Locals – Please help!

We hibernated most of the winter. Once the holidays passed our weekends consisted of dance, groceries, cleaning, and church. Ugh. I hate getting out in the snow and dealing with coats and hats and everything else, so I opt to stay in. Plus, there just isn’t as much to do in the winter when you hate the snow like I do.

Since the girls were born I’ve wanted to show them this city. In the beginning I had this fantasy of taking them to a different neighborhood each weekend and exploring and having lunch. But seriously, like that would work with 2 & 3 year-olds! But, now that they’re older I think we can absolutely do this. Plus, after our hibernation, we are all ready to get out and do fun things!

I do better with a plan, so I’d like to make a list of the things we want to do/see this summer. Here’s what I have so far. Locals! Chime in please! Also, if there is an outing you want to join us on, please let me know! The more the merrier.

We’ll be documenting these on our Adventures page.

Gale Woods Farm
St. Anthony Main
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Lake Harriet Streetcar Ride
Maynard’s on Lake Minnetonka
Shady Oak Beach
Valleyfair
Arboretum
Minnehaha Falls/Sea Salt

Fall Adventure

This weekend was jam packed! For the first time in a long time, the girls legitimately needed naps both days. Not that they got decent naps in, but you know.

Saturday my mom joined us for dance class. The girls were a little distracted with both of us there, but it’s just so fun to watch them. We hit Target, then had lunch, frozen yogurt and then headed downtown for the reason my mom came up – a little adventure by the river.

My mom had never explored St. Anthony Main, so we rectified that. It had been a long day already so we didn’t stay for long, but we did walk a bit, wandered around Nicollet Island, and took some pictures. Unfortunately, it was chilly so the girls were in not cute jackets and hats. Everything was dirty, they looked a bit like hobos. Oh well! Real life!

The river! Even though it was chilly, there were so many people out and about. Families doing photo shoots, a bunch of people doing some urban race, and of course a few weddings.

A family was taking this same shot just before us. As soon as they moved away, my mom hustled my girls in. Given the gorgeous scenery, I wish I had taken hats and coats off but oh well. I’ve vaguely thought of going back to try to get a Christmas card shot, but at least I have this as a back up.

She loves her hats! And loved holding my hand (forced her to, she got way too close to the edge of the path). Caden and I have definitely found our photography groove this fall. I love it!

I like faces in my pictures. I want to see them, see their expression. But I’m trying to stretch and tell more of a story and this definitely does that for me. I love this picture of my mom and the girls walking down the path. Heads down, jackets on. Delaney so purposeful, Caden more reserved.

Out attempt at a peekaboo shot. Be gone ladder in the background!

State Fair 2011

First, I bought a new lens! Eeep! I didn’t mean to, but I went to get a new cover because I lost my old one and then he asked me if there was anything else I needed, so I mentioned I wanted a 35mm lens and he had a 28mm lens for $250 and the next thing I knew I had handed my credit card over. I’d been debating returning it, but I used it at the Fair and ohmygod I’m in love with it. It’s exactly what I need for days like this. And it’s way cheaper than upgrading my camera body so why not?

So yes, the Fair. This year I’d done my research. I knew where the new food was and what I wanted to try, and I even downloaded the app. If you don’t have some sort of plan around food, you just end up eating pronto pups, french fries, and cheese curds and that is no fun at all. We were ready.

As we walked into the fair there was a dog agility thing going on. It was cool, but a lot of barking that early in the morning so instead we headed towards the coffee. Luckily, the coffee place also served mini cinnamon rolls and next door to that was the smoothie place. Perfection. After that my dad and I took the girls to watch some guys sing while my mother bought SIX bags of mini donuts. Because it was 3/$10 so why not get 6! The worst part of it is that we only brought home one little bag, so we ate most of them.

We knocked out the rides right away before things got too crowded. It’s so nice to know that the girls are going to enjoy the rides and not feel like each one is a crap shoot.

Caden enjoyed them a little more than Laney did.

They split up for one ride. Caden really wanted to do these spinny balloons and Laney wanted to ride the bumper boats. Luckily for Caden, Amanda is all in for the spinning.

One of my favorite exhibits is the Miracle of Life building. In it are a bunch of pregnant or just delivered animals. The babies are adorable and I feel for the pregnant mamas, especially the ones that give birth for an audience.

Photographic evidence of why I can’t bring myself to eat lamb. Unlike most other animals, they’re cute. Super cute.

After stopping for fried pickles and deep fried mashed potatoes (highly recommend, wow were they good), we headed for our last hurrah – The Giant Slide. We all volunteered to ride down with Laney, but she didn’t want to go down. Caden did though! Amanda rode with her. At the top the worker said “Are you ready?” and Caden said “YEAH!” No fear for Caden.

Seriously, this kid slays me.

