50/52: A Weekly Photo Series

What an unusual December!

This weekend last year, we were ice fishing on Pipe Lake with the Ranger ... which means the ice was about 8" thick and strong enough to support snowmobiles and small vehicles. The kids had been wearing their snow suits to play outdoors for weeks by then. We didn't have a ton of snow on the ground, but enough to make it feel like Christmas was around the corner.

This year in Minnesota and Wisconsin, temperatures have been in the low 40's and there isn't a trace of snow on the ground. Any precipitation we've had has been rain, and the water level of the lake is so high most of our beach is underwater. In fact, the entire lake is still open (unfrozen) and we've been entertained by a flock of beautiful white swans in our bay by the cabin this fall. For several weekends now, we've watched them swimming and honking to their heart's content ... knowing one of these days the lake will freeze over and they'll fly South to a warmer destination.

Until then, what a sight to see ...

They're simply beautiful.

47/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Winter is coming!

Two weekends ago, it was 50 degrees and sunny at the lake cabin. We walked around the trail loop on the 40-acres of woods by our cabin in light jackets and stocking hats, brown leaves crunching under our feet. It seemed like white powdery snow was a million lifetimes away. It was difficult to envision the lake ever being frozen enough to walk on ... let alone drive an ice house on top!

We knew winter would be on its way eventually though, and sure enough it is. Last weekend at the lake, air temperatures dipped into the 20's and ice began to form in the bay by our cabin. It was breathtaking to see the sunrise above the lake while steam billowed from its icy surface.

We were just swimming in this spot, weren't we? It sure seems like it. Now, only the ducks and swans are brave enough to dip their feet in the water.

Yes, winter is on the way...

46/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Tory, Aden and I met some friends for a playdate at the Play & Learn Cafe this week. I love the concept of this place -- a space for families to meet, play and enjoy a meal together. No need to worry about kids making a ruckus through dinner or dumping every toy out of the bin; this place is as kid friendly as one could be.

I first visited Play & Learn Cafe when it opened in the spring, and quite a bit had changed since then. There's a new Discovery Room with "messy projects" for kids (on this day, it was paints) and many different toy stations in the main room -- play structures, dress-up clothes, ride-on bikes, sensory bin, dollhouse, train table and more.

Aden and Tory had an absolute blast playing here the morning we visited. They ran for a solid three hours, which is fantastic for an indoor play area. I'd say Tory was on the older end of the spectrum for children's ages, which was fantastic for keeping the rowdiness at minimum. I liked how small yet open the main room was which helped me keep an eye on the kids easily, and I also liked the many gating devices they had to keep kids safe and secure in one particular area. We arrived around 9:30am (the cafe opened at 9:00am) and the place was practically empty. Thirty minutes later, closer to 10:00am, the place had filled quickly with parents and kids. Next time I go, I'll definitely shoot to arrive closer to opening time to beat the rush.

  
We didn't eat at the cafe on this particular day, but the menu looked appetizing for both kids and parents. Tory made me promise the next time we visited we'd stay for lunch. I'm sure we'll be back. A great find in the Twin Cities for things to do with kids.

43/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Jumping in the leaves is one of Tory and Aden's favorite things to do at the cabin during the fall season. Why wouldn't it be? The ground is covered in a thick blanket of crunchy leaves along the trails and in our backyard by the lake.

Tory spent hours (yes, hours!) raking leaves into a giant pile last Friday. I'd say she had more fun raking the leaves than actually jumping in them. "Just a few more leaves ... " she'd say, until the pile was almost as tall as her.

Aden reaped the benefits of her labor, of course. He stood around and watched Tory rake, rake, rake ... and, then took a running start from the top of the hill in the backyard, landing smack-dab in the center of the pile.

Is there anything more simple and sweet than jumping in the leaves as a child?

I love these two to bits. 

42/52: A Weekly Photo Series

The kids and I have been visiting a Little Free Library in our neighborhood this fall. It's nice to have a destination during our frequent afternoon walks that isn't the playground, and we enjoy the suspense of seeing what books will be waiting for us there.

Tory has a give & take bookshelf at her school as well so we'll read and rotate books between the two places, or sometimes bring books from our own home library.

