Madeline Grace Noe

Pearly Whites and Birthday Cake

2012-02-08T20:26:00.008-06:00

Last Friday marked a new first for me: my first visit to the dentist.

Mom is a bit "lap challenged" in her current state, and laying on top of her in the dentist chair proved to be interesting.

Anyway, they managed to get my teeth cleaned and fluoride applied, although I was more excited about the Crayola toothbrush, colorful floss, and stickers.

Afterward, we hit the library and enjoyed the puzzles,

the colored circle pillows and stuffy toys,

and of course the books.

After working hard on a birthday card for Great Grandma,

I got to hand deliver it to her on Saturday when we and the rest of the family helped her celebrate her 83rd birthday.

Happy Birthday, Great Grandma!!

I got some snuggle time with Grandpa and Grandma,

and I finally gave Great Aunt Faith her long overdue first hug! [It still counts despite the quarter bribery...]

On Sunday, we enjoyed some good old-fashioned family time.

We had our own low-key Superbowl party with just the 3 of us, complete with my rousing halftime show.

This week, I've been working hard on Valentine's Day preparations,

including practicing with my brand new scissors.

Waterpark Fun

2012-01-31T20:41:00.005-06:00

This week went, you might say, swimmingly.

We spent Saturday and Sunday at the Lakeville Holiday Inn with my buddies Jace, Logan, Izzy, and Maxton and their families.

We played with beach balls in the fountains,

had engaging conversations,

and warmed up by the hot tub.

We also ate pizza,

watched movies,

and spent time with our Grandmas and Grandpas.

I eventually built up the courage to go down the big waterslide by myself.

It took me a couple of tries to iron out the wrinkles. For example, I quickly learned that it was much less scary (and much easier for Dad to catch me) when I went feet first rather than head first. After that, I went down 20-25 more times happy as could be.

It finally snowed...

2012-01-24T20:49:00.006-06:00

...a little bit anyway.

After watching it come down,

Mom and I decided to head to the park.

The slides and snow angels were fun.

Then she pulled me around on the sled for awhile.

She tried to push me down the small hill, but with my tiny sled, it just didn't work.

Not to worry. Dad to the rescue! Armed with a bigger toboggan, a much bigger hill, and a much less winded "horse" to pull me around, I was able to experience my first "big kid sledding" adventure. Video coverage here.

Yahoo!!

Other fun activities I've participated in since I've last posted an update include:
reading with my Tag Junior,

pushing my stroller full of babies to "the Bear Country Mall" [thanks, Berenstain Bears!],

and playing Candyland with Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Erin, who spent some time here while doing some wedding shopping.

Recipe for Fun

2012-01-16T21:08:00.004-06:00

January got you down? Never fear. Here's a surefire recipe for fun.

Go to your Great Aunt's house for some delicious food, and then eat some Clementines with a buddy.

Next, have a "carpet picnic" and watch the Packers lose. [Did I say that?]

Then, mix in a little baking.

Go to the park while your goodies cool. [Might as well, since this is one bizarrely warm January.]

Then, of course, taste test.

Looking for a new game? Try 'Eagles'. Explanation here.

Finish with Candyland.

Fun with Auntie T

2012-01-10T21:00:00.005-06:00

Turns out that "back to reality" after Christmas vacation wasn't so bad. Actually, it was quite the contrary. While Mom and Dad celebrated their 10 year wedding anniversary in Las Vegas,

I got to spend some quality time with Aunt Theresa.

You know what they say about what happens in Vegas (it stays in Vegas). Well, the same could be said about what happens at home while Mom and Dad are there.

One of the highlights that I will let you in on was our "P-P-P Party" -- Pajamas, Play-Doh, and PIZZA!

There was also a trip to see Great Aunt Jan and Great Uncle Bob and to play with second cousins Taylor and Leighton. Fun times.

When Mom and Dad returned, we celebrated with a new marble course.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T19:44:00.010-06:00

It's been another great week -- a week full of:
dance class

(You like my Marilyn impression?)

and picnics;

a week full of new Christmas toys like my Color Wonder paints

and my Leap Frog Tag Junior;

and a week full of home projects, such as getting my brother's room ready.

We also had our very last (but not least) Christmas celebration with Grandpa John's family. Clark Christmas, once again, did not disappoint. We had great family time and delicious food.

Oh, and of course more gifts.

It was a great way to ring in the new year.

Today, we spent our final family vacation day together by visiting the Children's Museum.
Among other things, I raced boats,

gave Picasso a run for his money,

went camping,

did some grocery shopping,

and crawled through some human-sized ant tunnels.

[Three cheers for Dad, who, despite being the tallest parent on the premises, army crawled through the tunnels right along with me.]

Tomorrow's it back to "real life". Let's make it a good year. Here's to a happy and healthy 2012!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-27T21:10:00.012-06:00

On the first day of Christmas, we celebrated with Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt. What better way to start than with some Mexican food, followed by gifts?

I was thrilled to receive a "video game" that makes stairs (a.k.a an Etch-a-Sketch) and an Olivia stuffy.

Later that night, I placed my reindeer food out on the lawn so Rudolph and the others would know where to find us.

Sure enough, they did. On the second day of Christmas, I got a letter and some gifts from Santa.

On the third day of Christmas, we went to Grandpa and Grandpa Noes' house and celebrated with the whole gang.

Santa paid us a little visit there as well.

I enjoyed story time,

fun and games time,

and acrobatic time.

I also enjoyed time visiting Great Grandpa. He was especially thrilled to be reunited with his canine pal Lawrence.

On the fourth day of Christmas (which was actually Christmas Day), we headed west to Grandma and Grandpa Clarks' house.

I had friends (some new, and some old) to make the drive go quickly.

Once again, there were more gifts,

yummy food,

and time together.

Who would have guessed it would be warm enough for a Christmas pony ride?

Upon returning home, I began to test out my new toys, including Mr. Bouncy Horse

and my amazing marbles (see here).

The sixth through eleventh days of Christmas will no doubt bring much more time playing with new toys while enjoying days off with Mom. Then, we will ring in the twelfth and final day of Christmas with the extended Clark family this coming weekend.

Here's hoping that your Christmas was a special one!

Family Fun

2011-12-19T21:18:00.004-06:00

Fun family activities this week included:

Candyland [where I legitimately won 2 out of 3 games],

"Dance class" in the dining room, complete with several wardrobe changes [video available here],

more elf finding [This is Keith, and he was hiding by my toothbrush],

Christmas cookie baking and decorating,

fun with paintbrushes,

and "warm [not hot] chocolate" drinking, complete with hot chocolate dippers, compliments of Grandma Dawn and Aunt Kristen.

The fun is sure to continue, with Christmas celebrations and several days off coming up.

For those of you die hards, I uploaded a couple of videos of my program and my chat with Santa to last week's Picasa album.

Merry Christmas!!

Holidazzlin'

2011-12-12T21:14:00.007-06:00

Saturday morning, I was up and dressed early for "Breakfast with Santa", my daycare Christmas program.

Hurray for Christmas dresses!!!

After a warm-up round last week, I did something that Mom and Dad haven't seen me do since I was 2 months old. I approached "The Claus", and I actually sat on his lap.

Then it was time to don my antlers for my program. My Orange Room friends and I sang "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". [Well, technically I didn't actually sing while all of those people were watching me, but I know every word to those songs and will be happy to sing them any other time.]

It was great to have Aunt Theresa, Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt, and both grandmas and grandpas present for the festivities, as well as for the after party at my house.

Know what's really fun? Get out a big roll of paper and some crayons and markers and see what happens.

Later that night, I attended the Holidazzle Parade downtown with Grandma and Grandpa Clark and Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt.

I had a pretty good view.

This week marks the beginning of "The Elf Countdown". Every night before we go to bed, we read about an elf. After I'm sleeping, the elf hides somewhere in the house.

This is sneaky Carlton hiding by the sugar, because he likes sweets.

In the morning, I find said elf and place him or her under the Christmas tree.

When there are 12 elves under the tree, Santa will come!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-07T21:31:00.008-06:00

It really is. We got a fresh batch of snow to whiten things up.

And with it came "the big guy". That's right. Santa paid us a visit downtown this past weekend.

I didn't sit on his lap, but I got close enough to him to have a conversation.
Santa: And what do you want for Christmas?
Me: Cash.
[If he had known that he was then supposed to ask "And what are you going to do with that?", I would have told him: "I'm going to put it in the bank, and when I'm big, I'm going to buy a car."] Just as Grandpa Harold (the banker) and I rehearsed.

Along with Santa came a few of his furry friends.

It was clear to me that neither of them were Rudolph, since their noses weren't red.

I also got a lovely gingerbread man painted on my face. [No, this woman is not harming me. That's just my 'I'm getting my face painted' face.]