Twins game

The girls have been asking to go to a Twins game since April. My plan was to pick a night to work late, eat dinner at Pizza Luce, and then scalp cheap tickets right before game time. But, as we left daycare the girls decided they wanted to eat at the Twins game, not Luce. So we hit up a few ticket sellers, got one free ticket and bought two amazing seats behind home plate and headed over.

I’ll say this up front. Getting there an hour before game time was a blessing and a curse. It was nice to be able to navigate the stairs and the food stands when there weren’t many people around, but it also meant we had to kill an hour before the game started. We killed that hour by hitting the concession stands three times. First time – three italian sausages. My bad, too spicy for the girls. Second time – one hot dog, one pretzel. My bad, they both want their own hot dog! Third time – chicken tenders, gigantic hot dog. The woman at the top of the stairs was laughing at us by the end of it. In case you were wondering, those chicken tenders were tasty.

Luckily for us the four seats next to us were open until the third inning. I figured we’d be okay with one on my lap, but it was nice to be able to spread out. The girls weren’t super interested in the game. Mostly, they wanted the girl to come out and sing the national anthem again so the fireworks would go off. At least with the good seats, we were close enough to the action that it kept them semi-engaged. We hoped for a fly ball to come our way, but no luck.

Saturday

On the weekends that we’re home, our Saturdays consist of groceries, laundry, cleaning, nap, and dinner. I always want to get out and have adventures, but there are things to do and the day just slips away. But this week I had unfortunately done multiple loads of laundry so our sheets were washed, groceries were bought Wednesday night and the house was cleaned before the neighborhood get together. A free Saturday!

First, we hit the donut store. Normally we get donuts at the grocery store, these were SO much better. Must. go. back.

Next up – storytime! Clifford the Big Red Dog was reading his books so we stopped in. Laney loved it, Caden wouldn’t look. After storytime we wandered the bookstore in search of a book for a baby shower. It took me forever to find the one I wanted. Meanwhile, the girls had an entire stack of books they wanted. I rarely buy the girls treats at Target, but I’m apparently incapable of telling them no in a bookstore.

And then, the big stop of the day. Dance shoes! First to try on, tap shoes. I think Laney was exceedingly shocked to find out that tap shoes make noise.

Teeny tiny ballet shoes.

They each got one new leotard. I love the gymnastics leotards – so colorful! Caden loved this one but I didn’t love the price.

Packing three people into a tiny dressing room and then trying on leotard after leotard was a bad idea. We were all more than done by the end.

Rodeo!

Saturday we headed out to family day at the rodeo. I went to this rodeo a few years ago and loved it, and knew I absolutely wanted to bring the girls. Last year it didn’t work out due to our week long vacation, but that was probably for the best. I’m not sure the girls would have lasted four hours in the sun. This year though? We rocked it.

First up, pony rides. I talked these *up* all week long. But, I was still iffy on whether or not the girls would freak out. We stood patiently in line, and then suddenly the woman looked at me and said “This one riding?” I said yes and this was my next view of Caden.

She loved it! I was so happy. I love horses and I get that not everyone does, but it’s something I would eventually like to do more of with the girls.

Laney was next up on the horse. Once again, she was in the saddle and off before I could worry about her. It probably helped that the horses weren’t much taller than they were.

The pony rides were smiles all around.

After pony rides we ate a quick lunch and then did some shopping. Both girls got cowboy boots and hats. Delaney really, really wanted a belt, but they didn’t have any tiny belts so she was forced to make do with a chocolate malt instead. We headed to the hillside and found a spot.

There were Buckin’ Broncos (and when you say Buckin, say it like you would say the other word, because that’s how the announcer said it and all of us couldn’t stop saying it), steer wrestling (?), calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding.

We were sitting on a fairly steep hill, it was hot, and Caden kept backwashing into the water rendering it only hers. By the time intermission rolled around, this is how we were all feeling.

We moved up to higher ground and sat in the bleachers, but we also couldn’t see much from there. The girls wandered with Grampy and petted horses in lieu of sitting still, which just wasn’t going to happen. Next year we’ll bring chairs and get a prime spot at the top of the hill where it’s more level, but you can still see everything. I can’t wait to go back!

More adventure than I needed

I love my girls, but we’ve spent a lot of time together in the house lately and I already have cabin fever. When they got up from their nap I packed a snack and we went shopping. First up, Michael’s. I wanted to check out their Christmas stuff, and buy the canvases for their room (I’m doing cheater canvas wraps with their professional pictures).

My girls are crafty and they love art projects and Michael’s was the promised land to them. They were nonstop trying to get stuff in the cart. Delaney kept saying “We need it. Yes we do. Yes!” I said yes to a few packs of stickers and that seemed to make her happy. We made it out alive and without breaking anything, but I think it will be a long time until I go back with them.

