this kid says the craziest things!

Here are some things Ryan says that make me laugh:

• You Rock!
• I slow dance with girls. (Steve prompted him to say this when Ryan was swaying along to "Find Yourself", the closing song from the movie Cars)
• No, not today.  Saturday. (in response to various questions like, do you need a diaper change?  shall we take a bath?  do you want to put your shoes on?)
• Delicious!
• Watch out, Montie, Ryan coming! (said to our dog when we enter the house)
• ohhhhhh...mommy....look what I have...cooooookies! (and then he takes out his play cookies)
• no, I good (in response to questions like "are you still hungry"?  "do you need a diaper change" "do you want a drink?)
• his sing-along versions of "Real Gone", "Life is a Highway", "Sh-Boom", and "Route 66" (the last one gets him making a funny rockin' out squint and pout as he shakes his head back and forth) with lyrics that sound like "GO SAYNLEWIE CHOC'LATE MIZURI" (for "goes to St. Louis, down to Missouri)
• his recitation of The Lorax.  He's memorized most of the story - I think he knows it better than I do!

just a quick update

• December brought excellent holiday celebrations with friends and family.  It's always a hectic time as I'm finishing up grading for the semester and then trying to prep for Christmas.  However, we really enjoyed time with our families and friends at things like Christmas in the Park, my annual cookie baking day with my girlfriends, Xmas eve at my parents' house (this year was Espana year with paella on the menu instead of our regular posole and tamales...what, someone didn't tell you that we're actually a Mexican family?), and Xmas day with the Stachnicks and Lius. 
• Just before the new year and through mid-January, we went to Albert and Pat's home in Hawaii Kai.  We got to spend time with Valerie, Nathan, Daniel, Eleanor, and aunt Grace in addition to visiting places like Haleiwa, the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, and the beaches at Ko'Olina and Ala Moana Beach Park.  
• At the end of January, Steve and I got away to Sonoma to celebrate Wendy and Sharon's birthday.  It was a great weekend of wine, excellent food, and fun with our friends.
• Flu season took Ryan and I out (we're still recovering) of school for some time, although I'm battling to go to work so that my students can keep moving forward with their work.  While I have to work this week, Ryan and Steve went up to the snow with some of our friends.  As of 6 PM today, Ryan was already having fun making snowmen.  The picture is of Ryan with Gia, Tim and Wendy's daughter. This is his first time to the snow, so I'm sad that I can't be there but am happy to hear that he's having a good time.
• Bad news of the season is that our dog, Montie, was diagnosed with cancer.  It's showing in her skin; the lesions are what initially drove us to get her checked out several months ago.  However, after going through different tests to get her diagnosed, we now know what caused the lesions and are currently having her go through chemotherapy.  It's not really about curing her as this form of cancer is very aggressive, but we're trying to make sure she's as comfortable and as happy as possible.  If you were to see her now, you'd never guess anything is wrong.  She is still super hyper, wants to go out for walks and to play fetch, and will eat anything that is put in front of her or left out within her reach, so we're happy that at least she's feeling well enough to be acting like her usual self.  We're also watching Kobee right now, so we have two princesses in the house (one is sleeping on the futon on the floor, one is sleeping next to me as I type this).