Vegas Baby!

So, a couple weeks after going to Chicago, we took off for Vegas because Paul had a course to attend for work, which was 2 days, and then we stayed an extra day, too. We met my parents there, and stayed at Harrah's, which was at an awesome location in the center of the strip, next to Venetian and across from Caesar's. We had a blast! We shopped (when I say we I mean Ryder and me, and my mom and dad, as Paul was in class, and he wouldn't have wanted to go anyway) at the outlet malls, walked around the strip, went to MGM and saw the sleeping lions, hit some awesome buffets (with Paul too) and had a great time! Also, Paul and I went to the temple and that was an amazing experience. There's something special about visiting a temple for the first time. And the pictures I took of it don't do it justice, but there they are anyway... We also went and saw a medievel dinner and show with cool acrobats and fighting and pyrotechnics and all. Ryder didn't go but I know he will love that when he's older.

Also, I didn't take pictures of our room and view since our camera's battery died and we didn't bring the charger, but it was way nice. The window was floor to ceiling view of the strip, and I love to have rooms with views. And we went to the Hoover Dam, which I've been to plenty of times, but was Paul's first time. He thought it was cool too. However, not cool enough to take a $30 tour of it.... Yeah, crazy!

All in all, it was a great trip! Ryder loved to see Grandma and Grandpa....and will seeing his other grandparents next week, what a lucky boy!

Chicago!

Paul had a conference in Chicago a couple weeks ago, so Ryder and I went along for the ride. Here are the highlights, (in random order)....
Tuckered out w/Daddy.Making shadows and touching butterflies w/Daddy at the Children's Museum.

Making friends with another little guy at the non-walker section of the Children's Museum, which is the MOST awesome museum!! We're wishing we lived in Chicago! :(

Ryder playing with his new little buddy...

SOOO Tired!

Swimming at the Sheraton. Look at that studly little man!

Chewing on the camera case...mmmm!

Still chewing!

The view from the pool at our hotel...

Some cool building...

My little chocolate factory worker!!

Mmmm...L'Appetito underneath the John Hancock building...I know I'm making some Evans' jealous!! ;DHey, look at those handsome dudes!

My guy at Navy Pier.He just loves his big yellow chair at the Children's Museum!

Gorgeous view.

Picking his vegetables, good going Bubba!

Underneath the hollow tree.

Playing with Liam.

Playing with another new friend!

Chess, anyone?

Here he was!

Playing with blocks.

Chewing on blocks...

Messy boy!

On the road to Chicago, he was a VERY good traveler!

There's the Misssissippi River behind us...

And behind them.... :)

Well, our trip was awesome! We had good food, played at the Museum tons, saw the Harry Potter exhibit, had pool time, and enjoyed every minute! We definitely want to go back soon!! Thanks Daddy, for needing to go to a conference there, and letting us come! :D

My Drummer Boy

Life here has been crazy! Ryder has officially become mobile. And when I say mobile I mean he crawls at lightning speed EVERYWHERE, you'd think he were practicing for a speed crawler race coming up. He is our crazy boy! Everything is SO interesting, especially if it's not one of his toys. He knows what he shouldn't touch and that's what he wants 99.9% of the time. He's showing more and more personality too. Lately he's been getting upset very easily whenever something doesn't go his way. (Not unlike his mom). And he's been pretty fussy lately, which I'm thinking has to do with his teething (he now has 2 bottom teeth), or he may be going through a growth spurt.

He's started to pull himself up against the coffee table, chairs, walls, and our legs; just whatever's convenient. One funny thing, on Monday me, Ryder, and Paul went out to lunch together and there was a little girl crying and screaming every once and awhile. And Ryder caught on, so then he starts yelling as loud as he can (which is amazingly loud) and it's not a mad yell, but a "I can do that too, see!" type of yell. Yes, he's very smart! And as I was saying before, he is into EVERYTHING, which I couldn't have imagined is as much as he has been getting into, because we try to keep things off the ground. But he's very clever, and you can watch him actually working things out in his mind if we move things or if something's difficult to get to.

We're going to Chicago next week, so I'm a little nervous for how that will go. Hopefully he won't be too frustrated, as we sightsee and he's in the stroller a lot of the time. But he's usually easily distracted by anything outdoors. I'm so excited for this fall, and for him to be able to see all the beautiful changing colors for the first time. It will be so fun! Now, since everyone's been asking for it, and I've really been slacking on posting one, I thought we should add a video.

Here's Ryder drumming away, with a little help...

Hope you enjoy!