The Thomas Family

Merry Christmas

2011-12-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

Ian was up bright and early at 5:30 on Christmas morning. He was filled with absolute joy all day long. This was the best Christmas yet with him. :)

Once the bike helmet got put on, it stayed on all morning long. :)

Eating Santa's leftover cookies.Ready to kick his new soccer ball.It amazes me how quickly the living room is overtaken by wrapping paper on Christmas morning!

Helping Granddad build the fire pit. Since Granddad needed his reading glasses for this project, Ian had to have his sunglasses on "just like Granddad."Huge excitement over new coloring books and markers. I love how the simple things make him so happy.

Ian assisted everyone in opening their presents. :)Uncle always finds a unique stuffed animal for Ian. This year it was a bat, and Ian was thrilled!Getting some help from Uncle.Hammering on his new workbench.Roasting marshmallows...might be a new Christmas tradition at our house. :)

Christmas Eve

2011-12-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Eve was filled with lots of fun activities!

Baking Christmas cookies.

Watching the cake batter get mixed up. We made a birthday cake for Jesus.When we started decorating our cookies, Ian looked over at me and said, "Mommy, I like to make the cookies, but my favorite part is decorating them." :) He is great at quality control too; there is not a single sprinkle that does not get tested by this little guy.Before church.

Reindeer food.Setting out milk and cookies for Santa.Resting up for an exciting Christmas Day.

Christmas Lights

2011-12-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

Ian was feeling a little under the weather one day, and we enjoyed a quiet day at home. That night we went driving around Leander to check out Christmas lights in different neighborhoods. It was a fun night, and I am already looking forward to doing it again next year.

Freshly bathed. Decked out in jammies. Candy cane in hand. Ready to look at some lights.Ian LOVES candy canes. :)

Trail of Lights

2011-12-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

Marble Falls has a great trail of lights that we first went to when Ian was just a baby. We checked it out this year on a beautiful Sunday evening. For a small town, I am amazed by how many lights are on display! Ian enjoyed all of the lights so much that we went through a second time. Here are a few of our pictures.

Relaxing Morning

2011-12-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

This morning Ian requested pancakes for breakfast. I decided to add a little Christmas cheer by putting sprinkles in the batter. Ian was quite impressed by his Mommy's culinary skills, and ate almost 5 pancakes!

Pushing his sleeves up in preparation for his breakfast feast.Ian snuggling with his puppy friends. The big "Christmas Puppy" (as Ian has named him), has quickly become his favorite stuffed animal!

Santa and Zilker Tree

2011-12-17T10:45:00.000-08:00

Santa made a stop at Ian's daycare last week, so I took him on a day I was off. Ian was incredibly excited to tell Santa what he wanted, and his face lit up when he first saw him! That evening we met Uncle for dinner and a trip to the Zilker Tree. Despite the light rain that would come and go, we all had a great time.

Listening intently to what Santa was telling him.Spinning Mr.Ken under the tree.Ian wanted to be held by his favorite person!

From inside the tree looking up. It's really hard to do the lights justice with a photo.Uncle spinning Ian.Of course Ian had to drive Uncle's spaceship (his car) before we left. :)

Christmas Stroll

2011-12-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

We went to the Christmas Stroll in Georgetown last night. Despite it raining all day, the rain stopped in the evening and the weather turned out to be perfect. It was a fun night to begin the holiday season.Not the best picture, but one of the only ones I got of him actually looking at the camera.Dancing to the music from the live band. When this kid hears a beat, his legs and hips start moving!Watching intently as the paramedic was explaining about some of the equipment on the ambulance. The ambulance was Ian's favorite thing of the whole night.Walking into Bethlehem Village.Inspecting the clothespin baby Jesus the nice lady gave him.Do you think they had a sign like this in Bethlehem back in the day? :)

Watching the Christmas Story (Ian's on the far right). He paid attention for the whole thing.This little girl kept trying to share popcorn with him, but he did not want any part of it! This picture doesn't fully capture how funny it actually was nor how adamantly he kept telling her no.Getting a bracelet placed on his left arm because it is closest to his heart. Inside the bracelet was the verse Deuteronomy 6:5. The whole village was a wonderful learning experience for Ian.Checking out one of the Christmas trees lit up on the side of the courthouse.These 2 guys were at the North Pole without coats on! Thankfully no one caught pneumonia.

Decorating

2011-12-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

Last week we worked on getting all of our Christmas decorations out. It was nice to do a little bit each day, and that also helped hold the interest of my little assistant decorator.

He was VERY excited to put the ornaments on the tree.

Being very careful when unrolling each person in our nativity scene. We talked a lot about being gentle this week.Placing them in the order he thought they should be in. :)It was fun watching him open each one and figure out who it was.Making sure they are all lined up properly.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

We had a low-key Thanksgiving meal on the day after Thanksgiving since I worked on the holiday. It was nice to relax and enjoy the company of people we love.There was time for swinging.

Ian had so much fun playing baseball with Uncle.Not quite sure how I actually captured him hitting the ball, but it's a cool photo.Special moments with Grammie.LOTS of chasing went on that day.

Ian loves to help in the kitchen. He and Grammie always make something together on the weekends I work.Taking pictures with Uncle's phone.AMAZING fashion sense!! (These earrings came with my princess crown from my birthday. Ian made sure his Mommy had a complete gift.)Trying to share some juice with Uncle, but he already had his "juice from the mountains." Thanks for the new catch phrase, Justin. :)We did lots of eating. Here Ian is enjoying 2 different kinds of pie...complete with Cool Whip.Doing something silly at the table.

Another Decade

2011-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Someone in our house has turned another year older. A little chef wanted to surprise her with a princess birthday cake ("Because you're a princess Mommy" - I remind myself of these sweet words on really tough days!!). Here are a few pictures of the beautiful cake he and Grammie made.Singing "Happy Birthday." We are under a burn ban, so 30 candles were not going on top of the cake! :)Enjoying every bite.

Weekend Fun

2011-11-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Ian was introduced to the town of Manor. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time playing at 2 different parks. I think Ian's favorite part of the day was helping make dinner. He was all practiced up on being a chef because he had made a chef's hat at daycare the day before as well as made his own sandwich for lunch that day. I just love picturing a whole classroom full of toddlers wearing chef's hats and feeling important; such a fun time!Cool dude riding on a motorcycle.Ian loves to swing and can really get himself swinging high by pumping his legs.Exploring new places to play.He did some trike riding.Ian has never been a climber, but he is becoming more brave and daring as time goes on.Enjoying some lunch while watching our Red Raiders play football.We made pizzas for dinner, and Ian felt so special to make his very own pizza. Here he is spreading out the sauce.Sampling the cheese. The wild look in his eyes makes you think he hasn't eaten for days! :)Pepperoni was next.Adding some olives.While the pizzas were baking, we made bracelets.Concentrating.These hands are always so busy, but they won't always be this small.

