One Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Five

Nope, not writing a check...that's how long my sweet, adoring, wonderful, hard working, handsome husband and I have been married...

5 years

Seemed like such a long time when we started this whole thing...now, just a drop in the bucket. I can't wait for five more, and five more after that, and after that....

Somewhere along the line I'm sure Ryan will get the dream job he wants and deserves, not for the money, but so he can see his boys grow up. Yup, that's his reasoning! Just reminds me one more time I've got myself a good man.

In the past five years I've learned a whole lot. I've learned that we can make it through just about anything!

Having a baby (Tyler: 6/13/05)

ER visits (Ryan, just a few weeks after getting married with chest pains, Tyler 3/15/09, Ryan 9/22/09)

Buying a VAN 4/4/09. NEVER thought that would happen.

Having another baby! (Jacob: 4/15/09)

Surviving life with two active, adorable, inquisitive, challenging, exhausting little boys. Ryan almost done with his bachelors (finally)

And a few more things I've learned we can survive...for good measure:moving, living with parents, putting each other through school, getting in and then not getting in to school, buying a house, sickness, stress, terrible jobs, good jobs, road trips with two kids, and sleepless nights (just to name a few)

I have also learned that I am still learning all there is to know about Ryan. That actually excites me and I love digging deeper and getting to know my sweetheart even better.

We have been through our challenges, but we have also been very blessed over the course of our marriage. I can't wait to see where the next five years take us as a familiy. Great things are coming!

this is your wake-up call

Monday morning my wake-up call was on the monitor.

I had just barely got Jacob out of his crib and laid him back down in the port-a-crib (at 5:30) when I hear noises on the monitor. I pull it closer and listen...
"go dog! go!" (page turns)
"work dog! work!" (page turns)
"play dog!play" (page turns)
"dog party. big dog party" (close book)

I sneak in to see Tyler sitting on his bed with a few books spread around him. Of course I'm greeted with a smile and a "hi momma!"

Tuesday morning my wake-up call was a light knocking on my door.

I was confused, I didn't know if I was hearing Jacob kicking the crib or a knock on the door so I check the door first and find Tyler standing there, holding a blanket to cover himself up. I assume he's naked- because he usually is. But then he drops the blanket and says, "keep pants on....please?" He's found a pair of Jacob's sweat pants to grow in to (about 18 mos. size) and put them on. I asked him if he had on underwear and somehow he had found a clean pair of underwear (and put them on backwards because he likes to see the pictures) Of course I let him keep on the pants and backwards underwear...for awhile.

Wednesday morning (today) my wake-up call was a POUNDING on my door.

Crazy Tyler apparently doesn't understand when I tell him he can come in and get me in the morning. Or the part that he's supposed to leave the light off in his room so Jake can stay asleep. Someday he'll get it. Or he'll just sleep in!

This morning Tyler was almost completely naked. He had actually knocked on the door to get help taking off his pajama shirt, which he was stuck in. He decided that he'd like to put on other jammies and since we moved all the drawers around yesterday he can get to all his own clothes now. Maybe a big mistake! We'll see.

Wonder what tomorrow morning holds for me...

10 Months (and a little)

I still need to have the time to sit at one computer so I can write and add pictures...but words will do for now.

My sweet baby is 10 months (and one week) old now.

REALLY?!

He is demanding and wonderful.

Jacob LOVES his big brother...even though Tyler is learning he can be a little rougher with him.

Jacob will sleep from 6:45pm-6am (on occasion)

Jacob is almost done nursing (freedom!)

Jacob has 5 teeth (6th is starting to peek through too!)

Jacob plays peek-a-boo now. Probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Jacob points at everything and says "dat?". Pretty sure he doesn't know what he's saying, but he's consistent and seems pleased when he gets an answer.

One of Jacob's favorite things to point at is a painting of the Oakland temple that Ryan's grandma did. I don't know if it's the colors, the reflection, or he's just spiritually in-tune, but we never mind showing a kid a temple ;)

Jacob has mastered the stairs and still hasn't had a fall! Now we've just got to get him to figure out how to go down them.

Jacob is becoming more cuddly. He prefers to fall asleep up on my shoulder now instead of in my arms. Kinda cute when he nuzzles right in.

