last weekend

This weekend I worked both days.  Therefore, there really isn't too much exciting to talk about other than Eddy did a fabulous job playing Mr.Mom and prepping for some great home cooked meals.  But since this blog is mostly for the pictures, I'll spare you the photos of our boring weekend (joking, we didn't TAKE any photos this weekend).

Last weekend, it finally stopped raining, and we got out to enjoy it.  This is why we live where we do...

 Yes, we took a hike on a dirt fire road, and pushed Ryan in the stroller most of the way.  Crazy, maybe.  But that's why we have the Bob.  But we did let him out to run once we made it to the top of the hill, and while we stopped to appreciate the view, he spent all of his time appreciating and collecting rocks. 

Carrying rocks and running, and loving it

mom...check out these rocks!

Trying not to get attacked by the geese in the parking lot.

1st haircut

This past weekend we decided it was time.  Enough of the shaggy curls.  It was time for Ryan to move into the ranks of "little boy", with a real haircut.  I think both Eddy and I were dreading the squirm fest, full of crying and wiggling.  I tried to trim his bangs a few weeks back and he screamed out, as if in pain, when I actually made the cut to his hair.  Honestly.  However, our child surprised the heck out of us, and he loved it!  Ms Karen knew what she was doing...he was sitting in the car chair, she had plenty of things for Ryan to look at, and she moved quick with the shears.  And he got a balloon at the end.  What more does a 15 month old need? 

BEFORE...

 DURING...

loving the car chair and all the fun stuff to look at

 AFTER...

with a little gel styling the hair...such a big boy

 

giggles on the drive home

Ryan had his 15 month check up this morning...

Height 32 1/2 inches (86th percentile)

Weight 29 1/2 lbs (90th percentile)

-- seriously, the doc said "You've got a LeBron James on your hands".  Awesome.

2 more shots today, resulting in a slight temp by this evening and a sore right leg to where he was kind of limping around on it.  Man I am NOT gonna miss these immunizations. 

All in all, a really good well check with the doctor.

And what's this little guy in to? 

•  he has learned how to spin until he's dizzy and falls over, and thinks it's hilarious
• climbing, climbing, climbing 
• organizing -- hot wheels cars, jars, tupperware, rocks, anything that he can move from one room to another and then back again
• he's added a few more words to his bank: more, "wa" for water, beep beep, cookie
• he is really good at making animal sounds -- woof woof, moo, roarrrr, quack quack, and cock-a...but he can't quite say the doodle-doo yet

catchin' up

Here are some pictures from our recent days....

Train Town in Sonoma

exploring the square in Sonoma

 Meanwhile....back at the ranch....

Ryan loves sitting at the computer in the office

helping mommy vacuum

 Best part of the day, when daddy comes home from work...

4 days without mom

Last week I was out of town for 4 days.  I flew down to New Orleans for a conference for work.  Although a bit anxious to leave Ryan for that time, I was also very much looking forward to a mini-vacay from mom life and excited about using my brain for a few days.  And above all, I was very excited to catch up with some of my good friends from grad school in Boston. So off I went.  And it was a great trip.  Great to get out of town.  Great to go running in a new city, with new things to look at.  Great to learn a few things and to be inspired about work again.  Great to spend time with some very important people in my life.  And really great to come home again, to my two boys whom I love very much. Eddy and Ryan did really well at home without me around, in fact I think they really enjoyed the time for male bonding.  But the sweetest part of my weekend was the hug that Ryan gave me when he first saw me...it lasted for about 3 days...really, he held on super tight and it was a chore to get him to let go, every time, for about 3 days.  Not that I'm complaining. 

There's just something about leaving, that makes you truly appreciate where you come from.  Lucky girl I am.  Lucky lucky girl. 

And since my husband is not as obsessed about taking pictures of daily life, I don't have any photos to share of their boy time while I was gone.  But here's a pic from my trip....

Great seeing you Katie, Stoo, and Cristen!  Til next time...

Valentine's Day

Homemade sugar cookies, a dozen roses, and a few cards.  What better bay to celebrate Valentine's Day?

 Ryan's breakfast this morning, a heart shaped egg and toast

(thanks to my sister in law Kim for the idea).

But even with this fun shape, he still doesn't love eggs. What more can a mom do?

loving the heart shaped toast

ski trip

One of my favorite places....Tahoe.  One of my favorite things to do....skiing.  Something that everyone in the world loves....vacation.  Put them all together and what do you have?  A winter vacation for some skiing in Tahoe, along with plenty of family fun, and snowshoeing, and sledding, and cross country skiing, and board games, and dance parties.

We spent all last week at the Tahoe cabin, with Nanny and Dzia Dzia, my brother and his wife Derek & Kim, and their kids Elena & Connor.  It was so much fun to have so much time with all the kids together.  Connor and Ryan were a bit tentative initially, not quite sure what to make of each other.  But by the end of the week, they were great sidekicks...following each other around and trying to discover the next best thing to get into.  Pure trouble! 

ready for the snow!

first attempt at sledding -- minus the sled

what better way to become friends than over a box of toy cars and star wars action figures?

Just some winter shots...

checking out the fresh powder

Eddy and I borrowed my parents' snowshoes one afternoon, and off we went to check out the view

and meanwhile, back at the cabin, the kids were really getting into their books

Elena, Connor, and Ry playing on the bunk beds -- hours of entertainment!

And of course, in every cabin there must be a gigantic lion....

bellybuttons!

Elena's first time on skis at 4 1/2 years old -- she did great

Derek helping Elena ski fast

 I just can't get enough of this scenery...

snowshoeing down by the lake

the adult kids got to go skiing for the day, while Nanny and Dzia Dzia watched the kids.  What a treat!

typical morning scene

Connor and Ryan pushing chairs on the deck

a day trip to Squaw Valley village -- who knew the gondola would be so much fun to watch?

the Seattle Kuzaks

I swear Ryan was having more fun than his expression is showing!

After about 6 attempts (from 3 cameras) we finally got a decent shot of the entire family