Heidi and Ryan's Birthday Party

Okay so the commentary is a little (2 months) late, but here it is...
We celebrated Heidi's 3rd and Ryan's 1st birthday! Ryan got the traditional ride-on toy from Aunt Cindy... of course!
Baby Wesley enjoyed the paper from the cards the most!

AJ made it his mission to make sure that all of the paper and trash was picked up and trown away. His papaw was SO proud!

This was about it for Ryan and the birthday cake. He really didn't want much do with it!

AJ sure wanted some of Heidi's cake though, so he made sure that the candles were blown out!

Zoo Trip

We went to the Columbus Zoo this past Saturday with the Sauer Clan. AJ really enjoyed the animals this time once he got over his fear of the leopard and gorillas (he seriously threw a fit and clung to me for almost a half hour while we waited for the rain to pass).

Off we go... Heidi, Ryan and AJ.
Heidi and AJ in the arms of the gorilla.

AJ exploring the touch pool in the aquarium.

As soon as AJ saw this fish he screamed, "Dory..." like in Finding Nemo.

AJ and Daddy on the train ride, which he loved! AJ's looking at the picture with me right now and telling me that he wants to ride the train!

Adventures in Potty Training

Well, we gave it go for a week and then decided that AJ just isn't quite ready. We'll try again later this fall or during Christmas break. The best story however, is when I heard him grunting in his bedroom. I rushed him into the bathroom kicking and screaming and assured him that the poop was supposed to go in the potty. I had to leave him alone so he could have his privacy, but when I went back to check on him I found him in the corner of our bedroom finishing the deed. UGH!!!! Luckily, most of it did make it into the potty, to which we jumped and cheered and high-fived each other! That was the only real time he pottied though, and then he didn't poop for 4 days. The farthest we got with peeing was him waddling to me saying "uh-oh" after he soaked his pants. Oh well!

Visit to Hyun's

Mom, Angie, AJ, Megan and I all had a wonderful visit together out in DC. My sister has just moved again, so I spent some my time helping her clean the house while mom entertained the kids. It took a little time for AJ and Megan to "adjust" to each other (translated - not to kick and shove and boss each other), but once they got that out of the way they had a great time blowing bubbles, taking walks, reading and running around together.

AJ, Grandma and Megan having a fabulous time screaming together.
I got them to take a break from the screaming to say "cheese!"

With moving comes lots of good old fashion fun with boxes. Of course they had to be in the same one at all times.

We took a trip one day to this amazing playground right near their house (really I've never seen anything like it). Here's AJ having a blast on the slides.

AJ and Megan in the race car.

Again in the school bus.

Yes, there is even a carousel at this place. This was AJ's first time ever riding one. He LOVED it of course.

Megan, Angie, Baby Hyun, and AJ.

On our last night there, we celebrated Megan's 3rd birthday a couple weeks early. We lost the candle we bought for her, so we had to improvise.

Megan with her gifts - several books and a princess puppet.

Uncle Eric's New Game

AJ was all giggles when Uncle Eric made up this new game for him!

The Coolest Thing I Have Ever Seen at a Wedding

THE OSU MARCHING BAND (part of it at least). Talk about getting people out onto the dance floor! It was fabulous!

Camp Reunion/The 4th 09

First let me say... Happy Birthday to Tristan and Tyler who turned 1 on the 4th of July. Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you!

No 4th of July celebration would be complete without a little cornhole.
Heidi and AJ sporting their red, white and blue with their BIG, cheesy smiles!

AJ enjoying the parade on Papaw's shoulders.

Heidi doing the same on her Daddy's.

And of course, Brian being the ever-present councialman.

AJ and I finally snuck our way up to the curb to try and snag some candy. We managed a couple of tootsie rolls and a sucker!

Camp Bountiful Reunion 2009

Since mom wasn't able to walk around much, Dad bummed the golf-cart from work so she could tote herself around all week. It also entertained AJ quite well. Everytime he heard it start up he would drop everything and beeline towards it. Mom and AJ would take their daily nature "walks" all around the campgrounds collecting variours leaves, flowers, rocks, branches, etc. Here he is entertaining himself during one of the services with his bubbles.

He's starting to get really good at them too!

AJ also had his first taste of live guitar music, which absolutely fascinated him. He always asked to dance, which meant that he wanted more guitar music to dance to. Here he is learning how to strum it.

AJ's sleeping arrangement for the week.

AJ was just old enough this year to participate in some of the class/kids activities. Here they are singing a song with puppets. He LOVED being on stage with all of the kids and the video below will show you how into it he got!

Another source of service entertainment... playdough jewelry (earrings, bracelets and rings/brass knuckles) compliments of Grandma and Mom.

AJ pretending to drive... go figure.

AJ in his class enjoying cupcakes. He was the youngest one in there, which translate to I had to speak with him on several occasions about pushing. Honestly, I think he was just trying to hold his own.

Class picture in AJ's first camp-made t-shirt (handprints of course).

AJ also weasled a tractor ride out of the camp manager before we left. OMG... he was in little boy heaven. There's video of him riding on it with Grandpa.

Okay, so this was at KFC on the way home, but too cute to pass up. And I don't have too many pictures of AJ with his Grandpa Joe!

Video 1) AJ dancing to the guitar. I hope he never cares that he's the only one!

Video 2) Singing with the puppets.

Video 3) All the kids singing "A Tooty-Tot" (a well known song in the early ed. field). They only practiced this once before singing on stage, but AJ caught right on and still talks about it!

Video 4) Riding on the tractor.

Ring Bearer

One of my best friends from high school (one of the fabulous PINKS... the one, the only, Jessica Wolfe) got married today, and our little man was the ring bearer. Here he is looking ADORABLE while getting ready. Me and my handsome little stud (with a mouth full of fruit snacks of course)!

So with AJ being 2, he absolutely would not pose with any of the bridal party for any of the formal pictures. It was hard enough getting a few of my own.

"I make this look good!"

Me and the beautiful bride. Congratulations again Jessie (and Dave)! We love you!!!

Trying to bribe AJ into a picture with the bride by having him sit on the "bouncy" piano bench. Notice he wasn't there long enough to get the bride in the shot.

AH... finally another member of the bridal party! Natalie is another PINK'S daughter who actually goes to the same babysitter as AJ. He followed her everywhere and she is the reason he walked down the aisle.

This is as close as AJ got to being in a formal shot. Notice that it's with the girls and not the guys. He loves his girls!

Here comes the bride...

One of our better family photos (AJ being still and looking in the right direction).

I know its sad, but this is the ONLY photo I have of the bride AND groom. We really do love you too Dave!

The PINKS... Michelle, Amanda, Jessica, Megan and Lisa. For those of you wondering, we called our group of friends "The Pink Ladies" in high school. Yes, like in the movie "Grease."

Okay, so AJ absolutely TORE it up on the dance floor. When he wasn't "dancing," he was running around the dance floor or chasing all of the little girls. Here he is showing off his moves! LOVE IT!

Video 1) Walking down the aisle. AJ made it halfway and then turned around to head back towards me. Luckily I was walking down the far aisle along the wall, got his attention, and pointed him back in the right direction without too much of a scene. Everyone loved it though of course, and the fact that he had to carry his "b" (blankie) along with the ring pillow.

Video 2) AJ dancing... just watch!