Playoffs!

Dad's going to the game. Sylvia and I are staying home, away from all that scary cheering.

Trouble times two

Caption contest

"I got a new purse from Grandma Anne!"

"Pandas! They go with everything, don't you think?"

The Exley girls take us to Legoland

Sylvia was completely delighted.

Play ball!

Holding hands

A friend just her size.

Sunday best

Home Depot with daddy.

If you look verrrry closely ...

You can see a tiny, unhappy Sylvia. She actually loved the bike ride. But in these pictures, she was done.

Notes

1. We taught Sylvia to say "Bacon!" She now says it at every opportunity, to great applause and delight from us.

2. She loves "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (it had fallen out of favor, replaced by "Wheels on the Bus") now that she can sing along with the very last word of the song ... "ahhhh-gain!"

3. Tonight, she stood by herself and raised a toy over her head, totally pleased with the situation. Then she stood alone a few more times throughout the evening, just for kicks. 

4. She LOVED the ocean in Naples. We stood at the edge and she walked in as far as I'd let her and then stood there holding my hand while the waves splashed into her and pushed her around. She sat down and picked up fistfuls of wet sand to show me (and she ate some). She loved it. Just loved it. 

5. She still has very little hair. We love that.

6. Magda taught her to do air kisses. ADORABLE.

Passed out traveler

Landed in KC. Almost home.

Singalong

Afternoon sun

Beach in Florida

On our way to see Grandpa Tascio

Just another plane ride for this jet setter.

It's legal in Florida

Not really.

Happy birthday, sweetie.

Words cannot express, but we do love you so.

Sylvia discovers cake: a story in photos

Happy birthday, two days early

Birthday cake

It took a few tries, but Sylvia figured out that she likes cake.

Zoo!

I bought this cool backpack from a friend who used it once. Sylvia loves it! And so does Paul.

Breakfast

And a couple more of Menke family in Wisconsin

Down by the bay...

Green Bay that is

Campfire sing-a-long

Pictures from Wisconsin

With Menke family at Aunt Sue's memorial

Stroll

Ohhhh NOOOOOO!!!

At the bookstore she immediately grabbed a book-shaped-like-a-purse called "My Pretty Princess" (or something like that) and proceeded to carry it EVERYWHERE.

I did not buy it for her. Grandmas, don't even THINK about if.

Possible selfies

I let Sylvia "use" the camera. I think some of these are her handiwork.

Lake Michigan