It's been nearly a month since our last post, but for great reasons! We've been having fun enjoying the summer. Here's our vacation photo album from our recent trip to Max's home town Ithaca, NY. A perfect week (followed with a return business trip to NYC for me, two days after we drove home.) My normal apologies for too many photos. But the good times are barely summarized in this "small" collection. Enjoy. We did!

Love,
Court, Max + RyanWe rented a cottage to serve as home base for our stay.

The view from our dock. Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, NY is nearly 45 miles long. And it's several hundred feet deep.
Ryan on the beginning of our journey, loaded down with toys.

Ryan enjoying a cottage meal of daddy's buckwheat pancakes and NY maple syrup.

We spent two mornings playing at Stewart Park in the sprinklers. This was a favorite play spot for Max as a kid, so it was a bit surreal to see Ryan enjoying it.



Ryan was so brave. His first pass through he ran through the center of the fountains, quickly realizing how cold it was. About an hour later he returned to conquer it again, only to learn how to block the water with his feet and hands.




During their visit in June, Grandpa taught Ryan how to do "cheers." We cannot get through a meal without Cheersing everything. Here they are back at it again.

Ryan and Max on our dock watching the "big boats." We were located right beside the Ithaca Yacht Club, so we had a constant supply of sailboats and regattas to watch.


Ryan got comfortable with the water and spent time skipping rocks and shale (no naturally sandy beaches in Ithaca.)



Ryan loved feeding the "geese" as he called them, everyday. One duck had babies while we were there, so between the ducklings, the neighbor's cat and an albino skunk (don't ask) we had plenty of wildlife to watch.

Nana and Ryan doing "cheers" before our "Birthday Party Between Cousins."

Nana and Ryan looking at his new Mass Transit book. The obsession with all things moving continues.

Little Ms. Carter Marie posing for me at the birthday party. Carter turned 2 recently and was the cutest gal at the party.
The closest we could get to a cousins/bro picture. Yes, Ryan is sticking out his tongue.

"Thank You GOD, I finally got a big truck like the kids that live back home across the street."
- Ryan Kerry on the occasion of a gift from his cousins.

Uncle Billy helping Ryan blow out his candle.

Jackson was most excited about his Star Wars action figure.

Grandpa and Ryan watching the air traffic on the way to Ithaca Airport.

Dinner on our deck with part of the fam.

We saw a rainbow right outside of the cottage on our last night in town.

Our happy little family.

This photo reminds me what a big boy Ryan has become.

Ryan and Max crawl through the new playground at Myer's Park.

Uncle Billy giving Ryan his first texting lesson. Every time the phone vibrated with a new text (every 2 minute), Ryan was trained to bring it back to Uncle Billy.

Ryan got a little wild with Grandpa in Benson's kiddie pool.


Uncle B (Brian) and Grandma laughing with Ryan on the couch.

Ryan and Benson tuckered out after an evening of chasing each other.

Grandma and Ryan watching the flowers grow.

18.75

Hi all,
Hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend. Our week has been full of festivities. Grandma and Grandpa Kerry visited from Ithaca NY Saturday through Tuesday. Their once a year visit is always a highlight. Ryan has changed a ton since they last saw him in person, so the visit was filled with lots of down time just hanging out.

Tuesday after they left we headed to the zoo since I had the day off. And today Max is golfing with our brother-in-law, so that left time for Aunt Kirstyn and I to take Ryan to Meijer Gardens for the Chihuly exhibition. Ryan left soaking wet and exhausted...a sign of a GREAT excursion.

Cali is transitioning into the new title of "dream dog." Max installed an invisible fence and she is now free to roam and doing a great job with it. Now when she howls, we can just put her outside which relieves a lot of stress.

That's all for now...I'm off to fill up the new kiddie pool while he sleeps and hope to fit in some yoga...I'm terribly out of a workout routine and trying to find the time (and energy) to get back into things!

Hope each of you have a fun-filled 4th ahead of you. Anyone and everyone's welcome here for a cookout! Enjoy the fireworks and the fun!
Love Court, Max + Ryan

Ryan saw this Chihuly being installed (it's all glass) and was amazed to see it up...he kept shouting "big Truck" which I think is his only way of saying something is big.

Little man LOVED the walkable fountain.

He came out soaked!

His most favorite part was playing in the replica of the Great Lakes. They had tons of boats and fish he could play with. WE played for a good 45 minutes!

Ryan also thought the treehouse was great and enjoyed playing dinnertime. He filled up all the plates with his water bottle.

Let me introduce you to "Naughty Ryan." Look at that face knowing he's about to get busted for putting his toy in his mouth.

Running outside of the zoo.

Daddy and Ryan posing at the zoo grounds.

Ryan got to touch a rooster for the first time and was not afraid at all.

Grandma Kerry and Ryan having breakfast together. We'll all be together again in a month, so we're excited to spend more time together.

Chasing his favorite outdoor toy...the popper.

Grandpa Kerry getting Ryan hooked on electronics (shocking...) Max's dad owns an audio / video /electronics store so he was doomed to crave high functioning sound making gadgets. Beside teaching him how to use the video camera and how to detect low quality speakers in public places, Grandpa also taught Ry how to do "cheers" with his drinks.