Updates and a New Addition...

Haven't been on to post in a bit... we spent a few days at the Beach with Aunt Pammy and Natalie. It was lots of fun and as usual, Natalie was the best behaved child - what a good baby! I think her cousins scare her and will keep her from turning to the dark side! Daddy had problems with his eye again and spent quite a few days in and out of Wills Eye Hospital downtown and hiding out in the basement wearing sunglasses - he was in lots of pain, poor guy! No pictures to document it... tho I thought about it but I am not that mean! Would have been fun if they gave him the Pirate Patch! The medicine is helping him get better and Emma had sympathy pains with her own 'boo-boo eyes'! Thanks to Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop and Grandmom and Pop for helping us out! Unfortunately, Byron's bad eye kept him from taking Ryan to see Walking with Dinosaurs but Uncle Eric was up for the challenge and took Ryan out for the night - quite a switch from his regular Friday nights with the ladies! They had a great time and both were very impressed - they said it was very cool! If Uncle Eric ever gets a cable for his cell phone, I might be able to post some pictures!

And finally, the new addition.... and no, it is not a baby! It is a dog - a really really BIG dog! If we bred babies in this house as fast as we added dogs, we'd be something of the Partridge Family meets the Brady Bunch! Oh, I'm talking stuffed dogs here - not real ones! I may be crazy but I haven't reached INSANE yet! See below for pictures of Brutus. He is a present from Aunt Janet's brother Bobby, who won him on the boardwalk at the beach. He is taller than Ryan and extremely large. He is a monster and makes Butkus look like a beanie baby. Thanks Aunt Janet and thanks Bobby.... one day both of you will have kids of your own and we can't wait to buy them something equally as big and fun - like a drum set!!

Butkus (left) with Brutus. Until today, Butkus was the dog of the house. He looks kinda small now, poor guy.

TWINS!!!

Last night we went to visit Billy, Noele and the boys, Michael and Brendan. They are just too darn cute and we all passed them around, the poor little guys! We couldn't get enough of holding them! I wish I had taken pictures of their nursery - it's beautiful! The walls are painted so that when you stand in the room, it looks as if you are on a carousel. Very cool! Michelle, Jen, Bill & Kayla were also visiting. I tried getting a picture of the big kids - Ryan, Emma and Kayla - all together but they weren't as cooperative as the twins and never stood still long enough. I think they may have scared Billy, lol! The picture below is my favorite... when we walked in Noele was feeding Brendan and Michael was snoozing on her lap - I don't think I ever looked as calm as she does and I only had one baby!



Michelle and Ryan with Brendan

Byron, Michael & Emma - looks like Michael and Emma planned their picture taking face and no one told Byron.

Jen with both boys. The funny part of this picture that you can't see is that Jen has a baby belly and is due in 2 months (I think).

And of course we can't forget their first baby, Guinness. The highlight of Ryan's visit was Guinness. He wants to know when we can go back and play with him again.

Babysitting Gig

We have been watching Tyler for a few days here & there and both kids are loving it! Usually Ryan takes more of an interest while Emma is concerned with what Tyler will be sharing that is hers. Today, however, her maternal side must have been calling because she was very interested and even asked to hold Tyler - a first! She was very helpful in changing his diaper (and every time exclaims 'Mom! Baby Tyler has a pee-naas!'), giving him a bottle and playing with him. She even liked watching him sleep in the swing. She must have had a moment of weakness. I'm sure tomorrow she will be back to her usual 'I'm the Boss, don't touch my toys' self!

Despite the extreme temps, we all braved the pool today for some cooling off! Tyler loved the water and the kids were extra fishy! Even Ryan was braver than usual! Emma picked out her favorite bathing suit, her 'kini' - thanks Jo!

New Bloggers

So this blog thing is pretty catchy and spreads almost as fast as Ryan's staph infections (ok, not funny but I was just trying to make light of a disturbing situation). Two good friends have joined the blogging world and since I know how everyone loves a good read, I thought I'd share!




Kim is one of my bestest friends from high school (and funniest, craziest, etc) and you can read all about her and hubby Geoff (affectionately known as G-off) and their kids, Shannon, Riley and Gage, at their family blog (just click on the highlighted kids names). She just recently posted and had a great trip with Geoff in NYC to shop and see the Police in concert!









Michelle is one of my bestest friends from college. Byron and I & Michelle and Jim all went to college together at IUP - Byron and Jim were fraternity brothers and Michelle and I were in rival sororities, ohhhhh! Michelle became super blogger when she started her site and posted it all in one day! You can read all about the Berkoben Family and the adventures of Ally (Ryan's Girlfriend), Jack (Emma's Boyfriend) and Morgan (the dog)!

I also have other friends listed in my favorite blogs and sites, including my 'little sister' Kelli (also from IUP), who got me started in the blogging world!