Dylan's first camping trip

snack time
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

This past weekend, we went on Dylan's first camping trip! We didn't want to go to far afield or stay too long (in case of any "crises" with sleeping outside in the cold, etc., etc.), so the trip was a short 2-nighter/3-dayer at nearby Big Basin.

As it turns out, the kids (Taliana and Dylan) had so much fun (and so did we!)!

It was hectic getting there -- I ended up going into the office all Friday afternoon (scheduled camp-prep time) and Tom, of course, was at his office, too -- so much of the prep was done last-minute, but it was well worth every effort it took to get us there and back.

I'm convinced we got the best campsite there. It was at a dead-end and there was a huge open space adjacent to our campsite where the kids could (and did!) run around!

making vegan ice cream!
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

The first night there, we made couscous with almonds, foul (black beans with parsley, lemon juice, tomatoes, bell peppers), roasted corn (that Assaf bought fresh from the farmer's market earlier in the day) and roasted potatoes for dinner. Later in the evening, we made a vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream with a Mega Ball that Tom and I had picked up from REI. Everything was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c and, naturally, the kids were totally excited about making ice cream -- they helped by rolling the ball back and forth to one another!

picking huckleberries
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

The next day, we went on a short hike where we discovered huckleberry bushes in full berry production! We collected 2 Tupperware containers-full to take back to camp -- and ate many more along the way. Dylan loved picking them so much, once back at camp, he traded his obsession with sweeping the tent with looking for more huckleberries to pick!

roasting marshmallows
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

On our second (and last) night, we made more mint chocolate ice cream (this time using a combination of soy creamer and soy milk -- better tasting, but a little less creamy in texture due to blending in the lower fat soy milk) AND roasted marshmallows for s'mores! I know this sounds like a lot of sugar, and after a post-hike 3-hour nap taken by both kids (during which we all got to enjoy a nice game of Elasund), we were all a bit worried they wouldn't sleep. But they did so much running around the campsite -- looking for walking sticks, acorns, huckleberries, etc. -- that they sacked out right along with us!

It was such a fun trip. As soon as we got home the next day, Dylan wanted to bust out his play tents and he is still talking about camping!

We're looking forward to taking a more extended camping trip next year!

Tyler did turn 5 and we did go and celebrate

Day 166: Tyler celebrates his 5th birthday!
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

Yep. I know it's been a while between the celebration (August 16th) and this post! Work for both Tom and me has been hectic (drama at his workplace, deadlines at mine). But, in between work (work work) and trying to keep up with house-cleaning (a losing battle), we still enjoyed countless moments of fun and giggles with the ever-growing Dylan Pickle.

Another one of Dylan
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

As you can see, Cindy and Jeff set up a little Spiderman-themed slip 'n' slide for the kids. Jason fearlessly went at it...Tyler was a bit more reluctant (he never really made it on to his belly in his first attempt), but Dylan was the most reluctant of all! He clearly was interested, so finally, after several inquiries and some "yeahs", Tom bowled him down the slip 'n' slide!

The kids also did a little swimming, "baking" (with Tyler's new stand mixer), and a whole lot of playing with Tyler's new Indiana Jones Lego set (something with crystal skulls).

Of course, Dylan skipped his nap. But, luckily, he did sack out at 10pm-ish on our way home from the party...!

Day 175: hmmm...can you spell M-E-S-S?

Day 175: hmmm...can you spell M-E-S-S?
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

Today's picture.

Conversation from yesterday:

Dylan: It myyyy gym. Daddy-o go and...
Tom:Oh! I can go to your gym?
Me:Can I come, too?
Dylan:Actually, I go to gym with daddy-o. <points to Tom> and mommy-o <points to me>

That's the first time he's used the word "actually"! What a little joy he is.

D.Y.L.A.N and Dylan is his name-o

eating nori, saying "cheese"
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

Dylan's molars are coming in, but he is such a trooper. Really. He's such a nice guy, it sometimes stuns me. He likes to joke around, he's so good at sharing (admittedly, moreso with me and Tom than with other kids), he extends invitations to play with him ("c'mon mommy-o. come back daddy-o. c'mon talinana") and, so far, he hasn't displayed any aggressive behaviors towards other kids (physical aggression, anyway; he does sometimes shout "Noooo!" when he wants something they have, and he'll thrust his little arm out to emphasize his dismay).

Also, he's getting so good at talking...and getting better at his conversational skills.

Every morning, he surprises me with what's on his mind (the other day, the first thoughts out were "processors. I have little one. Mommy has big one"; this morning it was "no more sleepin'. I wanna eat"!).

He offers his opinions freely and honestly: Tom made a homemade tomato sauce from our first tomatoes of the season the other night, and when he asked Dylan if the sauce tasted icky (often Dylan prefers plain), he responded with, "It's not icky. Daddy-o. It tastes fine."

He's very bossy and direct: on the way home from daycare just yesterday, he told me he needed to drive...to the office...to work (we wish we had his enthusiasm). He needed to sit in the big seat and I needed to sit "over there". At night, if I work, he'll say, "no mommy. Stop working!"

He counts and spells: he's very reliably counting to 10 and very reliably spelling his name (verbally, thanks to singing the "Bingo" song). He already knows his dad's name (when asked, he'll answer "Tom Reisz"), but just recently, he's learned his mom's name (it used to be, "my mom...is...mommy", but now it's "my mom is "SEAL").

There's been so much chatter in such a short span of time!

The other new thing this week is somersaults on his own (though more than half are crooked). And, perhaps the most promising development: he's requested to sleep in his own bed and has done so for 2 nights this week (he also asked to sleep in his "little bed" last night, but I fell asleep before bed time stories were finished!).

We're glad the tough "teething" week has ended. He's such a charmer when he's content....

molars?

Day 158: Dylan at the office (makin' phone calls to Taliana!)
Originally uploaded by coffywoman.

It's been a long, long week! Both Tom and I had hectic work schedules -- he wrapped up teaching geometry but gave two presentations on Thursday and Friday, and I had a Friday -- which left both of us getting an itty bitty amount of sleep. In the meantime, Dylan spiked a fever which kept him out of daycare (and our usual weekly fun stuff) on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday!

Luckily, both Tom and I were able to stay at home with him during the worst of it (Tuesday). On Wednesday, he seemed well enough for me to go into the office for a half day, but he still had enough of a fever (101) to keep him out of school.

After lunching together, Tom and Dylan dropped me off at work where Dylan had so much fun typing on the 'puter, his laptop, and making important phone calls. He clearly enjoys being at my office far more than I do!

Anyway, we vaguely suspect that the fever is related to more teething (2nd year molars), but when I stuck my finger in his pie-hole, I didn't feel a thing. Still, he's been jamming his fingers far back into his mouth and abruptly crying out in pain; his appetite is down and, on Tuesday and Wednesday, he awoke at 1am and didn't get back to sleep for another hour. If new molars are the cause, we sure hope they come in soon...!

Dylan sings his ABC's

Dylan really, really loves to sing...and he busts out into song all the time (even when he's vacuuming!)! Among his current favorites are "Fanga a la Fia" (Mothersong tune), "Twinkle Twinkle" (in English and Spanish), "Old (Mc)Donald," "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and "Bubble Gum, bubble gum in a Dish" (a tune he learned from Taliana). This time, we managed to capture his rendition of the ABC song (sadly, it's only cameraphone quality!).