It's been awhile

Yeah I know we've been a little lax in updating so we'll add some of the highlights.  Max turned 2 in November. Max got his haircut.  Zoe has been reading more and more on her own.  She went to the Ballet's open house for the nutcracker with a friend from school.  Now for the pictures and video, I think you'll be quite impressed with our little singer.
Playing with scarves at the ballet.  Zoe is standing next to her friend, striped shirt.

 Max relaxing with the toy shoves that came at Thanksgiving.  Gotta check out all of those deals.

Zoe reading to Daddy. 

He does now sing the whole alphabet from the beginning.  And sometimes incessantly.

And he loves to sing Jingle Bells, there is usually lots of jumping around while singing.  I was told to turn up the volume last night while singing.  (He does have the hiccups in the following video.)

We'll be back with updates sooner next time.

Friday Night Lights

Uncle Jeff came out for a visit a few weeks ago, and so we thought we would take him back in time to a UA football game. Zoe, Jen, Ken, Jeff and I walked down to the high school to watch the first half. It was a great night and Zoe really likes to watch the marching band. Plus when we left a half, UA was up 41 to 0.

SpaghettiOs

And you thought SpaghettiOs wasn't a finger food...

Ocean City Vacation 2010 Part 2

Just a short little video from our last day at the beach (hint - be sure to watch the foreground).

Ocean City Vacation 2010

The fam went to Ocean City, Maryland, last week.  We stayed just outside of Ocean City in Ocean Pines.  A much better pace for a family and some actual rest and relaxation.  This was Zoe's second trip to the ocean and she was much more outgoing and Max's first trip to the beach, that he could see.  He wasn't too sure about the water, but he had his moments and he loved the sand.  It only took a few minutes for sand to cover him literally from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

The first day at the beach.  Zoe is showing off the sand, and Max is playing cars, a reoccuring theme, along with smashing sandcastles. 

See more cars, still sitting on the boogie board, and you can't see the sand all over his face.

The beach bunny playing in the sand.  In one of her moments of not running through the water.

Happy boy at the pool, no sand, but there were cars, you just can't see them.

Max and Daddy playing in the water.  There were almost twins.

The whole gang, minus Scott, in our little space on the beach.  A couple umbrellas for a little shade.

Aunt Stephanie came to visit for a few days and we took a walk down the boardwalk and saw the big kites in front of the kite shop.  Max's phrase after this trip was "ByeBye Boardwalk" for about 20 minutes until we go home.

Max and Aunt Stephanie playing in the sand.  This time almost twins with Aunt Stephanie.

There were play structures on the boardwalk.  We were able to capture Max in one of the windows long enough to get a smile, and not an empty window.

And Zoe climbed to the top of the castle and watched her Dad swing on the rope.  Everyone has to play.

The last day there were huge waves.  The night before a storm came through and left a ridge of sand about 18" high.  It made for great jumping into the waves.

And Mommy joined in too.

And the last thing on our vacation was a stop at a rest area just east of Zanesville.  We had the left over donuts for dinner and Zoe said "There's a chicken."  And yes there was a chicken. 

The next big events are Zoe's birthday and starting Kindergarten next week. 

Firefly Hunting

Zoe had a busy day last Friday.  First was the park in the morning and then the pool in the afternoon, and then a night of firefly hunting and chasing.

Zoe got her bug box out and had it ready for the fireflies.

She held the box over her head waiting for fireflies to go in, but also to let the ones in the box out.  We're humane with our firefly catching.  Unlike when I was a kid and we put them in a peanut butter jar with holes and grass and left them in there all night. 

She had fun watching them crawl around in the bug box.  It was a great way to get up close to them and not touch them. 

Real close.

There were lots of giggling and running across the yard like a crazy girl trying to scoop up fireflies.  She was actually successful once.  It was a fun night.

My Dad

Most of these posts are about Zoe and Max and then other people are part of the story.  This time it is about my Dad, Glenn Lytle.  I'm sure he'll be surprised when he reads this post, but it goes with the day.  This morning Zoe, Max and I attended my dad's retirement ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  We got special permissions to go onto base and also into the secure building where he works.  His official last day is Thursday, with 27 years of service both enlisted and civilian.  His official title, at least what is printed, Chief, Ballistic Missile Performance Flight, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patt AFB, OH.  There may be a photo or two later from the official photos. 
I've always been asked what my dad does and depending on the source of the question determines what the answer is.  Either it is he works at Wright-Patt and that is enough, or "I don't know", or if it is a questionnaire and I had to fill in the occupation it was Electrical Engineer.  I always knew he did some sort of technology research, basically from the name of the division that he was in, and I knew he was a manager of some sort most recently.  But I got a little more insight to what he does.  I still don't know exactly what he does, but I really don't need to know that.  He's worked with lots of different people and affected them all in different ways.  I've heard basic stories throughout the years, and the successes and the frustrations that a few have caused.  But all of them learned something whether they wanted to or not. 
It was cool to see this side of my Dad.  I got to be the proud daughter.  Zoe and Max liked going to see him because they got to see big jets, and tiny model size planes.  Luckily the small planes were behind glass otherwise there would have been a few people on the floor playing with them and making them fly.  And not just the two little ones.
Now the fun starts for him.
Congrats Dad

Summer's Here

Summer’s here, let the games begin.

