First Day of School!

Well, Ryan started 3rd grade today. I cannot believe he is in 3rd grade! We got to school and he seemed ready to go. He took Ms. Long's hand (one of the class assistants that he has also had for 4 years this year) and smiled at her and walked away. My big boy!

Myrtle Beach 2009

We took a short trip to Myrtle Beach from August 16 - 19. The boys had a lot of fun swimming and swimming and swimming. Yes, they love to swim! We also went to Maggie Moos for ice cream one night, Uno's pizza for dinner and to the Pavilion Nostalgia park to ride a few of the rides left over from the Pavilion being torn down.

Happy 3rd Birthday Reece!!!

Reece turned 3 today (July 12, 2009) . He is getting so big! We had a family birthday party for him yesterday. The theme was Imagination Movers. I think he had a good time. He played with his cousin Tyler a lot. He was having so much fun he didn't eat his pizza and barely touched his cake. We think his favorite part of the party were his balloons. There were a few presents that he opened and when I asked him if he liked the present he said "no". No manners at all! He told me this morning that he needs to open more presents. Unfortunately, I didn't keep any for him to open today. But I did let him eat cake for breakfast. Happy Birthday Reece!

Disney World 2009

Well, we're back from Disney World. We had a lot of fun, but it was so hot. I read when I got home it was a record high in Florida for June. Figures! Jennifer, Scotty and Tyler were there too so we hung out with them some. Reece rode his first roller coaster (he ended up riding it 3 times) and held his hands up in the air every time. I told him he needed to hold on! :-) Ryan rode Expedition Everest for the first time (3 times total). And that is not a kiddie coaster! We had a few meals with characters and Reece ignored them the whole time. He would turn his head away and pretend they weren't even there. We're not sure why because when we stood in line waiting for the characters, he interacted with them. It would figure when we are paying to eat with the characters in the air conditioning he would ignore them, but wanted to see them when we stood in a long line in the 99 degree heat. We will definitely be working around teacher workdays or school holidays for a while when it is cooler in Florida.
Enjoying a mickey ice cream sandwich

At the hotel pool

Teacups

Waiting for dumbo to start

At Playhouse Disney Live at Hollywood Studios

Dinner at Boma

Dinner at Boma

At Fort Wilderness with Chip and Dale

Ryan singing

Ryan's class plus two other classes did a song for parents on Friday, June 5. Afterwards, each class had an ice cream party. Ryan did great! The song used sign language along with singing. Ryan sat over to the side since he doesn't like loud noise (think dozens of kids singing very loudly behind him right into his ear - his teacher said he kept covering his ears because it was bothering him so much during practice). So she let him sit over to the side. He did an awesome job with his sign language! I don't have any pictures of the actual performance because I was videotaping it. Three more days of school!!!!


Ryan waiting to sing

Ryan getting his reading award

Reece enjoying his ice cream

Ryan enjoying his cheerios

Special Olympics 2009

On 04/29/09 Ryan participated in his first Special Olympics. He did really well and seemed to have a lot of fun during the events. Ryan won a bronze medal for the standing long jump and a gold medal for the 100 meter walk. It was so funny watching him during the 100 meter walk. He kind of slowly just walked down the track. All of the people in the stands were cheering and Ryan would stop and clap and then keep walking. One time he covered his ears because of the clapping and cheering (I guess it was too loud for him). Then he jumped over the finish line. Way to go Ryan!!

Ryan's Buddy who lasted all of 10 minutes. He wouldn't hold her hand.

Standing long jump

Strolling down the track during the 100 meter walk

Ryan with his medals (even though you can't see the actual medals in the picture)

Happy Easter Everyone!

Well it has been a while since an update. There hasn't been too much going on. Ryan and Reece are both doing really well. Ryan is still enjoying taekwondo and swimming lessons. Reece is talking talking talking. We can't get him to be quiet. Until he is around other people and then we can't get him to talk.

I think they enjoyed Easter. We dyed some eggs last night, and we went to Jennifer's house today for our family lunch. They enjoyed hunting Easter eggs. Well until Ryan decided he would rather try to get into the pool. :-) Ryan has about 2 more months of school and then it will be summer time. I am really looking forward to spending the summer with both of my babies.

Way to go Ryan!!!

Ryan got his first stripe on his belt in Tae Kwon Do yesterday. We are so proud of him! He is doing really well and making good progress. His instructor is very happy with how well he is doing. Things are being modified for him a bit, but that's ok. Strangely enough, Joey and I signed up this past week to also take Tae Kwon Do. We both went (on separate nights) last week to see how we would like it. Let me just say that some of the moves Ryan can do is harder that we thought! I am still recovering from having to attempt to do 30 push ups! We think we will be able to help Ryan more if we know what we are doing too. So it is now a family thing! Reece has to wait until he is 4 though. :-)

Well its snowing.

It is so rare that it actually snows here anymore. Last night I was hoping that it would snow so that the boys could go outside and play. When we got up I showed them the snow outside the window and they were very excited. We took them outside and it lasted about 15 minutes at the most. They went and stood at the door and wanted back inside.

Happy 8th Birthday Ryan!!!!!!!

Ryan's birthday is January 5. He will be 8 years old. I cannot believe it! I still remember him being teeny tiny and just coming home from the hospital. He's not so teeny tiny anymore! He is around 44 inches tall now. Over the past year he has started doing so much stuff. Last spring he played t-ball. He started Tae Kwon Do this past fall. He is taking swimming lessons. He rode some of the bigger roller coasters at Carowinds this past summer and loved them. He is so big now! Boo hoo! :-( We had his birthday party on January 3. We had a simple family party this year with pizza and cake. I am attaching a few pictures. Happy Birthday Ryan Angel-pie!!!!

Christmas Day

Here are a few pictures from Christmas day.