Queen of Babble

Alyssa can say quite a few "real" words now but she will frequently have long conversations which are all babble. She will often use hand gestures too. This video doesn't have the cutest hand gestures but it will give you a good idea of what her babbling is like! (Although it is a little tough to hear her over Ryan) She babbles in a similar way when she is "reading". She points at things, turns pages, and babbles!



It's really tough to get on video; she usually clams up when the camera comes on...or in this case Ryan gets very vocal.

A trip to the park

Quesadilla

A few days ago we were at the park swinging and we heard a loud noise. Ryan asked what the noise was and I told him that it was a cicada. About 20 minutes later, Ryan was playing with something else at the park. He pointed to a tiny little bug flying around and said, "Mom...Is that a quesadilla?" I have to admit it took me about 30 seconds to figure out what he was talking about; he meant cicada.

Today we went to Sophia's house and as soon as we got out of the car Ryan heard the cicadas. He asked if the noise was a quesadilla bug. Then when we were playing in Sophia's yard her mom found a cicada on the ground still in it's shell. Sophia picked it up (YUCK!) and put it in her bug house. About an hour later it shed it's shell. Although it is a pretty nasty large bug...it was kind of neat :)

Escape of the Baby

Our sweet little baby girl on Friday night decided that she did not want to go to bed...she scaled the wall and escaped her crib (twice). The first time John and I had gotten both kids in bed and had sat down on the couches...a few minutes later we heard what sounded like banging on her door. We looked at each other and I said, "NO WAY!" and we ran upstairs to find Ms. Alyssa standing at the door. We put her back to bed (and she wasn't to thrilled with that) only to have her climb out once again. The second escape was accompanied with a loud thud. She did not hurt herself and hasn't done it again...crossing my fingers she will stay in her crib for a while longer!!!


PICTURE SESSION
Yesterday we took the kids to have their pictures taken. It did not go all that well, which I suppose was no big surprise :) Here are a few pictures and I will post a slide show on the side with all of the pictures (good & bad).

Note: To see the slide show enlarged, click on the slideshow. It will take you to another page (Picasa Web Albums). Then click "slideshow" on the right side of the screen.

Congratulations John!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

John graduated with his MBA from University of Wisconsin - Madison on Saturday! John is excited to have his time back but a little sad that he won't see his friends from the program frequently. I'm extremely happy to have those nights back too.

At the beginning of the ceremony the speaker asked if everyone could hear her and people responded yes...then there was a moment when it was quiet...this was the moment that Ryan also decided to chime in with "YES!" Everyone chuckled and many turned to look. At the time I was wondering if John recognized Ryan's yes and it turns out he certainly did. The kids made it through a decent portion of the ceremony but their Nana took them outside towards the end.

We are all happy it is over and of course very proud of John!

First Dentist Visit

No Cavities!!!

Ryan had his first dentist appointment today (7/9)
* No cavities!

* Ryan let them count his teeth, brush them with the electric brush, squirt water & air, suck water out (with "Mr. Thirsty"), take pictures (not x-rays) that show up on the TV, & floss.

* The Hygienist, Brenda, was great with Ryan. She talked to him for a while before trying to see in his mouth. She showed him all of her "cool tools" (i.e. squirt gun that never runs out of water, Mr. Thirsty, special tooth counter, little mirror, gloves & special glasses). Ryan was so interested he was asking what other cool tools she had. He noticed a TV and asked about it, so she used another little tool that takes pictures that show up on the TV. Ryan got to see his teeth and an upside down picture of himself on the TV.

* He did really great. He had a few moments when he was thinking about not cooperating but they were very patient with him and he did it all. There was not a single tear shed.

* Ryan was well rewarded for his great behavior. He got to enter the 'No Cavity Club' drawing, picked a spiderman foam airplane from the treasure chest, Dr. Brad showed Ryan his motorcycle through the window & we went to McDonald's for lunch.

SWIMMING

Ryan and Alyssa had their 3rd swimming lesson last night. Alyssa enjoyed blowing bubbles in the water and even taught her big brother. By the end of the lesson they were bubble blowing machines. They are both learning to kick. Ryan seems to enjoy doing the hokey pokey at the end of the class.

Dress up

JOKES
Ryan is really trying to figure out the art of jokes. He thinks he is quite funny but to everyone else (who isn't a fellow three year old) his jokes don't make any sense. We were in the car and I thought I would try to teach him a real knock knock joke...

Mom: Knock Knock
Ryan: Who's there?
Mom: Boo
Ryan: Boo What?
....so close, but kinda ruins the joke!

SUPER TOOL RYAN

MILWAUKEE BREWER ALYSSA

SUPER FIRE FIGHTER DADDY

OTHER PICTURES

John & Alyssa

Alyssa lounging on the couch.

The kids being loaded up to go to Rhythm & Booms. Alyssa was not happy about the fire works and cried herself to sleep in a few minutes. Ryan was surprisingly unfazed by the noise and really just wanted to spin in circles with his friends.