Jacob has been waving good-bye for awhile now, but he knows every morning when we head to the garage that it's time to start waving bye-bye to daddy.

Jacob is still a total mama's boy- and I'm still okay with that for now :)

Love him still. Can't believe it's almost been a year!

toys, lunch dates, and cousins

sugar cookies

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! We had Sarah, Ryan, and Alexis over for dinner on Sunday. It was fun to have the three Crooks cousins all together. Alexis and Jacob were a blast to watch. They are only 2 weeks apart in age and they make some of the same noises and seemed to enjoy seeing that there was another person their own size around...well, about the same size ;) Granny came in to town Saturday morning and we got to enjoy her company for a few days. Always fun to have the boys get spoiled by their granny.

A rare picture with all 4 of us. The boys sporting the red and I opted for purple this year. We had a fun day at church and Jacob actually napped on dad for a while. Sundays are always interesting now that I teach nursery!

can you just feel the love?! I love that this is the only picture where both boys are looking. The look on Jacob's face says it all.

Granny and the boys.

Hello there handsome! Tyler and Jacob fight for their camera time. Now I've just got to learn a little more about what I'm doing with my camera and we'll be set.

One of Jacob's favorite toys- the remote. Another favorite- the phone. Of course it has to be the real remote and the real phone, toys just don't cut it.

Brothers causing trouble before 7 a.m. One of Jacob's tricks in the last month or so- he's finally pulling up on things. He gets better at it every day. Tyler gets better at knocking him over ;) We've had an increase in time-outs. I can tell both boys are starting to notice that mom's attention is split. Makes it interesting.

Grandma & Grandpa Denos come visit!

My mom and Dad were able to come out to visit for Heather's birthday. They watched the kids so Heather and Taylor could go enjoy a weekend without the kiddos...before there are 3. I don't think I had mentioned it on the blog yet- but I'm pretty sure it's been long enough to mention. The Waites are adding baby #3 to the mix in late July (which-for Heather- means early July). With my parents in town- of course we had to take the chance to get together.

The whole gang came over to spend Saturday with us after a very eventful Friday. I can't say much- but let's just say it was one of the most frightening afternoons I've had yet. Ryan received a threat at work from a disgruntled customer who, somehow, found out where we lived and said he'd follow Ryan home from work and do....etc, etc to him and his family. Ry called as we were grocery shopping and asked if we were okay, where we were, etc then told me what had happened. We were pretty scared for awhile. The company's security department followed up with the customer and the local police. The mom in me was scared I wouldn't be able to protect my kids if anything were to happen- thankfully it hasn't come to that!

Well, after calming down for a night, the distraction of company was much appreciated. We enjoyed playing, going to the park, hiking the mountain, lunch, "relaxed" watching a show with suckers (see pic) naps, and a yummy dinner at Cafe Rio where we introduced my parents to their first taste of the delicious pork. It was pretty interesting to sit 8 people, but it was fun and we were glad to get to spend the time with family.

Tyler and daddy have been becoming best buds. I love to see Tyler ask for daddy again and miss him. It is so cute to watch Tyler enjoy the attention and he's even been falling asleep on Ryan- that hasn't happened in over a year. Tyler and daddy are a daring duo at church too. With Jacob being more demanding during sacrament meeting now we have to divide and conquer. Tyler is now very willing to sit with daddy and lead music or follow along in the hymn book as we sing. He is also enjoying frequent potty trips during sacrament meeting. This past Sunday he even had an exceptional day in nursery. When Ryan picked him up, the teachers said he was good. Of course Ryan said, "thanks, that's good to hear." Then they came back with, "no, really, he was very good." What a great thing to hear as a parent. We're so proud of our big boy. He even got a small scoop of ice cream to celebrate his great day at nursery.

Lastly...the past 2 mornings I've been waking up with my eye swollen shut! What the?! This pic is mostly for my mom and sister who've had to listen to my nurses questions. So far, still not blind, but my eye was literally swollen shut. I'm sure that was enough to freak out Tyler when he woke up at 5:30am again!? Thankfull, it gets better throughout the day but doesn't go away completely. Oh well.

Check out this handsome boy. We were trying to take some pictures of the boys to put in the frames that my dad helped us hang (thanks Daddy!) but of course the camera ran out of batteries...but I got this one at least. I love this boy (most of the time ;) ).