marker mania

This is how our morning started. Ryan and I went downstairs to hang out so daddy could sleep in for a bit. It started so innocent, just a little spilt milk on the lap...no biggie.

Then he got so excited he found his new chalk. Screams all around for everyone!

Markers were found shortly after this. I knew he had them, but ofcourse he was being good so I was on the computer no longer paying attention, and this is what I found when I turned around. I told him we had to stop and put them up, because daddy saw all this he would think I was not watching him.

This is his new Elmo book he got, that he loves, it talks to him and he can find Elmo and baby fishey all the time (no it is not Dorothy some other random fish)

It was then time to go back upstairs and say good morning to daddy!!!

We did go swimming that afternoon just a wimb, which was nice I life is so scheduled any more!

random videos

These are just some videos I took of Ry today, of course when you pull out the camera he does nothing. Right before I took the itsy bitsy spider video, he did the whole song, with all the correct moves. So this is the best I could get, its still cute but just watching him do this to the whole song all by himself is so cute and sweet. That is the innocent sweet child that I am used to.

The other video we were just bored in his room.

I love my baby!

Okay so my last post was all true, but it has been killing me leaving it like that. I feel like I am talking bad about my baby behind his back, and he so does not deserve that. He is a wonderful child, I just need to gain more patience with him. I am just not used to any of that. I always pictured all of this going like a sweet fairytale. Yes, God has gifted us with some of that, but our life is still real, real things happen to us, things people don't talk about. Maybe for the fear society will think they don't have the perfect child in the perfect life.

I am told everything we are going through is normal, and I am just not used to it. (thanks alot Kath, you have really helped me out again, what would I do with out ya!)

The new approach

I am trying this new approach with my 'boy'. My wonderful angel has turned into someone I don't recognize. He was always the best one in a crowd, people would come out of their way to tell us how good he is. And I think I took it all to my head and for granted. My baby is still wonderful overall, he is very content in what he is doing and always has been.

Well...these past few weeks life has been different. When they say they are just testing you...they ain't kiddin'! He now screams high pitch in a restaurant, "cries" till he thinks he is going to get his way. He goes from room to room doing what he has been told not to do, and that is the only thing he does in there, I do think it is to get my attention. This boy gets so much of me now, he has to learn mommy has to get stuff done.

I am a very stubborn and bull headed, I always have been. And for you that know me really well, I can have a bit of an attitude, especially if I don't get my way. Well as you all know Ryan looks like Matt, and we are now learning he gets his personality from me. And this is horrible. My stubbornness is helping me with not giving in to him, but he is the same way.

So, this is my new approach...he is now a 'boy' not a baby anymore and I have to treat him like one. I have to make him part of decision making and we need to compromise on things as a team. Yes yes I know this all sounds crazy, but I am having a real problem with this. I tried it today, we communicated all day, and it actually helped. When I made eggs and toast this morning while he was in his highchair eating his blackberries I explained everything step by step, which really helped when his blackberries ran out and he started to scream. He started to pay attention to me and what I was saying. So day one is done, we will see what the future brings.

If anyone has any suggestions, I am taking all!!!

Our weekend

This was our last weekend before Matt starts school and life gets all crazy again. We had a wonderful family weekend. We FINALLY got to pick blackberries. Ryan is in love with them, so when I found out a couple of months ago we can pick them at Eckerts it definitely became a must. We have attempted it several times, we actually could have done it a couple of times if they kept their staff update on things.

Saturday morning we headed to Eckerts, I was so excited. We got there and it is like 120 degrees, I do not know where the heat came from. I wore jeans and a black shirt. It was just horrible. We get in line and our bus comes, not the normal wagon we always ride but an air conditioned bus. So that was nice, we got to the blackberry patch and they gave us some hints on how to do it, and said the next bus comes every 10 minutes. We walked halfway down a row, and decided the next bus we are on it! It was so hot, especially for poor Ry. So we got a good amount of blackberries, so we thought. We get on the bus and there was this other family, almost duplicate of the 3 of us and their bucket was over flowing...what the heck. Then when we got back we saw other people with wagons full of buckets full of blackberries...what the heck...well they were just prepared they have done this before!?! Now we know for the future! And the mess it caused was ridiculous. We had stained fingers all day, so we walked around like hoosiers with dirty fingers and dirty finger nail all day.

