Lunch time fun

Sara: Picks up RJ's sippy cup to refill it with milk.

RJ: Gets mad and throws his bowl of meat all over the floor.

Sara: "RJ, we do not throw food."

RJ: fake cry

20 minutes later...

RJ: "Meat!" (pointing to the floor)

Sara: "Yes, I know. You threw your bowl of meat. Who do you think is going to clean it up, Mommy or RJ?"

RJ: pauses, then says, "Shark"

Here he is with the shark cleaning up his mess...

Saint Nick and Trains

Saint Nick came to visit. RJ kept saying, "Nick, Nick."

Saint Nick left a grapefruit and some gifts.

RJ didn't care so much about the gifts, but was really excited about the grapefruit he got to share with Dad.

The trains are in the process of being set up. RJ has learned how to control the trains and is very proud of himself.

White Christmas

Opening presents

If you celebrate Christmas early, you might get a White Christmas...

Watching the birds with GrandDad

Deep in conversation with GrandDad

Aunt Debbie trying to convince RJ to put on his hat
Our attempt to get home and beat the storm was unsuccessful, so we drove around the block and decided to stay in Baltimore until it cleared up.

Plenty of snow for sledding

Sledding with Aunt Debbie

Family toboggan ride

Molly even got to go sledding!

Winter gear!

RJ is pretty excited about his monkey hat.

Conversion from Oil to Gas

After learning that diesel fuel is the same as home heating oil (except for a lot of road taxes), we were able to have hot water for 2 weeks by pouring 9 gallons of diesel into our oil tank. Now that we are converted, we hope to be saving some serious money on our heating bills!

The old oil burner

The new gas burner and hot water heater.

Bike Riding

RJ is learning to ride his bike...a few months after I did!

RJ 21 months

Like Father, Like Son

Halloween

Sneaking candy from our "hand-out" bucket into his bucket

Trouble Maker

Someone climbed onto my chair and is eating my breakfast.

RJ's first selfie.

This can only be explained by lack of supervision.

Little Helper

RJ loves being helpful and cheers for himself when he is. In addition to throwing laundry (and everything else) down the laundry chute, he enjoys...

making bread

and enchiladas

washing dishes

vacuuming

raking leaves

mopping the walls

mowing the lawn

and digging Mom's garden for next year

All this work is exhausting. (I have a feeling I'm going to get this look a lot when he's a teenager...)

5th Anniversary

RJ high-fiving us for our 5th anniversary

Dewey Beach in September

During the summer, the beach scene is involves beer, surf, partying, and more partying.

During September, the beach scene is toddlers, milk, and an occassional hillbilly pickup truck.



Loading up the truck to help Cousin John move 1 1/2 blocks

Doing the pre-surf dance



Best way to avoid cold breeze?
Get into the water

Best way to get adventure?
Wiggle free and take on 4-5 foot waves

Harvest Time 2013

When the weather is right a farmer must work long hours to harvest his crop ...

The 'Harvest'

 

... or in this case, cut his grass before going into a tough work week.
 

Seattle Children's Museum

Since RJ has been such a trooper during this trip, I decided we would go to the Children's Museum in Seattle so he could do whatever he wanted for the morning. It was a pretty fun museum and we lasted 1.5 hours before the meltdown began.

All these toys and he chooses to make up his own game by standing in and trying to get out of the basket for the toys.

Space Needle outside the Children's Museum