Sussex County Fair

For the past three years, we've been going to the Sussex County Fair.  This year, we brought Jaden with us to enjoy the farm animals, tractors, and carnival rides.  Dylan remembered the place from the year before and knew exactly where we needed to go for his favorite parts.  We were so impressed at how everyone behaved themselves.  The weather was perfect - warm but nice and windy.  We all had a great time!

Three boys packed in the back

 Always our first stop -- feeding the horses, donkeys, sheep

we were outnumbered.. thank goodness for the strollers

 

 

 

 tractors, tractors, tractors.. did we say tractors???

Jaden working on his walking and balance

 

sitting together watching a show about yummy veggies

 

 brotherly love

We think they are getting sick of looking at the camera

enjoying a couple of rides

Kid knows how to nap!

Mommy's Date

While DD went to summer camp, Mommy enjoyed some one-on-one time with Logan, or as he called it - "our date".  Every morning, while Dylan got ready for camp, Logan would walk around the house asking if we're going on "our date".  We'd have breakfast at Panera, run errands, go shopping, and have snacks at cafes in Sparta.   Although Mommy and Logan very much enjoyed each other's company, Logan couldn't wait until we picked up DD. 

having a strawberry smoothie at Panera on one of our dates

Camp Sacajawea

We've heard a lot of great things about Camp Sacajawea in Sparta so this year we registered Dylan for one week just to see if he'd like it.  And he LOVED it.  Everyday they had different activities (carnival day, crazy hair day, princess day, arts and crafts day, super hero day) and he was excited to participate in all of them, except for the princess day.  Ha!  He wanted to go for another week, but our crazy summer days just wouldn't allow it.  Next year, we'll have to plan better and make sure he can go for at least a couple of weeks; this time, Logan will be old enough to join him.

his homemade super hero cape - Thanks Daddy!

crazy hair held by some super duper hair gel

Birthday fun

The eve of his birthday, we sneaked into his room to decorate with balloons, a banner and streamers.  We wanted to surprise him first thing in the morning when he woke up.  At 1:45am, Dylan came walking into Mommy and Daddy’s room – "I saw balloons in my room.  It’s my birthday.  I’m so excited".  He jumped in Mommy and Daddy’s bed and went back to sleep.  Mission FAILED!  But he still did wake up the next day, remembered the balloons and ran to room to check it out.

Before Daddy headed to work in the morning, Dylan opened his presents.  His electric scooter (from Mommy and Daddy) and new Hess truck (from Logan) made his morning.  He spent part of his morning playing with his new toys.

We were all packed and ready to go to the lake when the clouds got dark and lightening started. Apparently, Mommy missed the forecast for thunderstorms and lightening.  We waited it out hoping for the sun to come out and sure enough it did with still lots of time to head over to Tomahawk Lake.  We jumped into our cars (after Dylan blew out his cake from Lolo and Lola) and headed out to celebrate Dylan’s birthday (again!).

We were glad Grandma and Lolo were able to join us with the cousins, Ate Cece and Baby Jaden.  It’s been awhile since Dylan had been to this lake and Logan was still a baby the last time we went so everything was new to them.  They spent hours going down the slides, playing on the lily pads, bouncing on the inflatable platform and building sand castles.  Grandma even treated the kids to a paddle boat ride.  So much FUN!

Next time, we’ll have to bring along all the other cousins, titos, titas and grandparents for a BBQ.

After the Tomahawk Lake, we headed home to have dinner, ice cream cake, cupcakes with Daddy, Ninong Jeff, and Tita Juli – we missed them at the lake!

Happy Birthday Dylan – hope you enjoyed your 5^th Birthday!  You are OFFICIALLY 5 years old!

(mismatched pajamas due to having an independent 5 year old who insists on changing himself).

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday, Dylan!

To our dearest 5 year old Dylan,

You have been waiting for this day for almost a year.  In the last few months, you constantly ask when this day was coming.  You have been looking forward to all the cool things 5 year olds do:  go to "big boy school", ride the school bus, no more training wheels and lose your teeth, among other things.

