February

Has it really been a month since I have updated? Where does the time go? I guess we are just busy enjoying what life has to offer.

Welcome to the family
My cousin and her husband had a baby boy on Feb 5. Jack Taylor weighed in at a whooping 9lbs 10oz (almost as big as Ryan was) and 23 inches long. I am very happy for them. Jack is a super cute baby. Congrats Mitch and Wendy!

Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons have been going very well. Ryan loves the water so he loves swimming lessons as well. He goes twice a week for 5 weeks. He is in Level 1 swimming. Basically they just practice floating on the back, floating on the stomach, beginning arm strokes and proper kicking techniques. Ryan's favorite part is diving under the water to pick up plastic rings. The thing I really like about these swimming lessons is they do not teach the children by using cubes or floaties. Tonight was his last lesson so he got tested. We will know in a couple weeks if he got moved up to the next level. I haven't decided if we will enroll in the next session for just wait for summer lesson. I will probably let him decide between playing spring soccer or swimming lessons.

Ry went upstairs and got ready for swimming all by himself. The only problem, it was 12:30 and his lessons aren't until 6:30. He loves swimming.

Bye-Bye snow!

We had huge piles of snow all over the yard. I am SO HAPPY to see them go....melt melt melt! As the snow was melting is made for perfect snow balls. I was the target until grandpa showed up. Yay for grandpa!

Fun City, Burlington - Feb 20-22

What a fun weekend! Us and three other families traveled down to Burlington for a weekend getaway at Fun City. This is place had so much to do. We got down there Friday afternoon and didn't step foot out of the complex until Sunday. They have go-carts, bowling, arcade, casino, resturants and a waterpark. I kept asking Ryan what his favorite part of the weekend was and he said EVERYTHING. I believe him. We went to a Japenese restuarant on Saturday night. It was one of those places where the chef cooks all the food on a grill right in front of you. All the kids really enjoyed watching the food being cooked especially when the chef flamed up the grill and shot shrimp into our mouths. My favorite part was being able to wear flip flops all weekend. AND watching Ryan have so much fun. Ben had fun too except he kept saying the place was a money pit. It was but totally worth it. Just not something we can do regular basis. My tip to anyone thinking about going to a place like this would be to bring some of your own food such as breakfast and lunch stuff. Food was pretty expensive so that would have saved some money.

All the kids - Maddy, Cainan, Aiden, Natalie, Ryan, Aubrey, Jack and Treyton

Ryan and Aiden talking instead of racing

I really like this photo of Maddy getting a ride from dad

Ryan's 4.5 birthday at Preschool

Ryan's preschool celebrates 1/2 birthdays for the kids with summer birthdays. So I went to school with Ryan on Monday for his 1/2 birthday celebration. He got to blow out candles on his felt board birthday cake, the kids sang Happy Birthday to him and Ryan showed photos of himself throughout the last 4.5 years. His teacher asked him a few questions...

Do you want to have your party at home or somewhere else?

Ryan: I want my party at grandma and grandpa's house

What gifts would you like to get at your party?

Ryan: I don't know. I want it to be a surprise.

What kind of cake would you like to have?

Ryan: A robin cake

(we have been talking about the robins returning to Iowa in the spring)

Ryan and his preschool friends making a storybook on the computer

Valentines Day Party with playgroup

I organized a Valentines Day Party for the playgroup kids this year. I thought I would share a couple photos from the party.

Aiden, Ryan and Mason

Beautiful Weather!

Our first picnic and visit to the park of 2009. We couldn't help but enjoy the 50 degree weather we have had the last couple days. To bad it is ending as I type this.

I snapped this photo of Aubrey at the park this afternoon. I like it. Sweet girl!

Ryan and I are taking a trip to Alabama next week. I am really looking forward to warm weather and the BEACH! I am going to try really hard to update the blog when we are down there. So check back for trip photos.