Whenever we're not careful Rock will snatch onto the camera and take some artistic photos. Sometimes they are of still life, like this: And other times it's of his family. I think Ryker likes to be in Rock's photos. Friday after work we loaded the kids up into the car and headed east towards Manson. Rock was so excited to go that he wouldn't go down for a nap. This was what he looked like 30 seconds into the trip. The boys slept the whole way to Manson, and woke up just as we were pulling into the driveway. They were excited and happy to be with Mama and Papa England, and they stayed up and played until oh-dark-thirty in the morning. Rock found Papa Dale's mini model motorcycle and thought it would be fun to ride. The motorcycle didn't think it was that fun. Yeah, Ryker really likes having his picture taken. Chayo and her boys came over for some homemade Chili and chicken noodle soup. Ryker liked Chayo, she was nice and tall enough that Rock couldn't reach him. Rock packed his picking gloves, so he and Papa Dale went out in the back forty and picked some apples for a delicious cobbler. The boys like coming over to visit Mama Rae and Papa Dale. They also like visits from anybody that will give them attention. They kind of like attention.
Last Sunday we were getting ready for church when Ryker decided he wanted to check on Brother Collie. So he turned the TV on and watched the Colts game. He gets pretty into it, so much that he literally messes himself. Rock is still honing his photography skills. He took this glamor shot of DeA on the first try. Ryker recently had a make out session with a blue marker. He thought he could get away with it, but his parents aren't as slow as he thinks they are. Rock has been hearing for days that Mama Zista sent him a package. He has been asking constantly where his package is. He's been nice about it, but you can tell that he's about ready to fire Mr. Nice Guy and bring in Dr. Hurt. Well, his three days of eternity ended when the package finally showed up. He knew right away how to open it. As soon as he got the box open he started pulling out all the goodies. He wasn't sure what this was for, but he was grateful to have it. One of Mama Zista's surprises was some sticks and cheese. Rock loves them, and tries to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The important thing that Mama Zista sent the boys was some pjs. They loved them, and lined up on the couch to show them off. Rock is either celebrating a touchdown, or practicing to become one of those waving inflatable advertising thingies. Either way it's cute. Ryker tried to call Mama Zista to tell her thanks, but his chubby little fingers can't work the phone yet. He hopes Mama Zista knows how awesome everything was! On an unrelated note, DeA has been teaching Rock how to dance. They covered hip hop, break, celebration and jive, and now they're moving on to ballroom freestyle.
Little Rock is going through a couple of cute phases right now. The first one is that we cannot call him by any nicknames or he corrects us. That means no Rocko, no Rock Lobster, Rock-a-potumus or Rockster. When someone forgets and doesn't call him Rock he yells "NO!! I ROCK!!" except that he can't say the R sound, so it sounds like "I HOCK!" The other phase is that he loves to look adorable in his pajamas.
Oh, he knows how to pose and show off the merchandise. Lil' Ryker is going through some phases of his own. The biggest is that he likes to crawl to wherever DeA is and start asking for attention. He also is starting to learn how to smile and pose for the camera, which he is quickly learning from his mommy and big brother. One phase that Rock is in and out of is loving Ryker. In a thirty second time frame he will hug him, kiss him, push him to the ground and then try and put him in the Goodwill box to be taken away. Luckily these pictures were taken while he loved him. Another of Rock's current phases is 'fixing' things. He thinks he can hit anything with his Handy Manny hammer, Pat, or throw his tools at anything and fix it. Here he fixed the washing machine, and now it works like a charm...just like it did before he fixed it. We are trying to start a phase of our own of enjoying the rare sunshine that we get. Yesterday we went on a little hike on a local trail. Ryker was all about pretending to be baby Roo.
He likes this new phase.
The other morning I got early to help Rock find his way back to bed. When I came back I found that my territory was getting poached!
Since one of Rock's new things is to occasionally push Ryker to the ground, Ryker has started carrying some protection. He swings hit cudgel with enough force to keep Rock from bothering him.
Yes, I used the word cudgel, and I know what it means. So does Ryker.
As most people who meet him know, Rock certainly isn't shy about his body. Even when we do get clothes on him, he will 'accidentally' spill so that they have to be taken off. The other thing he isn't shy about is his love for yummy Washington apples. Mmm...apples. Ryker isn't shy about his manliness, either. He has no problems hanging his lil' baby man boobs out there for the world to drink in giant gulps. DeA has been experimenting with Rock's nap time. He had gotten use to taking longer and later naps, which make him want to stay up until way late, sometimes past 10. Well, things are a work in progress, and sometimes he just takes matters into his own hands. DeA has also experimented with 'rest time' for Rock. That's when she put a DVD in his bed and lets him chill while she has alone time. Sometimes rest time becomes nap time. Rock really likes nap and rest time, because that means he can roam free. When Rock is around Ryker is constantly worried about love taps to his head. But when Rock is gone, he can play with any toy or remote that he wants. His crawling is getting better and better. He loves knowing that he can track down his mommy whenever he wants. Rock knows that there is more to being a man than being super chiseled. You also have to useful around the house, that's why he's learning how to mow the lawn.
Ryker's excited to become old enough to mow the lawn. His daddy is excited for that as well.
We had some beautiful sunshine the other day, and Ryker wouldn't let it pass without going to the park. We loaded him up into the swing and he went nuts. At first he wasn't sure if he was supposed to kick back and enjoy it, or sit forward and dominate the swing. Ryker dominates everything that he does, so he chose domination!! Happy, laughing domination
Rock was a good big brother and helped Ryker master the swing.
Friday night we took off for Manson to spend conference weekend with my Papa Dale and Mama Rae. Rock slept in the car the whole way, then woke up as we tried to lay him down in his bed. He was wired, so he took laps around the house on his bicycle. At least this time he gave Mama Rae a hug before riding.
Ryker took advantage of Rock's bike ride to cuddle with Papa Dale.
The apples were ripe on the trees, so Rock helped Papa Dale pick a few boxes for us to bring home. Rock and his Cheetos were a big help.
"Hmm...we need to come up with Cheeto flavored apples!!" Finally Rock buckled down and got to work, by putting an apple in the box.
We got home on Sunday, and Rock got right to work making elephant trunks with his Play-Dough factory. He'd squeeze some strings out, and then yell "Elephant dunk!"
And other times it's of his family. I think Ryker likes to be in Rock's photos.
Friday after work we loaded the kids up into the car and headed east towards Manson. Rock was so excited to go that he wouldn't go down for a nap. This was what he looked like 30 seconds into the trip.
The boys slept the whole way to Manson, and woke up just as we were pulling into the driveway. They were excited and happy to be with Mama and Papa England, and they stayed up and played until oh-dark-thirty in the morning.
Rock found Papa Dale's mini model motorcycle and thought it would be fun to ride. The motorcycle didn't think it was that fun.
Yeah, Ryker really likes having his picture taken.
Chayo and her boys came over for some homemade Chili and chicken noodle soup. Ryker liked Chayo, she was nice and tall enough that Rock couldn't reach him.
Rock packed his picking gloves, so he and Papa Dale went out in the back forty and picked some apples for a delicious cobbler.
The boys like coming over to visit Mama Rae and Papa Dale. They also like visits from anybody that will give them attention. They kind of like attention.
