ABC Beauty Shop Singers

FYI--Zander asked me to put "ony ails" in his hair too!

Summer is Over

Let's see, what has been happening in our world. School is back in full swing and we are back to our normal routine . . .busy. Last Monday daycare was unfortunately closed, but the kids and I made the best of it. We visited the storytime at the library, did a little shopping, and after quiet time went to Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater. It is still one of the cutest parks we've been to and the kids really enjoy it.




Last weekend, we were up in North Dakota to visit Grandma and Grandpa and to attend Cousin Kristie's dedication service.

And just for the record, I went to Nickle Dickle Days in Waconia to run a 5k race with Roz and Kevin. It was my personal best! I ran the first 2 miles with no stopping and finished the race in 31 mins. 45 sec. (50th place in my age range). Props to Roz and Kevin who also fared very well--Roz took 2nd in our age range and Kevin finished 10th! There were A LOT of people running this race--so way to go guys! It was blast and hopefully we can do this more often!

Mommy's Birthday and Labor Day

First off, I would like to state that I feel it was very poor planning on the state of Minnesota to have school start on my birthday this year. It was just too cruel of a present to have to wake up at 6 am (and hit snooze until 6:20) on my birthday. I would not like that to happen again. Other than that, I had a wonderful birthday. Zoey tried (and succeeded) her very best to make my birthday special. She kept coming up to me and in a sing-songy voice say, "Who's the birthday girl?" When I picked the kids up from daycare, they both wished me a happy birthday (again) and then Zoey showed me the sand cake and pie that she made me--complete with candles (sticks). It was very yummy! At home we celebrated by cooking Chinese food and eating a pie. As you can see we all enjoyed it.



On Labor Day, we ventured out to Mayer to hang with Roz, Kevin, and Hazel. It was so nice to sit and visit. The kids are getting better at playing a little more independently and with each other. Hazel and Roslyn made me a birthday cake--it too was very yummy! Thanks for making it and having us over!

Check out the attitude on little miss 4 years old. It is becoming a regular thing now. . .whenever I ask her to pose for a picture--this is what I get. I have created a monster!


I was thinking over the weekend that I haven't put together a list lately of things the kids are doing/saying. So here is a start:

Zander

• knows most of his colors
• can count to 3
• can repeat almost any word you want him to
• can climb out of his pack-n-play (at daycare)
• does his chore of putting his dirty clothes down the laundry shoot
• still loves baseball--plays it every night in the family room with his little baseball and inflatable bat
• is an outdoor boy
• "Hehwo. . .I dalk on the bone. . .g'bye" (Hello, I talk on the phone, goodbye)
  
• hates getting his hair washed in the bathtub
• is getting a little better at eating more at dinner time
• drinks about 10 gallons of liquid each day. Ok, maybe not that much, but he always is asking for a dink of dada juice (Crystal Light), ahda (water), apple shooce (apple juice), or mook (milk), peeaz!
• still wants to do everything that Zoey does
• loves to read and look at books--his favorites are Z is for Zander, his Twins board book, and Richard Scarry's Things that Go--he loves to look for Goldbug!
  

Zoey

• can obviously hoola-hoop pretty darn well
• loves to play house (almost to a fault)
• wants to be a mommy when she grows up
• loves to wear dresses, fancy shoes
• is finally letting mommy do her hair in pigtails
• has her imaginary friend Robin (Hood) who she is going to marry some day
• can navigate the internet very well
• loves to play on the computer and watch movies
• Favorite Movies at this time: Kung Fu Panda, Robin Hood, Horton Hears a Who
• Says her favorite color is every color in the rainbow
• very compassionate--draws pictures for other people and loves to give gifts
• plays the birthday game--she is the mommy and she throws a birthday party for her kid. She wraps her toys in all her blankets and has hijacked many of mommy's gift bags and then the kid (usually Tyler of myself) gets to open all our presents.
• loves sweets
• doesn't go to bed well. . .I just don't think she needs as much sleep as normal people. We won't give up trying though. . .
• likes going to the park
• likes tracing shadows with sidewalk chalk
• is just starting to figure out how to ride a bike
• sings the best lullaby's--just makes up words as she goes along
• has an amazing memory--knows many many songs
• will be starting swimming lessons again next week--she is so excited!

I know there is a ton more and so I will leave this as is for now and just add to this list in the near future.

Hoola Hoop-la

Tyler called me outside today and told me that I had to watch this. I was amazed and went straight for my camera. She has played with the hoola-hoop over the summer, but I have never seen her like this. So I asked her how she learned to be such a good hoola-hooper. She said, "I just watched the big girls at Mary's and I did what they did!"

State Fair '09

We ventured out last Sunday with Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen to the State Fair. This was Zoey's 4th year going and Zander's first. Tyler stayed back home, something about being worried that someone may bump into his elbow. I can see why Grandma and Grandpa wanted extra adults with them this year at the fair--I think I had whiplash at the end of our day because of always turning around to see where the kids were. And Zoey got sick of always having to hold someone's hand. It was a fun filled day though.

The kids did their chores at the farm and each earned their box of cereal from the grocery store.

Zoey and I both really enjoyed going on the sky rider. We took a round trip and got to sit and watch the fair from above. It was so much fun to just talk with Zoey.

While we were riding the sky, Zander was testing out
the new Miata with Grandma and Grandpa.

Zander and Grandma even stood in the very long and crowded line to buy me some Sweet Martha Cookies. And as the tradition goes,
you have to eat about 20 cookies just to close the pail! Yum!

The annual ride on the carousel with Grandpa.

Currently, Zoey's favorite ride. "It makes my heart beat fast. That's why I like it!" Zoey says.

Learning about his ecological footprint.

Thanks for taking us to the fair, Grandma and Grandpa! It was a fantastic day!