Oregon

Great Grandparents Elaine & Sherm, Grandma Carmen, and Dylan
Aunt Shannon and Gavin sharing blackberry cobbler - yum!

Dylan and Henry

Cupcake decorating

Daddy & Gavin taking a walk on the farm

Grandma and Gavin swimming at Black Butte Ranch

Wow! We had such a great time in Oregon! My extended family is amazing and the most gracious of hosts. The boys absolutely loved everyone, which was such a joy to see. We spent the first week in the Eugene area visiting my grandparents and aunts and uncles. Dylan loved picking fresh vegetables from Grandma Elaine's garden and playing with her great collection of toys. I was finally able to visit Creswell Coffee, my aunt and uncle's amazing coffee shop, and even enjoyed an evening of music where Uncle Paul's band played. Uncle Mark and Aunt Shannon hosted the boys' birthday party at their little farm and it was everything and more that Dylan dreamed a farm party could be. Goats, sheep, blackberries (and Shannon's blackberry cobbler!), barns, hand-churned ice cream, battery-powered jeep, climbing tree, playground, and on and on. The weather was even perfect! Daddy had to head back to work on Saturday and Sunday my parents and the kids and I drove to the mountains to stay at Black Butte Ranch. The house we were at was just perfect, with a great golf course view and a bike ride away from many playgrounds and activities. Dylan enjoyed horse back riding, swimming, canoeing, fishing, star-gazing at night, deer sighting, riding a two wheeler (with training wheels), and just being with Grandma and Grandpa. Gavin enjoyed playing with the back patio door. Seriously, I borrowed a Fisher-Price door/house toy from a girlfriend as soon as we got back after I realized what a great source of entertainment doors are! The loooong plane ride back with the boys by myself was manageable and we were blessed with the seats we had, the kind people that sat around us, and the easy layover. What a great reminder that God is involved in the little details of our lives!

Through Dylan's eyes

Dylan loves the camera. Whenever it's in reach, he grabs it to take photos or movie clips. It's so funny how we never taught him how to use it but he can turn it on, take a picture, and get it to the play screen and view his photos. I always find random photos/clips on the camera when I go to upload to the computer. He's actually a pretty good shot and he loves to take self-portraits (there are usually about 15 pictures of his face on the camera), and pictures of us and his toys.

Dylan's feet & toys

Dylan's scooter

Thank you Dylan for this photo - now I know what daddy really does in the morning when he gets up with the kids!

Gavin trying to grab the camera from Dylan

A few of the funny things Dylan has said recently:

Getting ready to go in the house, I was telling him to pick up this toy, that toy, etc. He says to me in exasperation "Mommy, you makin' me crazy!"

Today I told him he needed to get his shorts on if he wanted to play out front. Instead I found him in his closet pulling on his shirts playing monkey. I sighed in frustration and said "Get your shorts on!" His response: "Mommy, I'm making you crazy?" Ok so I realize that maybe I tell him way too often that he's driving me crazy!

He loves to compare/contrast now. For example, he was looking at a book with snakes and asks me "Mommy, do you like snakes?" Of course I said no. He says "I don't like snakes either, because I like bugs...BUT (he always empasizes this word) Gavin likes snakes!" It amazes me how he knows how to use the word "either" in a sentence and that he can connect opposing things with "but."

I have finally signed him up for preschool. I was a little hesitant because he has always told me he will go to school when he's bigger, but he wants to stay home with mommy and Gavin. However, I decided the socialization and structure will be good for him (and maybe mommy won't get so "crazy!"). He toured the school twice last week and had a blast both times. I checked out a couple books on preschool at the library and one of them has become his favorite book and he loves to talk about his school now. Yeah!! He will only be going two days a week for half days to start but it will be a nice transition for us. I am realizing how quickly he is growing up and trying to hold onto this precious age and enjoy it while I can.

Summer Fun

Our trip to San Diego this year was a blast and it was so fun to celebrate my birthday with my family. The kids and I stayed for two weeks and it was so relaxing for me to have so many helpful hands - I returned to Florida very refreshed! Daddy headed back a little earlier to go back to work and Grandma Meeks graciously offered to fly back to Florida with me to help with the kids. She even stayed with us for a few extra days of Grandma time!

Thankfully, Sea World is a short drive so we were able to go once with my family and back later in the week for the night shows with friends. Dylan absolutely loved it and even liked the rides, which I thought he would be afraid of. His favorite animals were the penguins and the polar bears. He loved the Shamu show and the Dolphin show but the show he wanted to see again featured cats and dogs called "Pets Rule." It was a very cute show!
Thanks mom for treating all of us to a girls spa outing!!

Dylan enjoying the morning paper with his buddies, Bop-on (Grandpa) and Uncle Ray. He and Uncle Ray quickly became best friends and it was so fun to watch them pal around together.

Pool fun with Riley and Jaeger. We loved having time with my brother and his family! Also, Dylan loved the boogie boards. Every day there was boogie boards in the house, in the yard, all over the place as Dylan played his endless boat games. Funny how he is so intrigued with boating play but he is scared to death of our boat. Sorry daddy...

A day in Coronado Island with just mommy, daddy, Dylan, and Gavin. What a perfect day to enjoy the beach and the San Diego skyline.

The whole gang!!

Dylan pretty much lived outside. He had so much fun riding the big wheel Harley, playing boats, having "tea-ta" parties with Grandma, watering the flowers, and just enjoying the summer weather!

We had many opportunities to catch up with old friends and feel so blessed to have such a great group of friends in California. It is hard to be far apart from you all but we are thankful to you for making time for us while we were in town! We love you!!

Gavin Clapping

Jason and I were singing with Dylan last night. Definitely not the Von Trapp's but Gavin must have liked it because he started to try and clap for us. I caught a video of it this morning when Dylan was singing "If you're hungry and you know it." I'm thinking he might need a little more practice before calling American Idol.

May Days

Grandpa Meeks came to visit for an extended weekend. The boys had a blast and mommy & daddy loved the extra few minutes of sleep in the morning since Grandpa got up with Dylan. Mommy even snuck away to the spa for awhile! Gavin perfected his crawling form while Grandpa was here. He may not be quick, but he doesn't do the leg drag Dylan did at this age.

Kudos to my wonderful husband for a great mothers day. He started it off with breakfast (omlette, berries, bacon, coffee) in bed and a sweet card complete with spa gift. Then off to church and lunch out afterwards. I got to go shopping at the mall all by myself and then Jason cooked a yummy dinner for his mother and me (mahi-mahi, coos-coos, spinach salad). What a great day to reflect on the joys of motherhood.

A couple attempts were made to go boating, but Dylan is still afraid of the engine noise. Daddy says he must have been born to be a sailor!

Dylan had a sleepover with his cousin Haley. We made homemade pizza and Daddy watched the kids while I went to a scrapbooking night at church.

The beginning of May was filled with trips to the park, before the daily thunderstorms made their appearance.

Englewood / Manasota Key

Painting shells

Ready for the water!

Yummy!

We had a great time on the west coast of Florida vacationing with Jason's extended family. The Gulf waters were calm and beautiful. We saw a manatee, dolphins, and many birds. Dylan loved swimming in the ocean and at the pool.

Happy Easter!

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:5-6

After celebrating the Resurrection at church, we headed to the Eller's for a fun-filled Easter egg-stravaganza.