Sometimes I get a little behind in my blogging. Then I have to bombard my blog with lots of pictures...this is your warning. There will probably be a lot of pictures (like always), the difference is, this time we have actually been quite busy.
We spent some time at the Children's museum which was so much fun. I am not actually sure who had more fun, Gunnar or Kyle.
We have spent time at the park. Anytime it doesn't rain we try to get some play time in.
Gunnar got RSV. I took him to the ER with a fever of 105. He was having a hard time breathing and was just really sick. He had to be put on oxygen, get some fluids, and have tons of tests run. He laid on our couch for about 4 days without moving. He slept almost the entire 4 days. He had an ear infection as well so was able to be on antibiotics. Ryker ended up getting it too, and ear infections, but it didn't hit him nearly as hard as Gunnar.
My grandma came to WA state for a visit. She is one special lady to me and I was so sad I didn't get to spend more time with her, but we didn't want to risk getting her sick. So on Thursday night we headed for my parents and spent until the evening of Easter Sunday. We had a big family get-together and just had a great time.
The boys loved playing with her. Gunnar and her had a lot of tea parties. This was the first time she met Ryker, so that was a special time as well.
We also had a little birthday party for Gunnar since he turns two tomorrow. He had his well-child check up on Thursday and is weighing in at 24.4lbs. and is right on target developmentally. He is so much fun! I love this age. We didn't have a cake, so we put his candles in the cinnamon sticks we got from Pizza Hut with our pizza.
Kyle and my mom share the birthday of April 27th. I got Kyle some airsoft stuff (which he knew about) but his big surprise was his first sky diving jump. He will take the Advanced Free Fall class on May 21 (our anniversary :() and do his first jump then. He has jumped out of airplanes before, but the military jumping doesn't involve a lot of free-fall. It is more getting to the ground as quickly as possible so you don't get shot at. He is REALLY excited and can hardly wait for May 21st to roll around.
Here is he reading about his surprise.
Grandma Kathy sent Gunnar his gift in the mail and some Easter Basket goodies. Gunnar hid in the closet and attempted to finish off a big chocolate Easter bunny on his own.
I think that is about it. Gunnar turns two tomorrow, but we won't celebrate as a family until Sunday as Kyle is at Men's Retreat. I will close with a family picture from Easter and a fun one of the boys. To bad Kyle looks sleepy Easter morning. (Notice I got a major haircut, I am regretting it, but hoping I get more used to it).
This past weekend, my parents came and brought two of my brother Paul's boys with them. Ezra and Owen came and we had a lot of fun with them. Friday night we just let the boys play. Saturday we got up, got everyone ready and made the hour drive to Northwest Trek. We had a great time walking around...then we got on the tram. It instantly started bringing back horrible memories of a long boat ride we took in Germany where Gunnar screamed almost the entire time. There was no screaming this time, but that was because I let Gunnar eat an entire thing of Tic-Tacs...this was after Kyle wrestled with Gunnar to get him to sit, look, and be content while I fed Ryker. Everyone else seemed to enjoy the ride. The best part of the afternoon was on a trip the boys took to the bathroom. Ezra decided it would be a good idea to run though the grass, which was more of like a marsh...you will see the result of this grand idea in the pictures.
Saturday evening after naps we headed to Charlie's Safari for dinner and playtime. Everyone had a blast! Uncle Peter and Aunt Perki came and joined the fun here with us.
Sunday was church, dinner, and then our sad goodbyes. I love having family visit, but it is never easy to say goodbye, even when I know I will be seeing them soon.
I have lot of pictures from the boys' visit, but here are a few of my favorites.
The boys watching Uncle Kyle play airsoft in the house.
Poppa and Ryker.
Poppa and Gunnar not quite ready for the day to start.
Gramma and with Owen and Gunnar
Ezra a great big cousin.
Our picnic lunch.
Ezra's adventures through the grass resulted in only one shoe and a lot of mud.
Ezra, Gunnar, and Owen
A group photo.
Here are some of the animals we saw at NW Trek.
And some pictures from Charlie's Safari.
Rub-a-dub-dub, three blonds in a tub
My dad, being the tech savy guy he is caught this great picture with his iphone. It is probably my favorite from the entire weekend.
We just got back from spending a week with the Pettit's. The big boys did a lot of shooting real guns and airsoft guns, not to mention the CO2 grenades they were also playing with. Only two injuries were reported, but nothing major thankfully.
The little boys enjoyed all the attention that their Uncles and Grandpa and Nana gave to them. They were loving every minute of it.
Gunnar the future soccer star.
Gunnar playing with his "gun"
Bubbles inside because of the weather.
Gunnar spent a lot of time sliding down the stairs.
He loves playing trains with his uncles.
Ryker loved sleeping on Nana.