The reindeer were apparently tired from the journey, so we settled for a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown instead.

Other family activities this weekend included folding laundry

and making paper bag puppets with the kit Great Grandma gave me for my birthday.

I perfected my glue stick abilities.

Impressive, huh?

We finished the weekend with a bang by attending my next door neighbor Gavin's 3rd birthday party. It was at Pump It Up, the "inflatable party zone". I think they should call it "heaven" for short.

There were inflatable basketball hoops, obstacle courses,

and giant slides (my favorite).

On more than one occasion, a birthday party parent was seen joining the festivities.

Happy Birthday, Gavin!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T20:44:00.008-06:00

I have so much to be thankful for. Where should I begin?

How about by giving thanks for a limber body and lots of energy? (Oh, and some new shoes)

I'm particularly thankful for my family (those pictured here, and those not).

I'm thankful for Aunt Theresa,

Uncle Stephen,

Grandma and Grandpa (of course),

and Aunt Erin plus soon-to-be Uncle Ben, who asked me to be the flower girl in their wedding.

I'm thankful for Great Grandpa (even though he insisted on wearing this ridiculous outfit when I went to visit him...)

I'm also thankful for big bouncy balls and long hallways to roll them in,

trays that are fun to sit under,

domino houses,

and cookies.

I'm thankful for parades,

and, as I said during our Thanksgiving meal prayer, "I'm thankful for mashed potatoes!!"

I'm also thankful for (and excited about) the holiday that comes after Thanksgiving...

What are you thankful for?

Snow!

2011-11-21T19:42:00.002-06:00

It was a pizza stick-making,

pom pom-wearing,

new hiding spot-finding

kind of week.

We also got our first snowfall! It probably won't last long, but I am enjoying it anyway.

Quote of the week:
The scene: Helping Mom make pancakes Sunday morning
Me: Why are you turning those, Mom? They don't have bubbles. [Yes, I am a very experienced pancake maker.]
Mom: Sometimes with thick mix it's hard to tell when they're ready to be flipped.
Me: That's because pancakes can't talk.

And finally, a double shout out to Aunt Erin for this week. Not only did she celebrate her birthday on Friday, but she also got engaged this weekend! Congrats, Aunt Erin and soon-to-be Uncle Ben!!

Daddy's Girl & New In Town

2011-11-15T21:14:00.006-06:00

In a rare change of events, Mom traveled to Salt Lake City for work last week, so Dad and I ran the house. We did well. We even provided her taxi service to and from the airport.

If you're ever in need of entertainment, I recommend repeat escalator rides at the airport of your choice.

When Mom returned, we celebrated with a trip to one of my favorite parks, "the castle park". The weather was unseasonally beautiful. We had snow last year at this time.

I'm proud to announce that as of this past weekend, Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt are officially living in the metro area!! We helped them move and celebrated Kristen's birthday with Grandma Dawn and Grandpa John.

I was thrilled that they wasted no time setting up my favorite chair at their new house.

Welcome to Minnesota!

Visitors

2011-11-07T21:54:00.005-06:00

Well hello there!

[A modern twist on Little Jack Horner]

It was a fun-filled weekend of visitors in the Noe household.
First, it was Grandma and Grandpa Noe and Aunt Theresa.

[Yes, it is common to see me in swimwear, ballerina gear, or in my Halloween costume at any given time of the day.]

You like my new strawberry hat and mittens?

Then, it was my Great Uncle Mark, who just so happened to bring me some balloons. I'm still figuring out how to blow them up,

but with a little assistance in the hot air department (no shortage of that around here), I've found there is no better form of entertainment.

On our "day of fun", Mom and I made a tent in her bathtub, which provided hours of entertainment. No water needed.

Our last visitors of the weekend were Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt. We celebrated Aunt Kristen's upcoming birthday with some delicious ice cream cake. No time for posing when there's frosting to lick. [Busted!]

Thanks to all of our visitors, and Happy Birthday on Wednesday, Aunt Kristen!

Halloween

2011-11-02T21:07:00.009-05:00

Boo!

Happy belated Halloween! It's time for a recap of our festivities. First, the preparations.

While Mom carved Jack (Mr. O'Lantern), I painted my pumpkin.

Before:

After:

I think I give Jack a run for his money in the smile department.

Next, the annual daycare Halloween party. I was thrilled to have both Mom and Dad join me for cookies and costume fun with my friends in the Orange Room.

And finally, the main event: trick-or-treating!
Let's begin with a countdown of my costumes from years past.

2008: A very sleepy pumpkin

2009: A chicken

2010: A bunny

And...[drumroll, please]...
2011: Clifford the big red dog!

Our first stop was Aunt Theresa's.

Then, it was back home to walk/wagon around our neighborhood with my buddy Gavin the cowboy. There were kids everywhere. It was fantastic! It was quite the welcoming experience for a first trick-or-treat outing in our new house. And, of course, I scored a fair amount of sugary goodness.

Special thanks to Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt, who were in charge of candy management at our house so that Mom and Dad could both go with me.

A lot of kids might be bummed the day after Halloween, but not me. I accompanied Mom and Dad to the doctor to see pictures and videos of the new baby. As it turns out, I'm going to have a brother! [And a handsome one at that!]

That was the best treat of all.

Celebrations

2011-10-26T16:19:00.005-05:00

This was a week of celebrations. We celebrated Grandma Dawn's birthday on the 23rd, and Aunt Theresa's birthday on the 24th.

I prepared by baking them cookies

and making them homemade birthday cards.

Grandma Dawn and Grandpa John came to my house on Sunday, and after some Red Robin (Yum!), Grandma let me help her blow out her candles.

They stayed to play with me while Mom and Dad nearly celebrated a Vikings win over the Packers. [At any rate, not witnessing a blow out was worthy of a celebration.]

On Aunt Theresa's birthday, we celebrated by having her over for dinner and running around outside in the yard.

This past week, we also celebrated the life of our loyal canine pal Cowboy, who is now undoubtedly chasing after raccoons in the forests and fields of doggie heaven. We miss him dearly but are comforted by knowing that he led a long life, that he made us smile, and that he is no longer feeling his old age.

Here's a look back at some of the time we shared together.

Meeting Cowboy for the very first time:

Relying on him as I learned to walk:

Using him as my snuggle buddy:

Here's to celebrations!

Friends

2011-10-18T21:00:00.003-05:00

Since last time, I've been enjoying my birthday gifts. I played my first ever board games this week. I'm not sure I care about all of those silly rules, but I had fun anyway.

This weekend, I traveled with Mom and Dad to visit my buddies Cohen and Carew and their baby sister Kinsley Jo.

Carew is 3, just like me (well, for another month anyway). We had fun drawing together on the Magna Doodle

and wearing our Hawkeye gear.

Go Hawks!

During our weekend together, we paid a visit to the pumpkin farm.

There were lots of animals and pumpkins

and a hay maze.

Back at home, we cleaned up

before having a blanket picnic and watching the Hawkeyes.

What a weekend!

Tonight, we enjoyed a night out of the house. We attempted to try bowling (real, not Wii) for the first time, but the lanes were all taken. Instead, I helped Dad shoot some hoops in the arcade.

I'm 3!!!

2011-10-13T21:16:00.014-05:00

On the big day (Saturday), Mom, Dad, and I took a ride on the Reading.
Actually, it was a train on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, but close enough.

I thoroughly enjoyed my window seat on the 90 minute ride over the river and through the woods.

The observation deck was nice, although a little loud at times.

We had my birthday party on Sunday.

In typical kid fashion, I enjoyed the containers as much as the gifts.

I got all sorts of great things, including this Dora fishing pole

and some glittery nail polish, which Uncle Stephen so kindly helped me apply.

I later tried out some of my new stickers on Aunt Kristen's arms. The welts were gone within two days of her tearing them off...

Grandma Dawn made me a fabulous Clifford birthday cake.

It was as tasty as it was beautiful!

My daycare center was closed on Monday, so we stretched the celebration out one more day with a trip to the zoo.

I watched the dolphins,

got up close and personal with the penguins,

rode a tiger [sculpture],

and watched the sea otter show off.

3 years old, and at least 3 days worth of celebrating. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Thanks, everyone!

Fall Fun

2011-10-05T22:38:00.006-05:00

While the last few days around here have felt more like summer, it is indeed fall. And we spent this past weekend doing some fall-like activities.

I helped Dad pump some iron before watching some Hawkeye football.

And my neighbor buddies Gavin and Andrew helped me to decorate our driveway for fall with sidewalk chalk.

Friday night, we went to our very first local high school football game (which just so happened to be Homecoming).

Saturday, we paid a visit to the farm to drop off our camper for the winter at Grandma Dawn and Grandpa John's. I thoroughly enjoyed the trampoline like always.

