A new way to play Shutes and Ladders: Sit on the board and eat the Diego piece.

Recipe for a quiet afternoon with a baby:

1 giant box of tissues

MARKER MOUTH

This is what happens when big brother leaves the lid off his blue marker

and little brother, who is teething, finds the marker.

Jay's new favorite place is in the cupboard under the counter. He loves climbing in and out of it. He even closes the door and hides.

Cole has a new friend--Ekera the mouse. One day when we were in the car, he said, "I see a mouse." Concerned I asked, "Where?" He said, "Here, in my hand." The name started out as Echo, then morphed into Ekert, then finally Ekera. Ekera has been with us for about a week. When Cole wants me to pet Ekera, I stroke Cole's palm, which tickles him. Ekera pops out at the most random times. Yesterday he was in the refrigerator because Cole wanted milk. Today Cole built him a block house. I have no idea how long Ekera will be around, but it is pretty cute!