October 2011

We've had a great month with lots of fun experiences for Ryan. We hit the pumpkin patch in Lawrence and his favorite part by far was the tractor ride so we made multiple trips back and forth from the barn to the patch o' pumpkins. And not quick trips I might add. At the lake last weekend we went hiking at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. It's one of our favorite places and Ryan was old enough to do lots of exploring and rock climbing/jumping this time around. We also went to Charlie's birthday party, had a couple play dates, went to the Renaissance Festival and got the best toy ever... a train table! He's totally taken to trains so Todd picked up a table on Craig's List and it has been a great addition to the house.

He didn't understand what Halloween was so I took him to Target to pick out his costume and he chose Buzz Lightyear. We then did a trick-or-treating trial run at the lake last weekend so he could understand what was going to take place Monday and after he got candy at the first of the three houses, he took off in a dead sprint for the next one. We joined the Koons and Allen families to trick-or-treat and he had a ball following the bigger boys around. Henry is always so good, helpful and patient with him and Ryan just eagerly follows his every move.

His favorite things as of late are:

- Thomas and Friends

- Buzz and Woody

- Cars

- Clifford the Big Red Dog

- dinosaurs

- snuggling with Daddy in the morning

- using tools and the vacuum

- collecting rocks (and sneaking them into his pockets)

- getting Mickey stickers when he's good and putting them on his back

- sleeping on the floor instead of in his toddler bed

He weighed 34 pounds when he just got his flu shot and has started toddler PE/sports at school and actually tries to step while throwing - it's pretty cute. He's said some funny things lately but the best was while I was carrying him during a recent hiking trip.

Mommy: [feeling a rumbling on my arm] "Ryan, did you toot?"

Ryan: "No!"

Mommy: "Are you sure?"

Ryan: "Yes. I tooted and peed!"

Every time we come down the hill into our lake house Ryan exclaims, "There it is, there's the lake, I found it!" Well, when he woke up last weekend it was very foggy and when he looked outside he got this concerned look on his face and asked, "Where'd the lake go? I can't find it."

Ryan's school pictures - we were so excited to see that he actually

cooperated for not just one, but two pictures. He looks so grown up:(

Buzz, Woody and Mommy

at the castle ruins up on the bluffs at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

playing on the big rocks under the natural bridge

Callie was so happy to go hiking and got to do lots of exploring outside the last couple weekends at the lake.

Ryan driving the boat one last time before we winterized it.

It's Henry the Eighth at the Ren Fest

Now that our basement is finally finished, the train table has a new home

out of our living room and downstairs!

With Abby, Jake and Cade at Charlie's birthday party. Every picture I have includes a large pile of children on the bounce house. They had so much stinking fun!

taking the easy way out at the Pumpkin Patch

Four Fairs in Four Weeks

Following Labor Day, we've visited a fair every weekend and "go to fairs this weekend?" has become part of Ryan's vocabulary. First we visited the Cole Camp Fair, which is a great little street fair in old historic Cole Camp on our way to the lake. There were lots of kid-friendly rides and he went with Henry which made it even more fun (see previous post).

The following weekend we took him into Laurie for a haircut and discovered a parade ready to begin as part of their Hillbilly Fair. I'm sad to say it was his first parade, but once he discovered it involved fire engines and candy he was sold. Unfortunately we weren't planning on being outside and it was cold and rainy. But his blanket from school was still in the car and he insisted on frog boots as usual, so he was equipped for the weather even if he was a little goofy looking. The Hillbilly Fair takes place in the town park and while there were only a few rides he was big enough for, they had more activities for the little kids at the playground including pony rides and train rides. He absolutely loved the train and would have ridden it all afternoon if we would have let him. The fire trucks were on display so we stopped by multiple times and he got personal tours of the inside, the cab and every compartment. He proudly wore his fire fighter helmet the rest of the weekend:)

When we were back in Kansas City for Jane's 60th birthday, it was also the Plaza Art Fair and the Waldo Family Festival in our neighborhood. He had very little appreciation for the art down at the Plaza, however the huge inflatable rocket ship at the family festival in Waldo was a huge hit and he's still talking about it.

This past weekend, we went to the Weston Applefest and met up with our friends the Whites and their new baby girl. They had several old cars and tractors in the parade which he thought were pretty great, and he found every comparison to the Cars characters that could possibly be made.

We've had a lot of fun the past several weeks and have been loving this weather. We've been walking up to the local school playground most evenings and he was so wound up Sunday that we had him ride his trike. He rode 7 blocks and made us carry him the last two, then ran around and played his little heart out. We thought it would wear him out but no such luck. I swear this kid has a bottomless pit of energy.

Waiting for the Hillbilly parade to start - sweet outfit:)

who knew they had toddler ferris wheels?

The nice train engineer let Ryan get in the driver's seat. He loved it and even snuck back in later when the "engineer" had his back to the driver's seat.

Personally testing every tool and mechanism inside the fire truck.

All tuckered out after a long weekend of fun at the fair. We realized he was pretty quiet back there within a few minutes of leaving the lake and looked back to see him fast asleep with his applesauce still in his mouth.

Some pictures from the summer that I found on Todd's phone.

Napping with Pop Pop. Well, at least one of them is asleep.

He was riding up front with Uncle Jeppy and the lull of the boat's engine was more than his tired little self could take, so he racked out on Jeff for more than 30 minutes.

Outside the Target where we shop, the model train organization has set up a display in the old New York & Company store. There are large amazing models set up and it's a great treat for good behavior during our Target excursions. Despite the incredible displays that include a replica of the Western Auto building, he always gravitates to the tiny little Thomas one on the floor. It just goes in a circle but he could watch it for hours.