I Crocheted My First Hat!

I'm so addicted to crocheting now and my carpel tunnel is really bothering me, but I don't care. Here is a hat I made for Ellie to match her scarf. I discovered step by step videos on ehow.com. The flower on top actual took me a whole day, the video wasn't as elaborate as I needed it to be. Mikayla takes one look at the finished product and says, "You should have just done a pom pom." Thanks Mikayla.

Mikayla, My Toothless Wonder

She is 6 years old and has lost her 6th tooth yesterday. She looks way different than she did at the beginning of the school year.

Orlando, Florida--Without the Kids

Yes, I missed the kids a lot, but this was a nice vacation with my hubby. Thank you Mayo Clinic for sending him there!

This first picture is us in the hotel lobby ready for our first evening out.


The vendor company paid for us to go in the back way to Hollywood Studios and onto the set of the Indian Jones Show.


We got to be part of the set while we were dining at this incredible buffet. No smoking allowed as you can see why...


Here is Indiana getting away from the bad guys!


And of course, here is me with Indiana. He was still breathing hard when this picture was taken. Oh my!


Dorky self portrait. But, hey, my days were spent alone. They had the best daiquiri's there!


Beautiful flowers and rose bushes everywhere.


The chandelier in our hotel lobby.


The nightly band that would play in the lobby.


A view from the beach.


Our Grand Floridian Resort-view from the beach.


Florida in a nutshell!


More views of our resort.


Going out to dinner again. Riding on the bus to Disney's Downtown area-Pleasure Island.




Lego's area, the Loch Ness monster out of Lego's.


All of the workers and valet parking people were dressed in Victorian times at our resort. This old guy was so cute in his little outfit.

A Photo We Had On Our Cell Phone

Those of you who travel in WI might recognize this giant mouse. It's at a gas station in the Tomah area at the Oakdale exit. It's the gas station near where Nate's parents live. The girls had fun playing on his shoes during a potty break one day.

Indoor YWCA of Minneapolis Triathlon

I really enjoyed this tri. It was small enough that Nate could cheer me on in my swim lane, by my stationary bike, and next to the track. And, hey, it was INDOORS! It was good to have something to train for over the winter and keep me on track. Here are the pictures we took. Our batteries died on our camera before it was over, so most of the pictures are of the swim.

Before the start, Jen and I ready to go! (Interesting, my race number is almost my age!)


Warming up.


The buzzer sounds, I'm off!


After 24 laps (600 yards/11:56 minutes), I'm on the bike. You can see the bikes set up next to the track. It was a 10 mile bike (37:09 minutes).


After just a 2 mile run (22:44 minutes), we finished!


I got a quick shower and then Nate and I were off to the Minneapolis airport to catch a plane to Orlando!

Adventures in Allergy Testing

Ellie had such a bad winter with colds that the doctor referred us to get her tested and Mikayla wakes up every morning with itchy watery eyes and sneezing. So, the day of our appointment finally came and after a busy morning, I picked up Mikayla early from school and headed to Mayo Clinic. As usual, it took forever to find a place to park and we hurried in.

Because I have such a bad history and get too freaked out with needles, Nate met us there. We waited over 1/2 hour to be called in. Ellie was getting crabby and almost fell asleep in my arms by the time the doctor came in. After he examined both of them, we were asked to get a separate appointment and wait once again for the testing. It took so long that Nate had to go back to work for a meeting. So, I had my hands full by the time we were called in for the worst of it all.

Ellie eagerly volunteered to go first. The kid actually giggled while they were poking her with the needles. Then for my drama queen. Man she carried on and on. Ellie walks over to her during it, coyly blows on her tested arm and says, "It's no big deal Kayla." Then she makes this crazy funny face to make Mikayla laugh. While we were sitting waiting for the spots to react, Mikayla is still carrying on. It was the end of the day on a Friday so the nurses had nothing else to do but try to distract the kids. "Do they get along?" they asked me. I had to laugh. "Sometimes, but guess who the instigator is when they don't," I replied. Mikayla points to Ellie immediately. Ellie licking her sucker coolly says, "No, it's Grandma."

As we're leaving the Mayo building, the girls had to look at the "big man statue" before they left. (Please click on this link to view the statue...)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93051314@N00/2046007969/


Ellie waves, "Goodbye naked man. Goodbye man's big 'ginner' (Ellie's nickname for um, something...) leaf." There I was in the middle of a busy hospital, exhausted from my ordeal with the kids and I swear, I laughed so hard. I love it when one moment lifts you up, reminding you what your life with the kids is all about.

By the way, they don't have a single allergy.

All about Ellie and well, a little Mikayla too...

Today was Ellie's special day at her preschool (Bethany Nursery School). I tried to photograph her day. As you can see by her smile it was indeed special for her.













Two nights ago, Mikayla couldn't fall asleep, she was worried about her tooth falling out and choking on it. I'm wondering how much she was sleeping, because around 5 am, the lights came on in the bathroom, waking us up. She said, I pulled it out! I thought I got her to go back to sleep, but evidently, since it was still dark outside, she thought it was still night and that the tooth fairy might come still. Ha! Poor kid was disappointed to find out that the tooth fairy was still sleeping.

April

Mikayla takes after me in her thought process. I am known to have some of the weirdest random thoughts and get lost in my thoughts. Last week Mikayla said something like, "I'm so frustrated, I can't remember some of my earliest memories. I should be able to because it's me, I should know me. It's not like someone else can't remember the early me, it's me thinking of me."

Yesterday Ellie came up to me very wide eyed, "Mom, do you know what trees grow?! STICKS! Trees grow the sticks!"

Very cute. They keep me on my toes. Well, my triathlon start time this Sunday is 9:15 and our flight to Orlando is at 1:00. I'm still a little nervous leaving the kids, but they'll be fine and will be in good hands.

Here's a picture of what Ellie does sometimes with her imagination. The laundry basket is her boat and the blue bath rug is the river. Ellie is trying to scoop up the bathtub fish toys with her net.


We are in the process of tearing down our old deck. I got started a little yesterday and Nate will work on more tonight. The first week of May we'll get a new deck on. It should be an interesting month. That same week is my carpel tunnel surgery!

Here's some pics of our deck before we demolish it:


You can see how it's already coming apart. Hopefully it will be an easy demolish!

Fashionable Mikayla

Before spring break, they had a spirit week at Mikayla's Elementary school. In this photo you can see her hair for crazy hair day.


In this photo she was dressed up for Hawaiian theme day.




Still trying to act like a teenager, she puts together these outfits somethings and struts about.

Easter 2010

The girls had their hopping/singing bunnies on our masking tape hopscotch.


Here is a cute picture of the girls in front of Joanne's baby grand piano.


Yep, Nate and I were tired and I hadn't unpacked my shoes yet, but I had to take the picture before the kids ran away or before Ellie had an accident on her Easter dress (she's wearing underwear!)


I started crocheting a few weeks ago. Ellie lost her little scarf this winter, so I thought I'd start with one for her. I just finished it today so naturally, she's wishing this rain would turn into snow.