52 Months

That is how old Ayla is today. How's that for random? : ) Just one of the many random topics of conversation one might have with Ayla these days. She has been pretty into numbers and reading lately. No, she isn't technically reading yet, but she's getting close. She's really sounding through words - both as she writes and sees them in a book. And as for numbers they come up in different ways - counting to 100 when playing shoots and ladders, when discussing shoe size (she wears 9, 10 & 11's - she really likes that she can wear 11's). And today, we were talking about age and how Zeke is almost 17 months - and coincidentally today she is 52 months! I, on the other hand am 375 months. How many months are you?

And what month is it by the way? October in Wisconsin! Why? Because it's been in the 80's this week! No complaints obviously. Any extra time to get out with small children is a bonus. The weather changes have caused some colds for both Ayla and Zeke the last couple of weeks, but nothing major - yet! Today I took them to the Zoo. They usually go to home care on Thursday and Fridays but the family is on vacation this week. So, a couple of Daddy days. : )

Ayla had her first "school picture" taken yesterday - although Ruth and I completely forgot about it. Ayla doesn't have school on Thursday's so the teacher called to remind us. Well Ruth, who then called me. At the time both kids and me were still in "pajamas" as it were. Dad rocked it though haha - I even combed and hair clipped Ayla's hair to look nice. After the picture we spent the next couple of hours at the park! They both are big enough to find things to play with now - which makes it more enjoyable for everyone.

Also enjoyable:

Zeke's favorite words as of late - He will say "up" when he wants to be picked up and "down" when he wants to be lifted onto something like a chair or couch. Ruth and my personal favorite, "obben" or "obben now" meaning open - a door, a container, etc. He will say "Ookaay" but very happily. He has been enjoying saying "no" a lot - but not really defiantly - almost to be funny. And then there's the always reliable "all done!".

Like his big sister he really enjoys books. You'll often find him quietly sitting on the floor turning pages in the living room or Ayla's room. Also like Ayla, he likes to draw...although he obviously doesn't have the same skill as her. Yesterday he came into our bedroom holding a piece of paper and a crayon. Ayla ran over, sat on the floor with him and showed him what to do. Then he proceeded as shown. And one last monkey see monkey do: Zeke has started to jump - he might clean ground by a centimeter or two but there's space! There's almost a daily dance/jump session to the radio now.

Otherwise we're rolling along into fall. Ayla and Zeke were chasing each other through the leaves in the front yard today - laughing, screaming, falling and having fun - it was one of "those" moments where it froze in my mind. Speaking of freezing, before the freezing temperatures get here I think we're going to have a campfire tonight!

Pictures captions: outside by the fire pit, Z being goofy, Ayla with her "happy birthday sign" to her cousin Allie, Z reading & Ayla trapped under the laundry basket by Zeke