I also got to take home two pumpkins that Grandma Dawn grew just for me.

I finished the trip off by driving Miss Daisy.

Sunday, I attended my best buddy Yasmin's 3rd birthday party at the Applewood Orchard. Many of my other friends from school were there as well.

We enjoyed party favors (and cake!),

rode pedal tractors,

played in the hay,

[Editor's note: Any of you with small children will share my amazement at how we got seven 2- and 3-year-olds to sit still for this picture.]

picked apples,

rode on our daddies' shoulders,

and just enjoyed being together.

Speaking of 3rd birthday parties...much more to come in next week's post!

Hangin' at Home

2011-09-25T19:50:00.004-05:00

Happy Fall!

We welcomed in the new season by spending our first weekend at home as a family since we moved.

I did some Wii bowling, rode my tricycle in the driveway,

played with sidewalk chalk and Play-Doh, hung out with the neighborhood kids, went to the park in my rain boots,

made some Rice Krispie treats with Mom, made a huge mess of my toy room, and had a great time in the bathtub.

Want some ice cream? Click here.

Post #150

2011-09-20T20:28:00.003-05:00

Post #150 consists of a short recap on events since we last spoke.

First, a visit from Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt:

And this past weekend, an overnight stay with Grandma and Grandpa Noe, consisting of a trip to the dam,

throwing candy and practicing my wave in the Norman Borlaug parade,

and popcorn. Lots and lots of popcorn.

The Four Part Blog

2011-09-14T15:13:00.009-05:00

This much-delayed post consists of four parts.

Part 1:
Labor Day Weekend at William O'Brien State Park

On Labor Day weekend, Mom, Dad, and I set out for our last hurrah of the camping season at one of our favorite spots near Stillwater.

The weather was absolutely perfect,

except for the very first night, when got quite the loud thunderstorm. Mom and Dad found me wide awake with my hands over my ears.

We made the most of our time together, enjoying bike rides and hikes,

campfires,

and my first ever canoe trip down the St. Croix River.

I also learned how to drive [after assurance from Dad that the policemen wouldn't mind if I drove a short distance through the sparsely populated campground.]

On our final night of the trip, we paid a visit to the good old Teddy Bear Park in town.
[It wasn't until after this photo that we saw the 'Please do not play on the bear sculptures' sign. Oops.]

Part 2:
Visiting Family in Iowa

This past weekend, Mom and I spent several days visiting family in Iowa. We stayed with Great Grandma and also got to see Great Aunt Faith, Great Uncle Ed, Ed's nephew Zane, and Grandma Dawn and Grandpa John. It was a real treat.

I got plenty of Play-Doh time with Great Grandma

and enjoyed talking with her and Great Aunt Faith and playing games with Ed and Zane.

Great Grandma always feeds us well, and this time was no exception. I ate ice cream and nearly an entire loaf of banana bread.

We paid a visit to the animals at Grandma and Grandpa's, where I got to feed my faithful steed Daisy some apples.

While there, I relaxed on the swing.

Later, in town, I put on my very own dancing and singing show in the band shell in the park. Free admission!

Part 3:
An Explanation

You may have noticed a delay in blog posts recently, and I am finally able to provide an explanation. I have not had as much time to blog in recent months because Dad and I have been doing a lot of extra work around the house. We have had to help Mom a lot because she has been, well, sleeping. Turns out that the "special project" she has been working on is quite tiring. She is actually creating another human as we speak. We will get to meet this new little person somewhere around March 16 of next year.

Mom and Dad told me the news recently and allowed me to tell some of the rest of the family via my new shirt.

I expect to be able to blog in a more timely manner in the upcoming weeks, as she is slowly becoming more of her old self again. Meanwhile, I'm excited about becoming a big sister!

Part 4:
Patriot Day

Last, but certainly not least, had I been around a computer with an Internet connection on the morning of 9/11, I would have shared this photo in honor of our great U.S. of A.

Birthday Camping, Weekend 2

2011-08-31T20:43:00.007-05:00

Part 2 of "birthday camping" brought us to Kamp Dels in Waterville for Grandpa John's birthday (which, by the way, is actually tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Grandpa John!)

After helping Grandpa open his gifts, we celebrated with frosty malts and cake. Mmm!

It's impossible to get bored at Kamp Dels. There are several playgrounds, which Grandma and Grandpa took turns taking me to.

We also went to a reptile show, fed goats at the petting zoo, and spent time at the water park and swimming pool.

In between all that was fun time with Grandma Dawn, Grandpa John, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Matt, and faithful canines Chantel and Cheyenne.

A good time was had by all.

In closing, I'm proud to announce that Aunt Kristen is the newest vet to join the staff of the Farmington Veterinary Clinic!!

Three cheers (and about 30 stickers, if you look closely) for her!

Birthday Camping, Weekend 1

2011-08-25T20:12:00.007-05:00

Last weekend marked the first of two consecutive weekends of camping with Grandpas for their birthdays. Our first episode takes place in beautiful Lanesboro for Grandpa Harold's birthday.

Grandpa enjoyed our birthday cards and gifts.

And I, in return, very much enjoyed him sharing his homemade ice cream with me. This was my first experience with the tasty stuff.

The weather was amazing, and we made the most of it, enjoying bike rides, fishing,

relaxation,

playground time,

and shoulder riding time. [Thanks, Uncle Stephen!]

Quote of the week, overheard while hanging out in the camper with Grandpa:
"I like you, Harold."

Favorite chore of the week:
Helping Mom water flowers.
I've found that it's quite refreshing to stand underneath the hanging plants after they've been watered.

Second favorite quote of the week:
Mom: Madeline, I believe you are officially potty trained!
Me: And poopy trained!

Stay tuned next week for episode 2 of "Birthday Camping".

Jumpers Galore

2011-08-16T06:47:00.008-05:00

A blog post spanning two weekends? We'd better get started. No time to yak. [Get it?]

The weekend before last, I had the privilege of attending my friend Ellie's 2nd birthday party at her grandparents' house. She had a jumper!!! It was amazing to be in it with a small crowd.

I jumped myself silly.

I also spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Noe while Mom and Dad went to a class reunion.

I watered flowers and patrolled the grounds in my fire truck.

Last week, Mom, Dad, and I had a picnic at the lake. While there, I found some friendly ducks who were more than happy to help me finish my supper.

On Friday, Mom and I paid a visit to the local county fair after making some delicious blueberry muffins for breakfast.

I met some friendly goats and a turkey.

I also went fishing,

did some arts and crafts,

and made some HUGE bubbles.

I chowed on some mini donuts (a-MAZ-ing),

and spent some time at the Rainbow Play Systems display.

What do you know? The fair had an entire section called "The Inflatables", one of which was (can you guess?) a jumper! A no time limit ride at the fair? Yes sirree. You better believe I got my $2 worth.

That brings us to this past weekend, where I spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Clark while Mom and Dad attended yet another class reunion.

This time I got to spend the night at the campground with them. I had a ball playing at the playground, looking for turtles [Mom's relieved that I didn't find any...], and playing with stickers and markers.

In other news, things are looking quite promising on the the toilet training front.
Until next time...

Reunion and Randomness

2011-08-05T21:59:00.008-05:00

Last weekend, Noes gathered at Great-Grandpa's house from all across the US of A for the nearly world famous Noe Family Reunion. I called it "the party".

The night before, however, we had a pre-reunion with all of Dad's siblings at our house. I did wheelbarrows with Aunt Erin,

rolled in the grass with Aunt Theresa,

and "helped" Uncle Stephen do push-ups.

At Great-Grandpa's house, Dad and I entered the fishing tournament.

Turns out we were no match for the monster that Aunt Theresa caught...

I enjoyed tracing everyone's feet with sidewalk chalk.

And of course I had a great time playing my second cousins Leighton and Taylor.

In other news since "the party", I've been playing at parks, keeping Mom current on her laundering skills,

watching the last puppet wagon performance of the summer, cooking in my dress up clothes,

and wearing furry animals on my head.

You know, the same stuff everyone does. Have a good weekend!

Tour

2011-07-25T20:24:00.015-05:00

Welcome!

I've had more than a few requests for photos of the new house, so allow me to be your guide as we go on a virtual tour of the highlights.

Let's start with the front yard:

Back yard (Hi, Cowboy):

My toy room (full, as you can see):

My room:

Perhaps my favorite part of the new house isn't part of the house at all. This is "Gavin's park".

Gavin is my next door neighbor, and he is 2 just like me. This playground is in his yard. His dad told me that I could come over and play whenever I want to. And so I do. :)

You can see other house pictures by clicking on the 'My Picasa Photo Albums' link on the top right hand side of my blog.

