Summer Camping Memories...

We have been on a few camping trips so far this summer and had a WONDERFUL time with family and friends...making memories.

Before summer leaves us for the crunch of fall, we will have more memories to add to our collection.

I've added some more pictures to the online gallery...so have a look :)

The Art of Humor

School has ended...and Ryan brought home several items during that last week of school that gave me a good chuckle.  Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

The first one was a map of the world.

I need to give you a little back story on this one.  When Gage and I were on our last cruise, Papa Thom and Grandma Dar showed him on a map where we were (Puerto Rico).  That has stuck with him, and he can pretty easily point it out on a map.  If you look, he designated it on this map.  However...he must think that people who stink live there.  I laughed when I read his label for it..."Port or Rekos".  Oh...he also labeled Camas, WA...but apparently the whole city has relocated to Alaska :)

The second was a watercolor painting he did of a flower, and he was to label the parts of the flower that he learned in class.  Here is what the whole flower looks like (apparently this flower was in very bumpy ground).

Upon closer inspection...I realized that what I thought were leaves, were actually (in part) speech/comment bubbles.  Here is a closer look at the top and bottom of the flower...

I asked Ryan to explain what was happening in this picture.  He showed me the flower and its parts, and then explained that a little bad guy fell from the top of the flower ("AAA!"), and then hit and bounced off the petals on his way down ("ouch!" "ouch!" "ouch!").  Then at the bottom, he sunk into the dirt and was trapped by the roots (one last "AAA!" in red at the bottom of the flower).

This last one is not really funny...but shows the growth Ryan has achieved during his 1st grade year.  

The directions for each page are the same..."Draw a picture of yourself."

The picture on the left is from the first week of school in September.  The picture on the right is from a few weeks before the end of school in June.  I was amazed at the increased detail and more appropriate use of color that he has developed.  The kids mounted them inside of a black 11x14 piece of construction paper, and folded it into a large card.  Ryan presented this to Gage for father's day...the bottom line on the picture on the right says "Love you Dad".  Makes my heart smile!!

Growing up Ryan...

Both boys are getting so big!  This past weekend we had some close friends of ours visit with their 6 month old boy.  I don't realize just how big these boys are until I really spend time with a baby.  The above pic actually happened when I was taking some pictures of the baby, and I could tell Ryan was waiting his turn.  When I pointed the camera to him...this is what he gave me.  This doesn't happen that often...usually when I'm inspired to shoot pics of the boys, they are inspired to avoid me and get on with their day.  Times like these are fleeting.

Evan's First Bus Ride...

Evan's school schedule has changed... he has gone from going to preschool 2 days per week to 4 days per week.  Given my work schedule, the only way to make everything work was for him to take the bus to school in the mornings.  Thursday was his first day riding the bus...and it became the highlight of his day.  Man, these kids are growing up far too fast!

Happy Easter!

Science ROCKS!

Ryan was determined to enter the Science Fair this year.  It is mandatory for 4th & 5th grade...but any student can participate.  He was so adamant and excited about it, even after me explaining the extra work it would take on his part, that I couldn't crush his dreams.  He had even picked a topic (how sedimentary rocks are formed).  Being in 1st grade...and not yet 7 years old...it is no secret that there was A LOT of parent (me) involvement.  I did make Ryan do most of the work (researching information, answering additional questions, making observations, gathering data, typing out his findings, etc)...but given he really didn't know what a science fair was or how to go about conducting his experiment, he had to be directed and focused by someone more experienced.

Ryan now has a plethora of things he want to "be when he grows up"....artist, writer, scientist, and a skateboarder (interesting side note: he has never really ridden a skateboard nor had any desire to get on one).

All in all it was a good experience, and I'm very proud of the work he did.  Special thanks to Grandma Dar & Papa Thom who supplied him with some samples of different kinds of sedimentary rocks from different parts of the USA.

To be perfectly honest, I'd REALLY be ok if he didn't do another science fair until 4th grade :)

Toothless...

For the faint of heart...I'll spare the gruesome details.  But do want to share that as I helped to liberate the tooth, it literally hit me in the forehead!!

Also...I've posted a video of Evan blowing out his candles in the Hymas Photos section of the website.  Check it out!!  Sorry for the quality/color...not sure what happened there.

My Baby is 4!!

4 YEARS AGO:

3 YEARS AGO:

2 YEARS AGO:

1 YEAR AGO:

And that brings us to now....

My, how the time has flown, we love you little man!  

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, with many more to come!!

Finishing 2011

We had a busy but good finish to 2011...lots of great memories with family and friends.

Thanksgiving we spent in Sun River.  Ryan saw Santa there and sat on his lap.  When Santa asked him what he was wanting for Christmas, I don't think he was at all prepared for Ryan's answer...."I want a zombie lab where you drink the barf!!" Ryan replied with excitement.  I think Gage and Santa shared the same shocked expression.  But...Santa was a sport, and did bring Ryan just what he asked for.  It is a weird  machine that essentially makes different textures of candy through chemistry.  We have done a few of the "recipes" which are all gross, but curiously fun at the same time.

December flew by with all the preparations of the season.  It honestly didn't start to feel like Christmas, really, until days before.  Not sure why...but both Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to come much too early.  Over the Christmas weekend, Justin and Kaytlyn made the trek down to spend it here with our crazy family...and partook in all our crazy family traditions.  Don't tell Ryan, but we forgot one of our traditions...and thankfully he didn't notice.  We forgot to leave crackers and root beer for Santa this year.  Oops!

We quietly rang in the New Year with our good friends Brian and Kristi...and had a sleepover there rather than brave the roads with all the party-goers...safely finishing out 2011.

Hoping you all had a great 2011, with an even better 2012 to come!!