Catching UP

Catch up time!!

In my last post...I promised to write about our county fair experience.

The beginning of August...county fair time.  We went last year with the kids.  Evan was too little to ride any of the rides, and Ryan hesitantly rode on a couple of kiddie rides with either Gage or me by his side.  His biggest enjoyment was looking at the animals and watching the dirt bikes in a big-air competition.  

This year was entirely different...and deepened my realization that my somewhat timid toddler was growing into an independent little man.  When we first walked through the gates and into the hustle and bustle of the fairgrounds, Ryan spotted large trampolines with towers attached to them, and attached to the towers were various bungee cords with a harness at the end.  Ryan said he REALLY wanted to do this...Gage and I exchanged a doubtful glance.  Last year, we had to encourage Ryan to ride the tamest of rides.  Surely he just didn't understand that doing this meant you would jump and be somewhat catapulted into the air.  We decided to have him watch some other fair-goers participate in the jumping to see how high he would be going.  We both expected him to back out.  After watching...he was even more sure he wanted to do this.  I was still a bit doubtful.  Before arriving at the fair, Ryan had been super excited about the pony ride.  Both the pony ride at this were an extra charge, so we gave Ryan the choice...the ponies, or this.  SO we handed over a five-spot to the guy running the booth, and watched as our eldest took to the trampoline, was strapped in, and started bouncing...higher...higher...and higher still.  I was in awe as he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of "flying", and shocked that he had become so much more daring and confident over the past year.

Did it stop there??  NO!!

The next thing he spotted was the largest, and highest ferris wheel on the grounds.  He INSISTED that was the next adventure.  Gage followed him up the ramp leading to the ride while Evan and I watched from below (Evan is still too little to ride many of the larger fair rides).

We met up with some friends of ours (Brent and Michelle...and their kids Gracie and Spencer who are the same age as Ryan and Evan) then trekked to the other side of the grounds to tackle the kiddie rides.  Ryan and Gracie bound ahead and rode many rides together while Gage and I watched from the sidelines.  Again...this is the same kid??  He is SO different than he was last year!!!  

I went on several rides with Evan (still small enough that he needed an adult to accompany on even many of the kiddie rides).  Needless to say, Evan was in HEAVEN!  

As our day was coming to an end...I had just enough tickets to accompany Ryan on a full-size "adult" ride.  I let Ryan pick the ride, and he picked the big roller coaster.  Again...I was doubtful that was what he would truly enjoy, and had him really watch as it went around with other riders...and verified that is what he wanted to do.  He didn't waver.  Gracie decided she wanted to ride as well, and they allowed me to accompany both kids.  At first, I had Grace and Ryan sit together in front of me in the same car.  When the guy came by, he said that Gracie needed to sit next to me.  I swallowed my fear for my dear Ryan who would now be riding ahead of me...by himself.  I reassured him that I was right behind him, and left my hand resting on the seat such that my fingers touched his shoulder and said I'd be right there.  Ok, I admit, it may have been more to reassure me than him.  The ride started...and we headed up the first climb...the BIG ONE.  My hand still rested on the seat.  We crested the top, descended, and as we hit the bottom to head back up, my body squished down in my seat.  When I came up...I could not see or feel Ryan in the seat in front of me, and my heart lept into my throat.  I grabbed the seat back in front of me and pulled against the lap bar to peer over...finding Ryan virtually laying on the floor of the car with his arms above his head barely hooked over the lap bar.  I looked up and saw another hill coming.  I yelled in a stern voice "GET IN THE SEAT AND HANG ON TO THE BAR!"  He did and I sternly told him he needed to HOLD ON AND STAY IN HIS SEAT!!!  Needless to say, I didn't enjoy much of the ride after that as my concern for his safety overwhelmed any pleasure.  My eyes and hands never left him after that...just so that I knew without a doubt that he was safely in his seat.  As the cars came to a stop at the end of the ride...Ryan lept carelessly out and skipped down the ramp...eyes wide with excitement as he announced he wanted to do it AGAIN!!  Sorry kid...all out of tickets!  Maybe next year...maybe...that is if my hands stop trembling and my heart returns to its proper place in my chest!

