Montana

Skylar and I had another Mommy and Me weekend.  This time we were off to visit our friends Beth, Travis, Brianna and Noah in the great state of Montana.  They used to live here in Minnesota, but moved after Travis graduated from school to be closer to home.  Skylar and I met Brianna and Beth through a local stay-at-home mom group when Skylar was 3 months old.  We hadn't seen them in over 2 years and Noah was born after they left Minnesota.  It had been too long.  

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Here is Skylar on the plane waiting to take off.  Have to have a snack, always.  We were delayed over 30 minutes because the air conditioning in the cabin was being fixed.  And yet they let us board the plane.  It was a tad warm, but we survived.  This was the first plane ride she really remembers.  She wasn't too sure about sitting near the window and opted for the aisle on the flight out.

View from the plane approaching Missoula.  I didn't expect mountains like this.  It's been awhile since I've seen them, but was pleasantly surprised.  It was so beautiful.

More mountains.  This time we're on the ground.

When we got the house, both kids were sleeping.  This was Noah shortly after he woke up.  He wasn't too sure about us at first, but quickly warmed up and here he is playing peek-a-boo.

Skylar and Brianna got along right away and picked up playing as if no time had passed.  Brianna even took to calling Skylar her "twin sister."  They had so much fun together.  Gave us moms a nice break entertaining each other.

On Sunday we went to Lake Como, it was a beautiful day.

The kids had fun picking rocks and playing with sticks.  The water was a little chilly, but still good for dipping in your toes.  The backdrop isn't bad either.  :)

All too soon it was time to head home.  Some pictures before we headed back to the airport.  Skylar and Brianna took turns using the camera.  It was very comical.  If it looks like we're smiling a little too hard or laughing, it's because we were.

  Noah wanted a turn too.

  One last 'self-portrait' off all of us.

  And then we were on the plane home.  This time Skylar wanted the window.  Can't say as I blame her.  Thank you Beth, Travis, Brianna and Noah for everything.  We had a wonderful time.

 

How to Eat a Bowl of Cereal?

Monday Morning

Step 1 - Pull bowl out of cupboard and pour in cereal.

(As reaching in refrigerator to pull out milk, one of the kids is asking for their milk.  So you pull out the soy milk and go back to the cupboard for a cup.  Pour milk in cup and hand it to the kid.  Put soy milk back in fridge and get out regular milk.)

Step 2 - Pour milk on cereal.

(Annelise has decided that she is now finished with breakfast and demanding to be let out of her highchair.  So you walk over to the highchair, clean her up and set her free.)

Step 3 - Take bowl of cereal over to the table and sit down.

(Skylar has too now left the table and is in the bathroom cleaning up.  After you remind her to follow the "Bathroom Rules", i.e. the correct amount of toilet paper, only one squirt of hand soap, and no playing in the sink, you realize you've forgotten a spoon.)

Step 4 - Go grab a spoon.

(Check on Ani in the living room and remind her that we sit on the couch.)

Step 5 - Sit down and actually eat one spoonful of cereal.

(Hear a call from the bathroom that she's finished but would like some help with something.  Not sure what, but this is usually means a breach of Bathroom Rules.  Thank goodness all is well.)

Step 6 - Head back to the table and sit down to enjoy Bowl of Mush.

(Annelise walks up as you sit, with book in hand and starts climbing up into your lap, asking to have it read.  Oh well, cereal didn't really sound good anyways.)

Mommy and Me Weekend

A few weeks ago Skylar and I trekked across the great state of Wisconsin, all the way over to Milwaukee for an Alumni basketball game at UWM.  (University of Wis-Milwaukee)  I hadn't been back in a few years...ok more like 7 and decided it was time to re-visit my past.  Bill and Annelise stayed home.  She doesn't travel well and Bill had just returned from a week long business trip to D.C. and wanted to recoup over the weekend.  So "Girls Weekend" it was.  We left Friday afternoon and Skylar was content to put the DVD player to good use.

Hit Milwaukee right around 5:30pm in time for rush hour.  Checked into the hotel, had dinner with our friend Bob, went back to the hotel and to bed.  Saturday morning woke up bright and early, had breakfast and headed over to the gym.  A place I almost literally lived in for 4 years of my life.  (That and the architecture building.)  We saw lots of old teammates and my coach.  Not much has changed.  It was nice to visit though and I'm glad we went.  Skylar had a good time, even if she did wake up Saturday morning and ask first thing, "When can we go home."  We left after the Alumni game was over and didn't stay to watch the current team play Youngstown.  Would've been fun but we did have 6 hours in the car ahead of us.  

Skylar and Victor E., (get it Victory?...groan) the panther, our mascot.

  Large group photo of the alumni and some family.  Most of the players directly in front of and next to us were my teammates.  The coach is 2 people to the left of us in the back.  Next year, if my knees hold up til then, I think I'll play.

Indoor day

It's been pretty cold here in the frigid North. So much so we took to the local indoor dome for some exercise. We went with our friends Alex and Dawn. Dawn did an excellent blog about it and there's even a video. :-) Thank you Dawn. (I know my first post after almost a 2 month hiatus and it's not even mine. Sorry, I will try to get back on the horse soon.)

http://aboutourday.blogspot.com/2009/02/warm-play.html

Here's a cute pic of Skylar and our first (and only) snowman of the season.

Naughty or Nice?

Annelise would like to know.  This is serious business people.

The Perfect Christmas Card?

Just wanted to share some funny pics about what went into this years Christmas card. I won't publish the chosen picture, it should arrive in the mail soon. Enjoy!

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"Ok Skylar, a little less 'Cheeeese'. You're scaring your sister."Annelise says, "I'm outta here."Skylar smiles great, Annelise blinks.

Skylar's turn to blink. And Annelise is thrilled about being held."Are we done yet?"I don't know what Skylar keeps looking at off to the right, but it must be interesting. At least Ani still has a sense of humor.Skylar literally said, "Ok mom, here I've got her! I'll make sure she doesn't run away."

Hopefully put a little Ha, ha ha, in your Ho, ho ho. Thank goodness for digital cameras.

Say What?

The other day on the drive to school, Skylar and I had an interesting discussion. It's went a little something like this....

Skylar: "Momma, when will I be a momma?"
Me: "Not for many, many (many) years."
Skylar: "Can I be a Momma someday?"
Me: "If you'd like to be."
Skylar: "I want to be a Momma for Halloween."
Me: "Ok, what's a Momma costume look like."
Skylar: "Well, I'll need a mask." (ok?)
Me: "Ok, what kind of mask. (No response.)
Skylar: "And I'll need some legs too."
Me: "But you already have legs!"
Skylar: "Oh yeah?!" (End of discussion.)

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That was a good conversation. Made me smile. She's one funny kid. Since I never did a first day of school picture, here's one of her at her locker.