Quite excited to eat his creation. :)

Random Moments

2011-11-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few pictures lumped together. They are too cute not to share, but don't really group well with anything else we have been doing lately!Just a taste of the attitude that lives in our house.In this ensemble, Ian told me he was "Dressed up like Mommy." I'm not sure if that is a compliment or if I need to submit myself to What Not to Wear.

"Mommy, I want to do a sack race." After we emptied the last of the bird food into the feeder, Ian decided to be creative with the bag.Jumping to the finish.As I was cleaning up after dinner one night, it got extremely quiet in the house. I was pleasantly surprised to find this little boy happily playing with his trains, cars, and trucks. It is fun to see his imagination really come to life when he is playing.

Trick or Treat

2011-11-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

Ian was excited for Halloween this year! When he woke up yesterday morning and it was still dark outside, he informed me that he was ready to go trick-or-treating. When the sun came up, he finally believed me that we would have to wait until after dinner to get dressed up. It was a fun night, and he didn't fall asleep until 10:15 after all the excitement and candy finally wore off.

Ian went up to almost all the doors by himself, except the ones that looked scary. His funniest comment of the night was when he looked down at some lady's slippers after she answered the door and proclaimed, "You're wearing those because our Red Raiders are playing." She had a Texas Tech double T on the top of her slippers, and she was so impressed that she gave him extra candy...Red Raiders are hard to come by in this part of Texas! :)

Ready to pass out some candy.Dressed up and ready to go. My mom actually made this costume for one of my brothers 20 years ago. It fit Ian perfectly and was that much more special since it had been Uncle's.Ferocious alligator!!

Headed down the driveway for some trick-or-treat fun.First candy deposit from our sweet neighbor, Alice.Is he excited or what??Ringing the doorbell.Talking with Grammy on his way to the next house.

Walking through a huge Halloween display at one house. As the night went on, parts of the costume came off, but the excitement never left! Looking through his loot.Sharing candy with Mommy.The sugar high has begun...:)

Pumpkin Carving

2011-11-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

We waited until last Friday to carve our jack-o-lantern because I knew with this heat it would rot in no time. It was a beautiful fall day when we tackled this project, which was nice since it actually felt like we should be carving a pumpkin for Halloween!

This was our harvest from Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls a few weekends ago. Ian chose all 3 of the small ones by himself.Starting off the event with an extra silly face.Spoons in hand and ready to get to work.Not quite sure whether or not he should actually touch it.Cleaning out the seeds.

This picture is worth a thousand words! :)Deciding what kind of face our jack-o-lantern should have.

Lost interest in the pumpkin and decided sliding head first was a more fun choice.I roasted the pumpkin seeds that night, and they were a tasty snack before bedtime!

Fall Fun

2011-10-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

We have been taking advantage of fun activities going on around us; here are some pictures of various things we have been doing. The weather has finally turned cooler, and it is nice for it to actually feel like fall!Nelli's church had a fall festival last weekend, and Ian enjoyed riding on this barrel train. He thought it was even better than the one he rode on in Marble Falls because a golf cart was pulling it instead of a tractor; who knew a golf cart would have the upper hand?Lance, Ian, and Brady.Of course he had to drive this firetruck. The first thing he tried to do was honk the horn. Thank goodness the horn doesn't work if the keys are not in the ignition. :)

Boys of all sizes like checking out the tools and equipment on a fire truck.

Brady and Ian were captivated by everything about this firetruck.

Today we went to a little Halloween playdate, and someone made this amazing cake. Wish I could take credit for it!

Last year's costume has made many appearances this year. I'm amazed that it still fits!

Lining up to go outside and find some candy and books.It's near impossible to have everyone look a the same camera at the same time, but they were all so cute and excited to be dressed up.

And here's a sneak peak of an alligator that just might come knocking at your door on the 31st...

It's Raining!!

2011-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

We got about 2.5 inches of rain last weekend, and Ian took full advantage of the opportunity to play in the precipitation.

Trying to figure out how to close the umbrella; he wants to know how EVERYTHING works.

Forget the umbrella, let's play some kickball!! :)

Halloween Cookies

2011-10-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

This time last year was our first experience in making cookies together...at least I knew what kind of mess I was in for this time! Ian is such a good helper and always wants to be a part of whatever I am doing. Enjoy the little chef hard at work!

Trying out the cookie dough.Cleaning up.

Trying to get sprinkles off of his hands; this just meant they got spread all over the floor. :)Final product.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-13T10:59:00.001-07:00

We went to a wonderful pumpkin patch last weekend, and, wouldn't you know, we haven't had rain in months and it rained that morning! It didn't dampen our spirits, and the sun did come out later. Ian had a great time, and was running from one thing to another when we first got there since there was so much to see...he wanted to make sure he didn't miss out on one single thing!

He is obliging me with a picture, but his face is saying, "Hurry up Mommy, there is so much to explore here!"Of course he had to drive the boat full of pumpkins!Ian and Ken...enjoying themselves despite the rain.When the firefighter told him he could get inside the firetruck, he didn't waste ANY time climbing up.

Buckled up and ready to go.That smile says it all. :) I think the fire truck was one of his favorite things that day.Feeding the goats.

Climbing up for the hay ride.Taking time to smell the flowers...Anyone who knows this little guy, knows how he sneezes when allergens are high. :) Once we got away from the flowers, the sneezing stopped.The photo doesn't do justice to how beautiful the flowers were.No fear of the chickens. Too bad there wasn't any chicken feed because he is practiced up in that department! :)Listening for the wagon that was pulling the trailer for a hay ride.

"There it is!!"Hay bales dressed up as pigs.Barrel ride.Such joy.The tunnel that passed under the road to connect to another part of the farm...fun times for a little boy!Showing off his muscles in front of these huge pumpkins.Picking out just the right one...Thinking about the delicious pumpkin ice cream we had just eaten; we all wished that we had bought 2 servings instead of just 1. Ian adored "driving" all of these small tractors. This farm was truly heaven for this sweet boy!

Waving from the "yeller" barrel...who doesn't like an old farmer with a good Texas drawl? :)

Picnic Lunch

2011-10-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned slightly cooler, and we are taking full advantage of it. We have been having picnic lunches outside, and these are special moments I don't ever want to forget!

