Thursday, April 17, 2014

A Weekend of Fun

This past weekend we were busy having fun!  The kids had swimming lessons Saturday morning.  We went to coffee at Grandma Krumm’s, and after that we headed over to the McNamara farm.  The kids had a blast on the farm.  Tommy got his first tractor ride.  Maggie proudly showed tommy around in the barn.  Maggie found the cats and checked out the “new” rooster.  I can’t wait for it to warm up, both kids love being outside there.  Saturday night we had our friends Adam and Shelley over and  their kids.  Maggie and Evan are about 6 months apart and hit it off instantly.  Maggie wanted him to stay overnight.  Sunday morning we hit San Pedro CafĂ© for breakfast and took a walk down to the Pier afterwards.  Sunday afternoon we started organizing/cleaning the baby’s room.  Maggie helped me assemble the crib and was the first one to test it out.  It was a busy, fun-packed weekend.
Tommy is such a cutie at swimming lessons
Maggie's back float is getting impressive

Tommy got to spread manure with Grandpa.  It was his first tractor ride ever. 

He loved it!

I love the toddler-sized Carhartt.
 
Tommy's first time in rain boots.  He loved the mud puddles

Maggie held on to this cat for a long time.  She desperately wants us to get a cat at our house.

Grandpa helping Tommy pet a calf

Maggie and Evan had quite the dinner date


Tommy was wild at breakfast.  Restaurants just aren't his thing at this age


Tommy spotted a boat and some ducks on our walk and it is all he could talk about. 

 
 
 

Easter Baskets From Jason

My friend Jason dropped off Easter baskets for the kids again this year, and they did not disappoint!  These might be his best ones yet.  Both kids tore into them and were squealing with delight.  He always spoils them but this year was exceptional, I don’t think he will be able to beat these ones next year.  Thank you Jason for your generosity, the kids absolutely loved them!


Both were bursting with excitement but I made them take a picture first


Pez!

A fairy coloring book with markers


A Barbie with two puppies and a swimming pool.  Tommy likes it just as much as Maggie


Tommy got a big pack of Hotwheels cars
 He knew just what to do with them
 

The bunny died the first night :)


Tommy was pulling everything out of his basket as fast as he could


Maggie working hard on Tinkerbell
 

 

Siblings!

My do these two love each other and boy they sure are silly together.  Their new routine is to play together in Maggie's room before bed each night.  It is so nice because it gives us time to brush our teeth and clean up a little without one of them crying or whining for something.  They have also gotten really good about playing with one another at the park.  I could watch them interact all day, the things they do and say to each other kill me.
 
 




And just for the record, we make don't Maggie wear a helmet when we go for walks. :)  She was just walking back to her bike since I don't let her bike on the side of the busy highway.
 
 

Minnesota Zoo

Susie took last Friday off and surprised the kids with a trip to the Minnesota Zoo.  We decided to take them to see the baby farm animals but what Maggie was most excited about was the first picnic of the season.  That’s all she could talk about.  It wasn’t Tommy’s first trip to the zoo but it was probably the first one where he was engaged and excited about all the animals.  He loved the penguins in particular.  Maggie and Tommy both also loved the goats.  We got an annual pass again, so I am sure this will be the first of many trips this year. 
Both kids were fired up




Tommy freaked out when he saw the tractors, just kept running back and forth

Maggie has been sitting on this same tractor since she was about 18 months.

Much to Maggie's delight it sprinkled in the morning, so she was able to talk Mommy Susie into an Umbrella.  Umbrellas and picnics are two of her current obsessions.

Tommy wanted to take the little penguins home.  They are always so cute.
 
Adorable! 
 
 
 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Tom Bomb is 18 Months!

Tommy turned 18 months on 3/27/14 and we had his 18 month appointment on 3/31/14.  He checked out perfectly.  He was happy in the waiting room and for about the first 10 minutes of the appointment.  And then got nice again when it was my turn.  I had my 24 week checkup back to back with his appointment so he got to sit next me and listen to the baby’s heartbeat.  He was really curious and quiet during this part.  He also loved when I got my blood drawn for my glucose screening.  He was hamming it up for the tech and playing with all the supplies.  Oh I should  also mention we were fighting over the orange drink for my glucose test.  Tommy really thought that it looked like something for toddlers and not mommies.  He got two more shots and is now done with vaccines until he starts kindergarten so that is a relief.  I don’t have any photos of him during his appointment because he was quite a handful both when he was happy and unhappy.  
Tommy’s 18 month stats:
Weight: 28 lb 8.5 oz (93%)
Height: 32.75” (62%)
Weight for length:  97%
This was pre-appointment

This was post shots. 
Once we left and were in the car, he was super excited about his Elmo stickers.  He even brought home a Dora one for Maggie.
This might be Tom’s best age yet.  He is really coming into his own and can entertain himself all by himself.  He is super sweet when he is well rested.  He is a great, I mean GREAT, listener.  And he is smart!  We can tell him to put  his shoes in the mudroom or go get his jammies and he does it!  He talks a lot but most of it is hard to understand still.  His listening skills are certainly ahead of his verbal skills.  Tommy says:  mama, Jo-Jo, mine, baby, go, tractor, snow, bye, ball, moo, neigh, baaaaaah, quack, all done, hi, please, thank you, and his favorite, MORE.  He still likes two naps but only gets one during the week at school.  He still adores Maggie and loves to play in her room.  He loves to be outside doing anything.  He eats a ton or nothing at all.  He still gets a bottle at bedtime—although this will be ending soon.  He loves his blankets.  He loves it when anyone will read him books.  He will bring you book after book and crawl up on your lap.  He likes to play with his farm animals, cars, ballons, and he has started to like his Y bike now that his feet can reach the ground.  
 
He obviously liked his dinner this night


These pictures make him look bigger than he is. :)

The camera adds 10 pounds

His smile is infectious.

We love you! 

 


 

Grandma Morawitz Visits

Grandma Morawitz, or Lake Grandma, as Maggie calls her came and stayed with us for a week.    The kids got to skip school a couple days and hang out with her so they were thrilled.  Maggie even got to help make her a birthday cake since her birthday happened to land during the time she was here.  We even bought trick candles for Grandma!  I forgot how hard or how many times you actually have to blow them out.  Grandma read at least 100 books to the kids and played about 50 board games with Maggie.  She has a harder time saying “no” then we do.  :)  Overall it was a great visit and we look forward to having her back again! 

Maggie showing Grandma her card


Grandma's gift: a new coffee maker


Maggie was really proud of the cake.  It was a pink cake with white frosting and sprinkles.  Just what I am sure Grandma wanted!  :)
 

Everyone working together to blow the candles out about 6 times



Grandma was nice enough to share her piece and Tommy loved it!

Reading 'Go, Tractor, Go".  This is hands down Tommy's favorite book.  It has been since he received it on Christmas. 


Tommy's other favorite book.  "My Truck is Stuck"