Connie and Dan scooping up the goods.
Wyatt, Karl, and Damon at the boys' table
Pie time! Peggy, Matt, Jim, Dad, Dan
Mom and Laura chose to eat their pie at the dining room table like civilized people.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's
We had Thanksgiving brunch with Matt's parents, and Thanksgiving dinner with mine. I didn't have to do any cooking, so it worked out very well!
Connie and Dan scooping up the goods.
Wyatt, Karl, and Damon at the boys' table
Pie time! Peggy, Matt, Jim, Dad, Dan
Mom and Laura chose to eat their pie at the dining room table like civilized people.
Connie and Dan scooping up the goods.
Wyatt, Karl, and Damon at the boys' table
Pie time! Peggy, Matt, Jim, Dad, Dan
Mom and Laura chose to eat their pie at the dining room table like civilized people.
Mall of America Mirror Maze
Laura had mentioned to me a month or two ago that she really wanted to go to the mirror maze at the Mall of America. I'd never even heard of it, but a few days later a Groupon arrived in my e-mail for the Mall of America Mirror Maze! I guess we were meant to go. Besides, the Mall of America is one of our favorite places in the world (well, that's definitely true for Laura; the rest of us only sometimes).
Of course, we visited all our favorite stores too, like Barnes & Noble, American Girl, Lego Land, Cold Stone Creamery, the Apple Store, etc. I forgot to take pictures, but I'm sure you can conjure up the images yourself.
Of course, we visited all our favorite stores too, like Barnes & Noble, American Girl, Lego Land, Cold Stone Creamery, the Apple Store, etc. I forgot to take pictures, but I'm sure you can conjure up the images yourself.
Conference Folders
Last month we met with the kids' teachers for conferences. Each student makes his or her own folder to hold the various papers. I got a kick out of Laura's and Karl's:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Happy 9th Birthday Karl!
Last Saturday was Karl’s 9th birthday, and we celebrated in the usual way. First thing in the morning, presents.
Next, the birthday boy’s breakfast of choice—donuts.
Then it was off to the AmericInn in North Branch for a pool party with a few friends.
Karl had his party here two years ago as well, and we served pizza that day too. We discovered that five 9-year-old boys eat a lot more pizza than eight 7-year-old boys!
Karl made a big production about how he had never left a candle lit in his whole life. Well, here he is—it took him three tries to blow out a single, measly candle! There must be a girlfriend in the picture…
Laura was a good sport about hanging around during the party. She got to swim with Karl after all the boys went home.
For dinner, we met Oma, Opa, Grandma, and Grandpa at Applebee’s in Forest Lake.
Karl was exhausted when we arrived at the restaurant. He was kind of a crabby birthday boy for the first few minutes, but as soon as he had a few mozzarella sticks he perked right up and was as silly as ever.
Karl chose Applebee’s because he thought it would be pretty fun to have the waitresses come to the table and sing him a song.
He had a perma-grin the entire time they were singing, but he did lean over to me afterward and say “That was kind of embarrassing.”
Did I mention that he was back to his silly self by the end of the meal?
Happy 9th birthday Karl!
Next, the birthday boy’s breakfast of choice—donuts.
Then it was off to the AmericInn in North Branch for a pool party with a few friends.
Karl had his party here two years ago as well, and we served pizza that day too. We discovered that five 9-year-old boys eat a lot more pizza than eight 7-year-old boys!
Karl made a big production about how he had never left a candle lit in his whole life. Well, here he is—it took him three tries to blow out a single, measly candle! There must be a girlfriend in the picture…
Laura was a good sport about hanging around during the party. She got to swim with Karl after all the boys went home.
For dinner, we met Oma, Opa, Grandma, and Grandpa at Applebee’s in Forest Lake.
Karl was exhausted when we arrived at the restaurant. He was kind of a crabby birthday boy for the first few minutes, but as soon as he had a few mozzarella sticks he perked right up and was as silly as ever.
Karl chose Applebee’s because he thought it would be pretty fun to have the waitresses come to the table and sing him a song.
