Sunday, April 26, 2009
The 3rd Night in a ROW!
Carter, it's bath night! That's met these days with "I just had a bath!" or "Not again!" or "It's the 3rd night in a row!" Winter routine dictates a bath only every few nights, but with every free second spent outside (and much of that time in the dirt), it's a necessity EVERY night now! It'll take some time getting back in the swing of it, bud, but now that you give yourself your own bath, it only takes a couple of minutes (unless Mom busts you for barely wetting the top of your head and not even using a washcloth)!
(I'm sure you both will kill me a few years from now for posting pictures of you in the bath...together! But, it's too cute to pass up!)
(I'm sure you both will kill me a few years from now for posting pictures of you in the bath...together! But, it's too cute to pass up!)
Friday Fun
We just can't keep the Hanson 4 indoors any longer! Amelia points outside the second she sees a window, and Carter is out the second that we get home from work and school. Thank goodness for the great weather we had last week! After a quick pizza for dinner, we hit the yard for the evening!
Just a note...Amelia would have been content to just toddle circles around the patio table. She must have made 20 laps around and around and around! She is still in that phase of feeling pretty proud of herself now that she can walk!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Hippety Hoppety Easter's On Its Way...
What a great way to start Easter weekend! After heading up to Virginia late on Thursday night, we were able to get together with some of my great friends from high school and their little ones. While Carter was off swimming with Nana and Papa at the AmericInn, we ate, played, and visited! Thanks for having all of us over, Julie and Kevin! Great conversation, so cute kids, and yummy popcorn cake, Top the Tator, and taco dip! Just like old times!
Here are the kiddos...Cal (Amanda's almost 10 month old), Clark (Julie's almost 7 month old), Leo (Julie's 2 1/2 year old), and Joey (Shelley's 2 year old...who also has the exact same birthday as Amelia)! They played so well together! Thanks for sharing your toys so nicely, Leo and Clark!
Lots of plastic egg fun! I even found a dollar bill in 2 of the eggs...leftovers from a previous egg hunt I guess!
3 dozen eggs?? Well, after eating the 4 or 5 that cracked during the prep process, I guess there weren't that many! But, Carter died them all! Thanks, Mr. Watt (our wonderful art teacher) for inspiring Carter to mix some colors to create "secondary" colors! P.S. I thought the white strappy was ideal to wear up on the Range!
Oops...sideways! Sorry, Rae, but you're too little to die the eggs. Mommy would not be able to handle your colored fingers (especially when you put them in your mouth constantly...let's hope those molars pop soon). But, the plastic ones were just as fun, especially when you dumped them out and picked them all up! Next year, it's the real deal babe!
Not only were they died, but they all needed stickers too! Carter said that he was creating "movie clips" in his sticker arrangements, so that when we turned the egg, we could see a movie unfolding! 
Yup...snow on Easter! That's par for the course up north! But, notice the missing jacket...the weather was very warm, and this pile was actually all the white stuff that was left! 
Exciting news...Amelia has sure taken off on foot! After being pretty wobbly yet at the beginning of the week, she's now pretty steady on her feet and LOVES to cruise everywhere! A couple of skinned knees didn't stop her from making her sidewalk laps!
Here's the layout for the Easter Bunny! Carter chose 4 eggs and some candy for the plate - complete with a note to tell E. that he didn't have to eat all 4 eggs and could take some with him (after I tried to convince him that 1 was plenty since he's got so many houses to visit...but, when Carter has his heart set on a plan, it's hard to break; great compromise, buddy)! Carter also picked out the eggs for their new baskets for E. to fill and hide. He thought it best if Amelia's were hidden inside and his outside, hence the notes in front of the baskets indicating this. Gotta love a literacy whiz!
After 5 minutes of searching outside, Carter wanted to give up. But, with a jacket and hat, he managed to find all 16 of his selected eggs! Next year, I hope the Easter Bunny arrives in the afternoon so that it's not so cold as we hunt!I don't have a picture of this, but I just have to blog about it...
On Easter, we enjoyed dinner with my Grandpa at his assisted living facility. After lunch, we were hanging out in a social area. Well, our new little cruiser just had to make laps up and down those long hallways (which, I must say, brought many smiles to the residents). She discovered that my Grandpa's walker is lots of fun to push. When she finally let it go, I snuck it back into his room, hoping to distract her. Well, I didn't distract her, but something else did. The next time I looked over at her, she was chewing something. In the 5 seconds I looked away, she managed to find an already chewed piece of gum and was chomping away. My Mom was optimistic and said that maybe it was a gumball or small square of new gum. But, without molars and in 5 seconds, she never would have gotten it to the VERY soft and squishy consistency. Ahhh...thank goodness she is my second, or I probably would have called the nurse over immediately to check her over. GROSS, but, still alive!
