3 years, 6 months & 1 year, 3 months

Monthly picture time! John was not a happy camper this morning. He's recovering from an ear infection and was not in the mood to wake up or take pictures!

Keillor wouldn't stop licking his leg (see previous pictures), so I helped out a bit.

Time for wrestling!

Keillor's monthly ear exam from Dr. John.

And the last laugh goes to Keillor!

The monthly update: 

Over the past few weeks John has become a walker. It's now his preferred mode of getting around. His teachers tell us that's really the only transportation method he uses at school. He still likes to crawl occasionally when we're at home, though. Especially when I'm chasing him or we're racing to get the same toy or book.

John continues to eat more than me at almost every meal. Often times he'll eat more than Mom and Dad, as well. Favorites from this past month: Oranges, Dad's mushroom chicken and chocolate pudding. Also, his first two molars broke through just this past week!

Lots of talking and singing from John while he's in the car most afternoons, but the only thing we recognize so far is "Dad" or "Dada." His listening skills are getting much better, though. Frequent phrases you'll typically hear from Mom and Dad fall along the lines of, "John, that's not safe to climb, please sit down" or "John, please step off of that." And at this stage John usually follows those instructions!

As for me, I'm continuing to stay busy with swim lessons on Tuesdays and art classes on Thursdays (both at our local rec center). It makes for busy evenings since both of those start at 5:30 and we like to have a quick dinner beforehand.

Dad pointed out a Great Blue Heron which was hanging out near the lake last week and my interest in birds has taken off. I've enjoyed asking Dad about his morning walks with Keillor to see if they saw anything new and exciting around the water during sunrise.

My monthly questions as asked by Dad:

Favorite friend at school: Ryan and Reese

Favorite dessert: Pudding (we just made some last weekend)

Favorite project at Thursday night art class: Rubberband thing (see blog photos from April 5th)

Favorite dinosaur: T Rex

Favorite place to walk with Keillor: Campus - the baseball field specifically

Favorite movie: Tangled (just got it from the library last weekend)

John's favorite food: Pears

John's best friend: Me!

Would you rather go camping, bake a cake or go out to eat? Bake a cake

There's excitement planned for the end of next month. John and I will be will be keeping an eye on Grandpa Rick and Grandma Candy at our house while Mom and Dad are out of town for over a week! 

Lounging

Both Dad and I got a kick out of Johnny's new way of riding in the double-wide. Feet up and relaxing!

Train trip

It was free light rail train rides on Saturday so we took a little family outing to a different library branch!

Plenty of chairs around, but John preferred the table.

Waiting for the return train.

Two kids on one stroller. One of us needed a little rest before lunchtime!

We need to write these things down

Watching soccer on campus with Dad, John and Keillor -

Dad: "Do you two hear the coach yelling?"
Tess: "Yes, like Mom!"

________________________

Dad asked me to entertain John one weeknight while he was making dinner, but I came walking into the kitchen -

Dad: "Where's your brother?"
Tess: "In my room."
Dad: "Is he playing nicely?"
Tess: "Yes, he's jumping on my bed."
Dad: "Honey! That's why I asked you to keep an eye on him."
Tess: "I am!"

________________________

Mom and Dad were getting John ready for school and we were all in his room one recent morning. I was baking a pretend cake a few minutes earlier -

Tess: "All grownups and big sisters are invited to Violet's birthday! John and Keillor can stay home by themselves." [Violet is a stuffed animal]
Dad: "That's fun! Who would be in charge if it's just John and Keillor at home?"
Tess: "Bucky Badger."

________________________

In the car last Saturday -

Tess: "Is tomorrow an eat-at-home day?"
Dad: "Yep, it's a Sunday. You can pick whatever you want."
Tess: "I want French toast again."
Dad: "The same way I made it last week? Did Johnny eat that?"

[Dad took Grandma to the airport that morning so he didn't get to eat with the family]

Tess: "No, he only ate the French."
Dad: "Say that again, honey. Did he eat the French toast?"

[Tess getting angrier now...]

Tess: "No! He only ate the French!"
Dad: "Sweetie, that doesn't make sense."

[Tess almost yelling at this point]

Tess: "He doesn't have back teeth yet! He only had the French!"
Dad: "Ohhhhh! Did he like it?"
Tess: "Yes."

[Welcome to the mind of a 3-year old!]

First concert

Dad and I went to my first real concert this past Sunday. It was the Okee Dokee Brothers at a local venue called Swallow Hill. We listen to their albums quite a bit during our drives to and from school and it was amazing to see them in-person. My favorite instruments were the drum and the banjo. Dad liked the fiddle. 

During one of our favorite songs I said to Dad, "Johnny would really like this song!"

And about halfway through the show I told Dad, "I just want to stay here for a long time."

Their brand new album!

Dad doesn't splurge very often, but he thought I needed an official concert t-shirt!

Straw

Dad, John, and I went out for supper last Friday night. It was a sit-down restaurant so we were practicing being patient. During the wait, Johnny figured out how to use a straw!

Children's Museum

Mom was out of town, Amanda was sick, and it was snowing all day, so Dad and Uncle Brady took the kids to the Children's Museum on Saturday! I cried when it was time to go home. 

Eye protection in the bubble room.

Lucky enough to get all three kids sitting at the same time.

Shopping in the make believe market.

Shop keeper John.

More science museum

John and I were off from school on Monday so Dad gave us the choice of Museum of Nature and Science (which I just visited last week) or the zoo. I picked the museum thinking we'd do the exact same things as our most recent visit. Dad had other plans and took us to a few different spots.

Harvesting moon rocks (and John).

Pilot and co-pilot.

Identifying solar flares.

There must be a beaver near here!

I really really wanted to show John the buried dinosaur bones that we discovered during last week's visit. Dad said we could stay as long as John wasn't eating the fake sand. He lasted several minutes until the lure of tiny bits of rubber was just to much to handle. The good news was that it was time to head home anyway. 

The wolves by the front door.

Yeehaw!

Picnic

Baseball picnic over at Regis this past Sunday!

 

Dad brought the hat for John, but I insisted on wearing it.

Wagon

John wasn't big enough last summer to enjoy the wagon, but we're ready to go for this season!

Both dog and boy thinking, "Ok, Dad. Let's put the camera way and get moving again."

Slide

Our across-the-alley neighbors moved away last week and they left us a few fun toys (their kids are just a little bit older than John and me).

Dad hauled out one of our new gifts on Saturday: A molded slide set. It was perfect for the little boy that tries to climb everything!

Puzzle time

We invited some guests over for Grandma's last night in town on Saturday night. The following two pictures are the best out of the 15 that Dad took!

Lounging

Dad was working in the kitchen the other day and I marched in there to inform him that Keillor was in my spot on the couch. He told me that I should ask Keillor to move or to share.

I hollered back a few minutes later, "Dad, we're sharing!"