Tree decorating

A few weekends ago we had our annual tree decorating party at the Rickert house.  Since I started dating Mike over 6 years ago I have been attending this event....and with each year the event gets more exhausting thanks to the little terrors treasures we have running us ragged.  Last year Tyler was not mobile so all we had to do was put him down and let him enjoy the view....this year we I could not say the same.  He was running around in true Tyler fashion with his playmate Sophia.  During this even we tried to incorporate a photo session in hopes that Aunt Leenie (or kind photographer) could capture a shot for the 2011 Christmas cards....the result was unsuccessful - chances of a 1.5 year old sitting still and smiling for a camera...slim to none.  Overall the day was great and something that we look forward to every year - can't wait until next year when Lucas is in motion and Baby Rickert has joined the group! 

Christmas 2011 Onyon/Smith/Rickert Famiy Photo

This year was tough getting us to stand in one spot and look at the camera - which is why everyone except Colleen and Brian look crazed.  Next year they will join the crazy group with the addition of Baby Rickert!

Cousin shot - could these three be any cuter.  Thanks for the PJ's Aunt Leenie and Uncle Brian

An attempt at a Christmas card photo.......

Sophia and Tyler having fun with PopPop

To the bridge we go.....

With the cold weather we haven't been taking our normal walks into town to the park and playground on the weekends.  Tyler of course hates this as he loves to be outside...so when it's not raining (or snowing) we'll take a walk around the block to a little bridge and stream area.  Tyler loves taking rocks and dropping them into the water - watching the ripple effect through the water.  Mike and Tyler spent over an hour one day doing just that and our little guy couldn't have been happier. 

So happy to be outside 

Just finding the right spot...making sure no ducks are coming through....

Dad giving T-man a boost

Where has the month gone!

As always it's been another crazy month for our little family.  We had lots of family visits throughout the month which is especially fur for Tyler - showing off all his new tricks and suckering people into watching "Mimmi" (aka Mickey) or making "Coco" (aka Coffee).   During the month we also had some work done on the house, which resulted in us vacating for a week.  We were lucky enough to be able to stay at Hotel Wander, where Tyler had a blast playing with Aunt Chris, Uncle Larry, Nikki and of course Woof Woof (aka -Giiiiirrrrlllsss).  It was a great but exhausting month.  I would blame the lack of posts on that but we all know I'm just not that good at keeping up with this stuff!

Tyler loves the slide and had fun going down with Aunt Kendy

Loving the leaves!

Tyler and Uncle Larry playing Go go go.....Uncle Larry sure does know how to get those belly laughs out of our little boy!

Love this picture...T-man having fun with Aunt Chris after work

Tyler loving his Aunt Nikki - especially because she let him play with her iphone!

Halloween

I know Halloween has come and gone and we have already made it into Thanksgiving- but I wanted to at least get a few pictures of my little man up in his costume during his Halloween class party, parade and trunk or treating at school. I couldn't really get him to keep the hat on but he didn't need the hat to look adorable (but that's just my opinion!).

Love that little face!

Howdy Cowboy!

Tyler and his friends ready to go outside for the parade (three of Tyler's favorite friends to talk about Nora, Taylor and Oliver!)

Lending a helping hand to his buddy Oliver-giving him back his bottle.  Oliver had a rough day that day - all the kids wanted to hug and kiss him (or Elmo) and he just wanted to be left alone. 

Tyler making his rounds at "trunk or treating" with Ms. Vicky

Trip to Boston

A few weekends ago we made a trip to Boston for a visit.  We've been planning for months to get there and were finally able to coordinate a weekend without a hurricane hitting or one of us having plans.  We couldn't wait for the weekend- to spend some time together without having an event to go to and to have Tyler and Kathryn spend some cousin time together.  The weather was absolutely perfect - so spent a lot of time outside with the kids and even hit up some Halloween fun in anticipation for the big day!  Our next trip to Boston will be at Thanksgiving where we will have a new addition to the cousin team  (Miss Avery Madeline was born Tuesday 11/1).  We can't wait to meet her and spend some family time together - enjoying Thanksgiving together.

