Sunday Funnies

Thanks to Richard, our Sundays are full of great entertainment.

Words From Bridget

At 18 months Bridget isn't talking nearly as much as Marshall was at her age, but she has made huge improvements in the last three weeks.  This morning I took advantage of a quiet house (Marshall was still sleeping) and got her on video saying a few words.  For the grandparents, hope you enjoy.

She may seem slightly distracted, but she had been awake for all of five minutes and was waiting for her breakfast.  :)

Bay Beach

A few weeks ago the kids and I loaded up in the van early Thursday morning for a playgroup extravaganza!  We decided to go out with a bang for our last summer playgroup before the older kids headed back to school.  We made the two hour drive to Green Bay and spent the day at Bay Beach.  And let me tell you, it was AMAZING!  I just might consider this the most fun day of my life.  

Bay Beach is an amusement park with no parking fee, no admission fee; you just pay per ride.  How much is a ride?  Almost all of the rides are one ticket, which means .25 cents.  Yes, that is right my friends, .25 cents per ride.  For 4 1/2 hours of entertainment for myself and my two kids going on ride after ride after ride (with minimal time spent waiting in lines) I spent $13.  I paid $10 for rides and $3 for three bottled waters.

We had So. Much. Fun.  Marshal is still talking about it and I thought about it every day for the following week.  I would love to go back there, but I also don't think I could ever have as much fun as we had that day.  I was there with three of my greatest friends who all happen to have kids who Marshall and Bridget adore.  The rides were fun, but it was even more fun to spend the day with Katie, Anna, and Karisa and watch all of our kids run around together so excited about the ride we were going to do next.

Ah, it was wonderful.  Thank you Bay Beach and thank you playgroup buddies!  

Marshall is still talking about "the shooting airplanes".

I love his face in this picture!

Bridget, Max, and Charlotte.  The youngest playgroup members.  :)

And just to show that I really have friends.  :)  It seems like we are always documenting our kids with each other, but we never stop to take pictures with ourselves!

Zoo Trips

The kids and I have taken lots of zoo trips this summer.  Bridget loves, loves, loves animals so it is always guaranteed fun.

She likes to get as close as possible.

The big cats were particularly animated this morning.

We finally made it to the dinosaur exhibit before it closed and it was awesome!  Both of my kids loved it and neither of them were afraid of their size or the noise they were making.

Soccer Class

This summer we signed Marshall up for a soccer class at the YMCA.  It was a nine week class and his friend Duncan was also in his class.  By week seven Marshall was finally loving it and playing the entire 45 minute class.  :)  I was sad he didn't love it sooner, but oh well, it wasn't a total waste, those last three weeks were awesome!

Unfortunately from this picture you would never guess that these boys were having a great time.  Duncan was slightly under the weather and Marshall, well, I don't know.

Bridget at 18 Months

This little girl is 18 months old today!  She's a spunky little thing with a mind of her own and we are so glad she's a part of our family.  Here are some things about Bridget at 18 months:

*Height:  33 3/4 inches (95%), Weight:  21 lbs. 13.5 oz. (40%), Head:  49.5 cm. (99%)

*She loves, loves, loves her binkies, blankets, and cougar.  I think I have been writing this since she was six months old, but those three things are just about guaranteed to calm her down.

*She refuses to drink milk from a sippy cup.  Because of this she was taking two bottles a day until Friday when her pediatrician told me I had to stop.  :)  She has had zero milk since then, even though we give it to her in a cup at every meal.

*Despite her lack of milk, she out-eats Marshall at every meal of the day, especially dinner.  Her current favorite foods are:  mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, tater tots, strawberries, grapes, applesauce, gogurt, eggs, pancakes, cereal bars, and some crackers and cereal.

*She has pretty much mastered feeding herself with a spoon.

*When she walks and runs she uses her left arm as a propeller and it is hilarious to watch.  It is either straight and swinging viciously as she moves or it is bent and held across her chest, but still moving with just as much force.  So determined.

*She loves dogs!  Lucky for her, our neighborhood is full of dogs and we see at least one just about every time we are outside.  

