I love you...you love me

Ryan LOVES Barney. I can watch most kids shows, and even enjoy some of them, but I'm not the biggest fan of that big purple dinosaur. However, it makes Ryan so happy to watch Barney and listen to Barney music, that I put up with it. A few months ago I found out that a Barney concert was coming to York, PA, which is about an hour north of Baltimore. I knew it would be painful for me to sit through, but I also knew it would make my little guy absolutely ecstatic, so I purchased tickets. I decided to surprise him, and didn't tell him ahead of time about the concert. On the day of the concert, I picked him up at school right after lunch. He was excited to see me and I told him we were going to a special place, but that it was a surprise. He was so excited and kept asking me in the car "Where do you think we're going? What did you think the surprise is?" he even tried getting some clues out of me so he could figure out on his own where we were headed. "Will we be home for dinner? Am I going to school tomorrow?" Eventually he fell asleep in the car. I woke him up when we arrived and gave him a snack and drink as we approached the theater. When we arrived, he saw Barney signs everywhere, and leaped into my arms and buried his head in my shoulder, I truly think he was so overcome with excitement that he got embarrassed and didn't know what to do! As we waited for the concert o start, he was talking animatedly, wondering what songs they would sing. However, as soon as the concert began, he was stoic. He stared at Barney and the other characters and performers with a VERY serious expression. He wouldn't clap, sing along, get out of his seat, or dance. I kept asking him if he liked it and he claimed that he did (and I know he did) but you never would have known that by looking at him! I guess he was just overwhelmed seeing his idol up close and personal (we were in the 4th row). After intermission, I was able to get him to sing a long and clap a little bit, but in a very quiet voice. When I asked him later why he didn't sing, his response was "I did sing. I was using my inside voice." Surprising him with something he really loved was so much fun for me, it was even worth sitting through 90 mintues of Barney :)

Morning Walks

Ryan and I love our weekend morning walks along the water!

City Fishing

No words necessary

Daddy's Helper

Mid-Week Ice Cream Date

The rules of 3 year old soccer

This spring, for the second year in a row, we signed Ryan up for a soccer program at his school. The program runs 8 weeks, and lasts for an hour each Monday morning. It is run by an outside group called Soccer Shots, and focuses on teaching the kids basic soccer skills, team play, etc. I assumed it would just be a free for all, with kids running rampant, kicking the ball every which way, and no rhyme or reason to anything. But I have been pleasantly surprised to hear that Ryan is learning real skills. So far he told me they have learned "pull back and control the ball," "jump move" and "zigzag move." It sounds like the coaches are doing a great job showing the kids the basics, and of course I'm proud that Ryan seems to actually be listening, paying attention and retaining these lessons, even showing us his new moves at home. Last night he told me that there are 3 rules in soccer

1. Listen to the coach
2. Score lots of goals
3. Have fun!

Ah, to be a 3 year old again!

(Mother's) Day out with Thomas!

Today we surprised Ryan with a visit to the B&O Railroad museum for Thomas' Day Out. It was also Mother's Day, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the day then watching Ryan have such a great time! We rode on Thomas, the carousel, the teacups and Ryan also rode on a kiddie train ride, on a real live pony, played in the bouncy bounce, walked through a hay maze and just had a great time! We met up with the Gerardis there and Ryan loved being with Sam and Annie. I think his favorite part was the teacups, he rode on them twice and probably would have ridden on them several more times if we had the time and had let him! He certainly doesn't take after me, legend has it that as a kid I asked (well, screamed) on several ride for the operator to stop the ride. I may have even yelled "Get me off of this ride!!!" I'm glad he is so much braver than I was :)

Ryan and Lizzie