Jordon's Birthday

This weekend Memaw and Pops came to Lubbock to see Cameron' new house and for Jordon's birthday. I forgot to take my camera with us to see Cameron's house so no pictures of it. Everyone came over after and we had cake and ice cream Saturday afternoon for Jordon's birthday.

 

Rylan and Rhett were more interested in playing with the shutters than singing to Jordon.

Rylan enjoys cake!

 Memaw could not do anything on her iPad with these two punching buttons. They made a game out of sliding their hands through the stand.

 

Rylan loves to wear his dad's cap.

Rylan was leading Uncle Cameron around the house.

One tired little boy on Saturday night after everyone left. He was still recovering on Monday. Thankfully I had the day off too so I got to hang out with Rylan all day.

Rylan and I were playing with the new video camera on Monday afternoon. I did finally catch him taking a few steps too.

Cake Explosion

My first attempt at Jordon's birthday cake. Jordon wanted chocolate cake and homemade ice cream. I of course search for cake recipes on Pinterest. Well this one was a major Pinterest fail! It exploded all over the oven.

Visit to McLean

This weekend we ventured to McLean to visit Grammy and Papa. We ate dinner with Nikki and Aaron Saturday night at the steakhouse in Memphis. Rylan had so much fun and was so tired. We left around noon on Sunday and he fell asleep before we got in the car and slept almost all the way home. Grammy left with us in her car to come to Abernathy because Holly has kidney stones again and had to have surgery on Sunday to remove one.

Rylan took several steps by himself this weekend. He is walking very good but still holds on to something most of the time. Jill sent him a drum for his birthday from her family. He was holding the drumsticks and did not realize he was on his own. Of course no one had a camera or anything near so the moment was not caught on camera.

Papa picked us some fresh vegetable from his garden before we left. Rylan and Jordon were his helpers. We can't wait until later in the summer when there is more goodies. Hopefully they will have some cucumbers I can swipe to make pickles. Rylan loves pickles.

 

Checking out the future crop of peas and corn.

Rylan and Jordon helped Papa unload some gravel from the mule for Grammy in her back yard. Then Rylan got to drive around for fun with Papa. I think it almost put him to sleep.

 

They are under construction at the front part of the house; renovating a room and garage and adding on another room. It has also led to redoing the AC units and ducts for the whole house.

 

garage

outside where new room will be added

former office being renovated into a bedroom

future bathroom and entrance to added room

future bathroom floor (those are the stairs to the basement)

Kitchen - finally getting the pictures up

Here are the before, during and after pictures of the kitchen. It took us longer than expected because Rylan got sick but it was worth it; new counter tops and back splash. Now I just need new hardware for the cabinets.

Before

 

 

Demo

 

 FINISHED

 

 

 

Mother's Day Weekend

I know it is mid-week now but we had a great weekend. It was nice to be at home and really have no plans. We got a lot done around the house actually. We organized closets, went to a baby shower and ran some errands.

I also final got some sheets and a comforter on the beds in Rylan's room. I switched to a day bed and trundle from a full. I drug Jordon and Rylan all over town looking for just the right comforter for the bed. I am not a matchy match or theme person but there is not much else out there for little boys. Then it hit me that I already had the perfect thing: the denim quilt my Granny Seitz made me when I came to Tech.

You will all be pleased to know that Jordon and Rylan got me a video camera so hopefully (once I learn how to use it) there will be more Rylan video on there.

For now here is just a really cute picture of Rylan and Abby. 

Rylan got another hair cut last week. This kid has so much hair! He did pretty good this time, just got a little upset at the end.

 

Cooking, Projects, Etc.

At the request of some friends, I will try to be better about posting my Pinterest projects, cooking, furniture, and all of the other random stuff Jordon and I take on. We currently are redoing a vanity for Nikki. It is close to being finished. Jordon just finished the kitchen backsplash and it looks great; pictures will be up soon.

I really need to organize my boards on Pinterest but who has the time to do that! I pin alot of things and some day I will have time to do most of them. I get alot of ideas from Pinterest but don't always do them exactly. I am sure it is simple but I never take the time to post my stuff to Pinterest. I guess Katie will have to show me how. Katie did set up my Instagram account. I don't post much yet on Instagram but you can follow me; dudleyjl.

I made the Better Than Anything Oreo Cake for Rylan's birthday. Then it was requested by the students in our office so I made it again for Elizabeth's graduation celebration last week. It is super good and super rich. You can see some pictures of it on early blog posts from Rylan's birthday.

People are always interested in how I make Rylan's baby food. It is really not that hard so I will try to post more about those adventures. One thing about making your own baby food is that Rylan will not eat the pre-made stuff at all. I tried some of the raviolis and he spit them out. I can't blame him because they are mushy and pretty gross looking.

I did try making my own fruit snacks the other day and that did not work out. I found a recipe on Pinterest but the whole gelatin thing was not working for me. They were very chewy and I did not even try to give one to Rylan. I have not given up on the fruit snacks yet. I think I am going to try the dehydrator method instead of gelatin. Stay tuned for that.

Here's a good tip for anyone who is laundry challenged: vinegar in the washer will help get out any accidental color fades. I have seen my mom do this when she washed some of Rylan's clothes and I had to use it recently. We left a red sock in with some of his other clothes and well pink is not a good look for baby boy; especially one as pretty as Rylan :). I bought a new black and white skirt, washed it some darker colors that should not have faded. Well the white parts were pink and those of you who know me know I don't do pink! One cup of white vinegar in where the bleach goes and a small amount of detergent and the skirt looks as good as new. Thank goodness because IT IS NEW and I have never wore it!!!

Horse Show, Birthday Party = Busy Weekend

It was another busy weekend, just like the past two, which is why I have not had time to blog in a while. Last week was a busy week at work too; it was Ag Awareness week so we had things going on all the time. Friday was Arbor Day. Grammy and Caleb came to campus to plant flowers with my student organization. He had a lot of fun! Saturday, Nikki and Aaron were showing their horses in Lubbock, so we went to watch them at the Equestrian Center. Saturday night, we went to Abernathy to celebrate Caleb and Matt's birthdays. Caleb wanted a pizza party so that is what we had! Rylan had a blast playing outside with the big boys. Sunday, Jacob was baptized; he is growing up so fast!!

Hang on for lots of pictures!

He wants to play with Abby.

What are they up to??

 This is how Rylan helps do laundry.

 

Caleb and Matt's Birthday Party

Caleb driving Grammy and Rylan around. Only a little bit dangerous!

Trying to get a picture with the boys = impossible.

Fireman was the theme. Caleb does not like his picture taken.

This is as close to a smile as I was going to get.

The birthday boys with their cakes.

Holly loves to get crazy colored icing so it gets on everything! Rylan enjoyed it.

Checking to make sure he is not getting in trouble.

Caleb's loot. He wanted an ambulance and ended up with all kinds of emergency vehicles.

Grammy found shirts in Vegas with Papa on them. Rylan's says: "That's it I'm calling Papa!"

Rylan really wanted to ride Caleb's scooter. He thinks he is a big as the other boys.

Rylan would take off down the drive way as fast as his little legs would go.

Jacob was trying to help wrangle Rylan on the drive way.