Happy Birthday Ryan!!!

3 YEARS OLD!!!

Ryan wanted a race car cake like Isaac's last year. The best part was him getting to help me make it! I like the ice cream truck and semi-truck trailer on the race track.

We started a tradition a little while ago of having the kids make gifts for each other. Isaac chose this swimming noodle marble race track. It's a hit!!

Isaac snapped this one--and it's one of my favorites!

I liked the kids faces

under the influence of his older brother--fighter jet fever

Nicole made Ryan an yarn octupus

Kind of excited about the guitar

Not initially too excited (do you think he suspected I got it at a garage sale?) but once we pulled it out and showed him how it worked, he loved it. Letters, animals and sounds hurray!!

Ryan strummin' the strings with Dad

Nicole getting in on some guitar action . . . Isaac kept saying "Ryan you're so lucky."

Last day in San Francisco

One of the many things I wanted to do before we left was take the kids on the cable cars in San Francisco. Thankfully Curt was able to take some time on Saturday to come with us . . . I don't know if I would have attempted it by myself on a Saturday pregnant with three kiddos. It was a beautiful day, and there were tons of people on the warf/pier/and in the city. We waited in this line for an hour--although with all the birds, sailboats, and street performers to watch it went by pretty fast, and the kids didn't even complain! I apologize for not very many pictures :) I forgot the camera card, so I had to use the internal memory, reduce the image quality, and be selective in my picture taking!!


Waiting in line . . .

. . . still waiting . . .
. . . and one more waiting . . .

We finally got to ride!!

Snagging a subway in the city--the kids weren't initially comfortable standing up eating, but I WOULD NOT let them--and they did try-- sit down on the side walk in down town San Francisco!!!

we had to take a peek at the resident sea lions . . . Ryan could/would have stayed here all day

A ride on the carousel --that is Nicole on the upper level

Isaac too . . . Ryan wouldn't look my way

We almost got to go on that big ship . . . Ryan had missed his nap and was too tired--maybe tomorrow?!

Maybe we'll name the baby Elphaba?!!

I got to go to the city to see "Wicked" with some friends. I had no knowledge of what it was about before I went other than something to do with the Wizard of Oz. It was SO fun!! I highly recommend it to anyone. Fun, funny, clean, good story/music etc. If you get the chance, go see it!! I think Curt maybe would have even enjoyed it a little--although not sure he would admit it. Elphaba is the wicked witch of the west's real name. It's not in the baby name book so . . . I'm adding it and considering it. j/k It would be unique though right?

Happy Fourth of July!!

Parade watchers

Nicole was brave and decided to try the pig scramble at a Jr. Rodeo we went to. I think it helped she had an experienced friend who she would be pig scrambling with. The goal was to chase down a squealing pig, grab it's back legs and drag it back to the designated area. More pig scrambling pictures below . . .

Ryan liked watching the little boys ride the steer's, but could see the bigger bulls in the pen just outside of the arena, and kept asking when they were going to come out.

The anticipation . . .

scrambling a pig?

Nicole and her friend each helped pull a pig in, but they only gave one trophy per pig. She was a little disappointed but hey, a ribbon fits more neatly in a scrapbook!

The boys' favorite part of the rodeo--the snow cones

Waiting for the fireworks

We spent much of our "waiting" time keeping the boys off of the sharp broken up concrete and re-barr (sp?) and out of the water.

We love "Where's Waldo" books!

Isaac excitedly showing his shirt we made (our 4th tradition--started last year--the making-o-festive t-shirts) his and Ryan's had fighter jets on them of course.

Some serious Rubik's cube time

Too funny

A tub of licorice, a big container of watermelon and good friends, what more could you ask for?

Ryan did much better this year at during the fireworks, and had a cute comment for each one he saw. He was pretty excited.