Rock Wall Fun

Today, we did something REALLY fun! We went indoor rock climbing with some friends. It went even better than I thought it would. Ben enjoyed it and claimed his forearms to be jello at the end. We couldn't keep Madelyn's feet on the ground. Greyson struggled a little with the weight of all the equipment but loved every bit of what he could do, especially the "bouldering". And I wish I had taken it up as a hobby a long time ago. What fun! Thanks, Spencer and Marjorie, for being our hosts for the day!

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - and maybe a few words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Have a great weekend!

Greyson - Momma = Happy Boy

Over the summer, Greyson and Madelyn both had a chance to spend 4weeks of 4 days a week, 2 hours a day at a daycamp where they got to spend time with other kids, making crafts, and doing special activities like swimming and puppet shows. Madelyn loved it from the get-go but Greyson... not so much. He was almost inconsolable for the first week, the second week he was very unhappy as I left, and the third week he was finally ready to have fun! I was only slightly surprised whenever all this happened because with exception of Sunday School and the gym we go to, he and I had been pretty inseparable for about 2.5 years at that point. And even though I questioned my decision to make him endure this adversity in his little life, I persisted for exactly this reason - that he would enjoy his first day of preschool! And I'm happy to report - HE DID GREATLY! I'm so excited for him. He has embarked on a new adventure of learning so many things - making new friends, walking in line, being respectful of authority, to love God... and that life can be had without Mom around too... as for that last one, I'm a little sad for me, but so excited for Greyson!!

Greyson couldn't contain his excitement as we were leaving for preschool! So excited!
OH, and here's a video to capture the moments just after too....

Last Summer Trip to Como

A video of one of our FREE carousel rides...


And now for pictures - ENJOY!

Beautiful eyes....

Ben's hair in little boy blonde

laughing with the seals

got to see the polar bears this time.  amazing new exhibit.

penguins - "waddle, waddle"

We love summer trips to Como Park. Since summer seems to be wrapping up for the year, we were happy to get our last zoo trip in before it got too chilly. Seeing the orangutans playing in their yard and the seals in their moat was so much fun. Getting to see the polar bears pacing in their new home was a treat as well. This last trip Madelyn had to miss since she started school, but no worries. We will be back to Como Park again and again. The Como Conservatory is a beautiful, flower-filled place to visit during the winter when everything is hiberating under the snow. Expect those pictures this winter!

{this moment}

I couldn't pick just one this week... one of the "city" that Madelyn built out of what was left when Greyson "used ALL the tracks!" and one of Greyson spelling his name with the letter magnets, which he can do almost by himself now.

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - and maybe a few words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Have a great weekend!

Call the ZOO!

When I looked out my front window tonight this is what I saw.... I tell Madelyn to look with me and am laughing a little until I see the tail MOVE! Then I started wondering. So did these men in the tow truck that was driving by...

Turns out that our neighbor, Dave, was playing a GREAT practical joke with a $4 garage sale find. He tied fishing line to the tail and rigged it over a branch to make it "wag". We live on a pretty busy street and it was great (and funny) to see all the cars that would slow down to make sure they understood what they were seeing!  Great job on a great practical joke, Dave!

Excuse my not clear pictures... I don't know how to take low-light pictures.

The First Day of First Grade!

Madelyn waits for the bus in blustery wind, even though she doesn't ride it this morning.

Yup!  That's the bus!

On her way to classroom J

Saying hi to a friend and locker mate, Yamilet.

Posing with her new teacher, Mrs. Felling

Madelyn had a GREAT first day at school today.  She had fun meeting her not one, not two, but three in-class teachers!  The main teacher, Mrs. Felling, and then a science/math teacher and a student teacher.  She enjoyed seeing a few friends from her class last year in her class this year but her other kindergartener friends were split between four other classes.  Her two best friends from last year are in two other classes too, but she doesn't seem to broken up about it.  I think she is just looking forward to getting to know her new classmates.  Anywho, she had a great day until.... her bus driver got lost on the way home.  I was standing at the bus stop to meet her and the bus drove past TWICE and didn't stop!  When it showed up again, she was 40min late getting to her bus stop.  Sounds like the bus company's manager had to come and help the bus driver with his route.  Poor guy.  I bet he also had to deal with unruly children speaking their minds too.  Madelyn got home with red, puffy eyes.  Poor girl.  Her spirits rose pretty quickly though and she had all kinds of fun stories from her day.  There's not much that can get this girl down!

Summer's Last Hurrah - MN Interstate Park

{this moment}

The start of new things.  how appropriate for a rainbow to appear just as we are leaving Madelyn's first grade open house. The end of summer things and schedules and the start of something new....

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - and maybe a few words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Have a great weekend!