In other news since we last spoke, I made a trip to Grandma and Grandpa Noe's house last weekend. I got to spend a lot of quality time with them and Uncle Stephen.

I also painted (yes, I'm a lefty for sure),

danced in my strawberry dress,

and took Uncle Stephen's bear for a few wagon rides.

I also got to see my buddies Cohen and Carew and meet their new baby sister Kinsley. I missed Carew so much that I shared my goldfish with him. [This is a more impressive feat than most of you may realize.]

We celebrated my dad's birthday on Wednesday of last week. I helped him blow out his candles. Love you, Dad!

On Mommy and Madeline's Day of Fun Friday, Mom and I went to check out the puppet wagon for a second time. We heard the story of "Little Yellow Tuft of Hair" going to visit her sick grandmother and the Big Bad Lion that tricked her along the way.

Since we were at the park for the puppet show, we of course had to play there afterward. [Side note: I have now mastered going both up and down the spiderweb.]

Afterward, I got lost in a pile of books at the library.

I'm told that they have books other than just Clifford books available for checkout, but I have yet to test that out.

Favorite quotes from the past week and a half:

#1:
Dad: What time did you get up today, Madeline?
Me: Forty-nine six hundred dollars.

#2:
Mom, upon finding me standing inside this trash can: What are you doing, Madeline?
Me: I'm Oscar!! [the Grouch]

Last but not least, can you determine what this is a [sideways] photo of?

It is a baby kangaroo wearing a diaper! It is just one of the many animals that came to my daycare a few weeks ago as part of a 'petting zoo'. I also got to see a zebra, a camel, and many others animals.

Until next time, argggh mateys! I be looking for my parrot.

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

2011-07-14T20:17:00.022-05:00

Well hello, strangers! Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am Madeline, the long-lost writer of this blog. I have returned from vacation and moving, fresh and ready to write.

First things first. Let's talk vacation. Mom, Dad, and I spent a week in our camper, traveling around the north shore of Lake Superior.

Our first stop was the remote and wooded Tettegouche State Park near Silver Bay. Later in the week, we moved to more "urbanized" Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors. Despite the state shut-down, we also (along with many others) made our way around the orange cones and fence to walk through Gooseberry Falls State Park. It was definitely worth the risk.

Over the course of the week, we hiked, we biked, and we became "one with nature".

We saw not only "The Lake",

but also rivers (and bridges),

waterfalls,

trains,

rocks,

boats, lighthouses, tunnels, and flowers.

We even conversed with woodland creatures.

Oh, and I threw more than my fair share of rocks into the lake.

It was a very relaxing and beautiful week.

Let's move on to the 4th of July. We got to be part of a parade in our new neighborhood, where I met many new friends. I also got to experience my very first sparkler. I guess not all fireworks are bad.

Several days later, my Aunt Theresa invited me to be a part of her company's float and parade entry during our town festival. I had a blast handing out candy and being in the midst of all the action.

On to "the move". Over the course of the week after vacation, we made the one mile move into our new (well, not new, but new to us) home. I packed myself in a tote so they wouldn't forget me.

I'm happy to say that we're officially in and settled!

School update: I'm thoroughly enjoying the Orange Room. Things are going well. We even have our very own class pet -- Fiona, the guinea pig. We're buds.

Well, folks, that's been my life over the last few weeks, in a nutshell.

For those of you avid photo album viewers, I broke the vacation photos down into smaller and more manageable 'daily adventure albums' . In the interest of getting these uploaded before fall, the photos themselves are not individually labeled. However you can see the album name for description of that day's sights. Including pre-vacation and post-vacation, you've got 11 albums ready for your viewing pleasure.

It's good to be back.

Daddies Day

2011-06-21T08:19:00.005-05:00

Surprise!

I slipped in one more post before moving and vacation.

Mom and I experienced something new this week on our "day of fun": the Puppet Wagon! It visits area parks several days a week, and we managed to catch our first show at a new park on Friday. It's a safe bet that we'll be doing that again.

Later that evening, Mom, Dad, and I attended our school picnic at another local park.
There was food,

fun on the playground,

and water. My parents convinced themselves that they didn't need to bring my swimming suit, because surely no one would be swimming in the lake.

My good buddy Yasmin and I showed them otherwise.

Eventually, I just ditched the shorts entirely.

Sunday, I spent the day enjoying time with my wonderful daddy. I'm so thankful for him and my two grandpas.

Dad isn't really big on sweets, but he has a special place in his heart for Tootsie Pops. Mom and I bought him some on Friday, and I could hardly contain my excitement Sunday when I said right in front of him, "Can we give him the suckers now, Mom?"

I love you, Dad. Thanks for all you do!

Well, I'm off to school. It's my first day visiting the Orange Room (the preschool room). We also get possession of our house today.

As I warned last week, cut me a little slack on the next post. It may be awhile. I did give you a bonus one after all. :)

My Favorite Things

2011-06-14T19:09:00.008-05:00

This week we're bringing back an old favorite theme. Sing along with me now: "These are a few of my favorite things!"

Making a mess:

Bubble beards!

Going to the library.
[It's about more than just books.
For example: Puppet shows]

[And a big magnetic board with letters]

Climbing up the slide:

Riding my tricycle in the garage:

Painting!

Those of you who are blog junkies may want to re-read this post. Why, you may ask? Because this may be the last one you see for a few weeks. We've got some big events coming up that (can you believe it?) take priority over blogging.

1) Moving! That's right....we will be moving to a different house about a mile from where we live now. Highlights: A toy room and a neighborhood full of friends my age.

2) Vacation. We are headed to northern MN for a week with the camper. Yahoo!

3) The Orange Room. For those of you not familiar, that's the name for the preschool room at my school. Look out! I'm moving up!!

Quote of the week:
While camping over Memorial Day, Mom and I talked about "dew" and how it makes the grass wet in the morning. I then used that new term to describe my bowl after finishing my kiwi: "There's dew in my bowl!"

Lanesboro

2011-06-06T21:49:00.006-05:00

I can't wipe the smile off my face after the great weekend I just had.

The fun began on Thursday, when I got to spend the night camping with Grandma and Grandpa Noe in 'The Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota' -- beautiful Lanesboro.

Grandpa and I threw plenty of sticks over the dam, which was right by our campsite.

The view from the bottom was even better.

Mom came down to spend some time with us Friday. I showed her all the fun I'd been having.

We headed back home Saturday morning, where Mom, Dad, and I made the most of the best weekend weather we've had yet. We biked to the park, went for a wagon ride, and kicked the soccer ball around. "Goin' barefootin' " is one of my favorite things to do.

We also used our leftover firewood from last weekend's rain and enjoyed a spectacular campfire.

I can only hope there will be s'more weather like this past weekend in our future!

Inaugural Campout

2011-06-01T21:42:00.009-05:00

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend! Our 2011 inaugural campout is now in the books, and it was quite a success.

We took a risk and tried out a new campground -- Hickory Hills. The risk paid off, as it was a great place.

Brown Bear [I bet you're wondering how he got his name...] and I could hardly contain our excitement as we headed out on Friday evening.

Before long ,we were officially camping. Hurray!

On Saturday, we traveled to Grandma and Grandpa Clark's house to celebrate Kristen's graduation with extended family and friends.

This trip, I got my "sea legs" on the trampoline,

I visited the animals (including loud Jack),

and (of course), I had ice cream.

My Great Aunt Mary also brought me a special gift. If you read this post, you may remember the significance of this cookie jar.

Let's just say it didn't leave my side the rest of the day.

Back at the campground, we enjoyed a nice campfire.

We had the weather department covered over the course of the weekend: sun, rain, wind, cold, heat. You name it, we had it. The rain and cold came Sunday, so we did some indoor activities, like Play-Doh, coloring,

and eating cookies.

Monday brought the sun and heat. We brought our first camping weekend to a close with ample time at the playground.

Back at home, we enjoyed our extra day off by going to my friend Ellie's house and having a kiddie pool party!

Sun, fun, and my friends Ellie, Izzie, and Sydney. What a happy ending!

Chasing Butterflies

2011-05-25T21:47:00.006-05:00

Aunt Kristen was in town briefly last week, so I took advantage of time with her to show her how to catch butterflies with my net. She caught a big one!

We also practiced synchronized somersaulting [future Olympic sport??]

and synchronized stethoscoping.

Life's not all fun and games though. Growing up means more responsibility. I've gotten quite good at brushing my teeth each morning while Mom or Dad does my hair. [And you should see the ponytails my well-rounded dad puts in! He gives Mom a run for her money.]

I also help clean up the table after meals now, and I spend quite a bit of time changing diapers.

As for looking cute, I've got that responsibility down.

Congratulations to my pals Cohen and Carew on the birth of their new sister (yay!) Kinsley Jo!!

