Park Play and A(nother) Rainy Day

Ryan and I took advantage of one the very few days of nice weather we've had this spring (if that's what you can call this season?!). While out running some errands, we stopped at a neighborhood park a few towns over. It was small and we were the only ones there, but that didn't stop us from having fun! You can tell it was a sunny day because freckles exploded on my nose!

Small fry is growing up! Lately Ryan's been swinging on the "big" swings instead of the baby bucket-style ones. Fortunately, he is very good about hanging onto the chains and we've yet to have a tumble.

Any guesses as to what he is pointing at over yonder? Ding, ding, ding it was a trash can. He has now been interested and talking about them for more than half of his life (it started at 13 months - he's over 30 months now).

Tackling the terrible T-Rex.

Because we've had so many rainy days, I decided it was time to get Ryan a slicker and rain boots. I know I'm biased, but is there anything this child doesn't look cute in (a devil's costume, Oscar the Grouch's trash can, even Green Bay Packer clothes)?! At first he wasn't crazy about stomping in the puddles, but he quickly caught on and liked it!

Here's hoping that our next post is the result of another sunny day of play. Or maybe vacation pictures from Daytona - less than a month until go time!!!

Easter and Daddy's Birthday

This year Dean's Birthday fell on Easter Sunday, so that was a day full of family, fun, and food! Leading up to that day, Ryan and I attended an event at the Round Lake Area Park District. It was very cute, set up with carnival games, a scavenger hunt for Easter eggs, a craft table, a guess the number of chocolate eggs in the jar table (I won!!!), and a picture station with the Easter Bunny - or as Ryan would come to call him, Blue Bunny (hey, isn't that also an ice cream brand?! Can't imagine how he'd know that!). When we first approached BB, Ryan threw his hands over his eyes and proceeded to scream and bury his head into my shoulder. You would've thought I was trying to have him get his picture taken with Freddie Krueger! Gradually he warmed up.

This was as close as I could get him. That poor bunny was so patient and made many attempts to get close to Ryan, but was good about letting him be in control. Ah well, maybe next year.

Forward a couple of weeks to Easter Morning (aka Dean's Birthday). The Easter Bunny did make a stop to Meema (or Meemee) and Meepa (or Papa Bernie) 's house. He left a trail of about 8 eggs to the closet where Ryan's basket was hidden. I think Ryan ate at least one item from each of the eggs. You may be able to tell how puffed his cheeks are here - puffed with candy, that is.

I got the goods!!!

One of the items in the basket was this little wind-up chick. You pressed its head and it would hop along. We'd set it on the desk and it would always hop over the edge. Ryan was in hysterics each and every time!

Back track to the previous weekend - as a surprise to Dean, we went to the Russell Military Museum, which is at the border of Illinois and Wisconsin. It was a cool place with soooo much memorabilia and warcraft from WWI, WWII, Vietname, and Desert Storm. Dean, of course, could tell you the names/types of all the vessels and weapons. I however will leave it at the following:

This is a tank:

Lots more trucks, tanks, and cannons.

The birthday boy and son outside, ummm something.

I sure hope you can view this video, it took many attempts to not only film it, but to upload it. If you can't see it, I apologize. Just know that it is a very cute rendition of Ryan singing Happy Birthday to Dean.