Exciting news, and Miriam pictures

My exciting news is that I'm done with school for the year!  I finished my 6th year teaching and I'm looking forward to a wonderful summer vacation.  The last couple days of school went by quickly, although one of them was field day (spent outside in the rain) and on the last day, we did an extensive art project that my kids loved.  My parents arrived when I still had a couple days of school left, so Miriam got to stay home with them (and help them get over jet lag) while Mario and I worked. 

Mario's exciting news is that he got a new job!  He was offered a new permenent position (still with Weyerhaeuser) in a different section of the company.  He is now a business/financial analyst, and although it is basically a lateral move, this position will allow him to fulfill the final requirement for his CPA, which involves logging 2,000 hours of accounting and financial work.

Miriam is such an outgoing, determined personality.  She's constantly talking, all day long, and is very good at communicating what she wants, whether it is food, a toy, or to pet our cat.  She knows that both shaking her head and saying "no" mean no, and she often does both at the same time, to emphasize what she means.  (Usually when we are trying to get her to eat a certain food!)  We are working on her nodding and saying "yes" just as emphatically, although she is very good about using "please" to ask/signify something she wants.  She also loves to share our food, and will come right up to us and declare loudly "a ba, a ba, A BA!!!" (which means "a bite").  It is pretty adorable...we aren't sure if she's worried we don't hear her, or if she is really excited about having a bite of our food. :)

She's such a funny character, it is hard to put into words and give a complete picture of her.  She has a great sense of humor, and loves to play silly games.  Miriam is quite the dancer these days, and any time spent in our house is usually an overwhelming assault on the ears, as she often turns on several of her music toys at once, and then dances in the living room.  She likes it when we chase her around the house, and when we throw balls back and forth with her.  She stands up on the couch just to get attention, and then collapses in a fit of giggles when we make a move to get her down. 

And, she's looking like SUCH a toddler these days!  She walks/runs around completely independently, and is looking very much like a little girl.  Here are some recent pictures:

Just a little light reading in the morning...

"Yummy dinner!"

"I love corn..."

"Mama, wasn't that bite meant for me?!?"

"This swing is very relaxing."

"Look at me!"

"Mama, we are surrounded by butterflies."

"Doesn't Costco make bigger boxes?"

 

"What's not to like? Chocolate...goooood.  Strawberry...goooood."

"I know how to throw now.  Watch me throw this rose petal!"

"I'm off to explore.  Don't wait up!"

"Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!"

"Yum, this lemonade is goooood..."

"Daddy, I see you eyeing my drink.  Its mine!"

"Time for another drink..."