Let the summer fun begin!

** Remember what he called it a couple of months ago? Yeah, he still says it the same way! ;-)

Kate's Busy May

At the beginning of the month Kate was mobile, but just barely. Her best move was commando creeping across the floor. My how quickly that all changed! Sometime during the first week of May I noticed she was trying to stand up. She would put her hands down on the floor and poke her butt up in the air. She knew she was onto something! By the middle of the month, she had figured out that it was easier to stand if she pulled up on something. It started w/ Jackson's truck, which he thought was a horrible idea. She'd creep over to it and try to pull up and he'd hop back on and 'drive' it off, leaving her in his dust. Next was the musical table. At first, he wasn't a fan of her playing w/ it either, but he eventually got over it.

Not quite standing, but she's trying. Just so proud of herself!
She wanted to get up on that right foot so bad, but just wasn't quite ready.

Because she knew there was something pretty cool to play w/ if she were just a little taller.

I've read that some kids work on mastering one skill at a time. Not Kate. She's a multi-tasker. While learning to stand, she was also learning how to drink from a sippy cup. AND feeding herself. Those are little pieces of sweet potato there. And she LOVES Cheerios! I'm pretty sure she's still just a fan of food.

About a week ago, she decided to hang up her Army hat and get on with the full out crawling. She still drops back down commando style every once in a while, but for the most part she's on all four....

...Until she gets where she's going. Then it's UP UP UP! For a few days, this box was her favorite thing to pull up on. I realized that she was mastering this standing up thing WAY too quick!

And then, just in the past few days, she got herself all the way up. And is apparently now getting cocky and showing off her one-handed skills.

Needless to say, there have been a few more tears (and bumps) around here lately, b/c she is pulling up to everything! When I first noticed her interest in standing, Sean went ahead and lowered her crib and it's a good thing. Because she was standing up in there last week. And today she pulled up to Jackson's train table. His thoughts: NOT COOL! Let the sibling battles begin! Mine! No, mine!

But wait, that's not all of Kate's May milestones... A few weeks ago, she started babbling, 'mamamamama'. She said it every once in a while for a couple of days, then stopped. Until the last week or so. I'm pretty sure it's Ma-ma that she's saying. That's what I'm gonna believe at least! :-)

It's already looking like June is going to be a busy month for her, too. Today she started showing signs of teething. Not necessarily a fun milestone, but a milestone nonetheless!!!

What goes up, must come down.

Let the beach trips begin!

We went down to Emerald Isle last weekend to take an updated Ryan family picture. Sean had to work all day on Friday, so the kids and I went down with Mamma and Papa. Amy, Stevie and the girls got there early too, so we had most of the afternoon to play. Jackson and Ryley were soooo excited to get down to the beach! The water was COLD, so we didn't even bother putting on their bathing suits. We should have known they could have cared less, b/c they were both soaked in no time!For a little boy who LOVES playing in his sandbox, the beach must seem like heaven. Little Stud.We went back out on the beach Saturday morning. Kate was sleeping on Friday, so this was her first real taste of the salt air. She would see a shell lying there and work so hard to get to it and pick it up. So serious.

She didn't mind all the sand at all. Already a little beach bum!

A darn cute little beach bum!While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

Loves her Daddy!

Jumpin' waves! Ryley may be all girl, but she LOVES the sand as much as anybody!See? We're all dressed and ready to go. Or are we? Family pictures w/ four little ones. Oh boy! Mamma and Kate look like they're ready!

When we were all done w/ our 'pro' shots, I took the dressed up opp to take a few of my own! We'll call this Kate's 8 mo photo session.

Such a beautiful little girl!

And happy, too! A happy clapper!

A thinker.

Ryley and Jackson had a few smiles left in them, too!

Now for a little fun!

After all that smiling, the kids were ready for their treat! Popsicles!!
Well, except Kate. She had some avocado and LOVED it!!

A Graduation Playdate

It's no surprise that we like having parties. So when I told you about my Mama's graduation a couple of weeks ago, I'm sure you wondered where the party pictures were. Without further ado, here they are...

It was a very hot afternoon, so Maddie and Jackson cooled off in the little froggy pool.
Easton got there after naps and the three of them just had the BEST time together. While I was busy getting things out for the party, Summer somehow ended up with all three of them. I can hardly get Jackson to sit for a picture, so how she managed to get this I have no idea!

3 Little Cuties.

Easton.

Jackson and Easton taking a break from playing cornhole w/ Aunt Linda.

Buddies.

He's got game.

My Uncle Darryl w/ Jackson and Easton.

My Uncle Darryl and Me.

Somehow I ended up w/ three sparklers from Sarah and David's wedding, so we had a little sparkler fun w/ Easton, Maddie and Jackson. They were all not sure what to think at first. Especially Maddie.

Jackson couldn't even stay focused for the length of a sparkler.

And Easton was just getting beginning to warm up to it when his went out.

Maddie quickly figured it out though!

Now it's time for the grown-up party. We'll start w/ my lovely parents. Lookin' right dapper after almost 34 years!

Amy and Summer.

Danny and The Grad.

Amy and Me.

Uncle Darryl and Uncle Bud.

Timmy, Cuz and a bad-ass harmonica player -- from The Loose Floorboards.

Emma keepin' a watch on the crowd.

Family. Aunt Linda, Aunt Etta, Mama, Uncle Darryl.
Daddy and Aunt Linda.
Jammin'.
You know if there's music my Mama's gonna be a-dancin'.

Happy Graduation Mama! Good party!

** Sean is not pictured here b/c his race trip conflicted w/ the grad party. We tried to talk him into asking the pilot to drop him off on the farm, but he didn't feel like that was the best idea. Everybody missed him, especially me. :-(