WINNERS!!

This picture wasn't available to me when I made the last blog post, so here it is now. Who's that in the middle of the winners? That's right! Nick and I with our ribbons!!!

My Illustrated Weekend (without DeA and the Boys...and without pictures)

This weekend was the annual Saul Gallegos Memorial Run over in Manson. I drove over after work on Friday and had fun participating in the festivities. Dad helps organize it, and it was a great event. I was hoping to steal some pictures from the local news agencies, but they pretty much dropped the ball on posting pictures. After we got home from the run, Dad took me up in the helicopter. Those pictures are on Dad's computer, so hopefully he'll post those on facebook or somewhere similar so that I can steal them from there.

So, wow, I hope the pictures are helping you feel like you lived these experiences. But, to be honest, without Rock and Ryker any pictures would be pointless. After flying with Dad, Nick and I golfed at Desert Canyon. We weren't sure if we were doing the right thing by golfing, but something told us that we were in the right place.

Don't those heavenly rays of sunshine just tell you that it's meant to be?
Nick and I both shot under our weight, but that's not really fantastic. We had fun and enjoyed the course.
The only time I didn't miss the boys was when I drove home and got caught up behind this on Snoqualmie Pass. Some camper lost a fight with the wind, hopefully it wasn't a Windsport.

Random Phone Pics

Well, DeA and the boys are down in Medford enjoying the Oregon sunshine (no really, in Medford it's actually real warm sunshine, not this 'Seattle sunshine' that only means it's a misty rain and not a pouring rain. Yeah, the real deal). DeA keeps telling me about all these adorable and cute pictures of the boys that she's taken, but I have yet to see any of them...so I'm holding down the blog fort with some random pics from my phone.

Let me set the stage for this first one: A while ago there was this day that was so brilliantly awesome that when DeA and I talk about it we simply call it "that one day that didn't rain" and we both know exactly what day we are talking about. Ryker loved being outside, even if we were worried about his virgin skin that had never been kissed by the sun.
I don't have a story about this picture, but it's Rock and so it's adorable.
We are still loving our free stroller that I scored off of the internet, but every time we load Rock into the stroller he isn't quite sure that he'll ever get to return home. That's why, just in case, he grabs his most important items.
Bellevue Square has these padded boats that Rock likes to play on. After running, jumping and pushing he gets to cool down with a delicious 'lemamade'.
This is what happens when you ask a University of Utah grad to paint the Redbox unit.

Giant Shiny Spears!!

Our lil' baby Ryker (or baby Gieker to Rock) recently had a run in with these guys after he called their loin clothes 'weak sauce'. They got a couple of good jabs in before he disposed of them with a kung fu chop. Lucky for him the jabs were absorbed in his ample thighs, and double luck that Mama Rae and Whitni Anne (Superman) came over to visit. He let Grammy snuggle with him while he aired out his battle wounds.
He just chilled all day and let the dogs cool down.
We found out that you could brighten his day by asking what he did to the fairy loin cloth wearers.
Ryker is also lucky that he has the support of his 'big' brother. I use the term big loosely, because according to the doctor Rock only weighs about six pounds more than Ryker. Also, Rock is in the 20th percentile for height and weight, while Ryker strikes at 95% on both.
Ryker was also 95th percentile for drooling, and both were 110th for in both personal cuteness category and the beautiful Mommy category.
This is the boys practicing for their portrait when they own a law firm or bank or something.
Finally the wounds healed and he was able to soak his self in the tub. Ah...sweet relaxation.
Rock offered to let Ryker sleep in his crib with him, but Ryker wasn't ready to give up the freedom of his swing for the confines of the crib.
Rock and I had enough time to watch Argentina roll over Korea in the World Cup today, and then he decided to walk his pet soccer ball through the house.
After I left for work DeA tried to get the boys to cuddle with her on the bed, but they wanted to pose for more adorable pictures.
Finally DeA pulled out her secret weapon: She bundled the boys up and loaded them in the stroller for a walk. The dreary, gray Seattle weather put the boys to sleep, and then she just parked them in a parking lot while she went home for a nap. She slept like a charm.
In other news, DeA and I continue our weight loss quest. We are keeping track on the right column, so you can hold us accountable if you want.

Rock and Roll

The other day Rock found my old guitar and started strumming the strings.
This is cool! With three cords I can learn to write songs, and then I can learn to serenade chicks!
No, but seriously, chicks dig guys that play this? Wow, they are total suckers.
Meanwhile, Ryker continues to his climb into total adorableness. His climb is going very well.
Tuesday morning we woke up to sunshine and warmth for what felt like the first time in the history of Seattle. Since moving here we've realized that we are like Superman, and we get some funky high off the yellow sun. All the sunshine gave us energy to exercise, and even Rock got into the action.
All the sunshine, playing and exercising wore little Rock right out. He went to bed cuddled with his Mickey Mouse helicopter from Mama Rae.
After Rock goes to bed it's bath time for baby Ryker. He really enjoys his lil' mini hot tub.
And he especially enjoys his tickle time.

