The Desjardins: Christmas in February

It's been a loooong week. Rudy will have worked close to 50 hours and yesterday was his only day off. I had tons of things I wanted to get done. Just after I got Ryder down for his nap, I was washing diapers. I know I have talked about it before, but since we have an HE front loader, I have to manually add water because it takes a lot of water to get the diapers clean. The first part of the wash is cold water and I use a pitcher to add the water (about 10 trips from the kitchen sink to the laundry room). After that it's hot water 3 times during the cycle. For that, Rudy installed a hose to the back of the washer which makes it much easier. I typically prop the hose in the detergent drawer and walk away as it fills - if I stand there and watch it, it seems to take FOREVER. So, long story long, the first time I added hot water, I propped the hose and walked away for a few minutes - and then I heard what sounded like an explosion followed by water .... I RAN to the laundry room in a panic! It turned out the washer had gotten completely full (I think I turned the water on harder than usual because it didn't take long) and the water had nowhere else to go, so the door busted open! There was SO.MUCH.WATER! I was screaming because I didn't even know what to do ..... Rudy was yelling at me for something to stop the water from getting into our bedroom and under our laminate floors which would be ruined by water. His attempt to stop the water with his hands was obviously unsuccessful. I was throwing clothes at him as there were no towels in sight. Then I bolted to our bathroom (slipping and nearly falling a couple times) and got all the towels I could find. There was a good inch of water in the laundry room and hallway. It got under our laminate floors. Rudy had to remove part of the door frame and the floorboards so that he could pull up part of the floor. We managed to save it from any damage. The water also got into our hall closet getting everything wet. We had to pull everything out of there and boy was it a mess! The water even soaked through the wall and seeped into the kitchen ... weird. I really hope we don't end up with mold. It took 2 hours to clean up. Ryder woke up from his nap just as we finished. I am SOOO thankful Rudy was home and that Ryder was sleeping when this happened. The scenario could have been A LOT worse otherwise.

Other than the great flood of 2011, things have been pretty normal around here. Rudy will soon be working closer to home and we are so thankful for that. He will also be making more money and it's such a relief to know that I don't have to get a job anytime soon. We are healthy and life is good! I am dreading the hot months that lie ahead, but trying to soak up all this beautiful weather we have had lately. Ryder LOVES to be outside. We spend a couple hours out there everyday and I eventually have to drag him back in the house, kicking and screaming.

Ryder is saying so many words, I wish I had been keeping track of all that he says. I can't possibly list everything but some of my favorites are: outside ("atsa") , yogurt, blueberries ("boo-bear"), cheese, please, teeth, hand ("haaaaand" with a little accent too), arm and octopus. There are so many more, but I just can't think of them right now. :) He is looking more and more like a little boy, less and less like a baby and it is sooo sad. But also neat at the same time. I just love to watch him learn things. He can identify some colors and that's really neat. His favorites seem to be pink & purple. He can also pick out blue, green, brown and black. There is no such thing as walking in his world. He pretty much runs everywhere. That whole cliche about the pitter-patter of little feet is very true in this house .... can always hear him trotting back and forth. He is constantly moving and arranging things to his liking. :)

Ryder's favorite toys are still his cars and any type of ball. He also loves cell phone - toys or real ones. Pretty much anything with buttons that he can push really. He loves his dogs and loves to lay on their bed with them. He is getting pretty good about eating whatever I give him. He definitely doesn't miss a meal! It takes a lot of calories to fuel all the energy that boy has. I just love spending my days with him and wouldn't change it for the world! I am soo glad I have gotten to be there for all of his firsts and haven't had to let someone else raise him. He is just the sweetest little boy and we are thankful to be his parents every, single day!

So I know it is waaaaay after the fact, but I did promise I would get our Christmas pictures up ... so here you go. Only 2 months late. :)

Christmas Eve. Last year we decided to start a tradition of staying home as a family, instead of having to run all over to town and visit our families, only to do it again the next day. We make a nice dinner, do a little baking and gift wrapping. I love it and can't wait for Ryder to be older so we can add more to the evening.

Christmas morning .... I somehow managed to get a picture of him looking interested in one of his presents, even though that wasn't the case at all! I can't believe I spent so much time wrapping all his stuff and he wouldn't even WATCH me open them for him. I should have known! He really does enjoy his toy vacuum though and likes to help me clean the floors.

Opening presents with my family

At Rudy's parent's house

With his 3rd (or 4th?) cousin, Elijah

Back at my parent's house for dinner. This is my dad's buddy Earl. He is 101 years old!! 100 years older than Ryder .... had to get a picture of that! I can't wait to share it with Ryder someday.