The curious mind of my child

It has been so much fun playing with Riley and watching his mind work.  While I was ironing Monday I was just observing him and how he figures out how to build towers and bridges and even "garages" for his cars.  He is definetly a boys boy and can't get enough of cars and trucks and it amazingly keeps him very concentrated and still for a long time which is great to see!

Blocks-the blocks that keep him fascinated and let his imagination flow freely.

You can build towers with them...

You can watch them fall

You can build bridges and streets with them

and then drive your cars on them

You can re-arrange your cars and give them all turns on the bridges

and then you can finally look up and realize mommy has been studying you and taking pictures for 30 minutes with a smile on your face!

Living the high life!

Our day was perfecto!  Church, naptime (ahhhh), shopping, splashing, grilling, eating on the patio and ice cream deserts.  Couldn't have had a better Sunday!.

Riley rounded the day out with some love from Deucer-his best and comfiest friend!

Salvaged Saturday

So after what appeared to be a completely ruined day we managed to make it out to Springfest at Epiphany Church with Carrie, Rob and 1.5 yr old Logan.  The boys ooohed and ahhhed over everything but when it came down to it, Riley was a complete chicken!  Logan couldn't wait to get on all the rides and showed his enthusiasm with a wide open grin and lots of "ooooo's" but Derrick could hold his arms out straight and prove just how tightly Riley was holding on like a spider monkey or Level 5 cling-on!  He did go on a few rides and after watching the boys have all the fun the mommy's took the kiddos on the ferris wheel.  I don't do real well with heights but having my child, my heart, my breathe of life on my lap made me nearly faint with fear. There was no bar that came down on our laps and the rickety old doors weren't locked so you could see a crack to what lies beneath.  I managed to keep it together and surprisingly this was the one ride Riley really enjoyed!  In the end the boys won lots of prizes and had fun together so really that's what it's all about.  I can't explain the joy you get from watching your children interract and explore with other kids.  I get very addicted to it and can't do enough with Riley when it involves other kids. 

 

After the afternoon in the sun I raced home for my first annual Mom's club banquet and first without Riley event ever!  It was hosted at Billy's in Anoka and we had a blast!  The new board was 'sworn' in and between the games, prizes, dinner, cake and 80's attire we were having fun and enjoying eachother's company.  I even won an award for being a mom who juggles full time work and motherhood!  My first year with the Mom's club has been awesome and I am so thankful to all the ladies who are so easy to get along with and have accepted Riley and I from day 1!  Laura-you did a great job as president and I can't wait to see the new baby soon.  Di, Christina, Chelsea, Andrea, Michelle, Missy and the others I look forward to every play group and outing we go to and am so glad to have found you all!  I can't wait for June's MNO and Eclipse!

Girls just wanna have fun!

More pictures to come as I get some from the group...I set my camera down for the evening! : )

Fat Tuesday-not the x-rated celebration down south either : )

Our Tuesday was rated "G" for the family friendly kind of activities.  It was only 'fat' because of everything we managed to squeeze into it! 

I have finally made it to the end of the 5 weeks of "walk a mile" at work so my hours have been 5 a.m. to 13:30 and I usually was squeezing a nap in before picking up Riley but we had playgroup at 3:00 and I didn't want Riley (or I ) to miss it.  So glad we didn't because when you mix together kids and huge buckets full of water the fun never ends!  The kids amazingly didn't notice the cold water but straight from the hose I was shocked at how frigid it was after being splashed a few times.  I love our playgroup and when you add a baby, a 13 month old who is so fun to watch explore and learn, 2 toddlers and 5 and 6 year old the fun never ends. 

Riley had a blast and was soaked from head to toe by the time we raced home to eat a quick dinner, get changed and dried and head right up to softball.  We were so busy rushing around I don't think I even got a chance to talk to Derrick! 
Softball watching was fun as always and as the mommies were talking away Riley was cheering "Daddy, Daddy" and sure enough his Daddy was making a big catch out in the outfield!  I guess for now he shows no signs of my poor vision!  Little Avery is such a sweetheart and calls me "mama."  She gives out lots of hugs and wants me to take her-which I gladly do!  The second game though my cousin Dave's kids were also under my watchful eye and I learned a painful lesson about having an 8-yr-old, 5-yr-old, 2-2-yr-olds and a 1-yr-old in my arms.  April could do nothing more than just laugh since I am the one who wants 4 kids but I just kept telling myself my own kids will be 'different'?  right?!  It was an eventful evening and both Riley and I left exhausted!