Here's wishing you all a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Kid Psychology

2011-05-16T20:14:00.011-05:00

Deep Thoughts
-by Madeline Noe

Ever wonder how kids can have so much energy? True, we don't have jobs or financial responsibilities to wear us down. But -- I think there's more to it than that.

Here are my suggestions for how to live a happier, more energetic life, based on my 2-1/2 years of experience.

*On Eating:
-Eat when you're hungry.
-Eat as healthy as you can, but remember to enjoy what you're eating.
-When you eat, just eat. Don't multi-task.

*Stick to your commitments.
-If you agreed to take your puppy for a walk, do it. And enjoy it.

*Clean up.
-Clutter adds stress to your life. Every now and then, clean up. Don't put it off, or it becomes overwhelming. And...make a game out of it.

*Share what you have with your friends (whether human or four-legged).

*Learn something new every day.

*Take time to smell the roses [and feed goldfish to the squirrels.]

*Live life exuberantly.
-If you feel like jumping, JUMP!

*Last, but not least, SLEEP.
-Get a good night's sleep, and take naps when time allows.

Dr. Obbink, I presume?

2011-05-10T21:25:00.009-05:00

Saturday was a big day for our family, as Aunt Kristen received her diploma and became a doctor! (With honors, I might add.)

I was hopeful that all in attendance would receive a hat, but that was not to be. Thankfully, Kristen let me wear hers.

It just so happened that Saturday was the perfect weather day: mid 70s and sunny. All the better to enjoy her reception at the park with!

I, of course, took full advantage of my time with Grandma and Grandpa.

And Uncle Matt. :)

As an added bonus, I got to help Aunt Kristen open her gifts.

I also found the most handsome gentleman at the park and gave him a hug. [Awww...]

In other news this week, Mom and I checked out yet another new park

before hitting the library for some new books. While there, we spent some time at the puzzle table.

And who could forget the other big day this weekend -- Mother's Day. Dad and I let Mom sleep in and then whipped her up some breakfast in bed. Stuffed French toast. Mmmmm....

We spent the morning at the park and the rest of the day enjoying each other's company, just as she requested. What could be better?

[Note for all you photo junkies: There are two Picasa albums this week -- one for graduation, and one for everything else.]

Braidy Bunch

2011-05-02T21:25:00.006-05:00

I'm not quite sure how we managed this, but the only day this week where we had nice weather was Friday, which, of course, is "Mommy and Madeline's Day of Fun".

It all began with yogurt (as many days do).

It continued with my first ever set of braids (French braids, no less...)

We followed that up with our very first bike (and bike trailer) ride of the year to the park, where there was fish watching,

sand digging,

and frolicking in the sun. With sticks.

On Sunday, we drove to Grandma and Grandpa Clarks' to visit and to pick up our camper for the summer. As is always the case, it was the windiest day of the year. That didn't stop me from taking my trusty steed, Daisy, out for a spin.

Tonight I worked on my first ever homework assignment: Decorating our family shield for our fairy tale unit at school.

Ours is a tale of Dora stickers, Elmo stickers, Dora stickers, crayon-traced hand prints, and did I mention Dora stickers?

Top quote from this week:

Madeline: Do farmers live on the farm?
Mom: Yes.
Madeline: No, they live in the dell.

Easter

2011-04-27T21:25:00.006-05:00

Easter 2011 brought us to Grandma and Grandpa Noe's house. There was plenty of fun

and food

to go around.
[That was cheesecake in honor of Grandma and Grandpa's 37th year of wedded bliss. Congratulations!]

Our celebration began on Saturday, when I got to partake in the hospital staff Easter egg hunt with Grandma.

It continued with Easter dinner at Great Aunt Judy's house. Great Grandpa had all 7 of his kids under one roof! [That was one busy house, let me tell you...]

I felt a little under the weather Saturday afternoon and evening, but some snuggling with Grandma and a long nap made it all better.

On Sunday, the Easter Bunny left a surprise for me at Grandma and Grandpa's.
Under the chair?

Nope.

Under here?

WINNER!

Thank you, Easter Bunny.

The Art of Humor

2011-04-18T20:18:00.009-05:00

My spring clothes are out and ready,

but the weather is temporarily not cooperating. So, Mom and I headed to the library Friday, where it was nice and warm.

In addition to the wide selection of books, I enjoyed the kid-friendly furniture

and a snuggle with Clifford the big red dog.

This weekend, we had family movie night, complete with popcorn.
Is it done yet?

I received some early Easter treats in the mail and am thoroughly enjoying them. Thanks, Grandma Dawn, Grandpa John, and Great Grandma!

Now, back to the subject of this week's blog.

Humor is an important part of our family, and I have recently really begun to get the hang of how it works. Here are some of my top examples from this week, judging from audience laughter.

1. The bottom line is, if I hear something, I repeat it. Being two and a half, many of my sentences begin with the words "I want...". Sometimes, when I rattle off a whole string of "I wants" in a row, Mom will respond with a phrase that she says she often heard from her dad as a kid. Tonight, I gave her a taste of her own medicine. This one's for you, Grandpa John.

2. Last weekend was the 2011 inaugural weekend for Dad's smoker, and he treated us to some of his mouth-watering barbecue. As we feasted on it, he kept saying, "Meat sweats. I've got meat sweats". I, not being much of a meat eater, replied: "I got yogurt sweats."

3. A little background on this one: While at family Christmas in December at my Great Aunt Mary and Great Uncle Bob's house , I fell in love with their doggie cookie jar, which sang "Who Let the Dogs Out?". Fast forward to book-reading tonight.
Mom [reading an alphabet book]: O. Octopus. Orange. Owl.
Me [doing my best owl impersonation]: Hoo! Hoo!
Mom, joining in: Hoo! Hoo!
Me: Who let the owl out? Who? Who? Who? Who? Who?

I'll be here all night. Tip your waitresses.

Parks!

2011-04-12T21:08:00.010-05:00

It was 70 DEGREES here today! Wowza. We've had a whole string of nice days in a row as a matter of fact. Spring has sprung! And what better way to celebrate than by going to the park!

[Actually, I've been to 3 different parks a total of 5 times in the last 5 days. I've got a lot of stored up winter energy to burn off.]

Mom and Dad keep trying to convince me that I don't need a hat and mittens anymore. I did finally let them talk me out of those, but I'm having a hard time with the idea of a spring (or no) coat.

What a change 9 months can bring. Let's do a few comparisons.
Now:

July 2010:

Now:

July 2010:

Heck, even 6 months brings a lot of change. I turned 2-1/2 Friday, and I have grown 2.5 inches since my 2nd birthday.

Some things don't change, though. Like how much I still love my trusty penguin Tuck and pushing him around in my stroller:

Or how much I love to be goofy:

Or how much I love to play with my dress up clothes:

Anyway, back to the park(s).

How many parks will we visit this year? Time will tell.

Farm Babies and Choo-choo Trains

2011-04-04T21:57:00.008-05:00

It's April in Minnesota. That can only mean two things:
1) [Hopefully] Only one more month of snow, and
2) Farm Babies at the Minnesota Zoo!

Although it didn't feel like spring, Mom and I ventured to the zoo Friday.
On the way to the Wells Fargo Farm, I posed with these nice kitties

and walked the entire length of the really tall retaining wall (with a little help of course).

Upon reaching the farm, I was greeted by this friendly fellow. When you're used to miniature ponies, draft horses are quite a switch.

I enjoyed seeing all of the farm babies -- pigs, cows, ducks, sheep, and goats. My favorite part, though, was feeding the big goats. You would think the things hadn't eaten in weeks.

After petting this big rabbit

and taking the ol' John Deere for a spin,

it was time for a snack.

In other news, despite the fact that we were all decked out for Opening Day, our Twins didn't get a win until Sunday.

On Saturday, we got out on the town to enjoy the beautiful weather. This time, we headed to Jackson Street Roundhouse, part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum.

There were trains everywhere! Big trains,

little trains,

and train memorabilia.

We even got to ride on a real caboose. All aboard!

We had a great window seat.

Sunday, I got reacquainted with that [almost] green stuff on the ground in the backyard.

Springtime, here we come!

And, for Aunt Kristen, Nepal -- here we come! As we speak, she is somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Kathmandu, working her way to toward a three week long series of Healthy Yak Clinics near Mount Everest Base Camp. If you're interested, you can read about her travels here: http://lancefox.blogspot.com/.

Life's a Dance

2011-03-29T22:00:00.011-05:00

You've all been to a party before. Some of you have probably even been to one with a DJ. But....have you ever been to a DJ dance party that is just for kids? Well if not, you're missing out. Last week marked my daycare center's annual open house and DJ dance party. Hooray!!

