Family Day

Today was a very special day. Dan and I took a break from work to play with our boys. We had a blast.

After breakfast out, we headed to a local amusement park. August doesn't usually mean sweatshirts, but it did today and I think that was a blessing. Our usually hot baby was quite comfortable today...



Rides, rides, rides... we did them all. And, I discovered that I'm old. The tilt-a-whirl used to be my favorite ride. Well, I went on one today and thought I was going to be physically ill. What happened?? Luckily, grown-ups weren't allowed on the tea cups... it gave me a chance to recover.




Doesn't Dan look thrilled?? I think it was his turn on the tilt-a-whirl...


Ryan was a trouper as usual. He did get to go on the train, but he'll have to wait a few years for the tilt-a-whirl... maybe a few years longer than Tyler since neither Dan or I will be willing by then.

Here we are on the train.

And, Dan with Ty.

With Ryan around it seems that Tyler is so much older, but then you have a moment like this and you remember that he's still a baby. I never want to forget how it feels to be wrapped with a 4-year-old boy.

Then the next minute he's on this crazy ride! It shot straight up in the air and then dropped you, over and over. First, I couldn't believe he was willing to try it. Second, I couldn't believe he was big enough to be let on it. Third, I was lucky enough to go on it with him first and got to hear his glee first hand. Fourth, I couldn't believe he wanted to keep going on it, over and over... I made it twice, then it was over to Dan. It was funny watching Dan watch Tyler.

After we had made the rounds at the park, we treated ourselves to dinner at the Hard Rock. About twelve years ago we discovered Hard Rock Nachos in Florida with Sara. Ooooh, so yummy! Cheesy, salty, goodness! A couple of weeks ago Dan committed a marital sin and had Hard Rock Nachos without me on a business trip! Can you believe it! The nerve! It's ok now that I've had mine.

Ok, so I forgot that video doesn't correct itself when I hold the camera sideways... oops. Sorry. Ryan was having a great time at dinner. He was bopping along to the music. The kid has rhythm! Too funny! This isn't the best of it, but it's what I got. Check out Ryan Rockin' at the Hard Rock!

What a great day! And, the best part is we still have the whole weekend ahead of us...

Mr. Scoot

Let me introduce you to Mr. Scoot, aka "Ry Ry." In the last week he's really come a long way in terms of fulfilling his own wants. He sees something and gets it. We don't know how he does it exactly, but somehow he rotates his rear end in an odd circular motion and manages to move 3 to 4 feet at a time all while our backs are turned. He's a stealth mover... one minute he's safe and sound with a pile of age appropriate toys... the next minute he's across the room pulling at the laptop cord! It's almost like there is someone hiding in the closet who runs out, moves Ryan, and then hides again. Very strange!

Can you see the mischievousness in this little face??



We had another exciting accomplishment this week... It took three summers of trying, but Tyler finally went in our friends' pool! Here he is peeking through the ladder very proud of himself.

See, he was all the way in! And, after 3 years of trying to get him in, we couldn't get him out! Yay Tyler! ...maybe next time he'll let go of the ladder!

Ty has also ditched his "motorcycle" for a two-wheeler. He's doing great on it!

This has been a busy week... we went to the beach too! Here's Ryan with a favorite toy... an empty water bottle! I swear I'm going to give him a box full of toilet paper rolls and water bottles for Christmas. There is no point in spending money on this boy!

And, another first this week... Tyler is now a harmonica player. He is very good at it in his own opinion. What was I thinking... I voluntarily gave a 4-year-old a harmonica??

See, no point in having actual toys... here's Ryan on Sunday having a blast with the advertisements.

He was moving so fast that my camera couldn't keep up with him. Such fun!

Finally, we also got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa C. Here's Tyler enjoying a ride on a horse drawn carriage!

Phew! It's been a busy week! I feel like both boys reached milestones this week. They're growing up way too fast... I've got to go hide that harmonica...

Simple Pleasures

Ten dollars, three boys and twenty-five cent rides equals a whole lot of fun!

Here is Tyler on his first ride of the day... he was so happy that he forgot he doesn't like to have his picture taken!




Ryan had his first ride today with Miss Jeanne. I think there are going to be a lot of carousel rides in our future.



I'm not a big fan of G-U-N-S, especially when they're pointed at other people... but what are you going to do?? Of course the boys loved it. I couldn't even make something up about the guns being something else because they had sound effects.

Ryan was incredibly hot. So hot that his hair stood on end! Poor kid... first you're all sweaty, then your mom does this to your hair and takes a picture! He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

After we finally got through all the rides and filled ourselves with fried dough (yummy), it was time for the parade. It was another first for Ryan. He had no idea what to make of all those fire trucks and the noise. Here he is checking out all of the action.

