Day 197 (7/16/11) - Improved View

Although we're still not happy about the IHOP and Walgreen's in our front yard, we're a little more tolerant of the Cold Stone Creamery that opened this weekend!  Ryan enjoyed his chocolate ice cream creation and Gavin enjoyed his watermelon sorbet - so much so that they both licked their cups clean!  I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing that it's within walking distance.  Last night I felt like I was taking the walk of shame as I snuck over in the cover of darkness to get my Mud Pie Mojo ice cream fix.  It's a sinful combination of coffee ice cream, Oreo, peanut butter roasted almonds, and fudge!

Day 196 (7/15/11) - Hershey Park

We took the boys to Hershey Park for the day.  Although they were too young for many of the rides and we didn't do any of the water park activities, we still somehow managed to spend 9 hours at the park!  It was a long, hot, fun day - the culmination of our week-long "staycation."  Mike had a rare extended break from work, and we crammed as much family time as we could into his time off. 

When we first arrived, we took a few minutes to review the map of the park and determine which rides and attractions we wanted to be sure to visit.

The log flume was one of the few rides we could all enjoy.  Since it was a hot day and the signs warned that riders may get wet, the line was pretty long.  We had to be creative to find ways to keep the boys entertained and patient as we waited.  Fortunately, the long, boring wait was quickly forgotten as soon as we boarded the raft.  Gavin loved getting splashed and frantically signed "more" at the end of the ride.  Every time (and we rode it at least 5 times), when he realized we had to get off the raft and go through the line again, he'd cry and try to writher away from us so he could get back on the ride.

This year, Ryan was big enough to ride his first roller coaster.  Ryan and Daddy rode the Trail Blazer at least 4 times and I joined him for one ride.  I screamed like a lunatic and held his arm with a death grip during the high-speed plummets and curves.  He giggled the entire ride!  When we got off, I asked him if he was scared during his first ride and he said, "No, Mommy.  I was with Daddy and I knew he wouldn't let anything bad happen to me!"    

The boys also drove a blue and yellow race car...

a blue and yellow truck...

and flew a blue and yellow airplane.  Apparently, blue and yellow are still Ryan's favorite colors!  Gavin opted for the camouflage helicopter that looked most like the one Daddy flies in.

We had a late lunch since we weren't hungry after our blue raspberry and orange creamsicle Slurpee brunch!  For dessert, Ryan had ice cream while the rest of us shared a chocolate funnel cake, sprinkled with chocolate chips and topped with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup!  Come on, it was Hershey Park, how could we pass up a chocolate confection?!  Unfortunately, we later discovered that, even in small amounts, chocolate is hard on Gavin's stomach (something he inherited from Mike).      

Taking a break from the heat and the rides, we went to the sea lion show and got to sit in the splash zone!  The boys were amazed at the tricks the sea lion could do.  It put poor Guinness to shame!

Gavin and I did not join Ryan and Daddy on the Ferris Wheel.  My paralyzing fear of heights prevents me from riding and it even made me wobbly in the knees watching Mike and Ryan ride it.  In the picture below, you can see Gavin and me just to the right of the popcorn stand.  (I'm wearing the white tank top and Gavin is in the stroller in front of me.)

Here is a view of the chocolate factory from atop the Ferris Wheel.  This is where much of the famed Hershey chocolate is produced.

The water park looks like a lot of fun.  Too bad we didn't have time to enjoy it this trip.  Next year we'll have to build in a second day or skip the rides and do the water activities instead.

As the day started to wind down, we took a leisurely train ride through the park.  Gavin was so excited to ride the train and on command would yell, "choo choo."

Before heading home, Ryan and Daddy rode the Trail Blazer two final times.  They were excited because the lines were much shorter and they were able to sit in the seats in the first row for both rides.  Since Gavin was too young for the roller coaster, we rode the carousel instead.  He was so excited to be able to ride the "horsie" all by himself.

We returned to our car a little after 8 pm and still faced an hour and a half drive home, which made for a long, but exciting day for two tired little boys (and Mommy and Daddy, too!).  Although we were exhausted, great memories were made!

Day 151 (5/31/11) - Eight Years of Wedded Bliss!

Although Mike had to work on our anniversary, the boys and I cuddled up to watch "The Mommy and Daddy Movie" (a.k.a. our wedding video).  It's the first year they've watched it, and they were amazed at how different we looked back then.  I guess eight years, two kids, little sleep, a few moves, and several job changes really ages a person!  Ryan wanted to know where he and Gavin were during our wedding and why they weren't in the movie.  It's hard for them to imagine that Mommy and Daddy had a life before them.  He also asked why Bon Jovi didn't sing at our wedding.  I told him Bon Jovi was busy that day, but surely would have been there if he could!   

Mike, on our eighth anniversary, I'd like to remind you that "You're Still The One."  The following poem, "I'll Be There For You" by Louise Cuddon, sums up my unwavering devotion.  I also  thought the lighthearted tone was appropriate for us and that several of the examples were quite relevant!

