The Wifia turns 1!

Joia informed us all a couple of weeks ago that today is the 1st anniversary of our weekly wifia lunches. (Only our Joia would be on top of things and know that.) It was Andrea's turn to host and she made an amazing tomato basil pizza.

She got the recipe from Pampered Chef. I plan on getting it from her. It is SO GOOD!

Before tearing into the amazing dessert Joia made we took a group picture with it. Unfortunately most of the girls were not there today. Jodi was not feeling well and Sarah's girl, Della, went down for a late nap so they missed the picture.

Gals in attendance today (Andrea, me, Wendi, Joia)

Sarah and Della did make it but we had put a good dent in the dessert before they got there.

The boys had a good time playing together. They found a car of Jonathon's that plays music and bounces.

The boys dancing along with the hoopty-mobile

We had a great day.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We were so busy yesterday I didn't have time to blog. The lady I am doing crafts with for our MOPS program came over at 9:45 and we worked until 2:00 on various crafts and nailing down what things we need and want to do this coming year. One thing we made some samples of were ribbon votives.

We plan on doing these around Easter time. They are so fast and easy which will be great for a meeting were we might have a long winded speaker.

Today William and I had swim leassons again. Afterward we headed to Crestview to return some things to Big Lots. When we got home William napped and I mowed the yard so Matt wouldn't have to when he got home. That turned out to be a good idea because when Matt got home his DOP patient (Duration of Pregnancy) came in to the hospital with some issues. Everything was fine she was just not feeling very well. While Matt was gone Will went ahead and ate his dinner.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmm lasagna is goooooooood"

Matt wasn't gone for long which made William happy.

The boys love playing horse.

Then William got into Matt's boots and played for a while.

Hope everyone has a great night.

Less than 4 days until we are on the farm!!!!

Bayside brunch

Today after church Brandon and Brittny said they were going the Officers Club for brunch. We tagged along because that sounded a lot better than the leftovers waiting at home for us. It was a really good meal. We got a table right by the window and the view was amazing.

Brandon, Christopher, Brittny, and Sophie

William and Christopher were itching to go outside and run around so after we finished eating we went out and let the boys run by the bay for a few minutes before heading home.

"Okay guys it's HOT I'm going home."

William ran so hard and for so long it took him about an hour to cool off. His poor face was so red.

Speaking of red we worked on our colors today. We poured out his big legos and I would ask him to hand me a different colored block. He got it right about 25% of the time so basically when he did, it was a fluke.

A new trike for our tike.

It was a great Saturday here at the Ramage house. We got up and went to Target to get William a tricycle. The bike Nonnie and Poppy got him is great, but he needs something to help him understand the concept of pedaling to make it go. The bike is just a little too big right now. After Target we went to the mall and ate at Chick-fil-a. Nonnie and Poppy got us calendars from there for Christmas so each month we get to eat out for free using the coupons that come on the calendar.

Chic-fil-a is Will's favorite!

After lunch we went to the movies and saw Wall-E. It is so cute William said he highly recommends it. We headed home after the movie and William took a nap while I worked on a craft for MOPS. I am the creative activities co-cordinator for the MOPS (mothers of pre-schoolers) at our church next year. Today I worked on a a photo cube for next year. The theme is "adventures in mothering".

When William woke up he was ready to help his daddy get his tricycle together.

"But daddy I thought real men don't read directions."

Too cute!

On our ride we went by Wendi and John's house. William insisted we go visit Miss Wendi. Matt tried to get him to give Scrubs a hug so we could get a picture. This was as close as he would get even though Scrubs is a gentle dog. Some days William tackles him and then today he only got 4 feet from him.

"Book Club"

After swim lessons William and I got to come home and clean house. It was nice to get home before 2:00 and actually be able to get stuff done. William was acting a little bored so I opened up a new book I bought called The Busy Toddler Book. The only activity I had all of the supplies for was an egg carton with clothespins. He has played with it before but it still amazes me how much fun he has playing with this. He counts up to three of them and then makes sounds like he is trying to count all twelve clothespins. He has a blast taking them out and putting them back in the holes.

After William's nap Matt told him he needed his help getting ready for his upcoming PT test.

This evening was the Wifia's monthly "book club" meeting. Yes I know I put it in quotes but it really isn't about the book. It is just so nice to get together with these ladies without kids in tow. We get to talk without being distracted or hurried. Tonight we went to Tradewinds, a great little Italian restaurant in Valparaiso. The food was so good and the portions were HUGE!

The ladies at dinner tonight: Joia, Wendi, Becky, Sarah, Jodi, Me, and Andrea.

Matt said he would watch Della, Sarah's daughter, so she could go tonight. While we were gone he took William and Della to John and Wendi's house for dinner. When Wendi and I got there I found that Matt had jailed William.

Not really. William thought getting into Scrub's kennel was too funny. Quite frankly I am thinking about getting one for my house :)

But he knows how to escape so there goes that idea.

Busy Wednesday

Today we started off at swim lessons again. It was was the first day for William to go underwater and he wasn't as excited about it as I thought he would be. In the past when we go swimming he puts his head underwater on his own and laughs when he comes back up but when I put him under he HATES it.
After lessons we headed over to my friend Jodi's house for our weekly "wifia" lunch. Matt coined the term "wifia" (pronounced : wife-ia) for the wives of everyone in his class. We all network and know what is going on and just take care of each other. These women are a true blessing when we are far from our family. Williams friend Keenan was there when we arrived with his mom Joia. The boys played in Jodi's screened porch before we ate.

Keenan got on top of a box and William thought there was enough room for him too. There was for about a minute and then both came tumbling down. It is a good thing they are both tough boys. They just looked at us and William said "uh-oh"

After a little while our friend Sarah came with her daughter Della. They had gone back to Colorado for a few weeks while her husband Rob was on some really difficult rotations with work. The boys were so excited to see Della. She is the only girl in our group.

William and Keenan almost tackled Della when she came in the door. They were so happy to see her.

The three kids in attendance today : William, Della, and Keenan

We finally got home around 2:30 and William crashed. While he slept I cleaned up his toys and did laundry. I don't know why I try to pick up these toys. "picking up after a toddler is like nailing Jell-o to a tree" I wish I could take credit for that brilliant saying but I can't. I do however repeat it to myself everytime I pick up while he is sleeping because I know the tornado that is William is just going to undo everything I have done as soon as he gets up.

Matt got home around 5:00 and our friends Brittny, Christopher, and Sophie were here playing with William's new train set. When Brittny told Christopher William had a new train set she said he was out the door before she could finish telling him.

After dinner William wanted me to read another book to him but he didn't want me to sit on the couch he wanted to spoon. It was so cute.

I honestly think I have ALL of his books memorized. But I am so glad he loves to read.

Just 10 more days until Matt is on leave and we are heading home! We can't wait.

Banana Bread, Basketball, and Bikes

We started today at the YMCA in Fort Walton for mommy and me swimming lessons. William had a BLAST! I think he is going to take to swimming quite nicely. After getting home William and I decided to make some banana bread. He really loves to cook and gets so excited when I pull the chair into the kitchen for him to help so I am trying to let him help a lot more lately.

My executive chef at work.

Matt got home at 3:30 today! He got to be home when William woke up from his nap and they both wanted some of the bread William made for a snack.

William schooled me in basketball while Matt went running with John. When Matt got home we took William out for a spin on his bike.

It was a busy day of playing! We will be going to swim lessons every morning for the next two weeks so I will be sure to take pictures before we are done.