Tyler got to ride on a float with his friends and throw candy. Such fun!

All in all, it was another wonderful summer day... sweat and all. I can't wait for our next adventure.

A Day at the Fair

I really need a shower. As I sit here I am covered in a layer of salt and I feel absolutely disgusting... but it was so much fun!

Dan and I left work early to surprise Tyler with an afternoon at the county fair. We saw the animals, ate junk food, watched Tyler on the rides, and poor Dan suffered through three rounds on the tilt-a-whirl... he's not feeling so great at the moment. Tyler had a blast. I'll treasure my time on the Ferris wheel with him. He's too funny... excited and scared a the same time.

Here he is a little closer to the ground on the airplane ride.



And, popping a wheelie on the motorcycle.

And, Tyler and I with his after dinner treat! Daddy's favorite!

Poor Ryan didn't do very well at the fair. Unfortunately in my exuberance to make sure he was safe, I put on a bit too much sunscreen and he ended up rubbing it into his eyes :( He was miserable.

But, in his usual style, he bounced right back after a nice long bath at home. Is it wrong that my 9 month baby has a blue tongue?? A little cotton candy never hurt anyone, right? He deserved it after his day.

We can't wait until next year!

9 Months and back on the chart!

Today was Ryan's 9-month appointment. I can't believe it! Where has the time gone... He is now 25 pounds, 2 ounces in the 95th percentile. Our big boy is already starting to slim down. He's 29 1/4 inches long which puts him in the 75th percentile for height. I can't believe that he'll be a whole year in just 3 months .

This past weekend we visited Grandma and Grandpa W. Tyler got his first ride in Grandpa's vette. I have proof! See him in there? In the next shot he had completely disappeared from view!


Last Wednesday was almost the perfect summer day. The only thing that would have made it better is if Dan hadn't been out of town. I took the day off and got to tag along on a field trip with Tyler's class. It was a ton of fun.

I arrived at his school early and watched as the kids filed out to the bus. Everyone was calm and orderly until I spotted my boy. He danced, hopped and skipped his way to the bus... of course!

The field trip was to see the reptile guy. Here is Tyler and his friends eagerly awaiting the show to start.

As we were waiting the teacher shared a Tyler funny. They were talking about babies in their class recently and the teacher said that babies drink milk. My boy piped up and told the teacher that babies drink for mom's body. Grateful for the word "body" the teacher decided not to push her luck so she moved on to telling the kids never to hold the baby unless mommy or daddy said it was ok. Tyler decided to interject again by telling the class that he couldn't hold his baby because he was too fat! Poor Ryan!

What a perfect day to be outside. Check out all these kids...



This was one big snake. We got to see all sorts of interesting animals. Unfortunately I was quite the attraction for Tyler and his classmates. I don't think I've ever been as interesting as I was that day.

Later we picked Ryan up early and met some friends back at the house to run through the sprinkler. We topped the day off with ice cream from the ice cream truck after dinner at our friend's house. Such fun! I can't wait until our next day together.

First Haircut & 9 Mo Pic

Yesterday was the big day! Right up until the first snip I was ready to back out, but in the end Ryan got his hair cut. Here he is in the car just before the big event...

Looking at the before picture again, I am reassured that we did the right thing. It was in his eyes.

Here he is during the cut. Unfortunately he's not big enough to sit on his own yet so he had to sit on my lap. He did really well! And so did his big brother who spent the whole time at the train table. We didn't hear one peep out of him... I think I might need to go back there just for the quiet!

And, here is the after picture! Doesn't he look much more comfortable?? I really do think he was relieved. Yesterday was the warmest day of the summer so far.

Today Tyler went with daddy to the nostalgia drag races. Here he is all dress up in his Dale Jr. gear. The shirt matched the hat... and I did not dress him this morning!

Last night we all went to the wading pool. Tyler actually went through the fountain all by himself. He was so proud. The pool that we can walk to was closed for mechanical issues so we drove to the other town pool. I think this one might be better because there are a lot more kids. It might be worth getting in the car so that I don't have to be Tyler's playmate.

While Tyler and Dan were at the races, I took Ryan to get his 9-month picture. I can't believe he is 9 months old. I don't think we should have given him a bath this morning because the grease in his hair yesterday was holding it down. And, the poor kid got my crazy hair so it will never look straight. Oh well, it just adds to his charm! I love this picture because he was watching me play peek-a-boo and he was laughing so hard. I'll always be able to hear him when I see this picture.

Only three more months until we'll have a 1 year old! Time sure does fly!