Stranger Danger

Yesterday, Hayden and I went to an A.S.S.E.R.T/ Stranger Danger class at our local community center. There were several of his friends there as well. The 75 minute was very impressive! With age appropriateness it discussed common tactics (a dangerous stranger could use) to lure a child. They practiced how to react in such a situation. Here is a picture of Hayden yelling, 'Stay Back!'

Trash to Treasure

Hayden is becoming very creative! His wheels always seem to be spinning with ideas of things he can make. Recently, he has started to dig through my recycling can and asks, "Can I have this?" "Can I make something out of this?"

His most recent creations are a T-Rex out of a toothpaste box and a rocket out of a plastic coke bottle. I love watching him at work!

1, 2, 3 JUMP!

Ryan has been taking Logan to swim lessons on Saturday mornings. It is a parent/child class. He was timid at the first lesson but quickly was coaxed into the water by daddy and then didn't want to get out after his thirty minute class was up. Each week he finds a ball which he holds onto during the duration of his swim time. Logan does not mind going under water or being splashed in the face by his own kicks. Ironically, he cries during the entire shower in the locker room.
(note: we don't have great pictures. Ryan gave the camera to a bystander and well, nobody is going to work on capturing that perfect shot like a parent)

Our Cupid is Two!

                                                                    February 14, 2009

                                                                          1 year old!

Two Years Old!

On Valentine's Day, Logan turned two!!! While I adore watching him grow and learn, it is a hard reality for me to swallow that he really is no longer a baby. As a newborn, Logan was very calm. We never offered a pacifier or tried swaddling him simply because he didn't need soothing. He would quietly fuss if he was hungry or tired. Otherwise, he was happy to be in somebody's arms and equally content being put down on a blanket. He would quietly observe the world and reward us with many smiles punctuated by his adorable dimples.

While some 'two year old' behavior has kicked in, Logan still emanates love and sweetness. The instant Hayden comes out of his preschool classroom, Logan lights up and runs up to give him a hug. Often Logan will hear the garage door open when Ryan comes home before I do. His eyes get wide with excitement and he will stop whatever he is doing and run to greet him! Logan is very generous with kisses too. He will look at Ryan or I and say, 'Eye.' Then he'll kiss one of our eyes. Then he'll say, 'Eye.' and kiss the other eye. Then, 'No.' (nose) Then, 'Mo.' (mouth) He MUST complete this before Ryan can leave for work otherwise he is crushed. Logan is happiest when all of us are in the same room!



So, Happy Birthday to our sweet Logan!

                                                                            A Baseball Cake!

                                                      Talking to MiMi & PopPop for his birthday.

                                           We had one family come over to enjoy spaghetti and cake.

The kids blew off some sugar by dancing.  Logan can really tear up the dance floor!  He LOVES to dance.

Cooking Making: Love and Hate!

I bake cookies often with the boys.  Typically around the holidays: Halloween cut-outs, Christmas cut-outs and most recently Valentine's Day sugar cookie cut-outs.  I ALWAYS look forward to doing this activity with the boys.  They wash hands, each push a chair to the island and take turns mixing/adding ingredients.  Not long into the process, I am bombarded with questions; "Can we add this now?"  "Can I stir it?"  "Don't we need some of this?" 
Inevitably, flour gets on their clothes, the counter and the floor.  Rolling out the dough and doing the cut-outs becomes a lengthy process.  Despite my lessons, they always want to place the cut-out in the middle of the dough often leaving little room around the edges for more cookies.  Then, comes the sprinkles, their favorite part.  Those little magical sparkles end up everywhere!!!  Not only is there a thick layer on the baking sheet (for sure more end up on the tray then on the cookies) but they seem to multiply and invade my counters and floor.  By the end of this process, the kitchen is a disaster zone, the boys have quit, the bottom of my socks are covered with sprinkles and I think to myself, "Why did I do this again?!"  But, then I remember how important they felt helping to create something wonderful and delicous to eat.  And you'd think they'd witnessed magic as they watched a bland cookie transform into a glistening delight instantaneously by adding sprinkles.

So I'm sure by the time Easter arrives I will have forgotten the mess and occasional bickering involved and once again look forward to making cookies together.  However, I think I will wait for a warm, sunny day and let them do the sprinkles outside!

Cabin Fever!

I'm ready to see colorful flowers against bright, green grass...

Instead, we just keep getting snow.  This is a picture Ryan recently took after an ice storm.  Our driveway (and roads) were covered with about an inch of ice.  It took him a couple of hours to break it up and shovel it away from our driveway.

Meanwhile, we have two active boys.  We've tapped into our creativity a lot this winter and have done many arts and crafts. 

  Both boys were so focused on their painting that I couldn't get them to look at the camera.

Hayden is working on a card to include in a care package we're sending to a deployed friend.