Down-Wind

What a week! Kyle had his tonsils and adenoids removed on Thursday and as always, he was a trooper! During the pre-op, at least 4 different nurses and doctors came to check him out and each time he happily took deep breaths and lifted his little hospital gown so they could put the stethoscope on his chest. He was probably only out of our arms for a little over an hour (Tracy and Eric handled it all very well!) and was very happy to be back with mommy and daddy when it was all over.

As soon as we got home he inhaled 2 apple sauce cups and a half a banana - the anesthesia was still working well! The next 5 days have been more challenging however he continues to sip juice well and eat the occasional pancake. We now know he loves chocolate shakes and he can give or take a popsicle! He has also been battling a high fever, which the doctors say is a secondary infection but as to be expected from Kyle, he always has a smile ready!!

Tracy and Eric have had their fair share of Blues Clues and the Letter Factory and are ready for our little man to be back to his normal vibrant self:-) We are also ready for his breath to stop STINKING!! Eric plans to hang an air freshener around his neck! Oh, one more thing - Kyles vocab has already increased a lot! All we can figure was having two huge water balloons in his throat has prevented him from even trying to say certain words!

Riley has definitely benefited from Kyles distress! She has had more popsicles and icecream than we can count (each time Kyle refuses it, Riley willingly finishes it for him) and she has enjoyed many fun excursions (to keep her happy while Kyle is home on the mend sitting in mommy's lap) She spent a fun morning jumping at Kangaroo Jacs with Lexa and Aiden, went to the park to run, scooter, and feed the ducks, and a couple dinners and lunches out with Daddy!


The Surratt Pack hopes to be back to their regular 100 mile an hour lives by next week - enjoy the pix!

Riley on the new rock wall at the park.

Riley at the park enjoying a little fresh air!
Riley hamming it up!

Kyle pre-op - still all smiles!

Considering we pulled him out of bed at 5am, this is very impressive!
Kyle & Tracy post-op

Kyle eating!! Chocolate chip pancakes and some extra cho-chips!

What ever it takes to get him to eat:-)

Snow at last

Another busy and fun week for Ri and Kyle! Riley started dance class and Kyle figured out how to get ALL of his clothes off!! but the pix tell the week better than I can!

Lexa and Riley ready to play in the snow at Wintergreen!

Riley going to the top of Rigley park to tube!

She was a little dare devil and didn't want to leave.

Kyle and Eric playing in the snow! The temp was in the high 50's - gloves were not required!
Kyle only tubes a couple times - he loved all the other toys more.

The kids playing out back after a fun day in the snow.
Kyle loves coloring with Riley now.

Mr. Suave

Riley's dance class

Riley playing with Ivy

Riley tubing!

Kyle playing in the snow.

Go Steelers

Another exciting week for the Surratt Pack! GO STEELERS! Riley has already experienced 2 super bowl wins in her short 4 years and now Kyle gets one before he is 2! Yippee!

The kids are great - Kyle is fighting a cough, but we are working hard to get rid of it before the tonsil and adenoid surgery in a week or so. Kyles verbal skill are increasing and he attempts many more words and has mastered many as well.

Riley loves school and has mastered her address and almost has her phone number down. She is constantly a little mama to Kyle (even when Kyle doesn't want it), however has also learned to push his buttons!

This week we had a great dinner with Bebe and Aunt Becky before she headed back to Cali. We also celebrated Ivy's 2nd bday - Happy Birthday Ivy! Riley decided today, since she can't marry Daddy, she is going to marry Aiden and Kyle could marry Ivy. Watch out Lamberts, you could be connected to us for life!
Riley also had a fun night at the pool with Daddy while Bebe watch Kyle and Tracy went out with the girls. And to top off the week, Grandma and Papa got back into town after 2 weeks in New Zealand and Australia and we had a great dinner to celebrate Grandma's missed bday! Happy Late Birthday Grandma!!
Enjoy the pix:

The poor child knows how to give himself breathing treatments!

