Where does the time go?

Really??? It's sad that I post more on my "craft" blog then my personal life. It's not because things aren't happening because they are. It's just I get a little behind and it seems impossible to catch back up.

So the last few months have been great! Chase got a contract doing the same thing he was doing. Only now he gets benefits. Because of that though his hours changed a little so he had to drop one of his classes. Blessing in disguise, he was able to sign up for another one that was online. So he is taking 3 online classes this semester.

He is still biking around. Unfortunately a few months ago his nice road bike that his Cousin gave him was stolen. We used our tax return to get him a decent hybrid bike. So he is back to biking. He was going to do the Tour de Mesa, but it is $115! Can you believe it??? So I told him to just make is own Tour de Chase.

As far as I go things are unbelievable! The craft blog has been so so. I have very few followers (If you don't follow me please do, you'll probably know more about us from that then this). So I am planning on doing a craft fair in November. One of the things I wanted to sell was a carseat cooler.

Since it is hot now I decided to give it a try and sell them on a facebook group called Mesa Consign. One of my friends saw it and asked it I wanted to sell them on a deal a day website she co operates. So if things go well I'll be selling them on this site all over the country! So I'm going to be popping these out like crazy trying to make as many as I can! So I feel like everything else has been put on hold because of this. This weekend I'll be getting the fabric to get it started! So exciting!

So with this experience I wanted to be able to have a business sounding name so when they describe my product it's not just Courtney, a mom.

SIDE NOTE: I did the top a week ago. Had to stop because I heard a strange noise outside. Went to check it out and Ella had her puppies! Well at that point she only had one. Over the next several hours she ended up with 5 healthy puppies!!! (1 unfortunately didn't make it). So if you are looking for puppies in like 6 weeks let us know!

So as I was saying  wanted to get more in the business mode. So I came up with my business name... Ryderbug! It is one of my nicknames for Ryder and I love how it fits! So my Brother Bryan said I should call my carseat cooler a Cool Ryder! LOVE IT!!!

Now onto Ryder. He is a smart little boy! Loves being outside and TV (kind of opposites). We recently took him to Toys 'R Us and let him pick out a toy to buy with his birthday money. He had the best time! He's walk around examining each toy. He ended up getting a Batman and Joker little people and 2 train cars. Not bad for $10! Technically he owes us $.44, but we'll let it slide:)

Tonka & Ella still like to escape the yard. Ella had 5 puppies as mentioned earlier.

Mother's & Father's Day came early this year. I got a Kitchenaid mixer and Chase got a grill! So much fun!

Same ol' same ol'

Man, I have really been sucking it up lately. Let's do some updates over the last 4 months Person by Person...

Chase: He finished a semester at School and has started another one. His Major is Geography, not sure if or what he'll do with it. He really enjoys it so that makes school less of a pain. In December he hit his 1 year mark with MPS. We really love that job. It is super flexible and perfect for our family right now. Chase has started riding his bike more and is hoping to do the Tour de Mesa in April (or atleast the shorter version). He recently did training at Discount Cab and will be doing that VERY part time. He just has to work 1 shift every 30 days. So he can keep it during the year and then when summer comes and he's off from MPS he can pick up more hours at Discount Cab. If you or your Hubby apply say Chase referred you! It seems like a nice set up.

Courtney: Just living the life of the wife and mom... and loving it! I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've started an Etsy shop selling homemade greeting cards to hopefully bring in some money. Check it out sometime and feel free to make a purchase if there is something you see. I'm kind of giving it a test run right now, we'll see how it goes. It's something I love doing (cardmaking) so it's fun too! I've started watching How I Met Your Mother during nap time. It's so funny and gives me something to do to relax. I participate in a card night every other month. It is so cool how "big" it's turned out. I started it about 2 years ago. It's so much fun! I also started a Recipe Swap every month. Last month was the first and there was some good food:) Next is Bfast foods. Yum!!!

Ryder: He is no baby anymore... he's 13 months now! He had a puppy themed birthday party that was so much fun! You can read birthday posts on my DIY blog here. He's been walking for a couple of weeks and walks more and more everyday. He is so smart and is learning so much! He says bye bye everytime we put him in his car seat. He's so much fun! He's a pro sleeper now and it has made life so much better! If you are hesitant to try the cry it out method, give it a try. Sleep has been so nice!!!

