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!

West Palm Beach '09

We headed down to West Palm beach again this year for our annual Sauer vacation. AJ did great in the car (portable DVD players are a lifesaver), and found new ways to entertain himself as seen below. He advanced to grapes on the way home. We did however, have one nasty puking incident. Still love watching him sleep... He only made it one night on the cool "Cars" air mattress since I found him curled up on the hard floor in the middle of the night. After that, we removed the mattress on the hide-a-bed and put it on the floor for him to have a larger space to sleep (he moves like a wild man in his sleep).

AJ being brave and adventurous in the ocean. He actually got tossed a couple of times in the small waves. He loved it at the time, but didn't want anything to do with it when we took him back later in the week.

Hangin' out in the ocean with Daddy and Papaw.

AJ LOVED being able to swin around in the big pool by himself (thanks to the life vest). He's very good about keeping his head up when he rolls over, and loves to swing his body and arms around to splash people.

AJ now tells you when he wants you to do something, so Papaw had no choice but to sit on the teeter-toter with him and Daddy.

One lucky kid!

AJ showing Daddy how to play shuffle board. His way is the right way of course!

On Wednesday we took a side trip to Lion County Safari where you drive around like they do in Jurassic Park to see different wild animals. Most of them are free to wander. The ostriches came the closest to our car, and we had to wait once for one to cross the road.

Wish I had the brochure to tell you the name of these animals. Elephants (could not get to your car).Again, don't remember the name.

The best area was where the zebras and rhinos were. Zebras not too much of a concern, but a little suprised that the rhinos were free to come up to your car as well (although they do tell you to keep your car moving at all times when approaching the rhinos).

After the drive -thru safari we went into the park to see more animals and have some fun. Here's AJ and I at the photo-op station.

AJ on the little kiddie train. He had to ride it by himself, since the rest of us were older than 12. He LOVED riding the "choo-choo."

AJ having more fun at the water play area. Of course, five minutes after I got him in his suit a thunder storm began, which ended promptly by the time we had changed him again. Oh well, it gave him a chance to cool off.

Learning how to feed the goats.

This was actually the highlight of the day... AJ feeding the giraffes. His giggle when he felt the giraffe's tougue was priceless!

Vidoes... 1) Our compromise to AJ jumping into the pool (he just didn't clear a safe distance). Of course, he did this over and over again all week. 2) AJ got really good at kicking his legs and swimming around in the big pool with his life vest). He still enjoyed the baby pool a great deal where he learned how to throw his whole body into to water to make a big splash. 3) We went into town one night for a nice dinner and to enjoy an outdoor concert. This video shows AJ clapping to the music. 4) AJ showing off his white-boy moves.

Saturdays/Memorial Day/Bachlorette/Nuge/Sandbox

So on Saturdays, Brian and I buy a little extra time in bed by letting AJ in with us. On this day, he decided he wanted read to first thing. Lately though, he's decided that all of his cars and trucks need to be covered up in bed as well. AJ enjoying being pushed on the big boy swing by cousin Emma Memorial Day weekend. AJ is really good about holding on, and even loves to lean his head back just like we did as kids - scared me to death the first time he did this.

Having more fun with cousin Tommy who entertained AJ with the marble maze/tower.

We also celebrated mom's 60th birthday.

When I showed AJ this picture on the camera one day and asked him who was in it (thinking he'd say mamaw) he enthusiastically said, "CAKE." The boy likes cake!

We officially have a "kids" table now. AJ and Heidi took full advantage of it (so did Nuge)!

AJ showing Heidi how to swing one's self down the slide.

Change of topic... Another PINK gets married! Congratulations Jessie!!!! Loved the night out! Headed out for a night on the town! Every mom needs a chance to get away once in awhile!

So Nuge has always had his fair share of skin issues. In fact, our vet is actually into dermatology, so is always very into checking Nuge out whenever he gets a funky spot (which I'm pretty sure cost us more than necessary - my favorite is when she tells us that she's going to check for ringworm but is pretty sure it isn't that because otherwise she would be wearing gloves - that's a $50 test). Well, once again Nuge has an irrated spot under his neck that he has scratched raw and won't leave alone so it continues to bleed instead of heal. This time though, I played vet myself (to save on cost). I taped a piece of gauze loaded with neosporin to the ace bandage and wrapped up his neck to keep him from scratching. So far, so good!

Grandpa Joe built AJ a sandbox to have at their house as he LOVES playing in sand. Thanks Dad/Grandpa!

AJ somehow mixed some water (might have been the pop he dumped in the sandbox) with some of the dirt around the sandbox and spread it on his face to make it look like he had war paint on (imagine a boy with dirt on his face)! So much fun!

Random

This is AJ's new trick... head on floor and arms out like he is flying. One of these days he's going to roll right over into a somersault. Since it was 85 and sunny, we decided to join the other 95,000 BUCKEYE fans and take AJ to his FIRST Buckeye football game (even if it was just the Spring game). We made it 3 quarters and he had a GREAT time. He points out Brutus and says his name wherever he sees him. He'll also give you a big "GO BUCKS!"

Wesley Kinch's (Brian's godson and cousin) baptism.

After the baptism, we all went over to Aunt Cindy's where AJ entertained himself by feeding the stuffed puppy. SO CUTE! His imagination is really starting to show itself!