A few weeks ago, the book Miss Nelson Is Missing! was at the neighborhood Little Free Library and I was so excited! It was my favorite book as a child. I'll never forget the time my kindergarten teacher dressed up as Viola Swamp for Halloween. Andi, Tory, Aden and I borrowed the book and walked straight home to read it. I glanced at Tory afterwards and excitedly asked, "So, what'd you think? Did you like it?" She shrugged her shoulders and picked up the next book in the stack. She may not have been a life-long fan, but I still was. It's amazing how one simple book transported me right back to being five-years-old.

39/52: A Weekly Photo Series

The calendar has turned to fall, but it continues to feel like summer around here. At least, where the weather is concerned.

The kids and I met my friends Val, Erika and their kiddos for a playdate this week at Como Zoo. I can't say I remember visiting Como Zoo any time other than summer and let me just say -- IT. WAS. AWESOME. We practically had the place to ourselves, which meant the kids could get out of their strollers and run wild like animals.

See Tory practicing to be a monkey?

When we go to the zoo in the summer, it's constant kid pandemonium with big groups of day care tours and other families visiting the zoo. There's never time to do anything but see the animals, and I'm usually exhausted by the end after being on high parenting alert the whole time. On this day, we were able to meander along the path and let the kids play and climb all over the rocks and structures. We could stand and watch the animals for as long as we liked without worrying about blocking other people's view.

It was also really fun to see (Val's kids) Kasen, Linden and Tory have such a ball together. These three have known each other their entire lives, but this was the first time I've seen them truly pick up like old friends and play together. One more cool thing about having "big kids" -- their ability to develop real-life friendships with others.

What an unexpectedly relaxing and fun fall day at the zoo with friends!

38/52: A Weekly Photo Series

I started this weekly photo challenge to learn how to use our Canon 7D DSLR camera. It's been nine months since I began, and I think I've successfully achieved my goal to at least learn the basics of photography. I still have a long way to go, but am more interested than ever to continue onward.

In the fall, I usually hire a professional photographer to take pictures of Tory and Aden around their birthdays, and to capture a family portrait for our holiday cards. But in the last few years, I haven't been overly pleased with the photographs we've received. That, and taking staged family photographs is a stressful task! All that effort put into outfit coordination and location identification with the smallest glimmer of hope that at least one photo will turn out. I started to think Andi and I could take equally good (if not better photos!) of the kids by ourselves. Taking our own family photographs also gives us the flexibility to snap as many photos as we like in the relaxed environment of our family's own time. Since we already own all the camera equipment, the only cost is my personal effort in taking and editing photos.

With that in mind, I typically carry my DSLR camera everywhere I go. See what I mean about me being an amateur photographer? I don't wait until the light is just right or for the perfect scene -- I simply capture the moment at hand.

Tory, Aden and I had a free morning today, so I decided to take them to a local park just down the road from our house. We don't usually visit this park because it's playground equipment is too advanced for toddlers, but it contains beautiful wooded trails and a lake / beach. Tory looked so cute today in her pink tutu dress today and Aden, too, in his new khaki overalls. The air just felt like 'fall' today, so I thought it'd be a good time to take some fall season photos. At the last minute, I tossed the FarmAll tractor that was my grandpa's into the back of the SUV ... just in case I spotted a good place to take pictures.  

I think we had the entire park to ourselves on this chilly, partly cloudy morning. I found a grassy spot by the lake and let Tory and Aden loose to run free. And while they did, I stood back and snapped away with my camera.

Together, they watched flocks of geese fly over head ...

And, Tory demonstrated her best ballerina twirls ... 

Seriously, could they be any more adorable?

We had a really fun, relaxing morning taking photographs -- just the three of us.

35/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Not very "weekly" ... I'm getting behind on these! I'm taking photos (which, I suppose, is the project's purpose anyway) but I'm having a hard time getting to the computer to blog about them. Anyway ...

When I was little, my parent's bed was the safest place I knew. If I was sick, or tired or wanted to veg out, I'd snuggle into their blankets and pillows, and feel instantly relaxed. Thinking about it now transports me right back to being seven years old again.

I suspect it's the same for Tory because our bed is her favorite place to hang out, too. Last week as I hurried around the master bedroom readying our bags for the cabin, Tory laid in our bed watching a cartoon. I couldn't help myself; I stopped what I was doing, grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of Tory curled up with her favorite stuffed toy.

This, to me, is the picture of an idyllic childhood: innocent; safe; loved.

