a weekend away

This weekend was long overdue.  It was the first time Eddy and I both left Ryan for an overnight.  Not because we haven't wanted to do it much much earlier, but because we just haven't been able to make it work until now.  This weekend Eddy's cousin got married, we had a gift certificate for a free night at a hotel, and my parents were in town and free to babysit for the night.  Basically, all of the stars aligned for this to happen! 
It was a fabulous 24 hours for Eddy and I to have some adult conversation, it was a fabulous time with Eddy's family at the wedding (Congrats again Wes and Tiff!), it was super fabulous to sleep in a bit this morning, and we have a feeling Ryan and my parents had a pretty fabulous time together as well.  Thanks again Nanny and Dzia Dzia!

While we were doing grown up things like this....

Ryan was doing super fun things like this....

yet another Tahoe weekend

It's true.  We do love going to Tahoe.  Although it's just not as easy of a quick weekend getaway as it used to be.  There's too much stuff that goes along with bringing a kid.  But we spent this past weekend up there anyway, with my parents and my Uncle Nick and Aunt Nancy from Denver.  It was a great chance to catch up with them, and for them to meet Ryan.  There's nothing like watching other people who are truly enjoying spending time with your kid!  Ryan really seemed to love playing with them as well...he's turned into a real ham lately, with the fake laughing just to get other people to laugh at him and all. 
We did the usual on Saturday...morning hike, lunch, nap (everyone in the house partakes in this tradition), and afternoon lake swim. 

Are you sure we're not lost Dzia Dzia? 

family photo in Page Meadow

Ry loved walking on the logs

 Aunt Nancy was SO much fun to have on our hike.  She taught Ryan how to look for each and every rock along the trail, to stand on top of each one, and to jump off and then run to the next.  Seriously, Ryan wouldn't have made it without her enthusiasm. 

"look at THIS rock Ryan!"

Love this photo.  Story time with Aunt Nancy. 

 So apparently Eddy and I are lacking in our card playing these days.  Ryan sat at their table, mesmerized at the card game, and even more mesmerized at Uncle Nick's skills at shuffling the deck. 

 On Sunday, we met up at the lake with my good friend Kim and her family, who just happened to be in Tahoe for the week as well.  Jack is 4 months older than Ryan, and baby Brooke is 6 1/2 months old.  The boys tore up the playground, and then moved on to shoveling the beach and throwing rocks into the water.  It was so great to see them all!  Not a bad place to sit and chat, with that kind of scenery in the background.  

whose kid can fly higher? 

After we said bye to the Bensons, we happened to walk along the street past the North Tahoe Fire Station, where a friendly fireman (also named Ryan!) just happened to have a slow moment.  He saw Ryan admiring all the trucks, and invited us in for a closer look.  He gave Ry his own fireman hat, turned on the lights on the truck, and even let me sit in the driver's seat!  Ryan wasn't a fan of actually sitting in the truck, as it was really high off the ground, but he sure loved everything else.  

Ryan checking out the fire truck with nice fireman Ryan, and Eddy wearing the fireman hat

White boy can jump

We've been waiting for this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u_fd9NDIoU

And in addition to the above new talent, Ry has begun to count everything in sight.  He lines up his cars, tupperware containers, crayons, or anything else he can and starts counting "one, two, ree, ohr, six!".  It's hilarious really.  He can consistently count to four, at times to six.  And when he's not in the mood, he'll just start yelling whatever comes to mind, very loudly.  He's also learning his colors....initially everything was blue.  Now most things are green.  But he can definitely repeat the words red, purple, yellow, etc.  Hopefully soon he'll be able to put them all together. 

a scholar and an athlete

Okay, so we really haven't been doing too much since we got back from vacation.  A lot of catching up, and a lot of work.  Eddy worked last weekend, I worked this weekend.  And in between we've been running errands, catching up with friends, and figuring out the day to day life again.  So I don't have too many exciting updates for you. 
While I'm in the kitchen these days, making lunch, trying to prep for dinner, or putting away groceries, Ryan loves to sit at the table and watch me, or practice his drawing. And I've only recently been able to relax with him sitting on our chairs...they are so high off the ground, and he's such a wiggle worm...not a good combination!

such a little boy, such a big table

The one thing we did do all last week was swim lessons.  Ryan LOVES the water.  So I figured I'd sign him up for a parent/tot group lesson, just for fun.  Well, our group lesson has turned into a private lesson.  Which has been a little frustrating for me.  All the attention is on Ry, which would be fine, except that he only wants to play and wants nothing to do with listening to his instructor.  He already knows how to kick his legs in the pool, and he can put his mouth in and attempt to blow bubbles.  But will he do this when his instructor asks him to?  Nope, not a chance.  So instead we spend 30 minutes shivering in the pool, reaching for pool toys.  And what does our brilliant child do in the evening during his bath, well after we've left the pool behind for the day?  He lays on his tummy, kicks his legs repeatedly, says "kick kick kick" and looks up at me and smiles.  Yeah, he knows exactly what he's doing.  We have one more week of lessons this week, so we'll see what we can accomplish.  At least he still LOVES the water, and when we pull up to the pool he excitedly yells "POOL!" from the back seat.  So I guess we're doing okay. 

first day of swim lessons, with swim instructor Patricia