Anticipating Fall

2011-10-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Even though it is officially fall, it certainly doesn't feel like it around here with temperatures in the 90s most days...at least it isn't 100 anymore. :) We went and bought some mums to plant this weekend, and Ian had such fun helping dig in the dirt, getting the plants into their new pots, and giving them a big drink afterwards. Unfortunately, I didn't get any shots of the finished products since my hands were covered in dirt, but it is definitely looking more like autumn now.

First Beach Trip

2011-09-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

We went to the beach a few weekends ago, and it was wonderful to watch Ian experience the sand and ocean for the first time. Ian was beyond excited for the whole trip, which means we both got very little sleep for the weekend! :) The weather was perfect, and it was great to escape for a few days!

View from our balcony. Headed to the beach for the first time. He looks like he is on a serious mission to see the ocean.
The feeling of waves washing over your toes.

Digging in the sand with Grammie. Feeling the wet sand and watching the waves.For some reason, Ian was adamant about making a strawberry pie with Grammie while at the beach. Here he is hard at work. :) Sunrise on the beach.

Enjoying a snack.

Telling Uncle about his morning beach experience.

Wading into the water completely fearless.We didn't get many sandcastles built because someone had more fun stomping on them. :)Kicking in the pool.

Of course we had to take a picture doing Ian's favorite silly face.

Feeding the seagulls some breakfast.Jumping for joy as the sun comes up.

A Little of This & A Little of That

2011-09-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

I have been MIA in the blog world for a while. Life has been busy lately. Here are some photos of some of the things that have been going on with us.

Meeting (and hugging) the Chick-Fil-A cow at an Express game.Watching some fantastic fireworks at the end of the baseball game. They were a bit too loud for Ian.Playing with silly string at Colt's birthday party.Enjoying some delicious cake and ice cream at the party.Transforming into a superhero.Flying to the rescue!

Becoming a train conductor while Mommy makes dinner.

Lake Vacation

2011-08-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ian and I took a little vacation last week to visit GranniJo and PoppaJim at their lake house. It was hot and the lake level was extremely low, but we still had a relaxing time and made some special memories.
Getting ready to go out on the paddle boat.Everyone was focused on backing into the water.Collecting shells.I'm not quite sure what he was doing here, but he was definitely having fun!

Having fun in the sprinkler.Ian got to hear lots of new stories.Running errands with PoppaJim. I'm not sure who's most excited in this picture. :)

On a mission for some shells...which were then all thrown into the lake.

This gives you a good idea of how low the lake is. Hopefully they will get some rain soon to fill it back up.Nighttime stories with PoppaJim.

Splash Park

2011-08-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

A fantastic new splash park opened up near us, and we have been several times. It is huge and has a variety of things for Ian to enjoy. This Mommy learned to be more careful as to where I was standing to prevent being ambushed by different water features! :) Here are some photos from one of our visits
Water slide.Trying to spray someone with the water cannon.Ducking under the water.

And, of course, trying to drink the water! :)

Express Game

2011-08-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Ian got to attend his first minor league baseball game a few weeks ago. We went with my parents and Ian had a great time. He lasted until the top of the 7th inning, and then it became quite apparent it was time for bed. We had a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to taking him to more games in the future.Handing me my ticket.Can you tell by the look on his face how excited he was to meet H-E-Buddy?

"Singing" the national anthem.Quietly observing and taking in every detail.

You have to eat a hot dog at the ballpark.

Priceless.

All the kids were given a backpack as they walked into the game and Ian wanted to wear his everywhere. It's hard to believe in a few short years, Ian will be wearing a backpack to kindergarten!I really was there...with a silly and funny boy!

Ready...Set...GO!!

Picture Face

2011-08-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Lately, Ian has decided instead of smiling, he likes to make the same silly face when I ask him to look at the camera. I don't know who he learned it from, but he is definitely consistent. The following are just a few examples of what a lot of my pictures look like these days, not to mention our life! :)

Fourth of July

2011-07-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

We spent our July 4th swimming, eating, playing, and enjoying time with family. Ian started asking to see fireworks when he first woke up that morning and continued asking nonstop throughout the day. Luckily, Georgetown put on a firework show, and Ian enjoyed it immensely.
Pool time with Grammie.Splashing fun with Granddad.

Ian will throw a ball any chance he can get.

Ian's sour face after eating a pickle. He LOVES sour things, and his expression never stops being funny!

Enjoying some hugs with Uncle.Ian loved helping Granddad drive the golf cart. Anything that has a steering wheel, he wants to drive it. Waiting for the fireworks...patiently I might add! :)That sweet face says it all.And this is the face he gives me while saying "Move out of the way Mommy!!"

Cars 2

2011-07-16T10:41:00.001-07:00

Ian got to go to his first movie, Cars 2, with his friend Triston a few weeks ago. We didn't quite make it through the entire movie (what 3 year old can sit through a 2 hour movie??), but it was a fun experience and the boys behaved very well. Ian loved the popcorn, the seats that rocked back, and the huge screen. It was a great (and cool) afternoon adventure for all!
Ian was one excited little boy.

Relaxing and ready for the feature to begin.

Just Because...

2011-06-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Not too many exciting, picture-worthy activities have been going on around here. Lots of our daily life is centered around the pool, splash park, or sprinkler...all of which are not very camera-friendly. But, here are a few pictures that I had on my camera and had not posted yet.

Sleeping soundly after a full day of playing hard.

My little drummer.Total concentration.Singing (at the top of his lungs) and playing the drum. I think I might be living with a future rock star!! :)

Sprinkler Fun

2011-06-01T12:21:00.001-07:00

It has been so hot here that we are scheduling our day around water activities already! Ian had a blast playing in the sprinkler one afternoon in the backyard. I'm sure we'll be spending many more afternoons just like this.

Of course you have to taste it to make sure it will be an appropriate temperature to play in.Getting ready to run through.Mischievously getting ready to pour water on my feet.

Focused.Perfecting the art of standing on the sprinkler and then releasing his foot to see how high it will spray.

Drying off.

"Arting"

2011-06-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

A low-key morning at home resulted in digging out paints and brushes and letting Ian create some masterpieces. Ian insisted on calling painting "arting," so here are some pictures of him arting. :)Admiring his completed work.Complete concentration...can you see him sticking his tongue out?

Although Ian loved putting paint on the paper, he did not like it to get on his hands. After any drop of paint got on his fingers, he had to promptly wipe it off. Too funny.

On to the next canvas...