He had a perma-grin the entire time they were singing, but he did lean over to me afterward and say “That was kind of embarrassing.”
Did I mention that he was back to his silly self by the end of the meal?
Happy 9th birthday Karl!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Laura's Green Room
In 2006, we switched Laura's pink baby room into a light-blue "big girl" room. That was back in the days before wall decals were readily available, so I hand-painted Laura's name on the wall in my favorite font at the time: Curlz. I painted flowers along the walls too. So pretty!
Well, Laura's had enough of that. She decided she needed something brighter and more exciting. Here's a "before" picture, while we're getting ready to paint:
And here's what it looks like now!
Well, Laura's had enough of that. She decided she needed something brighter and more exciting. Here's a "before" picture, while we're getting ready to paint:
And here's what it looks like now!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Halloween 2012
We celebrated Halloween twice this year. Last weekend, we hung out with the Schneiders because Jeff does the best job of anyone we know at decorating for Halloween.
Laura went as a turtle. Karl was a bottle of ketchup.
We started out at a "trunk-or-treat" event at their church. Here's Aly, Emily, Laura and Karl. At one trunk, a woman dressed in scrubs was offering "candy or hand sanitizer." Laura told her she'd rather have hand sanitizer than candy. And she was serious.
Cowgirl Emily
Karl found a baby!
On Wednesday, we celebrated Halloween at our house. How cute are these trick-or-treaters?
Little Adam was a puppy dog, probably because he really does love puppy dogs!
Angie brought this fancy cheese ball. Much better than what Matt texted me earlier in the day: "Angie said she will bring a pumpkin ball spongecake."
Out in the 'hood, gettin' the goods.
After they got back, Justin promptly parked in this chair and methodically started chowing down. That's the spirit!
Laura went as a turtle. Karl was a bottle of ketchup.
We started out at a "trunk-or-treat" event at their church. Here's Aly, Emily, Laura and Karl. At one trunk, a woman dressed in scrubs was offering "candy or hand sanitizer." Laura told her she'd rather have hand sanitizer than candy. And she was serious.
Cowgirl Emily
Karl found a baby!
On Wednesday, we celebrated Halloween at our house. How cute are these trick-or-treaters?
Little Adam was a puppy dog, probably because he really does love puppy dogs!
Angie brought this fancy cheese ball. Much better than what Matt texted me earlier in the day: "Angie said she will bring a pumpkin ball spongecake."
Out in the 'hood, gettin' the goods.
After they got back, Justin promptly parked in this chair and methodically started chowing down. That's the spirit!
Sever's Corn Maze
Several weeks ago (I've been busy, ok?), we met Angie, Jason, Jennifer, Brian, and the kiddos to Sever's Corn Maze in Shakopee. It did not disappoint!
We figured we should line up the kids and get pictures early, before they got squirrely. Laura, Karl, Adam, Damon, and Colin
Laura, Karl, Adam, Damon, Colin…and Justin
Here's the crew (minus Jason) getting ready to go in the maze: Jennifer, Brian, Damon, Colin, Karl, Adam, Angie, Laura, Matt, Justin, and me.
Laura was determined to go through the maze without a map, which scared the living daylights out of me, so I insisted Matt go with her (with a map just in case). The rest of us basically followed the boys around and guided them every so often to go in the right direction.
Corn pit!
Pig races!
Petting zoo!
Giant slide!
By the end, we were pretty worn out. Laura especially needed a nap!
We figured we should line up the kids and get pictures early, before they got squirrely. Laura, Karl, Adam, Damon, and Colin
Laura, Karl, Adam, Damon, Colin…and Justin
Here's the crew (minus Jason) getting ready to go in the maze: Jennifer, Brian, Damon, Colin, Karl, Adam, Angie, Laura, Matt, Justin, and me.
Laura was determined to go through the maze without a map, which scared the living daylights out of me, so I insisted Matt go with her (with a map just in case). The rest of us basically followed the boys around and guided them every so often to go in the right direction.
Corn pit!
Pig races!
Petting zoo!
Giant slide!
By the end, we were pretty worn out. Laura especially needed a nap!
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