Eighty Nine

A few posts back I wrote about Tyler's obsession with the number eighty nine. Strangely enough, it continues to be an obsession. We still don't know where it came from, but everything that can be quantified is eighty nine. Today Tyler went on a field trip with his class to the local bowling alley. Can you guess his score? Yup, eighty nine. Very strange!

Life keeps on ticking by at our house. Another day, another event. Tonight I noticed that Ryan's second tooth popped through! Maybe that's what this was all about the other night...

...he really needed something to chomp on and he found it! He managed to get a good chunk of his foot in his mouth.

We did manage to have some summer events this week. Monday night we went to the wading pool and had a fantastic time. Ryan continues to enjoy the water and so did Tyler. He actually begged Dan to pour water over his head! Woo Hoo! Then, Tuesday night Tyler ran through the sprinkler. Unfortunately so did I, but it was all in good fun.


Here are a couple of pictures of Ryan just after waking up this morning. He still wakes up well most days.

I love the open mouth smile!

It doesn't look like it in these pictures, but there are little hairs that comes straight down his forehead and settle in his eyes. Ryan is also a very warm baby so he sweats all the time. We've decided to do the right thing and have a hair appointment scheduled for Saturday morning. Sob! I know he's going to look so much older.

Stay tuned on Saturday for Ryan's new look!

Yard Fishing

This was the scene in our yard just a few moments ago... a boy and his pole.



Can't you just picture the babbling brook? Tyler followed instruction very well and did a good job casting the line. Be warned Uncle Dave and Aunt Alisa... there is a little boy who would like to try this on the water.


"Uh oh, Dad, I caught a whale!"

Of course Ryan was having a great time. Can't you picture him cheering Tyler on in a few years?

What fun!!

He's Clapping!

Earlier this week Ryan discovered how to clap and he couldn't be more proud of himself. This look of awe comes across his face as he watches his hands. He's doing more and more deliberately. It's so exciting and sad at the same time. He's growing up so fast. I believe he knows his name and responds to it. Either that or he just looks at me whenever I talk and I use his name a lot!!

Here he is mid-clap.



Today is a very special day in my world. In the wee hours of the morning, a little boy stood by my bed and told me that he had gone potty. He asked me if I would flush for him. I told him I would in the morning and asked him to go back to bed. AND HE DID! Woo Hoo! My boy went potty by himself at night and I didn't have to be his audience... or tuck him back in. YIPPY! (Can you tell I'm excited??)

What a week we had... Uncle Tom picked Tyler up from school on Wednesday to spend time with Aunt Debbie, Tori and Mia. Tyler was so excited. I used the visit as an incentive for a whole week! They actually slept outside in a tent while it was raining! I am impressed. And then they went creek walking the next day. Tyler had a fantastic time. On Thursday Uncle Tom picked Ryan up for the evening... that's right, Dan and I were completely alone for a few hours! We don't do it often, but it sure is nice when we can go out to eat alone. I didn't have to cut up food for anyone else, or tell anyone to be quiet, or tell someone to sit down... what a novelty!

Today we went to a party and it was actually warm! Go figure, it's the end of July and we finally made it into the 80's! Tyler spent the whole time running around with all the kids... jumping in the bounce house, throwing water balloons (ok, not really... we're not sure what happened, but Tyler couldn't bring himself to break his balloon so he gave it away), playing in the sandbox, getting his own lemonade out of the spigot, and generally being a kid in the summer. He was completely covered in sand by the time we left. He told us he laid down in the sandbox and I believe him. CRAZY! On the way home he told us that it was the best party ever. I love seeing my boys have a great time.

Here's a picture of Ryan at the party. What a great kid...

And Tyler, running...

On the way home it poured and Tyler loved it. I think he was basking in the glow of the day.

Ryan was one sticky boy when we got home. We really need to cut his hair (sob). We plunked him in the bath and here is the result. Hey slick...

It's approaching ten o'clock and both boys are silent. Completely zonked. What a great week.

Peek-A-Boo!

Another weekend has come to an end and my boys are tucked in tight. We were bad tonight and went for ice cream at 8pm! It was so good and what summer is all about. Too bad the weather hasn't checked the calendar. Who heard of 60s in July??

My wish for my boys is that they will be best friends. They already have a good start. Ryan looks at Tyler like he's a superhero. Ryan has stars in his eyes. And, Tyler eats it up.

Yesterday the boys fell asleep in the truck on the way home from a friends house so I stayed with them while Dan ran into Lowe's. They woke up shortly after Dan left so we had 45 minutes to entertain ourselves in a small space. The boys did great. Somehow Ryan ended up in Tyler's seat and Tyler ended up in the drivers seat. A few minutes later Tyler had Ryan laughing as he played peek-a-boo. I'll hold that memory in my heart forever.

Here's Tyler after he popped up looking down for Ryan's reaction.

And Ryan didn't disappoint! Such fun! I love to see them together like this. All worries about a 4 year difference in age are gone. They couldn't be more perfect.