Easter

2011-04-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

We had a quiet Easter at home that included church, Easter baskets, egg hunting, and a big dinner. Ian really got into the egg hunting action this year, and wanted to stop and open each egg he found, see what was inside of it, close it back up, put it in his basket, and then raced off to find the next egg.
Discovering candy in his basket.

The first piece of chocolate of Easter 2011. Ian frequently told me, "Mommy, my tummy is hungry for more chocolate" throughout the day. :)

Excited about his Easter goodies.

Trying to see what is inside of one of his eggs.

Enjoying a snack while Granddad blows bubbles.

Relaxing after a full day of fun!

Park Time

2011-04-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

I took Ian to a new playground the other day, and he had a blast. Here he is enjoying exploring something new.
Climbing up the stone mountain on the side.

Sliding.

Doing his favorite thing...driving. I think he is telling me to put my seat belt on in this picture. Ha ha :)

I get a lot of pictures like this these days because he is ALWAYS on the lookout for the next thing to do.

Once he discovers something else that looks interesting, he's off and running!!!

First time playing tetherball.

I love this picture of my little boy enjoying life.

Eggs

2011-04-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Ian has thoroughly enjoyed playing with all the plastic Easter eggs this year. Here are a few photos of him immersed in the eggs after his nap.
Here he has dumped all of the eggs out and is making sure they are spread out so he can see each and every one.

Silly boy. (Please excuse the laundry in the background; I happened to be folding it when this impromptu photo shoot started...this is a real life picture!)

Concentrating on getting the egg open.

Lining the open eggs up very carefully.

Assisting Mommy in folding some laundry.

My proud little helper! :)

Bowling

2011-04-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

Ian had his first bowling experience almost 2 weeks ago. We met my brother Justin, or Uncle as Ian calls him, and we all had a great time. He was interested long enough for one game, and is already asking when we can go back.
They had this great ramp he could set his ball on and then just push it toward the pins. Here is one of his first tries.

Running back for a high-five from Mommy. He was just as excited if he knocked 1 pin or 8 pins down.

Rolling the ball without the use of the ramp. The bumpers were up to guarantee at least 1 pin was knocked down!

Despite Mommy explaining to him to not cross the line after he pushed his ball, he still felt like chasing it down the lane one time. I didn't get a picture of what happened next, but he wiped out on the slippery floor and was pretty shocked by how quickly he fell down! Needless to say, he only went down the lane once. :)

Carrying his ball.

This little guy sure does love his Uncle!

Priceless Moments

2011-04-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

There are moments every day that I want to forever hold in my heart. Here are a few I was able to get pictures of.
Giving his friend, Blue Bunny (we're pretty creative with names around our house!!), a ride in the wagon. The bunny is sitting on a kitchen towel because Ian wanted to make sure he was comfortable. :)

Enjoying the evening sky with bunny in his lap.Getting on the big boy swing all by himself and swinging all by himself...where did the time go?

Dinosaur Party

2011-04-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ian had a birthday party last weekend and enjoyed every minute of it! It was at an inflatable playground, and all of the kids were able to jump off lots of energy. Ian was bouncing off the walls with excitement from the moment he woke up, so it was a perfect choice. Here are some photos from the fun day. Dinosaur cake...ROARRR!!

It was hard to get any really good pictures of Ian because he was constantly in motion!

Being silly with Granddad.

Jumping with Uncle.

Laney, Macyn, and Ian (in the back).

Triston and Brady were not too excited about having to take a break from playing to eat. :)

Nelli and pizza-faced Macyn.

Blowing out his candle.

Ian was slightly overcome with embarrassment when he looked around the room and realized that everyone was singing to him! It was a sweet moment.

Ready to enjoy some cake and ice cream.

Laney, who just turned 1, had no problem getting some pizza into her mouth. Her brother Brady likes to eat his pizza upside down; kids are so funny!

Cake face.

Getting a birthday hug from Olivia.

Ian wanted to make sure that everyone was looking at the love he was getting! :)

Enjoying the party blower on the ride home.

Uncle teaching Ian how to use his new chainsaw. I think it might be too young for his first power tool, but the happiness on his face is crystal clear!

Happy Birthday

2011-03-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that I first met Ian 3 years ago! The time has just flown by, and it has been amazing watching him grow and learn new things. I didn't have to work on his birthday, so we went to Chuck E Cheese. Ian had such a fun time, and was running from one game to another to make sure he didn't miss out on anything. There are quite a few pictures to follow, but I wanted to make sure I captured every moment. Happy birthday sweet boy; it is a pleasure to be your Mama.
Contemplating whether he is having fun or not with Bob the Builder.

First view of Chuck E Cheese. He kept telling me he wanted to "Go up there and hug him."

Focused on putting the fires out.

This little boy loves to drive.

Putting his token in.

Collecting his tickets.

That face says it all. :)

I could never get him to look straight at me for a picture because he was too busy talking to Mr. Cheese.

Ian spotted Chuck E Cheese from a distance and ran up to meet him. I was amazed that this giant rat didn't intimidate him at all.

Showing off the prizes he chose after turning in his tickets (a frog and spider).

All those games sure do wear a 3 year old out!

Discovering there is one more present.

Can you feel his excitement? :)

Savoring the moment of the "Happy Birthday" song.

Digging in.

Yardwork

2011-03-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Since spring is almost here, we have been getting our yard ready and planting flowers. As you can see, I have had lots of help from my favorite person.

Mundane March

2011-03-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in over a month, and really nothing has been going on that is picture-worthy. Doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, potty training, playing outside when the weather has been nice, reading books, coloring, and grocery shopping are what the last few weeks have entailed for us. But, last week when the realization hit that my little boy will be 3 this month, I dusted the camera off and started taking pictures. It sounds cliche, but children grow up too quickly, and Ian seems to change overnight sometimes. Even though the following pictures are nothing exciting, it is our daily life. Ian is such a loving, sweet boy, and I have to remind myself of that boy when he is having a tantrum or a bad day (which are becoming fewer). I'll especially need that reminder 10-15 years down the road when he is a teenager! :)

Throwing the baseball up and hitting it with the bat...by himself since I was making dinner. :)

Racing cars along the track.

Train conductor.

Figuring out a puzzle.

Playing with Alfie with an abundance of toys scattered around.

Taking a walk and looking at his shadow.

Constantly exploring rocks, sticks, and dirt on the ground.

Armful of rocks for...

throwing in the water.

Intensely discovering.

Arms full of rocks, walking toward the water to throw them in, and pointing out an airplane. He's a busy boy!

Dandelion.

Writing letters in the gravel.