Later that evening Jason and Loni come over and we decided to go to Dave and Busters. D&B is like a big arcade with a nice restaurant. Since we did not spend alot of money on our little amount of blackberries we decided to eat at D&B, plus we already had our game play cards from last visit so we did not have to spend any money on games. Well this restaurant is pretty nice, you don't have to dress up for it, but it does have white linens. Yeah, well do you know where this story is headed, remember we took Ry with us! With in the first 10 minutes of us sitting there he had spilt his full cup of milk so it was all over the floor and we had to push back the table cloth. Ryan was just getting really restless, so we had to keep taking turns walking around with him till our food came. Then when our food came he wasn't hungry. It might just be awhile before we attempt that again.

This was just a really cute picture Matt took with a bandanna on him!

The on Sunday after church we met our friends Shaun and Carrie out on their grandparents land to do some shooting. It was so nice, besides the gun fire it was so peaceful, we both had wonderful, caring and compassionate babysitters watching our kids. So to just sit there and not think was wonderful. I shot a little, that hand gun of Matts is way to powerful, it knocked me back, so I am done with that. But the little shotgun was fun. We did a little off roading in the woods,which was crazy and stupid, but gave me a thrill like I was 18 and care free again. It was for about 10 minutes then I was done, I was ready to be 27 again.

I love you Bernie...

Good Old Bernie! He is a huge favorite in our home. We watch Bernie nightly, or at least used to, it is now on too late. I know this blog is a little late. Bernie died on 8-9-08. We were camping that day so we had no idea. I came home, went to my moms and out of the corner of my eye on the TV was his death announcement. It set me back a few steps. I knew he had been sick, but that he would pull through. I just sit there and watch his show saying " I love Bernie, he is so stinkin funny ".

Bernie mac is going to be greatly missed by us and many others.

Day 5 - LVL

Well you will all be pleased to know day 5 was a short day...so that means short blog. Notice we still have smoke coming from our pit from the night before

We got up had an easy breakfast, went down returned everything, stopped by the pool and shower so we could take one last quick shower before we headed home. While Matt was in the shower Ryan and I played by the pool. Of course he was dressed and wanted to get in the pool. So I took off his shorts and shoes and let him walk about knee deep into the pool, and since he is know a 9 time Gold medalist he wanted to go deeper. So I took off his shirt and let him, know I had on capris, so that is a very good sign I was not letting him go any deeper than that, 9 gold medals or not, I would not do that...plus we didn't have on that life jacket I should have had. So, anyway the teenage worker girl comes out and says " MAM, does he have a little swimmer on, if not he can not be in the pool" So I proceeded to tell her, " he is obviously not going deep enough for it to matter (since I am fully dressed) so its okay" I was polite, but come on it was like 9:00, we were the only ones there, and we were there for about 15 minutes...so when we left I graciously said bye have a nice day!

On the road we were. We were headed for the Union Grill, we have always stopped there on our way home from LVL, so it was pretty cool to add this tradition with our son. They even re-modeled it since our last visit...that was 3 years ago! Ryan found lots of food on the buffet, that he loved rubbing through his hair!

I swear my child smiles all the time, he is usually in full laughter, but when it comes to pictures, this is what I get!

It is now 1:30...and we're home...home sweet home...now life...and work begins again. It was the best time we have had in long time, we can't wait to go again, Matt is so excited he even wants to go buy a camper...we have already went and toured some. Any donations for the camper fund is greatly appreciated. We are saving our soda can tabs...so 2020 camper here we come!

Day 4 - LVL

We woke up and it was around 8:30. We were so tired. I just could not get up. But I did, I made Ry breakfast then woke Matt up. I made him get up this time. I laid back down and had a bowl of cereal in bed. It was all okay, our bed was in the kitchen remember. So I was right there with them all. After we all ate, we just lounged around for a bit, in the bed and in the camper. Well little Ry was getting restless, so we decided to go down to the pool and go for a swim. We were the first ones there...which was great. We swam in the big pool for a bit. Matt rode him on his shoulders for awhile. He going under the water with him He would not keep his mouth shut. We would say, okay mouth shut, are you ready, go. And by golly as soon as Matt would hit the water with him he would open his mouth. It didn't seem to bother him though. He just drank it and went about his business.