All in all...it was a great experience...and such an eye opener to see so clearly just how much Ryan has changed.

We also learned, since we are now experienced fair-goers, that next year we will be buying two unlimited ride bracelets (one for each kid) and a book of tickets (for those rides that require our accompaniment).  We started off with a book of tickets...and with Ryan wanting to ride everything and some things more than once...and with Evan wanting to ride everything his brother rides and then some...the book quickly dwindled and we ended up purchasing a ride bracelet for Ryan.  Given Evan's interest in the rides, it was very clear that in another year he would not be satisfied with just a few rides, and economically speaking it will be cheaper to just buy the ride bracelets for them both.

I've added an album with just a few pictures and a short video from our day in the Hymas Photos.

Stay tuned for a bit more "catching up".

The List

At the beginning of the summer, we had Ryan come up with a list of things he wanted to do this summer.  Things that we could do to help make his summer memorable and meaningful.  This is the list he devised:
_______________________________________________

SUMMER FUN 2011

·           Zoo

·           Camas Library

·           New Vancouver Library

·           Kids Club

·           Beach

·           Clark County Fair

·           Visit a farm

·           OHSU Tram & lunch w/dad

______________________________________________

Over this summer, we have knocked several off the list.
He went to the new Vancouver Library with Grammie and LOVED it.  There is an entire floor dedicated to kids (yes, a FLOOR...not just a section), and lots of hands on activities.

He has gone to the Clark County fair...and WOW!  I will be dedicating a separate post to that one very soon!

For this post, I wanted to focus on the first ones we knocked off the list...OHSU Tram and lunch w/ dad.  I decided to "up" that one notch as Evan has been wanting to ride a train, so on a monday morning I surprised the boys and told them what I had planned for the day.  Honestly, I've never seen them get ready so fast...and without extra prodding!!!  We headed out and parked the car near the Portland airport and hopped on Portland's lightrail system (the MAX).

The ride was about an hour long, but it honestly went fast.  The boys were SO entertaining to watch as they took in all the sights and sounds.

We hopped off the MAX in downtown Portland, and walked a block to where we picked up the streetcar that would take us to within a block of where Gage works.  Gage greeted us and we walked to a local restaurant for lunch.

After a satisfying lunch of "Asian Fusion", we headed to the base of the OHSU tram, boarded and swooped and swayed up to the top...holding the handrails all the way (ok, Ryan and I had to let go a few times just to try it...but mostly were hanging on).

Once at the top, we meandered for a bit, watching the tram, gazing at the mountain, and reflecting on the day.

It was a long day, it was a full day, it was indeed a day full of memories and meaning!

Check out a few more pictures from our day in the "Boys - August 2011" album of the Hymas Photos.

More Slacker Moments and Memories...

Yes... it has been over 2 months since my last post...AGAIN!  I am officially a slacker!  Well, I guess life has been busy...but I don't really consider that an excuse.  SO with another attempt to get back on track and catch you all up...her are the highlights:

In May, life was for the most part "the usual"...school for both the boys, t-ball for Ryan, work, puppy training, and keeping the peace.  One fun activity we did was go to Dozer Days.  This is an annual event hosted by a local rock quarry that donates the funds raised to charity.  It was a lot of fun (albeit very busy) and is a boys paradise.  They have 20-30 pieces of heavy equipment...from smaller dozers and diggers, to the big boys, and kids get to drive!  I was super proud of Ryan as he skillfully piloted a very large digger.  Surprisingly, Evan LOVED watching, but got a bit freaked out when it was his turn to give it a try.  Maybe next year :)

Yes...that is Ryan in this picture dumping his load of dirt.  There are some more pics from the day in the "Boys - May 2011" photo album.

