Blowing Kisses

Ramsey learned something new.....

A New Local Treasure!

We've been living on this lake since August of 2009 and, in that time, we haven't ever visited the state park locations to play!

While Eric and Connor leave for the days/evenings to go fishing, Ramsey, Mom, and I need something "outdoorsy" to do too (walking up and down the hilly gravel road has somewhat lost its novelty, even though the views are beautiful).   So, I purchased a state park pass and we did some exploring on Sunday afternoon, after we got our chores done.

This lake has two main "parks", plus boat ramps and other scenic views.  We ventured to one of the southern areas that has a playground for kids, plus camping, fishing areas, nice paved areas to walk, hiking trails, and a beach.  I was actually pleasantly shocked at what was there!

Drum roll please....

I was really surprised to see this, smack dab in the middle of the park area!  And now, I am shaking my head and wondering why we didn't go sooner when Connor was smaller.  :-(   Lord knows we talked about it.

They also had a round jungle gym climber and both big kid and little kid swings.

Ramsey was pretty excited to see all of this "new stuff". 

Though it wasn't Ramsey's first time down a slide, it was his first time down a slide... by himself!  Nana Karen was at the bottom to catch him. 

After the first few times, he wanted to do it again and, when we couldn't get him back to the top fast enough, he would get a little mad!!  lol

He'd do a little "happy dance" when he got to the bottom and kept trying to crawl back to the top on his own.

I didn't think he was quite ready to do the tornado slide by himself yet, so I whirled down with him.

He was loving the swings too, giggling his butt off.   He looked down at the ground a lot; I think he was getting a fun head rush! ha!

After we walked the paved trails a while and visited with families who were fishing, we had some bubbles that needed blowing.  Ramsey thought they were pretty neat too, but didn't quite yet grasp the idea of blowing bubbles himself.

 Next Step:  We will need to purchase new frisbees (Riggs chewed the ones we had to shreds!) so that we, as a family, can all venture over to the frisbee golf park.  It's directly across from our house on the lake.  ...another thing we've talked about doing for a long time!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

to Great-Grandma Rose's and Grandpa Mike's we go....

After Connor's music fest, Eric, Ramsey, and I headed west to see Grandpa and Great Grandma.

We hadn't seen them since last Fall, so, even though our time with them was cut short, we were able to have a nice visit  that evening and with Grandpa Mike for breakfast the next morning.

Grandpa Mike wasn't feeling well, so we didn't get a picture of him with Ramsey.  :-(   Darn!

 Great Grandma Rose is 92.  She's always dolled up in her fancy duds.  Ramsey has always been enamored with her blingy jewelry.

Daydreaming...

A penny for his thoughts... er, dreams!?!?

Ramsey fell asleep in the car on our way home from church, so we left him alone in his car seat for a few minutes; he looked so peaceful and happy!

I'd give anything to know what he was dreaming about!

A Day in Venice

This past Saturday, Connor performed four different songs for the annual music competition in a nearby town.

In the morning, he performed two pieces with the school band, plus a duet.  In the afternoon, he played a solo entitled "A Day in Venice".

All three of us watched the performance.  Ramsey was good and didn't make a peep.
Connor did a really good job and continues to improve.   I'm sure his poor lips were shot by the end of the day, having so many pieces to perform!

A Fishing Frenzy!

As a fisherman isn't supposed to tell where his/her new hot spot is (at least, that is what I keep telling Eric! ha!), I will just say that "somewhere out east, about an hour away", Eric had one heckuva hay day fishing with a couple of buddies from work.

Eric's "keepers".

The guys left early from work on Friday to the slew where the walleye have been going nuts.   This site requires waders to cast, so the guys fished in water up to their chests.
They were there a total of about 3 1/2 hours, but had their limits almost immediately.  As they can keep four walleye total (all over 14" but only one over 20"), Eric's first large fish was 23" and the smallest was 16".
They threw back at least a dozen fish that could have been keepers.  His buddy Jeff caught and released a 28" walleye and Eric caught and released a 27" walleye.

Here's where the trip becomes more exciting.... (as if catching a ton of hog walleye wasn't enough)!
While Eric was reeling in the 23" walleye, he noticed a large mass following the walleye.  He thought it was a log, since it appeared to be about 4 foot long.  As he reeled his walleye in closer, the large mass continued to follow.  It turned out to be a giant Northern trying to eat his walleye!   The Northern wasn't slowing down and was heading straight towards him.  As both fish drew closer, Eric had to slap the Northern to divert it and stop it from eating his catch!  The Northern turned around and continued back vehemently towards the walleye, completely intent on catching its prey!   While Eric was trying to hand-land his walleye, he had to hit the Northern again to stop it.   In doing that, he fell backwards and into the water!
BUT... he landed his walleye and added it to the stringer.   ...not sure what happened to the Northern!?!?
If that ginormous Northern would have hit the walleye... and if Eric could have hand-landed it (which would have been a feat in and of itself), we'd have another fish in the freezer, awaiting an appointment at the taxidermist.   THAT would be one heck of an expensive mount, but it would have a priceless story!

