If You Build It...They Will Play

So one of the things I really wanted to splurge on was a playstructure for the kiddos. We enjoy our friends' a lot so I knew it would be a great addition to our yard. And now hopefully we can have friends over to enjoy ours! The kids went down for nap right after the workers arrived to put it up and when they woke up...ta-da! Instant fun! Nevermind that it was raining. :P


Captain Ryan at the helm! He's already pretty good at climbing the ladder and giving Mommy a heart attack :P


I think she likes it :)


Cutie


And a few of Ryan (obviously a few days ago...pre-hair cut)and the loves of his life...his trains

Life's A Beach

Last weekend we took a much needed relaxing trip with my parents to South Padre Island. We had so much fun...beached it twice a day...ate ice cream...spent time with each other. Love it! Katie would have probably stayed in the water from sun up to sun down if we let her. Ryan on the other hand was not a fan. He didn't like the sand at first...cried because he got sun screen in his eyes and was generally miserable. He came around a little bit on the last day and had fun digging in the sand and picking up sea shells. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful getaway!

Beach babes...





The second night we did a 2 hour sunset dolphin watch cruise. It probably could have been 1 hour and been just fine. There's just not much to see on the coast of South Texas. But we did see LOTS of dolphins! We also watch two dolphins "playing" National Geographic style...yeah...


Also on the island is a really great Sea Turtle hospital and rehabilitation center. They take in injured or sick sea turtles and if possible sent them back into the wild once they are healed. They have to have at least 3 good flippers. Some of the turtles are permanent residents. They also protect the sea turtle nests on the island. It was a great little place.


We got one picture of our little family!


I thought this picture was sweet :)

Thanks Barbara!

Sorry for being MIA! I went on a much needed vacation to South Padre Island with my parents. It was lovely! Lots of pictures to come. These pictures are from last week on an adventure with friends to find a field of bluebonnets. The original place we were going to wasn't so hot so we cruised around and eventually found a fenced in field next to a house. In front of the house was a little building with a sign that said "Barbara's Hair Studio" or something similar. Well, being the rule follower that I am didn't think we should go in the field but good old Colby went and asked Barbara (who turned out to be soooo nice) and she said go right ahead! Little did we know what we were quite getting ourselves into...let's just say crocs and smooshy green cow patties don't mix. Poor Landon! Also...2 adults, 5 kids, and a very friendly horse is an interesting situation. But....we had FUN and got some cute pics :D

Since Friday....

We haven't left the house. Let me give you a glimpse...
Thursday night we met Keith near his work for dinner, came home and played and watched a few cartoons before bed. Ryan was playing like he normally does, running around the playroom from thing to thing. Then I felt him lean on me...nothing strange about that, but I could feel his little body temperture rising. I took his temp and although I didn't trust either of thermometers completely it ranged from normal temperature to 103. Within 5 minutes he was lethargic so I knew something was up. He went into a cool bath, had a dose of tylenol and then fell asleep before I could even say the word "book." The next morning the temperature was still there though not quite as high and off to the doctor we went. Diagnosis...Coxsackie Virus - Hand Foot Mouth. UGGGGGH!!

Oh but it gets better. So for lunch that day I had yummy spinach dip with pita chips. Sounds delightful right? Well within a couple minutes my stomach didn't feel right and then at 2am...yeah...food poisoning. I was sick all Saturday. Thank GOODNESS for my mother in law who has saved my butt twice in the last month because of my own sickness. She took the kids and left me to wallow in misery. Keith was FINALLY taking his Corvette Racing School.

Anyway now I am back to normal, Ryan is still dealing with some after affects including the lovely sores on his lip and chin and a rash all over his body from his high fever and cabin fever from being couped up for 4 days.

Oh and poor Katie. She missed 2 birthday parties because I was afraid she might be carrying the nastiness, plus Ryan couldn't go so I had no real way to take her.

But, we are mending and hopefully will be back to normal within the next couple days.

Here's a picture of Ryan to show his little sores. They are hardly noticable and you would probably think it was just a scratch or a cut lip.


I coaxed him into drinking chocolate milk because he hasn't wanted anything but ice water. He thought saying "chocolate milk" was hilarious! It was the funniest thing.


Katie doing some crafts

Clover Day

That's what Katie calls it...also "Green Day", or "The Day When the Little Guys Come and Turn Our Milk Green Day." Well, those little Leprechaun did come and made much mischief in my kitchen!!! We didn't catch one though...no pot of gold this year I guess. Darn!

They opened all my cabinets, knocked chairs, lamps and potted plants over and threw napikins all over my floor! Ryan was very concerned about the napkins...


Katie looking a bit concerned about all these happenings and about Cali's water which had been turned green...


The best part of the leprechaun's visit...they turn our milk green!


Ryan wondering what the big deal is?


