One Fair Fair

We did he MN State Fair this morning.
We started with the giant slide,

Which Relia now calls "the scary slide"

A quick stop to visit some political booths, and the DNR fish pond (Relia correctly identified a paddle fish)

Relia got to see tiny little lambs that were all legs, the birth of a calf (recorded previously), got to pet a 3-day old piglet, got to see cows milked and got to stick her finger in a milking machine. She was very disappointed that she didn't actually get to milk a cow. Felix and FP hit the swine barn and brought back cool hats

Next, after a shaved ice vs gravity calamity, we did our annual family photo, While we waited for the photos to print, the kids practiced their boating skills.

Yes, Felix actually fell out of the photo for the last frame. Wonder how we'll work this next year?
Grampa took Relia to the butterfly room (AKA FP's house of horrors) While the rest of us went for food. Felix had his first cheese curd.

After the Ye Olde Mill (I wish I could just pay them 20 bucks and ride around for half an hour of quiet rocking in the dark) and a sky ride with Nana & Grampa, Relia wanted to ride the space tower, so up we went. (as we arrived, she said the main gate "looks like a gas station"


After that, music & dancing


Overall, we had a very nice time. The weather was perfect, about 70-80 and overcast the whole day. Felix gave into a nap around 12:30 which bought us a little more fair time.

I had no trouble eating all of my fair favorites (unlike last time I was almost exactly this PG at the fair). I guess my supper time morning sickness has it's benefits.

all of 'em

Who knew?

It's really happening

Something that seemed like a ridiculous idea a year ago, well, actually, a very sensible idea, but not possible to achieve, is coming into reality.

And I was a key part of making it happen. I never really believed I could be a leader at school, or that I could make positive change happen, but now I know better. What an amazing experience.

If you want more details, My primary school counterpart and I proposed moving back (or forward, depending on your view) our curriculum to make it possible to actually cover all of the topics we need to cover BEFORE we take the state test. I know that's crazy, right?

21st century kid

Grandma D gave Relia a cool laptop "computer" like thing for her birthday. We tried it out this morning, and Relia was having great fun.  I'm not sure whether it's my hormones or what, but the volume control seemed to only go from off, to loud, to super loud. 10 minutes of play time, and I was ready to seal the speakers with duct tape. So after a conversation with Grandma (and Grandma, Relia absolutely LOVED the computer you picked out) we returned it and got a Leapster2 for a few extra bucks. The interface is more intuitive, it's hand held, and I think it will be enjoyable for longer.

I cannot believe how quickly she figures all this technology out. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, she regularly plays with my ipod, and logs herself onto FPs computer. But to sit with her and watch her play educational games is kind of amazing.  And I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that the Disney Fairies game is 100% math. I even like the hints they give for some of the problems, they're actually the strategies I teach in school. Yay!

So thank you Grandma D, for getting us on the kid techno road. Relia is VERY happy.

Perfect

What a perfect day for a party. Wonderful family joined us (Even Relia's cousins from Virginia) and we spent almost the whole afternoon in the back yard.




Annika reading one of Relia's cards to her


After cake & presents, there was lots of playing with water shooters, & wagons, croquet mallets, & train sets. Before we knew it, the festivities were winding down.
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Oh yeah, and Felix got some new clothes too.

Isn't he a handsome guy?

New rules

Felix & Relia started back to daycare this week. For Relia, it means going back to see most of her old friends, that she's known for years. For Felix, it means an early start in the toddler room. (why start him in infants, only to move in a couple of months?)

I remember when Relia moved I was so nervous. It felt too soon. She was so little, and some of those kids were BIG. With Felix, I'm not worried about my hulking boy getting beaten up on the playground, but he doesn't have as much daycare experience as Relia, and when I drop them off in the morning as they begin herding the little ones to the room, Felix doesn't know what to do, or he just won't go with them. I know he'll figure it out, but there is a bit of a learning curve for him. FP says Felix seems a little confused when he picks him up.

On the other hand I'm loving getting the daily report on what he did, and I know that being around other kids will be great for his development.

To quote my mom

"Hindsight is just frustrating."

Something finished

Donna gave us her old piano when she got her new one. They moved it for free, I believe, and both FP & I always wish someone had forced us to take music lessons at some point in our youth, so by gosh, we should have a piano in anticipation of future lessons for our children.

But, it isn't what I imagine as a piano in our house. I picture a tall upright under a piano window (which we don't have).
 

Of course, beggars can't be choosers, and I'm grateful for what we have, it comes complete with the history of being FPs childhood piano. You'll have to ask him to tell you the story of why he never learned to play.
 

However, it has been a decorating thorn in my side. Maybe if we had someone who knew how to play the darn thing, I'd feel warmer toward it, but alas. So I decided that I would like it better if it were a different color. Enter, once again, my favorite black paint.