June was a big and busy month!  Ryan finished up t-ball....OH, that reminds me...I have a story to tell!!  At one of his last games, he was playing left field.  After one kid on the opposing team was done batting (and as the next was heading to the plate), Ryan came over to the fence by me....I was sitting in the bleachers between home and first plate.  I told him he needed to get back out there, and he insisted that he REALLY needed to tell me something.  I relented and said ok, but that he needed to make it quick and again referenced that he needed to get back out there.  I waited in anticipation of this most important and pressing news.  He uttered "ummmmm" as he glanced down as if trying to remember what he wanted to tell me...then looked up when he remembered.  Grinning, he then told me "I ate a piece of grass!!"  My brain shouted "REALLY?!?!?!  THIS is what you HAD to tell me?!?!  THIS couldn't wait until after the game?!?!"  My mouth maintained composure and rather quietly said "ok...get back out there."  I'm sure my face betrayed me and said something more along the lines of what my brain shouted.

A fun memory from June is the puddle jumping!  As we drove home from one of Ryan's t-ball practices, the skies opened up and unloaded like 6 feet of rain and hail!  Ok, maybe it was more like an inch or two.  The streets here are not designed to handle such a sudden accumulation of rain as its not often we get a super heavy shower like this.  When we got home, the rain had stopped, but the streets were still draining...and there was several inches of rainwater.  Tempting, TOO tempting!  I hustled into the garage, and when I turned around, Gage had taken his shoes off and was trudging through the water...no doubt transported to his youth.  The boys looked at me, their eyes pleading..."Ok, just take your shoes off!!"  Pure fun ensued...

...followed by changing into jammies and having some hot cocoa afterwards to warm up.

June was also Ryan's birthday.  He really had more of a birthday weekend since his actual birthday fell on a Monday this year.  His good friend and cousin, Benny, spent the night at our house for Ryan's first real friend-sleepover on Saturday (they had a really good time)...then family and a few friends gathered for his party at a local park.  Thankfully the weather held as it was an "iffy" June weather-wise.  This was a "real" birthday for Ryan as some of the gifts he got were a real fishing pole and real golf clubs.  He was super excited to have the real thing...a rite of passage, a mark of his growing up.

There are more pictures from his birthday (and some video) in the "Ryan's 6th Birthday" album.

Also in June was Ryan's last day of Kindergarten.  They had a small ceremony on the last day where the kids "jumped into first grade"...signified by jumping into a pool of beans.  Each child also got special award to signify something they did that was outstanding during the year.  Ryan got the "Reader" award.    I had to agree...Ryan went from not reading anything more than his name to reading beginner books.  He surprises me at the oddest times with what he can read now.

So far July has been full of fun as well.  Over the weekend of the fourth, Justin & Kaytlyn visited and we headed to our friend's house to swim in their pool, have some delicious dinner, and enjoy good company and good conversation.  Thanks Brent & Michelle for the great day!!  There are pictures from this day in the "July Fun" photo album.

We have also had another successful camping trip with our good friends Brian & Kristi.  During the last 2 weeks of this month we'll be living in our tent trailer more than our house as we have 2 bigger camping trips planned.

Evan has been doing really well, and has had no seizures since January (knock on wood)!!  He is attending speech therapy this summer once a week to keep up on his skills, which are definitely improving!
ALSO... I've added a short video to Evan's birthday album.

Ok...I think I've gotten us all up to date!!  Lets see how long I can keep it that way!! :)

Birthday, Easter and Other Happenings...

BIRTHDAY:
Bad mommy!!  I failed to post on Evan's birthday!  No time like the present to right a wrong...right??

