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???