Pizza and Fries?

 Rhys so loves the wraps we've been eating, that just about anything can be wrapped in a tortilla and he'll be happy. We had homemade pizza (no cheese for me) and baked fries one night for dinner, and Rhys asked for a tortilla so he could make a wrap. And he ate it!

Dancing on the Chairs

Alanna is Rhys's little imitator. She loves to follow what Rhys is doing, step by step. Apparently, he decided to start dancing on a chair, so Alanna had to follow suit. And make silly faces, too. I missed the actual occasion as I was sick in bed, but I imagine it was as hilarious as it looks.

Working Boy

I asked Rhys what he wanted to say about this photo. He is helping us in the garage by shredding paper (we recently cleaned out our filing cabinet). This is what he wanted me to write: "God bless me and God bless you." I'm not sure exactly why this picture made him say that, but its a good sentiment, anyway.

A Duck and a Puppy after Bath

Grammy's and Grampy's in August

 This is the one picture I took in the week we spent at Grammy's and Grampy's in Colorado. This sums it up pretty well for Rhys, though. Alanna got sick. 'Nuff said about her (and my) experience.

Song Man

Rhys has been very musical recently. Yesterday, he regaled Alanna and me for the twenty minute ride home after gymnastics, and was quite animated, creative and hilarious. If we're at home, there's usually a dance number to accompany the song. Recent song titles include:

"Checking on the 'Puter" (Checking on the Computer)
"Going Up the Mountain to Jail" (Just what it says....)
"Ketchup and Honey" (Referring, presumably, to our family's favorite condiments)

And yes, I do wonder what the heck he's thinking and where he gets his ideas!

Well, Sometimes it is...

Today was Rhys's 4th birthday! We are so amazed... and so proud. We had a backyard swim/play party, and I think everyone had a great time. I know Rhys did. He informed me after the party that he turns 5 tomorrow-- presumably so he can have another party. We've also been talking about the nearby elementary school and that he'll go there for kindergarten. So, Rhys told me this afternoon that he was ready to go to Chamisa now that he's the ripe old age of 4. Well, he didn't actually say that, but it was certainly implied with his body language. Or maybe I read a little more into this interaction than was actually there...

Mr. Informative

Rhys's recent alter ego has been slowly enlightening everyone around him: Mr. Informative strikes anywhere, at anytime. Full of tidbits and extra details, Mr. Informative never shies from telling how it is.

"This is a green Batman car. It's a green Batman Hot Wheels car. There's also a blue Batman car. The blue Batman Hot Wheels car is in the shed."

"We're going home now, Mommy. You and me and Alanna are in the car and we're going home."

After finishing reading a story, I flipped to the blank cover pages. "The End," I said.
 "It doesn't say The End, Mommy."

Wooing the Fire Truck

Rhys went to the fire station with his preschool class a couple of days ago, much to his delight. Later that day, having donned his fireman's hat, he rushed out of the room calling, "I've got to go woo my truck!.... Wee-ooo, wee-ooo, wee-ooo......"

Camping at Heron Lake State Park

We had a blast!

.....Our campsite.....

.....Rhys looooooved swimming in the lake even though the water was cold!.....

.....Alanna would have spent more time swimming, but as I said, it was cold!.....

.....The view from our campsite.....

.....Los Brazos from across the lake.....

.....Blue skies, great tent, perfect spot.....

.....ahhhhh.....

Batmans Don't Do Time Out.

I was informed yesterday that "Batmans don't do time out, Mommy."


Guess who was dressed in his Batman jammies and wasn't listening to his Mommy when she asked him to pick up his cars in the living room?

And guess which superhero had to sit in time out just a few minutes later.....

Big Boy

Rhys has been so funny recently. His little boy brain is making so many leaps and connections, and one result is the funny stuff that comes out of his mouth. He loves changing lyrics in songs ("The Farmer in the Dell" becomes "The Mommy in the Car" for example) and he's testing out ways to add humor to a conversation. He's quite the comedian!