Katie and her class pet Oreo sharing an appetizing bowl of cereal with green milk...mmm


May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

18 Months

Today Ryan turns 18 months. He has turned into the sweetest little boy. I sometimes can't believe just a year ago that I thought this guy was going to send me to the looney bin. I'm sure some of you thought that too! Haha! He still knows how to push Mommy's buttons and definitely has a mind of his own. To be especially annoying here are 18 things you need to know about Ryan:

1. He's a mama's boy. He loves to cuddle with me, be near me, give me kisses and "huggies." He lights up when he sees me. I'm doing my best not to be annoyed by his clingyness and cherish it before it's all about Daddy.

2. He talks a lot. He really amazes me with his vocabulary. Katie I think internalized her vocabulary and didn't share it with us until she was good and ready and one day she decided to talk and then just didn't stop!! Ryan loves to try to repeat words you say and is like a little sponge. Just yesterday he said his first 3 word sentence "More Juice Please." So cute!

3. HE SLEEPS! We read books, sing songs and he goes in his bed awake and doesn't fuss and sleeps all night. What??? My child??? Who a year ago was waking up 3,4,5 times a night? Yes, complete 180 and life is good in that department.

4. He loves trains and had Mama convinced he was bilingual when we would read books and he'd say "Mas, mas." More books??? No...he meant ThoMAS! Haha!

5. He really enjoys books and being read to. Not only will he sit and page through books himself but loves to sit and be read to. His favorite thing is to pick the books out himself. His favorites right now are anything Thomas or that looks like it might be about a train, What's the Matter Pookie, Shiny Dinah, Rythm of My Day, Oh What Busy Days, and so many more but I'm drawing a blank.

6. He loves to be outside. LOVES IT.

7. He's fearless. Things I never really worried about with Katie I have learned I HAVE to worry about with him. He climbs and he runs off with no concern about where I am. sigh....

8. Separation anxiety sucks. Yes...since he was about 9 months old we have been dealing with it. It first started at the Y. One day he went in and I went to pick him up and they told me a bunch of babies were crying all at once and it freaked him out and from that point on it's been bad. We haven't been able to return to the Y since because they just don't have the staff to give that much individual attention. But we still encounter it when I go to my mom's group at the church and he goes to the nursery. The girls in there are AWESOME and I never get a call but still dropping off your screaming child each week makes you feel like poo. The last two weeks though we've seen some changes in the positive direction so I'm hoping we are leaving this behind.

9. He won't eat sandwiches...won't do it. I've tried, trust me.

10. I think he's a bit pigeon toed...discussing at 18 month appt

11. His stomach issues still concern me, and re-affirms the fact that I think he's been dealing with issues since he was born. I would really like some answers in this department!

12. He wears size 18 month right now...sometimes 24 month depending on the brands. I had to move up to 24 month pants due to some "high-water" situations :P I think this boy is tall!

13. He loves to say "No"...sometimes I think he says it when he means yes. The way he says it cracks me up. More like "Noooooo" with a furrowed brow and pouty face. It is usually at the dog

14. We do Kindermusik and he seems to enjoy it. I'm a true believer in the program and love what it teaches the kids. He's an observer for and sits and watches Miss Penni very closely (WE LOVE MISS PENNI!). His favorite part is when she brings out musical instruments. I'm also very proud that he has learned to put his things in the basket all by himself.

15. It's so cute when he "jumps." He crouches down and stands up super fast. No real "air" involved but he sure is proud of himself!

16. He could swing all day...

17. He's stubborn, grumpy, cantankerous...like a little old man sometimes

18. We love him VERY much :)

friend time

We just love having our friends over!





Isn't he too young for the "cheese face????"


Want to get Katie to smile? "Don't you DARE look at me Katie...don't you DARE smile!!!" Works like a charm :P

Let Your Tongues Hang Out!

Apparently that is what is required when it snows. Yes...for the 3rd time this year we had snow in Houston which is just absolute craziness.


We had our friends over to help enjoy the fluffy white stuff! (please don't judge my mothering or my style based on my daughter's outfit...aye yi yi)




Ryan didn't mind the cold or wet...he just played and played...


Nothing like a warm bath after an afternoon of cold snow :)

Lazy Day

We had a drizzly Sunday morning today. So A little Toy Story 2 was in order...Ryan was in awe. Every time the dinosaur came on he roared and whenever Buzz Lightyear flew or there was a scene where they were driving he'd yell "Goooooooooo!!!" He sat like this for about the first half hour until the little 17 month old wiggles got the best of him. He loves his little window seat.


Multi-tasking sissy watched from the kitchen while doing her water colors. She's becoming very good at staying in the lines (and with water colors that's hard!) and could sit for hours doing this.

Morning O' Fun

We had some friends over this morning for a playdate and lunch. Judging by the immediate crash at naptime and having to wake the kids up at 4:30...I would call it a success! :D Thanks for sharing the morning with us guys!

Grabbed a few pics while they played outside before lunch. Sweet, sweet Neve...


Mr. Landon...Pop Yo Colla!


Jackson...cruisin'


Kendall displaying the classic 2 Year old Cheese face :P


Ryan with his signature furrowed brow...


Cameron...just looking downright handsome!


Sweet baby Jacqueline...she's gonna be out there running around with the big kids before we know it!


Ok and I seriously just realized I missed a picture of Katie! Oops! Here's the group having lunch...the quietest part of the morning.