Saturday BBQ

We regularly try to get together with all our friends in Spokane. Its not always easy since we all have crazy jobs, kids, schedules, but its so worth it when we can make it happen.

Saturday Joel and Cailin offered to host us all for a evening of BBQ'ing and ladder golf. We had a great night!

Part of what makes these times so special is that our kids get to hang out with Josh and Becky Simmons' kids - Jillian (9 mos older than Ellie) and Kellen (1 mo older than Ryan).

I came around the corner to find them all playing on the stairs together. :) Ellie and Jilly can run around giggling and playing for hours. The boys are still a little too young to enjoy each others company like that, but I do think they have fun as a greater group!

Happy Fathers Day!

This Father's Day was pretty laid back for us! Per Daddy's request, we had home-made English muffin breakfast sandwiches - the kids even let him (us) sleep in until 8 am! We had a lazy morning around the house (Ellie requested playing Candy Land).

 

After lunch we  headed out to Riverfront Park. We did all sorts of fun activities there - we rode the carousel and the gondola and took a walk across the river bridges.

 

We tried to check out the goat, but he was too full! So we rode him instead...

 

 

 

Ellie's a pro at riding the carousel!

 

Ryan wasn't so much of a fan.

In the gondola right over the falls.

Notice everyone's rosy cheeks? These cars aren't air conditioned - they estimated them to be 90+ degrees on Saturday!

So after the gondola we headed to the water feature in the park to cool off!

 

Happy Father's Day to a very special Daddy and Husband! We're so lucky to have you in our lives!

Spring Fest

We always end up in Moses Lake for 3 day weekends/holidays and Memorial Day is no exception, especially when we have Spring Fest to look forward too. Fair food, parade, family...how can you go wrong.

Ryan enjoying a foot long corn dog - he ate a good 1/2 by himself

Sidewalk chalk fun

Ryan's first parade - he loved it - loud noises and all

Family fun

How can you go wrong with edamme and parade watching?

BFF's and Baby Boys - Jen/Caden, Jess/Max, Me/Ryan

A trip to the dentist

It was time for another visit to the dentist and this time was a first for two reasons. Ellie actually let them clean her teeth instead of just checking them and Ryan got his first check up. Both did AMAZING! The dental tech/hygienist (not sure which one she was) and the dentist kept complimenting Ellie on her job well done and told her she was such a good role model for Ryan. Ryan didn't bite the dentist or really even cry or throw a fit.

Welcome to the family Maggie!

Miss Maggie dog joined our family the end of April! She was sooo painfully shy her first day home, but it only lasted that one day! She was just over 8 weeks then and now she's already 12 weeks. She's a pretty good puppy, which has made training her easier than I thought it might be. She slept through the night on day one at home and every day since then.

Ryan absolutely loves her as you can tell when he says her name - Maagieeee! and he will repeat it over, and over, and over! Our cats still have a pretty strong dislike for her. There's lots of hissing and slapping of the sliding door, even when Maggie is out back and the door is shut - I think they just like antagonizing her.

She still has her challenges though...she jumps up on the kids, Ryan who tolerates it better than Ellie, but sometimes she just doesn't know when to stop. She's peed in the house a fair amount of times and even managed to poop in Nana and Papa's living room. And the toys, she still hasn't figured out which are hers and which are the kids, even if the kids have them in their hands. But a puppy will be a puppy.

Up until this weekend, she's been in a pen in the garage and sleeps in a crate. This weekend we moved her to a very nice kennel that Jared put up in the back yard. When we're home she's out running a muck in the back yard - and fortunately most of my plants have survived the past few weeks.

All of us are soo anxious for her to finish her vaccinations, so she'll have all the Parvo shots to keep her protected. Ellie and Ryan like going for walks with her, but always disappointed if we don't stop at the park. Jared is aching to take her to the river to get her acclimated to the water. And last weekend when we went camping, she had to stay with some friends (which was a treat for Maggie as you'll see in the last photo). Just a few more weeks - last shot comes at 17 weeks old.

Bringing Maggie home - proud daddy

First afternoon at her new home

Best buddies already - 1st day

Giving Ry kisses - 1st day

 

Playing in her own designated toy area - Mother's day weekend (~10 weeks)

 

Maggie got to spend the weekend with Trudy and Lola - my bff's yellow labs and of course their owners (Ali and Ryan). Ali is a true puppy lover and she got absolutely spoiled when she was there for Saturday and Sunday am. Trudy loved her and played the role of gentle giant letting Maggie tug away at the toy while she just held it there.

Ryan is 15 months

Ryan is already 15 months and had a check up at the end of May! Here's some highlights...

Weight: 24.4 lbs
Height: 33 inches
Head Circumference: 18.75 inces

Ryan is pretty much a proficient runner these days. Much unlike his sister was at this age, he successfully walks and runs around without tripping over nothing. Unfortunately for him, he really runs haphazardly or looking down which causes some bumps and bruises. Tonight he ran directly into a door jam. Big ol' blue bump on the top of his forehead - further indicating he's looking down while running.

He's talking!! It feels like he started doing this overnight! Mama and Dada were first and then all of a sudden came...Maggie (our new puppy), Cat, Bird, Truck (one of his favorites), Eat, Poop, Milk, and I am sure a few more that we don't hear frequently enough that I am remembering them now.

He got his first hair cut (and a half)! Just prior to family pictures with the Haight crew, I gave Ry his first 1/2 hair cut. I did it myself and was afraid to cut too much before pictures. He did pretty good, only because I bribed him with a steady flow of marshmallows. :) Nana's barber shop was open this weekend, so Ryan got a better, more complete cut. He looks so handsome.

He's got lots of teeth...we've had the front 8 for awhile now, but just the other day I noticed his two top molars are poking through. Looking forward for him to having a complete set. He chews on everything these days. He actually ruined two training sippy cups by chewing on the nipple/spout and ripping it apart!

After I posted this, I realized one other thing I just have to document. This kid is a professional at throwing temper tantrums. No joke! Ellie was so laid back and if she got hurt (which was frequently) or you angered her, she let it roll off her back or barely cried. Ryan is the 180 of that. You take something from him - be prepared...he will completely let go of his body and throw himself to the ground backwards, screaming, red faced. If he hurts himself he will cry intensely. He hits, he bites, and lets out an un-godly shriek if you piss him off. True story.

Here's some of my favorite pictures of Ryan as of recent. You'll notice a theme here - he likes dirt, running and climbing - in general getting in trouble.

WOW - Long time, No post!

Oh goodness! I can't believe its been since the beginning of April since our last post!! Obviously we've been busy since that's generally what keeps me from updating the blog. A lot has gone on since then - Jared and I have each had business trips, we got a puppy, made several trips to Moses Lake, and generally spent more time outside since the weather has finally gotten warm. I'll be posting a few of these stories to show you what we're up to!

It looks like a busy summer, so probably fair to say you'll see a lot of these massive posts with gaps in between!