"Mom, me and my baby are sick. We are throwing up."
Can you tell we had the stomach flu at our house recently?
25 February 2013
16 February 2013
Just Add Water
I asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday. He picked swimming.
We all had a great time. What a fun activity.
While we were swimming, another mom made a wise comment: when your young kids are having a hard time, just add water. Bubbles in the sink, a bath, or a swim in a pool can turn any mood around for my kids.
At nap time later that day my 3 year laid her head down and said, "What is that water from? Oh, my ear just spit it out".
And this guy - first time in a pool - LOVED it. We'll have to repeat this outing again soon.
We all had a great time. What a fun activity.
While we were swimming, another mom made a wise comment: when your young kids are having a hard time, just add water. Bubbles in the sink, a bath, or a swim in a pool can turn any mood around for my kids.
At nap time later that day my 3 year laid her head down and said, "What is that water from? Oh, my ear just spit it out".
And this guy - first time in a pool - LOVED it. We'll have to repeat this outing again soon.
11 February 2013
The faces he makes
This is the face he makes when we give him pancakes.
Luckily by the fifth try he wasn't grimacing any more.
Luckily by the fifth try he wasn't grimacing any more.
14 December 2010
When it Snows, it Blizzards
This is the type of winter I remember experiencing as a kid.
I think most of us from the upper midwest can remember the Halloween of 1991. Now we have the December of 2010. We got 20 inches in one day. It did not occur on a holiday this time, but it did create a celebratory weekend for our family. We celebrated our family. All four of us, and ONLY the 4 of us were together for 48 hours under the same roof. The only separation we had was if someone was shoveling or sleeping or shoveling. Did I mention we did some shoveling?
Outside favorites from the weekend:
* Snow Angels (how did we stand up without ruining them as a kid?)
* Freefalling into nearly 2 feet of snow
* Discovering a cool fort (one that won't collapse in on us)
* Sliding down the snowbanks
* Feeling amazed at the sheer amount of snow amassed around us
What Sydney was doing while Lucas and I played outside...
Lucas and Ernie created a fantastic fort complete with Christmas lights. A perfect place for reading, writing, and a little nap.
We had a pizza picnic by the fire and the Christmas tree.
Indoor favorites from the weekend:
* Hide and Seek
* Baking (and eating) Christmas cookies
* Taking the time to cook a tasty meal for the family
* Playing Bally-ball with Lucas (a game of his own invention)
* Movie night with stove popped popcorn
* Hot chocolate complete with whipcream, chocolate shavings, and mini chocolate bars
* Reading with the kids....and finally finishing my book I've been reading for about a month!
Happy Minnesota Winter!
I think most of us from the upper midwest can remember the Halloween of 1991. Now we have the December of 2010. We got 20 inches in one day. It did not occur on a holiday this time, but it did create a celebratory weekend for our family. We celebrated our family. All four of us, and ONLY the 4 of us were together for 48 hours under the same roof. The only separation we had was if someone was shoveling or sleeping or shoveling. Did I mention we did some shoveling?
* Snow Angels (how did we stand up without ruining them as a kid?)
* Freefalling into nearly 2 feet of snow
* Discovering a cool fort (one that won't collapse in on us)
* Sliding down the snowbanks
* Feeling amazed at the sheer amount of snow amassed around us
What Sydney was doing while Lucas and I played outside...
 |
Thrilled to find a nuk outside of her crib! |
Lucas and Ernie created a fantastic fort complete with Christmas lights. A perfect place for reading, writing, and a little nap.
 |
| Notice the marker in her hand? More to come on that later. |
 |
* Hide and Seek
* Baking (and eating) Christmas cookies
* Taking the time to cook a tasty meal for the family
* Playing Bally-ball with Lucas (a game of his own invention)
* Movie night with stove popped popcorn
* Hot chocolate complete with whipcream, chocolate shavings, and mini chocolate bars
* Reading with the kids....and finally finishing my book I've been reading for about a month!
Who me?
Yeah you.
Our little artist. She took that marker and decided to restyle our living room chairs, her hands, her ear, and those are the locations we've found so far. Thankfully the chair cushions had removable covers and the Magic Eraser worked wonders. Funny how we didn't have that problem ever with our oldest. But, as Ernie pointed out, we didn't have very many markers laying around when Lucas was this age. All writing utensils are now locked up out of the reach of a determined, artistict 1 year old.
