Champaign Trip!

Last weekend, we took a family trip to Champaign to visit Nolan and spend some time on campus. We even made a night of it and enjoyed the pool at the hotel.

Uncle Matthew & Nolan 

Ryan was obsessed with his "little hands" 

This is about as close as Connor wanted to be...he was much more interested in the dog! 

Wrestling break 

U of I 

Picture by Ryan Sand - Undergrad library 

Picture by Ryan Sand - Quad

Nolan Antonio Cervantes

New cousin!! Welcome to the family Nolan!! Born 7/31 at 8:19 am.  8 lbs 20 1/2 inches long!  Connor and Ryan can't wait to meet him and teach him how to play all sorts of sports!!

Summer Fun

We've been having fun the past few weeks just enjoying our summer.  We've also made a big change in our room situation.  In preparation for Baby Sand, Ry and Connor are now roommates!! Ryan couldn't have been more excited about the big switch.  We will see how he feels in a few years...

Dinner in Chicago!! 

Playing drums at Children's Museum 

Hanging out with the Schwerha girls 

Big hugs!! 

Future Artist??

Water Play

We've spent the past few weeks having some fun in the water...and making handprints in cement!!

Helping Papa finish the new sidewalk

 Ry's turn!!

Swim lessons 

July 4th Celebration

This July 4th we celebrated with the Sand family in Dwight.  The boys had a great time in the pool and on the slip and slide.  Connor actually got the hang of it the fastest (even better than his Aunt Erin)!!  Connor was asleep long before the fireworks started but Ryan actually enjoyed them this year.  A far cry from last year when he ran away from them!

Golden Family Vacation 2014

We just got back from a long weekend in the Dells with my entire family.  We had a great time!! We rented a house where we had access to an indoor/outdoor pool and the house was right on the golf course.  Ryan didn't know what to do first!! We also stopped by the Children's Museum in Madison for some play time on the way home.  What a great place!

Kisses for Memaw

Duck boat ride with Daddy

Fishing with Papa 

Showing off his catch with Aunt Kaylee

Snuggling time

Hand Holding

Riding the pretend cart 

Old fashioned phone booth

Just some boys hanging out...

Ryan is back on his boys vs. girls kick.  Luckily, he's had plenty of boys to hang out with lately!!

At his own personal driving range with Dad 

Water table fun 

Hanging with Jack

Connor's "posing for pictures face"

1st Week of Summer

Ryan and Connor are taking the summer off of school/daycare and spending their days with mom and various babysitters.  We are already having way too much fun!!

Sharing a bench 

Naptime snuggles

Showing off his new hat and "water gunner" 

At his own personal driving range 

Defeated!!

Birthday Weekend!!

What a birthday celebration weekend Ryan had!  On Friday, after a quick trip to the zoo and opening presents, we headed to Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva for some waterpark fun.  The Eders were even able to join us!  Then on Sunday the whole family made the trip to La Grange to celebrate with us.  Ryan loved all his presents and opened them in record time!  Ryan also made two trips to the driving range over the weekend...what a lucky guy!!

First morning as a 4 year old! 

Heading to the waterpark...asleep before we got to 47th St (picture by Ryan) 

The only pictures we have from the waterpark...Connor would have been happy playing with remotes all day 

Big guy bike 

Connor and Elsa 

Blowing out the candles on his soccer cake 

Giving the bike a try 

The zoo lions!!

4!!

Today our short zoo lion* turns 4 years old.  We have no idea where the time went but we have loved getting to watch our baby grow into such a special young boy.  He still loves all sports and is currently really into soccer and golf.  He also branched out and tried a music class which he really loved!  Ryan is a great big brother and is always either holding Connor's hand or (lovingly) tackling him.  Connor can't get enough of it and thinks his brother is the greatest thing since sliced bread (maybe - Connor really likes his carbs).  Ryan is still a guy's guy and loves to talk about what the big boys and big guys are doing.  He is currently going through a fairly picky stage but offer him M&Ms or Oreos and he will love you for life.  Much like his mom, he thinks ice cream is only worth eating if it's chocolate.  We are so thankful to have this special guy in our life and can't wait to see what the future holds.  We love you to the moon and back buddy!!

*When Ryan was 2, he really loved the sea lions at the zoo but always called them zoo lions.  Then he started to refer to our family as zoo lions and it just stuck.  Now we have Mom and Dad zoo lion, short zoo lion (Ry) and baby zoo lion (Connor).  I think we are going to have to change everyone's title when the baby comes!!