"I Want a Speed Boat", "Ethan" and A Frog

Today was a big day for Mary Kate in the vocabulary domain. She's been speaking in sentences for the past couple of months and we've mentioned before how much she LOVES boats. Well, writing the word LOVE in all caps simply does not do her excitement justice when it comes to watercraft. Tonight, on our way to our monthly dinner at the Three Seasons in Mahtomedi, she was looking at all the boats out on White Bear Lake and proclaimed "I want a speed boat!" John almost had to pull over because he was laughing so hard. We're hoping she says it this weekend at Granpda's cabin. Maybe he'll buy her one.

Mary Kate's other big linguistic milestone today was saying "Ethan." Until today, she has simply called him "E." Her version of Ethan sounds like "Etan." Needless to say, big brother is thrilled.

If we get her saying "I want a speed boat." on video, we'll post it for your enjoyment.

Until then, here are some photos of Ethan and a new friend he found in the back yard. The frog spent two nights in a plastic box with airholes cut in the top, some water, a rock and some worms and insects. We set him (or her) free today so s/he could continue a happy life in the wild. Ethan shed some tears and spent quite a while saying "goodbye, Froggy" as his amphibious friend hopped off into the big blue yonder. But overall, he agreed that its best for frogs to live outside and not in a Rubbermaid container. Future frog friends will get to spend 2 nights in the luxurious green box and will then return to their day jobs of catching insects.