Happy Minnesota Winter!
05 November 2010
16 October 2010
Distraction leads to happiness
I bought two suckers, one for him and one for me because it was a nostalgic sucker for me. The kind we used to get as kids for a few cents from the candy store by the cabin.
He asked me with all his kind words could I please open his sucker for him. I said sure in a minute because my hands were full. I was also on the phone. I set down what was in my hands and turned to help his sister with something or other. He again asked me to open the sucker. Oh yes, that's right, I said I would. I opened the sucker, and still on the phone, handed his sucker to his SISTER.
She was delighted and just taking her first lick (first lick of a sucker in her whole life that is) when he snatched it out of her mouth so quickly and exclaimed 'That's my sucker!'. You can imagine how pleased Sister was to have her first ever sucker whipped away by Brother.
Now I am thankful I bought two suckers. I almost didn't buy the one for me. He picked his out. And I stared at the suckers. Actually took a full minute to decide if I should buy one for myself. I decided not to, but then the cashier said, "You're not buying one for yourself?". That was enough to twist my arm, so I did. And because of that final decision Sister was the happiest baby/1-yr-old I have ever seen. And I didn't set her in the highchair to keep things neat. I let her stand (her favorite past time these days, standing) and drag it across the ottoman and drip it on her shirt and chew on the stick.
I didn't get to enjoy the nostalgic moment of eating my sucker, remembering how we'd hike to the store and how great it was to buy and eat one as a kid. I got so much more. My two loves thoroughly enjoying their suckers. Much more than I would have I'm sure.
He asked me with all his kind words could I please open his sucker for him. I said sure in a minute because my hands were full. I was also on the phone. I set down what was in my hands and turned to help his sister with something or other. He again asked me to open the sucker. Oh yes, that's right, I said I would. I opened the sucker, and still on the phone, handed his sucker to his SISTER.
She was delighted and just taking her first lick (first lick of a sucker in her whole life that is) when he snatched it out of her mouth so quickly and exclaimed 'That's my sucker!'. You can imagine how pleased Sister was to have her first ever sucker whipped away by Brother.
Now I am thankful I bought two suckers. I almost didn't buy the one for me. He picked his out. And I stared at the suckers. Actually took a full minute to decide if I should buy one for myself. I decided not to, but then the cashier said, "You're not buying one for yourself?". That was enough to twist my arm, so I did. And because of that final decision Sister was the happiest baby/1-yr-old I have ever seen. And I didn't set her in the highchair to keep things neat. I let her stand (her favorite past time these days, standing) and drag it across the ottoman and drip it on her shirt and chew on the stick.
I didn't get to enjoy the nostalgic moment of eating my sucker, remembering how we'd hike to the store and how great it was to buy and eat one as a kid. I got so much more. My two loves thoroughly enjoying their suckers. Much more than I would have I'm sure.
I know its a little blurry, but I love the look.
Happy Weekend everyone!
11 October 2010
First Birthday!
Brother thought Sister would like a doughnut for breakfast on her 1st birthday. With sprinkles.
He was right, because she devoured it.
This of course led to a morning bath.
We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful weather at the local apple orchard. We climbed on hay bales, went through a hay bale maze, rode on a hay ride, and picked out some tasty Honeycrisp apples.
Over her birthday weekend she got her first tooth and took her first step!
Don't you wonder what she's thinking here?
He was right, because she devoured it.
How in the world did our parents get photos like this with everyone looking at the camera? Thank goodness for digital because it took until shot #10 to get them both looking!
Later when we opened presents, she kept making this adorable surprise face with her mouth wide open. It was hysterical. Where did she learn that one?
Can you tell she's thrilled with her stroller? She really did seem to like it, I guess I just didn't capture the happy face in the pictures.
And we took the traditional Minnie Mouse picture...this one shows what usually happens when we lay her on the floor:
How much has changed in one year!
2 weeks old 52 weeks old
3 1/2 years old, 1 day old 4 1/2 years old, 1 year old
Over her birthday weekend she got her first tooth and took her first step!