Evan turned 3 in March.  The time continues to pass too quickly!  It was 3 years ago that he decided to set his own birthdate.  I was scheduled for a c-section three days after the day he decided he was ready to enter the world...on his own time.  He continues to live life on his own timeframe.  Evan as a 3 year-old is VERY active.  He can kick and throw a ball like a pro, he enjoys jumping off of couches, coffee tables, stairs, and just about anything he can climb up onto.  He also likes to hang from banisters, people, and anything that can support his weight.  Wrestling his brother is one of his favorite activities.  He has his own ideas about how his life should be, and makes his opinions known to all despite his still-developing speech.  He is willful, he throws temper tantrums, and has a smile that can brighten the darkest of days.  He gets a twinkle in those big, beautiful, super blue eyes of his when he is feeling a bit mischievous, and a slightly different twinkle when he thinks something is hilariously funny.  He is full of vinegar and full of life.  He can be really rough and tumble, and he can be a total softy...freely giving snuggles and kisses, just on his own terms and when he wants to.  He is all boy ("frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails") and he is well loved.

Evan enjoyed a nice, laid-back birthday party with some of his favorite people and favorite foods.  I've posted pics from the day in the Hymas Photos section (Evan's 3rd Birthday album).  Thank you SO MUCH to Laura and Kristi for being my photographers that day!  Without you two I would have missed pictures of so many events and memories from that special day.

EASTER:
Easter is always a blessed time. This year was no different.

A few days before Easter, Gage's mom was talking with Ryan and asked if he was excited for Easter and the egg hunt (and candy).  Ryan quickly met her gaze, and with a bit of lecture-attitude said "Grammie...that is NOT what Easter is about!  Easter is about when Jesus died on the cross!!"  I feel blessed that my children are learning the true meanings of our holidays, and have the strength to share that with others.

On Easter, we headed over to Paul & Laura's house (Gage's sister & brother-in-law) to spend time with family and for the kids to have their traditional Easter egg hunt.  Justin made the trek down from Kent, WA to spend time with family as well (I feel very blessed to have even more family close-by now).  Great food, great company, and great memories...we are very blessed, indeed!  There are pictures from the day up on the Hymas Photos section of the website (Easter 2011 album).

OTHER HAPPENINGS:
A main "other happening" is that Evan started preschool in April.  He has been talking about going to school for some time now, and he has been able to realize that dream sooner than expected.  For those who may not be aware...Evan has a delay in his expressive speech (his ability to articulate words).  He fully understands speech appropriate for his age, he just has difficulty forming his words to express himself.  Because of this delay, he has been going to speech therapy once a week.  When he turned 3, his speech therapy was handed over to the school district, and in our area, that qualifies him for preschool.  The first day, he held tightly to my hand as we entered his classroom.  It took him only a few minutes to see the other kids playing and coloring and pretending, and he released his grip to explore his classroom.  When it was time for me to leave him, I let him know I'd be back when school was over.  He didn't cry, but instead gave me a look more like "oh, are you still here??"  As I got in the car...it was a very strange feeling...both kids in school, what do I do now??  Each time the boys are in school at the same time, the feeling is a little less strange. Evan currently has school just two days a week, so its a good transition for all of us.  I've posted pics of his first day in the Hymas Photos section of the website (Boys - March/April 2011 album).

Ryan has started playing T-Ball this spring (pics in the Boys - March/April 2011 album).  His team is the Mariners...all of the teams in this league take on the team name of a pro team.  He is really enjoying it, and there are a couple of kids from his kindergarten class on his team which makes it even more fun.
The other big news Ryan has is that he has two loose teeth!

My biggest challenge these days (and for the rest of my life) is trying to enjoy all of these stages of the boys' lives.  In a little over a month, the boys will be out of school.  Ryan will be in first grade next fall..school all day, and Evan will be back in preschool.  By that time, Ryan will have at least two adult teeth coming in.  My babies no longer live with us, even my toddlers are gone.  I now live with two "big boys".  Each day is a blessing and a treasure.

A New Tradition...

I know this is a long blog...but stick with me...I think its worth it!!!

Yesterday (Tuesday the 12th) was my 35th birthday...and I like to believe that I have grown wiser with each passing year (even though in my brain I'd like to think I'm stuck somewhere in my 20's).