Spectacular Spring Break
Ahhh...living the teacher's dream! Home for a full week of spring break (and then counting down the 41 days left of school until summer vacation)! Here's what we were up to for the week!
As par for the course, each morning, Carter was the first one awake, heard Amelia when she stood up (and tossed her blankie out of her crib...I swear, she'll be our only child who attempts to abandon ship and jump out of her crib) and blabbed "mamamama", and got her out of her crib. (Soon, she'll learn to change those "mamamama's" to "cart-cart-cart's"!) I woke to find them snuggling together and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Little Einsteins. Isn't Carter the best??!!
On Monday, we played with the Dvoraceks! Addi is only 6 weeks younger than Amelia (and they are the best of girlfriends...they go to daycare together), and Zach is almost 4. Carter and Zach are great friends too, as Carter was at daycare with him from the time he was a baby until this year when he was off to kindergarten. We played at Edinborough Park for the morning, headed back to our house for lunch, and put the babies down for a nap. Yeah for the 3 hours they slept, the boys played wonderfully together, and Pam and I talked (and talked and talked)!
On Tuesday, Carter had a friend over all day for a playdate. David, who Carter has known since their days at Lynn's daycare when they were both 1 and who is in my class at school this year, and Carter played and had so much fun. Here they are playing "Indiana Jones" at the nearby playground. They have such an amazing imagination, and Carter had so much fun with him!
We were off to the Children's Museum on Wednesday! What more fun could you have than painting your own face with the paint sticks! Carter also really loves to play in the area of the museum that is a restaurant, grocery store, and music studio.
Of course, Amelia's favorite locale was the water area! Needless to say, she was sopping wet after her 30 minutes here! Thank goodness for the super high powered dryers that are located by the exit! Although it nearly blew her away, she did leave semi-dry! And, I'm sure she managed to drink half of the water in the tank. Hopefully it was heavily chlorinated...or she's now full of little kid hand germs!
You can't go to the Children's Museum without stopping next door at Candyland. Boy, was someone thinking when they located a kid's museum next to a candy shop! Candyland makes their own candy...for those of you from the Iron Range, it's just like Canelakes - sans the italian sodas. Carter chose gummy spiders and sweet tart Lego brick candies for himself and chocolate dipped Peeps for Mommy and Daddy. YUM! Those were the best! Sorry, Rea...maybe next time for you!
Just like riding a bike...we were nervous that Carter would have difficulty riding his new bike. It has been a long Minnesota winter since the last time and he just learned to ride without training wheels at the end of the summer last year. But, he was off and running! No problem!
Not even 16 months and already driving! Amelia loved her new coupe car! I loved that the handle to push it is at the very top of the car so that I didn't have to bend over and hunch the entire trip!
Spring break just couldn't be complete without a trip to Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday! Carter is an absolute rock star at skee ball. He struck 10,000 many times! It's funny...I always remember loving skee ball too when I was a kid! My dad and I played it everywhere that I saw one!
Amelia enjoyed her first run at the rides! She actually sat still and held right on!
Jackpot! Although not the millions in the Powerball, Carter did strike it rich with 90+ tickets when he hit the jackpot on this game!
You have no idea how many tries this picture took...and Amelia still isn't looking at the camera! She was much to interested in the flashing buttons on the dash of this car ride or at licking (yup...I said licking...gross) Chuck E.! After literally 20 shots, Carter said "Mom, this will just have to do."
As par for the course, each morning, Carter was the first one awake, heard Amelia when she stood up (and tossed her blankie out of her crib...I swear, she'll be our only child who attempts to abandon ship and jump out of her crib) and blabbed "mamamama", and got her out of her crib. (Soon, she'll learn to change those "mamamama's" to "cart-cart-cart's"!) I woke to find them snuggling together and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Little Einsteins. Isn't Carter the best??!! 
On Monday, we played with the Dvoraceks! Addi is only 6 weeks younger than Amelia (and they are the best of girlfriends...they go to daycare together), and Zach is almost 4. Carter and Zach are great friends too, as Carter was at daycare with him from the time he was a baby until this year when he was off to kindergarten. We played at Edinborough Park for the morning, headed back to our house for lunch, and put the babies down for a nap. Yeah for the 3 hours they slept, the boys played wonderfully together, and Pam and I talked (and talked and talked)!
