52 Week Project - week 16 - Rain

Let the rain kiss you.  Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.  Let the rain sing you a lullaby.  ~Langston Hughes

I think that I hate rain more than the average person. My hair gets frizzy, I don't like getting "misted" on, and frankly, sometimes I feel like I will melt on the sidewalk, just like the Wicked Witch of the West.   The kids seem to love the rain though, especially when they are allowed to jump in the puddles (which is pretty much never, unless they are with one individual who shall remain nameless).   

I needed a little pick me up a few nights ago and nothing can do that like listening to the kids laugh - they did not disappoint and they couldn't believe it when I told them to get dressed because we were going out to play in the rain (very very unlike me). 

Luckily for the boys, we seem to get pretty good puddles near the corner but there was some flooding right in front of the building and the boys didn't even want to go to the corner

 The boys decided to line up against the outside of the building to get a "head start for a better splash" and of course, I stood in the middle of the road to make sure no cars were coming and to take pictures. 

More than once, Dylan screamed "THIS.IS.AWWWWESOME!! and Ryan was laughing so hard at times, he was bending over holding his belly.   The kids were laughing so hard and having so much fun that a bunch of people actually stopped to watch for a few seconds and all of them left cracking up laughing too.

Of course, my children never do something "a little bit" and it was not long before their pants started getting wet.  Reminiscent of my childhood trip in Hawaii and swimming in the ocean at night with Erika and Michael, the more one boy got wet, the other wanted to be wetter.   Eventually, they both "tripped" and ended up laying in the water and that is where I definitely draw the line. 

I have to admit,  I felt a lot better by the time we got upstairs and the kids laughed about it for an hour.  Maybe next time, I will have to rock my awesome Jets rain boots and jump in some puddles too!

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.  ~Author Unknown

Tooth # 2

from June 6
When we first realized that Ryan had a loose tooth, we noticed the one next to it was a little loose too.   Well, once the first one fell out, the second one started to become considerably looser.   On Sunday morning, Jay felt the tooth and said that it was getting looser and would probably fall out that week.   We went to Michael and Jasmine's that day and by the time we got home, the tooth was completely crazy.  I didn't think that there is anyway it would last through the next day and I was worried that if it fell out at school, it might get lost.   Ryan said that he didn't want me to pull it out but he would rather take it out himself - so I went to the kitchen to get a paper towel in case it started bleeding.   By the time I got back from the kitchen, Ryan was digging through his play tool box.   When I asked him what he was doing, he pulled out a pair of plastic pliers and said "I am going to pull my tooth out with this".  (should have taken a picture of that but I was laughing too hard and was too horrified at the same time to go get the camera)  Probably good that I didn't go anywhere because as Ryan tried to pull out his tooth, Dylan started to dig through the tool box too.  He pulled out the plastic hammer and said "Ryan, THIS is the tool you need.   I will help you - let me just hit you with this in your mouth and your tooth will come right out."  At that point, I decided it would be best to put the tools away and leave the tooth alone.   It fell out at school first thing on Monday.

Picnic in New York CIty

How do New York City kids have a picnic when they can't get to the park?

They order chinese food and eat it on a roof deck of course!  

Thanks Colleen, Katie and Abby for a great night!

Five

( from October 9, 2011 - i wrote this then and had it in draft form - not sure why I never posted it)

Ryan is five. FIVE.   The past five years have flown by and I just can not get over that my first baby is 5.    This past week has been filled with birthday excitement leading up to yesterday's birthday celebration at the park.  

Ryan's birthday was on a Friday this year and I took the day off so I could bring cupcakes to school and finish up last minute things for the party.   I decided to make some fun cupcakes for Ryan's class and was pretty happy with how they came out.

At 1 in the morning as I was icing the second batch of cupcakes(made 24), I was really wondering why I didn't just buy them at the store like everyone else. I was also thinking how thankful I was that Jasmine was kind enough to make some cupcakes too and I didn't have two make four batches.  When I saw how excited Ryan was though about all of the special cupcakes, I knew it was worth it!!

At the end of the school day, I headed over to the school with Grandma and Dylan for the birthday celebration with the class.  Ryan was so excited to show off all of the cupcakes and made sure that he picked out a great one for Ms. Morris.

Ms. Morris gives all the birthday kids a ribbon and Ryan kept his on until the second he got in bed.   October is the most popular birthday month so the day of the party, there were four other kids having birthday parties the same day - I don't mean to brag but Ryan's cupcakes were by far the best!!! yippee.