It was Max’s first time in the sprinkler, at first he wasn’t so sure about it but his big sister Zoe went right in and he was soon to follow. I think it will be a wet summer here in Weaverville. Hope every one has a good Memorial Day and a great start to their summer.

Sunday at the Park

We spent a sunday afternoon at the park a couple weeks ago and I'm finally adding the text.
Max figured out how to get up to the top of the slide going up the steps and he would dive down head first.  So someone would always have to be ready for him.

This was one time that Zoe copied Max not the other way around.
Max finally likes the swing.

And Zoe can keep herself swinging once she is started.

Peek-a-boo Max.  He loves crawling through the tunnels. 

Now to dive down the next slide.

One of "those" . . .

. . . can be filled many ways now.  We had a very excitement filled Sunday and not in a way that we want to repeat, ever.  The punchline is I got home on Monday at 8:30 am.  Why did I get home at that time, because I spent the night at Children's Hospital with Max.  It all started with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.  That was the first and last PB & J that Max will ever have. 
The long and short of it we ended up at Riverside ED at about 3pm and then transferred to Children's at about 5:00.  And then finally to the Observation unit around 6:30.
Max flirted with all of the nurses, asked them for juice and played peek-a-boo. 
Zoe was a great big sister through it all.  She did her best to cheer him up.  She was really sad when she had to leave, but she was also really tired.   
So now I'll be one of "those" mom's, who has to make sure there isn't anything peanut in what her son eats, and actually will no longer mock those "peanut-free" classrooms.  I'll understand why much better and want those rooms.  So now we are "those" parents and Max is one of "those" kids. 
I never thought I would be one of "those" mom's, but now I have to embrace it and make it part of my life. 
Now the research is to begin.

Easter

We had a good Easter Weekend and the weather was perfect for the whole weekend.  Very welcome since so many things at Easter are usually best outside.  And also for the old wives tale about the following 7 weeks having the same weather after Easter.  It better be true.

We started off with a candy hunt, ie how fast can you run and pick up candy that is laying in the grass.  Max would have rather kept playing than go looking for candy, but he did anyways.  Zoe got a loot.  She also got her picture taken with 3 of the Easter Bunny's "helpers".

On Easter morning we had our own Easter egg hunt in the backyard.  We think a squirrel or other critter absconded with one of the plastic eggs.  Yes, Max has the bunny ears around his neck.  He liked them there better, and he collected some eggs as well.

We took some photos of the little ones in their Easter outfits at Grandma and Grandpa Lytle's.  Zoe decided to do a little posing for the camera, and Max has a typical little brother look.  "What in the world is she doing?"

And then there had to be spinning and general silliness.  These kids couldn't be serious for long if you tried. 

And then of course finishing off with some piano playing.  Max took care of the bass.

Wishing For Spring

Zoe has been dressing in summer dresses, skirts, sunglasses and sandals.  She is just voicing the need that everyone else is hoping for, but she is going all out by also dressing the part.  So this past weekend was a wonderful glimpse to spring starting to spring. 
Zoe put on her Hello Kitty boots, that now actually fit, and marched through the wet snow.  I think she was tired of the snow boots.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit on Sunday so everyone spent some time outside.  We spent it on the driveway and sidewalk since that isn't affected by the snow making  the ground turn to mush.  Max had fun pushing the snow out of Grandpa's hand.  It was actually funny.  It really is the little things.

Everyone is just so much happier when we get to go outside.  We all get to run, and scream as loud as we want, and it just makes us look better too.

Max took Grandpa for a walk back and forth and back again on the sidewalk.  This walking thing is really cool.  He'll be running soon so we'll have a very active summer.

Zoe got to ride her scooter outside and let it all out.  She wasn't constrained by the small circle in the house, toys in the way, cooking dinner or Max deciding he needed to sit in the one path available.  She was also able to try a few tricks.

Everyone is happier when they get to spend time outside.  Even the emotional one. 

Daddy: "You're emotional"

Zoe: "Yeah, totally" said with a valley girl accent.

Gone sledding

We finally had a snow that we could go sledding.  We went to Gramma and Papa's because they have a great place to sled and play in the snow.  Also a warm place for Max to go so the rest of us can stay outside and play.  It's also nice that Gramma makes us hot chocolate for when we are done playing in the snow.

Max liked being pulled around in the sled the best.

Max took a couple runs down the hill with Daddy.

Being pulled around and around by Mommy.

Mommy and Max take a trip down with Zoe giving us a push.

Zoe took a snooze on the way in.  She just fits.

Our snow girl.  She is wearing a wedding gown and has a baby carrot nose, must be dainty, red grape eyes, and charcoal buttons.  Isn't she beautiful?

The snow babe.

Yes, Zoe and Max took a run also.  We're not sure if Max actually saw anything down this run with Zoe's arm over his face.

We now have more random ice sculptures around the yard and on the picnic table courtesy of icicles hanging from the gutters.  Based on how much snow is still on the roof I'm sure there will still be more.