Accomplishments - Boys first

Yes - sleeping!  No, actually this is a quick time out when he was finally able to run free at Clara's final class (performance!) at The Little Gym. 
His big accomplishment is all the talking he has been doing lately.  He's really trying for sentences, and is happy to repeat, repeat, and repeat a word if you don't get it.  And then repeat it and repeat it again if you still don't get it. 

Some example "sentences" from the past few days:
1) Ready to leave the house and knowing he has to put on his new shoes first.  (We had a big struggle getting him to wear a new pair of shoes, so Daddy volunteered and took him shopping to get these new ones.)  "NUU, Nuu, Nuu...Dada, Dada, Dada . . . GO!GO!GO!"
2) Waving  goodbye to me in anticipation of the babysitter coming and me leaving (a first! usually he's not so happy)  "Jess . . . . playplay . . . go . . . BYE!"

He has been trying to put two words together without all the repeats.  We've heard "Dump . . . truck" a few times this week. There are still long pauses in the middle, but he's definitely getting there. 

Of course, with all of these words, it's definitely a big help if you know what he is talking about.  And of course, lots of times we really don't!  I'll be thrilled when I finally figure out some of his words.  There is something he is always talking about "bin" or "ben" and I have no idea what it is! 

And while it's not too relevant to the post, I thought this was a cute picture of "the boys."  I guess they are reading "The Prince and the Potty" and Mike has been trying to work on that with JM (he seems to be in charge of the potty training with the kiddos - he had good luck with the girls, so I'm happy to let him forge ahead with John Michael). 

But Mike's real accomplishments have been all his workouts and cycling.  He's lean and mean (okay, you have to know that's sarcasm if you know my husband at all) these days, down to his college weight.  He did a 60 mile ride about a month ago in Burleson and averaged 21mph.   This past Saturday he cycled 78 miles at a ride in Waxahachie and completed that in 4 hours 15 minutes.  He was aiming to do the 100 mile ride, but missed one turn so ended up with a shorter loop.  He'll be riding the Hotter than Hell Hundred come August, and there's no doubt he'll be ready this year.  I bet he's aiming to make it in under 5 hours . . . again.  Go Mikey!