"A" Is For Apple

Ry is way into letters. He likes to ask what everything starts with so many of our conversations are similar to this:

Mom: Hey Ry, look at that bird!
Ry: What does bird start with?
Mom: Buh. Buh.
Ry: B!!
Mom: Yes, bird starts with B. Hey, how was school today?
Ry: What does school start with?
Mom: Ssssss, sssssss
Ry: S!!
And so on, and so on.

Phil was washing an apple to eat and set it on the counter. Ry did this:

Adventures With Daddy-O

Phil took Ry and Cole to the Please Touch Museum in Philly. To a 2 year old, this is the promised land...

The next portion of their big adventure was to hit the Art Museum steps. Ry took it upon himself to pull a Rocky and run all the way to the top. This sounds like fun, but imagine running after him holding a 20 pound baby in a carseat!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today we celebrate 5 glorious years since the Kerper nuptials. And since we met in 1996 that also means it's been 11 years that we've known each other. Crazy!

I'm posting a copy of Phil's vows because I think they sum it up for the both of us. Also because Phil isn't one to openly share his feelings so I enjoy reading this :-)

Happy Anniversary to us!

Bec,
Since the day we met you have surprised, challenged, and engaged me in a way no one else has. I used to sit alone and think about what the future held for me. Long ago you were a dream. Today you are my dream come true.

It is amazing to think about how we have evolved since we first met. From a basement to the happiest place on earth; from a wide beach to Lightstreet; from #55 to 10-12-02. Our love has outlasted the loneliness, the tears, and the challenges all around us. With each passing moment together, our love has become more beautiful and enduring.

I always knew you were the one by the way you could look into my eyes and see who I truly am and know what I'm thinking. I love you not only for who you are, but also for who I am because of you. I love you for allowing me to cherish life's little things and to see excitement in everything I do. That is what you do. Without a word, without a getsture, without a thought. Just by being yourself. No one else in the world can make me feel that way. Only you!

Before the people with whom we have shared our lives, and with those who are here in our hearts, I take you, Rebecca, to be my best friend for life. From this day forward, I will stand by your side, hold your hand as we walk, listen as you speak, and hug when we cry. With our future as bright as the promises and dreams we share, I will respect you, care for you, and protect you. You are the one I will always be true to.

In joining my life to yours, I give you all that I am and all that I will ever be.

Cole's Delicious Cheek

I love this picture...his cheek is dripping right onto his shirt.

Fabulous?

I'm going to New York next week to attend a breast cancer fundraising event. It's at the Waldorf-Astoria and is hosted by the Fashion Footwear Association of New York. Dress is "Black Tie and Fabulous Shoes." Now that's pressure!!!

fab·u·lous
–adjective
1. almost impossible to believe; incredible.
2. told about in fables; purely imaginary: the fabulous exploits of Hercules.
3. known about only through myths or legends.

Sweetbriar Memories

Ry, Cole & Bec visited the old neighborhood today to catch up with friends. It was very odd being back there and not being able to run into our old house after playing at the Lloyds'! A lot happened when we lived in KOP...

• We moved in there 2 months after we were married
• King Samurai came to live with us
• Countless home improvement projects that we did ourselves (new kitchen, Phil built a bar, all new landscaping, laundry room, wainscotting...the list could go on forever!)
• Ry was born
• Bec got pregnant again with Cole

It's funny to think of how much work we did to that house, all before we had children of course. Now we're all about hiring people to do the work for us! It's tough to find time to tile the backsplash when you work full time (and then go home to your second full time job of parenting :-)

Here's a picture of Ry and Harrison. Lloyds--I totally had my camera and forgot to take pics. Next time we come out we'll need a group shot (if we can fit everyone into the frame!)

Our house when we first moved in:

Cole & His Pooch

What happened before this picture was taken?

A Dream Come True

You know the scene in Parenthood where the little boy puts a bucket on his head and just keeps running into walls? Many years ago, Phil and I watched that movie together and he said "I hope my son is just like that."

