Outings With Dad

Phil took the boys down to the river today to throw rocks and eat mud.

Strouds Preserve

A neighbor told us about a park nearby. It was awesome!

Many Faces Of Ry, Part Deux

Ry's face is too expressive not to capture as often as possible. I have no idea where he gets this flair for drama...

Magic Carpet Ride

We're selling a rug on CraigsList (anyone interested???) so we laid it out in the backyard to take pictures of it. It was like a kid magnet!

UPDATE: The rug is gone already! CraigsList is the bomb.

Go Rockin' Robbie 'Cause We're Really Gonna Rock Tonight

So it seems that there isn't enough room in Ry's hand for 2 imaginary animals. Little Fishie has been kicked out and replaced by Robbie Emma.

I've been informed that Robbie Emma is a bird, and that he/she is a blackbird.

Interestingly enough, there's a cat that lives in our alley that Ry has also named Robbie. This cat, however, doesn't have a middle name like the bird.

Stay tuned for the latest developments in imaginary friend-ville!

Frankenstein Lives

Batten down the hatches...hide your valuables...Cole is officially walking. It's not the most elegant thing to see (as my Dad says "he still hasn't discovered that he has knees") but he's hobbling around the best he can.

Unfortunately I can't get videos to load...but I'll keep trying!

Scenes From A Kerper Haircut

It's just so much easier for Phil to cut the kid's hair. Any breakdowns can be completed in the privacy of our kitchen, and we can turn on the TV to distract them. Below is the progression of Cole's cut, with a zinger at the end where I think Ry is thinking "I want out of this family."

Aunt Debbie Van Gogh

Aunt Debbie finished a beautiful painting for our Living Room. Check it out on her blog!

Update: Duh, I can just add it here!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Ry is growing up entirely too quickly. And for this reason, we have to watch our words these days. We don't curse or say anything rude...we're just realizing that he's soaking in everything we say. Some recent Ry conversations which made me laugh:

1. The other day he said to me "Mommy I want some juice please!" I was talking to someone so I didn't answer him right away. He asked me a few more times. Finally I stopped talking and said "I heard your request Ry, you'd like some juice". He replied, "so what are we waiting for?!"

2. I was doing something with Cole and Ry came rolling in. He looked at me and said "Mommy, can you do me a favor?" I said sure...but he just stood there and stared at me. I don't think he fully understands the favor concept but thought it would be fun to ask.

3. I woke Ry up first one morning and asked me to help wake up Cole. He went to turn on the light and said "watch your eyes Coley Cole", which is what I say to Ry when I first go into his room in the morning.

4. Phil took Ry to the doctor last week. He asked him a bunch of questions to see how he's developing. Just like his dad...Ry enjoys giving people unexpected answers:
Doc: What's something that flies in the sky?
Ry: A teranadon (for you novices that's a flying dinosaur)
Doc: What animal is green?
Ry: Reptiles
Doc: What is in the sky at night?
Ry: The moon. The moon controls the waves

Freakishly Weird

I didn't think the boys looked alike until I found some pictures of Ry at this age (around 11 months):

And The Academy Award Goes To...

Best Friends

I'd like to officially present the newest member of the family, Little Fishie. I was formally introduced last night by Ry, who held out his hand to me and said "Mommy, Little Fishie would like a snack." Apparently he also wanted to brush his teeth, put on pajamas and have a glass of water, because we did all of that too.

When I woke up Ry this morning, he pointed to his mattress and said "Shh, Little Fishie is still asleep."

Silly me to ask what Little Fishie's name was. Ry looked at me with "duh" written all over his face and said "Little Fishie."

Here is a picture of our new buddy (he lives on Ry's hand).

Little Troublemaker

This little bugger is into everything right now. When Ry sees Cole doing something off the wall he says "Cole is a little troublemaker." Pot calling the kettle black, perhaps?

The Many Faces Of Ry

Why?

We've officially reached the phase of a 3 year old's life where every other word is "why?"

Mom: Hey Ry, breakfast is ready!
Ry: Why?
Mom: Because I just cooked it
Ry: Why?
Mom: Because you said you were hungry
Ry: Why?
Mom: Because you haven't eaten in a few hours
Ry: Why?
Mom: Because you were sleeping
Ry: Why?

I think you get the point. It's cute for now...check back in a week and we'll see if it's still as charming!

Tough Life

I know everyone says this...but it's just so great to be a baby! Here is a brief synopsis of Cole's day at the park over the weekend.

I'm here...let's party!

On second thought...yawn...all this stroller-sitting is wearing me out

Peace out people

Ry's Party

The Top 5 Most Interesting Things From Ry's Third Birthday Party

5. If you go to Jimmy John's, make sure you do it on a clear day. It seems that you have to go outside and around the back to get to the bathrooms. It was raining on Saturday. Not just a light rain, as Steven and Logan came to find out.

4. The way to get famous in Chester County is to have a party here:

3. Ry got a new fish that he has randomly named "Football". More details on their wild and wacky adventures in a future post.

