State Fair Adventure 2010

I took a day off from work, because we wanted to go to the Minnesota State Fair on a weekday, and this was the only chance before Annalise was in school!

The kids wanted to try something new this year, that they have been talking about since last year's fair: The River Rapids Ride. Because Colin was too small to ride this year, I went on the ride with A and B. We had a great time, and the wet clothes were quite refreshing on the humid Friday we chose to be our fair day. Friday was Day #2 of the fair, and set an attendance record, just like Day #1, and we could tell- the fairgrounds were packed!

One of Annalise's favorite things at the fair is actually this spin the wheel game in the Cattle Barn. She likes it because you win a prize no matter what. I guess it appeals to her sense of equality. (Is she going to be a Democrat?)

Daddy took the big kids on the giant slide, while Mommy and Colin got a nice cold pop and watched. Bennett was on the burlap too, he's just hidden behind Mike, and he liked it that way.

I can't wait until next year when Colin will be able to do more things. He certainly can eat with the big kids though. We couldn't dole out the cotton candy fast enough!

He really was at the fair with us, we just didn't get many pictures, and he spent most of the time in the stroller due to the large crowds. He did not like to be too close to the cows, and really liked looking up at the sky ride, and trying to jump up to touch the sky ride cabs. He even fell asleep, which shocked us, and it was unfortunate that it happened while he was taking a turn in the front seat of the stroller, instead of the cave-like backseat.

Colin's Second Haircut

8.25.2010

Why did we wait so long? I wanted to see how Colin's hair would look long (like the kids are wearing it these days), with all of his lovely curls in back, but in the end we just couldn't wait it out, with all the food he smears in his hair, and his hair always plastered to his head damp with sweat. I'm so pleased with his new look. He is so adorable with his new 'do. I'm so glad we finally got it chopped.

A Day Out with Thomas

This summer was the summer of Thomas trains.

The kids played trains most days, and the train track was/is a semi-permanent fixture on our living room carpet. A lot of time is spent debating who is which train, and who is faster, etcetera. A lot of time was also spent by the older two throwing their bodies on top of their piles of trains to shield them from the approaching baby brother, which often made things worse.

We visited my cousin's family the other weekend, and picked up some great Thomas paraphernalia that his son Dylan had grown out of, to fan the flames of Thomas hysteria, and prepare for an upcoming Day Out with Thomas. Lots of new wooden trains, some DVDs, games, puzzles, and books, as well as some clothes. I also bought a Day Out with Thomas t-shirt on ebay ahead of time, so we wouldn't be pressured to shell out the big bucks at the event to buy memorabilia. I thought that was pretty clever and forward-thinking. We only caved and bought the big kids Thomas pez dispensers.

Our family trip to A Day Out with Thomas was in Lakeville one Sunday morning earlier this month. Here the kids posed with Sir Topham Hatt. Colin started crying when Mike tried putting him in the picture, and I don't blame him! He is the Master of the Railways, however.

I think the train we rode on was a reject from the Metro commuter rails we used to take downtown Chicago from the suburbs back in the day. It sure was a different experience riding the train with our three children- we've come a long way! The view from inside Thomas the Tank Engine was not too spectacular (Lakeville farm fields- oh, I mean the magical island of Sodor), but the kids had a nice time. And we managed to keep Colin seated for the majority of the ride with a snacktrap full of Goldfish.

First Day of First Grade

Annalise had a terrific first day of school. She sat in her own seat (both to and from school), and Manny the bus driver had the radio playing- talk radio and two songs. She navigated the bus ride and walk to her classroom without any difficulty. She played a game, "it was called a class activity", with two hula hoops that had to get around the circle without anyone breaking their handhold. Ms. F read two chapters of Junie B. Jones to the class, and they did some kind of step building with 12 blocks "that was supposed to be math."

She brought a lunch from home today just to keep things simple, and she doesn't want to try hot lunch until Thursday and Friday. Her ID# is like 7 or 8 digits long, so we'll have to devise some type of tag that she can wear to not forget it. She sat at a lunch table with all girls today, and didn't think too much of the lunch offering at school today. "It looked bad."

Mike and I have been so excited about this day, and so pleased that everything went so well for our first-born. I hope she has a wonderful first grade year.

This melted my heart, and made my day!

A few weeks ago, I was snuggling with Bennett in our bed before getting ready for work. I said to my sweet middle son, "I love you SO much, little boy!"

And he responded right away, "I love YOU so much, big girl!"