We fell behind on blogging for a couple weeks, but we are back and coming on strong - 2 posts within a 5 days! We had such a fun weekend with Grandma and Papa!! Eric and Papa played in Papa's member/guest golf tournament for the third year in a row. Sadly, after 2 years of victory, the duo came in second but will be back with a vengeance next year:-)

Riley, Kyle, and Tracy enjoyed hanging out with Grandma at the pool and lounging on the back deck and we all got to go in to town for the Friday night music in the streets.
Now we are back home and back to the regular routine - playgroup on Monday, school today and tomorrow... etc... and lets not forget swim lessons!!
Enjoy the (many) pix!

Riley at the golf course enjoying the best part of the tournament, Cookies!

Kyle has taken a liking to Ri's putter - watch out Tiger!

Awe... snuggling with Grandma (hes out cold!) Doesn't he look like Riley here?
White boy in the bath - couldn't you just eat him up?!
Morning routine - all three on the back deck playing ball - look at the gorgeous view! Grandma and Papa put up glass where the rails would be - it looks awesome!
Papa and Ri with one of the many crabs down town
Playgroup - sprinkler day!
Kyles 1st time in the sand box and buddy Ruthie fell in beside him.

Maybe now he'll get in our sand box...

Riley and 2 of her buddies (John and Duffy)
Kyle on his way up!

Botom video is Riley dancing with Eric at Music in the Streets - she HATEs performing, so if she knew I was taping that, she would not be happy with me!

Bottom video - we just had to show Kyle's improving walking and climbing skills (however still amusing!) Also, he has on his 1st pair of velcrow shoes and finds them very fun! Note how wet his shirt is... this is not sweat, it isn't even hot outside. His shirt is soaked with spit... we are hoping by the time he is 12, he'll learn to keep the drool in...

Happy LATE Daddy's day!

Riley and Kyle want to wish all the wonderful dads out there a Happy Late Fathers Day!

We spent out fathers day at Bebe's pool, swimming and just kicking back! Eric was pampered all day which hopefully makes up for the rest of weekend that he spent working on our ever improving backyard and deck!


Its been an extremely busy couple weeks. The weather was crazy hot for a week and now seems to be getting a lot better! We have spent a lot of time at the pool and Riley seems to like the water a lot more this year than last. Kyle is fearless and just jumps in whether you are ready or not. This is just one example of how different the kids are! Darcy and Lexa have joined us to play at the pool and that seems to give Riley some extra confidence. She just LOVES her cousin! Swim lessons started for all the kids this past week and so far, so good!!



Soon after our last post, Kyle got sick yet again! This time is was Mono! He's a popular little guy with the ladies:-) Kidding! As it turns out mono is very common in kids and it isn' t diagnosed very often b/c it just shows as a cold. However, it is a little less common in a child who is 13 months old! The doc drugged him up (steroids and an antibiotic) and he hung at home with mommy or daddy for the week. We've already been back for our follow up appointment and although is tonsils are still really big, his spleen feels great and he is no worse for wear (Eric and Tracy may have a few more grey hairs)!

Aside from that, Kyle is really coming into his own. He is a full time walker (still looks like a monkey walking!) and is much more likely to battle with his sister over whatever the moment calls for, rather than just giving in to her as he has in the past. He is still a super cuddler and is always smiling.


Riley had an exciting 2 days at school! Every Tuesday for the rest of the summer, the ice cream man now comes to school and on Wednesday her class gets to play on the lily pad on the playground. The lily pad is a huge sprinkler contraption and she and her friends had a blast this week getting wet and running their little tails off!


We are currently in NC with Grandma and Papa, but those stories and pix will have to wait!
Enjoy the pix!

Day at the pool with the Umsteads - Kyle and Lexa are enjoying a puddle during adult swim. (White boy has to wear the goofy hat per mom!)

One of our many quarantined days spent out back. Ri ended up with a crazy high fever as well.

Peak-a-poo!

More backyard play, showcasing the newly finished old deck and the new canape - thank you Bebe!
She wore her, itty bitty, tinny weeny...

Fathers day at Bebe's house

Kyle with one of his many security balls!

Kyle's 1st day jumping in.

