Uncle Ryan's Graduation

This weekend the entire Riddle family gathered in Austin to celebrate Uncle Ryan's graduation from the University of Texas. It was a wonderful weekend, and Ryan graduated with too many honors to mention. But best of all, it was a chance for all of us to spend some quality time together, something we hadn't done since Christmas.

The weekend started on Friday night with a trip out to the Salt Lick for the best barbecue in the entire world.

Mommy had a hard time getting Trey to eat -- but eventually he found something acceptable in the beans and barbecue sauce.

All Trey really wanted to eat was that yummy cake! He had his eye on it the entire time.

Our honoree with his custom-made cake from RJ Goodies. Delish!

The next day was all about the celebration. Uncle Ryan graduated as a Dean's Honored Graduate in the College of Natural Sciences, an honor given to fewer than 1% of the graduating class. It was a huge honor, and we had a breakfast before the graduation ceremony to honor these few special graduates. The food was awesome and everyone we met was so nice. Trey was okay, but it was such an intimate gathering that we had to keep him away for most of the time.

Uncle Ryan getting his award:

And saying a few words, including thanking Mom and Dad.

Because of his special honor, Ryan got to sit on the stage at graduation! And just as cool, we had reserved seats in the very front of the stadium, in front of all the other graduates. It was pretty cool.

Trey did GREAT during the ceremony and stayed busy coloring and eating.

Trey giving his own speech at the ceremony (haha):

The whole family after the ceremony:

That night, Trey got to play with a sitter while the rest of us enjoyed a fabulous dinner at a wonderful Japanese restaurant.

Trey playing in the room the next morning (he was obsessed with the phones!):

And out at a quick lunch with Uncle Ryan and Jen before heading back to Houston.

What a great weekend! We are all so proud of Uncle Ryan and all he has accomplished. Knock 'em dead at Ohio State!

Splash!

Trey had fun at the splash pad this weekend with some of his friends...

...including a naked Jake!

The Gang

Trey with some of his besties at Hermann Park this past Saturday -- Jake B., Andrew, and Anna.
A future Rehearsal Dinner photo?

Fun at Mama C & Daddy Tom's

While Daddy got a little extra work done at the office, Trey and I headed to Mama C & Daddy Tom's house for a little visit. Daddy Tom was particularly excited for us to come over because, he said, he had something he wanted to show us.

We arrived to find that Daddy Tom had installed a special airplane swing for Trey on the back patio! This happened to be a swing that my grandparents had bought for Uncle Ryan when he was little; my dad found it and proudly painted Trey's name on the side (it has Ryan's name in red paint on the other side) and hung for Trey to use.
Trey was so excited to play on the swing! He especially liked it when Daddy Tom would twirl the propeller.

Eventually the women left the men outside to their own devices and retreated inside for a little visit. When I came back outside, this is what I found...

Don't you love the little mischievous smile? It's as if to say, "Mommy I know I just got my clothes all wet, but it's so much fun, and I'm only sorry that you caught me!"

Discovery Green

Yesterday we headed to Discovery Green with some of Trey's friends. Trey did not feel like getting up in time to arrive by 10, so we slept in and got there late. Trey had fun on the playground while a couple of the boys checked out the splash pad. Then we all enjoyed a fun lunch at the great little cafe there.

It was our first real trip to Discovery Green, and we had no idea how much fun it is. There are all kinds of things to do and explore (they even have a dog park for your "other" kids). We will definitely be back!

Determined

Last week, we had our first parent-teacher conference with the lead teacher of Trey's class. Ms. Patricia walked us through Trey's progress in the class, what he is working on, the lessons she will be introducing soon, and what he can work on at home. All in all, it was a solid report. Ms. Patricia said that Trey loves to learn and do "work," and he is good with the Spanish lessons at school. She said he is very well-behaved and plays well with others, and that he tends to avoid those in his class who are the "trouble makers" because he doesn't want to get in trouble. She told us that he is not so good at nap time because he prefers talking to napping, and that if he would nap easily he would be an ideal student!

Ms. Patricia also told us that Trey is working so hard to master their cutting lesson at class. There is one piece of "work" that has little strips of paper and scissors; the kids try to cut the strips into little bits in order to help refine their fine motor skills. If the kids are successful, the teachers help them paste the little bits onto a half-sheet of construction paper with a glue stick. Ms. Patricia said that Trey sees the older kids doing it, and he so badly wants to be able to do it too, but he's just not there yet. She said it breaks her heart because he chooses that particular lesson every day and has been working so hard on his cutting skills.

Bound and determined to help Trey accomplish his goal, I ran straight to Target that evening to buy kid-friendly scissors and a little plastic container to keep the project in. The next day, before Trey had even had a chance to practice this work at home, when I picked Trey up from school, there in his cubby was a half-sheet of construction paper with little paper bits pasted on it, along with the name "Trey." Trey's daily report said he worked on the cutting lesson and that he "did a very good job!"

My heart swelled with pride when I saw that. Seriously, I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of our little boy, who wanted so badly to be able to cut with scissors and had finally figured out how to do it.

Once Trey realized we had brought the cutting lesson home, he has wanted to cut paper nonstop. Seriously, it's all he ever asks to do anymore -- "cut paper." He is so proud of himself, too, when he does it. And we are equally proud of him. I now realize that I never quite understood before the pride my parents felt for me when I reached a goal or accomplishment. But now, on a much smaller scale, I think I get it.

Teaser

Eventually I will really go back and update this thing, I promise. In the meantime, however, here is a little teaser - a picture for you from before the neighborhood Easter egg hunt the day before Easter, Saturday April 3. In case you can't tell, Trey has now learned to look at the camera and say "cheese!"