Snowtubing is Fun!

Today, after Laura's basketball practice, and after Laura's piano contest, we went to Elm Creek Park Reserve to go tubing with Jennifer, Brian, Damon, Angie, Jason, and Colin (Baby Justin came too, but no, he didn't get to go tubing. And Laura was happy to hear that we have absolutely nothing going on tomorrow). Today was the perfect day to go, because it was really warm at first, which melted the top of the snow, and then it cooled off when the sun started to set. The snow quickly got a gloss of ice, and we found out that icy hills make for fast and fun tubing!

The tubing kids: Karl, Colin, Laura, and Damon

This is Jason, Angie, and Colin going down the hill. Notice Jason holding a video camera.

This is a picture of us at the end of a run. We quickly discovered that linking tubes makes you go even faster, and at one point we had eight tubes linked together!

Needless to say, it was an exhausting day, but super fun. Both kids are sleeping hard right now, no doubt dreaming of another trip to the tubing hills!

Piano Contest

Today Laura participated in her very first MMTA (Minnesota Music Teachers Association) Piano Contest, in which students play a prepared piece for a judge, and, if they "win," they go on to play at an honors concert. Laura is in the pre-primary level, so she isn't yet eligible to go on to the honors concert, but she got the experience of working on a piece over a longer period of time and getting critiqued by a judge. Luckily, she had a very sweet, grandmotherly judge, and she performed "J. S. Bunny" very nicely (I could hear her outside the door!), so it went very well. She also knew that we were going snow tubing right afterwards, which sweetened the deal.

Laura is one of those freaky people who don't seem to get nervous before a performance. This is a picture right before it was her turn to go in and play. She was happy, smiley, and super-cool the whole time.

Laura, An American Girl

Laura and Pam went to the Mall of America after school yesterday, so Laura could visit the American Girl Store and pick out some matching pajamas for herself and her doll, Kit (and I keep asking myself, where am I going to put all these pajamas? Her room is just one big pajama closet!). Laura and Kit immediately put on their new pajamas when they got home, but I didn't get a picture of the pjs until this morning, which is why Laura looks so sleepy.

You can't forget to feed your doll when you eat at the Bistro!

Laura even got to ride on the carousel in the Mall of America amusement park.

Laura! Get out of bed so I can take a picture of you and Kit in your matching pajamas! Come on Laura! Look happy! You're wearing pajamas!

An Afternoon in Orchestra Hall

This afternoon we went to an orchestra concert, featuring music by Leonard Bernstein. Laura and Karl loved it, because Jamie Bernstein (Leonard's daughter) hosted the program and gave funny lessons on rhythm, so now the kids are experts at the different ways to beat out 9-beat bars of music.

And bravo to Laura and Karl for being so well-behaved during the concert, as usual. Of course, we always come well-prepared with books about music to keep the ants out of their pants, but it's always nice to get compliments from the little old couples who sit behind us.

Getting to Know Xavier

On Saturday, Pam and Fred hosted a baby shower for Xavier Gamache, Laura's and Karl's newest second cousin.

Here's Grandma Barb holding the guest of honor with Karl and Aly

At the kids' table: Laura, Lily, Karl, Emily, and Aly. Laura! Get that french toast stick out of your mouth while I'm trying to take a picture!

It's a good thing Xavier is just a new baby, because after yesterday he'd be cursing his fate at having been born into such a strange family (I know I'm wondering how I managed to marry into it!). Below is a picture of Barb, Matt, Tanya, and Pam trying to determine their "dominant eye."

And here's Barb demonstrating how SHE cuts her food! Although I didn't capture it on camera, there was also a shoe-tying exhibition as well. The sad part is how entertained we all were.

Although Xavier doesn't know it yet, he got a great welcome to his (crazy) family!

Laura's Shortest Summer Vacation Ever

Not only is today a big day nationally, but it's a big day for Laura, too. Today she starts 2nd grade, and is very excited about the new challenge. Unfortunately she had to miss her last day of 1st grade on Friday because it was so cold (why does school only close when you actually WANT to go?).

Last week Karl had a couple friends over for play dates. Here he is with his friend Tony making a fine mess with Play-doh.

And here's another random picture of Karl in the tub recently.

Giving Basketball a Try

Laura decided to put her height to good use and joined basketball! The first- through third-graders practice every Saturday morning, and this week was the first practice (even though it was her very first time in basketball, she said she had a head start because they're in the middle of a basketball unit in gym-- so she was ready). She had so much fun at practice that the whole family went to work on some skills at Open Gym today, with the theme coincidentally being basketball. Karl worked on his dribbling, but spent most of his time simply running laps (and Laura would occasionally take a break to chase him).

Karl Goes to the Zoo

Oma and Opa took Karl to Como Park on Tuesday. He and Laura have been in a "Lion King" phase lately, where they constantly pretend they're lions, or they act out the movie, or they make their own animal movie, or they set up animal scenarios with all the toy animals they've collected (they've collected a lot), etc. Needless to say, Karl was excited to see some real animals up close (apparently he had forgotten that he's been to the zoo before, but I guess it's all very different once you've experienced "The Lion King"). Laura missed out because she was in school, but she didn't mind, because she only likes going to Como Park when the carousel is open.

Karl getting geared up on his way to the zoo.

Can you believe Karl got to ride a giraffe?!?

Yay for Minnesota Snow!

Karl and Laura went sledding with Oma and Opa last weekend. I think they had fun... They've been fully indoctrinated into loving snowy winters this year, because there are plenty of huge piles of snow to climb on and they take full advantage of them.