Then the baby pool came, we could not get him out of the thing, he was in that pool for at least a half hour. The water come about mid chest. So he could just walk and run all he wanted. He met some girl friends in there, they were just a bit older. We all know how big of a flirt he his. They loved playing with him. And he was playing pretty good back! One of the couples we met were from St. Jacob, grew up in Collinsville, and lived in Troy at one point in time. Now yes he was doing very well in the pool, everyone one was so surprised, but one lady actually thought he was only 7 or 8 months old...that would definitely be a Michael Phelps in the making...but my Ry would win 9 gold medals and break his record. But anyway, that lady was just crazy!!! I did have another lady judge me for not having a life jacket on him, but he was in 2 feet of water with me right there, I was in the pool with him the whole time. Yes I agree he needs one soon, but she was scared to let her grand kids play around Ry since he didn't have a life jacket on, and she actually said that.

We got dressed went across the way to the Creekside Cafe (which I can't use my $25 member card to get points at because they are not affiliated with LVL...whatever, it talks about LVL all over the cafe and has pictures) This is the only place you are actually going to spend more than $5 at, to actually accumulate a good amount of points. (1 point per $1, you have to have 350 points first to use, then like 350 is good for $7.00) How pathetic is all that! Sorry about all that...all that really got us upset.

While we were in the cafe eating our over priced fried food that came on foam plates, Ryan decides he is REALLY tired, and falls asleep in the highchair. His poor little head keeps bobbing back and forth, but he is out. So I picked him up and we headed to the sports arena so Matt could play some hoops. He really wanted Ryan to watch and maybe play, but he was out, we just sat on the floor and Ryan slept in my lap. Next to us were a teenage couple playing one on one, who we think just met. They are totally flirting, she is just in her bikini, flinging her blond hair all over, while he continues to remain red in the face. They are just giggling like crazy. It was really cute to watch, then it dawned on me...when did I become the old person holding their baby, watching their husband shoot at memories. We were the ones always meeting new people camping. Now, well, things are just different. I am getting old...I am a mom.

After all the life realizations, we went down to the reservation building so we could get online so Matt could order his new phone...remember he turned it into scrap metal with the lawn mower. We did all this while Ryan took his nap in the backseat. We went back to the camper and just vegged out. We were so tired. This was our last day, we did not want to be this tired.

Instead of staying around the camper and complaining we decided to go down to the boat house and rent a jonboat. We had to put Ryan in this little life jacket, he was so cute... I was now a good parent, he had a life jacket on! This boat moved so slow, it was not fun. We could count the leaves on the trees. We got to the middle of lake and we were all crying, Ryan was the only one who was vocal with it though. He hated it. I would not let him move around in it, the huge fear we would tip. So he had to sit still, all stuck up in his life jacket like a zombie. It was just horrible. So we turned the boat around and tried, key word tried to oar too, so we could move a little faster. No we were hitting each other with them, then Ryan found them, he wanted to play with them, it was just a big mistake...the whole thing was a huge mistake. We finally made it back we returned everything, and I told the kid that it just didn't work out, and he said we didn't have to pay, that he didn't want us to complain. Well we weren't going to complain, we didn't work out, not the boat, I tried to explain that but he was not listening to us, and said people complain, so by that point I was not stupid, we took our money and our last memory of a jonboat with us.

Back to the camper we went, we decided to go for another swim, then off to courts we went...and there was that teenage couple again...she now had on pants but not shirt just here bikini top.

Went back, Ryan had bath, then drive, then bed. We decided to stay outside and stay by the fire. The bats were back, they came out earlier and earlier every night. Matt actually asked me if I was now okay with the bats, NO I was not okay with them, they still scared the crap out of me. They would just fly so close, but hey we never had a problem with bugs, we brought our bug zapper but that was just wasted space in the car by this point. We had a lot of fun, just the two of us. We really needed it, we stayed out there till around 2 or so. It was really nice, we talked and just laughed a lot. It was huge for us, it was like old times, just care free.