33/52 & 34/52: A Weekly Photo Series

I missed posting last week's 33/52 photo since Andi and I were fishing in Ontario with no access to phone or Internet. Though, I think I've shared enough pictures here, here, and here this week to meet my quota.

In other non-fishing news, Tory learned to ride her tricycle this week. An exciting milestone for my almost four-year-old!

Tory's been practicing riding her trike all summer without much success. One of the biggest challenges has been our slightly sloped drive-way. She'd cruise down the pavement gaining momentum too quickly and panic, sending her and the trike straight into the grass with a crash. So, I had an idea to take Tory and her tricycle to the neighborhood playground where there's a flat basketball court to ride.

Tory struggled riding her tricycle the few short blocks to the park, and I deeply questioned my brainiac idea as I tried to both push Tory and keep Aden contained in his push car. As soon as we made it to the park, though, Tory started to ride her trike on the flat basketball court and mastered pedaling and steering in no time.

The radiance of independence from a child who's just learned to ride a bike on their own ...

Watch out, world! Here comes Tory!

32/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Aden is changing so rapidly these days. He's a walking running, talking little boy who constantly keeps me on my toes. Nothing is more evident of his recent maturity than his verbal communication with us.

Well, and that hair.

Nothing says I'm not a baby anymore like a head of hair like that. Or, maybe it's more like Pardon the hair / I just rode a jet ski for the first time / NBD hair. 'Cuz, you know, big kids do those type of things.

Like the crazy obsessive mom I am, I've been recording Aden's first 100 words. I did this for Tory, too (here's her first 100 words), and I find it interesting to keep track and remember what they first said. Surprisingly, both kids were very different in their first words of communication with us. I always thought Tory was verbal at a young age (and I think she was/is!), but Aden is even more talkative. I'm sure it has something to do with being a second child and hanging around his big sister all the time.

Aden loves to sing and mumbles the tune to many children's songs including ABC's, Wheels On The Bus, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep. He even sings the tune to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse's "Hot Dog" song and Tory's Strawberry Shortcake movie theme song. Aden counts 1-10 and says some letters, but can't say or identify any of his body parts or colors. This fascinates me! We'll continue working on those basics and I'm sure he'll get them eventually.

Anyway, without further adieu, here are Aden's first 100 words:

(age 12 months)
1. Uh-oh
2. Dada
3. Mama

(13 months)
4. Hi
5. Ball
6. All Done /or Done

(14 months)
7. Bye
8. Hello

(16 months)
9. Catch
10. Roll
11. Eat
12. See
13. Peek
14. Chlo (Chloe the Dog)
15. Pat (i.e.: pat-a-cake)
16. Poop
17. Two
18. Three
19. Bubble
20. Throw

(17 months)
21. Look
22. Set
23. Go
24. Hot
25. Owie
26. See Ya
27. Tory

(18 months)
28. Wawa (water)
29. Cracker
30. No
31. Wash
32. Dog
33. That
34. This
35. Uppa (up)
36. Down
37. Beep
38. Potty
39. Nite-Nite
40. Apple
41. Thank you
42. Blankie
43. Paci (pacifier)
44. Baby

(19 months)
45. Shoe
46. Hat
47. Popsicle
48. Snack
49. Flower
50. Ready
51. Eight
52. Nine
53. Ten
54. Fruit
55. Mickey (Mickey Mouse)
56. Lucy
57. Car
58. One
59. Four
60. Five
61. Six
62. Waffle
63. Help
64. Tickle
65. Toot Toot
66. Lime
67. Fishie
68. Elmo
69. Pretty
70. Neigh
71. Moo

(20 months)
72. Papa
73. Knock Knock
74. Side (outside)
75. Play
76. Cube
77. "I Get It"
78. Stick
79. Rock
80. Rollers (i.e.: waves during boat rides)
81. Cow
82. Kick
83. Please
84. Welcome (i.e.: you're welcome)
85. Rain
86. Chicken
87. Cookie
88. Corn
89. Hog Dog
90. "There It Is"
91. Quack
92. Look
93. Hug
94. Lambie (Tory's favorite stuffed animal)
95. Bless You
96. Airplane
97. Grandma
98. Hold
99. Boat Ride
100. Oh Cool!

31/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Late last summer, Tory received a butterfly garden as a birthday gift. I filed it away for another day because the weather was turning cooler in Minnesota, and decided to pull it out again several weeks ago.

