Curious George

Time to do some catching up!

November 2010

In November, the four of us went to see Curious George Live! Jack is a George fanatic, so this was a BIG deal for this little family. Curious George is watched a minimum of three times a day in our house and Jack sleeps with his own Curious George monkey every night. It was awesome to see Jack so excited to see all his favorite characters, the best part was when he stood up, started waving and yelling, "George, George! I am up here!" Lucy loved it too, she stood in my lap the whole time just watching the stage. . When it was time to leave, we got about halfway through the Target Center, when all of the sudden Jack stopped dead in his feet and wouldn't move. he just kept turning around like he was lost. I was standing right with him, so I knew he knew he wasn't lost, but he just kept turning and looking, refusing to move. Finally, I got down on his level and I figured it out, he was looking for George. I had to explain to him that we weren't actually going to meet George, that seeing him on stage was it. At that moment, I felt like such a crummy mom for not buying the extremely overpriced tickets that would have allowed to you to meet George before the show. Oh, well, it was still a great time!

Bye-Bye Minnesota!

I said good-bye to our house today, the house that I brought both of my babies home from the hospital to. It was a long day, so when it was time to leave, I didn't have the chance to say good-bye and reminisce the way I should have. Even though we have only lived there for 6 years, there are so many memories tied to that house. I remember where I was standing when telling Jay that I was pregnant with Jack and where I was dancing with Jack the first time he laughed. I remember Lucy learning to roll and sit and walk all in our living room, and having her sleep in a crib at the foot of our bed so that the first thing we saw in the morning was her smiling at us. I remember where I was standing when we got the news that Lucy is perfectly healthy. There are so many memories in that house and I am afraid that some could now be lost without being in the home. I know there are plenty of new memories waiting to be made in the new house, but it is still hard.
It is also hard to no longer be a Minnesotan. I have loved living in the Twin Cities and will miss so many friends that we have made and the places we have discovered. I know we will come back often to visit and I am already looking forward to our first vacation to our old city. Maybe I can claim to be part Minnesotan since we still own our house there.
We close on our new house tomorrow (fingers crossed! this has been quite the ordeal!) and we should be moving in on Wednesday. I am excited for our first night in our new house and for Lucy to FINALLY have her own room, but I will be sad not to fall asleep with her only a few feet from me. I am definitely NOT excited for unpacking....ugh...I used to enjoy things like that, but with two kids running around....ugh....We will see if I have found any of the Christmas stuff by next December....ugh....

Where are we?

Yes, we are still here...Yes, I WILL be blogging soon...I promise.

Life has been crazy busy lately, scratch that, I mean life is still busy! But, life looks pretty calm in a couple of weeks, which then I will catch back up on blogging. Until then, I will stay busy with Lucy's first birthday, Jack's preschool, Lucy's party and moving our family to another state! So, I better get back to packing and I promise that blogging will recommence shortly after we are in our new house.

Flashback to Summer

On this cold January day, I am missing summer. Jack is too. We are both definitely missing him being able to ride his bike.

His bike is meant to teach kids how to glide so that they won't need training wheels when they get a big bike, it looks like it just might work for Jack!

Jack loves his bike, he loves riding a two wheeler like the big kids!

I have to add, that the purchase of this bike was my worst parenting move ever. Not actually the bike, but the way I purchased it. Jack, Lucy and I were at a trendy toy store where this bike was on display for kids to ride around the store. When it was time to leave, I wanted the bike to stay at the store, Jack did not. What followed was an out and out tantrum from Jack, with me holding a squirmy Lucy and trying to carry Jack, while Jack was still hanging onto the bike for dear life and refusing to let go. I ended up having to yell (to be heard over the tantrum) to the sales clerk, "HOW MUCH IS THE BIKE?". Jack had decided we were NOT leaving the store without the bike or I would be leaving without Jack. I decided that Jay might notice if Jack was gone and so I went against everything I would normally do and say, gave in to the tantrum and bought the kid the bike. As much as I am disappointed with my bad parenting move that day, I have to say, Jack got more use out of this toy and loved it more than anything else we have ever bought him.

Jack-isms

Me- Come here and let me fix your hair.
Jack- Is my hair broken, Mama?

Me-Do you have to go potty?
Jack- Ummmmmm, no Mama, I went last year.

Jack was wondering why we were dropping off my car and riding in Daddy's car.
Me- Because Mama's car needed an oil change.
Jack-Mama's car went poopy?
(Jack is used to me saying that Lucy needs to be changed when I am referring to her diaper.)

This kid is constantly cracking us up. He takes everything so literally, we really need to watch what we say!

South Dakota Children's Museum

November 2010 (yes, still trying to catch up!)

In November, the kids and I headed to my parent's house for a few days. While we were there, we took the kids to the new South Dakota Children's Museum. The museum is located in my old elementary school and it was so neat to see what was left exactly the same as it had always been.

The kids had so much fun! I really was amazed at how wonderful it was. We have been to several Children's Museums that we have loved, but to be honest, I didn't think that this would be able to compete in our hearts with some that are located in bigger markets. I was waaay wrong, the museum was absolutely fantastic! (I also loved that there were at least three volunteers while we were there that were sanitizing all of the toys! That is something I have never seen in any other museum!)






















Lucy loved the large Lite Bright best!
Jack's favorite part was the full size dinosaur T-Rex outside. He talked about the dinosaur for weeks!
One thing I found great was that they left the front entryway the same as it had always been with trophy cases on the walls. In the cases, they have placed memorabilia from the school. They have several class pictures up and I was super surprised to see mine was one of them!











The water room was super cool. Jack had a lot of fun making a mess! We can't wait to go back again! I am so excited that we will have this great place to go every time we visit my family, even better is that our family membership to the St. Paul Children's Museum has reciprocity with this museum, so we get in for free!

Halloween!

October 2010

Halloween was a three day event for this family this year.  It started on Friday when I dressed the kids up in their costumes, filled up Jack's trick-or-treat pumpkin with candy and I took them to Jay's office.  Jack had a blast going from office to office, handing out candy and wishing people "Happy Hallowee-een!".  Lucy had fun being passed from person to person and cuddling each one.  Our kids were on perfect behavior and it was fun to show them off when they were acting so stinkin' adorable!

On Saturday, we went trick-or treating at the Chanhassen Market Square, followed by decorating pumpkins that night.

The next day we went trick-or-treating at the mall followed by trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.

(Lucy is a strawberry and Jack is a monkey)

Jack enjoyed holding Lucy in the wagon as Daddy pulled them to each house.  Jack always made sure that Lucy got candy in her bucket too, it was so sweet to watch him look out for her!

Jack enjoyed playing with his "loot" at the end of the night, but we talked him into letting the Halloween Witch come and trade the candy in for a toy.