Visit from Kara

Hide and seek at Maiben Park

Monkey see.....

Monkey do.

We took Kara to check out the farm and the new baby animals.

Ryker is not a fan of the turkey this year.  He doesn't like how it makes the "phut" sound as you walk by.

Seth, Kya, and Adam at the season kick off picnic.

Kara, Liz, Colton, and Ryker

No one is ever around for my birthday and every year, I whine about not having a German Chocolate cake.  This year Kara and Seth showed up and Kara made me my cake then Seth babysat while I went out!  By the way, I really thought I'd been missing something by never going out.  Turns out, I'm not.  I did have fun with Kara and Adrianne met us out, but we could have done that at home:)

With Ryker around, we will never go without party hats.  He's always there to remind us.

Loved his cake, but he loves having his dad home more.

Unusually long break for Seth

Seth was home for about three weeks between longlining and seining this year.  It was partially due to the new boat and catching quota faster and his skiff not being done on time.  No matter what the reason, we'll take it.

Ryker was in heaven.  Before Seth left for longlining, he told Ryker they would get the Bronco out if Ryker started pooping in the toilet.  He had been peeing in the toilet for a long time, but just didn't want to poop in it consistently, especially when he wasn't at home.  Here he is getting ready for his victory ride.

First, Seth had to wash both his cars.

Here they come......

And there it is, first time the Bronco has been out of the shop for years. No wonder it needed a wash.

There goes one happy little boy.  He's been talking about this bronco ride for months.

We packed up a picnic and headed to the Splash Park.  Of course, Ryker wouldn't eat so we had to take turns eating with Kya and splashing with Ryker.

Yep, I can hardly stand to watch him drink that pee water, but he won't stop......ugh.

There is also a sweet playground nearby.

Waterfront Festival

It was raining, but if you don't go out in the rain around here, you're going to miss a lot of fun stuff!  Ryker and Kya are always troopers, rain or shine.

Floating the sweet boat he made.

Hanging while we got all our boat building supplies.

No lines for the pony rides when there is rain. 

Thanks for the ride Smokey.

April Pics

Tulip Festival Street Fair - Ryker and Colton traded strollers for a while.

Where's Waldo?  Ryker is in the center of this picture, doing what he likes to do best in the yard....take a whiz.  Ahhh, boys.

"Mom!  I'm naked!"

"Get that camera out of here!"

We took advantage of April's few nice days to have lunch outside on the weekends.

Ryker got two pillow pets while in Children's Hospital.  This one he gave to Kya because it was smaller than his other one and "just her size" according to him.

No pillow pet will ever replace Hips, I guess.

The daycare crew.  These flowers represent their height.  Notice, Kya's is made out of her and Ryker's traced hands.  I love doing art projects with them.  Ryker wasn't down with my hand leaves though.  He wasn't quite getting that part of my creativity.

Always working

You don't have to tell this kid to eat his veggies.

You do have to tell him not to be too rough with his sister though.  Even posing for a picture usually gets a little rough.

Kya entering into dangerous territory.  This is when she was first starting to get around (not crawl, just scoot a little) and she made her way into his fort. 

This annoying bird is back year after year knocking on our window during mating season.  I really think it is the same one, but can't be sure.  We tried to shoot it a couple years ago because it poops all over the window screens and knocks early in the morning.  It is still alive because apparently Seth's bb gun is a little off....hmmmmm?  Actually it is because even I missed the pop can until I moved it over in my sight a little.  This year, he stayed alive because Ryker took a liking to him, even naming him.  Ol' Tootsie Roll is done knocking for the season, but Ryker still talks about him.  Hopefully he doesn't follow us to our new house next year.  He can knock all he wants on the apartment once we are moved.

Ryker is all about a good lather these days.  He wanted me to get the camera to show how much soap he "made".

Loving her new standing skills.

Getting a little horizontal because of all the crazy Ryker distractions.

Rock the Hawk

Ryker had been asking me for a mohawk for months.  Don't know why, but he was.  So a couple months ago I gave him one.  I was just glad to be rid of his curly little afro, he loved it.  He pointed out everyone we saw after that with a mohawk.  There are a lot more out there than you'd think when you're actually paying attention.  First thing out of his mouth when we picked up Seth from the airport for a little visit back in May:  "You should get a mohawk like me, Dad."  Of course, I was very supportive of the idea and even offered to cut it, but it never happened. 

Kya's mohawk is all natural! No styling products required.

Ryker thought he needed to style his a little.  He was basically playing in the water for 15 minutes, pretending it had something to do with his hair.

Hang in there Kya, the sides will grow in.