He'll do anything for a Blues Clues!

Papa and Kyle at dinner

Riley & Lexa at dinner - 2 peas in a pod!

Grandma and Kyle at dinner

Naked White Boy!

Playing out side on Sunday - GREAT weather and Great Game!

Our little Steeler Fans!

Celebration of Life

We have had an emotional, however wonderful week! Family from up and down the east coast and all over Cali came to town to celebrate Mamo's wonderful life and celebrate we did!

Wednesday night was an impromptu gathering at Bebe's house with everyone aside from our house guests that arrived later that night. Riley had a blast with her cousins, Zach (15), Willie (13), Lexi (11), and Benjamin (7) (well... her dads cousins children... would that be her third cousins??) Riley was in hog heaven with all the big kids, however Kyle had different plans. He preferred to spent the majority of the week on Tracy's hip - the crowds may have been over whelming for him (until the very last night that is!)

The kids stayed home on Thursday with Aunt Darcy and Lexa while the rest of the crew went to Arlington National Cemetery for Mamo's service. All three little ones had a blast running though the bus that the Lamb family rented for us to take up to DC prior to us leaving. The service was beautiful and Mamos children created a beautiful and unique eulogy that allowed the entire family to be a part of it. After the service we all had dinner at the Surratts and had a lot more laughs!

Friday was spent at Bebes with the entire family and also neighbors and friends. Kyle finally decided that the cousins were super cool and Tracy didn't see him again until bed time! Both kids played hard and were troopers till the end - even though Ri missed her bed time by three hours!! It was fabulous seeing the entire family and all of Mamos friends! She definitely knew how to live each day and I hope we can all do the same in her Honor!

Riley and Lexi snuggling late night on Friday

Benjamin, Kyle, and Willie (kyles new best bud!) Notice Kyles huge bruise on his nose - he had a collision with the train table and the table won.

Riley, Lexi, and Lexa - Ri wasn't the only 4 year old obsessed with Lexi!

The Bus! Thank you again Lisa and Randy - having the bus was such a HUGE stress relief!

We also visited Jim while we were at Arlington.

Beautiful view! This is right where the Pentagon was hit on 9/11

Bye Mamo - we love you!

A Historic Moment

What a day! Riley and Kyle got to witness a historic moment in time today and although they probably won't remember, we'll be able to say "don't you remember when you were four/one, and Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States!"

It has been an excited and busy few weeks - we have gone bowling, to the Children's Museum a couple times, to the movies, playgroup, school, and... I'm sure there is more and I guess my lack of memory should prod me to stay on top of our blog! Lesson Learned!

Riley recently discovered self will and spent an entire day telling Tracy "no" to everything asked of her. Obviously it was not a fun day, however we count our blessings that it took her 4 years to figure out that she can tell us "no" (however she has already learned that the results of telling her parents no end in losing some sort of privilege). Other than that, she is still our sweet little girl who is obsessed with the music to Mama Mia and knows every word to the entire CD.

Kyle has learned that he can tattle tale on Riley. He is still our man of few words, but he has figured out that when wronged, he can find one of us, and say with a pitiful pout, "Ri Ri" - this indicates that there has been an incident - of what nature, who knows! Kyles vocabulary is growing every day, however we think he just chooses not to speak much! Unlike Riley who was speaking in full sentences by two years old.

Riley and Kyle want to send special over seas love to Grandma and Papa who are cruising through New Zealand and Australia and a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grandma! We are looking forward to keeping up with your travel blog and seeing pix when you get home!!

We are also looking forward to seeing all the family from Erics side in the next few days! Everyone is coming in to celebrate Mamo's amazing life and head to Arlington Cemetery to say goodbye.
Enjoy the pix!

Riley at the Children's Museum on a Dino

Bowling - resting between frames

Typical Kyle not sitting correctly. He now refuses to sit in a booster so we've put it away!