Only in Texas

2011-02-04T14:03:00.001-08:00

Only in Texas is it 80 at the beginning of the week and snowing by the end of the week! We have had some crazy weather lately, and I have been trying to keep Ian occupied while staying out of the bitter cold. We baked cookies yesterday, and Ian was elated. He has been asking to do this since our Christmas cookies all got eaten. We woke up this morning to a dusting of snow on the ground. We enjoyed playing in it this morning, and most of it is already melted this afternoon. Ian acted like a pro at playing in the snow and warned me "Be careful of that snow, Mama" this morning when I went outside to take some pictures.

Fully concentrated on the task at hand.

Waiting patiently for the cookies to bake and cool.

Ready to go out and play...he couldn't wait to put his mittens on!

Pushing a car through the snowy path.

Snowy mittens.

Some of the kids in the neighborhood were making snow angels, so he thought he'd give it a try. Not bad for a kid that has only seen snow one other time in his life! :)

Warming up with some hot chocolate.

A Sunny Day

2011-01-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first day that wasn't rainy, too cold, or cloudy in a long time. Ian enjoyed being able to run, climb, and expend extra energy outside...this also helped him sleep in this morning! :) Washing his hands at the sink. Good hand hygiene is never a bad thing! :)

"I'm spraying some gas on you, Mommy." Not exactly the sweetest thing he has ever said.

Looking up at an airplane flying overhead.

One of his favorite ways to swing.

Bowl Game

2011-01-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a belated post (kind of a running theme to 2011 so far) to show off Ian's support of his Red Raiders during the TicketCity Bowl that they played in last week. I'm just impressed that we got invited to a bowl game this year, and ecstatic that we won!

Christmas Post (FINALLY!!)

2011-01-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Christmas at home this year, and Ian was extremely excited about Santa coming to our house! Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Sampling the milk we left out for Santa.

Putting out reindeer food.

Visions of sugarplums dancing in his head.

This picture is deceiving because it looks like he dove right in to his stocking that morning. He actually was more interested in the left-over cookies that Santa didn't eat! He had to eat one before checking out his new toys.

The destruction that only comes post-presents on Christmas morning.

Getting some golf tips from Granddad.

Ian and Uncle.

Christmas Cookies

2010-12-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

We made cookies for Santa (and a few for us) last night, and Ian had so much fun. He told me a few days ago that he wanted to give Santa a bat cookie. It took a little bit of memory searching to remember that the last time we made cookies, they were Halloween cookies. Ian just assumed that all cookies were in the shapes of ghosts, candy corn, and bats! After showing him our Christmas cookie cutters, he proudly told me, " Oh, I get it!" A fun memory for Christmas 2010!
First off, he had to sample the cookie dough.

Focused on his work.

Trying more cookie dough...it's a wonder we actually had some dough left to bake cookies with!

I had distracted Ian with "Frosty the Snowman" while I prepared the frosting and put the sprinkles in small containers for him. Here he is realizing that it is almost REALLY time to decorate the cookies...shouting for joy!

Decorating.

Admiring his hard work!

Zilker Tree

2010-12-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

Ian and I met my brother Justin for dinner and a visit to the Zilker Tree. This was Ian's first time to the Zilker Tree, and he was so excited when he first saw it from a distance. I think his statement was something to the effect of "That's the biggest Christmas tree I've ever seen!!" We had a fun time, and it was hard to get Ian to settle down to go to sleep after all that excitement.

Bundled up and ready to go...that smile says it all!

View from the ground looking up to the top.

One of many falls after getting too dizzy from spinning.

They had these cute little cut-outs, but no step stools for the kids to stand on, so this was the best shot I got (thanks Uncle for holding Ian up!).

We bought some hot chocolate, but Ian just wanted the marshmallows. A very nice lady gave him half a cup full of marshmallows, and he proceeded to eat every last one! :) (I love that he is still looking up at all the lights while stuffing his face.)

Too busy eating marshmallows to smile.

Reaching out to hug a Santa display.

One last spin before heading home!

Christmas Stroll

2010-12-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

We met my parents in Georgetown last Saturday for the Christmas Stroll. It was a beautiful night, and there was lots to see and do. Ian's favorite thing (other than wanting to go into every booth and "shop" for things he desperately needed) was the hula hoops near the stage where they had live music. Ian tried to copy what the other boys and girls were doing, so he spun around, holding the hula hoop, and then tried to keep his balance as he became more dizzy. It was a fun night and a good way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Looking up at the star.

Going through the hula hoop was a safer alternative.

Sharing some fresh kettle corn.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-30T11:00:00.001-08:00

I had to work on Thanksgiving this year, so we celebrated the Sunday before. The weather was nice, and Ian enjoyed playing outside until the meal was ready. Ian tried a little bit of everything, but liked the black olives and cool whip the best! :)

"Helping" me mix up a cake.

This boy could run and kick a ball ALL DAY LONG.

Sharing flowers that he picked.

Swinging in the big boy swing and seeing how tall Uncle Justin is.

Supervising the cooking.

Picture Time

2010-11-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ian and I had our pictures made last week, and I just wanted to share few. Being 2 years old definitely has its ups and downs, and Ian decided for the first half of the pictures that he didn't want to smile. He did warm up to the camera, and the photographer got some good shots. It is amazing to me that, even though I see Ian every day, he seems so much older in photographs! I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the holiday season.

Looking a little mischievous.

My little drummer boy.

Having some fun dancing with a toy Santa.

To Infinity...And Beyond

2010-11-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ian had a blast this year for Halloween! It was fun to see him proudly walk up to the door, knock, and say "Trick or Treat" all by himself. Plus, he loved it when people would recognize his costume and say "Hi Buzz." We got a later start than I had planned, but the weather was beautiful and one time around the block just didn't seem enough for this trick-or-treater!

Can you feel the excitement? (Excuse the sucker, he just couldn't part with it for a picture.)

Bored with taking pictures, but I had to get a full length shot of his costume.

Running to the first house.

Needed some help to carry his candy back home!

"I'm just looking Mama." :)

Pumpkin Carving

2010-11-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ian "helped" me carve the pumpkin this year, and I managed to get a few pictures while keeping the sharp objects out of and away from his fast hands!

The inside of the pumpkin was not a texture that this little boy enjoyed! :) So, I cleaned the pumpkin out and he had fun playing with the seeds after they were in a bowl.

Ian told me what shapes to make the eyes and nose.

