Sean Thinks He Can Dance

We love "So You Think You Can Dance" at our house. But Sean may love it more than any of this.

This isn't *the best* he's ever done, but it is the first time I've gotten Sean on video trying to copy the dancers. Next time, we'll make sure he's not wearing jammas that are obviously too big for him! He's the coolest, I just gotta say. Watch towards the end, he crosses his arms in front of him like a badass.

OK, Christmas, Bring It!

I love, love, love Christmas, reminds me of the days when I would sift through the Best catalog, circling everything I ever wanted.  Oh, yeah, and the quiet Christmas Eve's with my family, eating a special dinner dad made, listening to Christmas music, opening that *one* Christmas Eve present, eating all the chocolate that Grandma would bring us (Yay, Russell Stovers!).  

Now, my kiddos sift through this - Target Toy Book, Up to $400 in Savings 

Grab it up, folks!  And remember what it's like to be a kid!

I think I hear Angels singing...

Last night, Trey hung two 12' pieces of drywall in the basement. Do you hear that?

We may have a finished basement before our oldest goes to college. I'm fighting back tears of joy as I type...

To you, it's just blank, ugly wall.

To me, it is Progress.

With a Capital P.

Now, he just has the rest of these walls to put up. =)

Ferries, pumpkins & apples, Oh My!

The after the baseball game (you know, that post from last week!), we plowed through our weekend by another full family day with Grammy & Dwayne. We took the ferry into Grafton, IL, and headed north to Eckert's Farm to check out their apple and pumpkin picking. Afterwards, we drove back through Alton, stopped at a family farm in Portage (near Trey's work) to buy pumpkins and headed home. It was an awesome day!

Ryan, Trey & Isabella on the Grafton Ferry.

Sean, opting out of the Ferry photos. Grumpy.

Sean & Isabella, too freakin' cute for words,

in the Eckert's play area.

Trey's totally workin' the Bjorn. Love it!

Ryan & Daddy, tire swingin'.

IzzyB tire swingin', while Amy poses for her Senior Picture.

Isabella & Sean master the mini-putt putt.

Since we got there after Noon, the lines for the wagon rides into the apple and pumpkin fields were horrendous. So we decided early on we were going to forego the whole apple and pumpkin picking part of the apple and pumpkin picking excursion, and just have fun. Like we were going to pay those prices anyway! However, at the back of the play area, we found ourselves an entrance to a corn maze. A corn maze that wasn't actually there, yet was right next to the pumpkin patch. Where the wagon just happens to pick you up to take you back through the orchards. We totally scammed our way into more fun!

My little Linus, waiting for the Great Pumpkin.

IzzyB, Strongest Girl in the World

All these other people had to wait at least an hour to ride the wagon. Suckers.

IzzyB, dangling her feet through the orchards.

Yeah. He's cool.

Ryan, turned around and snuggling with Daddy.

Sissy helping her lil' bro.

Starting to crash!

Picking pumpkins at the family farm.

Can we call it?

With Sean, it was clear. He did not walk for 17 months, and then one day, he literally stood up and walked. Not much grey area. Of course, if I've learned anything from birthing a second child, it's that you can expect something completely different than your first one.

So is Ryan walking? I don't know, you tell me! For the past few weeks, it's been two to three steps. This week, he's been walking up to six or seven feet - literally from one room to the next. But he still prefers crawling, and falls more than he actually walks. As a first time mom, I'd probably call it, but with Sean as my first example, I'm scratching my head!

So with a questionable tone in my voice, I probably announce that Ryan is Walking, as of the week of October 11th! (Hey, that's Mel-O's birthday!!) Personally, I love it when they walk and are mobile. Ryan is much more easily entertained, and in the meantime, I'm learning all the things a crazy child can get into that Sean never taught me! Let's just hope I don't have to invest in one of those baby leashes.

This may be the most annoying video I've ever made. Apologies in advance, but I was De-Ter-Mined to get Piglet walking on video! May I suggest watching with no sound?

Red October

Even though we rarely make it to a game anymore, Trey and I are huge Cardinal fans, if you didn't know. Ask me some time why Sean is named Sean. Anyway, thanks to Grammy and her friend Dwayne, we all went to a game on Saturday - the first for us this season, and of course, the first for Ryan ever! And the first for Sean that he could remember, since his only other game was three years ago.

Of course, this was the second to the last game of the season, the Cards had already clinched the division, and we were already headed to the playoffs. And it was arctic-like in The Lou that day. But it was really cool and exciting, nonetheless! Please don't let the sourpuss face on my son lead you to believe anything else.

Sean & Trey walking up.

They're really serious about baseball...

My little cutie pie snuggling up on Grammy.

