the Fair

Last week was the Cumming Fair.  We were thrilled to have Auntie Sarah and Maxim in town and able to join us this year!  We started at the petting zoo and the kids had a great time petting and feeding goats, pigs, rabbits, sheep, etc.  After that we met up with Christa and her kids and the boys all rode some rides.  Ryan and Maxim agreed on the train and we started there.  Ryan did soo good!  Last year he still wasn't sure of the rides, but he loved them this time!  They also rode the fishes [that Ryan wouldn't go on last year], the dragons, and a boat.  What fun!  Alicia joined us just in time for some dinner and the boys enjoyed rolling down the big hill and just being boys :)  It was a great time visiting, watching the kids take it in, running into old friends, and people watching. I'm not sure why, but there's just something special about the fair and I'm so glad we had the chance to go again!  Happy Fall!

 

four year checkup

Ryan had his four year checkup yesterday; he was not happy about that at all!  "I don't like to go to doctor, especially mine's doctor.  Doctors no fun."  Five shots, a finger prick, and then the nurse had the nerve to put bandaids on him.  Oh, that just pushed him right over the edge.  Once his cries calmed down enough for me to understand him, I realized he was asking me to take off the bandaids, good grief!  Good news though, with the exception of flu shots, he's done with boosters until eleven years old!

Other than the drama of the shots, he did great!  His pediatrician is amazing and had him calm and talking in no time.  He passed all the hearing & vision tests, counted for her, did his colors, etc.  She said he looks great.  He is 37 lbs [50th percentile] and 40.5 inches tall [right in between 50th and 75th].  He's still not crazy tall, which confuses me based on his parents!  According to the growth chart, we'll be lucky if he hits six foot.  Either way is fine of course, although I keep waiting for a growth spurt :)

Day out with Thomas

Last weekend we went to the Day out with Thomas!  [Don't worry if you don't know what it is, I didn't either until about a year ago!]  We spent the weekend with Auntie Sarah, Uncle Christian, & Maxim and on Saturday we drove into NC to see Thomas together. 

Despite the cold and wind and a few grumpy moments, it was a great experience and I'm glad we were able to do it with all the kids.  They all seemed to have a great time!  We saw Thomas, rode on the train, watched the model trains, played with train tables (Ryan's favorite part), ate some junk food, jumped in a bouncy house, ran through a haybale maze, and other fun adventures! 

We also celebrated Auntie Sarah's birthday last weekend with a delicious breakfast at Mimi's in Greenville and then an evening dessert when we all reunited at Nana's that night.  Happy Birthday Auntie Sarah!!  We love you and hope your day was super special!

 



My four year old

Happy Fourth Birthday my Ryan Hazen!  It's hard to believe you're really four already; although at the same time I can't remember life without you!  I love watching you grow right before my eyes; you're turning into a little boy more and more every day.  You get dressed all on your own, go to the bathroom and wash your hands all by yourself, put on your own socks and shoes (as long as they don't lace), write your name and letters, play boardgames & puzzles with me, and all sorts of things that constantly amaze me.  We have real conversations and both your memory & intuition never cease to impress me.  I'm so proud of you and the person you are becoming.  I'm blessed to be your mother and am thankful that God gave us such a wonderful son!  I look forward to many many more precious years and birthdays together, let's just not rush them my sweet baby boy :) 

Ryan's Birthday!

Last week we celebrated Ryan's 4th birthday!! 

Happy Birthday my little man!! 

We had his party on Sunday afternoon the 25th.  It was a perfect day; warm, sunny, and no wind at all this year.  Just about all of Ryan's little friends made it and most of the family too.  Ryan had a blast running around the playground, eating pizza & cupcakes, and enjoying the day.  The theme was airplanes - Ryan's pick - and we decorated with gliders and parachuting frogs in the trees.  And the goodie bags were fun too, complete with finger rockets, gliders, and the parachuting frogs. 

Ryan's actual birthday was a Thursday this year.  He started the day with cinnamon toast (usually only for sick days!).  And then since it was a preschool day, Mommy & Abby brought cupcakes to the class for snack time.  It was nice to visit and sit outside at the picnic table with all his little friends.  Then after school we met up with Grandma for lunch at "welcome to Moe's."  [Ryan will be devastated one day to learn that it's only Moe's!]  And it was his pick, no prompting or suggesting from Mommy.  After a quesidilla and salsa, we dined on cream cheese cupcakes from Grandma.  Dinner was pizza night with Daddy & Mommy & Abby at Brooklyn Joe's where we also gave him our presents.  From dinner we headed to Nana and Pop-Pop's for dessert with the grandparents.  Grandma & Grandpa were there too and we all enjoyed some more dessert.  It was a busy day but certainly a fun one!!