I Scream 4 Icecream

Summer has arrived! The weather has been beautiful and we have been spending tons of time outside, however we only made it to the pool one time this week! The week was as busy as usual but filled with lots of fun activities.

Music Class is coming to an end soon. This was a GREAT bday gift from Grandma and Papa for Kyle! Kyle, Riley, and Tracy have enjoyed every minute of it and are sad that it will be over in just one week. However we did get to go to a make up class, therefore we had 2 classes this week! We also had a great mexican dinner with 2 families on Saturday night. The kids had a blast and did such a great job entertaining each other that the adults got to really enjoy our dinners!! The Surratts also ventured out to the Greek Festival - Riley wasn't in an adventurous mood, but Eric and Tracy enjoyed some delicious Greek Food. Riley did LOVE the greek music and dancing!

On Monday morning, we hosted a kick-off-to-summer ice cream party for the MOM's club. About 40 of our neighborhood friends came over and made big sundays and played on our newly finished deck. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time! After naps, we headed over to the park to feed the ducks and turtles and play some more.

Everyone is peacefully sleeping now and the grown ups are soon to follow - have a great week!

It was camera week at Music class. No pix of Kyle because he was not in the mood to venture far enough away from Tracy for her to get a decent shot!

For those of you who know Ri well, you know she does not like to dress up... so we were all shocked when she put this tiera on and let me take a pix!

Kyle with another crazy expression... check out the shirt from Bebe!
Kyle helping prepare for the ice cream party - teaching him early!

Playing in our new sand box out back during the ice cream party - also the same group from dinner on Saturday night! Check out Johns cool shades!
Riley and Duffy feeding the ducks
Riley swinging

Fan-tube-stick

We have had a fantastic week! After getting back from our adventure to Atlanta, we settled in for our normal week, however Friday brought all sorts of excitement! Kyle had tubes put in both ears Friday morning. He was such a brave little man and did great! After a long morning nap, he was back to his normal smiley self and just to top it off, he started balancing and walking that afternoon! We love TUBES! He has also started signing this week, however he tends to use the sign for milk for Everything! But at least he is trying! Kyle also now has a few words... Taz (our cat), ball, and something similar to "that"...

We ventured out to Friday Cheers that evening with our friends Jennifer and Mackenzie. The weather was fantastic and the kids had a blast dancing and playing together (of course the camera was at home). Riley and Kyle spent the better part of Saturday with Aunt Darcy and Lexa on Lexa's new playground (again, the camera was home however check out the Umstead Update for potential pix).

Sunday was a FULL day with church, visiting Katie and Justins newest addition, Jeffrey - Congratulations!! Jeffrey is perfect!! That afternoon our friends Julie, Ruthie, and John joined us for dinner (again, no camera!). Memorial day was again beautiful and we spent a wonderful day with the usual suspects at Bebes house. Bebe heated the pool and we had a great day of swimming! Both kids slept GREAT that night!
Enjoy the pix!

Riley in Bebe's pool

Aunt Darcy and Lexa

Kyle in Rileys "lily pad" float - extremely masculine!

Riley in mid air goofing around

Kyle on the ATTACK! He walked back and forth between Tracy, Eric, and Riley at least 2 dozen times when this video was taken!

Penguin Poop

Another busy week for Riley and Kyle! Riley continues to love her "new school" and loads of new friends. She has a new teacher this week as well. Ms. Megan has known Riley since she was a baby because she used to work at Rileys old school!

Kyle continues to battle the ears but has the big appointment for tubes this Friday!! We wish it was yesterday! Kyle has moved up to the Beginner Walkers room at school and is adjusting really well. He insists on eating baby food during his 2 days at school, while the rest of the week he eats table food... strange! We think he's playing his teachers, but he has a lot of transitions going on right now, so we'll let it slide for a little while. Kyle took his 1st few legitimate steps this past weekend as well!! For a few weeks now, hes been doing this little run into a lunge; however this past weekend he actually balanced himself and took a series of steps!! Way to go Kyle!

We all drove to Atlanta this weekend as well! We had a great visit with Uncle Bill and Aunt Karen and enjoyed watching all the golfers come into the 12th hole from their back deck. We also had a great cookout with the Grinnells and Farias and even went to the Georgia Aquarium! Thank you KT and Bill for such a great weekend! We also spent one night with the Grinnells - thank you Lindsey and Andy for being such great hosts! It was wonderful seeing you ALL!!