I followed directions on the card insert and sent away for the five live caterpillars that arrived by mail a few days later. Then over the last three weeks, Tory and I watched the metamorphosis of those caterpillars up close. It was seriously one of the neatest learning experiences we've done together!

Tory and I watched the caterpillars do their thing -- munching on food included in the plastic container they arrived in -- until the caterpillars eventually crawled to the top of the lid and became chrysalides. I'm not sure who was more thrilled over the transformation, me or Tory. It was so neat to see!

After the chrysalides hardened a bit, I moved them to the mesh butterfly habitat and Tory and I waited patiently for the next change to take place. A few days later, one, two, and finally all five cocoons birthed painted lady butterflies. Tory liked this part the most, and fully embraced her duty of feeding the butterflies sugar water and watermelon daily. We watched the butterflies fly around in their habitat for several days, and then let them go one afternoon in our backyard.

If it was up to Tory, we would've kept the butterflies forever. She and Aden both loved watching them on a daily basis. I love how easy it will be to do this activity again now that we own the butterfly habitat. I'll just need to send away for more caterpillars and ensure the weather is over 55 degrees outdoors so we can eventually let them go.

Such a neat activity, and I thank my cousin Jen for sending us this special gift. Tory loved it, and the rest of our family did too.

30/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Trips to the park, the zoo, and the splash pad are loads of fun in the summertime, but sometimes it's nice to stay home and enjoy the comforts of your own space. Tory and I used to play in our backyard all the time when she was Aden's age, but natural wear-and-tear has gotten the best of our deck over the years. Our big beautiful deck became disgusting with dirt and grime, to the point where I barely took the kids outside to play at our own house anymore.

It wasn't my intention to wait until half of the Minnesota summer was over to remedy the problem. I called a deck renewal company back in April to schedule an appointment to have our deck power-washed and re-stained. The company set a tentative date to visit in May, but the rainy spring weather pushed back their scheduling. Finally in early July, they paid us a visit and now our deck is once again in usable condition.

Enter: fun in the sun in our own backyard. Wahoo!

One night this week, Tory and I dusting off the patio furniture and pulled the kid's backyard toys out of storage. The next day, I set up the cutest little play date on the backyard deck just for us. I cranked up the tunes (Pandora nursery rhymes station, obvs.), set out some snacks and beverages on the patio table and filled up the bubble station. It was perfect!

Photo cred: Tory, my budding photographer

The next day, we returned to the deck for a backyard picnic lunch. Tory thought it was fabulous to dine "al fresco," as she called it. Aden spent more time oohing and ahhing over the scenery than actually eating his lunch. 

    

Looking forward to enjoying this space many more times yet this summer.  

29/52: A Weekly Photo Series

I signed Tory up for ballet class this summer through a neighboring suburb's parks and recreation program. Big self-pat on the back for scouring a bazillion websites to discover every kids program available this summer!

Side note: Have I mentioned how incredibly time-consuming it is to research / schedule / sign kids up for activities? Seriously. I spent most of my precious babysitter alone time one morning in May plotting the calendar with fun things to do with the kids this summer and another few hours recently planning extra-curricular activities this fall. First world problem, I realize, but shouldn't there be an easier way?

Anyway, I selected this ballet class through a neighboring suburb's parks & rec department because it a) fit into our schedule, and b) was cheap. Tory's been asking to start ballet for months, but I wasn't sure she'd be able to handle the parent / child separation part. (Most ballet classes require children to be 3 years of age and for parents to wait outside the classroom.) Given Tory's strong history of separation anxiety, I wasn't about to spend millions of dollars on outfits and classes to have her attached to my leg the entire time. So, a $43 class (the non-resident rate - what a bargain!) was the prefect trial. This class is 45-minutes long and a mixture of ballet and tap.

My big girl has come a long way in a few year's time. She loves ballet class! Tory runs into the classroom on Thursday nights and dances her little heart out without a second glance backwards in my direction.

My mom gifted Tory the tiniest, most adorable ballet slippers and I know I'll keep them forever. She seems so sweet and innocent when she wears them, and it just melts my heart.

