Kindergarten

 

Sunset Wagon Rides

 

Happy Birthday, Husband!

Today is a big day around here. Ryan is 30. Yep, THIRTY. It’s kind of a big deal. You can bet that I’ve been reminding him of how big of a deal it is for weeks.

“You’re going to be thirty in ___ days!”

“When you’re thirty, I’m pretty sure it’s no longer acceptable to shoot birds off our deck with an air gun.”

“Really Ryan? Did you just call me a ‘butthole?’ You’re going to be 30 in ___ days!”  

These incessant reminders have been met with sideways glances and shoulder shrugs.  Apparently when your days have been filled with work, bills, diapers and t-ball for the last 6 years, saying goodbye to your twenties isn’t such a milestone.  

Despite his blasé mentality, there will be celebrating around here. Celebrating a guy who puts his family before all else and works ridiculously hard to ensure that our boys not only have the things that they need but those extra things that make childhood so sweet. We’ll be celebrating a guy who never forgets to pray before dinner, who reluctantly agrees to watch The Kardashians and whose goofy personality balances out his wife’s crazy type A personality perfectly. A guy who calls the family cat an idiot every.single.morning yet is still willing to maneuver himself underneath the stairway crawl space while simultaneously balancing his wife on his shoulders so she can attempt to rescue said cat from the ceiling in which he’s trapped himself. That wife and those kids? So very lucky. 

Happy Birthday Ry- we couldn't love you more!

 

While we're celebrating that guy, we’ll also be celebrating Mario Brothers, Hooters {they DO have decent wings} and Plinko. Add to that, Reading Rainbow, Chicken McNuggets, Cabbage Patch Kids and the always amazing Sweet Valley High.  Apparently 1983 was a big year!

Fourth of July Weekend {Day Two}

Day two started early and Matty was down for a nap by 9am. Ryan and I took advantage of the quiet time and sat on the beach drinking coffee and reading {yes, the planets aligned and this seriously happened}. Tyler alternated between playing in the sand and fishing. Once Matty awoke, we took a trip into Longville. We had stopped there on day one for a pizza and ice cream but made a quick exit {sans ice cream} after getting stuck in the middle of the parade crowd. It was insane. This tiny town with a population of less than 200 was bustling with people covered head to toe in red, white and blue.

We {as in Tyler and I} were determined that the return trip was going to include blueberry waffle cone ice cream, even if it meant standing in line for 35 minutes in 90 degree heat.

Totally worth it.

After a quick stop at the store we headed back to the lake to spend some time at  where else? The beach. Honestly, it seemed to be the one place where Ryan and I could hang out and actually have half a conversation while the boys were completely entertained.

Matty noticed that Tyler had a "new" snack and he bolted for the water.

But quickly moved on when he realized Tyler left his flip flops unattended. Matty is obsessed with shoes and spent the better half of the weekend swiping abandoned ones from the shore. What, that lady left her shoes unattended for 6 seconds? They're free for the taking.

The remainder of the day was a bit of a repeat of day one. Fishing, fires and lots of marshmallows. Oh, and about a bajillion sparklers, thanks to Tyler!

Fourth of July Weekend {Day One}

I may be the very last person in blog-land to post a 4th of July re-cap. I guess that's how it goes when you have two kids, a desk that requires your occupancy 40 hours a week and a husband who travels like it's his job. Oh wait, it is his job.

We spent the 4th and several days after up at the lake with the boys, just the four of us. We celebrated with lots of swimming, fishing, s'mores and watching Matty like a hawk. There was nothing more that little guy wanted than to fling himself off the end of a dock or dive into an open fire. No fear in that kid.

A little photo recap...

Tyler did a lot of boat racing.

 

 There's something about sandy little toes that I just love.

Matty did a lot of snacking on the beach {and on the dock, the deck and fireside}. Because if he wasn't snacking, he was running off on some new adventure that was sure to be dangerous.

And when it was time to leave the beach and head inside to eat some lunch? This is what Tyler looked like. Such mean parents we are forcing him to consume all those hotdogs, chips and juice boxes.

After lunch it was off to fish. Tyler was really into it this year. He baited hooks, reeled in fish and tossed his catch back into the lake, all on his own. He was pretty proud.

 

He had a pretty great fishing coach.

After the worms ran out exhaustion set in {for the parents, not the kids} we ended the day with a handful of sparklers and a couple of s'mores. I couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate.

 Happy Birthday America!