Kids are Smarter

Q has turned 4 since my last posting! (she really likes the ice cream cone outfit).



Apparently hard boiled eggs explode in the microwave after about 30 seconds--yeah...I do have a food degree, shut up.


Q and I took a girls trip a few weeks ago to visit my best friend in Maryland. We had a great time and it was tons of fun just spending time with my eldest child. She's brilliant and I can't wait to see where else she goes in life.

Baltimore
Aaron!! He gave us plenty of smiles (and cries, but mostly sleep!)
Q at the Science museum "there is a really big hair drier, Mom, you have to come see it!!"
Yep, She wore this on the plane, flowered shirt, ice cream cone tank top, ice cream cone tight capris with a pink tutu. It was awesome.
Monkey wore her sunglasses. It was apparently hilarious!

Well, it's happened already.
I already can't help my kids with their homework.

I looked at Vince's daily sheet when I picked him up on Thursday. He apparently knows about 15 signs and does them appropriately. I guess all his crazy hand waving at home that I thought was nothing is something! He's already smarter than me in one area--Granted, it's sign language and he gets a little upset when I have no idea what he's signing, but it's getting better for me. :-) I actually had to look up some signs the other day to see what he was trying to tell me!

And Q makes up her own signs for everything, so I can't rely on her input, either. :-)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We went to Grafton for Tuesday-Friday; missed all traffic--we should apparently be very greatful we did not come back Sunday--back ups near Menomonee were apparently hours long!!

Vince is growing quickly. Attempting more words. Walking like a champ. Loves cooking, cars, and tupperware. And milk. And eating. And drums. And his sister. And our cats!! He's so gentle with them; it's wonderful.

What you Talkin About?

Our little Halloween giraffe.

Getting closer to done painting!





Talking! Vince is slowly starting to take after Q. Why learn how to say one word at a time when sentences are so much more impressive?

Walkin

Some select few from our New Orleans trip!

Cruisin' around he is!! He'll still crawl, but walking is slowly becoming more exciting to the lil' man.

Vince's birthday photos

This is Quinn... lol
Loves to help cook! Here she is browning the hamburger.

"I want the phone, Mama!"


"Aww...yeah!"


Marshmallow time!!

One

He's one.
Officially.
Insanity.
His vocab has exploded this weekend.
We were outside enjoying our campfire last night (yes, we purposefully set a fire in our backyard...kinda inconsiderate of BWCA? I don't know. To my defense, it was very close to where the hose was watering our lawn and "evergreen" trees. Also, there was potential for 15 people to be here last night and they all cancelled as the day went on! Mid-week spur of the moment parties don't go well! :-)
Regardless. I'm roasting mallows for me and my kids (yes, just us 3) and I hear Vince behind me, "ka, ooow, ma, ka owww ma, ka oww, mama, KAAAA OWWWWW MAMAMAMAMAMAM!"

Anyone?

Anyone?

Anyone speak toddler?

"Cat out mama." Killer got out when Quinn came out with the mallows and chocolate and I had NO idea!

Crazy!

Photos and videos of various "happy birthday" videos to come!

Boo

Birthday

Fair!

First First Birthday

We're off to Eagle Lake today for Vince's first first birthday party---what a fast year! I am currently hoping the frosting for the cake turns out! Lots to do in a few hours to get to the party on time!! Wish us luck!! Photos to follow!

Anything becomes a walker....

Both kids crack me up with their instantaneous "IT'S NOT DOING WHAT I WANT IT TO DO" meltdowns....

Almost One?

Can not believe I'm planning a party for my baby boy! We'll most likely have a little fiesta with Mike's family this weekend in Eagle Lake area--time goes sooo fast!

We were in the front yard today cleaning up plants and unsuccessful potted (weeds) believed to be plants.

As I pulled what I thought were weeds---this came up!



Honestly, I thought it was parsley..apparently it was carrot!! I was hoping for more carrot successes, but I'll take one! Quinn sure did enjoy it!!

And we shared cookie dough...

And Mike and Quinn went to the Twins "game" the other night (I think the score was Baltimore 8 Twins 1)...which led to enjoying the stadium, I guess??



Vince is still not walking, but it's not far away. Looking at these photos on blogger make me think we need a new camera...maybe it's the computer screen??

Off to finish outside tasks before company comes over tonight! RING OF FIRE! It should be cool enough to actually enjoy the fire!!

Stair Master..

We've had a busy couple days. I just want to nap...but the kids have different ideas! Hopefully our backyard and our lunch trip to Arby's will be enough for them!

Friday I got a call from the In-Laws-- 'where are you, we're going to Owatonna and you should to.' "uh, okay." 3/4 from Farmington to Owatonna I realized the trip home would be rough, but a night at the fair with the kids should be fun. And it was! Vince stayed awake for the duration; most likely from wanting the food he saw everywhere! Quinn got to enjoy several rides, ponies, and a stomach tattoo of "hello kitty" (shocking she passed up Ariel, butterflies and flowers!). Got home about 11:30pm--exhausted. Kiddos only slept until 7!!!

...by about 7:45 Vince was ready for a nap! At 9am, we got a call from some friends, "let's do something" "okay" "we haven't seen the penguins yet" LET'S go to the ZOO!!! So we did. It was fun. Penguins were more active first thing than when we left, but it was good. The visitor's center area looks nice and we're officially zoo members again! woohoo! OOh, and both kids napped on the way home. Q stayed napping until I woke her up at 5:15--only woken up with promise to see Ted-do for dinner. "I will only wake up if YOU PROMISE we can sleep by Teddy". "I do not PROMISE anything, we'll see how you are at dinner." Dinner went okay--but not well enough for Vince and Q to make it long for a visit, so we came back home. Vince went right down; not so lucky for Quinn, but it was nice to have a night at home anyway.

SO, we get back from our lunch at Arby's and I set Vince down while I take off my shoes. 2 seconds later...he's 4 steps up and away from me!? When did that start?!

Also, yesterday, he tried several times to just get up and start walking. he'd be holding onto my fingers and just let go and start walking but his feet wouldn't move right and he'd fall, give me a look as if my fault and cry. Today several times he'll be holding onto the table/bookshelf, turn around and try to walk..unsuccessful but I know one of these days it'll just come to him!!!

He's a silly lil man, but a lot of fun.

And our big news of 3 weeks ago--POTTY AND POOP TRAINING COMPLETE! It's been good and I haven't wanted to jinx anything. But, our day care lady promised a camping trip a few weeks ago and has been on vacation and moving since; let me tell you--Q remembers she's due a camping trip! Maybe I'll set up the tent for her in our backyard.....

Off to play some more!!

It'll be here before we know it....

...walking without the walker!!

Hair Cut!!

Our lil bug got some hairs cut yesterday...

..but first...

Quinn at 10 months waiting for daddy...


Vince at 11 months waving at daddy outside!!




They may be siblings!! :-)


Vince before (bangs comb-over syle)...
"Please don't cut my hair mama, PLEASE?!"
"AWWW, yeah...I'm hot stuff now!"