There was breakdancing,

hokey pokeying with Mom,

chicken dancing,

couples dancing with my best buddy Yasmin,

and dancing with my twin in the mirror.

Oh, and there was one fantastic kicking and screaming, floor pounding, parent and teacher staring temper tantrum in the middle of all that. [Not photographed, thankfully. Use your imagination.]

Other than that, what fun!

And that was just the beginning. On MAMDOF (Mommy and Madeline's Day of Fun), we did some grocery shopping, built some block towers,

and made sure Smoke stayed warm for his cat nap,

After my nap, Grandma and Grandpa Noe arrived for the weekend!

I made table tents with Grandma

and convinced Aunt Theresa to paint my nails.

Grandpa has a sure-fire method for quick air-drying.

It works every time.

I also got to pay a visit to Great Aunt Jan's for a yummy brunch. My second cousins Taylor and Leighton were there. They showed me their new bunk bed. [Excellent!]

I also got to have quesadillas at Teresa's [as in the restaurant, not the aunt] with my friends Henry and Stella on Saturday night. Amigos!

Thinking about all that, it's hard to do anything but smile.

Spring!

2011-03-22T20:59:00.004-05:00

Spring is here! Can you believe it?

Time to put away those snow boots and mittens [well, maybe not yet...] and get out your bunnies and chicks.

Our several warm days greatly diminished our snow and brightened our moods.

We celebrated actually being able to get to the grill again with a delicious meal this week. That inspired me to whip up some deliciousness of my own.

Would you like to wash that down with a glass of bear, anyone?

No more gloves needed outside, but dress-up gloves are always fun indoors.

Did I mention it's supposed to snow tomorrow? Ugh. Never fear...silly banana grin to the rescue!

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day, all! In case you were wondering, I'm a wee bit Irish.

[I really am. It's not just on my shirt.]

H20

2011-03-14T20:31:00.012-05:00

This weekend, I had the great pleasure of visiting a water park in Owatonna with my good buddies Jace and Logan and their families.

The last time I swam with Jace and Logan was last summer, so we had a lot to catch up on.

Starting bright and early Saturday morning, the weekend went a little something like this:

1. Climb the steps.

2. Scream!

3. Smile the world's biggest smile.

4. Repeat 30 or 40 times.

Interspersed with the sliding was time with Grandma and Grandpa,

running and somersaults in the endless hallways,

floating on the lazy river,

flashing big cheesy grins for the camera,

and relaxing in the pool.

With a little coaxing, we even convinced the grandmas to try out the slide.

Water, friends, grandparents, and five children 2 and under -- you know a great time was had by all.

Just Another Week

2011-03-09T22:03:00.004-06:00

Here's what I did this week:

What did you do to make yourself feel young and full of life?

Going to Grandma's

2011-02-28T20:38:00.008-06:00

Got snow?

We still do.

But I'm thinking spring. The Twins are 2-0 in spring training.

My day off with Mom was bitterly cold, so after a short stint outside [think 20 minutes to get dressed for about 5 minutes outside], we went with our old reliable: baking.

Mom tried to let the cookies cool out of my reach. Little did she expect me to go find my step stool...

The biggest excitement of the week was....

[diaper drumroll please...]

I got to stay overnight at Grandma and Grandpa Clarks' house all by myself!! I wore a smile this big the whole car ride to meet Grandma.

As you all know, what happens at Grandma and Grandpa's stays at Grandma and Grandpa's. All I'll say is that there was cooking with Grandma Dawn, choring with Grandpa John, horse riding, indoor fishing, and a visit to Great Grandma's. When do I get to go back?

Upon returning home, Aunt Theresa surprised me with one of the world's cutest gifts. Nothing says spring like rain boots!

[Collective 'Awww...]

February Birthdays

2011-02-22T21:15:00.006-06:00

Each February, the Noes get together to celebrate the three February birthdays -- Mom's, Grandma Carolyn's, and Uncle Stephen's. This past weekend was the 2011 celebration at Aunt Erin's house in Des Moines.

Aunt Erin helped me practice my spelling and long division with magnets.

I also sported my Winona State Warriors shirt just for Uncle Stephen.

Even though it wasn't my birthday, I got to participate heavily in the celebrating. I was in charge of frosting the cinnamon rolls.

I got my very own party makeup. [Oops.]

They let me lick the frosting off the candles...

And I assisted with gift opening. What do you think of Uncle Stephen's new hat?

On the way home Sunday, we stopped to visit Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt (and my buddy Buster). I tested out the papasan chair

and the strength of their furniture.

We then left grassy, snow-free central Iowa and drove through the snow and ice to our fresh 18 inches of snow at home.

No worries though. I enjoyed my Presidents Day holiday by playing dress up

and dying my tongue (via colorful Valentines Day candy).

No winter blues here. Without snow, you can't build the world's coolest snow fort like Dad and I did.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Carolyn! Happy Birthday on Friday, Uncle Stephen!

Happy Hearts

2011-02-16T19:43:00.007-06:00

This week, we had many things to celebrate.

First, Sue and Tuck, my Zhu Zhu Pets, moved into their new house (which Dad and I built).

Second, the weather was B-E-A-UTIFUL! I even broke out some spring clothes.

Spending time with friends is always reason for celebration.
White Bear:

Old McDonald:

We always celebrate on Friday (Mommy and Madeline's Day of Fun). This week, we made homemade muffins. Mmm...

And, of course, Monday was Valentine's Day! I decorated myself with some new stickers.

I also decorated my very own Disney Princess valentines,

which I then brought to school and handed out to my friends. It turns out that they made some for me in return.

Mommy was able to attend my Valentine's Day party at school, where we decorated our own cookies. Mmm...

As if all of that wasn't enough reason to celebrate, my Grandma and Grandpa Clark celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on Monday (no small accomplishment!), and my mom's birthday was on Tuesday. Congratulations and happy birthday!!

One last item of business: Tuck started wearing "pull-ups" this week. Who will be next? Maybe me...

Party Time

2011-02-07T21:06:00.010-06:00

Bubble beard!

After losing last year's sled to the attic monster (the sock eating dryer monster's cousin), Mom and I picked up a new sled on Friday.

After testing it out in the kitchen,

we decided to take it outside for a spin.

We ended up on our first winter park adventure. No line for the tire swing!

The "bouncy bouncy" wasn't too bouncy though...

Later, I thawed out with some finger painting while talking to Uncle Stephen. Multi-tasker extraordinaire!

Saturday, we drove to Iowa to celebrate my Great Grandma Tillie's 82nd birthday with the family.

There are definite perks to being 82. You get all sorts of cool toys like canes

and grabbers.

We had a delicious meal (complete with cake!) and a lot of fun.

When it was time to go home, I had a birthday hug for Great Grandma.

I also had one for Grandma Dawn, Grandpa John, Aunt Kristen, and Uncle Matt. But I announced quite matter-of-factly, while pointing at Great Aunt Faith, Great Uncle Ed, and Mom's cousin Sonia, that I was "not going to hug those people."

I still don't see what was so funny about that...

Sunday afternoon, I got to go to my friends Sydney and Izzie's house to play with them and Baby Ellie during the Superbowl. We older girls taught Ellie how to jump on the bed. Her mom was thrilled.

As it turns out, that was the most super part of the Superbowl. :)

Here's to a fabulous baseball season. Go Twins!

Big Girl Bed

2011-02-01T21:07:00.007-06:00

Goodbye, crib...

Hello, big girl bed!!!

Hello enough room for all of my blankets and stuffed animals,
hello reading books on my new bedside stool,

and hello being able to get out of bed whenever I want! [Insert 'Yikes!' from Mom here...]

In all seriousness, I've made the transition extremely well. Tinkerbell bedding is so much cooler than a crib anyway.

Also cool is the fact that I will now allow (and in fact demand) ponytails in my hair. The question of the morning is always how many I want -- 1, 2, or 3. On Friday, I went a little crazy and requested 5. Voila!

(For those of you with extremely fine hair like me, you can empathize with the approximately 40 wraps it took to get these to stay in.)

They lasted about 2 hours. I had to move to a headband so I could focus on cookie making.

Mom and I really nailed them this time. "Those are my favorite!" I said with every bite. Mmm...

With my energy, it's no trouble at all to burn off a cookie or two.

I've always been interested in music. I play music on my instruments at home, participate in music class at school, and enjoy listening to CDs in the house and car. Lately I've really been into singing. Check out my Picasa album to see a few videos of my latest and greatest favorites: Tim McGraw's "Flyaway" and (somehow, although we don't listen to this type of music at home...ever...) Enrique Iglesias's "I Like It".

Favorite quote from this week:
"I don't like that wash car." [Overheard while driving by the scary "inside the car" car wash that Dad took me to this weekend.]