Happy Happy Birthday my sweet Bugs!!  We love you!!

the corn maize

Maxim and family were in town for Ryan's birthday party weekend, yay!  We met up with our fav cuz, Auntie Sarah, Nana, Grandma, and Grandpa on Saturday afternoon for some family fall fun at the Cagle's Dairy corn maize.  We've been the past two years with Ryan, but this was Maxim's first time.  We started the adventure with the jumpy pillows, petting goats, and riding on horse tire swings (adorable!!). 

Once we began the maize, Ryan and Maxim immediately took their spots at the front of the pack leading us fearlessly through miles and miles of corn.  Well, maybe not miles and miles, but when you are following three year olds, it can certainly feel like that.  I think we wandered all the way to Iowa and back.  But it was a blast and Ryan will talk about it all year long, or at least he did last year. 

Dolphin Tale

Friday night the much anticipated [at least by my mom :)] movie, Dolphin Tale, came out and we were right there to see it!  Ryan and I met up with Grandma, Grandpa, and Ms. Lori to take it in.  It was a good movie, esp if you accept the facts beforehand that a.) very little of it is actually true and b.) there's a little bit of cheesiness to it.  Although, I must say, it was not nearly as cheesy as I expected! 

Ryan did very well with the movie and seemed to enjoy himself.  We had talked about the dolphin a little beforehand and read the book Winter's Tail.  We also saw Winter on one of the tv morning shows and Grandma had bought him a stuffed Winter a few years back.  And it was a 7pm showing, so he was calm and sleepy.  In fact, as soon as the credits started rolling, he jumped saying I'm ready to go home, let's go!  He was asleep before I'd even turned on to the main road in front of the theater!

If you get the chance to see it, please be sure to do so and support Winter!  She's an amazing dolphin and if you don't believe me, ask my mom!

Marching Band video

So I'm not sure if that was really cool or really scary (yes, Auntie Sarah, I know I should be scared).  I found the Pride of the Mountains marching band on facebook and was watching a video some random person had posted to Youtube from Saturday night's game.  After it was done, I was going to copy the link to share with my large number of blog fans, but instead it had an option to put it on my blog and I clicked and there it was.  Just like magic.  It did that last post all by itself.  So enjoy!  Or be weirded out.  Either way is okay.

WCU's Pride of The Mountains Marching Band - 2011 Club Swagger

WCU

This past weekend we took a trip up to Cullowhee, NC to visit Western Carolina.  I went to school there for a year, but haven't been back since.  It was a fun walk down memory lane.  We started the day at my old favorite spot - a beautiful picnic on the river.  After we ate, we wandered around and I even got Ryan to wade through the water with me!  Then we drove through Sylvia & Dillsboro.  We walked around a little and ate ice cream at the general store, yumm.   

Then it was time to check out the campus.  We drove by my old dorm, bought a few souvenirs at the bookstore, and then watched the Pride of the Mountains marching band warming up.  If you like marching bands, you've got to figure out how to see one of their shows one day, amazing!  It was Ryan & Abby's first football game of any sort and they did okay.  Fortunately it's a very laid back atmosphere without the typical college crowds; we're certainly not ready for Athens anytime soon!  In fact, Abby and then Ryan befriended the lady sitting in front of us and she basically babysat them the first half.  She was great with them and seemed to truly enjoy hanging out with them.  And then it was halftime.  I always knew that the band was a big hit there, but I guess I didn't realize how much.  As soon as they lined up to march on, people were on their feet and clapping.  It was crazy!  The band really truly is the highlight of the evening.  The did their usual contemporary funky show; this year it's called Club Swagger and features music from the likes of Usher & Lady Gaga.  Humm, could you ever see the Redcoats doing that?!  I loved both WCU and UGA's bands, they are just so completely different!  Ryan and Abby really got into the show too.  Ryan moved into the aisle so he could see better and Abby was dancing.  So much fun.  After that, we (along with a whole lot of other people) made our way out.  After a quick dinner at Subway, we headed for home.  What a fun day!  In fact when we asked Ryan what he liked best, he said something along the lines of: "I like Everything we did today!"  At another time, he said he liked " the picnic, going into town, and the football game."  Two things about that: 1. the "going into town" was hilarious; he'd fit right in.  2. If you're a parent you probably realize how rare it is for them to like what you plan!  It's usually some small, obscure detail that they love.  I think we did well today!