Halloween Cookies

2010-10-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

The weather was not the best yesterday with off and on rain and clouds, so we stayed inside and baked and decorated cookies. To say that my kitchen was a mess after this endeavor, would be an understatement! Having a toddler help you cut out cookies, keeping him away from the hot baking sheets, making sure he wasn't taking one bite out of EVERY cookie that was cooling, making sure to not burn the cookies, and supervise decorating is not as easy as it might sound for one adult. But, Ian had fun and we have lots of tasty cookies to eat!
Pressing the cookie cutters into the dough.

He kept calling the flour on the counter "chalk" and wanted to clean it off. :)

Testing the products...

"Dusting" his hands off after getting lots of little orange and yellow sprinkles on them...this meant that I then had lots of orange and yellow sprinkles on the floor that then stuck to the bottom of his feet. (I decided to assist with these sprinkles from then on.)

Finished cookies! (I know the icing colors might not be traditional for Halloween, but I mixed up the colors that Ian wanted.)

Guns up, little Red Raider.

Sampling his work.

Total concentration.

Sneaking a bite of the dough. That's one of my favorite parts, too!

As Ian was waiting for me to clean the kitchen so we could play, this is what he was doing to pass some of the time (he gets a lot of practice watching me push him on the swings!).

Cameron Park Zoo

2010-10-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

I took Ian to a zoo in Waco this past week. He was beyond thrilled to go, and he woke up at 6:40 am telling me "Mama, I'm ready to go to the zoo!!" The weather was nice, and it wasn't crowded since school was in. We had a great time, and Ian loved identifying all the animals he knew and learning about ones he had never seen.

One very excited boy!!

This is not the best photo, but it just proves that I do exist! :) Ha ha. Some nice lady offered to take our picture with the white monkeys (gibbons) in the trees behind us.

With all the live animals around us, Ian wasn't sure whether this one was real or not.

The rhinos turned out to be his favorite.

Inside a small cave looking through a window underwater.

This is what Ian was seeing! Yikes!

There was this cool slide that went through the river otter exhibit. The otters could swim under the slide and swim/climb over the top of it so Ian got to see them up close as they played. It was hard to pry him away from this one.

Bison.

Not quite tall enough for the red ladybug, but I love his enthusiasm!

There was a great playground for Ian to play on, and this huge snake was part of it. (Hope you scrolled past this one quickly, Jess!)

This was how a lot of the day was spent; with Ian running ahead to see the next animals.

As we were leaving and I was trying to convince him that it was time for a nap (especially for a boy that had been up before dawn), it seemed that a lot of the animals were also napping. Great persuasion for a toddler! :)

Flamingos.

Hugs.

I love how relaxed he is in this picture; like he's always had a gorilla to hang out with.

Play Ball

2010-10-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Ian loves just about any sport that requires a ball, but he especially likes hitting his baseball. Here are a few pics of him playing in our backyard.

Outside Fun

2010-10-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

The weather has been wonderful here lately, and we have been outside enjoying it! Here are some pictures taken over the last week or so.

Concentrating on his artwork.

I don't know what made Ian more excited: that his jacket has a hood or that his jacket has pockets!

Helping Mama plant some mums.

Silly boy showing off how dirty he got.

Hodgepodge

2010-09-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

We haven't been up to too many exciting things lately, but I have acquired a variety of pictures that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

I was in a baking mood during his nap time one day and made some chocolate chip cookies. Ian enjoyed every bite and had no plans on sharing! :)

Full mouth...savoring every bite.

A little bit of chocolate missed his mouth and made it on to his face...all part of the cookie-eating process.

Making a bubble beard in the bath.

It was cool yesterday morning, so I had to find some jeans for this little guy. He looked like such a big boy that I had to get some pictures. We have enjoyed the cooler weather and are looking forward to spending more time outside now that the heat isn't unbearable!

Toy Story Party

2010-09-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

My friend Kim's little boy, Colt, turned 3 last week and we were invited to his birthday party. It was a Toy Story theme, and Ian had a great time.
This party hat is Ian's favorite new hat to wear around the house.

Ian and the birthday boy trying to figure out how to make the blowers work...they both got the hang of it. :)

Aren't other kids' toys always more fun to play with?

Four hungry boys eating dinner.

Ian's first experience with silly string. He did not like how it felt on him, but thought it was hilarious when other people got attacked.

Ian had a hard time pushing the button to make it come out. The bigger boys are ready to help him out.

Loving the cake and ice cream...except that bite he left on his forehead! :)

Just Because

2010-09-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

Ian never ceases to put a smile on my face. This is the most recent ensemble he put together himself. His favorite saying these days is "I can do it by myself!" What a character.

Rainy Days

2010-09-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

It has rained nonstop for the last 2 days. Since we couldn't go outside and play, I decided it was a great day to clean and get laundry done. Ian loves helping me do anything, and he had to have his own "rag" to dust and vacuumed right behind me. I went upstairs to put some laundry away, and, when I came back down, this is what I found:

I thought it was too cute how he put his little vacuum right next to mine. He is such a good helper, and it makes cleaning more fun to have this smiling face next to you!

Feeding Ducks

2010-09-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

We had a little cold front come through last Friday, and I thought it would be fun to take Ian to the park to feed the ducks some bread. We had done this once before in the spring, and he remembered and was ready to go. Now that school is back in, I don't think these ducks are getting fed as often. They marched right up to us in eager anticipation. My mom went with us, and I was glad to have an extra set of hands helping. While I was trying to take pictures, one duck pecked me on the foot...I was not very happy, but was glad that it was me rather than Ian. Ian had a great time, and I'm sure we will go back more often as the weather gets cooler.

We didn't even ring a dinner bell, but they somehow knew we had food.

Tearing the bread...with very hungry ducks waiting.

Trying some bread for himself. Obviously this child doesn't get fed enough. :)

What a throw!

Cooling Off

2010-09-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

These last few weeks have been unbearable with the heat and humidity. I have had to be creative in finding things for Ian to do that kept him cool and allowed him to run off some energy (his supply seems endless!). Going to the splash park is one fun activity Ian enjoys, and here are a few pictures from last week.

Observing the buckets as they drop water below. Ian likes the effects of the splash from these, but not the direct impact (it's a bit forceful coming from so high up.).

Watching how those buckets work. He is such an observant little guy.

Summer Snack

2010-09-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

Ian has recently become fond of popsicles and asks for them for breakfast, before bed, and every moment in between. Here he is post-fudge pop...he loved every sticky minute!

Super Star

2010-08-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

Ian LOVES making music these days. Here is just a taste of what I see (and hear) on a daily basis. I'm not sending this footage out to any record labels yet, but I think he definitely has stage presence! :) (Sorry the video is kind of shaky...I was doing my best to not laugh while filming.)