Now, it's your turn to be 5 and we are so excited for you.  In just the last year, you have become such a big boy.  You make your own bed, pour your own juice, put away your dishes after meals, help set up the table, pick up your clothes from the floor, help clean your playroom (when you want to, of course!).  You've started to learn how to read, spell, add, subtract, swim, snorkle.  You love creating masterpieces with your legos and trios.  You continue to be obsessed and fascinated by anything with wheels - trucks, airplanes, trains, cars.  You are there to help Logan when he needs you - even wipe him after going to the potty! You are not only making Mommy and Daddy so very proud, but you are also setting great examples for your baby brother. 

You have come out of your shell and are turning into an animated, talkative child.  You ask interesting questions (how does an airplane fly?, where does water come from?, how does lightning light?, why does thunder make a loud noise?) which makes you a very fascinating little boy.  You are quirky and we love you for it.  At the same time, you can still be bashful and timid, showing there are many layers to you.  And everyday, we like seeing that you are developing your very own personality and  character.  We enjoy every bit of it.

Today, on your birthday, we wish for you to always embrace your individuality and uniqueness.  It is what makes you our one and only Dylan.  We wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy 5th Birthday, Dylan, D-ster, Giblet, DeeLan, DD, !


We love you forever, and ever, and ever, and ever!

Mommy and Daddy

Pearly whites

Logan never seems to amaze us.  Sometimes, even a big brother can learn from the younger one.

As soon as we parked in front of the dentist's office, Dylan started to cry - hysterically.  Logan, naive at 2, willingly stepped into the lobby not knowing what laid ahead of him.  Dylan followed his little brother's lead.  After some comforting, they both settled in the playroom equipped with two arcade games (that's right, Pac Man and Tetris!).

We met the dentist and got a tour of their very kid friendly office.  Dylan held on tight and didn't seemed interested at all.  No questions were answered, no eye contact, no interested.  He didn't want anything to do with the place.  He clearly took after Daddy.

The dentist had Dylan go first (oh, good luck).  He didn't want to sit on the chair, didn't want to open his mouth, or smile.  Pretty much similar to his first dentist appointment at 2 years old.  He was determined to keep anyone from seeing his teeth.  Knowing how difficult this is for Dylan, Mommy suggested they start with Logan.

It was Logan's first trip to the dentist.  He was hesitant but curious.  After a little bit of convincing and some bribing, he sat on the chair, put on the sunglasses and held a conversation with the dentist (see Dylan, that wasn't too hard, was it?)  She found out that Logan is two, he likes superman and loves watermelon.  They have become buddies and he pretty much let her do anything she needed to - bite down, check his gum, open wide, count teeth, brush teeth, floss and wash.  DONE!  He did so great and Mommy was so proud.

Crossing fingers, after seeing how easy it was and how it involved no pain at all, it's Dylan's turn.  He needed to be reassured several times that the dentist will do the same exact things as she did with Logan.  He sat on the chair, put on the glasses and held on for the ride.  In the mean time, Logan said several times "good job DD, proud of you DD" - and he was absolutely right!

It was a long hour with the dentist but at the end we accomplished what we needed to do.  Both kids actually said they had a great time and want to come back again.  When we got home, the kids were obsessed with their teeth.  They got a bunch of goodies from the dentist and they were checking, brushing, and flossing all afternoon.

playing with PacMan in the waiting room - FANCY!

let's count your teeth

 a little bit of cleaning, brushing, and flossing - no cavities!

 

 a little bit of cleaning, brushing, and flossing - MAYBE one cavity

 

 taking a picture (xray) of his teeth to check on that possible cavity

 all clear and clean!

Gift time

All day, even at his party, all he could talk about were his presents.  As the pile got bigger, so were his smiles.  "Wow, look at all my presents"

As soon as we got home, he couldn't resist peeking into the gift bags to see what's in them.  There were so many presents to count.  Good thing he had great helpers - Ate Cece and Logan.  One by one as he opened them, there were "yes!", "ooohhs", and aahhs, and a couple of "oh?" (apparently clothes was not on his wish list - go figure!).

Overall he was happy with his presents (Thank You All). 

 Logan got to pick one toy he was allowed to have; Ate Cece helping Dylan go through his presents

 

 He went through them in minutes.  The aftermath!

 Logan wanted to take pictures with the presents too.  "Is it my turn too?"

 He had a hard time deciding which toy he was going to play with tonight (he was allowed to pick one).  But the Legos won!  Working on the Legos thanks to Ate Cece

The finished product.  He spent the rest of the night playing with it and even took it to bed with him.