That was our day and night...well except for one thing...Jason and Loni, you may want to stop reading... You see we really like playing with fire, and we had J and L fire/hotdog pokers with us and we played in the fire a lot with them, and would turn them red with the coals at the bottom and well, Matt some how did this to it, that's right it was Matt, not me, just for the record!

Day 3 - LVL

It is now Sunday morning. They had a church service we could attend down in the sports arena. They would either have a volunteer give the sermon or we would watch a video. So I was pretty excited. Well, I think we were all so exhausted from the previous night that we over slept. I woke up at 8:30 and everyone else was still sleeping. So, I was not waking them in case Ryan was unable to take a nap all day.

When ever Ryan did get up I made us breakfast, we had scrambled eggs, strawberries, and toast with jelly. I let Matt sleep in since he is always so tired. I was going to make him egg burritos. Well since our bed was in the kitchen he heard me cooking. He rolled over and proceeded to tell me how nauseous he was. He got up and went to the bathroom (which is also in the kitchen) and emptied his belly. We don't know what made him so sick. He had this really nasty looking thing on Friday at that windmill restaurant, it was called a slinger, it was kinda like an egg and sausage scrambler, but with chili on it. So that could have been it, he has also been taking meds for his back, so it might have been that.

I took Ryan down to the pool so Matt could go back to bed, or do what ever he wanted. It was much easier for us to leave, there was no where for us to go in the camper to give Matt some peaceful time to feel better. So I took Ryan down to the pool, well I can't believe I waited so long to do this, we only did wait cause it was so busy on Saturday he would have been pushed around by all the bigger kids. So the pool had a slope going into it and a little fountain in the middle of it. He loved it. He is truly a water baby (maybe he is the next Michael Plelps).

We went and got changed in the shower room and we were walking out and Matt came walking through the doors, it was so perfect. He took a shower at the camper and he is feeling better.

We went back to the camper and ate a quick lunch. We then headed "into town", which was Hermann. Hermann MO, was a beautiful town, beautiful views, it was just a cute little town. This town also consisted of wineries and a brewery...he he he. We parked our car and walked down this touristy street. We went into the first winery, sampled about 5 or 6 wines. Then off we went down the street. Well we found this brewery. You could sample 5 ounces of beer for $1. They had 5 different different types of beer, so we were each going to do 1 of each. Well I think I was a little confused, it ended up being A LOT of beer. But no fear we drank it, we drank it all, with child in tow. No it did not look very good, while we sat at a table with Ryan in a stroller downing our beer, because the straw and cup we gave him to play with was not working out much longer. It is not something we would normally do, but it sure was alot of fun. The buzz only lasted a bit. We also stopped and got some yogurt for Ryan since he was such a good boy while mommy and daddy boozed it up.

After we left Hermann, we went back to the camper had dinner, played outside, drove Ry around and off to bed he went.

Matt and I decided to build a fire and sit outside for a bit. It was getting later and later, and the bats were back and they were flying like crazy around us. So I decided to stop security when they passed to tell them about them and to see what we do, and if we were safe. So I stopped the first one I saw and he was just clueless, he was like yeah I guess they are bats (well there is no such thing as night time birds you dork) they might be trying to get the bugs and when I started to tell him what was going on he said I have to go there is a little girl missing and drove off...okay why wasn't this more important before I was going on and on about these bats. He was just weird. So after a little bit, I remember we saw a little girl around 11 or so walking up a rock road by herself. So I stopped the security truck again. Well thankfully it wasn't the same guy. He said the girl was found, mom had jumped the gun, she was just playing with a friend and didn't come back in time. So then I asked him about the bats...he said yes they are bats they are eating the bugs and there bat cave was right behind our camper. Yeah us, we now confirmed we had bats for neighbors.

