Our Little Artist

Our little artist is getting so creative.  Here's the new hat she made.

This morning she spent about an hour mixing water colors to make new colors.

Shopping in Minneapolis

A couple weeks ago I met Liv at her house at 9am for the start of a wonderful Girls' Day Out for shopping.  I was welcomed to Liv's gorgeous purple striped wall.  I was going to insert a pic here, but I don't want to steal her thunder. 

Off we went to Minneapolis to find a great pair of jeans.  We were so excited to get the best parking spot in the ramp. . .and then I noticed it was half an hour until it opens.  I grabbed a spiced cappucino and we wandered around.  We notice Barnes and Noble was open so we crossed the street.  We laughed and laughed and talked and talked about books.  I took pictures of books I want to read and ones I want from the library.  I've banned myself from buying any more books. .  .  I did find a very nice set of 11X13 Van Gogh prints for my unit this spring though.  Yay!

Finally Macy's opened its doors.  We headed in to find a fabulous pair of jeans.  Apparently Macy's is anti-denim or something.  We found a dress for $3,500 but very very slim pickings on the jeans.  I did find a couple cute shirts.  Then we headed for an early lunch at the Local.  I had a breakfast buffet and the world's worst Bloody Mary. 

Next Liv wanted to introduce me to the world's largest Target.  I was going to stop at Target on the way to her house, but then didn't want to be late for I didn't go.  It was a HUGE Target.  Since Target is one of my favorite stores soon our arms were full of goodies and we had to steal a cart.  This Target is so big it has an escalator.  One for humans and one for the carts:

Next I took Liv to a huge Marshall's.  She's never been to a Marshall's before!!  On our way we saw a gorgeous Christmas tree.

It wasn't the most successful day of shopping but it was a ton of fun.  Can't wait to go it again.

O Christmas Tree

just fell over.  Shattered glass everywhere.  Lost about a dozen ornaments.  Two important ones.  At least I took a lot of pictures earlier.  Maybe Mark wasn't exaggerating when he said there were too many ornaments on one side.  I guess there will be a replay tomorrow night.  Thank goodness the kids weren't awake to see it happen.  Thank goodness I wasn't already sleeping. 

Bye Bye Baby

I throughly believe in Nuks.  I think it is important that infants have the opportunity to suck.  I think Nuks are GREAT to keep a baby pacified in the car.  I believe Nuks are great at helping toddlers learn to be good sleepers.  At the age of almost two a Humphrey rule goes into effect at our house.  Nuks only  at bedtime.  Both of our children had many Nuks.  Different shapes and colors.  They both would hold one in each hand and suck another and dreamily close their little eyes and fall fast asleep.  I had many tricks to keep those little buggers in their beds too.  Surrounding the bed with blankies to deter them from falling out.  Before I would go to bed I would stragtegically place Nuk around their little bodies so no matter which way they rolled they could find one.  I loved their relationships with their Nuks.  More than one night, Christian's 'extra' after his prayers was his Nuk. 

On February 28, 2008 the Nuk Fairy paid Victoria a visit.  She came and took the Nuks and left V a note and a little present.  She cried the following night.  But that was it.  No more Nuks.

I've been thinking about the arrival of the Nuk Fairy for Christian.  I was in no rush.  As long as it happened by age 3 I was cool with that.  I liked that little baby side of him.  I liked rocing and singing to him with his head on my chest sucking away. 

On November 26, 2010 I couldn't find a Nuk at naptime for Christian.  Well, as we were in a long weekend I figured it's as good as a time as any.  I told him, "I guess the Nuk Fairy came while we were out!"  I assured him I'd make a couple phone calls while he was napping to be sure he was coming back with a present that night.  He napped no problem.  Totally bought all my lines.  He asked if I called him.  "Yes!  He's coming tonight to make sure he got them all and he'll leave a really nice present."  He was pumped. 

He did say he wanted the Nuks back as he was lying down.  But that was that.  He awoke in the morning to a forest green brand new trash truck and a note.