Enjoy the pix!

Awesome Aquarium!

Riley got a "tattoo" of a purple turtle - Obviously she picked it out!
Kyle in awe of the ocean
KT, Riley, & Kyle (and some random guy) inside the ocean

Absolutely amazing!

And the end of the Aquarium trip!

They didn't even make it 1 block before they were OUT!

Priceless!

Kicking back and watching golf
More golf watching! (Bill, KT, Eric)
Drew, Kyle, Riley - Kyle was obsessed with the hearth!

Riley and Kyle playing peak-a-boo.

And he turns one!

It has been a long while since we have posted and the Surratt Pack has been up to a lot! First, Tracy and Eric celebrated their 5th anniversary! 5 years and 2 kids later... WOW!! We've come a long way baby! Soon after, Eric and Tracy left for a fun/work trip to Vegas. As they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but here on the home front, the kids had a great time with Bebe and Mamo. Lexa and Aunt Darcy helped out as well one night. Since Tracy was in a conference, Eric didn't stay for the entire trip and once he got back to town, Grandma and Papa showed up after their long Tennessee trip. Congrats Grandma on your wonderful success in the 1/2 marathon!! and thanks everyone for all your help while the adult Surratt's were out of town!!

We celebrated Kyles 1st birthday on Friday May 2nd. The real day is May 1st, however, Tracy was still in Vegas (winning the Mom-of-the-year Award) so we waited till Friday to celebrate. Kyle loved the pizza but was not a big fan of the cake!! However, he'll bowl you over for a bite of ice cream!!

We also got together with our good friends the Britts that weekend as well. The weather was perfect and we spent the entire afternoon out back catching up! Tracy and Eric got to experience life with out children, because both of our kids were so into the Britt kids, they forgot we existed!

On a more serious note, Grandma came though a rather serious surgery for a melanoma with flying colors and we got the "all clear" word from the doctor yesterday!! We could not be happier and wish Grandma a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing Grandma and Papa next week! (Due to a lot of puking, Tracy was unable to drive down to NC to visit. We miss you Grandma and Papa!!)

This past weekend we spent a wonderful mothers day with Mamo, Bev, Aunt Darcy, and Lexa. Eric slaved away in the kitchen and everything was delicious! Not only did he cook dinner, he cleaned first, did all the food shopping, prepping and most importantly, cleaned everything up as well!! We love you E!

And now, the reason you all tune in...

Family anniversary dinner - 5 years and counting!!

Sleep over the night before E&T leave for Vegas
Playing with talking cookie monster

"That Cookie cracks me up!"

This is Kyles new "camera smile" - it makes us laugh sooo hard. New swim suit from Aunt Becky - Thank you!!
Cake... this is all that he ate of his cake!
hummm... not really sure what to do!

Party time!

The smile (again) with Grandma!
Kyle in the kangaroo climb
Mothers day - and the smile again!
Ri on mothers day - looking way to grown up!

Walk-n-roll

Riley and Kyle had a great week! Friday was super busy with music class in the morning for both kids and Rileys last dance class that afternoon. We are still all surprised at how much Riley loved dance, however her love of dance revolves around Lexa being in the class with her! We are going to wait another year or so before enrolling Ri in a longer dance session.

After dance Eric, Tracy, Riley, and Kyle went out to a local restaurant for dinner to celebrate Tracy's birthday! Everyone ate delicious burgers - even Kyle! (that kid will eat anything!) Saturday, both kids smiled pretty for new pix at Portrait Innovations and we met up with Grandma, Papa, Mamo, Bebe, Aunt Darcy, Uncle Mike, and Lexa for another great birthday dinner (and Sunday we ordered in - Birthday weekends Rule!)

There probably won't be a post next week because Tracy and Eric will be in Vegas while the kids play here with Bebe and Mamo. Have a great week and enjoy the pix!

Kate & Kyle during playgroup at our house this week

There was way too much rain to go outside

Riley riding the zebra

Kyle pushing the baby stroller

Kyle pushing his ride on toy