Record Breaking Snow

This last weekend it snowed like crazy! Apparently it was the most snow we have received in a single storm in almost 100 years! The old record was 15 inches set back in 1910 and we had 20.4 inches this weekend. I was so glad James was home to shovel! Thanks honey! Tyler and James had a great time playing in the snow, while Ryan and I enjoyed the great indoors.

Tyler's all dressed to play outside!

Wresting Dad down into the snow.

In the snow fort James and Tyler built.

Visitors

Last weekend James headed off to Boston to attend an Oral Surgery conference, so my sister, Clair, and her very cute and very happy little girl, Sammy, came to visit. We had a great time while they were here doing what Evans girls do best - eat and shop. Luckily, neither of us did too much damage to the credit cards. It was so great to have her here on my first weekend alone with both Tyler and Ryan. She was so much help! Tyler keeps asking, "Where dat guy Care and baby Sammy?"

James just left to go to Seattle this morning for the next couple of days. I'm a little nervous about doing bedtimes 3 nights in a row by myself. Does anyone else want to come visit? Anyone? Anyone?


Ryan and Sammy were being so cute right before I took this picture. They were lying on the bed together, just staring at each other. Sammy kept grabbing his little hand and he was loving it. Of course, by the time I got the camara, he had had enough and was not shy about letting me know.

Tyler's Modeling Career Begins

I think he is practicing for the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition. Don't you love the wind-blown look? James has started calling him Farrah Fawcet since his hair is so long. I don't think I'm going to get it cut anytime soon. I like it and since it's gotten longer he has started twiddling his own hair rather than mine!

Tyler's Imagination Comes Alive

During the last few weeks, Tyler's imagination has really come to light. He loves to dress up and I often catch him having conversations with his toys. My favorite was when he had Buzz and Woody wrestling and Buzz was saying, "Ouch, Ouch. Woody, stop that! Woody needs to go to time-out!" A couple of weeks ago, Tyler's buddy, Sam, was over and they played all sorts of games. They dressed up like Woody and Bob the Builder and even made their own pirate eye-patches out of stickers. I think 3 is shaping up to be a fun year!

One more

I figured since I was posting anyways, I thought I would share this picture. I have been amazed at how many uses Tyler has found for the drawers under his train table. Besides actually holding the train tracks, etc., they have been used as a stepping stool to get into things, a fairly clever hide-and-seek spot (I couldn't find him forever - he had actually climbed in and pulled himself back under the table!), and finally a chair to watch TV in. It's amazing what a 2-year-old can come up with!

A brighter note

I came downstairs a little while ago (after all the fire museum saga) to find Ryan fast asleep in his bed with Tyler's new fireman's hat (a new treasure from the tour) on his head and Buzz and Woody next to him. When I asked Tyler what Buzz and Woody were doing in Ryan's bed, he told me that "Baby Bry (Tyler can't quite pronounce Ryan correctly) was sad." I have to admit I was pretty proud of Tyler for voluntarily sharing his both his old favorites (Buzz and Woody) and his new acquired fireman's hat with his baby brother in order to help him feel better. What a sweet boy!

Was it really worth all the effort?

Between having a new baby (Ryan is 3 weeks old today!) and the fact that Tyler has been sick all week, I have been feeling just a little house-bound and was very ready to get out today. Luckily, my great activity-planning friend, Nollie, had organized a group tour of the Ohio Fire Museum. So I got up extra early in order to get both boys and myself ready and fed - believe me, that was no small task. Tyler was in a great mood this morning ... until the fireman rang the firehouse bell. I think he was still feeling a little sensitive because he turned around and ran to the door of the museum sobbing, "I go to Tyler's house now." It took quite a bit of bribery (a happy meal if you are a happy boy!) to get him to even turn around to go back to get Ryan. Luckily, the tour wasn't too long and then the kids got to play on the fire trucks and go down the fire pole in the play area. I convinced Tyler that it would be fun the drive the fire truck, but when I went to take his picture, he was still a bit grumpy. Eventually, Tyler perked up and had a fun time. On the way home, however, I learned that my bribes are no longer forgotten and we had to stop at McDonald's for a happy meal.