A trip to Birdland!

I have hundreds of pictures to sort through of our beach trip last week, and I have been getting so much flack for not updating my blog from various family members, that I thought I would at least put these up from last night. We went to Baltimore last night to an Orioles games. It was a first for a few and a trip of memories for others. We met up with our cousin Ryan and his girlfriend Laura (we missed you Alex and Paul and Joe and Caitie and Chelly and Chris....this family is big!!) which made our group a total of 15. We had a really good time!! We rode the light rail in to the city and spend an enormous amount of money on food! :) But it was a great time and made for a great memory.

On the way into the city: Annah, Aimee, Nate and Sarah (who were matching, but not on purpose!!)

I think Matt was scared of the light rail... Matt, Liz, Steve and Ash (maybe she was scared too, that might be why her eyes are closed)
Megan and Josh, who were also matching, but not on purpose :)
Matt, Liz, me and Jason
This is BIRDLAND!!!

Some of the gang....Nate, Sarah, Liz, Matt, Jas, Aimee, Annah, Megan and Josh
ALL of us! (except for Ash and Steve's friend who met us there) Jas, Ash, Erin, Matt, Liz, Annah, Steve (who looks like he just was a stranger who poked his head in our picture! lol), Megan, Josh, Sarah, Nate, Laura and Ryan
Steve and Ash. Steve is the latest addition of significant others to enter this crazy family and he seems to be adjusting well..... as far as we can tell. :) Me, Ryan and Laura (and some stranger)

Our view! Yes, we had nose bleed seats, but they were great! We had a great view of the whole field and city.

Liz, Aimee and Erin
Me and Jason. It was nice to have him with us! He misses out on so many things that we do.
One side of our long line.....
The other side.....


A good time was had by all!!

Two boys and a little girl

I remember the moment I found out I was expecting Ryleigh. If I am being honest, I would admit that I was scared out of my wits. Our boys were ALL boy and very young. By the time this baby came around I would have 3 children, all under the age of 4. Now I know others have had more in a shorter period of time, but I was still overwhelmed!! :) I remember telling Jason that if it was another boy, I might need to be medicated. :) I dreamed of having a little girl, thinking she would be quiet and easy. She would sit, she would not pick up bugs, she wouldn't spit. We had kept the sex of the baby a surprise with Aiden and Kyle. This time I wanted to know, I needed to be prepared. The time came to find out if we were going to have another boy swinging from the bed posts and watching cartoons on their heads. As you all know, it was a girl! I was beyond thrilled. A girl to dress up and to balance out the crazy boys..... Fast forward two years and the story does not turn out like I expected. Does it ever? :) I have my girl to dress up, and I do, but does she sit? No. Does she pick up bugs? Yes, and brings them to me. Does she spit? Yep. Right along with the boys. She gives them a run for their money. Here she is showing us that she is indeed a girl, despite the things she does. She is constantly getting into someones makeup. I am constantly telling the girls to put it up, but she finds it. She has the right idea, mascara does go on your face. At least this time that is the only place she put it. The day before, we weren't so lucky....
She is absolutely, 100%, hands down, completely a daddy's girl. She adores him. The way she hugs his neck and takes his face into her hands to kiss him is precious.
Here she is at McDonald's sporting her play socks. (They wouldn't let you in the play area without socks) I have to stay completely on top of her in public places with other children. I was sitting in the Dr.'s waiting room with her this week and two little boys came in and sat down near us. They were about Aiden and Kyle's age and she just went right over to them and started treating them like she does her brothers. I had to keep moving her she was being such a bully. Guess we won't have to worry about her later on in life! Or so we hope.
She is quite a handful. But her grin, laugh, sweet little voice, hugs and kisses make her stubborn little spirit bearable!
As for the boys, as I watch them I shouldn't be surprised the way Ryleigh acts. She only copies what she sees. And she sees plenty! Why shouldn't she spit when she sees the boys in the car having spitting contests at each other. Don't all kids do that in the car? (Never mind don't answer that question)

Kyle's fall to death is rather impressive. I would have picked the soft grass to land in, not concrete. But that would be too pleasant.
Attack! I always get hurt when I sword fight with them. They play to hurt. Not just for fun.

I love this picture. Reminds me of "The Last of the Mohican's" or something. He is very serious about whatever game he is playing.

I think they were discussing their tactics here. :)


I was listening to someone talk about some little boys the other day. They sounded so good. They always ate, they sat still when supposed to, they didn't touch the things they weren't supposed to touch. I remember feeling very discouraged at that moment. I don't think our boys (or crazy little girl) are bad, but I don't think anyone would ever describe them the way these children were described. But, I have decided that is Ok. They keep life very interesting and unpredictable. I don't think I would have it any other way. ;-) Or at least most days......

Small town Carnival

The kids were thrilled last week to see the carnival grounds being set up. Our town in the south did not have a carnival and they had not been to one since we lived in PA over 4 years ago. So of course Kyle did not remember it and Aiden only barely did. But thanks to cartoons, they knew what to expect! :) They loved watching their cotton candy being made and then of course eating it!! I only got two and made the boys share with Ryleigh and she was not shy about taking some. She would grab handfuls that of course made the boys a little upset, but it's good for them, teaches them to share. :)
"Who me??" She always looks so innocent. Those that know her, know this to be very untrue!



The kids with Aunt Liz and Aunt Lindsey. Kyle of course showing his great personality. :) He is definitely turning out to be the ham of the family.

Kyle walking with Uncle Josh through the carnival grounds.
Ryleigh's first ride on the Merry Go Round. She LOVED it. She climbed right on and laughed and giggled the whole time. This is right before it started. I don't think she knew what was going to happen.




They loved watching the Ferris Wheel. They wanted to go on, but I told them we had to wait and do it with Daddy sometime. I am not crazy about heights, so I had to come up with some excuse!

Regardless of where you stand politically, or how you feel about our country right now, we are blessed by our freedoms. Don't forget that it isn't free. Happy 4th of July.

She's singin' and dancin'

Ryleigh sure loves having a bigger audience! She is really developing her singing and dancing skills. :) Thought everyone might enjoy these two clips of her and her latest antics. She sure keeps us all smiling! And moving. This girl NEVER sits still.