Who knew you could have so much fun in a parking lot! Here's Ryan sharing a smile with me.

Just to make sure I don't forget exactly how it sounded, I captured a bit on video.

How can you not smile listening to that?? Dan and I are so blessed.

Air Show Weekend

I'm not exactly sure what I did with these pictures, but I'm not doing it over so this will have to do!

I think I'm destined to participate in boy activities for at least the next 18 years so I'm doing my best to make it enjoyable. This past Sunday we went to a local vintage air show. The weather was perfect... not too hot, not too cold... just right! Thank goodness because we were outside for 7 hours straight! I really did enjoy myself.

Here are some pictures from our day.

Ryan was such a good sport. There was only one jet so the boys didn't have to wear earmuffs for long. Poor Ryan did not enjoy them at all!

Tyler was too much. The porta-potty was quite an experience. Early in the day Tyler had to go so I took him. We passed a couple of potties that were in a designated area. Ty asked why he couldn't use them so I explained that they were for special people. Later in the day as the show was thinning out, Dan used those potties. Tyler spotted him and asked why it was ok for daddy to use the special potty. I told Tyler it was because daddy is special. Tyler then informed me that he was special too. He promptly needed to go use the special potty. He doesn't let anything past him!

Tyler is getting good at naming the planes. He can identify corsairs! Sometimes he gets a little confused with all the letters and numbers. At one point instead of calling something a B15 or F17, he just shortened it to B-teen! Ha! That's using your noggin!

Last night was a beautiful night. The boys and I spent some time out in the yard. I went a little crazy with the camera. I must have taken 50 pictures of Ryan sitting in the grass. Here are a few.

I think this shot is kind of cool. I was trying to take a picture of his back. He's growing up so fast that I'm trying to capture every angle before he changes. He caught me and turned to look!

Tyler was tough to pin down. Most of the pictures I got of him last night have a pouty face. Here is one decent picture.

And one more...

Isn't he sweet? Fisher-Price called yesterday to see if Ryan could come today for a photo shoot. Unfortunately it didn't work with my schedule. Sorry, Ry! I hope we didn't miss a career opportunity for you!

He was really interested in the grass (ok.. well, weeds... you know, the green stuff on the ground!)

He entertained himself really well. Luckily he didn't try to eat the weeds.

Isn't this a great face?? I hope Tyler doesn't look back some day and wonder why there aren't as many pictures of him... it isn't for lack of trying!

Can you picture Ryan in 16 years trying to get in this seat? Good luck kid!

I think we're within weeks of Ryan's first haircut. I know he needs one, but it's going to be a major change. I'm just not ready yet. He'll have to sweat it out a little longer...

Water Bug

Tonight we went to the neighborhood wading pool for the first time this season. With the weather and our schedule, this is the first chance we've had... and it's already mid-July!

I am very hopeful that Ryan will be my water bug. Tyler inherited his father's disdain for water and it makes me sad. I miss going to the beach and hanging out by the pool. I need an ally. I've got my fingers crossed that Ryan will be on my side...

Here he is tonight lovin' it! Go Ry Ry!

I'm trying not to remember that Tyler also loved the wading pool his first summer... This pool is only 18 inches deep and it still took me forever to get Tyler in. He's missing out!

First Tooth!

On Wednesday, July 1st, I discovered that the tip of Ryan's first tooth had poked through! It is his lower front tooth on the right. Woo Hoo! By Thursday the whole tooth came through. No more full gummy smiles! How long do you think it is going to take before I get bit? Ouch!

Maybe in a few weeks we'll be able to get a picture of the tooth. This will have to do for now...


We were on our way to Grandma's house that night for a couple of days of kid filled fun... very loud, energetic, never-ending days of kid... filled...fun...(I'm still tired). Unfortunately it has been a rainy summer so far and last week was no exception, but we managed to find a kiddie play place nearby. They had a grand time!

Here's Tyler and Ava having fun on the pirate ship. Nora was there somewhere...

There were two turtles in this table. Very interesting...

Do you remember ball pits? I was trying not to think about all the yucky things that were probably lurking in here. They all had a great time swimming in plastic... and then we sanitized ourselves thoroughly...

The best part of the place was this water table. It had all sorts of levers to discover.

Once again, Ryan was a real trooper.

Saturday night we took the boys to the fireworks with some friends. I love to watch Tyler watching fireworks. He gets totally engrossed and doesn't even move a muscle. Ryan managed to sleep through the whole thing... crazy kid! You've got to love ear muffs!

And, I learned another valuable lesson during the week from my boy wonder... we were sitting in the hallway talking about something important (so important that I can't remember what it was exactly!). I said that I had to say a prayer and Tyler told me "prayers are for snack and lunch!!" in his best 'silly mommy' voice. I guess I need to spend a little more time on God with my little boy... it wouldn't be right for him to grow up thinking we only pray for food!