 Dylan insisted on sitting next to Ryan for the party, lol, and kept insisting he was in kindergarten too

 
I am really loving Ryan at this age - He loves school and is really enjoying all the new things he is learning. He is so smart and we have so many hilarious conversations.  Ryan is very inquisitive and for every question I answer, he has 5 followups.   He is the most outgoing kid I know and is not afraid to make new friends, try new things and is very adventurous.   I feel sorry for anyone that messes with him or Dylan though because he can turn very quickly.   He is really turning out to be a great kid and I am loving watching him grow up - I just wish I could slow time down a little bit.
Happy Birthday Ryan - I love you
xoxoxo

52 Week Project - Week 15 - Scenic

The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour

-Author Unknown

Back in February when we went to visit Erika and Richie, they took us to Wilmington for the day and it was wonderful.   We went to the aquarium at Fort Fisher and while we were on the way there, we passed a pathway along a beach and I begged everyone to please stop so we could take some pictures.   I was so glad that after the aquarium, they indulged me.   The aquarium itself was pretty and peaceful and we had a nice time exploring the grounds and enjoying the beautiful weather.
The beach stop though was my favorite part of the day.  It was hardly occupied, very peaceful and beautifully
Scenic

When we got there, we were pleasantly surprised by the unique trees, big sculptures, and even paths to run through in a big brush area, all of which we could not see from the car.  As soon as we took the kids out of the car, they were off running.

I wish I had a chair and could have sat there for longer: just catching up with Erika and Richie, watching the kids run around in the sand and listening to the waves.  I was so sad when it was time to leave but we had to head on to our next destination, the downtown area.

We had some lunch in Wilmington and walked along the Cape Fear River for a little bit and continued enjoying the beautiful day.  

As much as I love Raleigh and all that there is to do there, I have really enjoyed that on my last two trips to see Erika and Richie, I have gotten to see other parts of North Carolina.   I really appreciate that Erika and Richie want to show us things and I can't wait to see where they take us next trip.

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.

-Eddie Cantor

(photo credit to Erika for the above picture - thanks!)

The Tooth Fairy

Under this pillow you will find
A teensy, tiny tooth of mine.
So while I sleep where dreams are made,
Let's see if you can make a trade.
~Author Unknown


Friday was a very exciting day in our house.   Ryan had his first loose tooth for about two weeks and it was on the verge of falling out on Thursday night.  When Grandma came on Friday, we showed her how loose it was - you could bend it practically perpendicular to the rest of his teeth.   Both Grandma and I left the room and a few minutes later when Grandma went back to help Ryan get dressed for school, the tooth had fallen out!


 Ryan didn't even realize it happened and we couldn't find the tooth at first.  While we were looking for the tooth (searching through all the blankets, pillowcases and in between all of the bed friends) and celebrating Ryan's first tooth coming out, Dylan found a way to keep himself busy.....with my make-up bag.

 Luckily, we found him before he got in to the mascara.

 I think that Grandma and I were more excited about Ryan's tooth than he was but when he got to school, he said to his teacher "Ms. Morris, do you want to see my smile?  Something is different about it than yesterday" lol
Of course, the most exciting part about a tooth coming out is a visit from the tooth fairy.   Before bed, we put Ryan's tooth in a baggie so it would be easier for the tooth fairy to find and then we got ready for bed - after all, the tooth fairy can't come if you are awake.  

 For the first time ever, Ryan told me he did not want me to sleep with him - he said that if we were laying on the tooth, then the tooth fairy would not be able to get under the pillow and he was worried that I would roll over in my sleep.   At about 6 in the morning, Ryan started yelling for me - when I got to his room, he asked if I thought the tooth fairy came and I told him to check (I can't believe that he didn't check as soon as he woke up).  Under the pillow he found a certificate, a letter, two ring pops (he very nicely gave one to Dylan), and 10 dollars!!


After I read Ryan the letter, he immediately ran out of his room to find his wallet and started counting all of his new money and his old money - he has been saving up to buy the Green Ninja from Ninjago even though we have explained to him many times we will buy it for him when it is sold individually (currently, it is only sold as part of a set that is $170!!)  

Ryan does look adorable with his little gap and it is about to get bigger - the tooth next to the gap is loose too.   I suspect we will be seeing the tooth fairy again very soon