Good times in January

Look at the awesome toy I found at Sam's Club!!! $124 marked down to $19! It says for ages 6 and up, but by the time Ryan is that age, he'll be too big to play in it. So instead it might be something we build this summer for him to enjoy. Where to build/store it are still mysteries to me, but it was too good of a deal for me to pass up.

It doesn't matter to us that the temps have been low or that there's been snow on the ground. We've found different ways to have a good time inside despite the weather. One day, I watched Joslyn. She's 13 months old and her mom works with Dean. Coincidentally her mom is also my 2nd or 3rd cousin - what a small world! Joslyn was a cutie and we had a great time together, the two actually kind of played together and got along well!

No, Gizmo isn't going to eat Joslyn. This picture just shows how much Gizmo likes little kids - I mean other than the one who lives with us full-time. She frequently gave Joslyn kisses.

It's very difficult to get 2 kids of this age to sit still together long enough to snap a picture. This was the best one I got. Both liked the barn magnet toy. I'm sure my singing and dancing along helped ;)

I've been fighting a cold this week, but thankfully Dean and Ryan have stayed healthy. I didn't want to sit and mope all day through, so one day Ryan and I pull out the smock, paint, shaving cream, etc. and went to town! You can see his 2 finger painting masterpieces at the end of the table. I had to help him mush his hands around as he was uncertain about the texture of the paint.

AH --- , AH ---, AH ---

CHOO!

(no it didn't really happen that way, again this was a mommy-assisted mess)




Ryan actually found this hat in his chest of drawers and wanted to wear it one day. He wouldn't stand still enough for me to get his picture from across the room, so I settled for a close up. But I swear from slightly afar he could've passed for a short 4 or 5 year old! What a big boy he is getting to be.

Christmas 2010

I cleaned off the camera this morning (1/4) since Ryan decided to sleep until 9am! I found a few pictures from Christmas and the few days before it. You'll notice I didn't take many on the actual day, I had a 28 pound weight attached to my leg what seemed to be at all times. Better luck next year!


Ryan still fits in his bird sled from last year, with knees bent. Here Dean gives him a ride around the yard.
It was a chilly one! Even Gizmo ended up wearing boots that day.

Cold weather didn't bother Ryan at all, he trekked up and down the sidewalk like it was a balmy 60 degree day, rather than a frigid one in the teens.

And now the Christmas pictures:

Cousin Adam received some dress up clothes. Although I missed getting an absolutely adorable shot of him in the construction workers clothes, here he is - following in the steps of his parents and dressed as Dr. Lendman.

Looks like Gramma Pat was one of Dr. Adam's patients.

Ryan loves his trampoline. He wasn't a big fan of jumping on it that day while people watched, but it's a hit at our house now!

The tunnel/tent toy also was a popular one. The tent is almost big enough for Dean to sit in, but Ryan loves to hide in it.

And that's it for Christmas pictures, I told you there weren't many!

Dean's parents (Nana and Grandpa - who like my dad Ryan ended up calling Papa) came out for a visit. I finally remembered to get out the camera the last day they were here. Ryan's little issue of separation from me carried on through the week. I'm the one taking the picture and he was mad that I wasn't holding him. I tell myself he won't do this when he's in kindergarten, it's just a phase he'll grow out of.

A much happier little boy now that mama is holding him, though you can still see the tears in his eyes.

Even daddy's death grip couldn't calm the whinin' Ryan.

Our family of four, and a half - though you can't see any sign of our half in there yet! Won't be long I'm sure.