Busy, busy, busy!

And I'm not just talking about Ryder

Two weeks ago I went back to school and last week I went back to work. I enjoyed my Ryder time so much it has been quite an adjustment.

My family decided they only need me 3 days a week this year. Their boys are so grown up! They are in 8th and 12th grade.

With that huge change it gave me time to take my last masters class. A blessing in disguise I guess. But still a ton of work with no free time to do it in.


This has also given Jason some serious daddy time! He goes into work early to come home early so I can get to class. His first day with Ryder he commented that he got nothing done...welcome to my world hunny!

Ryder has really been enjoying all this dad time! He's growing and changing and developing daily. Here is what he's been up to since my last post:

Noises - Ryder makes all kinds of sounds, gurgles, growls, giggles and screams. He cracks us up!

Food - Ryder has tried carrots, squash, applesauce, prunes, pears, apricots, peas, green beans, bananas, etc. He is really starting to enjoy food time with us! He now grabs for whatever we have. So foods he can hang onto and suck on are great. Melon, bell peppers, cucumber, ...

Movin and shakin -Ryder is crawling everywhere! He started to crawl on august 17. He wasn't too coordinated. Within a week or so he was crawling over things like or leg or a toy. Now he is crawling up us and pulling up on things.

We have a crawler!

Here are the cute steps Ryder went through as he learned to crawl:


Plank (just toes and hands on the floor):

on our knees:

1 knee down and the other foot down:

Video from today:

How we've changed

June: Ryder talking with me on the couch




July: Ryder hanging out with Weston




August: Ryder enjoying his new toy and getting up on all 4s

Boys Only

It was so good for Ryder to get to spend so much time with his cousins. I grew up very close to my cousins and I want him to be able to have all those amazing memories too. I even watched Weston and Ryder alone one day to test out my love of twins and I learned very fast that that idea can wait. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the boys:

Lions, Tigers and Bears!

The OC Fair was in town so we had to go. I loved the fair when i lived in OC and I wanted Ryder to get to experience it too. Nana and Ryder and I met Brandon, Ashley, Hunter and Weston at the fair on Wednesday evening.




Brandon, Ashley, Hunter and Weston had extra tickets to the Circus on Saturday, so we had to join! I can't remember the last time I went to the circus. It definitely was a different experience as an adult. The kids enjoyed watching the animals and clowns perform:

Tanaka Farms

Ashley, Hunter and Weston invited us along to see Tanaka Farms. What a fun experience! It is a fully functioning farm in Orange County. You get to take a tractor ride around the farm as you learn about the food they grow. As we pass certain foods they bring some on board for everyone to try.



yummy tomatoes:


Hunter devouring some blueberries:


Weston trying a carrot:


Ryder trying squash:

Hunter enjoying the farm with his girl:

Old Friends

While I was down in OC I got to see lots of old friends. Some I managed to get a picture of and some I did not. The joy of kids...lol It was great to catch up with everyone. I sure wished we lived closer. Someday!

Erin and I grew up across the street together. I was 2 and she was 3 when she moved in. When she moved to Colorado I always spent time with her for winter or summer break. Then she moved to AZ and was much closer to see. She welcomed her second little man on June 6th and was brave enough to head out on a road trip just a month later to CA.

Ryder enjoying the beach in San Onofre:

Erin's oldest, Camden:


Tyler Aaron Hart:




Nikki Martin and Ann Marie Jones and I went to Mater Dei High school together. She had a Tupperware party and we just had to go. Here are all of our little ones:

Justin Michael Martin - Born June 26