It also totally exhausts him to be working so hard!

Cousins

We had family here over Memorial Day Weekend. The cousins are getting so big! Kylah is nearly 8 years old, Rhys turns four in July, and Alanna just turned 1. Wow.

And here, Alanna was lucky enough to take a cozy nap on Grandma one afternoon.

Santa Fe Southern Railroad

We were so fortunate to have Grandma, Grandpa, Kylah, and Aunt Ginnie here over Memorial Day Weekend. We finally rode the train, which was so exciting!

 

....This pretty much sums up Rhys's experience....

....and this pretty much sums up Alanna's. After she fell asleep and took a nap, she was in a better mood....

....If only we were all this flexible! Rhys is looking at the rails go by through the slats in the open flatcar. In front and in back of the flatcar was a coach car, each of which was manned by a host who told stories and facts, served alcohol, and sang songs....

....Daddy kept Alanna cozy while she napped....

....The smoke from the steam engine. The coach cars were actually from the 1890s, and so we couldn't go very fast because they might have fallen apart en route....

....We had an absolutely gorgeous day. This is pretty much what all of the area around Santa Fe looks like. This is looking northwest on our return trip at the Sangre de Cristos mountains....

 .....Just in case you were wondering....

....Whoo Hoooo!!....

General Silliness

Well, we're back at it again. Actually, we've never stopped, so we're completely exhausted....

 

...Rhys and Alanna look at the world a little differently...

...Alanna poses with her new sunglasses...

...and finally, Alanna was so excited about bath time (she always is!) that she managed to haul herself over the side of the tub and get in the water before I got her diaper and shoes off...

The Singing Almond

The other night at dinner, Rhys was taking his time finishing his green beans with toasted almonds. We were encouraging him to just finish his dinner!! instead of playing. He calmly informed us that he wasn't playing; instead, the almond he was bouncing on the table was a Singing Almond, and that he was singing for us during dinner (he had been singing very quietly until this point). "Oh!" we said, not sure what else to say. "Carry on! Just put an almond in your mouth every once in a while, okay?" Unfortunately, that almond, and all the rest, squealed terribly as they were delivered into Rhys's mouth after singing us a song....

Shmushtash

 

Rhys has been excavating his closet during rest time recently. As a result, lots and lots of toys and games that were being stored there because they're too old for him or too messy to have out with easy access have been migrating to the kitchen and dining room as I take them away from him. Above, he is modeling his green "shmushtash", which he artfully drew on himself with previously hidden markers a few days ago. What a guy...

Autumn Images

--Happy Fall!--

--Pressing apples into apple cider at our friends' house--


--Napping on Daddy while he's on the phone--

-- Napping on Mommy while she does housework--

--"No, Mommy, I'm not really sure how this sand got stuck to my snot..."--

--"I'm funny!"--

On the last photo: Rhys's sense of humor is really developing. He's experimenting with what other people might find funny– and how he can get them to laugh. He'll do something, such as putting on Daddy's shoes and clomping around the house, and then inform us, "That's funny!"

"Rusty's not a Big Boy yet."

This morning, as Rhys was getting ready for preschool, he and I had the following serious/hilarious conversation:

Note: Rusty is our 100 lb. chocolate lab

Rhys (in a serious tone): Rusty don't go in the potty, Mommy.

Me (with an amused smile on my face): Nope, Rusty doesn't go peepee in the potty. He goes peepee outside in the weeds.

Rhys (just as seriously as before): Rusty's not a Big Boy yet.

Me: Ha ha ha ha ha!

I love being a mommy!

"Dere My Is!"

We made a tent by draping a blanket over one of Alanna's play mats. That way, Rhys can pretend to camp, which is loads of fun. Also, he's saying the funniest thing: When I ask, "Where are you?" he responds with "Dere my is!" (instead of "Here I am!"). And that's when this picture was snapped this morning...