Tonka & Ella: Well they are still being turkey's getting out every once in awhile, but we can't really blame them. Tonka is now neutered. We took Ella in and found out that she was starting her heat cycle so we have to wait. They love attention and going on walks.

Family: We went to Disneyland in December (Post to come someday maybe). Nothing to big is happening. We started a goal of going on 1 hike a month and take the dogs. Today was actually our second hike and it was a little intense and didn't go very far. Baby steps right? We even bought a hiking baby backpack to carry Ryder in. We try to go with the Packer's that want to come and are working up to our goal of Havasupai Summer 2013. Chase & I have really gotten into the games Dominion and Thunderstone. They are strategic card games and so much fun! If you wanna play let us know. We'd love to!

Life is great and we are having fun and enjoying our time together as a family.

Goodbye Summer:(

Chase started back to work today at Mesa Public Schools doing bus driving. It's nice being back on a schedule. (Please don't hate us!). But at the same time I will miss having Chase home with me all day! He would go shopping with me so if Ryder got fussy he could entertain him. We'd watch Smallville together (so sad it is almost done), and just do whatever we pleased.

Ryder is so darn cute! I can't stand it! He makes me feel so good. Like when he reaches up for me or Chase to hold him. How could I not? He is in a phase (hopefully just a phase) where he doesn't want to be left alone. He'll be sitting playing, not a care in the world and then if Chase or I leave the room he crys bloody murder. I'm not sure if this is normal or if there is something I could do so he isn't so scared of being left alone or if I should really enjoy it while it lasts?

Over the weekend we went to visit family in California. I'll post separate eventually:) It was nice.

We made a summer to do list and haven't finished much on it. Some of it I'm wanting to put a hold on to see what happens down the road because...

dun dun dun da!!!

We are going to be looking for a house to buy!!

We are so excited and cannot wait! I guess that is one plus to summer being over. Now that Chase has an income we can be approved for a loan.

So some of the projects I want to do I'm putting a hold on. For example, the Mom's Crafts letters that I got for Mother's Day. I'm wanting to wait to see if maybe we do a color scheme in our new house that I could match the letters to. Stuff like that. I know, I know buying a house takes time and chances are we wont get in until next year, So it is silly to put things off, but I don't want to have to do the same project twice. We'll see though, I may just end up doing a neutral color like black and white or something.

Anywho... Chase says summer doesn't end until he goes back to school so we still have a little more time to get our summer to do list done. Better get to work... :)

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Let's see... I put memorial day weekend , but now I don't think anything else is worth mentioning except actual Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day we go to Tucson with the Gibson's. One of the very few traditions from that side of the family. We visit the grave of Grandpa Gibson. We give family updates and have the opportunity to share memories. The sad thing is it has been 19 years so memories are fading, and people I think are shy to say anything. I really wish I could know more about him because Chase looks up to him so much.

After the graveside we have lunch at a park. Always yummy food:) This year we played softball, it was a lot of fun!

we had a lot of fun in the sun. Hopefully Ryder and I didn't get burned too bad. Lucky Chase doesn't have to worry about it. Below are some pictures of our day. I need to get better at taking more pictures, especially at events like this.









After the drive back to Mesa we went to the Packer's to celebrate.

We had burgers and the fixins and sides. Really good food as always! We enjoyed playing and talking. Chase started a really intense game of duck duck goose!. It is so funny when kids don't quite get the concept or when they start choosing someone else instead of chasing the person.

I think Ryder had a lot of fun on his first memorial day. He was decked out Red, White and Blue!


Oh forgot to mention, Chase got a summer route! I really didn't think it was possible. It is for a very short time, but it is better than nothing. He will be working for about 4 weeks for about 16 hours a week. Like I said it's better than nothing and will be extra money we weren't expecting.

Chase and I went on date in Friday. We did a sealing session at the temple and then went to Lenny's Burger. It was our first time and it was good! Chase got the Southwestern Pistromi and I got the double burger. We liked and definitely want to go back. We also went swimming at my sister's community pool. We left early because other people were there and they were smoking and drinking. Not the best enviroment. We headed back home and watched an episode of Smallville:). Then it was time to pick up our little Ryder. It's funny how I look forward to having a little break from him, but the whole time I am thinking about him and missing him. He has me wrapped around his finger.

I went back to Primary. It went ok. My class is a little rowdy so that will take some getting use to. Ryder got a little fussy, but the Primary Presidency is more than willing to hold him:). Chase is still getting use to getting to know what Ryder wants. He does't know his schedule like I do. But I'm sure he'll have it down in no time.

