Sports Day

We have a park across the street from our neighborhood. After just one afternoon of this you see below, we can't walk past without Charles pleading, "Ball! Dada. Ball!" It was that fun.

Easter

It was a joyful celebration for the Raiths!

Charles caught on to the egg hunt right away.

Pit Stop Petting Zoo

Our favorite exit on the way from Mimi & Grandpa's to SW Florida has what equates to a petting zoo. We bought food from the gas station store—Charles was not afraid!

But the cow couldn't get at the food in Charles' closed hand.

Daddy helped.

Two Recent Beach Trips

Florida's winter has been too beautiful...

...to be inside posting pictures.

The humidity and heat have returned. And so have the updates.

A quick catch-you-up on favorite photos so far of 2009:

Charles has recently become very interested in trains. Train toys and pictures of trains. We thought he'd like riding on this train at a Family Fun Festival in town. You can see we were wrong. Even with Mommy he was only just putting up with it.

Typical Charles: hot and sweaty from playing ball!

If you look closely you can see the balled up socks by the wall under the crib. Charles let on to his stash after a nap one day, just after Mommy couldn't figure out why there were no clean socks in his drawer.

The innocent Charles pose. When he's into something he knows he shouldn't be, this is the sweet face he wears. (Daddy adds: But how mad can ya get when this is his reading material...my little theologian)

Here's a current favorite. He's getting to be a much neater eater these days (this was taken in January). Rarely do we catch on camera a genuine, happy countenance.