Riley and Kyle making Pizza - home for a sick day. See Riley's cheeks - it is Fifths Disease

yet another disease to pass through the Surratt household! Kyle got it the following week.

Also, notice Riley ever so slightly pushing Kyle off the stool - she has learned a way to be nice yet still make him mad! Tracy has been requiring the two of them to hug a lot more lately!

The trio at C-Mor

Riley and Lexa were interviewed by Radio Disney at C-Mor. When asked what her favorite Disney show was, Riley responded "Blues Clues!" - which by the way, is a Nick show! Opps! She is child of Tivo, who cares what channel it comes from:-)

Riley painting her jewelry box from Aunt MaryAnn - I've never seen so much paint or glitter on one box! She LOVES it!

Riley and Lexa at Romp-n-roll

Kyle at Romp-n-roll

A Great Loss

Happy New Year to all from Riley and Kyle! We hope 2009 brings everyone great happiness and joy!

While the new year brings all sorts of possibilities and dreams, it is also a great time to remember the past year. Most importantly, we would like to take time to remember Riley and Kyle's great grandmother, Honor Taylor (Mamo). We lost Mamo on New Years Eve after 92 long and wonderful years. Anyone who had ever met or even heard stories of Mamo knows what an amazing woman, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother she was. Her quick wit and spit-fire attitude kept us all laughing and we are all blessed to have had Mamo in our lives. Although Riley and Kyle are still young, we know that a part of Mamo will always be with them and they are so lucky to have had Mamo as such a big part of their little lives.

We miss you Mamo and you will always be with us in spirit! And, your "mamo-isms" will last forever! (for any cousins/Aunts/Uncles reading this - please write down all your favorite mamo-isms and send them this way!)

One last Mamo-ism for the road: "Shakin' like a jack-ass eating cuckle-burrs!"

October 2008 - Mamo's 92nd Birthday

September 2008 - Emerald Isle

May 2007 Holding her 11th great grandchild, Kyle, the day he was born.

Mamo has 3 children, 8 grand children, and 13 great grand children

October 2004 Holding her 10th great grandchild, Riley

Risky Business

Merry Christmas!! Riley and Kyle had a wonderful Christmas and send holiday greetings to all! It has been an exciting week beginning with holiday parties at school for both kids. Tracy attended Kyles and then Tracy and Kyle joined in on the fun with Riley's party. Christmas Eve was spent at the Umsteads with Grandma and Papa and the Rodrigues tradition of Chinese food! The kids had a blast exchanging and opening presents and the following morning was even more fun! We were lucky enough to have the entire clan (both Tracy and Erics sides of the family) over for more fun on Christmas day! Thank you everyone for all the wonderful and thoughtful gifts! The kids, and Tracy and Eric, are still in amazement and are not sure where to begin playing!


The day after Christmas, Darcy had us all over to spend time with Cousins Courtney, Greg, Ian, Betsy, and Bob. Tracy and Eric had to head out early to attend a mystery dinner party! The kids spent the night with Aunt Darcy and Tracy and Eric had a great time with friends for the evening!! On Sunday, aside from a killer win for the Steelers, we got to spend the day with Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary Ann from Rhode Island! We really hope another Rodrigues Reunion can happen again this summer!!

Kyle at his school holiday party

Kyle LOVES his new roller skates! This pix was from xmas eve, but he wore them all of xmas morning as well! Thank you Aunt Darcy, Uncle Mike, and Lexa!

Christmas Eve at the Umsteads

Christmas Eve

Kyle and Papa having a sword fight on Christmas day. They were hysterical!

Grandma and Kyle going for a ride on the new scooter

Riley with her new bears

Riley opening the twins from Santa. Riley had drawn pictures of these twins for Santa and asked every Santa she saw for these dolls.
Lots of xmas love!

Kyle playing with the new train table!

Tracy, Darcy, and Courtney

Kyle playing Tom Cruise in Risky Business