Buzzheads

Lil' baby Ryker is growing and getting cuter all the time. It is really adorable, because he is starting to know that he is wicked cute, so he likes having his picture taken. Here he is with Rissa over the Memorial Day weekend. Look how nonchalantly he stares down the camera, with that silent coolness.
Unfortunately for Rissa's arm (and Ryky's diaper) his silent coolness also involves smelly smelliness.
Last Thursday I was giving myself a haircut when Rock came in to the bathroom and said "Me too?" This is the little guy that screams like a little girl when you cut his hair, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to trim his mop. I think it turned out well, and I think DeA did too...I would tell you what she said about it, but after I censor out the swear words it'd be like she didn't say a thing.
Nick came over to hang out Friday night, and Saturday morning Rock decided that visits from Uncle Nick can only mean one thing: the Mariners!! He got his ball and bat and was rarin' to go!
We got there early so that Rock could watch batting practice and Nick could play in the playpen. Nick was a little hesitant to play with the other kids, so Rock climbed in to show him how it's done. Nick was still to shy to play, so I started playing, too. Well, to make a long story short, eventually I got ejected from the play area, Rock and Nick cried and some little kid lost his ice cream cone and his childhood. So, yeah, it was a good time.
Rock was super excited about this bright, burning thing in the sky that is apparently called the sun. He seems to vaguely remember the sun, but couldn't seem to remember the last time that he'd seen it. We all got new retro hats at the gates, and that pushed Rock's excitement level over the top!
He really liked the combination of sunshine, baseball and free shwag...to bad the Mariners forgot about the game.
Ryker really enjoyed relaxing in Rock's recliner while he was gone. Normally Rock freaks out when Ryker tries to relax in the chair, but Rock can't get mad if he doesn't know, can he?
Yup, both boys are like their Mommy and love attention.
After the game was over, Peggy, Aron and their kids stopped by, followed by Jeffrey and Jocelyn. We BBQed some hamburgers and enjoyed strawberry shortcakes. It was great to have family over to hang out.
Sunday afternoon was another one of those rare moments when everybody was clean, so I got a picture with the boys. Rock didn't like my normal smile, so he made me smile like him. I think it just might work better for me, so it's going to be my normal smile from now on.
Rock is making some real progress with the potty training battle. He is really good about running into the bathroom and climbing on to the toilet. His technique is still a little raw, but it is definitely better than nothing.

Lost Video of Ryker

I failed to post this video of Ryker and his dear aunt from their visit for the concert. We at the blog take quality very seriously, and regret this error. But hey, at least it wasn't this.

Memorial Day Funtime!!

Mawma Rae and Co. took Rock back to Manson with them on Sunday, and so Ryker decided to have some muscle pictures taken on the couch. He was a little hesitant to show too much skin.

"Um, I'm just not comfortable with this..."

He started to warm up to the picture taking by showing off the new blanket that Mawma Rae made for him!!
At last he was comfortable to flex for the camera, and...yeah.
Sunday afternoon DeA, Ryk and I decided to follow Rock over the mountains and enjoy some sunshine. Bampa Dale has yummy homemade ice cream waiting for us. Rock was in heaven.

"Mmm....ice cream wand..."

Rock knows the importance of working off all that ice cream, so he spent a lot of time on the new stationary bike.
He pretty much got a better workout that most people, because it was a real full body exercise.
Eventually he got so hot working out that the clothes had to go. The diaper stayed, but the clothes were long gone.
The boys loved having time with Mawma and Bampa, but Rock still isn't keen on sharing his grandparents with anybody, not even Ryker.
Monday morning Dad took Jenn's kids up in the helicopter. Dad parked the chopper and tried to let Rock sit in the cockpit, but he wanted nothing to do with a parked helicopter. He knew that he wasn't going anywhere in a shutdown chopper.
While people were going on rides Rock got lots of attention from Madi and Jenn's kids.
He also liked the attention that he got from Jenn and her camera. He likes pictures.
Eventually it was Rock's turn to take a real ride in the helicopter. With the blades running he was much more excited to be in the cockpit.

"Alpha Tango Bravo Charlie, we are clear for take off, over."

Back on the ground Rock and Bampa were all smiles.
He never did get used to the wind from the blades, but it made his hair look epic.
Ever since he went up in the helicopter he's been telling everyone "Bampa Dao helicopter, my helicopter" over and over.
I got to ride with Dad back to the airport, and on the way we parked on the top of the Chelan ridge. I took a cool picture of Manson and uplake...
and a sweet action sweet picture of Dad and the Columbia down to Mission Ridge. Awesome.
Meanwhile, back at the homestead, Mawma Rae was enjoying snuggle time with the lil' cutie Ryker. Ryky is a much better snuggler than Rock ever way, and people love getting snuggles from the cutie.
We spent Monday afternoon enjoying the great weather and fantastic view,
and eventually got motivated enough to take a walk. Seattle's weather had almost destroyed our will to go outside, but the sunshine kicked us back into shape. It felt good to smell fresh air again.
Rock might have spent too much time with his uncle Nick, but at least it saves us some dirty diapers.
Also today, there was some sad news, as Ken Griffey, Jr. retired from baseball. He was one of my favorite players of all time, behind the third baseman for the Manson Trojans from about 1996-1999. My bedroom walls were covered with Griffey posters, so here's a little something to say goodbye to Junior. Oh, and if you see Nick be sure to give him a hug, this is a hard time for him.