5!!

Our sweet first born turned 5 yesterday... he planned his own day and it was perfect -
Started with breakfast with Daddio at the San Marco Diner.

Then he had a few friends meet us at Chick-Fil-A for the easiest, most low maintenance birthday party ever. And Chick-Fil-A is his most favorite place on earth, so it was perfect. He wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake with oreos around the side. Kyle and I made this one and it was delicious. Every time we are in Publix we have to stop for a few minutes and obsess over the birthday section, so after breakfast Kyle took him to pick out whatever he wanted for the top of the cake. He kept saying he wanted a transportation cake, but he ended up getting sidetracked at Publix and it turned in to an American flag/red & blue sprinkle/firework candle cake. Ironic since he has such a love/hate relationship with fireworks.

His buddies Nicholas, Jake, Mark & Vinnie.

Tucker & Kathryn

For dinner he chose Cruisers. Mimi gave him an awesome underwater digital camera!

We are happy he had a fantastic day.

The One & Only

Tucker has learned to call whomever he desires on my cell phone. He was chatting away this morning as I tried to have a breakfast date with a friend (with my two children and her 4 month old. Ha! What were we thinking?) I asked him who was on the phone and he said "the one and only." I successfully guessed he was referring to Daddio! Cute.

We're really proud of Daddio around here and he just accepted a wonderful job offer with a great medical sales company. He is sad to leave his job that he has loved so much, but construction just isn't getting better any time soon and we needed to MOVE FORWARD... so we are. And we are thrilled. And we couldn't be more proud of the one and only.

Now we're in the midst of finding two cars, a new cell phone plan, new house, etc, etc. No big deal!!! And there is a baby arriving in T-minus 4 months. Insanity!

Broken

Above: Mac giving some love.

Saturday we experienced our first broken bone in the Ryan household (not including Kyle's broken leg in Steamboat after he decided to wrestle the heavy weight during a wrestling practice at Steamboat High School). Tucker & Kyle were hanging out with our friends Chet & Sarah and Tucker slipped going up these little stairs they have in their house. It didn't seem like a big deal except that he kept complaining about bad pain all afternoon. I took him in to urgent care and sure enough! It was broken.

Since then he and Mac have spent most of their time on my bed watching hours of TV and movies. When Tucker is not in bed he is complaining about the pain, so I'll take the TV! He seems to be better this afternoon/evening and the doctor thought his new cast should take care of the pain.

The temporary cast.

Mac's newest obsession -- building with blocks! He plays on this table with his cars, animals & blocks for hours a day. He is at that sweet point where he loves to busy himself without needing any attention or direction.

Another day of TV... again, Mac being sweet.

... and now attempting to push Tucker completely off the bed.

Getting the cast today. He got a cool cast that has velcro that we can actually remove for baths and "easy swimming" - no jumping, etc. That should be interesting. The doctor said we seem like good parents that can be trusted to watch him so he can handle this kind of cast. Hmmm. Too much responsibility! I voted for the normal cast!

He is really proud of it.

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a time Kyle and I traveled to Mexico and had a dream 10 Year Anniversary Trip outside Puerto Vallarto. Unfortunately it already seems like it was just a dream a long, long time ago! But it sure was fantastic. We are so grateful for the Teagues inviting us to paradise with them. We stayed at Real Del Mar in our own large house.

Kyle & Ben being Kyle & Ben at the house's pool.

Beach Club

The picture above was taken at the beach club where we attempted to spend as many hours as possible. Below Ben & Jess are standing out on our back deck with the view of the ocean (and a large orange house with a dome??) It rained many of the evenings when we were there -- Kyle obsessively took pictures of the clouds over the ocean!

Each night we went to dinner at one of the restaurants in the small towns around Real Del Mar.

Our pool and the house next to us. Our room was to the right under the thatch roof. We sat out here for breakfasts that were cooked for us each morning... ridiculous luxury! ... and SO relaxing!!

Down at the beach.

We have had a hard time readjusting to responsibility and real life and parenting!

Mac - 18 months

Perfecting his eating skills~

Always trying to be like Daddio

Tucker - almost 5

cooking Jello Jigglers

Loves his time with Daddio SO MUCH! They are special friends. We got the flowing mane cut shortly after the picture below!!

Found my old Colorado gear...

Tuck turns 5 in 17 days. He is still as quirky(?) as ever. He spends most of his time these days planning out what we are doing the next hour, next day or next week. Even as we finish a fun activity he wants to know what is next! He loves Mac and is so sweet to him almost all of the time. This summer he is enjoying swimming, playing in "Summer Fun," (many of his toys have been banished to the garage while house is on the market and he named the play area in the garage "Summer Fun") begging to play on pbskids.org or watch a show, cooking treats and figuring out what he wants to do next!! He still doesn't like pinatas. He has nightmares about fire ants. He is making a lot of progress on his bounce house and firework fears. He is hilarious and has an amazing vocabulary -- we LOVE this kid!

Baby Taylor!

This is our ADORABLE nephew Taylor Joseph McCormac!! He was born May 18th (was that really 2 months ago!????) at a mere 10 pounds, 8 ounces - we are DYING to meet him before he gets any bigger!

I tried to link this to Erin's Photography blog, but it wouldn't let me do it... so this picture was taken by Erin Duggin - her website is www.erinjustthething.blogspot.com --

100 degrees

Rockin' Out

LOTS of dance parties at our house after two weeks of VBS at two different churches. These don't quite capture the essence of the dance parties because Mac shuts down when the Flip is out!

The Graduate

Oh Preschool Graduation, you are so ridiculous. But Tucker was really excited and had a fun time celebrating! He will still have another year of preschool, but he is going to a different school for a special young 5's class. We absolutely love Southside Methodist Preschool and feel so grateful for the nurturing and love that Tucker received these past few years.

Receiving his diploma (ridiculous!) from Miss Candy (the director) and Pastor Bruce. Tucker's favorite part of school is Chapel on Wednesdays -- he loves Pastor Bruce.

Sweet, sweet Meaghan - they have been in the same class for 3 years!

Ms. Karen & Ms. Patti -- he says he misses them already!

Matt the Cat

Matt the Cat continues to be a part of our lives here... contrary to how these pictures appear, he does not come inside. Well, we do not allow him inside, but every time we open the back door he runs at lightning speed and someone has to take him back out and run as fast as they can back in to the house.

It is sweet how much Jackson and Matt the Cat love each other.

To Nan on Mother's Day - in three parts

Dear Nan,

We have been attempting to make you a Mother's Day video... for over a week. Here are the best three. First, Tucker song & card (signed Tucker, Mac & Matt the cat).

Then, Mac's favorite song - The Itsy Bitsy Spider. But Tucker is not cooperating in this one!


Third, another attempt at Itsy Bitsy Spider. This one showing off Mac's wild personality!

We love you! Happy Mother's Day!

Morning Fun!

Tucker & I went out to plant the tomato plants and heard this pitiful crying from the fence. This baby kitten was left behind by his/her?? family (I saw 5 or 6 of them two days ago with mother) and immediately attached to Tucker. Ought oh!

The Great Outdoors

Tucker and Kyle had their first back yard camping adventure... they made s'mores and set up camp and Tucker slept through until 7am. Success.