I know the photos suck, I can only get good light in our foyer when the sun is exactly 42° from the horizon. While it now looks like a typical black piano, I think it pops from the floor and walls more and looks less dated.

And, most importantly, it is 100%, completely, done.

North Shore

Today we went up to Dulut'.
We met Carrie, and her kids at a park for a picnic and some desperately needed non-car/run around time. I can't believe I didn't take any photos of our kids together.
Then we headed up the shore to the French River (site of my first falling star sighting) where The kids climbed on and tossed rocks.
Felix discovered that he could throw rocks in the, tide, I guess, pools and get a good splash





Relia showed FP the joy of chucking big rocks in the lake


I asked Relia to "look like a mermaid"

After a good rock throwing session, we hit the Scenic Cafe (which Relia kept calling the "seasick" cafe) for dessert. Then while everyone napped, I took us back to Canal park for more rock throwing.

Trials of DIY

I had this secret plan to have a fabulous kitchen & bathroom to show on Relia's birthday.
There has been great progress.

Yes.

Yes there has.

But nothing is done.

I suppose this is a good thing, or the only possible outcome, because it seems I have to have some kind of project going at any given time. I'm used to unfinished projects. It is pretty much the nature of my profession, but I would like to see something finished before I go back to work. (or at least before the kids arrive, since I go back to work on Monday)

So today, FP took the kids to...well...I didn't even know where. He took them out. I took the opportunity to remove the backer board from the floor of the bathroom.  (I am so grateful that I have two guys who let me borrow all of their awesome tools, and one who will take both kids to the zoo, to get my work done)

Here is a photo of my progress


Before?   After?

Middle.

Start: Linoleum installed around all fixtures, including the feet of the tub.

Pulled up the linoleum to find really badly laid hex tile:

Pulled up the tile to find the expected backer board
(30 minutes in with my bro's wonderful hammer drill)

Pulled up the backer board (held down with, now rusty, drywall screws) to find this:

It looks pretty good, but there are screw holes all over, and now the sink sits almost 3/4 of an inch above its pedestal. 
Why, if you are going to the trouble of putting in a clawfoot tub (and I'm assuming taking it out) and put in tile, would you not take up the old flooring? At least to see how in tact it was, since there is obviously discoloration around the toilet. (I guess that could have shown up after the terrible tile/toilet installation).

I'm tempted to leave it for now, and put the toilet back in, since this is the best it has ever looked, and the toilet can now sit on much more level surface 3/4 of and inch closer to the drain. But my dream of a beautiful bathroom floor still lives. MEA weekend isn't that far away, right? Thanksgiving?

15 Months

Felix had his appointment this afternoon. He was a real charmer. The Dr. commented that he's been really quiet at his previous appointments. He is getting over his stranger anxiety and is much more okay with being around others. He even happily said "bye bye" to us when we dropped off Relia with my mom.

He weighed in at 25.5 lbs 50-75th percentile
Height -32 inches 75-90th percentile
& head 19 3/4 (cm, I think) which is 97th percentile

All looks good. She heard an "innocent" murmur again, and was a little concerned about the bumps that showed up on his scar from his fall in June, but we'll keep an eye on them and see how they progress. 

Mower county fair

Maybe my first time at a county fair. It was a great time. Absolutely worth the drive:

Dancing in the streets.

As soon as we walked in, Relia checked with us. "Do cars drive on these streets, or can we walk on them?" It's such a thrill to break a rule.

Fake cow milking


"It's just water"  (later she decided it would be a good place to wash her hands too)


The petting area was a HUGE hit.




Oh, we feed 'em?

This stuff, right here, right?

Poor Felix could not figure out why the goats weren't interested in eating their own bedding.

Checking out the chicks


She described the pigs' skin as "porky".  (I think she meant it was a little prickly, but porky is accurate too)


Relia was thrilled to ride a pony.


Felix loved watching her, and gave a little squeal each time she came around.

(FP assures me that each pony has chosen this as its career, and believes walking in circles for the entertainment of small children is going to make the world a better place)

If there's a stage, my daughter will ask if she can get up on it.


Felix tried his first mini doughnut


Relia got schooled. Looks a lot like my classroom.


There was lemonade, trainage, and lost balloons too, but I'm sure I've surpassed my reasonable number of photos limit.

On the way home, I decided that the kids had had a lot of time stuck in the car, and if I wanted them to fall asleep at some point before 9, I might want to wear them out a little more. FP was napping so he didn't argue with me, and Relia thought is was a good idea. So we took a detour to Chutes & Ladders in Bloomington. (They are remodeling, so the big straight slide and cargo net ladders are gone. Bummer.) Then, since we were so close, we phoned Donna and asked if she was free for dinner.

After supper, Relia asked "When are we going to go home?"
Now, sweetie. Right now.