I'll close with a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Great Grandma Tillie, who turns 82 tomorrow! Love you!

Short and Sweet

2011-01-24T20:48:00.008-06:00

With Dad gone on a rare business trip last week, turns out there was less time for developing blog fodder. Mom and I were just TCOB'ing. For instance, I helped out with the grocery shopping. [Don't tell, but the only reason I go along is for the free cookies and the 'car' carts.]

Excuse the blur. It's very hard to sit still for the split second it takes to snap a picture. I'm sure you understand.

We also cleaned out the toy box enough so that I could sit in it.

Of course, I saved lots of snuggles for Dad when he came home.

The drama for the week came on Friday evening, when I made my second ever trip to the ER after spiking a fever that ranked on the upper end of the FM dial -- 105.7 [SICK FM]. It turned out to be a short-lived bug that we got under control by the next day and a minor ear infection, so not too bad after all.

That was all but forgotten when Grandma and Grandpa Noe and Aunt Theresa came for the weekend. I had a ball horsing around with Grandpa and laughing with Grandma until her stomach hurt. I also got to help her make her delicious corn and black bean salsa. Mmm...

On Sunday, we paid a visit to Dad's Uncle Bob, who we were happy to see at home and on the road to recovery after a couple of surgeries. While there, I enjoyed some fun time with second cousins Megan and Nate [which my mother failed to photograph...]

Until next time, I'll just be waiting for baseball to start (since football's basically over).

Winter Fun

2011-01-17T14:28:00.009-06:00

I've recently heard some complaints about winter. I may be only two, but I know that, at least in Minnesota, it's far from over. As the snow continues to pile up here, I've decided to just make the most of it. What's not to like?

After a short but vicious bout of some sort of stomach bug on Friday morning, I spent the afternoon getting some of that fresh, crisp January air in my lungs. [I figured I'd try to freeze him out.]

It worked like a charm. And who says you can't swing in the winter?

Later, I whipped up some deliciousness in my kitchen.

Mom and I also whipped up some barnyard fun with my Moon Dough. We discovered the trick to creating perfect farm animals every time. Look, Great Grandma! Four distinct farm animals...all with heads!

We followed that up with a very special snack: ants on a log! [Note: I didn't care much for the logs, but the ants and peanut butter were great.]

Then, it was dress up time. [Don't ask what I was dressing as...] Abracadabra!

This weekend, we enjoyed another relaxing weekend at home. Dad and I shared some Tootsie Pop time together,

and, followed immediately by a bath, was paint time!

Mom and I had an even more extended weekend than normal, courtesy of UnitedHealth Group, who now recognizes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a corporate holiday.

Only in a state with a long, snowy winter would some genius think of opening an indoor park and playground. Edina just so happens to be the home of Edinborough Park, which Mom and I paid a visit to today.

These pictures just don't do it justice. Picture an adult sized version of the game Mousetrap. Imagine a multi-level jungle gym filled with slides, tunnels, nets, ball pits, heavy bags, and bounce houses.

Oh, and a soft-floored gymnasium full of mini basketball hoops and these little wheely-chair thingies. Yes, that's a technical term. For fun.

It was definitely worth the $6. Who says winter isn't fun?

What's Up, Doc?

2011-01-11T20:55:00.007-06:00

Three cheers for Aunt Kristen, who found out that she passed her boards and will officially be Dr. Kristen Obbink, DVM, come May! Hip hip hooray!!

One might say that she "beat" the odds.

[Get it? Beaters?]

Three more cheers for Great Grandma Tillie, who came home from the nursing home on Saturday! When I heard the news, I pretended to push her around in her "wheelchair" (which is what she was in the last time I saw her).

There's still no sign of me coming down from my Christmas high. This week, I've done a lot of shopping,

Play-Doh confetti making,

and magnet-ing. If only they stuck to the wall and cupboards like they do to the refrigerator and dishwasher...

Even with all the new toys, there's still always time for a good romp on the Wonder Horse.

I keep my energy up by eating [read: playing with] spaghetti.

Congrats again to Aunt Kristen and Great Grandma!

'Twas Long After Christmas...

2011-01-04T21:10:00.038-06:00

...and all through the house,
Not a blog had been written.
I had not used my mouse.

Until now, that is. One would think that with time off, there would be more time for things like writing blog posts, but let me assure you -- that is not the case.

Now that we're back in the swing of things, let me wish you a happy new year and tell you of the fun I've had over the past few weeks.

Our family Christmases began at Grandma and Grandpa Clark's. We spent Christmas Eve day using the Play-Doh Fun Factory,

playing with Mom's old farm toys,

and enjoying the outdoor winter wonderland.

While Grandpa was looking for the real sled, we put Uncle Matt's creativity to use with this swimming pool.

After a candlelight church service (where Mom ruined the experience for the entire balcony by letting the fan blow out her candle before she could light anyone else's), we opened gifts.

Man, I must have been good! I got candy, toys, blocks, dress-up clothes, and books galore. What fun! Tuck was a good boy and sat in his new high chair patiently while I I cooked mac & cheese late into the night on my new kitchen set.

Grandma did plenty of cooking of her own, including whipping up these amazing Santa Claus pancakes for us on Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day, we celebrated with Grandma Dawn's family. Because Great Grandma Tillie is still away from home recovering from hip surgery, we decided to bring Christmas to her at the nursing home.

After a delicious dinner, time with family, and more presents, we headed to the Noes for Christmas #3. Aunt Theresa and I were thrilled to share our first Christmas together!

I was also thrilled to open my very first dollhouse.

Christmas night proved to be even more memorable when I officially used the big girl toilet for the very first time! [You're welcome for censoring the evidence...]

We spent the next day and a half enjoying each other's company

and getting manis and pedis courtesy of Aunt Erin.

Monday we headed back home to spend our final days of Christmas vacation together.

I spent a lot of time playing with my new toys.
[Don't be alarmed by the sight of my baby in this pan. I'm a trained professional.]

I also did some painting.

Mom spent one day doing some painting of her own (giving the kitchen a facelift), so Dad and I spent the day together. What could we do that Mom wouldn't mind missing out on? Why, look at snakes of course!

We took a little drive to Owatonna and visited the RAD (Reptile and Amphibian Discovery) Zoo. [You may want to skip this paragraph, Grandpa John.] We saw all sorts of creatures, including a huge alligator, some turtles that I got to feed salad to,

and lots and lots of snakes. Mom is still recovering from getting the text message with this picture:

We toned it down a bit later with a Thomas the Tank Engine ride at the mall.

Friday night brought New Year's Eve. We celebrated by spending the night at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Lakeville (yes....we drove 5 miles to stay at a hotel...) with friends Sydney, Izzie, and Ellie [and their parents.]

I did my best to ring in the new year by wearing out the waterslide.

Last, but certainly not least, we spent our final two days of Christmas vacation at Clark Christmas with Grandpa John's family. Once again, we were blessed with wonderful family time, great food, and (yes) more presents.

My Great Aunt Mary has an impressive collection of cookie jars. I spent more than a fair amount of time listening to 'Who Let the Dogs Out' with this one.

And just like that, the holidays are over. My new year's resolution is to add a room on to the house for all of my new gifts.

If this lengthy overview wasn't enough for you, feel free to check out the six (yes, six) new photo albums in my Picasa link.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Break - Week 1 (and half of Week 2)

2010-12-23T15:43:00.030-06:00

Mom began her 3 week hiatus from work last Tuesday (December 14th). We started it off with a bang by going to the Minnesota Children's Museum. You may remember that we went there once about a year ago. Boy, did I ever find more to explore this time around!

My favorite part was the water room.

I also enjoyed the huge chalk board,

played in the restaurant,

and went down more than one slide.

I even painted a picture.

I stopped to pose by a curious red-haired fellow on the way back to the car.

Since our first big adventure, I enjoyed some quality time with my Aunt Theresa, who came to stay with me while Mom and Dad went to Dad's work Christmas party.

She also hung out with me while they went to the blizzard-y outdoor Vikings game with Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt.

Mom and I have had quite a bit of fun ourselves, including making some Christmas cookies, playing with my mini chalkboard,

and flashing my 'adios' sign.

We are headed to Grandma and Grandpa's soon, so Mom and Dad worked out a deal with Santa Claus to visit our house early. I left a plate of cookies for him last night,

and in return, he left me a couple of goodies this morning:

A second Zhu Zhu pet (Tex),

and a new Herky hat!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Snow-nami

2010-12-14T15:21:00.017-06:00

In case you've been in a hole somewhere, it snowed. A lot. Just in time to prevent my grandmas and grandpas from coming to my daycare Christmas program. Anyway, the show must go on.

Mom, Dad, and I braved the elements Saturday morning and drove the 1/2 mile to daycare for our annual 'Breakfast with Santa'. I was thrilled to see my two best friends Yasmin and Meredith upon arrival.