Upset, Indifferent, and Happy

Really, does it have to be this hard to get a good pic of everyone?

And how cute is Piglet under his little hood?

Trey and Sean right after going through the gates.

Seriously, kid, this is supposed to be fun. Smile already.

Grammy & Ryan through the gates.

OMG, he's the cutest thing ever.

OK, there are some happy faces.

That's the best we're going to get out of Sean.

And don't let him fool you, he had a blast!

Thanks so much, again, Grammy and Dwayne, we had such a great time, you're so generous, as always, and we love you guys so much!

Mmmm...Corn Tortillas...

At this point, buying Sophie actual dog food is no longer necessary. Thanks to the Hot Mess that is Ryan, she seems to get all her food from our table. Let's take yesterday....

Unknown amount of Cheerios that were victims of poor eye-hand coordination and landed on the floor.

Half a peanut butter sandwich stolen while Sean made a peepee run.

A two pound bag of soft corn tortillas that were apparently calling her name from the second shelf of the pantry.

Bits of pork chop, mashed potatoes and peas, all smushed under Ryan's butt in the booster seat.

Seriously, I'm surprised she evens eats dog food anymore.

Don't be distracted by the stunningly handsome baby boy.

Note the positioning of the dog in the lower left hand corner.

That apple and animal crackers don't stand a chance!

A two pound bag of corn tortillas?! Really!?

Walk This Way

EDITED Monday 10/5 to fix video!

As I type this, I still can't believe that Ryan is not officially walking. He's been *almost there* for almost a month now! But he's also greatly improved his balance, and at this point, is taking 3-4 steps, and can stand for about 3 minutes. And he's awesome at cruising between the couch, coffee table and love seat!

And he knows he's awesome, too, with his big shit-eatin' grin on his face as he's practicing all his big-boy moves! I particularly love how sometimes he adopts a Samurai cry when standing.

The fun part about Ryan trying to walk is trying to get it on camera. I don't think it's ever going to happen. What is it about little kids that seem to understand you need them to perform, so they don't? So I've created a video of all my attempts to get Ryan taking steps on tape. I think it's hilarious, but also wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only one. I mean, I am his Momma, and I'm totally biased.

And you may notice two things - first, that there's a few seconds where I'm extremely zoomed in. I'm not crazy, just had to crop the Naked Sean out of the background. And then about a minute and a half into the video, enjoy the Baby Attack.

How 'Bout Dem Apples?

Every year, all the Mommas talk about going Apple Picking, but we have never done it. It sounds so...well, like work. Hard labor, something that you inflict upon unruly children. If you were that cruel.

But the playgroup put together an apple picking tour at Centennial Farms out in Augusta, so who was I to pass it up. Isabella was unable to come, I was so bummed, but the boys and I had a great time. We took a hayride out to the apple fields, got to pick four apples, saw how they cleaned and stored the apples, how they make honey from all the apple bees, had samples, played in the kiddie mazes, saw some turkeys and a pig. All for $4. It was awesome!

Momma and the boys on the hayride.

Sean picking a Golden Delicious. Yum Yum in the Tum Tum!

Momma, Ryan & Sean in front of the Empires.

All the kiddos.

Except those crazy Boyer kids, who took their sweet a$$ time.

Yes, I'm talking to you, Melissa!

Sean, going down what looked like a really fun slide.

Didn't get the face plant in the hay on camera.

The only downside to this playgroup outing? Passing all those freakin' wineries on the way out to Augusta, and not being able to pull over for a drink...or three. But hardship spurs innovation, and we have an Momma-only trip to the wineries planned in a few weeks!

Not without my Sugar!

Last weekend, Isabella spent the night with some girlfriends for a birthday party/sleepover, and the boys, Trey and I took in a local church picnic. Seriously, some of the most fun you can have! Good eats, families, music, carnival rides. We ran into a few people we knew, and managed to avoid the storms that hit throughout the weekend. Even more exciting? We not only got Mr. ScaredyPants on some rides, but he fell in love.

Everyone, I would like you to meet Sean's new pet horse, Sugar.

Trey helping Sean hold onto Sugar.

Sugar is the bestest horse ever!

When we could get Sean off of the coolest horse ever,

he chose to go cruisin' in these sweet green & gold sparkly wheels.

It took Sean a good week to get over Sugar, not understanding why The Coolest Horse Ever wasn't still at the church when we would drive by Joachim & Ann. But I'm sure in time...

But Sean wasn't the only one who had a good time. Though Ryan couldn't ride anything, he totally loved all the lights and sounds. And even though I really should have chosen just one of these three pics, take a look at my Piglet below. Look at that personality beaming out of that little 9 month old baby!

You're going to steal hearts someday, my little one!

Momma loves you so much!