What I think he meant by that statement is he wants children who are carefree and willing to take risks (at least that's what I hope he meant by that statement). The pictures and video below are a glimpse into Phil and Ry livin' the dream. Keep in mind that this was only one of the 18,000 times in a row that he did this.

Here's the progression of the event...

Mom to Ry: Do you really think this is a good idea?

Ry To Mom: Yes

Ry To Ry: Maybe I'll reconsider

Ry To No One In Particular: D'oh!

Ry To The Entire Downtown West Chester Area: Wah

And finally, I've got this down! Here I go (again and again and again...)

Help Please!

Debbie and I are desperately trying to remember the name of an ice cream bar that was popular back in the day. It was on a stick...vanilla ice cream...chocolate crunchies (or strawberry) on the outside. They're currently marketed as "eclairs" and it's similar to that concept...just without the extra chocolate layer on the inside. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. We're going crazy!!

Phil Is Very Happy Right Now

LATEST UPDATE: Phil is REALLY happy right now. We're in the Playoffs! GO PHILS!!!! He felt compelled to take pictures of the boys in front of the TV when the game was over. It doesn't look like they're as excited as their Dad but at least it's documented for posterity.





UPDATE: Okay now he's very nervous. All will be answered on Sunday!

The last time they were in the playoffs Phil was a freshman in college (1993). Go Phils!

Cole Swing

Cole's normal morning routine includes a cat nap around 08:30. He was asleep so Ry and I went outside to play. 5 minutes later we came back inside & this is what I found!!

Enough Said

Phil's Best Story Ever

The story of the Carolina Boy Scouts that got lost brought up memories of a similar event in my life. It was '86 it happened. I remember we were looking for Haley's comet the night we were lost...lost in the wilderness.

The best part of this whole story is how we never even thought we were lost...we just didn't know where our Scoutmaster was. Apparently the 150 fire rescue teams and MedEvac helicopters scouring the woods throughout the night disagreed.

To sum up the best quotes from the incident (it was clearly a slow news day):

• "When found, they were in good spirits but cold"
• "He [the Scoutmaster] could not explain how the group had become lost"
• "One rescue worker suffered a sprained ankle while searching the trail. He was taken by Ambulance Corps to the hospital where he was treated and released"
• "McMannon (Rescue Chief) said hikers get lost on the trail infrequently"

You can click on the articles below to make them bigger.

5 Years!

Life before children...I remember it well.

Our 5 year anniversary is coming up soon (10/12/02). I'm sure I'll post something very setimental as the date approaches, but to keep you satisfied until then (I know you'll be chomping at the bit) here are some wedding pictures.

P.S. This was before digital cameras were big - although we did get one as a wedding present...thank you very much Eli!! These were scanned from (gasp!) paper prints, so please pardon the quality :-)

P.P.S. For a real flashback check out the wedding website I created back in the day. I guess I've come a long way...I used to code my websites by hand in HTML and now I'm blogging!

Ry's Baby Laugh

I dug this out of the Kerper archives...after soaking up all of Cole's giggles lately I forgot how cute Ry's baby laugh was. Here he is in August 2005 having fun with Pop Pop.

Ry vs Cole 5 Months

This is a fun little exercise...I'll try to do this going forward to see how alike/different the boys are looking as they hit new milestones. Here they are both at 5 months (Ry August 2005 and Cole September 2007).

What do you think?

Musical Maestros

Clearly Sarah and Ry have inherited the musical gene...Ry really brings it home at the end with a dramatic finish.

Ry is extremely into this piece.

Cute

Highland Orchards

Highland Orchards started their Fall Festival yesterday, so we took a trip out for a day of excitement. Ry and Cole took their first hay ride and Ry took a stab at milking a "cow." We also ran through a corn maze...at first I was a little scared we were going to loose Ry inside, until I realized the maze was about 10' x 10' and the exit was also the entrance. Phew!

Delaware Waterfront

Phil, Ry and Cole took an adventure to the mighty Wilmington waterfront on Thursday. Phil thought there would be playgrounds and fun kids stuff to do, but from the looks of the pictures there were just big cranes and power lines. Oh well, I guess it's the bonding between father and sons that really matters.

UPDATE: Phil said they ate hot dogs too.