Boat Ride

2010-08-19T12:49:00.001-07:00

The last night we were there we went on a boat ride around the lake. Ian had been wanting to do this since the moment we arrived; we certainly saved the best for last. Walking down to the dock with Pappa Jim.

All ready to go!

Waiting patiently, with a little bit of apprehension, for the boat to leave the dock.

Assisting the captain with navigation, and having a fantastic time!!

Granni Jo and Pappa Jim's beautiful home.

Hot, but extremely happy, little boy.

Heading back home.

Fun at the Lakehouse

2010-08-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Ian soaked up every minute with Granni Jo and Pappa Jim that he could; that meant that Mama got a little bit of time to herself (which is a rarity these days). Here are some of the fun things he did with them. Mixing up a cake from scratch. After his nap, the first thing he said was, "I want some cake." Ian's memory impresses me daily (and it makes my mind work extra hard trying to remember the exact thing we were doing that he is talking about).

Reading stories.

Using a remote control car for the first time...not quite sure which one of these boys enjoyed it more! :)

Trying on Granni Jo's gardening hat.

Going to the Lake

2010-08-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Almost 2 weeks ago, Ian and I headed to East Texas for a little vacation. This was Ian's first long car trip since he was a baby, but he was a great passenger. We had a wonderful time, and we hope you enjoy the pictures! He did not sleep the entire trip, but this was during his short 1 hour nap.

On Day #2, he couldn't wait any longer and had to get onto the boat.

Checking out the water and taking it all in.

Throwing rocks.

"Helping" Granni Jo blow some grass off of the path. Ian loves anything that he can turn on and that makes noise.

Can you tell this kid is excited about getting on the paddle boat? (I didn't get any pictures of us in the paddle boat since I left my camera on shore so it wouldn't get wet. Ian enjoyed driving while Granni Jo and I paddled.)

Here Ian is "playing my flute." He can make just about anything into a musical instrument...and somehow manages to always find the best way to make it play the loudest!

Boats and Cars

2010-08-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Ian was looking forward to "sailing away on a big boat" since I told him we were going to the lake. Here is a little video of him "driving" the boat and then seeing one of his favorite things. (Sorry the quality isn't better; videos don't ever look good on blogger, but these were too cute not to share.)

Ian's first experience at using remote control cars.

Do You See What I See?

2010-07-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

The other night as I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner, I heard Ian talking about "going shopping" in his playroom. The next thing I knew, he was pushing his little shopping cart into the kitchen and was proudly showing off "My hat." Is it just my imagination or does his "hat" slightly resemble a swim diaper? I was laughing so hard and had to capture this priceless moment forever!

Later that same evening, a tiger came crawling right at me!! (I think the tail is too cute.)

Here he is growling loudly. What a silly boy I had on my hands that night! :)

Music Fun

2010-07-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

The library hosted a musician today that performs kid's songs. Ian loves music, instruments, and dancing, so I figured this would be something fun for him. It took a little while for him to warm up (but that is typical of Ian...he observes EVERYTHING and then decides whether or not he wants to participate), but then he had a blast jumping, singing, and playing with all of the neat props they had.
Using some rhythm sticks as very long binoculars.

Marching to the beat of his own drum. Ian preferred to walk around with his sticks making music instead of doing what all the other kids were doing.

Ian spied the extra-large bubble container and just KNEW that would be more fun than playing with the bubbles that the bubble machine was making! :)

Trying to catch some bubbles.

Here he is exploring on the stage area making sure that he was shown everything there was to play with, and that nothing accidentally slipped past him.

And he did find one thing that he hadn't been able to touch yet...the microphone! Gosh, I love this curious boy!! :)

Backyard Bible Club

2010-07-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

Instead of Vacation Bible School, our church does something called Backyard Bible Club where the high school kids teach kids from different neighborhoods about Jesus, scripture, and being a Christian. The material is really geared for kids older than Ian, but one of our friends, who live in our neighborhood, hosted in their yard and they have a son about 2 months younger than Ian. These pictures are from the day they did water activities, and Ian did everything he could to keep up with the big kids!
Trying to get a drink after the sprinkler was turned off.

In the middle of all the activity, but focused only on getting the grass off of his feet. :)

Ian and Riley sitting still and listening...that is hard to come by with two 2-year olds.

Hanging out with the big boys.

Enjoying some juicy watermelon.

Jump Around

2010-07-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

We have a fantastic inflatable playground that recently opened near our house, and Ian loves it. The first time we went, he was slightly timid, but, after he got the hang of it, he bounced around to his little heart's content (this also meant that he slept REALLY well that night!). There is an area that is just for kids 4 and under, but Ian likes to visit the big kids' area as well.

The construction-themed one is his favorite.

Sliding.

Going through a mini-obstacle course.

Giving a kiss to the horse in the farmhouse jumper.

Sizing up the forklift driver.

Heading in to the train station (there is a huge train that wraps around the station).

Freedom, Fireworks, and Fun

2010-07-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

This Fourth of July we spent with my parents and brother, Justin. We had a great time swimming, eating, playing, laughing, and seeing fireworks. It can be so easy to take for granted how lucky we are to grow up in the "land of the free." So much was sacrificed for this freedom, and Ian is blessed to be able to grow up in a country where he can go wherever he wants and be whatever he wants to be. This year, I decided to keep Ian up to see the fireworks. Around 9 pm, when he is usually in bed, he started yelling, "Go home RIGHT NOW!!" The fireworks didn't start until 9:30, so I was torn as to whether to press on and watch the fireworks or go home. Nobody around us minded my unhappy toddler, and I knew that he would enjoy the fireworks once they started, so we persevered. As the fireworks began, he oohed and aahed over the "sparkly fireworks." After the show was over, in true 2 year old fashion, he demanded, "More fireworks!" and did not want to leave. Aahh...the joys of raising a 2 year old. :)

Splashing "Uncle Just"

Getting the feel of a golf course.

Running (how Ian gets just about everywhere he goes).

I love this picture. You can just see his little mind taking everything in, and he always takes advantage of putting his hands in his pockets.

Ian's first experience with fireworks. He only got to throw poppers this year...it may be a few years until he can have a hand at something more dangerous.

Lazy Saturday Morning

2010-07-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Isn't it nice to just hang out in bed some mornings? Ian wanted to get into "Mama's bed" and was being a silly boy...a perfect opportunity for me to snap some cute photos.