Ryker getting in some play time with his Great Grandpa Pettit
Gunnar trying to get Great Grandma to play with him.
The boys napping up at Priest Lake.
Kyle and his brother Caleb at the lake.
Mike cooking up some chicken wings in the snow and rain. The weather was awful the entire time we were up at the Lake.
Ryker's bed at the lake. He slept very well in here.
Shawn and Gunnar. Uncle Shawn took great care of his little nephew.
Gunnar and Shawn playing.
The boys loved being pushed in here.
Nana spoiling Ryker with Jell-o.
Today Ryker is 7 months old.
It really is amazing how much a baby changes in their first year of life.
Ryker has been a busy baby this month and here are some of his accomplishments:
*Mastered rolling
*Mastered low-crawling
*This last week he has transitioned to the traditional crawl, he is still working on perfecting it, but he is pretty good at it.
*Pulls himself to a standing position on furniture
*Makes the sound "mama" and it just melts my heart. (He totally knows what he is saying.)
*First Ear infection- He got an ear infection and bronchitis at the same time. Poor baby. He is still really stuffed-up and requires being sat up still some nights, and he rubs his ear ALOT...he is still on antibiotics, hopefully it gets better soon.
*The only thing I can kinda get him to eat is rice cereal. Probably because it is mixed with breastmilk, but he at least doesn't throw it up. All fruits and veggies are thrown-up or accompanied with excessive gagging. We will be discussing this at the doctor (his six month well-baby check up is on April 8th....oops, just a little behind).
*He still doesn't like the idea of a bottle. I have left him for about 4 hours with a babysitter and bottles. She said he wants them, then pushes them away, pulls them back to his face, then pushes it away. He is so confused. Usually he just gives up and sleeps until I get home.
*He loves Gunnar and watches him closely. He thinks everything Gunnar does is hilarious, which worries me a bit.
*He is a tough cookie. Gunnar wrestles with him, bonks him on the head, and pushes him often but silly Ryker just keeps laughing.
*He is still my happy, sweet baby. He loves smiling at strangers and getting a lot of attention. He will go to just about anyone.
As one of my friend's had a baby and I was admiring their pictures, really, were my babies ever that little? They really do grow up way to fast.
Tonight we took our kids to McDonalds. It is raining constantly here, it's rather depressing if you ask me, but because of the rain we are always looking for entertainment indoors. We usually go to this indoor bounce house place, but decided to just go to McDonald's playland this evening.
We arrived and Gunnar instantly threw a fit about going on the toys...really tantrums are totally uncool and we are really having to stress this to Gunnar lately. So, instead of playing, he had to go sit down and take a breather before he could go play. Once he was relaxed and done with the crying, he nicely ask Kyle if he could go "play" and calmly walked to the play area. I was busy ordering food and spilling the tray with our drinks and food on it to be part of the tantrum throwing incident.
Anyways...Gunnar played his heart out, while I sat there and cried. I noticed two ladies in front of me. They had two kids probably about 10 and 7 with them, a boy and girl. I saw them tell the kids it was time to go. The mother of the kids smacked the older boy across the face and told him that he wasn't suppose to be hitting other kids (hmm...wonder where he learned to hit). Then the boy sat down and started to cry. The girl and boy were so devastated it was time to go, not because they had to stop playing, but because they knew they wouldn't see their mom for a while. As the mom was helping the daughter put on her coat and telling her how soft and beautiful the coat was I realized that the mom wasn't leaving with them. The other lady tried explaining to the kids that their mom was coughing and didn't think she could continue her visit. But in an attempt to comfort the kids she told them they would talk to two ladies who they mentioned by name and see if they could make the mom's visit next Friday a little longer.
As I looked at my kids full of joy, smiles, and fortunate enough to have a mom and dad who love each other and them, my heart broke for this family. I don't know the circumstances behind this family or the situation, but they are definitely laying heavy on my heart tonight. As I tucked my kids into bed and kissed them goodnight I prayed for these two kids whose mom doesn't get to tuck them into bed. I am assuming they are in a safer and better environment now, but I pray their mom figures out her own life and is able to give her children the love they desire and deserve.
So long story short, Gunnar had a blast at McDonalds playing on the dirty toys, but I had a much more depressing evening.
Anyways....on to some BIG NEWS!
Ryker pulled himself to a standing today.
Ryker has been doing the more traditional crawl this week, verses his low-crawl that he has been doing for a while now.
AND....on top of becoming the tantrum master, Gunnar said his name today. If only I could get him to say it for the video camera, it is super cute. He also looked at me a day or so ago and very clearly said "HEY! Don't push!" as I was attempting to help direct him in the appropriate direction to his room.
PLUS...the biggest bonus of the day, both boys seem to be feeling significantly better!!!!
