Water time

While I made lunch this is what took place:

Ryan helped water my plants & flowers.

Ryan & Carter played with water.

Then Ryan thought this was a great idea!

Let's cool those hands off too:

Logan & I played Candyland (we haven't played games in quite some time):

And then lunch was served.  I am so proud that they both actually smiled genuine smiles at the same time:

Ryan napped and I decided to catch some rays.  I had some helpers to cool off my feet:

Then they made a water slide:

And a sprinkler:

Randomly Carter looks at me and says, "Mom, you look a little girlish".  Um, thank you?

Carter finished it up with squats while filling the wheelbarrow.  Weirdo.

In the last few minutes of typing this, Ryan woke up.  Here we are.  Stinker.

Bike ride to the park

I didn't catch a shot of Carter & Ryan in the bike trailer, but they were in it & liked it.  Ryan screams as soon as I put the cover down (to keep bugs from getting in there) but as soon as we get going he enjoys the ride.  Phew!  

And Logan....he's fast on a bike!  We did one mile to the park, played, had a snack (though next time more water is required) & biked a mile back. I was very proud of him.  Next week I will take him to a trail and see how he does on a continuous ride...

At the park...Ryan climbed high to make my heart beat faster but then he thankfully climbed back down.

Logan got adventurous.

He did the balance beam wonderfully!

Climbed this contraption with ease...

Then slid down the pole....well actually though it looks like he slid, he did not...he scooted while using his arm strength to do the scooting.  His upper arm strength is just nuts.

Then he rode his bike a bit more.

Meanwhile Carter got his swing on then walked backwards down a hill & rolled.  What a nut!

A very fun morning!!

Adding more bad habits to Ryan while saying no.  If he doesn't want to give you the toy, he either hugs it tight, or in this example, holds an entire golf 'bag' over his head.  We need to work on this one.....a bit more than the others I feel...

Fun with Cousins

Aunt Dawn helping the kids on the new alligator that Carter promptly got off of...

Carter & Olivia.  Great cheeeeeese face, Carter!

Just hanging by the wagon....

I love that all the cousins get along so well.  TJ, Michael & Lexy (the older cousins) play so well with the younger ones & all the younger ones truly look forward to going.  After my brother & his kids got to the party, he overheard Logan say (while pumping his arm) "yes, they're here".  And apparently His kids bugged him all morning to make sure that Logan. & Carter were going to be there.  James reminded them that we were celebrating Ryan (their brothers) birthday, so he was pretty confident that they would be there.  So cute!!  Here's to a fun summer with cousins!

Just like Dad

Carter said, "Look Mom, I'm standing just like dad.  He leans like this and puts his foot like this."  When I snapped the picture he purposefully didn't smile.  John does smile, but apparently, according to Carter, not when he leans against a wall.  :)

Chapped cheeks

Ryan watches me get ready every morning & clearly hasn't paid close enough attention to realize that Chapstick goes on the lips, not on the cheeks.

Ryan's Birthday

We celebrated Ryan's 2nd birthday this past week in a number of ways.

Unfortunately, the first celebration with the Battermann clan occurred hours after John's Dad's funeral.  It was a nice change of pace after so much sadness the past week.  I had plans to bake brownies & brought frosting, decorator icing/ gel & a Mickey Mouse cutout since he loves Neenee (which means Mickey).  Well, there was a quarter of a plain sheet cake leftover, untouched....so John & I got creative.....not too shabby!

Those that were still around sang & his Godparents Aunt Kaye & Uncle Dan got him a cool helicopter.  I gave Ryan the card to see & he went into his 'awesome' NO phase.  People think it's hilarious.  And it kind of is because he is little yet so mighty....but let me tell you - it's getting old.  There is another level of humor because he is so used to telling Buddy No, that he says "No, Buddy!"...even if Buddy isn't there.  Stinker.

Opening his present:

Pretty cool!  He loved it.  

Though after I took the pics I realized he had a Hitler-mustache. :)

Because John took some time off, we decided to celebrate his birthday dinner the night before his birthday at 2Toots.  He & the boys dug into Daddy's chocolate shake. :)

Then after dinner, he got his birthday cupcake!

On his actual birthday:

Mickey!!

During Ryan's nap, the boys & I assembled a Rocketship & colored as much as we could.

He loved it!

We were at Linda & Viv's house & sang to him after lunch.  Other pics of the cutie opening up some presents are on my good camera....they'll get transferred some day...

Finally, we celebrated this past weekend.

My mom did an awesome job on the cake.  Here was the inspiration: his beloved Puppy.

Super cute cake, yeah?!  She does such an awesome job every time.

When he first saw the cake, his reaction was not fabulous:

Then he warmed right up & checked it out:

Mom & Dad pic

We sang to him while he did this:

And kind of attempted to blow out his candles: ( do you see his arm there?)

He came a bit more out of his shell at the end.

Park

It was a beautiful day, so we headed to the park. 

After Ryan explored the climbing structure & darn near freaked me out when he grabbed the sides of an opening, leaned out & yelled 'MOM', he opted to swing.  Safe choice, my man.

Viv wanted to swing too & shortly after lost a flip flop.  Logan came to her rescue, so cute. :)

Than he wanted to prove to me how strong he was & that he was a good multi-tasker by pushing both Ryan & Vivie.

Nice job, Logan!

So then Ryan got tired in the swing.

I took him out as he looked pretty uncomfortable.  And we cuddled but I eventually had to put him down.  That is when the crazy came out.  I will have to figure out how to post a video from my phone...but I have a 1-minute video of him saying 'NO!' to every question asked & at two parts of the video he even throws his hand out.

What a gem.  What a cute little gem. =)

Painting

Yesterday we broke out the paints to use a paintbrush to paint on paper.

Such focus...

So serious...

Then it is as if a little lightbulb went off....what would happen if I got rid of the paintbrush & just used my hands.....

Hmmm, looks like a good plan...

Yep, definitely a great plan!!

Regardless of how many times I asked Ryan to show me his hands, he would only show Linda....so I moved my angle. :)

Good job, Ryan!!  Way to explore!!!