On Tuesday, Carter had a friend over all day for a playdate. David, who Carter has known since their days at Lynn's daycare when they were both 1 and who is in my class at school this year, and Carter played and had so much fun. Here they are playing "Indiana Jones" at the nearby playground. They have such an amazing imagination, and Carter had so much fun with him!
We were off to the Children's Museum on Wednesday! What more fun could you have than painting your own face with the paint sticks! Carter also really loves to play in the area of the museum that is a restaurant, grocery store, and music studio.
Of course, Amelia's favorite locale was the water area! Needless to say, she was sopping wet after her 30 minutes here! Thank goodness for the super high powered dryers that are located by the exit! Although it nearly blew her away, she did leave semi-dry! And, I'm sure she managed to drink half of the water in the tank. Hopefully it was heavily chlorinated...or she's now full of little kid hand germs! 
You can't go to the Children's Museum without stopping next door at Candyland. Boy, was someone thinking when they located a kid's museum next to a candy shop! Candyland makes their own candy...for those of you from the Iron Range, it's just like Canelakes - sans the italian sodas. Carter chose gummy spiders and sweet tart Lego brick candies for himself and chocolate dipped Peeps for Mommy and Daddy. YUM! Those were the best! Sorry, Rea...maybe next time for you!
Just like riding a bike...we were nervous that Carter would have difficulty riding his new bike. It has been a long Minnesota winter since the last time and he just learned to ride without training wheels at the end of the summer last year. But, he was off and running! No problem!
Not even 16 months and already driving! Amelia loved her new coupe car! I loved that the handle to push it is at the very top of the car so that I didn't have to bend over and hunch the entire trip!
Spring break just couldn't be complete without a trip to Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday! Carter is an absolute rock star at skee ball. He struck 10,000 many times! It's funny...I always remember loving skee ball too when I was a kid! My dad and I played it everywhere that I saw one!
Amelia enjoyed her first run at the rides! She actually sat still and held right on!
Jackpot! Although not the millions in the Powerball, Carter did strike it rich with 90+ tickets when he hit the jackpot on this game!
You have no idea how many tries this picture took...and Amelia still isn't looking at the camera! She was much to interested in the flashing buttons on the dash of this car ride or at licking (yup...I said licking...gross) Chuck E.! After literally 20 shots, Carter said "Mom, this will just have to do."
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday Fun Day and a Wonderful Weekend
3 new Amelia developments...1. Wearing her first pair of real shoes (other than her Robeez) - You should have seen her walking in them...she looked like she was marching and lifted her feet up so high!
2. Taking her own shirt off over her head
3. Deciding to have a blankie - After I quit nursing her, I kept my fingers crossed that she'd easily find something else to calm her. Boy was I thrilled to have her pick up the small comfy blanket that I received when she was just brand new (thanks Emily!) to tuck around her in her infant seat. Last weekend, I was cleaning out her dresser drawer to make way for the SUPER cute summer clothes (gotta love shopping for a little girl!) to pack away the burpies and small blankets. She picked it up off the floor and has rarely set it down since. She snuggles right up with it and nods off to sleep! We couldn't ask for an easier transition, and I'm thrilled that the blankie she chose is small enough to fit in my purse! We've already asked Emily to make us a second one...for those emergencies that we can't forsee!
Spring break is officially here for Carter and Mommy! We spent the first day at the Shrine Circus. Daddy is off on Fridays so it was great to all go together! I never thought I'd see a giant Shriner hat with legs in my life...I guess I can check that one off my list!
I'm pretty sure that Amelia ate half this bag of cheesy popcorn! Both Daddy and daughter left with orange fingers!
A slushy and a alien blaster that makes the loudest and screechiest noise that the human ear can pick up...what more could a guy ask for?!
Carrol (our wonderful daycare mom) found these Princess Coupe cars for Amelia and Addi. What we thought would be a quick 15 minute put together (ending in enough time for the family to go for a walk and enjoy the spring-like weather) actually ended up being a 2 hour endeavor. Thanks for the perservance Daddy; Amelia loves her car!
During the 2 hour put together, Carter and Amelia had more fun with this box than I can even describe! Amelia thought it was so silly to crawl inside and giggle, and Carter walked all over the house with it on his head so that all we could see was his feet. Although, when I came out of the bathroom after giving Amelia a bath and saw him sawing away at the sides with a sharp knife (trying to cut out eyes), I couldn't hold back the holler. Poor kid...Mom ruins all the fun. But, it's all fun and games until someone cuts a finger off, Daddy!