Cook-Out

2010-06-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I love summer is for the cook-outs. There is nothing like grilled food to satisfy your hunger after working up an appetite in this Texas heat (plus, it keeps my kitchen cooler since I don't have to use the oven or stove)! My parents came over the other evening, and, while the food cooked, Ian enjoyed some playtime with Granddad and Grammie.

Getting his "tum-tum" (tummy) wet.

A simple summer pleasure...running through the sprinkler.

Dedication Day

2010-06-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday was Child Dedication Day at our church. We belong to a small, growing church, and Ian loves going. When we pull into the parking lot, he claps his hands and yells "Yay church!" I never would have guessed that he would be the child that was excited and happy to go to church, since he screamed and cried when I would drop him off in the nursery when we first started going. It has taken time (and LOTS of patience from the children's ministry team) to get us to clapping instead of crying when we arrive. It was a special day, and I hope his enthusiasm continues.

Ian doesn't ever get to hear the music during the service since he is in the nursery. The dedication was at the beginning of the service, so he got to hear the first few songs. Ian is a very observant little boy and likes to take everything in before he makes up his mind as to whether or not something is okay in his book. In this first picture he is taking it all in.

Tapping his toes to the beat (and looking down to make sure that they are tapping).

Truly enjoying the music and clapping along. He liked it so much that, after the dedication, he didn't want to go to the nursery. I might have a hard time convincing him that the nursery is more fun than the adult service from here on out!

My friend Courtney, whom I worked with while we were going to school at Tech, and her husband, Josh, were dedicating their daughter, Olivia. Ian and Olivia are almost exactly one year apart.

Collecting his certificate and not wanting much help from his Mama. :)

A "B" Birthday Party

2010-06-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Ian's friend, Brady, turned 2 a few weeks ago, and he had a "B" themed birthday party (balls, balloons, bubbles, etc.)...all things that any 2 year old loves! Ian was finally feeling better after having an ear infection and fever (thank goodness for antibiotics!!), so it was nice for both of us to venture out of the house and enjoy our friends.

This was before we got dressed for the party. While I was getting ready, Ian pulled my boots out of the closet and was so proud of himself that he put them on. The look of sheer joy on his face is priceless!!

They had this blow-up ball castle that Ian wasn't too sure about getting into at first. He had no problem snagging a ball from inside though.

The birthday boy and Ian sizing each other up. Ian was waiting for Brady to throw the ball to him.

Sitting on a mini roller coaster (he never actually rode the car down, he just liked sitting on it).

Getting more brave about going inside...

Waiting for more bubbles to blow out of the bubble machine. He was gesturing with his arm while saying "Bubbles blow away."

Once inside, he realized that it was actually fun.

Peeking around the corner...still not 100% that he really wants to be in there.

Yard Work

2010-06-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ian is quite the little helper and loves to assist me with anything that I might be doing (laundry, cleaning, making the bed, emptying the dishwasher, etc..). We were doing some yard work the other day, and, as you can see, Ian did all that he could to make the job easier!

Splash Park

2010-05-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

There is a great park a few miles from our house and it has a splash park that is open in the summer. Ian worked his way up to liking it by the end of last summer, so I knew it was going to be a place we would spend time at this year. I didn't take my camera to the actual park for fear of it getting wet, but I took some photos of Ian prior to his first day at the splash park this summer. I know I am kind of partial, but I think he looks pretty darn cute in his swim gear!

Kiddie Acres

2010-05-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, everyone was healthy and the weather was nice, so I took Ian to the amusement park I wanted to take him to for his birthday...just a month later than anticipated. This park is a place that my parents took me and my brothers to when we were growing up. It was fun to see Ian discover and enjoy something that I had also enjoyed as a child.
Getting his first glimpse of Kiddie Acres. The excitement was pouring off of him!

Trying to figure out exactly what is about to happen prior to his first ride.

As you can see, he quickly got the hang of it.

Just checking things out while in complete control of his boat.

Waving to his fans.

The airplanes where Ian's favorite. I literally had to carry him out kicking and screaming after his last ride on the airplane...oh the joys of raising a 2 year old! :)

Sharing a funny moment with Uncle Justin.

Bluebonnets

2010-05-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last posted, and I ALWAYS have good intentions of being better at updating. I put the camera right next to my computer to remind me to download pictures and post...but then life seems to get busy. The next few posts capture some of what Ian has been doing for the last few weeks.

We went out to MomMom and DadDad's house to get some pictures in the abundance of bluebonnets that central Texas was blessed with this year. It was a beautiful day, and I managed to capture some good pictures.

Easter Playdate

2010-04-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of my friends organized an Easter Egg Hunt and lunch for about 12 kids on Friday. There was rain in the forecast, but it managed to hold off until the kids collected eggs and played for a while. Ian had a lot of fun, and it was nice to see him in action at his first real egg hunt (he was barely a year old last Easter and was still learning how to walk). We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!
Waiting to go outside and pick up the eggs. Grammie found the cutest Easter basket...Ian instantly fell in love since it had trains on it.

Looking for the eggs.

Found one!

Taking a break to play with the car.

Throwing an egg into his basket.

"Who cares about Easter Eggs? I just want to play!"

Playing

2010-04-04T20:41:00.001-07:00

We have had some beautiful spring weather lately, and Ian loves to be outside enjoying it. Here are some photos of him playing in the backyard.

Setting the ball on the tee.

Hitting the ball. I showed Ian how this toy worked only one time before he took the bat from my hand and showed me that he could do it by himself.

Playing in the sandbox...he loves pouring it on the ground and then comes and tells me "Oh no! Mess."

Climbing...

up the slide.

Sliding down.

Pulling a wagon is serious business!Blowing bubbles (thanks Aunt Jess!).

Party...Sort Of

2010-04-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Since I was working on the weekend of Ian's birthday, we were going to celebrate it the following weekend. BUT, the stomach bug came to visit our house, and Ian was up for 3 hours early Saturday morning throwing up. So, I decided to post-pone the party until Sunday. Late Sunday morning I started feeling sick, but I had stayed up Saturday night decorating Ian's cake and I wanted him to be able to enjoy the cake while it was still fresh. My parents came over after Ian and I both had naps, and we let him open his presents and do his cake. Ian's birthday celebration didn't exactly turn out how I had envisioned, but such is life. I did manage to snap a few pictures before I went back to bed...thank goodness my parents were able to come entertain Ian while I had a sick day!

Discovering his gifts.

Traffic jam with the wagon and tricycle.

Trains are something that Ian is very interested in now, so I thought a train cake would be fun for him!

We had to sing a speedy rendition of "Happy Birthday" because he kept blowing out the candle.

Enjoying some cake.