A Fable

Once upon a time there was a wise tree named Rykertree.  The Rykertree was wise and full of wisdom.  People would come from miles to hear his wise counsel.  

 One day a young man came and asked the Rykertree a perplexing question: How he could be the best dad ever.  The Rykertree thought long and hard about the question, then he slowly looked up and said:

 "Rarellows and M&Ms.  Lots of Rarellows and M&Ms"

The end.

Phone Pics!!

 It is a scientific fact that babies sleep so that mothers don't snap (citation needed).  I think they sleep just to remind people of how adorable they are.

 When he's not sleeping, Ryker likes to watch TV and text his girlfriend in Wisconsin. 

 Len and Lesa have a giant bear dog named Ebony.  Rock used to be scared to death of Big Ben Ebony, but now they are friends.

 My phone has a filter to make things look 'nostalgic'.  So here's a nostalgic pic of the boys taking a bath from a long time ago...like ten days or so.

 Here's a nostalgic pic of DeA looking pretty.  She's always pretty, not just in nostalgic pictures.

 My camera also has a filter that does whatever this picture is.  It's Ryker at the beach in a dramatic filter or something.

 There's also a filter that is supposed to increase brightness and contrast.  Notice Ryker contrasting against the sand.  Epic.

 Here is epic Rock with the same contrast.

 Here's a normal picture of Ryker being adorable.  Also pictured: Papa Dale's legs.

 Last Friday Rock and I went up to Top Shelf to go camping.  We had a fire and roasted marshmallows. Rock learned how to light a marshmallow on a stick and wave it in the air.  Also pictured: Papa Dale smothering a lit marshmallow.

 After getting back from camping Papa Dale and I took the boys to Jack's to get donuts.  They both eat their donuts frosting side first (and last, because after eating the frosting they don't eat the rest of the donut.  It's like a peach pit or an apple core at that point).

 Rock asked me if we could get haircuts.  He wanted to try and cut his hair first.

 "He did a decent job of not killing himself, but the haircutting part was lacking.

 He even cut Ryker's hair, and once again did a good job of not killing anyone.

 He's still Captain Underpants.

 He likes being Captain Underpants.

Holy Twap, Dad! Maybe You Update Blog?

Lately Rock has learned the power of phrases like "maybe..." and "Hey, I have idea!"  Usually he breaks them out when he wants something that we don't want him to have.  Those are his compromise/negotiating tactics.  He won't do it for the camera, so here's Ryker sleeping.

Ryker is at the age where he loves gadgets and phones.  He loves to talk to his homies on one line while listening to Nazareth on Bampa's smartphone.

Doesn't Ryker look happy?  Well, that was just because it was before he got ditched by Bampa and Rock when they went on their camping trip.  It was pretty traumatic, and only cuddling with Mommy and a bag of "rarellows" could sooth his ache.  Also, he's a baby so he forgot in like 30 seconds, but the marshmallows lasted a lot longer than that.  Speaking of Rock, here he is giving Grampa the thumbs up to launch the boat.

Rock got to man the bridge, and drove the boat almost the whole way to Stehekin.

Kind of reminds you of Miami Vice, doesn't it?

"Maybe you let me go faster?  Hey, I have idea: How about you let me go faster?"

He's driven with his Mama Rae enough to know that you always keep one hand on the horn at all times.

His shift eventually ended, and he took some time to rest in the jump seat.

Finally they got to Stehekin and rode around in the white pick up.  Rock said "Hey, I have idea!  Maybe you put my car seat in front of the steering wheel and I drive!  You like that idea?"

Here's a picture of the awesomeness of Stehekin.

One more month and these deer would have ended coming home to Manson in quarters.

The campground was close to a sweet river.  Rock thought he wanted to get into the water, but then he realized that it was pure glacier water.  

Rock quickly realized that Buzz Lightyear didn't have a campground, so he made him one.

Rock showed Papa Dale the proper way to build a fire.

Rock randomly asked Papa Dale to take a picture of a sad boy.  He wasn't really sad, but wanted a picture of a sad boy.  Who knows what he's thinking.

Rock was super excited to drink the best water in the world!  Also, he liked posing for the pictures.

See, he learned the whole posing thing from his mommy.

Eventually the next morning came.  After a quick trip to the bakery they rode back down the lake.  What a trip!

More Is Coming...

But until then here is a video of Ryker welcoming his new cousin to Manson!!

Four Wheeler!!

Papa Dale's four wheeler is like a drug to Ryker.  He is only happy when he's on it, and he hates getting off it.  When we stopped our last ride he refused to dismount.

He knows how to turn on the key, shift the gears and push the starter.  He just doesn't know how to do them in the right order.  But, like the velociraptors from Jurassic Park, he is learning.

"Hey, Dad!  Get your butt down here!"

Here's a video of him trying to hot wire the vehicle.  

And here's a video of Ryker torturing Rock with tickles.
In other news, Cougs win!!  Cougs win!!  Here's a link to relive the awesomeness!!
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/source/espn3/id/226213/size/condensed/

Cat's Out of the Bag

Well, it made its way on to Facebook, so most people probably know already...but Stone is on his way!

We're not sure, but we think that DeA will be due sometime in the April-May time frame, so plan your trips for the baby shower accordingly.