*She loves to imitate things we do.  If I put lotion on, she will pretend to do the same.  Anytime someone is brushing their teeth she runs to the bathroom, demands her toothbrush, and stands on Marshall's stool to spit into the sink and rinse off her toothbrush.  

*She has all of her teeth.

*She says:  daddy, mommy, outside, inside, up, please, dog, car, ball, purse, hi, bye-bye.

*We are almost certain that she will be left handed.  She typically picks up food with her left hand and always puts her spoon in her left hand.

*She's been in nursery for three months and loves it.  The last month she has been sad when I leave, but quickly calms down and has fun.

We love you Bridget!

Another example of imitating.  :)

Love this picture.

The other night after dinner I walked into the living room and discovered Bridget just like this.  I guess she knows how to relax after a good meal.

First Day of Preschool

Marshall had his first day of preschool today.  It is at this great little school in a Presbyterian Church.  He just goes two days a week for 2 1/2 hours, a perfect arrangement.  He has not been excited about any of this until this weekend, thank goodness!  On Friday he was able to spend 20 minutes at the school with me seeing his classroom and meeting his teachers.  He was very quiet, but he played with the toys and had fun.  When we were leaving I was going down the stairs first and he said, "Stop!  This is my school; I will lead the way!"  From that point on he has been excited!  He woke up at 5:50 this morning and eagerly ate breakfast, got dressed, and went potty (he hates doing those last two things every morning, so it was noteworthy).

He walked slowly once we pulled up at the school, but he willingly hung up his backpack, walked into his classroom and did exactly what his teacher asked him to do.  He gave me a hug and kiss and we said good-bye.  

When I came to pick him up he was so excited to see me and show me the picture he had drawn.  He reported that he was shy, but that he did talk to one of his teachers and told her it was just his birthday.  :)  He said he will talk to her more next time and tell her about his news shoes.

This is the smile I get when I tell him I want to see his eyes.  :)

First preschool artwork.

Weekend in Michigan

Weeks ago Bridget and I took a weekend trip to Michigan for the annual Toney Family Reunion.  I left Marshall home with Richard so he could have some much needed time with his dad and Bridget and I took off.  I once again survived driving through that dreaded city of Chicago, and as always, the stress it causes me was worth it to spend a relaxing weekend with some of the best people around. 

This trip was especially fun because I got to see my oldest Toney cousins who I have not seen in as long as ten years!  It was great to catch-up, play, and let all of our kids run around together.  

I surely missed Richard and Marshall, but I'm not going to lie, it was great to just take care of one child!  Bridget loved all of the people, new toys, and dogs.  She was in heaven, except at the beach.  :)

First beach experience, no good.  Its too bad because the water was perfect.

Bridget spent her time chasing dogs around the island in the kitchen. 

A typical evening with the Toneys.  Loved every minute of it.

Great Grandpa Toney and Bridget watching the Olympics.

My Uncle Dale was a great sport and let these kids "surprise" him with freshly loaded water guns.

A good chunk of the Toney Family.  My grandparents, all of my aunts and uncles, and most of my cousins.

Birthday Celebrations

Marshall's actual birthday was on Wednesday.  We kept it pretty low-key, but still had fun.

We opened presents in the morning, had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, played at the park, baby-sat some friends, played lots of Legos, blew out a candle in a cinnamon roll after dinner, and skyped with grandmas.

6:30 am, two minutes after waking up.  :)

My mom gave Marshall this bingo game.  He had never played before so I quickly explained it before we started.  A few minutes into the game I realized he was covering the head of every dinosaur.  I didn't say anything about it, but he continued it throughout the game!  Made me laugh.

I love this picture.

I am pretty sure this is the first time he's ever successfully blown out a candle.  :)

The birthday loot.

Today we had Marshall's first "real" birthday party.  Just kids, no parents (besides us), games, lunch, cake, presents, the works!  

The cougar paw cake!  Marshall loved it.  Can you tell I am not too patient frosting anything that is not a 9x13?  :)

We read "Hello Cosmo!"

Pin the Tail on the Cougar.  :) 

We had a basketball contest.

We did an obstacle course that ended with the kids putting on a jersey, helmet, and throwing a football.  Very fun.

Bridget liked the jersey.  :)

Six little hands opening one present.  :)

Happy birthday Marshall Cougar!  We love you!