Tour Club was at Buddy Squirrel today – yum!
Month: February 2012
No rest for the weary! We were all unpacked with laundry done and put up by the time Tour Club met at Buddy Squirrel for a tour. The chocolate was great! The discount was even better! Making 20 people (more than half between the ages of 3-6) wait for 35 minutes before starting was really bad.
Today Alex discovered something even better about hotels – cartoons in bed.
Alex and I were just killing time in the hotel room until Wade came to get us for the airport. I even introduced Alex to watching TV in bed. (This isn’t even an option at our house. Our only TV is in the living room.)
We made it to the airport with time for chips and cheese at Qdoba (one of our favorite treats). Alex had not taken an early nap at the hotel as planned, but knocked out the minute we took off and slept for over 2 hours. (The older couple behind us was very impressed with our strategic planning of his nap.)
Cousins (Alex, Katrina, and Tyler)
The last time they were together was 2.5 years ago (see here).
We spent today visiting with friends and family. I can’t believe it’s been almost 8 years since I lived in DC. It’s crazy how many old friends have moved away (and then moved back)! We started the day with brunch with our friends. We then went back to Rob and Sarah’s for a little visiting. (Excuse Alex’s lack of pants. He spilt orange juice on them and refused to wear them until they were dry.)
Getting a little help from Heather with his “I Spy Game”.
I think our goal today was to see just how much we could fit in. We started the day with a trip to the pool (Alex was really, really excited to go swimming on this vacation.)
Then we ventured out on the Metro to the Air & Space Museum. (Alex is getting a rocket ship bed soon and we are always reinforcing a love of rockets and space ships.)
On the way back to the hotel Alex saw a Merry-Go-Round and of course he got a ride.
While Alex napped, I attended a baby shower for Sarah.
Alex has been asking to go swimming for weeks. A hotel with a pool was a dream come true!
Now this is the way to fly with a 3 year old!
Really Milwaukee? Snow on the day we are leaving town? Definitely not fair! I’m sure it will have melted by the time we return.
Our trip to DC went really smoothly. Alex is always fascinated with the airport and loves looking out the windows before we depart.
Alex napped on the first plane (see here) and found some “surprises” in his backpack.
Wade surprised Alex with movies on the iPad for the second flight. He even picked out two of his favorites – Finding Nemo and Toy Story 2.
By far the most exciting part of the flight was Wade’s teeth falling out! Poor Wade. I know he can’t wait till all the work is done and the new bridge is permanently set. Thank goodness for 24 hour dentist offices!
Sometime between Saturday (at Asher’s Birthday Party) and today Alex learned how to make a silly face.
He almost looks like a real soccer player.
Last week I received this gift basket in the mail. I couldn’t wait to read the card and see who had sent it. It turns out my company sent it as a Happy 5 Year Anniversary gift. How cool! (And surprising. I hadn’t realized it had been 5 years.)
Airplane!
Alex colored his entire shape book pink. That’s my boy!
I started working on my bench last June (see here) and got it stripped and sanded. Then I handed it over to Wade for finishing. I knew it was low on the list and this weekend it is finally finished and back upstairs. It looks amazing! (My only regret is not having a better “before” picture.)
Alex was in our bed playing while Wade and I were getting ready for church. I finally told him he had to get out so I could make the bed. I gave him the option of getting in his bed and he immediately ran to his crib and wanted a book. It took a lot of convincing to get him out 20 minutes later to get dressed for church.
Alex was so excited for Asher’s Birthday Party at Pump It Up. He even let Wade put him down for a nap at 11:15 so he’s get his two hours in before party time!
Ready. Set. Go!
Zoo class today – Lions Roar!
Alex was introduced to Socker Boppers by his cousins on Christmas Eve. That night my sister told me she was going to give Alex two pairs (one for a friend) on his birthday. True to word, he got it on his birthday. Today we brought them outside and Abram and Sam came to play.
Another awesome birthday present!
Alex has always been a pretty good eater. Over the last few weeks I have learned he is an amazing eater if we read books during lunch. He’s obviously paying more attention to the book than what he is putting in his mouth.
Soccer has been an interesting adventure. I’m not sure Alex is quite old enough and would definitely do better with a 30 minute session instead of an hour, but he still has fun. From this picture he even looks like a “real” soccer player.
The reality is a little more like this – my son running around with a cone on his head and Abby in a princess dress.
In case that wasn’t enough, I have more pictures!
Alex couldn’t wait to get home from MDO and check out his Valentines (and the candy inside).
Wade had some serious mouth trauma at an early age (a baseball bat in elementary school gym class) and as a result has some fake teeth. To be more precise, his front four teeth are fake. He had his first “permanent” bridge put in when he was 16. They don’t last forever and in the last year he was starting to notice some problems. He has been consulting with numerous dentists and had his first surgery (of many) last week – gum and bone graph. It took two full days for the numbness to wear off. Then he started feeling the discomfort. Other than having a lot of milkshakes (a real hardness for Wade) he’s done really well. He goes back next week for a follow-up (and hopefully everything “took”). Then it’s waiting a little while till the next surgery. Poor Wade.
Aunt Lissy, we love the marble run!
Dressed up in a bow-tie for his “birthday” visit to Holt.
