Dress Up

Greta got a trunk full of dress up clothes for Christmas. Name your princess. This one is her favorite. Not a princess, or a dress. Nice, Greta.

I still haven't been able to get her to try to Pocahontas dress on. She's quite modest.

(except right now - she is wearing underwear and the green polka dotted bloomers from her Christmas dress - nothing else)



Noah prefers to dress up as Captain Strangulation Hazard. This photo shows a personal best SIX things hanging from his neck.

1. Super Noah cape.
2. Toilet paper binoculars made at school.
3. Yellow binoculars picked up at the trash table at the DNR.
4. Green binoculars - also used as a guitar.
5. Toy car attached to some piece of string that I obviously missed hiding from him.
6. Old Minolta.

We Got Spirit

For anyone who couldn't make it to the Trinity Childcare Center Christmas Program tonight, I had the kids recreate the magic at bathtime.

A video that only a grandparent could watch straight through. Possibly a great grandparent.

Small Spooks

One of the most fun parts of trick or treating: listening to the grown-ups at the door try to guess what our kids were supposed to be dressed as. Lion? Kitty? Bear?

Ava: Monkey

Thank goodness for backup costumes. If Noah's looks familiar, it is. He has been set to dress up as a ghost for six months. Until the ghost costume became a little too claustrophobic. Monkey it is. Just like last year.

Noah: Monkey II. Isabella: Puppy. Greta: Max, King of Where the Wild Things Are.

The only picture of Max wearing his Wild Thing crown. Should have sewn it on.


Snow White and Rose Red sharing their candy haul.

The Falls

Today!

Went to the falls. No stroller. No backpack. Just me and two walking kids. There was some whining on the return hike, but we made it.

I'm not heartless for taking this picture. I did try to comfort him first, I swear.

Ladybug.

Runners.

Falls.

Nice face.

Nice face.

Nice faces.

OK, that's all this post is about.

I give up on denying her pink. She likes it.

At the Park Again

Approaching real time. So exciting!

Noah with stick (not pictured).

Greta on swinging bridge.

Greta in black and white.

This Year's Gourd Art

Duluth in October

Did I mention that I'm a runner now? I am. Endorphins + alone time may keep me out of the loony bin this winter. But I'm not making any promises. We went to Duluth for a fun run. For me, then emphasis was on fun. Until early in the race when I started to pass people. Then it became more about kicking ass. I think I kind of did.


This face. I love it.


If you guess that the day ended shortly after this photo was taken with one cold, wet toddler, you are right.


This is Greta's Goodnight Gorilla face. Check out the book, if you don't know it. This is the moment after the zookeeper turns off the lights and ten voices wish the zookeeper's wife goodnight. Naughty gorilla.


When prompted to try to see what's inside the camera lens.


Two puffy coats.


Number 534. On the train to the starting line.

Raw Eggs Are OK

I will not be able to get enough of these photos until my kids are fat with cookies and banana bread.

Oh No You Don't

And then, in October, it snowed. I disliked this very, very much. Fortunately, the month ultimately redeemed itself.

They'll Never Invite Us Again

The Beckers hosted the first Midwestern UN Family Reunion in October. We didn't take enough pictures. Greta whined the ENTIRE day, which was un-fun. And I woke up the baby by calling very late at night (like, nine pm, I think). We'll try to be on better behavior next time.


Cy shows off his new birthday outfit.

Out of focus, but I love how fearless Noah is with his pillow in hand. Oh my, when will the pillow ever disintegrate into nothingness?

Baby Ray is a good sport about the cold.

The Next Day

The day after Greta's birthday party, we hit the apple orchard. Everyone got in on the action.

Noah vs haystack.




He's probably responsible for this. Or maybe she noticed me holding Ava.


Me holding Ava. She's into bouncing. Like, really into it.


One of my favorite pictures ever.


Natalee shows her where the good ones are. Or are you Aunt Lindsey? I forget.


Another pair of tired shoulders. Forty pounds is a lot.


I also love this photo. Thanks, Tricia.


I would really love this one (and I do), but it falls short of perfection because her mouth is jammed full of apple.


Soon, this apple will be yours.


We don't fear donkey spit.

Greta Turns Two

And then, in October, Greta turned two.

I still have grand plans for her very special birthday blog post. Just wait.

Blowing out the candles.


I love this. Trying to maneuver her two babies around. Girl, I can relate.


Balloon war.


Ava.


G.


Super kid.

Billions and Billions

Looks like fun, right? It is. There are two of them, thank God, and they're called bubble gums. Not guns. I didn't start that, but I'm not correcting them either. I'd much rather have gum in my house.

A Post About ME

A bit later in September, I turned 32. It was a good time. I think I still look OK, for 32...? I did forget to charge the camera battery, though, so these are all from Mom and Dad's camera. It's probably all downhill from here.