2. We are friends with a lot of weiner-heads.

1. The most interesting thing to me is the realization that I am no longer cool. This was relayed to me by niece Shaye.

Shaye came with me a little early to get things set up. Shaye is 8 and I was always under the impression that she thought I was a pretty hip Aunt. So we're inside putting out the plates and other party things, and I said "Shaye are you ready to par-tay?!" I then proceeded to raise the roof. Shaye grabbed my arms and pulled them down saying "Aw my gawd Aunt Bec, stop doing that!!!"

So then I busted out the hot dog hats. To me, wearing a stuffed hot dog on your head is a perfectly acceptable way to celebrate someone's birthday at a rundown old hot dog joint. When I gave one to Shaye, she looked at me in horror and said "I can't believe you think I'm going to wear that on my head."

It's been officially proclaimed...I am an embarrasment to the children!!

Cheeseheads

Now that Ry is talking up a storm, it looks like I'm going to be on here every 5 minutes posting what he says. I'm sure most of what he blurts out is only cute to me, but I just want to write it down for posterity.

So I just put him to bed. Phil has been away and I told Ry that when he wakes up tomorrow, Daddy will be back. He said, "Mommy, I want to go on a business trip with my Daddy. We'll go to Madison Wisconsin together."

Breaking News On The Walking Front

This is short, but you'll get the point. Cole is walking! Well, walking while holding onto something, but walking.

The best part of this short clip just may be Ry's helmet cameo. I'm entertained by the fact that he's walking around wearing a helmet inside. I also think it's funny that he just has to be involved in everything at all times. Wonder where he gets that from?!

No Big Deal

We had swim class #2 tonight. I had been reminding Ry nightly that swim day was coming up. When I would mention his class, he'd say "No big deal to dunk my head...no big deal Mommy." (Obvious translation alert: He doesn't like to dunk his head under the water, so we tell him it's not a big deal).

When we got to the pool, Ry ran up to his teacher and said "Look Mommy, it's Rebecca!" He was seriously gazing up at her with this tender love and affection. Ry is officially in love with Rebecca.

So they did the same old same old. Kick, jump, splash, dunk. At the end, I asked Ry what he thought of everything. He said "Mommy, I was scared when I dunked my head. But it's no big deal."

His interpretation seemed pretty logical to me!

When Did Ry Grow Up?

So yes, I did concede and allow Ry to wear the shirt with a muscle-bearing man saying "Call A Vet Because These Puppies Are Sick!"

It's during these moments that I pause to reflect on the fact that (a) I'm not always going to win, (b) It's just a school picture, and (c) My husband is a little off his rocker for purchasing said shirt in the first place.

Moral of the story, his school pic came back and all worked out in the end. It turns out that sitting by a babbling brook and a pussy willow tree brings out the best in an almost-3-year-old!

I think it's very high school graduation...he just needs to be holding a rose and/or fake diploma to truly look the part.

What's The Big Whoop?

I had a new show on Thursday with Whoopi Goldberg. She was a lot of fun to work with and the best part...everything sold out!!

Pool Party

Ry had his first swimming class tonight. It was a hit! The cute moments were as follows:

• His teacher went to each kid (there were 5 of them) and introduced herself. Her name is Becca. Ry gasped and said "My mommy's name is Rebecca!"
• She asked "What's your name?" and he said "R-Y-A-N"
• When Becca left Ry and went to meet the other kids, she had a little shadow. Ry followed her around the pool deck the rest of the time and was gazing up at her with adoration in his eyes. I think he was very impressed that she had the same name as Mom
• He did great in the pool...they kicked, pushed off, jumped in from the deck, floated on their backs, and dunked under the water

One thing we need to work on...when we got back to the locker room we had to walk past the showers. He kept saying (very loudly), "What are all those ladies dooooin'?!?" I had to teach him the first lesson of locker rooms -- keep your eyes to yourself and don't worry about what other people are up to!

Hair You Go

I learned a very valuable lesson with one of Ry's previous haircuts...use scissors only! Ry got his hair cut last week at a shmancy kid's salon where he sat on a motorcycle and watched a Thomas DVD during his cut. Needless to say, after I saw the price tag I cancelled Cole's appointment and recruited Dad for the job.

So today was Cole's turn...after a few tears and a lot of wrestling, we came out with this. He looks like a little man!

I tried my best to get a picture of the 2 of them together. Unfortunately, Squirmy Baby + Restless Toddler = I'll take what I can get. Ry pics to come later, here is Cole:

Giggle

Score: Ry 1, Mom 0

Today is picture day at school. My vision was matching plaid Polo shirts (ala the vest theme of 2007). I know this is ridiculous and nerdy, but I figured I would try to do cute things like this while they're too young to protest.

It is now clear to me that the days of not protesting are over. Ry INSISTED on wearing the new shirt that he bought with Dad yesterday. And when I say insisted -- those of you with a stubborn toddler knows what that entails!

For the record, Cole looked adorable in his plaid Polo shirt. He even let me slick down his hair and clean his face (unlike his brother, of course).

Stay tuned for the results!!

Little Rascal

Cole is trying hard to keep up with his big bro. He's a tiny troublemaker, but is always smiling so we can never be upset with him!