Granny and Pop were around all day today and Alex didn’t leave the house once. He loved bouncing from toy to toy and book to book. I ran a few errands while Alex and Pop took a nap.
Then Wade and I had a date night while Granny and Pop stayed with Alex. We have been to Roots previously, but tonight we tried Roots Cellar.
Alex loves having his grandparents in town. He always has a “yes” response to “come play with me”.
Alex is still in a toy haze and loves having his grandparents around. He and Gam started the morning off by playing “doctor”. Alex really enjoyed being the patient before getting dressed for church.
Happy 3rd birthday Alex!
(Get ready for a long post – my boy turned 3 today!) Harper family tradition starts a birthday morning off with “plate presents” for all siblings (which normally means you get it at breakfast). Alex happened to see his the night before in Gam’s room and woke up asking for his “police station”. If you look closely you can still see the marks on his face from the blankets and pillows.
We finally got around to birthday donuts for Alex and birthday muffins for Mom and I. Alex also realized his cake was also on the table and wanted to check it out – he approved. Alex has quite a pile of presents so we let him open one. He loved the Playmobil conveyor from B and Lori!
Granny and Pop arrived with one quick present before the party – a cape custom made by Granny! One side has an “A” and the other has a rocket ship. Alex loved it (and Mom did too)!
Then we were out the door for the big party. We invited 10 little boys (and one little girl) to Yo Mama for a party. It was crazy, hectic, and a little wild, but the kids had a great time. The party included a tour of the back, a craft (decorating aprons), presents (Alex in the big chair and the gift-giver in the little one), and yogurt and cake!
We returned home and everyone had a nap (thank goodness). Then Alex had to get busy opening his presents. He was very methodical about stacking them up as he unwrapped them. He was waiting till the end to play with them. Aunt Emmy called on the computer and Alex loved showing her his favorite card (thanks Sam!). Then it was time for dinner and the rocket ship cake!
My Mom loves snow. I call her the minute I see a few flurries and she is always jealous. She had been hoping for a big snow while she was in town and I was pretty sure she wasn’t even going to see snow on the ground. To my surprise it began to snow this morning and we even had enough to play in!
After a nap, we snuggled up with popcorn and a movie to wait for Granny and Pop’s arrival. We also started the birthday celebration a little early with Wade’s gift to Alex (impressive wrapping job, right?)
Once Alex was in bed, Mom and I began work on his rocketship cake (idea from Parenting – see here). I’m pretty pleased with the results. Here’s hoping Alex is too!
Unexpected snow.
(I borrowed the idea for the picture from a friend – see here)
Alex has always loved books and we read at naptime and bedtime and often in between. Today we picked Gam up from the train station. The minute she got in the car, Alex asked, “Did you bring me a book?” (I love that he didn’t ask for a toy or a present. The funny thing here is she did randomly have a book for him in her bag.) She read the book on the way home. The minute we got home he took her upstairs. I thought they were playing, but they were actually reading. After dinner he asked her to read some more. She was there for three hours before bedtime and he never once picked up a toy. It was books, books, books. I love that!
Alex is in heaven. Gam arrived (with new books) and will read as long as he asks.
Alex and Abby watching the “real” soccer players.
Today was our first time at the Uihlein Soccer Park. I loved that it is an actual soccer complex and not a dark gym. Alex seems to enjoy it, but gets a little distracted before the hour is over. I think if you asked his favorite part is the water break! (Mom, the picture of Alex laying on the field (just for fun, he didn’t fall) is for you. When you remind me of my childhood attempt at soccer you say I turned cartwheels and Melissa looked for four leaf clovers.)
Alex is fascinated with his handprint and I find it everywhere – this is the refrigerator door.
Blogs make it so easy to stalk people. I will occasionally click on a link from someone else’s blog or some random place and then become fascinated with a new blog. The one I stumbled onto today? Hanna Mac. The reason I like it? She has few words and awesome pictures.
This link takes you to one of my favorite pictures – click here. Mine will never look as good, but you can bet I will try to recreate this one the next time we have a newborn in the house.
Today’s story time at Yo Mama was insane! We had always been told we had to sign up in advance and the limit was 10 kids (at this age group). Today there were at least 20 kids and it was complete chaos. Evidently Yo Mama had advertised with Milwaukee Moms but neglected to include the registration information. We were told next time would be back to normal. Abby and Alex still had a great time. (Note Abby’s chosen ensemble. I love it!)
Craft time at Yo Mama.
We had plans to attend our church’s Super Bowl party. I debated about what to cook and decided to try some new dessert recipes – a cookie and a brownie.
I love brownies, but rarely make them. Wade won’t eat them (too much chocolate) and I normally try to make something we both like. That being said, I have never made brownies from scratch that I liked. The boxed mixes are always yummy, but when I make them from scratch I always think they aren’t sweet enough. I tried Cooking Light’s Classic-Fudge Walnut Brownies. They looked great, but still weren’t as good as boxed ones.
The cookie was also from Cooking Light, the Maple-Walnut Spice Cookie. These were fairly easy to make and the cookies came out store-bought perfect (below is a picture before icing). They tasted pretty good, but I think I’ll still stick with a chocolate chip cookie.