Technology

It appears I have (finally) figured out how to post blog entries from my phone. This will either be wonderful or terrible. Time will tell. In other news, Ryan learned to clap just in time to applaud my new abilities.

Ryan the Mischief Maker

They tried to tell me.  Many friends and coworkers warned me that around 9-10 months their "sweet, sweet" babies turned into tiny, mischief makers.  I shrugged them off - thinking there was no way my adorable, laid-back baby would turn a corner.  It turns out they were all right and I was in denial.  He has been spending the last 10 months watching and taking it all in, plotting and planning his adventures.  The past few weeks I've had to turn on my eagle eye to watch him every.single.minute because if I turn my back for 3 seconds he is pouring out the dog's water; unraveling a roll of toilet paper; trying to eat magnets off of the refrigerator; or trying to climb into the fireplace - and he isn't even walking yet.

When I busted him unraveling this roll of toilet paper he didn't even have the decency to look guilty, he just gave me his biggest smile, dimple and all.  Oh goodness am I going to have my hands full.

Thanksgiving 2012

 We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. The only hiccup was that Brad's dad wasn't able to join us. We were quite disappointed, but made the best of the long weekend. Brad's sister (Erika), her husband (Derek)and their adorable daughter (Emily) flew in on Tuesday evening. Brad (amazingly) was off for the entire weekend. After they left Brad commented that his abs and ribs hurt and the only logical explanation was due to the ridiculous amount of laughing we all did.

Top Row: Baby cousins sharing at dinner at Bailey's Range; Afternoon walks with the wagon; Derek and Emily on Thanksgiving. 

Middle Row: Mike "thinking about elephants"; cousins; snuggles with Aunt Erika

Bottom Row: Photos by Mike; playground fun; date night!

Monday Picture - On Tuesday

Monday Picture - Delayed

Due to issues with blogger the Monday Picture this week will be delayed.  I hope to have everything back up and working tomorrow.

Thankful

These guys top the list of things I am thankful for

I'm sure most people will wait for tomorrow to talk about what they are thankful for, but I want to relish in family, friends and good food tomorrow.  So today you get a list of 10 things (big and small) that I am thankful for.

1) My family.  All of them.  Every last one.  From the people I live with to the ones who live states and countries away. 

2) Sammy.  Sweetest dog ever.

3) My job.  Some days I wish I didn't have to work, but I really do like my job, my coworks and my ability to support my family.

4) The gym at work.  Without it I would rarely (if ever) work out. 

5) Friends.  The kind who call me randomly; the kind who invite me to lunch; the kind who watch my kids; the kind who listen to anything I need to rant about and the kind who make me laugh.

6) Food. Eating it - cooking it.  Whatever.  I just like food.

7) My iphone.

8) Babies climbing into bed with me way too early in the morning to "cuddle me mommy"

9) Our house, with the kitchen I love, the backyard with the beautiful firely leaves and the garage that makes it so I don't have to scrape icy windows in the morning.

10) Jingle bell jam sessions.

Monday Picture

Elephant Rocks

Last weekend Brad actually had a day off (unbelievable I know) so he suggested we head down the Elephant Rocks State Park.  We came here a few years ago (pre-kids) with my parents and figured it would be a nice little day trip with the kids.  To say Mike loved it would be an understatement.  He was thrilled to climb on as many rocks as possible and run through the leaves.  He declared himself a "Mountain Tiger" and rawwwwrr-ed at everything.  Ryan had his maiden voyage in the backpack (Thanks Nicole!).  After a quick picnic lunch we decided to head over the Johnson's Shut-ins.  Hiked around a bit then headed home.   

Monday Picture

Christmas List

The other night I randomly started asking Mike about a Christmas list.  After he exhausted the list of things he wants (which included a lot of different stuffed animals, "TOYS!!!" and Lady and the Tramp), we moved onto what we should get other people for Christmas.  So if Mike were in charge of Christmas shopping here is what some of you would be getting:

Grandma Cami: Books, a Christmas tree, underwear

Grandpa Mike: a Christmas tree, a polka-dotted pocket knife 

Sarah: a Christmas tree (anyone sensing a theme here) with a BIG, HUGE star on top

Daddy: Work (when asked what daddy likes, this is what Mike shouted out), a playground with "a slide, and climbers, and a bridge and a big slide," a man (???) and a Christmas tree
Sammy: black dog toys
Ryan: "TOYS!!!"
Mommy: Diamonds

I don't know about you guys, but I think he really knows what he is talking about.

Standing

Look who is starting to stand on his own.

Monday Picture

It sure is a good thing he is so stinking cute.  The past few days he has been a teething monster.  Screaming, crying, writhing and biting.

Things Mike Says...

1) In St. Louis people expect kids to tell them a joke to get candy on Halloween.  It is a weird, quirky, St. Louis thing.  This year we tried to teach Mike a joke (last year he just said "BOO").  We had the following conversation while driving in the car on Wednesday:

Me: Ok Michael, you need to learn a joke to tell people when you go trick or treating.
Mike: Ok Mommy.
Me: Hmmmm....let's think, what about "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"..."you're BOO-tiful"
Mike: OK.  I like that.
Me: Ok, say these words: "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"
Mike: You're Booo-tiful
Me:  That's good, but you need to say the first part too.  So repeat after me "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"
Mike: I don't know. 
Me: Ok, try to say these words "What did the ghost say to it's mommy"
Mike: Mommy, I can't.  I'm just a boy.

2) When picking Mike up from school the other day:
Me: Here buddy (holding out his coat), let's put your coat on.
Mike: Why?
Me: Because it is chilly outside and I don't want you to get cold.
Mike: No, I don't want to put my jacket on.
Me: Why not?
Mike: Because I like the way the cool air feels on my skin.

Halloween Tidbits

1) Mike won the pumpkin decorating contest at his daycare with his very cute "mummy" pumpkin.  While we were decorating it we had the following conversation:

Me: Ok Mike we are going to make your pumpkin look like a mummy

Mike: Mommy, why are we dressing up my pumpkin like a mommy?

Me: No sweetie, not a mOmmy, a mUmmy.

Mike: Mommy, why are we dressing up my pumpkin like a mommy?

Me: A mUUUUmmy, not a mommy.

Mike: No mommy, a mommy.

Then he walked away and we had to decorate our "mommy" pumpkin later.

2) Just like last year we went over to the Lyons' house to celebrate Halloween and go trick or treating.  Their neighborhood takes Halloween seriously.  



 3) This is our gang of misfits.  Batman, a 50s girl and a dragon (the little fish stayed with daddy in the front yard to hand out candy).  Scary stuff people.

4) Margaret may have had the best costume.  She had a little girl convinced she had really cut and dyed her hair orange.

 5) Ryan once again slept through the festivities.

6) How can it possibly be November already - and how can Ryan be 9 months old???