September is almost gone already, I can't believe it! The weather here has started to change from the 90's to low 60's. It definitely feels like Fall around here now! Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love decorating the house for Fall. We found out the middle of September that baby #3 is a BOY!! We were very excited. Dalton went with us to the ultrasound appointment and when he heard it was a boy he said, "A boy?! Just what I've always wanted!" It was cute. We picked up Ashby from school that day and gave her blue balloons with a special treat from her new baby brother. She was pretty excited too. The only trouble will be finding a name we like for the little guy. Boy names are for some reason especially hard for Ryan and I. I am 5 months along now and have hit the half-way point already. I have really started to feel the baby move this week. Which to me is one of the best parts of pregnancy. So that has been fun.

The kids are very excited for Halloween this year. They have been talking about it since last Halloween!! Ashby decided to be Princess Ariel the Mermaid and Dalton is going to be a Pirate. Their costumes are really cute. They have already put on serveral "parades" for us in their new costumes. It should be a fun Halloween!

I was in charge of writing and putting on our ward's Primary Program again this year. It turned out really good. The kids did awesome. Ashby had her part memorized by heart and recited it flawlessly for the program. She continues to amaze us with her public speaking abilities. This was her part: "Family members have important responsibilities.“ Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).
The Proclamation of the Family teaches us that Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love.
I love my Daddy because he takes care of us & he takes me on special outings."

Grandma Bellows was able to come support Ashby at her program. It meant the world to her and she was so excited to have someone come and watch her. Thanks Grandma Bellows for coming!!

Ashby had been asking Ryan for awhile to take off her training wheels so she could learn to ride her 2 wheeler. Ryan finally took her to Walmart and let her pick out a new helmet and bike pad set. They practiced in the driveway for a bit and she was off! Both Daddy and Ashby were very excited. Way to go Ashby!! Ryan's business had their first concert they put on August 8th. It went very smooth for their 1st venture. They had a fairly good turn-out as well. I was able to go to the concert without the kids. We had a great time together. Ryan is still very much enjoying his Judgeship. It continues to be a welcome change from the same old and even very rewarding. Ryan had been very busy lately putting in some good hours. We were glad to have him home when he was not working! Ryan has also been playing basketball Saturday mornings at the church with some other guys. It has been fun for him.

Stefani is keeping busy with the kids. I have been lucky to volunteer in Ashby's classroom about once a week since she has been back at school. I love being able to volunteer in her classroom. It is a lot of fun and Ashby really loves having me in there to help too. I love seeing Ashby in action at school. She is a great student and a really good listener. She makes me very proud. I also decided to get organzied and start a preschool at home with Dalton. We usually do preschool time everyday while Ashby is at school. Dalton really loves singing songs, discovering what is inside our "letter of the day box", and working on creative art projects together. I think we both enjoy the time we have to spend alone together. Sometimes when we have a playdate we do preschool time with his friends too. It has been really good for us. I am 5 months along and still feel really good. I am happy I can still run everyday and workout. It helps keep me balanced. I am definitely a better Mom when I can exercize everyday. We decided to forego Disneyland this year and instead re-decorate and add to Ashby & Dalton's rooms since the new baby will be coming soon. We bought Ashby a big girl bedroom set complete with a new bed, dresser/mirror, and desk. We also decided to paint her room and put up wainscoting (white decorative paneling..see pic on the left)on the walls. I think it turned out great and I really like the look of it.

We still have a few finishing decorative touches to make the room complete. I ordered some new window treatments that are pink and brown that will be really cute I think. I was a lot of fun to re-decorate! Ashby LOVES her new room. Especially her desk, where she loves doing her homework, drawing, & writing pictures and stories.

 

My sister Kristi and I are very excited to announce that we have started a Custom Digital Photo Card Business. We have some great custom cards for all occasions, Holidays, or invitations. customphotocards.blogspot.com

Halloween cards are super cute and fun to send to friends and family or just to have to decorate the house as a keepsake.

Check out our entire Collection @ www.customphotocards.blogspot.com

Ashby is 5 years old. Ashby's biggest news is she learned how to ride her bike without training wheels! A big milestone! Go Ashby! She scored her 1st goal of the season in soccer last Saturday! She was pretty proud of herself. She continues to improve each game which has been fun to watch. She has had 2 games so far. Ashby has also started Dance again at her Elementary school. She loves it! Right now they are learning the hoe-down lowdown dance by Hannah Montana. It is pretty cute. She is especially loving Dance b/c her 2 good friends are in the class with her now Kylie and Abigail. It should be another great year for her. Ashby is our little swimmer. With all the pool time she got this summer she has really become quite good. She amazes me with her ability to dive underwater in 5ft and retreive a diving ring from the very bottom. It still surprises me how long she can hold her breath to swim underwater. She loves swimming and would happily go every day if she could. The other day we went to open swim night with Aunt Laura, Uncle Mike, and Austin. The kids loved playing together. After Ashby saw Michael jump off the diving board into the deep end she asked if she could do that. I told she could if she wanted to. We were pretty surprised to watch Ashby march right up to the diving board in the deep end and jump into the water all by herself, swim to the side, and do it again and again. I don't think I got up the courage to go off the diving board until I was at least 12yrs old! Ashby still is our little bookworm. She enjoys reading chapter books from the library. We discovered a new favorite series that she LOVES called "The Secrets of Droon" & the "Bailey School Kids". She continues to be a big helper for me around the house. She loves helping clean and fold laundry (I'm enjoying it while it lasts!!). :)

Dalton just turned 3 years old. So far 3's are marvelous! Dalton loves preschool. He loves singing all the songs especially. He is working on writing his name. He is also pretty good at telling you what letters words start with. Some of the things Dalton says are hilarious. The other day I asked him to go outside and get the newspaper on the porch I had forgotten to get and he replied, "Oh sure Mom, it didn't even cross my mind!" I was in stitches laughing. He is very excited to be a big brother. I think he will be a great brother too. He is very loving and sensitive. He always pats my belly and says, "Hi baby, I love you!" He is really growing up lately in his face and how he talks and relates things to me. He continues to amaze me with the things he picks up on his own. He loves playing with Ashby and all her friends. He tries to keep up with them and play anything they are playing with. He continues to be an active, fun-loving little guy. We sure love him. He has an infectious laugh and smile that I cannot get enough of.

Ashby jumping off the diving board for the 1st time!


For more on us visit our blog at

www.ryanandstefani.blogspot.com

Ashby before dance class

Dalton doing a Fall craft at our "home preschool"

 

Ashby riding her 2-wheeler for the 1st time!!