Victoria loved how her Fairy was a girl and Christian's was a boy.  That really got them thinking.  The following day at naptime he said he wanted his Nuks back again.  I told him how happy those babies are right now & assured him that really big boys don't really need Nuks.  I kissed him and shut his door.  When I went to check on him 20 minutes later he was standing on his mini rocking chair and had EVERYTHING out of his top drawer.  This is where the Nuks were kept.  But it's also where socks, big boy underwear and important papers are kept, the engrraved compass from his baptism from Aunt Molly, savings bonds and even cash from his first bday.  I really have a better spot for the last few items but i must have stuck them in there after his first bday and forgot about them.  Well, there it was.  All over the floor.  Mark rocked him to sleep and I organized all his socks.  That was all the drama that transpired.  In the end I think I was more attached to the Nuks than them. 

He loves his truck and barely misses his Nuks.  I will sneak the last three into the baby box this weekend. 

Bye bye baby boy.

The Night that Flew By

After school I taught Yahtzee Club. . .then picked up the kids. . .then went to the library - Victoria got her very own library card and checked out her goods ALL BY HERSELF. . .then made and served dinner (ok it was only hot dogs, frozen pizza & mandarine oranges - but still) then we made two pans of brownies, 18 normal size and 24 mini pumpkin muffins, then they bathed, then got ready for bed, then read three stories and have been sleeping peacefully for an hour.  Why do I do these things to myself??  What a night.

Gingerbread People

Last weekend we went over to my brother's house on Sunday.  I brought a gingerbread cookie kit.  With four children five and under it was an event.  I made makeshift little bags for the frosting so the kids felt like real bakers.  It was so quiet when they were decorating.  Between the concentration and sneaking candy there wasn't much time to make much noise.

I think there's more candy in his mouth than on the Gingerbread Boy.

Let's just eat that frosting straight out of the bag, shall we?

Victoria's masterpiece. . .that didn't last long!

Mexico 2010

Mark and I had another fabulous time in Mexico last month.  I've put off blogging baout it because I want to add so many details.  I don't want to forget a thing.  But if I wait much longer I may never go back and do it.  The digital scrapbook has come in the mail and the iMovie is almost complete.  How much documentation do we really need anyway?

Our trip got off to a great start.  We had great flights.  We knew what we were doing and we were so excited and relaxed.  I underpacked for once and we took a completely empty suitcase with.  Smart move!

We went jet skiing and snorkeling on our first day at Miroma.

Enjoying a drink at Tequila Barrel.

The last few years I've tried to get my picture taken with a monkey. 

This year I wasn't leaving without one!

We had a family of monkeys living just a few yards away from our balcony.

They're so cute. . . from afar.

Enjoying Happy Hopur in town.

Our gorgeous resort.

We were blessed wtih the best weather we've ever had.  It was high 80's each day. 

The other couple years it's been high 90's and humid.

It's not everyday you can get your picture taken with a peacock.

This is my favorite picture of the 350 we took.  I remember thinking, "It can't get much better," as I snapped it.  A beautiful day relaxing at the pool after spending the morning at the beach.

In the very middle of that billboard is Mark's face.  He's apparently the new Cover Boy for Tequila Barrel's business.  He's on the website and billboards ont he main highway in Playa.  Pretty cool!

LOVE our time at the beach.  Holding hands strolling.  Digging for the most spectacular seashells.  Writing in the sand.  Finding hermit crabs.  Taking picutres of each other. 

That's what I love about this vacation.  Time together.

An amazing sunrise.

We found a new favorite restaurant.  The Mosquito Blue.

Delicious food.  Right on the main street. 

Perfect people watching but secluded enough.  So fun!

Our favorite restaurant in the resort is defintely the Japanese restaurant. 

Once again I was reminded I really do like sushi. 

The making of this meal is really two hour entertainment. 

 We met some nice couples from around the world.

Our favorite hang out in the resort - The Lounge

I don't think there's a thing I would change about this vacation.  We stayed for the perfect amount of time.  We enjoyed a first class flight on the way home.  It was perfect to relax & read. 

We had to perfect amount of relaxing, shopping, lounging and partying.

It was wonderful.  

Already looking forward to 2011.