway to 18! I am still amazed by you.  You can put a big huge LEGO together in an hour, you are always seeking knowledge and you retain everything you read and hear.  You challenge me to be creative with discipline and you love your family very much.  You are a great kid, a fantastic athlete, a wonderful student (all A's every report card), awesome big brother and most of the time a delight :).  You have grown so much and are in size 12 clothes and size 5 1/2 shoe.  You still have a sensitive spirit to others and you are really generous.  This past year has been really challenging with your migraines, adding another sibling, our schedule and you seem to take it all in stride.  I have noticed that new things are no longer intimidating to you and you are much more laid back than when you were younger.  Thank you for all your help with Brady and taking care of business around here.  We LOVE you Bud!

XO

Mom & Dad