I'll be there my darling, through thick and through thin
When your mind's in a mess and your head's in a spin
When your plane's been delayed, and you've missed the last train.
When life is just threatening to drive you insane
When your thrilling whodunit has lost its last page
When somebody tells you, you're looking your age
When your coffee's too cool, and your wine is too warm
When the forecast said "Fine", but you're out in a storm
When your quick break hotel, turns into a slum
And your holiday photos show only your thumb
When you park for five minutes in a resident's bay
And return to discover you've been towed away
When the jeans that you bought in hope or in haste
Just stick on your hips and don't reach round your waist
When the food you most like brings you out in red rashes
When as soon as you boot up the bloody thing crashes
So my darling, my sweetheart, my dear...
When you break a rule, when you act the fool
When you've got the flu, when you're in a stew
When you're last in the queue, don't feel blue 'cause
I'm telling you, I'll be there.

Day 150 (5/30/11) - Memorial Day

Although some tend to associate Memorial Day with pool parties and backyard barbecues, we wanted to be sure the boys understood the true meaning of the holiday.  So we took them to the local Memorial Day parade to honor the courageous men and women who have died while serving our country.  It was touching to see them proudly waving their American flags and clapping as the servicemen and veterans passed us.  Ryan had a lot of questions about the differences among the branches of the military and the different wars that have been fought, which makes me wish I had retained more of the information I learned in American History class as well as during all those childhood family vacations to battlefields!

I figured they were still too young for sparklers, so I got them snappers instead.  They had a great time throwing them against the driveway to see whose could make the loudest pop.

Day 149 (5/29/11) - Slip 'N Slide

Since today was another scorcher, we brought out the Slip 'n Slide to keep the boys cool as they played.  Gavin was a little leery of the slide, but had a great time splashing in the little wading pool at the end.  That made for some near collisions as Ryan would come tearing down the slide like a crazy man!  We're only a couple of days into summer and I don't think our grass has ever been as well watered!

Day 148 (5/28/11) - The Boys of Summer

What better way to kick off summer vacation than with a water gun fight and running through the sprinkler with the neighborhood boys?!  I have a feeling these boys are going to be spending a lot of time together this summer!

Day 147 (5/27/11) - Preschool Graduation

Today was Ryan's preschool graduation program.  Although we've decided to delay Ryan's start of kindergarten due to his late birthday, today's ceremony was an emotional reminder of how quickly he's growing up.  I cannot imagine what a weepy, blubbering mess I'll be next year!  I got choked up watching him march down the aisle in his graduation cap, receive his "diploma" from his teacher, stand in front of the sanctuary with his classmates, and sing "Kindergarten Here We Come."  It's hard to believe that 3 short years ago we enrolled him in the 2-year-old program and we all cried as we dropped him off on the first day of school.  He was wearing diapers and wasn't talking then.  Now, he has a huge vocabulary, can read, tell time, negotiate like an expert lawyer, and is eager to learn more!

Here are a few video clips from the performance.  Unfortunately, the first clip with the opening introductions and Ryan's favorite song, "King of the Jungle," was too large to upload.  After the first few songs, Ryan's teacher explained that the class had studied the book, The Hungry Caterpillar, and had even watched caterpillars morph into butterflies, which they eventually released to the wild.  She compared the caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly to the experience they had as preschoolers preparing for kindergarten.  As part of this exercise, she asked them to complete the following sentence, "I have grown this year because now I can..."  The students shared their answers during the graduation ceremony.  Many of the children announced that they can now write their names or have learned their letters and numbers.  Ryan's response was that he can now skip, which made me giggle because it was certainly not the answer I had expected.

Here's the handsome graduate in a picture the teachers took during class, and later used to make a picture frame for Father's Day.

After the ceremony, everyone reconvened in the fellowship hall for a party.  Ryan and his friend, Josh, were excited to discover that they were wearing the same outfit!

Gavin, who behaved wonderfully during the entire program, was excited to play with the "big kids" and eat cupcakes and cookies for breakfast!

Ryan and his friends, Nic and Josh, hug goodbye.  Nic, who has older siblings, recognized the significance of the day and was very upset about leaving his friends.  Ryan, the eternal optimist, assured him that they'd still see each other at playdates over the summer and that they could still remain friends even though they'd be at different schools next year.

Ryan thanks his teachers for a great school year.

Ryan poses with his graduation cap and diploma before changing into play clothes and celebrating the start of summer.

Day 189 (7/8/11) - Shuttle and S'mores

Ryan and Daddy took a break from practicing soccer and Gavin woke up early from his nap so we could watch the historic launch of space shuttle Atlantis from Kennedy Space Center at 11:26 a.m.  Today's launch marked the 135th and final flight for NASA's 30-year space shuttle program.  It's amazing to imagine what milestones the boys will witness in their lifetime and it was powerful to share this historic moment with them.  

Both boys enjoyed counting down with the clock and yelling "blast off" when the timer reached zero.  They were completely mesmerized as they watched the first few minutes of the shuttle's flight and listened to the announcer's commentary.  Ryan had lots of questions about what he was seeing and hearing.  Perhaps we should plan a trip to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum so he can fully appreciate the significance of today's launch and the effect the shuttle program had on space exploration. 

A late afternoon thunderstorm almost derailed our plans to make s'mores over a campfire in the backyard.  Luckily, the rain moved out of the area as we were eating dinner.  So, we dried off the Adirondack chairs, fashioned wire coat hangers into skewers, shared fire safety tips with the boys, and roasted marshmallows over the fire pit.  They were a sticky, gooey mess, which is a sure sign they enjoyed them!