Ryder is still rocking at sleeping at night! I am so lucky! This week I am really going to try hard at sticking to a schedule. I'm going to write it down so Chase can help me. We'll see how that goes.

Ryder is doing the reading program at the library this summer. I know, I know, Ryder can't read! But I can read to him and he can get some pretty cool prizes. And I read to him anyways so why not? We are still going to the baby lap sit class at the Mesa Library and Ryder loves it! And I love it because it gets us out of the house.

Summer is near...

For some reason I have been having trouble sleeping at night. I don't know what it is, but I hate it. My family is all tuckered out having sweet peaceful dreams and here I am looking things up on the internet. Not all bad I guess, I do have some ideas for Ryder's 1st birthday! I know it is 8 months away, I am just excited! Go ahead, call me crazy!

Other news, we went camping with the Packer's last weekend at Bear Canyon Lake. I will do a post on that later when I get some pics from my sister-in-law Jen who took some of the group. It was a lot of fun. Ryder somewhat likes being out doors. He just had a rough time. I think he may be teething. A lot of the signs are there, but I'm not seeing anything.

Ryder is sleep around 7 hours at night which is wonderful! (if only I could). His naps during the day are a little tougher, but I can't complain. He will sleep for like 20 mins at a time if he's in his crib so to give him a good nap I'll put him in his bouncer or I'll take a nap with him.

He is talking alot. He loves his voice I guess. He was really happy in relief society. He was just fed and good to go. So I had him playing on the floor. He was making some noise. It was so cute. Now I am biased, so my question to you (if anyone reads this), are you bothered by babies making noise during sunday school or Relief Society or those types of settings. He wasn't being too loud at least I didn't think so and it wasn't crying, it was "talking" but kinda a whinny tone. I don't get bothered by it so I want to hear that from other people. Give me your honest opinion!

He has also recently found his toes! It is so funny! It is amazing how they use their abs. He can easily kick his feet in the air likes it's nothing.

I go back to Primary next week. Bitter sweet. I have really enjoyed my time being able to go to Relief Society and Sunday School, but I really do love Primary. I wish I could just go to Primary, but not have to do anything. So anyways we'll see how Chase does with Ryder. Sometimes he gets fussy and tired and wants you to stand and walk around. I think he is excited to show off his boy! He always talks about the other babies that go to Elder Quarm.

Chase has his own bus route! Hopefully he will get a few more hours in the fall and be a contracted driver. It would be such a blessing! He would get vacation days and qualify for health benefit and then we would be able to quit Dominos. (We cannot wait for that day to come!) Right now he is working enough hours to cover insurance for Ryder and himself. He has like 20 bucks left of his check after that.

He is starting to ride a bike to work. His cousin let him borrow one and he was really excited about it. Only downfall is it is starting to get hotter. Now we want to get me a bike and do family bike rides. We'll see when that ever happens.

Next up...

Chase is done with work this week. He bid to get a summer route which would be great, but very slim chance of him getting it. They go by senority and Chase is one of the newbies. So good bye income for a couple of months. People keep asking what we are going to do? We just say hope we saved enough. Prayer will help us too:) It will be a tough summer, but we know that if we do what we are suppose to we will be blessed and everything will work out.

Speaking of doing our best, me and Chase are making some goals, summer and life long. It is always fun to see what each other thinks we could be doing better at. I'll have to do a summer goals post so we can see how we did at the end of the summer.

Memorial Day. So one of the few traditions of the Gibson's is to go down to Tucson and visit the grave of Grandpa Gibson. It was a lot of fun last year so we are pretty excited about it. It will be Ryder's first and a lot of families first time seeing him. I'll have to do a post about it next week. I'll take a lot of pics to give you a nice visual.

Let's see what else is happening? ...

Me and Chase are enjoying this extra time we get to spend with each other with School out and soon work. We spend a lot of that time watching smallville. We are hooked! We are on season 3 and are planning on watching all 10 seasons! Hopefully we don't get burnt out. Some of the episodes get repetitive. You know Kryptonite effects someone, gives them special powers, Chole crys, victim gets hit in the head and gets knocked out, Clark saves the day!


Thanks for reading and don't forget to answer my question:


Are you bothered by babies making noises in Church? What are your thoughts on the matter???