I wish my Grandma Rose could see this! She loved those punch ball balloons, and I remember her buying them for me all the time when I was a child. We've had these two balloons around the house since fall, and today was the day that Carter tried to beat his punching record and Amelia really caught on to how to punch! Such fun!
"Thanks Nana and Papa for my ride on toy!" Carter pushed her in circles all around the house so many times! She'd toot the horn as she rode by and gave a little backwards "bye bye" wave (the kind where her hand bends toward herself instead of away...but that's how she sees everyone wave bye bye to her, so we can't blame her). The instant he stopped pushing her, she screamed! In 1 day's time, however, she learned to mount and dismount the car herself, push along and do her own peddling in the kitchen on the tile floor, and push the car alongside the couch so that she can climb on top of it and up onto the couch. And, all the while, the car plays Disney princess music!
Carter is the best brother and son in the entire world! He's the first to hear Amelia when she wakes up in the morning, rushes into her bedroom, and takes her out of her crib. He carries her into the living room to watch cartoons. This is the first I saw of both of them this morning...how special and sweet! I suppose he'll start charging a babysitting fee soon!
Spring break is officially here for Carter and Mommy! We spent the first day at the Shrine Circus. Daddy is off on Fridays so it was great to all go together! I never thought I'd see a giant Shriner hat with legs in my life...I guess I can check that one off my list!
I'm pretty sure that Amelia ate half this bag of cheesy popcorn! Both Daddy and daughter left with orange fingers!
A slushy and a alien blaster that makes the loudest and screechiest noise that the human ear can pick up...what more could a guy ask for?!
Carrol (our wonderful daycare mom) found these Princess Coupe cars for Amelia and Addi. What we thought would be a quick 15 minute put together (ending in enough time for the family to go for a walk and enjoy the spring-like weather) actually ended up being a 2 hour endeavor. Thanks for the perservance Daddy; Amelia loves her car!
During the 2 hour put together, Carter and Amelia had more fun with this box than I can even describe! Amelia thought it was so silly to crawl inside and giggle, and Carter walked all over the house with it on his head so that all we could see was his feet. Although, when I came out of the bathroom after giving Amelia a bath and saw him sawing away at the sides with a sharp knife (trying to cut out eyes), I couldn't hold back the holler. Poor kid...Mom ruins all the fun. But, it's all fun and games until someone cuts a finger off, Daddy!
I wish my Grandma Rose could see this! She loved those punch ball balloons, and I remember her buying them for me all the time when I was a child. We've had these two balloons around the house since fall, and today was the day that Carter tried to beat his punching record and Amelia really caught on to how to punch! Such fun!
"Thanks Nana and Papa for my ride on toy!" Carter pushed her in circles all around the house so many times! She'd toot the horn as she rode by and gave a little backwards "bye bye" wave (the kind where her hand bends toward herself instead of away...but that's how she sees everyone wave bye bye to her, so we can't blame her). The instant he stopped pushing her, she screamed! In 1 day's time, however, she learned to mount and dismount the car herself, push along and do her own peddling in the kitchen on the tile floor, and push the car alongside the couch so that she can climb on top of it and up onto the couch. And, all the while, the car plays Disney princess music!
Carter is the best brother and son in the entire world! He's the first to hear Amelia when she wakes up in the morning, rushes into her bedroom, and takes her out of her crib. He carries her into the living room to watch cartoons. This is the first I saw of both of them this morning...how special and sweet! I suppose he'll start charging a babysitting fee soon! A Super Saturday
What better way to start the weekend than with home-made waffles! Thanks Daddy for making such a yummy breakfast!
Spring is supposed to be here, but we sure needed to bundle up to go to the zoo today! We were going to visit the farm at the Minnesota Zoo to see the baby farm animals, but it was WAY too cold! We did visit all of the indoor exhibits and enjoyed our picnic lunch!
Gotta love the new Minnesota Trail! Carter had fun on his scavenger hunt. He had a paper with 8 animals that could be seen on the trail. When he found the animal, he made an embossed stamp on the paper! Success...he found all 8, and we can now all rest assured now that we know his armspan is as wide as a trumpet swan wingspan!
We must have spent 20 minutes pressed up against the glass of the aquarium! Amelia kept pointing and saying "dat" at every fish, and Carter loved jabbering about each fish to her! We also saw a really small and REALLY fast fish, that Carter nicknamed "Speedy", swim multiple laps around and around the tank.
Carter, our water boy, in true fashion! Oh how he'd love to really go scuba diving in the ocean! Some day, buddy, I promise!
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