Ryan's Birthday

On October 11 we celebrated the day Ryan entered the Fabulous Fours!  I'm trying to be positive about this age, as 3 was trying at times.  We've had this date starred on the calender now for awhile.  Multiple times a day Ryan would ask, "What's on October 11?" Dean and I would play it off.  "Oh, that's the day I get new tires for my car." or "I'm going to the dentist then." or my personal favorite, Dean's response, "I'm getting hairplugs that day."  No matter what we said, Ryan would say, "NO, that's Ryan's birthday."  What he wanted most for his birthday, white cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

"A new shirt"  he's saying the word new as I snapped this picture.

An overly stuffed bean bag chair

 Math toys from Meemee and Papa Bernie

A Number Train book from Ryan's friend, Ryan.  He was in his class last year, they are great pals.  The other Ryan's brother, Tyler is in the corner of this picture.

 The other Ryan with his dad.

Does Patrick not realize the floor is already littered with dozens of toys?! 

Um Ryan, you can't go to school looking like that!

I can't take enough pictures of this.

Ryan's big gift was tickets to see the Imagination Movers in concert.  The other Ryan's mom turned us onto them.  They have a show on Disney Jr. and we've checked out several of their cds at the library.  Just he and I went and it was scary for him at first.  He donned headphones, sunglasses, a pressure vest, and wore his chewy letter on a string (can you say sensory issues - I'm sure if I offered noseplugs he would've accepted them too!), but once they started playing songs he knew he relaxed.  One of the Movers even came into the balcony and shook Ryan's hand!  Awesome time!  Ryan asks to go back to the concert, so I know even though it started off rough, it ended up being a positive, memorable experience, just like I hope the age of four is. 

Hanging out

 

What have we been up to you ask?  Not a whole lot, mainly just hanging out.

 

Here's Patrick hanging out waiting for Ryan to get off the bus.  Sadly, the middle set of drapes is no longer up.  Paddy Daulton pulled the rod down.  Now the whole neighborhood can look in!

 

This was a cool, slipper wearing kind of day!

My new, absolute favorite picture.  If only it hadn't turned out so blurry.  I mean, really, do they come any cuter than these two?!

Last week Ryan's class talked about people in their community.  A firefighter came in and spoke to the class.  He gave everyone dry erase boards, a hat, and some stickers!

We finally put the Jumpolene up in the basement.  It has already provided us with tons of fun!  They have one at Hope's Playground where Ryan goes for therapy, so he wanted us to put the balls in ours as well.  Even though we have about 300 of them, they don't even cover the bottom!  The boys love to play the "ROAR" game - Dean and/or I will hide and crawl around the outside and pop up to "ROAR" or scare the boys, it's fun for all!

Bathtime is a daddy activity.  He likes to lead them in song - take a listen.  Beware, you might need to adjust your volume first.

Labor Day Weekend

It was a nice quiet Labor Day weekend here.  My parents came Friday so Dean and I got to go to see a movie and get some dinner.  Patrick mangaed to pick up Ryan's runny nose, so he was a bit under the weather for a day - but he bounced back quickly.


Hopefully Gizmo won't catch the cold next, since her and Patrick are swapping spit.

 

 I love how Patrick sucks his thumb (always the left one) and holds it with his right hand.  There are even times he'll caress his own hand.  The boys were watching their new favorite show, Imagination Movers.

Lately when we've been going on walks, Ryan will run through people's sprinklers.  This seemed odd to me since he never cared much for the spraypark.  So we finally pulled out our sprinkler this weekend and he loved it.  Makes me wish we'd done this weeks ago.  Paddy Daulton on the other hand, preferred to be held, or to stand further away from it.

Patrick is more at home playing with his birthday present - the sand table.

Back to School

The first day of school has come again!  Ryan seemed ready to go this morning, until the bus pulled up, then he was a little unsure.  I'm willing to bet he'll fall right back into his old routine by the time they pull out of the subdivision though! 

 And here comes Miss Kay to take him away!

Patrick's Perspective

Top 'o the mornin' to ya!  For those of you who don't recognize this voice, it's me, Patrick.  My close ones call me Paddy Daulton - thus I've adopted an Irish dilect.  Me mums been busy this summer now that me brudda is finished with the summer school and hasn't had a moment to post.  But thanks to me Lucky Charms, I get a chance.


Me brudda, Ryan, ore long await had some success on the loo.  So we got to go to the pool to celebrate.

You also missed me birthday.  Yep, I am now one year wise.  I didn't wake up in the best mood, but some silly play time with me Meemee put me in better spirits.

I got to see plenty o me friends and family the week we were in Dixon.  I got me a nice wagon/scooter for gettin' around.  Silly mum puttin' a bow on me head.

Ahh the cake.  I don't yet know if I care for the taste, but it sure was fun to squish in me fingers.

Mum and I did swim lessons earlier this summer.  A mum of another lil' girl in the class was to send the pictures she took to me mum, but never did.  So sadly, no pictures of Paddy Daulton at swimming.  Here's Ryan wit his helper, Elizabeth.  Ryan could be a stubborn lad, but Elizabeth found out she could get him to do more if he was allowed to do "blast offs" as a reward.

A high five success after blowin' bubbles in the water.

The last bit o fun we had was going to hear a concert at Ravinia.  It was a family favorite, Laurie Berkner.  There were thousands o kiddies there.  A bit too loud for me brudda, so he wore his earphones.

Me dad is a funny man.

Me mum and me sound sensitive brudda.

A lil kiss for me dad, it's like kissin' the Blarney Stone - nice and smooth!

Playtime

It's been busy platime here this summer.  We had a few days where it was too hot to get outside, so we pulled out every toy in the house (at least it seemed that way)! 

 Patrick is probably a few weeks away from walking, but here he's attempting a few steps with the walking toy.

Ryan finishes summer school this week.  Here he is posing wearing a visor he decorated at school.

 To be a Bears Fan or a Packers Fan, we'll let the kids make those decisions on their own.  However, it is not up for debate, they will be Cubs Fans!!!

Dare I say we might be able to retire the John Deere tractor?  Ryan has taken an interest in pushing Patrick in the stroller and for the most part he does a wonderful job - as long as we avoid hills!

Adjust your volume, you may go deaf but here's a 30 second video of me trying to get Patrick to imitate my sneeze. He does first in the beginning and once in the end.

Our next update with be via Patrick's Perspective - afterall, he'll be the big 0-1!!!!

Santa's Village and Ryan's Last Day

We had a fabulous weekend!  The weather allowed us to be outside quite a bit and boy were we ready - especially after the storms on Friday that kept us indoors.  Ryan attended a friend's 4th birthday party on Saturday, complete with petting zoo (that he really enjoyed).  Sunday we decided to cash in a Groupon I had bought for Santa's Village.  I'd never been there and was pleasantly surprised.  It was perfect for Ryan's age group.  Even Patrick was able to enjoy some of the rides.

And we started this week with Ryan's last day of school (until June 11th when summer school starts).  He's wearing the jacket on his first day and the green shirt on his last.