So now, that said, Eric has been planning his next trip to the hot spot, before the walleye spawn, triggering the end of the short-lived craze.

In the interim, here's a present Eric just ordered for me so that I can join him.  How romantic!! HA!  (They should fit Connor for a bit too!)  If the walleye hit as well as they have been for the guys, I am certainly not complaining.  It will be fun!

...just too bad they don't come in pink!  :-)

How the Boys "Communicate"

The boys are buddies when they're together.  Connor is a great Big Brubby, playing and interacting with Little Brubba.   Ramsey gets so excited when Connor is here.
This is how they typically communicate.... verbally!

Happy Easter!

What a special time of the year it is when Easter rolls around; Spring is here and new life comes in nature.

Connor wasn't going to be with us for Easter, so before Easter Sunday, we completed a little "family project" and decorated Easter cookies.  Yum!

Connor was so intent on adding every little sprinkle in just the right spot.

Mid-way into the project and prior to devouring a number of egg- and bunny-shaped sugar cookies, Connor and I took a minute to say CHEESE for Dad.

Our "masterpieces".

Connor's two "special" egg-shaped cookies are top right; caveman-esque interpretations of a boy and the other of his dog.   So cute!
Sidenote: We didn't get any eggs dyed this year.  On the days we were going to partake in that project, the weather was far too nice to stay inside and the boys went fishing instead!  I can't say that I'm horribly heartbroken; cookies taste SO much better!    Next year....  *wink*

On Easter Sunday, Ramsey, Eric, and I put on our best duds and went to church.  We forgot to have someone take a group picture of all of us dressed up.  Darn!!!
After church, we just had a nice, rather leisurely day, and spent time at the house together.

I love Ramsey's new bow tie!  We dressed him up in some fancy stuff; his plaid shirt and tie, a classic grey sweater that Godmother Shana gave him, a new pair of dress pants, and his black wingtip shoes that, until now, he hadn't worn.   What a classy little man.  Ha!  :-)

When Connor was back at our house the following Tuesday, the boys were given their Easter baskets.  Connor got a load of chocolate and candy.  Ramsey's basket included his favorite baby munchies, pajamas, and some summer shorts.   Ramsey was having a great time, looking (and diving into) at all of the terrific treats in both of the baskets.
Unfortunately, it was SO COLD and WINDY this year that Harry (the Easter Bunny) didn't leave his usual notes and treasure hunt finds.   No matter his age, Connor has always loved the hunt for clues and goodies.   Maybe Harry's second cousin Louie will set up a treasure hunt this summer!?!?

Apparently it's quite difficult to get a picture when both of the boys are looking at the camera and smiling.  Connor's smiling nice, as usual, but Ramsey was more interested in putting the rabbit ears up his nose!  

No Longer a Baby.... (But Always "MY" Baby!)

Ramsey's "baby days" are gone and he's now a toddler.  His growth epitomizes the definition of "bittersweet".

Our little Doodlebug is a healthy young child, learning new things everyday and evolving both mentally and physically.  He's inquisitive and smart, mobile and active, loving and sweet, playful and joyous.   He's a little gentleman.  Those are just a few (among the myriad) of the wonderful aspects of his toddlerhood.

But, the days of burping him, nursing him, and seeing all of his "baby firsts" are gone.  Those are now memories - moments that I will never have again, but will cherish deeply, forever.   Each day now is still another new adventure as we watch him grow and flourish.  What's to come next?!?  :-)

I recently saw this poem as a post on a friend's Facebook page.  It's too bad we can't ever "rewind" or "stop time", if only for a few minutes.

The Last Time

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,
you will never be the same.
You might long for the person you were before,
When you have freedom and time,
And nothing in particular to worry about.

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,
And days will run into days that are exactly the same,
Full of feedings and burping,
Nappy changes and crying,
Whining and fighting,
Naps or a lack of naps,
It might seem like a never-ending cycle.
But don’t forget …

There is a last time for everything.
There will come a time when you will feed
your baby for the very last time.
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.
One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,
And never pick them up that way again.

You will scrub their hair in the bath one night
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone.
They will hold your hand to cross the road,
Then never reach for it again.
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this.
One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus”
and do all the actions,
Then never sing them that song again.

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,
The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.
You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.
They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time
Until there are no more times.
And even then, it will take you a while to realize.
So while you are living in these times,
remember there are only so many of them
and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.
For one last time.
-Author Unknown-

This post wasn't meant to be sad and weepy.  I do miss the true "baby days" (I had no idea having a little teeny tiny baby would be THAT awesome!), but I look forward to his continued development.  And, I look forward to him blossoming into a truly fantastic kid... teenager... and young man... just like his Big Brubby Connor.

Boys... you're the greatest!  You've completed my life in so many ways.  When you're fathers (I hope to be a grandmother someday!), you'll understand and know the true beauty and joy.

LOVE AND HUGS

Mommy