New Waterpark Game

It isn't enough just to swim, wade, or cool off in the waterpark. Nope.  The dude has to create a game that entails being outside of the waterpark 50% of the time. 

Here's how it goes:

Put the Rings in the Waterpark

 

 

Go and get the rings

 

 

Got the Rings

 

 

Gather yourself and the Rings

 

 

Throw the Rings outside of the Waterpark

 

 

Go get those Rings

 

 

It's a simple game....but apparently very entertaining.

Scary Toys

It never ceases to amaze me how many creepy toys are in the market today.  Admittedly, most of them were made years ago...when focus groups and corporate testing wasn't as popular (I'm guessing).  But sure enough they hit the market.

There are those toys that are purposefully creepy like the Chucky Doll which is a doll modeled after the horror film "Child's Play".

I'm more interested in the unintentional creepy toys that hit the open market in all their scary glory.

Here are a few that I found just by doing a Google search:

An obviously older toy that just is weird....and definitely creepy

 

 

Clowns have to work extraordinarily hard NOT to look creepy

 

 

Someone thought this would be a great idea for kids (notice how they were so clever to make the heart to NOT look anatomically correct.  Probably to not freak out the kids even more)

 

Maybe not creepy in the Halloween sense......but creepy nonetheless.

 

 

Having said all that, I need to tell you about our creepy toy we bought for Owen.  OK, maybe "creepy" isn't the right word.  The word I'm looking for is......"haunted".

 

 

The Haunted Puzzle

 

 

The point of the game is to place the puzzle pieces back in their designed space and when you successfully do that the board will make the sound of the animal that you just completed.  Owen loves it.

 

The problem I have with it is that on more than one occasion, I have been walking up the stairs out of the basement (where the toy is stored) and I hear a "Moooo,  Mooooo".  The board just Mooooed at me and it hadn't been touched in hours.....sometimes days.  This happened to me at least 6 different times....and finally it happened to Emily.  So, I'm not crazy.

 

We have a haunted puzzle.

 

 

 

Dedication

Back in June, our church had a baby dedication for those parents who wanted to dedicate their child to God.  Grandma Nancy & Grandpa Gerry came up for the service. 

Afterwards, our church had a little dinner and get together for all the families and they hired a photographer to take pictures of the families.  We got the cd with all of the pictures back recently.  So, here are a couple of them:

 

 

 

Daddy / Dude Day at the Zoo

I took Owen to the zoo to see if he would be more interested in the animals than the last time we went. 

He did very good.  We only stayed a couple hours since we needed to get  him back for a nap and it started to downpour. 

(Sorry the pictures aren't great.  I had to hold him the entire time.   And to try to take a picture of Owen while he is in your arms - while not getting myself in the picture - and still getting the background of animals...was a challenge.)

Polar Bear

 

 

The elephants came up very close which he was impressed with

 

 

Both elephants were right up to the edge of their confinement

 

 

An employee pulled us out of the crowd so Owen could touch different skins and things from different animals.  This is elephant skin. 

 

 

Giraffe Hoof

(other skins he felt include: koala, zebra, wild pig, and giraffe)

 

 

Carousel Ride

 

 

Penguins

 

 

Showing off his shark tooth necklace souvenir with his name on it

 

 

He loves his shark teeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Photo Randomness

The Dude does this move all the time.  We call it his Yoga position (downward facing dog)

 

 

He has finally grown up big enough to ride his "Rocking Sheep"

 

 

Big enough to be in the tub without his mini-air tub now

 

 

Conquered going "up" the stairs (not the "down" part yet)

 

 

Dapper Dude

 

 

Taking a play break from the Art Walk in the Park

 

 

Sometimes I just need a break from the 'rents

 

 

RAVIOLI IS THE BEST!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practical Joker

Owen did this at least 5 times in a row....and it cracked him up more each time he did it.  He's going to be a little practical joker.

 

(Love his little giggle when he thinks he put one over on me.)

Walking?

Owen is about as energetic as he has ever been.  There is no stopping him.  He has to pull himself on anything that moves and walk around with it.  

 

 

Playtime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table Walk

It wasn't the intended use of the table, but it is definitely getting use by The Dude. 

Waterpark

We purchased a blow up pool for Owen for his birthday....and the thing is huge.  It is much bigger than it appeared online.  Em has jokingly started calling it "the waterpark" because of its enormity.  But The Dude loves it.....so it's all good.

Picture of The Due in the waterpark (pre-water) to show its size

 

 

Loves it

 

 

 

 

 

Mom joining the party

 

 

Owen climbing up the slide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arbitrary Cuteness

1st Brewers Game

 

 

Brewers game view without the sun in our eyes

 

 

"Super Dude" flying toward the camera

 

 

Chilling out after a swim

 

 

Making a wish at the well

 

 

Hanging with The Dude on the water teeter-totter