On Monday night, I was laying in bed thinking about my birthday the following day, thinking abouthow I wanted to celebrate, of "blowing off" eating healthy (mmm....cake), and just going for the gusto!!  This is for no other reason than because its a celebration!  Right??  Isn't that what we do???

I then had a bit of an epiphany...how do I really want to start my 36th year?  I decided that I'd like my birthday to set precedence for what my year will be.  I decided that instead of "letting go" of everything, that I should do exactly the opposite...exhibit self-control, go through the day mindfully...always thankful for all the blessings in my life and what I DO have.

After this thought...I also started thinking about how people set New Year's resolutions (kind of cliche now-a days)...and how the vast majority do NOT stick to them even a mere 30 days after making the resolution!  Why is this??  Is it because they are coming down off of the Holiday High, so perhaps a bit drunk with sugar and now also maybe a bit hung over (who hasn't had that "I'm NEVER going to drink again!" moment??)??  Is it the peer pressure (everyone else is doing it!!)??  Everyone starts with good intentions, with a huge "can do" attitude, and even though they start with good intentions, almost all never reach those goals.  I started to wonder...perhaps the focus is not so much on the person setting the goals, but more on the New Year's tradition??  OR perhaps my brain, late at night, just makes me THINK these are good ideas :)

Whatever the reasons behind it are... I have decided I'm going to break away from tradition.  I will no longer set New Year's resolutions.  I will instead set Birthday Resolutions.  These resolutions/goals have been set by me, for me...and on my birthday...making them very much about me (the way resolutions should be).  Next year, when I finish the completion of my 36th year of life...I will also be celebrating the resolutions and goals I have accomplished in the year, and will reflect on what I want to accomplish in my 37th year.

I now have a typed, signed and dated contract with myself.  I printed out several copies and posted them where I will be reminded of my promise to myself.  Others can see them as well, and I intentionally did this because, for me, I do better when I know others are also aware of what I have or have not accomplished.

SO...for those who want to see, here is the link...Birthday Resolutions!!

We did go out to dinner for my birthday, but instead of heading out and getting the fattiest food I wanted (burgers/fries and other fried morsels, pasta dishes oozing with sauce, bread and more bread), and eating all the sweets I could fit into my already full tummy, we went to McGraths.  They have some really good fresh and local (Pacific NW) seafood fare...and I LOVE my seafood.  Don't get me wrong...you can definitely come out blowing your diet anyways if you don't avoid the cream sauces and the butter-filled dishes.  I opted for the fresh grilled halibut with steamed veggies, and I did indulge just a little with a cup of their delicious clam chowder (shared with Evan) and a few bites of marionberry cobbler (shared with the whole table).  All in all much better than I was imagining while laying in bed on Monday before my epiphany!  It was a great birthday...thanks babe for making it so.  I love you!

BOYS!!! Really?!?!

This is the conversation that just occurred in my family room.  It is one that prior to having kids, I never considered I would possibly hear.  Funny how perspective changes!

RYAN:  "Evan, this is how you spell Thom...T-H-O-M.  Can you spell Thom? Say T..."
(Evan then repeats all the letters after Ryan)
RYAN:  "MOM!  He spelled Thom!!!  Good job Evan!!"
RYAN:  "Evan...this is how you spell poop..."p", then two "o"s, then...."

MOM:  (said with a half surprised, half unamused, stern wrinkled forehead, squinty-eye face)  "RYAN!!!  Really?!?!"

I have one thought, or perhaps more of an explanation....BOYS!

Darndest Things - Again

Ryan and I were talking about some of the states.  Michigan was mentioned and we talked about the fact that we have family that lives there.  Ryan was quietly contemplating...then the following conversation took place:

RYAN:  Why is it again??
MOM:  Why is what again?
RYAN:  Michigan...why is it again?
MOM:  I don't understand...
RYAN:  Why is Mish again???

Oh my!  I really don't have an answer for that.
Anyone??