Enjoying the nice weather with a wagon ride....Mommy's arms were killing her after about 30 laps around the property!

Kathryn and Tyler enjoyed the morning sun with some time at the park and in the sand box.

Here's our little cowboy (Woody). 

Deciding he didn't want to be a cowboy but would rather do the fireman thing

The stare down with Uncle Chris.....

Cousin love!!

Mommy's trip away....Daddy's life as a single parent

A few weeks ago I had my first trip away from Tyler for an extended period.  We had been not so eagerly anticipating this week for a few months.  It was a very long week for all of us but Mommy survived a trip across the US without contact with her little boy; Daddy survived doing all the morning routines, daycare drop-offs & pick-ups, food prep and feedings, bath time and night time routines all on his own; and Tyler made it through a week confused because one of his playmates was missing.  Monday was a rough day for me dropping Tyler off at daycare-breaking down in tears saying goodbye to my baby boy.   Luckily the week was filled with lots of activities so it moved fairly quickly.  Unfortunately I was not able to see my boy the night I got home, but I got the best smile and hug come Saturday morning when Tyler woke up.  We are all hoping that there will be no more trips anytime soon for me!

Tyler's latest thing is hugs....he is such a good hugger it just melts your heart when he wraps his little arms around you.

Apple picking

 



We planned our annual apple picking trip early this year.  It was forecasted to be a beautiful weekend and our apple picking team (the Norman's) and Grammy and PopPop were around to join in the fun.  This year the trip seemed to be much more enjoyable for Tyler - being able to run around the orchard and pick and eat all the apples made for a happy little boy.

                                         Mmmmm Apple



Taking the tractor for a stroll



                                    Strong little boy trying to pickup the big pumpkin

Tyler trying to hold Lily's hand



Night night

Tyler loves to play night night.....where someone pretends to sleep and he wakes them up and demands they go back to sleep. He would play forever if you didn't get tired and dizzy from all the up and down! Here is a recent play session with PopPop....

Our little helper

Saturday we had wood delivered to get ready for the winter season (Daddy loves his fires!).  When the wood was delivered Mike and John got right to work stacking the wood.  Tyler was very interested in the process and decided to join in on the action

Our little helper.....

Here ya go PopPop

Grammy and Pop Pop are here

Grammy and PopPop took a trip down last weekend to get their monthly Tyler fix. As always Tyler was happy to see them enjoying having two additional playmates to run around with. It was a very fun action filled weekend which included a trip to the playground. lunch out in town, apple picking, and lots of chasing and tickling session at home (everyone including Tyler was exhausted come Saturday night!). 

Tyler is loving dogs these days, but only if they don't pay attention to him.  He likes to watch them and say "woof woof" as they walk by

Here I come Mama....

Weeeeeeeeee

Time to throw rocks in the water PopPop

Chillin

Practice makes perfect

It may be a bit premature but we started to give Tyler utensils to practice with during dinner (any other time would be a disaster since an immediate bath is usually needed after his "practice session"). Overall he's done pretty well...he gets the concept that it needs to go into his mouth but unfortunately most of the food ends up on him before it gets there. 

Lesson learned here, let him practice with regular applesauce rather then blueberry appleasauce - much easier to get out of clothes!

Getting the boys back together

Every few weeks we try to get a play date together with Miles, Andy, Tyler and the newest addition Liam.  Obviously they are still too young to really play together so it's more of a chance for the mommies to spend some time together while the boys run around like maniacs (or maybe that's just Tyler).  We had a nice morning meet up -here our boys played with toys and chowed on muffins (cupcakes according to Andy) bagels and yummy watermelon.  Nice way to start off the weekend spending time together and tiring our boys out in hopes of a nice long afternoon nap!

