Summer List: #4

It has been a fun, and thankfully somewhat warm, week for Maggie to start her first solo swimming lessons and Bode to start his first parent-child class, but today was the day we finally made it to the Stewartville pool as a family.

With a family summer pass, this visit will certainly not be our last.

Summer List: #3, 7 and #35

It is amazing how productive mornings can be when you have early-rising kids and no teaching to attend to.

This morning, we:

1. Went on a hunt to find our garbage and recycling bins. They got moved last week since the trucks couldn't get down our street due to the construction and crazy rain. They never got moved back, and we had no idea where they ended up. Maggie, Bode, and I found them quite a trek away.

2. Drove to the track and did some 400s. I thought the kids would enjoy running around, too, but they didn't like it when I took off at my own pace.

3. Made wishes on dandelions at the track (#7 on our list).

4. Visited Steve at work since we were already there.

5. Came home and walked to Kwik Trip for coffee just cuz. And added a couple donuts for Mags and Bode.

6. Walked home and put our artistic sides to work with sidewalk chalk (#35).

7. Put Bode down for a short morning nap. Still trying to cut down to one, but we're in transition mode.

8. Brought Maggie to swimming lessons.

Whew! The rest of the day consisted of Subway, naps (while I painted the kitchen), library (#3), Bode's swimming lessons, and a date with Steve for a colleague's retirement party. I'm tired. No late night projects for me tonight.

Reactions to the car wash.

Maggie-ism Monday: A Day Late

Maggie says some funny things.  I would write a lot of posts if I wrote a new one for every funny thing she said.  So instead, I'll start "Maggie-ism Mondays" and share a list I've compiled over the course of a week or month.  I'm a day late today - meant to post last night - but I'll start anyway. 

~A few weeks ago, Maggie was sitting at the table, enjoying her food at Grammy and Bapa's.  She looks up from her food, stares out the window for a moment, and says, completely nonchalantly, "Oh a magical fairy just flew by!" And then she returns to eating.


~While walking to Kiddie Park, "Mom, why do they call it "Kitty Park?  There aren't any kitties there."

~Maggie recently asked for a sip of my iced coffee, and I agreed to let her have just a little sip because it has caffeine. She sips and then with a disgusted look on he face, "Ooo, I can feel the caffeine. "

~ After visiting children's church at Grandma and Grandpa's over the weekend, she shared a new song she learned, "I've got bees like gorilla..."           ("I've got peace like a river.")

Summer List: #5,18, and 98...and a few more

We had a fun and busy weekend working on "The List." We woke up Friday morning trying to think of what to mark off for the day.  The decision was easily made once I realized it was National Doughnut Day: #98 - Make doughnuts!  It was really more me making the doughnuts, but the kids did like dipping the them into the butter and cinnamon sugar mixture when they came out of the oven.  Yum!

When Steve got off work Friday afternoon, we left our muddy torn-up road for Princeton to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gibbs (#18).

On the way, I was dropped off at Varsity Theater to join my dear friend for a Rob Thomas concert.  Very fun - thanks, Evie! a couple very talented artists opened, and then Rob came on with his guitarist from Matchbox 20.  They covered a handful of their older hits in a cool acoustic style.

The next day, we joined Maggie's buddy Raef, little brother Christian, and mom Evie for a rendezvous at Clifford Park - Isanti's finest!  It was fun to revisit one of our favorite parks from when we lived in Isanti,along with some very dear friends.  And at the same time, we crossed #5 off the list!

Comparing scraped knees.

Photo by Evie Larson.

Photo by Evie Larson.

 

Sad we  moved away before these two were really able to interact, but I still plan for them to be buddies. :)
Photo by Evie Larson.

I didn't get any pictures of our time with the Gibbs family, but it was lovely, as always. And we got to meet the newest member, Buster, Jim and Angie's Bichon Frisé puppy!

We also crossed off #s 9, 17, and 63 by playing "I Spy" in the car, taking Asia for a walk, and walking to the park when we returned to Stewartville this evening.

The Summer List

School is out, and we're ready for the summer fun to begin. After seeing the idea somewhere, we decided to make a list of 100 summer activities for the kids. This doesn't include my own personal list of painting, running, etc., but I hope to get to those as well.
Here's to summer!

Date night after the last day of school.

Trying to get this boy to sleep past 5:30 in the morning by cutting back to one nap.  Day 1 - asleep by 10:15 am.

Last weekend we accompanied Steve to Winona for work and then went to Lark toys afterwards.  Fudge, ice cream, toys, and the carousel.

Doughnuts form Kwik Trip to start the early morning trip to Winona.

Her Heart

One of the many things I love about my daughter is her heart for people. A particular example of this softness occurred just today.
While enjoying the chilly evening on our patio, our time outside was interrupted by the flashing lights of a first responder truck. It appears that our elderly neighbor, who was born and raised in the same house in which he still resides, took a fall.
When Maggie learned of his accident, she immediately set to work with her markers and coloring book to create a Get Well picture for Mr. Sullivan. After her masterpiece was finished, she was utterly distraught to learn that he was going to the hospital and that she wouldn't be able to deliver her picture yet this evening. Much consoling was needed to assure her he would be fine and that her picture could be presented at another time. After the tears subsided, she did remember that when Curious George fell and went to the hospital, the doctors helped him get all better. What a sweetie. And during her bedtime prayers, before I could even prompt her, she included a request for Mr. Sullivan.
I thank the Lord for her.

Please

Am I the only mom that cringes when her toddler says, "please?" Let me elaborate.
We try to teach our kids good manners. Try. And sometimes they follow through!
Also, in case you're not familiar with sign language, the sign for "please" is to rub your chest with your hand. Combine a precious 19-month-old boy, chocolate chip muffin in hand (healthy version!), and a desire for more. Screaming won't do the trick, ("What do you say, Bode?") so he takes his grubby little hand and runs it over his shirt, which happens to be soaked from the watermelon he was carrying around earlier. *sigh*
I suppose the obvious solution is to make him wear a bib. Or maybe quit teaching him manners. :)