Raiden Turns 2!

We had another busy and fun weekend. Saturday morning, I took Marino to a Storyime/Hike at Croydon Creek Nature Center. I'd never been there before but it's really nice. The center has different tanks of indigenous fish and turtles which Marino really liked. They also have an adorable owl. The naturalist read a story about squirrels and told us some squirrel facts. On the hike, we were searching for squirrels in the trees, and squirrel food (acorns). The grounds are gorgeous, with clearly marked trails. Marino was not interested in sitting still for the story, or doing anything I wanted him to do during the hike. We're supposed to walk? He wanted me to carry him. He's supposed to stand still? He wanted to run. He's supposed to stay on the trail? He's running off the trail and tripping on branches. ::sigh:: If we go again, I'll ask Evan to come with us...it was a really cool idea but a 2 person job. I was definately getting pity looks from the other parents.

After a nap, we headed over to Flower Hill for Raiden's 2nd birthday party. Ahmad and Donna were in town with their kids and we all had a great time. It was still very hot, so we hung out outside (which I am paying for now with bug bites!). Raiden had a new sister at his birthday party! Baby Kaia is 2 weeks old.

Here's a shot of Rahsaan and Tara and their whole blended family. They have six kids between them! And Tara is still tiny!!

Evan with some of the boys: Marino, Jahvon and Raiden

We attempted some groups shots, but it was a little too complicated. Rahsaan and Ahmad's mom was snapping these pictures laughing at all of us.

Raiden was totally in awe of his Star Wars cookie cake!

Rahsaan and his new baby girl.

Baby Kaia

My boy. I love this shirt - it was a present from Aunt Sonia.

Raiden and Tony - the serious boys.

Marino and Raiden had a little race with their lawn mowers (which were more difficult to turn on the grass than you would imagine).

Then Marino started cheating.

Big time cheating!

The birthday boy!

Sunday we went over to Sandra and Ishmael's house to watch the Redskins game. It took Tony a while, but he finally decided he likes us:) He and Marino were even playing "gotcha" by the end of the evening, which was very adorable.

How adorable is he?

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. Marino is a typical boy; he thinks gross/weird things are cool. In the bath last week, he noticed his Roseola rash on his legs. I was afraid it might freak him out, but he said "Oh, wow. Look at that! So cool!"

4. Marino has started pouring his own cereal and milk into a bowl. This has mixed results, as you can imagine.

3. The boy likes to come and sleep in our bed if he wakes up and its light outside. He'll come to my side of the bed, hop in and whisper "Mommy, close eyes."

2. My mom always rocks Marino in the rocking chair in his bedroom when she visits. Over the weekend, he got in the rocking chair and rocked himself and said "Gramma chair". The he went and got a picture I have of them together framed on his bookshelf.

1. Marino is so loving. I've been getting in his big boy bed with him at night until he falls asleep. He's always very concerned that I have a blanket covering me (and covering my shoulders; he gets very upset and covers them if I try to leave my arms and shoulders uncovered). He won't lay down until he's put a blanket on me.

First Fall Festival

After keeping Marino home since Tuesday evening when he started getting sick, we were ready to get out of the house by Saturday. We determined he had Roseola and by Saturday the rash was on its second day and he was fever-less for 24 hours. So we met up with Jen and her family at Cox Farms in Virginia. We went last year on opening weekend and had a great time. This year we had great weather but, unfortunately, a very cranky boy. Luckily, there are many more fall festivals to attend - I love them all!

We did have some fun, in spite of the crankiness. We went down slides, pet some goats, walked through the corn maze and got to visit with our friends in the sunshine.

Marino wore his new Halloween initial shirt, made by my buddy Jill.

Sydney was dressed festive as well.

Sydney and her Daddy going down the tunnel slide
Evan channeling his Iowa days...
Marino and Daddy in the corn maze (can you tell the boy is cranky?)
He really liked this ant (I think it reminded him of his current favorite movie "A Bug's Life")
Sliding down a frog tongue
Sydney and her big brother, Justin, following the yellow brick road

Skipping down the yellow brick road with Daddy

Noah, checking out the scene

Sydney and Jen taking a break

Sliding with Daddy

And sliding on his own (he looked terrified but wanted to go again)

Group shot - Jen and I with the kids...I love how Syd is eating her apple here!

Close up - Marino was super cranky (he passed out 3 minutes later)

Checking out the view from the goat's house

Petting a very pregnant goat. Marino was being very gentle.

Feeding a goat with Daddy.

Matt with Noah and Sydney

"Daddy, feeding a goat is so cool!"

Sliding with Mommy

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. The boy has a new favorite food - Rice Krispies. He calls them "creepies" which I find adorable!

4. As he was eating dinner the other night, Evan picked up some food from his plate. He said "You want to give me that in my mouth?" and opened his mouth for Evan to put it in.

3. After a bath on Tuesday, he wanted to sit on the potty and read books. One of the books had photos of lollipops, which he was very excited about. He was trying to pick them up off the page and said "Wanna give me a pop?" I told him if he used the potty he could have one and he said "Aw, man!"

2. Marino calls "Lightning McQueen" from the movie Cars "Like a the Queen".

1. This week Marino started singing the Barney song ("I love you, you love me...") and when he sings it, he adds in a big hug and a kiss. Very adorable!

My poor boy had a rough time this week with a virus that gave him a high temperature, but he was still a sweetie. He was pretty delirious but still made us a laugh a lot!

Aviation Museum Visit with Daddy

On Thursday, Evan and Marino went to the College Park Aviation Museum. They have a "Peter Pan Club" the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, where the staff does a "flying" related story and craft with the kids. This week the story and craft were about flying fish. Both Daddy and Marino seemed to have a great time. They also brought home a really cool flying fish that Marino and Evan made together (and some airplane toys, of course).

5 on Friday

As always, here are 5 special reasons I am loving my boy this week:

5. Marino loves bouncy houses. Over the weekend we were at the lake when Marino pointed across the lake and said "I want to go there, to Bumpy's House." All the way across the lake, 3/4 of the way hidden by trees, was a bouncy house. At least we can be assured his eye sight is good!

4. Evan, Marino and I were in a store this week and Evan nudged me forward to the checkout line. Marino started telling Evan off for pushing me! He said "Daddy, don't push Mommy! Not safe! Not good!"

3. Now that Marino is sleeping in a toddler bed, he comes to wake up Evan and I if he wakes before us. This morning he came in the room to get me while I was getting dressed. He asked me to go downstairs. I told him I needed to get dressed first and he went into the bathroom, picked up my pajamas, handed them to me and said "OK, Mommy. Come on!"

2. Whenever we give Marino a kiss these days, he says "Thank you, Mommy" or "Thank you, Daddy." When I was putting him to bed the other night, he asked me if I wanted him to rub my back:)

1. Marino told Evan he had to use the potty and successfully went #1 and #2 this week!!