Going D"owww"N and Ca-Ca-Ya answers....

I forget how quick Reid is. He is lightning quick. And things happen before I even have a chance to react....like this.
The poor kid! I was putting shish-ka-bobs together for dinner at the counter and Reid was on the other side of the counter. He climbed up in the kitchen chair to sit and I praised him for sitting. Within 0.34 seconds, he was up on his feet. I reacted and said, "No, Reid. Sit down please." Before I could get around the counter to take him off the chair, (he thought this was funny...because Mama doesn't run!) and jolted himself forward which tipped the chair OVER onto the floor. His forehead hit the bar stool that was in front of the chair at the counter.
And this little shiner is what he has to show for his hard fall. I really thought an ER trip was going to be in our future tonight....but the swelling seemed to go down as the night progressed, and he acted fine. I don't know how much of this "boy" stuff my heart can handle!!!!!

And thanks to you who tried to guess the Ca Ca Ya new word. I loved hearing what you all thought! Sorry that no one got it, though. Ca Ca Ya is MOTORCYCLE. Crazy, huh? Popsicle also sounds very similar. It much be the cycle/sickle part....I have no idea. But, it is consitent EVERY time. He will hear a motorcycle and all of a sudden scream, "Ca Ca Ya!!!! Ca Ca Ya!!!!!" Of course, Reid....MOTORCYCLE!!!!! Thanks for playing! I am sure there will be more vocabulary stumpers to come.

Ca-Ca-Ya

Yep.....the title of this post is Reid's new word. I'll give a prize to anyone who guesses it....Grandma's and Grandpa's....no cheating since you all know already!

I will give you a hint....the true word that Reid is trying to say is actually 4 syllables not the 3 that he pronounces. I doubt I will be giving away any prizes...but what do I know??? Let's see what you all think.

I'll post the answer in a couple of days. Good luck!!!!

Vacation 2009 in pictures

Ok, folks...seriously, I took 293 pictures in 8 days. I obvioulsy can not post 293 pictures here, nor would I want you to have to weave your way through that....so here are some highlights of our trip to Rhode Island in no particular order (because I really should be attending to the LAUNDRY!) It was such a wonderful trip (with a few Reid stresses!), but a great time away with family. Here is our trip in a nutshell!

Ellie's quote, "I'll just get my feet a little wet." 10 minutes later she was sitting in the ocean water while the waves were splashing up all around her.

Brian and Reid....taking it all in.

Ellie and Reid seeing the ocean waves. Ellie being so helpful by taking Reid's hand. (maybe she did that to drag him along! She couldn't wait to see the water!)

Reid's first look at the ocean. (grasping tightly to Grandma's hand!)

Ellie and Reid's new friend they made. She is a surfer and let the kids stand on her board.

Reid making footprints in the sand

Ellie at Point Judith making Mommy nervous!

Point Judith lighthouse

Reid is enjoying his chocolate milkshake

Reid liked the sounds the sea lions made at us!

Holding a real starfish

Ellie at the aquarium in Connecticut

Ellie eating crabcakes for the first time!

Grandma and Reid at the wedding

Pappy and Ellie cutting a rug!

Pap Pap and Aunt Sue with our " new" Uncle Dave at the wedding

Mommy and Ellie at the wedding

Reid took some naps in the car...and I guess he likes it dark!

Ellie and her cousin Jason (Sue's son). This was their first time meeting each other!

Ellie lounging with Uncle Aaron

Ellie at the ocean.....the 50 something degree ocean water. As you can see, it didn't bother her one bit!

Reid found a shell. (well, he helped carry the shell that Dad found!)

Brian and Ellie at the ocean.

Uncle Aaron lives in a town named Manville. Yeah.....we rolled our eyes at this one, too!

Ellie seeing Uncle Aaron's house for the first time.

When you are on the road for a long time, Daddy buys you snacks to keep you busy. Snickers bars and pink lemonade....yum!

Brian driving.....the whole 12 hours

Yep...construction got us. We were moving here...barely...but some.

Reid did some light reading on our trip.

It was a great trip filled with many memories. So blessed we were able to go. And yet, so nice to be home, too!

We're HOME!

I will update with pics later....we made it home safe and sound...and now I am in the depths of laundry. When I find my way out, I will post some pictures. How to choose, I have no idea.....I took LOTS! Missed the blogging world....and am glad to be home. More to come soon!

On our way out...

Just a brief note that I won't be blogging for a week....which I will miss. We are heading out tomorrow for vacation. We are headed out for the East Coast which will be fun. Brian's brother, Scott, who passed away from cancer in 2001 was married to Sue. She is such a wonderful person and important to our family. She is getting re-married, and we are going to be there for the wedding. It will be a big reunion of family for Brian's side which will also be nice. We are excited to see Sue and Jason (Sue and Scott's son). There will be aunts and uncles and cousins, too. We will be doing lots of sightseeing and touring and hopefully a little resting, too! I will be sure to take lots of pictures and will catch you all up when we return!!!! Bon Voyage for now.....

Happy Father's Day

I love you, Daddy and Reid does, too. Thank you for everything you do for Mommy, Reid, and me. I am glad you are my daddy.

I love you!
Ellie

Meet Fred the Frog...or Toad, rather...

The kids and I were out in the backyard yesterday afternoon when Ellie spotted this little guy near our swing set. She was SOOOOO excited. Right away, she named him Fred the Frog. I couldn't bear to tell her this was a toad. Minor difference.....right?
Here is Ellie contemplating if she should touch Fred or not. She REALLY wanted to!

Getting closer.....

And closer. After I took this picture Mr. Fred hopped and Ellie, Reid, and I all jumped, too!

Reid liked the hopping! (and how appropriate...look at Reid's shirt!!!! Pure coincidence!)

In awe of Fred because he was hopping all over the place. Look at Reid's face. He has no clue what to think!

So, of course, when you find something as cool as Fred...you HAVE to catch him and put him in your "bug house", right???? So, we did just that. Mama had the lovely job of catching Fred. Thank goodness I had some garden tools nearby to scoop him up with. The kids LOVED watching him close up.

Ellie was so excited. She couldn't wait to show everyone Fred. In fact, both sets of grandparents had to come by to see Fred....and Daddy, of course had to see him, and we even went over to show our neighbor who was out doing yard work (Thanks, Mr. Brower!).

Ellie and Fred.....(she asked me to keep him in her room...ummmmmm.......)

So, we had a brief science lesson on animals who really shouldn't live in plastic bug houses for too long, and Ellie finally agreed to let Mr. Fred go. We went on with our evening and right before bedtime, Ellie found the perfect spot to free Mr. Fred.......under the swing set where we found him. I am sure she will be looking for him later today!