Soon it was time for our "blue room" (toddlers and early preschool) show to begin. I sat up front all by myself (no parental assistance needed here!), and our group sang three songs -- What a Snow it Would Be, A Little Elf, and Jingle Bells. You can catch the full show here.

I can guarantee you that I know every word to those three songs, but with the pressure of everyone watching me, I chose to just do actions and clap instead. :)

After our program, we had breakfast, and then I played in the school age (a.k.a big kids) room with my friends. New toys!!!

I had announced prior to the big event that I would not be sitting on Santa's lap. No sirree. However, that was before I knew that the only way to get a candy cane was from the big guy himself. That did me in. We compromised, and I sat on Daddy's lap next to Santa in order to redeem my prize. I decided he wasn't so scary after all and flashed him a smile at the end.

Then it was home for a post-program cupcake.

We then spent the rest of the blizzard-y weekend in the house with a warm fire. So warm, in fact, that I put on one of my favorite outfits -- my swimsuit!

Here are some shots of the snow aftermath. We are definitely in for a white Christmas. And, if it ever gets above zero again, I'll hopefully get to go out and play in it!

Downtown Girl

2010-12-06T21:04:00.010-06:00

"Downtown girl. I've been living in my downtown world..."
Well, for the weekend at least. But first, here's what happened in my very non-downtown, suburban life this week.

First, some Oscar the Grouch action. I am such a fan of this trash can that Mom and Dad have not used it for garbage in about 6 months. In addition to climbing in and out of it,

it makes a fantastic drum.

Second, my new slippers. You like?

[I'm pretty sure this picture is going to come back and haunt me later in life.]

On to downtown. My mom and Grandma Dawn kicked off our downtown weekend Friday night with Mannheim Steamroller at the Orpheum while I spent some time with Dad. They both gave the show rave reviews.

I enjoyed some time with Grandma Dawn Saturday morning, and then that night, we met Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt and family downtown for the Holidazzle Parade.

The beautiful lights, a high five from Vikings mascot Viktor, and a wave from Santa Claus got me through the frigid temps.

Sunday morning I returned to downtown with Mom and Dad. We had brunch at Joe's Garage [Bravo!]

before heading to the Dome for my first Vikings game. That's right...they let me come!

Once again, my mother's worrying was all for naught. I wasn't quite sure about the volume during the intros, but I liked the drums, the pirate ship, and the local cuisine. And even though I spent a few minutes clinging tightly to her shoulder, I was still smiling.

One of the highlights of the game, besides the fact that they won, was "the monster" (a.k.a. the fan wearing the Vikings cape and purple Darth Vader helmet). I was so fascinated by him that I made Dad follow him. Sadly, he disappeared into the concourse before I could catch him.

After handling the first half like an extremely well-behaved 2 year old, I announced "I want to go home now." So, we did. [Sorry we missed you Kristen, Matt, Janelle, and Ben.]

That concludes my downtown weekend. Until the next parade or sporting event, I'll be helping Mom clean,

making sure the light switches still work,

and working on my yoga. Or is that Yo Gabba Gabba? :)

Turkey Day

2010-11-30T20:30:00.018-06:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Mom and I took advantage of some of her vacation time last week and made a day trip down south. First, we paid a visit to the Jolly Green Giant in his festive red scarf.

Next, we stopped to see Grandma Dawn at work.

Grandpa John walked over and joined us for a delicious lunch.

Then it was on to visit Great Grandma Tillie, who is recovering well from her hip surgery. She even let me go for a little ride in her wheelchair!

Wednesday, we braved the impending storm and traveled to Grandma and Grandpa Noe's for Thanksgiving. This was a very special Thanksgiving, as it was the first one with both Aunt Theresa and me present! No Skype needed this holiday season.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was absolutely scrumptious, and I am proud to say that we opened our meal with a rousing rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame!'

Over the next few days, we entertained ourselves with funny faces,

crazy outfits,

eating,

horsing around,

wagon rides,

eating,

vacuuming (because anything that I can push is a vacuum),

family pictures,

and, did I mention eating?

Friday was the annual Cresco Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was frigid, so I stayed warm by throwing candy out of Grandpa's truck while he pulled the bank's award-winning Toy Story float. After the parade (where I just happened to see my buddies Cohen and Carew!), we stopped at the petting zoo.

[Note: Since I promised to show you my new snow gear last week and forgot, here's a glimpse. I think the bunny was impressed.]

Saturday, I went to Great Grandpa's to help him decorate for Christmas. That evening, Grandma, Theresa, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the beautiful Christmas lights at the campground in Decorah. Click here for my reaction as we drove up.

After a delightful and relaxing Thanksgiving, we returned home and switched our focus (like many of you, I'm sure) to Christmas. Due to limited space in our living room/toy room, we put up 1/3 of our 12 foot tree. Just my size!!

I loved decorating the tree,

and I even got to put the angel on top!

I have so many things to be thankful for!

Bonus feature: One of the things Mom is thankful for is this video that she captured over Thanksgiving, which contains her two favorite laughs in the whole world -- mine and Theresa's. :)

Final shout out: Good luck to my Aunt Kristen on Thursday as she takes her board exam!

Homemade Fun

2010-11-23T20:17:00.000-06:00

The next time you're bored and looking for fun, I suggest these entertaining activities that you can do with items found in the comfort of your own home.

1) Turn your kitchen rug upside down and dance on it. [I guess that's why they call it cutting a rug?] While feeling a bit under the weather Wednesday and missing a day of school, this cheered me up.

2) Follow your mom around while she vacuums, and when she gets just a little bit too close to that loose string in the rug and has to tear the vacuum apart to get it out, take it from her. Long strings provide hours of entertainment.

If rugs aren't your thing, perhaps you'll find shoestrings interesting. This one kept me busy for quite some time while relaxing in front of the warm and toasty fire.

If that's still not your cup of tea, I'd recommend keyboard dusting.

Or putting on your mom's silly apron.

Of course, there are always blocks, too.

But above all else, I'd recommend having your Grandma and Aunt come to visit like mine did this weekend. I got lots of tickle time,

cuddle time,

bath time,

and reading time.

What fun!

Wishing you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Snow!

2010-11-15T21:08:00.001-06:00

We woke up on Saturday morning (yes, November 13) to a bunch of the white stuff!

Check out my excitement here.

By 9am, we had already built our first snowman. [It actually took less time to make it than it did to put all of my snow clothes on…]

Later we warmed up with our first fire of the season. Cozy!

It snowed sooner than expected this year, so on Sunday, we had to go shopping for bigger snow pants and a coat for me. Stay tuned next week for photos of the new garb.

Prior to the snow, on Friday, Mommy and I baked some cookies. I kept an eye on the mixer,

made sure everything was just right,

waited patiently for them to bake,

and, AT LAST, got to try one. Mmmm!

Afterward, we burned off our cookies by going for a long swim at the gym.

Later on that evening, I actually went to daycare for a few hours to play with my friends as part of 'New Horizon's Night Out'. I got to eat pizza, watch a movie, and play with shaving cream while Mom and Dad went out to eat on their own. The teachers volunteered their time, and the proceeds went to charity. A great time was had by all.

Other excitement from this week included music:

supervised bed jumping,

and my "swimsuit dress". [To try this at home, gather all of your swimsuits and hang them around your neck. Then, muster up the cheesiest smile you possibly can, and Voila!]

Happy Birthday to my buddy Cohen, who turned 6 today, and to my Aunt Erin on Thursday!

Also, I'm sending thoughts and prayers to my Great Grandma Tillie, who is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow. Love you, Great Grandma!

==================
Bonus: If you are interested in seeing our recent family photos, they are available here.

Just Chillin'

2010-11-08T21:17:00.000-06:00

After a very busy October, we began November at a much slower pace. Dad was out of town on a rare business trip this week, but we were able to get a "replacement": Aunt Theresa!!

We had all sorts of fun singing,

playing with my new birthday toys,

and (Shhh...don't tell!) jumping on the bed.

I even helped her whip up some delicious enchiladas!

On Wednesday night, we were invited to Great Aunt Jan and Great Uncle Bob's house for some delicious homemade spaghetti. My second cousin (and dessert buddy) Taylor and I followed it up with some ice cream.

On Friday, I got to spend more quality time with Taylor and her little bro Leighton at the zoo. It was a brisk 30 degrees when we arrived,

so we spent quite a bit of time on the Tropics Trail inside.

It was great to have Daddy back for the weekend. We even cheered on the Vikings to a win!

I'm not sure what's up with this Daylight Savings Time business. Just because the clocks change doesn't mean my schedule does...

I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to Aunt Kristen on Tuesday!!!