You know who else loves dance class? Little brother. Aden is clamoring to be in ballet with Tory because everything she does, he wants to do, too! I spend 45 (extremely long) minutes entertaining Aden in the hallway while Tory's in class. Most of the time, he stands at the door yelling, "Tor-eee! Tor-eee!" until I lift him up to peek through the tiny window to see her. At the end of each session, parents are invited into the classroom for a quick performance of dances learned. It's super informal, so I finally let Aden down one evening to dance alongside Tory. Dream realized for this little boy, he loved it!

Aden won't be left out for long; I signed both Tory and Aden up for gymnastics classes starting in September. I hope it's the smashing success this little ballet class has been this summer.

28/52: A Weekly Photo Series

The kids and I had one of those picture-perfect summer nights last week when we met up with my friend Sarah and her little ones at the community splash pad in Eden Prairie.

I was a bit of a splash pad skeptic before this, after Tory and I visited one two years ago. There were so many big kids at that park back then and Tory was petrified of the commotion. Differently, this splash pad was nearly empty on Tuesday evening around 4:00pm. The park was nice and clean, and there was also a play ground and beach next to it. Such a neat place!

It took Tory and Aden a few minutes to warm up to the idea of running through the sprinklers at first, but once they did, they had so much fun. Every time a stream of water hit Aden unexpectedly, he'd pucker up his face with a look of distaste and then laugh with delight instead.

Sarah and I packed picnic dinners for each of our kids, and together they alternated between splashing in the water, climbing on the playground equipment and taking a break in the shade to eat their meals. My heart was filled with so much happiness that evening. Warm sunshine; good friends; lots of laughter -- now, this is summer.

Later, Sarah and I walked the kids down to Round Lake beach, about 100 feet away from the splash pad. It was the perfect area for kids with lots of flat sand and a swimming area roped off for safety. There was even a lifeguard on duty.

Tory has been so timid about swimming in the lake at our cabin this summer, but for some reason felt completely comfortable being in the water with her friends. The power of peer pressure! This time, it was a good thing.

This splash pad / beach is about 30 minutes away from our house, so I knew we'd have to scoot off eventually for bedtime. I pried my kids away from the water around 6:15pm, and Tory cried the entire (and I mean entire) drive home because she was so upset about leaving. Life's hard sometimes, kid. I was sad to see the evening end, too. We'll definitely be back to Round Lake Splash Pad again.

27/52: A Weekly Photo Series

Summer nights at the cabin are my favorite. 

It's light outside until late into the evening. Even truck rides around the countryside, when it really should be bedtime, seem like a good idea. 

Skipping rocks on the lake with Dad ...

Hunting for bugs and carrying weeds around like long-lost treasures.

Hands and clothes covered in dirt. Skin, sticky, with sweat and sunscreen.

Summertime and the lake go together like peanut butter and jelly.

There's no place else I'd rather be. 

26/52: A Weekly Photo Series

One of my favorite summer traditions at the lake cabin is attending the annual Musky Festival in nearby Hayward, Wisconsin. Andi and I stopped here randomly two years ago during our #RVthereyet tour of Western Wisconsin and fell in love with this cute little town.

We made a point to return to Hayward again for the Musky Festival last year, and had a fabulous time. Tory loved all the kid's games and vendor's tables, and we captured my very favorite picture to date of Tory and Aden at Hayward's West's Dairy:

The weather at the cabin was beautiful last weekend, but Andi and I couldn't let a Musky Fest pass by without attending. "It's tradition; we have to go," Andi said, and I couldn't agree more. (There's a reason I love that man so much -- he just gets me.)

So last Sunday, Andi and I packed up the kids and headed North to Hayward hoping to make it in time to catch the parade. We rolled into town just in time, and grabbed a prime spot on a street curb. I'm a huge fan of small town parades (in fact, few things make me happier), but Tory and Aden didn't share the love. Both kids cried hysterically as the firetrucks rolled by with their roaring sirens, and the bands marched past with their loud horns and drums. We ended up watching the parade from inside a nearby furniture and home decor store before Andi and I decided to move on all together. Note to self: next year, bring noise-cancelling headphones for our sensitive little kiddos to wear.

After the parade, Andi and I walked the kids down the street to West's Dairy. This ice cream shop is a total trip back in time; I love it so much. Andi snapped a few photos of the kids in the same chair as last year in an effort to recreate my favorite photo, and then we ordered a (dairy-free) smoothie and ice cream cone to eat outside on the benches.

Amazing how much they've grown in a year, right?

Another Musky Festival in the books. Can't wait until next year!