Andy being a good boy just relaxing watching some Mickey

Trouble trouble......putting together an escape plan

Just had to include this one.....shows Tyler in true Tyler fashion taunting Mommy by almost touching Miles head after she told him not to poke at Miles anymore.  Luckily Miles is such a chill kid!  BTW check out Starr in the background joining in on the playtime fun! 

The little things

Mike and I make an effort to continue to do things that we would have done pre-Tyler (i.e. - ladies night, football Sunday, golf outings, manicure/pedicures)  It gives us an opportunity to relax a little bit and remember what it was like to be obligation free for a short period of time.  Although we both enjoy that time away we can never really seem to disconnect from it all - constantly requesting pictures and sending texts to see how our boy is doing.

Last night I went to dinner with some of my girl friends for a much needed ladies night.  All the ladies have children (one with two and one with a second on the way) and most of our conversation was around our little ones or life with our little ones.  It's just how it is these days.  During dinner I got my updates on how T-man was doing and got responses of "crazy as ever" and received this video to support it saying "he's done this about 29 times now".  I watched it about 4 times at dinner with the ladies and then again a few more times later that night.  He always keeps me laughing!

A trip away for Mama and Dada

Mama and Dada took an early anniversary trip last weekend to our beloved Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid.  It was an incredible weekend away - giving us some time to sit down (and not have to get up 5 seconds later to chase our little terror) and  relax.  We had an amazing time and lucked out with beautiful weather - which allowed us to enjoy Lake Placid to the fullest!  

The view from our room.....the picture even relaxes me!

This great weekend could not have been possible without Aunt Chris and Uncle Larry.  They were kind enough to take our little man for the weekend....and seemed to enjoy every second of it.  Tyler also got some time in with Grandma and Papa before they headed back home.  They all claim he was a very good little boy - while we know he is adorable and is quite the character - we also know he is a 1+ year old that is not always a "very good little boy".  So we can't say enough how much we appreciate them taking him for the weekend. 

Tyler having fun at the park!

       
 

While we enjoyed our relaxing time away we sure did miss our baby boy and couldn't wait to get home to see him.  As soon as we got back we rushed into the house expecting Tyler to come running at us with big smiles - unfortunately the reality was a glance up our way a slight smile and him resuming play time with Aunt Chris!  Just warms your heart doesn't it :)

Happy Birthday Sophia!

We had Sophia's 2nd birthday party a few weekends ago (where has the time gone!) This time last year Tyler was only a few months old and didn't participate in the 1st birthday party festivities all that much (actually sleeping through most of it)  This year he was ready to go, getting himself involved in all the fun and making sure to test drive all Sophia's new toys (throwing a little nap in there too just to take the edge off)!  As always a great day watching our little boy do his thing!

The birthday girl enjoying a pre-party basketball game!

Tyler and Sophia on the move

Tyler enjoying cousin Sophia's birthday present......he loved watching his cousin jump and trying to get a little air himself.

Exhausted from all that jumpin!

Come on PopPop time to go play in my house.

CAPE MAY 2011

Picture compliments of Leenie Rickert

Our annual trip to Cape May was a few weeks ago. What a difference from last year; Tyler was 6 weeks old, Mike was only with us for 2 days of our trip, and Mommy was still trying to figure out how to do this Mom thing (I'm actually still trying to figure that out)!   

2010                                     2011

This year was a wonderful....not necessarily the relaxing vacations of the past, but so much fun watching our little guy run all over the beach. Tyler had a great time exploring all the new things and wore himself out daily - which meant great naps and great night sleeps (every parents dream come true!)  We had a wonderful week and love that our little boy enjoys Cape May as much as we do.

Tyler and Sophia doing their thing on the beach

Fun family trip to the zoo-much like Tyler's 1st birthday he didn't have too much interest in the animals at the zoo but he did find the "tttttrrreeee" very interesting

Lots of giggles with Grammy & PopPop