Kidsfest in Findlay

Today we made an spontanious trip to Riverbend Park in Findlay for Kidsfest! We found out about Kidsfest from Facebook, of all places! Findlay is around an hour drive for us. A high school classmate of mine owns UltraSound; and they did a great job providing the entertainment for the kids.

Ryan got a chance to jump on several inflatables, play football and soccer (ugh!), and most importantly - ride the train. The train ride lasted about 5 minutes and went through some of the trails in the park. We rode it twice. There were also some craft booths available that Ryan did: Play-dough, Pasta Necklace, Rowing a boat, fishing, etc. Kidsfest was pretty crowded - Ryan had to wait in line a lot, which is not his favorite thing to do. Wonder where the kid gets his impatience from?

Ryan also had the opportunity to meet one of his heroes...Diego from Go Diego Go & Dora the Explorer! Ryan was scared of meeting him - but was able to ask him where Baby Jaguar was (Diego said he was up in a tree, just like Ryan had guessed!). Kim had to hold Ryan to get him close to Diego. It looks like Ryan probably won't ever be a paparozzi - he freezes around "famous" people!
Aaron was his normal self - just going w/ the flow in his stroller. He got to meet Diego too - but it was no big thang!


We also stopped by Brad and Tiffany Holdgreve's while in Findlay and it was great to see them and finally meet their son Ashton! Ryan had a blast playing w/ their daughter Emma there too!

Aaron crawling...sort of!

I officially consider Aaron crawling! He went half-way across the living room to try to get into Ryan's bowl of goldfish. Ryan told him "No Aaron, this is my goldfish!" then "Daddy, Aaron crawling to get my goldfish!" I'm sure this won't be the last conflict between these two!

He needs to get more confidence in himself to crawl everywhere, but I'm sure that he'll pick up on his ability to get more cool stuff if he crawls there.

Summer mornings

As a teacher, I get the chance to stay home w/ the boys during the summer. With Mommy working part-time; they sometimes get us both, and they still go to their baby-sitter once a week.

Our normal routine starts whenever the boys (including me!) wake up - which can be anywhere from 7 to 9. Ryan has a milk and either O's (cherrio's) or a pop-tart. I feed Aaron his cereal, and Ryan helps entertain Aaron during his breathing treatment by rocking out with his "cool face".

Ryan's "cool face"

After the boys change clothes - we go on our walk around the neighborhood. Our subdivision is a mile out of town, so there are no sidewalks and we have to walk on the street. Ryan HAS to push Aaron in his stroller - that is not even up for debate. He does a pretty good job, we just have to remind him to stay closer to the grass and watch out for cars. Ryan likes to count the garage doors (and say if they are down or up) as we pass - and sometimes will even count in Spanish. (thanks Dora or Diego!) Ryan does have some friends that we will stop and play with if they are outside. Our neighborhood is not that big - but it usually takes a half hour to walk the whole thing.

After our walk - Ryan wants to ride his Big Wheel in the driveway. We park Aaron in his stoller and I get on my bike. I chase Ryan in a circle around the driveway, lapping Aaron each time.

Then we go to the backyard for Aaron's favorite - the swing! Aaron will cackle laughing on his swing. Ryan does a good job pushing Aaron on his swing, and plays on the swing and slide too. On some days we'll play Cornhole or Whiffleball, but usually Ryan's had enough and wants to go inside and get a drink.

Potty Training Update

We tried a potty training boot camp w/ Ryan a couple weeks ago with no success. Turns out, back to back days at the baby sitter might have done the trick! Ryan went to his baby-sitter Jill on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Jill has just recently potty-trained her two boys, Reese and Brady. She asked Kim to drop off some big-boy underwear and she would try to work w/ Ryan on his potty training. He only went once each day there, but it got the ball rolling.

As of Sunday night, Ryan hasn't had a pee-pee accident since Thursday. He either tells us when the "pee-pee is coming" or he'll just leave the room w/o saying anything and go! We are still using a pull-up at night, and we've had non-pee-pee accidents, but we are happy that Ryan has turned a real corner into becoming a Big Boy!

Kim has started to give Ryan and Aaron baths at the same time - here is a non-incremenating pic!

Here Ryan is playing baseball on our new Nintendo Wii. He's got a ways to go, but Aaron was just cackling with laughter watching him. Also, Ryan gets pretty excited when he finally hits one!

Fundraiser for Alex on Saturday: Poker Run, Raffle, Auction, 50/50, etc.

Those of you reading this on Facebook, please click on the title to read the entire post. It will give the tentative schedule and list of auction/raffle items for the fundraiser for Alex. Alex is my nephew who has autism. I ask you to please inform or forward to anyone who may think of attending this worthy event.

Charity POKER RUN
for 3 year old with Autism
Alex from Lafayette, Ohio

When: Saturday, July 11
Where: Thirsty's Food and Spirit's in Beaverdam
Cost: $15 Single/$25 Couple (bikers will receive hot dogs & chips)

Tentative Schedule:
Noon - Poker Run Sign up
1:00 - 1st bike out
5:30 - Last bike in
6:30 - Live Auction, first 50/50 drawn
8:00 - Raffle ends; The Sandy Hook band plays
Door Prizes throughout the night, Bake Sale, 2nd 50/50

Live Auction Items (subject to change)

• Garage Refrigerator (fully stocked!)
• McDonalds b-day party, value meal every week for a year
• Texas Roadhouse Tin Gift Pack
• Various Neon Beer Signs
• Bud Select Mirror
• Cornhole Game

Raffle Items (subject to change)

• 2 18-hole rounds of Golf at Bluffton or Hidden Creek
• 2 - $25 Visa Gift Cards (almost every item has a 1-2 more things with it; like a T-shirt, coozy, hat, etc. For the sake of time, I am not including those)
• Chuck E. Cheese package
• $50 BP Gas Card
• Miller Lite Gift Set
• Snow Cone Maker
• Sauder Quilting Rack
• Stand Mixer w/ Bowl
• Avon Basket
• Harley-Davidson Mailbox
• Westgate Entertainment and Bowling
• Gift Certicates to: Applebee's, Barry Electronics, Lock 16, iTunes, Topp Chalet, Family Video, Super Wash, Bangs of Lafayette and more! (each one is a separate raffle item)
• and there is still more than this!!!!

Proceeds of this fundraiser will go to Alex and the St. Rita's Pediatric Rehabilitation Program.