Muppet Puzzles

We went to a terrific church rummage sale this weekend and scored tons of great stuff. Alex got a Sheriff Woody doll to go with his Buzz Lightyear (for 50 cents!). In addition to that, the best find was a couple of Milton Bradley puzzles from the 1970s: one of Cookie Monster and one from The Muppet Movie. Alex is as excited about them as Dave and I are!

C is for cookie!

Moving right along...

Football Season Has Begun

It's a new era for football mania in our household, as Alex is now joining in the fun. He and Dave watched the Iowa game this weekend. They watched up until halftime and then Alex went to his room for nap time. The first thing he asked after nap time was over was "Can we watch more football?" Dave is one happy father!

Engrossed in the game

The First Day of School

The first day at his new school that is... Today was Visiting Day, so Dave and I got to go to school with Alex. We met his teachers and several of his classmates and their parents. Even though the setting is new, there were enough familiar aspects (books, blocks, a doll house, etc.) that he seemed to feel comfortable pretty quickly. We'll see how that holds up tomorrow, which is the first day he will be dropped off.

Walking to school with Daddy

At the gate

So excited!

Hanging up his backpack and coat on his hooks

Journal writing/drawing -- he did a whale

Putting his binder with his classmates'

Always happy to play with playdoh

We could hardly get him to leave the play space.

This is actually the building next door,
but it makes for a better picture.

Alex's First Play

Yesterday, we spent a fun morning at Millennium Park with Cecily and her family. We played in the fountain, visited "The Bean," and saw the kids' play "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus."

Enjoying the big spray from the fountain

Running in front of the big face

High tech kids
(They each have an iPhone and are looking at pictures.)

Gathering for the play on the Great Lawn

Meeting the Pigeon afterwards

A Time of Transition

Yesterday was Alex's last day at his school/day care. He's been there since December of 2007, and it's been a great place for him. He has grown so much, literally and figuratively, in his time there. We've had some fantastic teachers, and it was harder to say goodbye than I thought it would be.

Posing with the some of classroom animals

His favorite spot in the classroom -- the computer nook

With his very first teacher at the center, Ms. Rahel

A was the letter of the week for his last week

Alex's word for A was "Alex"!

Riding on Two Wheels!

Our garage sale holy grail this summer was to find a small bike for Alex. A few weeks ago victory was ours! We found a small two-wheeler that was relatively free of embellishment.

Alex was excited to give it a try, but, in all honesty, the fact that it brakes when you turn the wheels backwards was a bit challenging for him to overcome. He managed to get a bit of forward motion going, so we had a fun short ride and will keep working on it so he gets the idea.

The bike

Getting ready for the first ride

Trying out my new wheels

Family Portrait

Alex recently brought this family picture home from school. He's just starting to draw faces and figures more regularly, so this is the first "real" family picture of the three of us that he's drawn.

Team Diamond