Then there was these 2 little girls still playing in the street and it was around 11. Well after a bit they came up to the camper and said their dad needed help he hit his foot with an axe while he was chopping wood and he needed help. So I sent Matt down to their camper with 2 diapers...that is all we had, besides band aids! He came back and said he actually needed first aid and Matt had to go down to the security booth and get help. They came and got him while we babysat the girls. All while the mom was inside sleeping with the 2 year old. Both girls told us how mad the mom was going to be once she found out all of this. And I was like, heck yeah I would be mad, you have my two girls out in the middle of the street while you are chopping wood, then your ankle, then leave them with strangers all at 11 at night...oh yeah I would be mad.

So, after all this we decided to go in and go to bed, it was definitely enough for the day.

Day 2- LVL

We woke up at 7:30. He woke up all smiles. At least he was happy. I made him breakfast and we ate while Matt and I decided what we were going to do. We wanted to stay but do we risk our whole vacation being so tired and stressed.

This was a sleeve Matt cut off a t-shirt and we worn them as a hat for a bit. Ryan also found out very early that climbing on the table was very easy.

At 8:00 I went down to the reservations building. I tried to get upgraded to a condo, or move to another, bigger camper. We could not get upgraded and we could not move till Sunday. Then we would have check out at 11 and could not get the new one till 4. We could not get a refund. So our options were limited. I called my parents after driving around for 20 minutes to get reception to see if they could help since they were the actual owners at the resort. No, they got no where as well. So after my big freak out and break down, Matt and I decided to stay, at least another night, and if it didn't work we would come home on Sunday and have a good couple of days at home.

In the meantime, Matt had the wonderful idea of putting the mattress up against the window in the bedroom, that way it would block the light, then we could put his pack n' play up on the wooden platform. So we did, and we also put towels and blankets up in the other windows. There was enough room on the platform where we could put up his toys. So he would go into "his room" climb up on the platform and play for awhile then come back and join us. It was wonderful. Even though when you looked into his room and he would be playing and it ended up looking like we kid napped him and was holding him in a secret room where no one could find him.

We did go 'across the street' to the playground. We did make it down all the hills and over all the ditched just fine. Ryan loved having free run of such a big area, we could let him explore every where with no fear. He got to the point of pointing across the street and screaming to go to the playground.

After Ryan and Matt's 3 hour nap in the car, he got up and he found all the cabinets and was able to climb in them all. Which was a huge success for us all, it kept him busy while we would cook or what ever. They had to sleep in the car because he would not sleep in his pack n' play yet. Thank God it wasn't too hot they were able to sleep with out sweating to death.While Matt prepared the grill for dinner, Ryan and I walked down to the boathouse and lake. We played and looked at the people playing in the lake from a bridge. Then we walked down to the beach. That is where we met Chester. Chester is a goose not a duck, I was informed of that from some guy working the boathouse. We liked looking at Chester, a lady told us we could pet him, he was nice, and he would let us. Well as a concerned parent I did not allow this. So we just watched Chester. I took a numerous amount of pictures, then all of a sudden I realized Chester only had one leg. We were very sad for Chester. (no he did not swim in a circle, for all you mean people who thought that, he swam away just fine) We later found out from the grass mower guy (they finally cut the grass on Monday) that Chester lost his leg to a fish line. Chester is the only goose who is allowed on the property. Last year they had over 140 geese, they took half to Mark Twain park and the other half they gave to the homeless to eat! So, the only goose they will allow is Chester...lucky Chester huh, he gets to live his life alone with one leg!Ryan also loved to be chased around and around he picnic table...but only by his daddy! He would also try to get down on the grass, so he would get on all fours and back step till he stepped off the concrete. Which was good it gave us time to get him before started to fall or roll.

Then night fell, we got a bath and put on p.j.'s. We went back outside by the campfire. I had bought some balloon torpedo things at Wal-Mart for .88$, they were the best thing ever, they kept us busy for about a half hour, including the kids next door. You were supposed to blow it up, and let go into the air and they fly off, make a sound and deflate and come back down to the ground. Matt and I were racing our torpedo's...and mine won the most!!! The only problem with these balloons, is that Ryan wanted to keep playing with them, but they were so weak that as soon as they would touch the ground they would pop.

Then it was bed time...and off we were again, the car for about 15 minutes. We came back found 3 huge spiders outside right by Ryan's window, we killed them, and put Ryan to bed. He rolled right over and went right to sleep!