An Okie Memorial Weekend

We had a terrific weekend in Oklahoma visiting family, despite the stupid wind.  Most of the weekend was spent enjoying the pool and having good old-fashioned family time.

Helping Nana & Chad cook breakfast

Who needs toys when you have a door stopper?

Holly inaugurated the pool for the season

Gerry's gardens are always immaculate

Looking at the fishies

AND we are on the GO!

Sunday night brought the entire extended family over for a little BBQ.  We don't get to do that often enough!

Of course Monday was gorgeous and we spent the better part of it driving back to Manhattan.  Aw well.  Not too much longer and we'll be CRUISIN'!!!!!

Oscar & Ruby

We have a small tree in our front yard.  Inevitably, each spring, birds build a nest in said tree.

See the babies?

First spring windstorm comes and nest blows out.  Repeat each year.  Well this time instead of unhatched eggs falling and shattering on the ground below, these two baby birds were nestled in the mulch below the tree, not far from the toppled nest.  Chad thought they were dead.  I went out and investigated and they were indeed, breathing, yet heavily.

Chad, being the gruff, big game hunter, *insert Tim Allen grunt here* type-of-guy that he is, asked "Well should I put them back?"  Ummm...don't they say once you touch the babies, the momma normally doesn't want anything to do with them?  I consulted the mighty Google king on his answer.  Turns out, Frank from Ohio says that's an old wives tale.  So I armed Chad with medical gloves and he ventured out to the great blue yonder.  I watched intently from inside while the momma bird kept swooping around him (I would have ran off screaming like a little girl, for sure).  He placed the nest back in the tree, then individually put each bird back in the nest.  Lastly, he took a small rope and secured that sucker to the branches.  Note picture below.

It wasn't 30 seconds later the momma was back feeding her babies.  Apparently it is an old wives tale.  I assumed it was our "giving back" to nature since just last week Chad found Holly "playing" with a dead baby bunny.  The circle of life.

I'll try to keep you updated on Oscar & Ruby's progress.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend all. :)

13 months

So what kind of mother would I be if we didn't have the onesie stickers for months 13-24?  Ha!  I know, a little rediculous but I couldn't help myself.  Here's some randomness to kick off the 2nd year.

We still get pretty excited when Mickey appears on the TV.

She's taken about 7 or 8 steps now.  Still a little awkward, but she really wants to try.  She's getting better and better every single day.  This video was from last weekend.

 

Our Grammy recently got us a water table.  We were pretty excited about it.  And Holly likes to use it as her water dish, so it's a win-win.

We also got us a "Craigslist-new" patio umbrella that I can't wait to use on the back patio for the pool and such.  Yay for summertime!

It's "hot"

I've always known that little minds are pretty amazing, but until I actually saw one work every single day did I really grasp that concept.  One morning I was warming my coffee up in the microwave and was telling Riley it's hot and not to touch it.  Well now every time she goes near the microwave/stove/oven, it's "hot".  Case in point, her grilled cheese and peas cooking last night.  I know it's not astrophysics, but it's the first concept (other than hi/bye) that she's actually shown she understands!  WAAAY cool!

 

Mother's Day Weekend

We had a fantastic weekend back in ol' Dodge City.  We don't get back there near enough.

Saturday was National Train Day (who'da thought?) so to commemorate the event we went to the Depot for a "train car dinner" like back in the olden days complete with singing/guitar-playing entertainment.  Riley got to come along.  She seemed to enjoy it, especially keeping rhythm with the music via unused spoons.  She was by far the youngest "passenger" there, and we always have a hard time determining in situations like this if she's being cute or disruptive, ha!

Saturday night we went to the new United Wireless Arena, which is big-time for Dodge City, to see the comedian Ron White perform.  Very funny guy.  Grandma and Papa don't get to see Riley very often so they got some quality time with her and she loved it.

I had a terrific Mother's Day filled with God's Word, Grandma's homemade noodles/rolls/etc, a homemade card and planted Merrigold from Riley, and a nap during the 3.5 hour car drive.  All in all, a pretty good little Sunday. ;)

Boxing out

Practically EVERY time Holly goes to look out the window, Riley ends up there too.  And proceeds to push her out of the way until Holly throws up her white flag.  Either we've got a bully on our hands or a future basketball player.

I will have to add that I love how she waves her blankie in the end.  It's like she's saying "In yo face, Holly"!

Crazy dogs & first boat ride

That is what our weekend was about.  Some friends who have kept Holly for us a couple of times had to go unexpectedly out of town so we kept their Lab, Jordy.  He and Holly are about the same age and always have a grand ol' time together.

Jordy decided the hot tub was just a really tall "stair".  That was a new one for us.

Riley really liked playing in Jordy's kennel.  But who are we kidding, what kid doesn't?

 The weather was beautiful so we decided it was an excellent day to take Riley on her first boat ride.  Despite the rediculous lifejacket (I never liked wearing them either) and prematurley waking up from her morning nap (therefore, cranky) I think she enjoyed it.