Next up was Trader Joe’s. I don’t shop there often, but it’s next to Michael’s so it was convenient. I let each of them have their own kid cart. Oh my, I can’t believe I didn’t have my camera along. Delaney took it very seriously. Caden was a little out of control she was so excited. She only snuck a few things in, but I had to trail her closely to keep taking things out of her cart. They did really well and had so much fun, I’m just not sure when we’ll get back there. I try not to buy premade things, and that’s the best part of Trader Joe’s, so it’s kind of a love/hate thing there.

Because I’m not sure when else I’ll fit these in, two pictures from the weekend. They love to sit in this chair like this. I love that she has her baby sleeping on her chest. Lord knows we did that enough with her when she was a baby!

Caden saw me taking pictures of Delaney and ran over to see them. This is so perfectly her. Crazy hair and sweet smile.

PS – Delaney is fine. She didn’t eat much and took a three hour nap, but was otherwise totally normal.

Children’s Museum Take 2

For Christmas, my dad wanted experiences, not things. So instead of another Harley shirt, I got him four passes to the Children’s Museum so he could take his loving grandchildren there and experience the joy with them. Which was a win win all around because it meant I had a morning free! (Except you know what I did with my free morning? I got groceries, hit Target, put away laundry, and switched out my winter clothes. Not quite the child free morning I was longing for, but it needed to be done.)

It’s been six months since we’d been there and in that time new exhibits have gone up. Plus, there are areas that we never hit, so it’s like a brand new adventure!

Don’t mess with The Boss.

They are huge on bubbles right now!

Last time we were there, the grocery store was packed with big kids who commandeered the carts and wouldn’t let anyone else near them. This time, the place cleared out right as they got there, so they had full run of the place!

Doing a little cooking in the restaurant.

And finally, slides! I think my parents hit every room in the place!

1-2-3 Imagination

When Caden woke up happy and fever free Saturday morning, I knew we were definitely going to Sesame Street Live. I had my doubts during the night, and a few scenarios ran through my mind. Since Delaney wasn’t sick, she should definitely go. With Amanda? With my parents? With me? I was very happy not to have to make that decision and yet, I realize it was possibly a bad parenting move to take her since she still was sick. She had so much fun though, I think it was worth it in the end.

First, somehow blankie did not make it into the truck. There was a lot of grabbing snacks, and coats, and tickets and I wasn’t paying attention. On the drive down she kept moaning “Bankie! Bankie!” I almost turned around to go back to get him. Note to self: Next time, turn around. After dragging her into the Target Center kicking and sobbing, we sat down and she became immediately quiet. Thank God. We made it into the arena with three minutes to spare which was perfect.

Enjoying a cookie pre-show.

Laney & Amanda

When the characters came out on stage Caden tried to leap off my lap to get to them! She immediately stood up and danced and waved her arms.

Laney was doing some chair dancing herself.

I was super impressed with the show. I went to My Little Pony a few years ago with my niece and that show was Boring. This show was so fun! And the girls got so into the singing and dancing, it was so fun to watch them. The performers were amazing! High energy dancing, kicks up to their ears, I was impressed. Caden’s favorite was an under the sea routine where they turned the lights out and the costumes glowed in the dark. Very cool.

Adventure #8 – First Haircuts

I got my hair cut a few weeks ago and at the time, told my stylist I would bring Delaney with me the next time I came in. That would be just before their second birthday and I wanted her hair cleaned up before pictures.

And then last week they both woke up with crazy rats nest tangles and poofy hair and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I could see where Caden’s hair was breaking off from the tangles, so I knew it wasn’t growing. They both sleep primarily on their backs and they rub their heads. Delaney has some longer hair in the back resulting in something of a baby mullet, but the underneath hair would still get tangled and crazy. I decided we needed to cut the broken ends off in order for it to grow more. Isn’t that what they tell you when you’re trying to grow out your hair? I called my stylist and she confirmed, the ends likely needed to be trimmed. She could squeeze us in at the end of the day Wednesday if I could get the girls there. It worked out well because it got us to my parents just before the snownami hit.

My mom met us at the salon and the girls enjoyed a Christmas cookie or five while we waited.

Caden kept bringing cookies to the receptionist, who politely declined them. And then she pulled a bunch of product off the shelves.

Delaney was first up. Sally had a little seat and tiny cape ready for them. Eek!

They sat so nice and still, Sally was able to do a really great job on their cuts.

Miss Caden didn’t have quite as much to cut off.

The tiny one checking herself out in the mirror. Definitely her favorite part of the whole deal!

For me, it was such a milestone. First haircuts! I really didn’t think we’d be doing this until past age two! Plus, I was worried I was doing it for no good reason, but truly, their hair is so much better now. Sally and I discussed it and their hair was super dry. We use the California Baby shampoo & body wash and it’s drying. I had been washing their hair only once a week and then using my conditioner, but Sally reminded me that I could condition it without shampooing which, ugh, is what I do with my own hair so I should know better. So yes, conditioner every bath now and already, their hair is so much softer and shinier.