Playing House

Space Ranger

Noah seriously needs this Buzz Lightyear toy. He's been doing loads of chores to try to save up for it. Including cleaning up his toys, collecting payment, then messing up the play room so he can clean up his toys for cash from the other parent. Sneaky.

This is the first time he was asked to make his own bed.  The agreed-upon fee was $0.50.  Here is the made bed:

Noah felt that the sheet should go on top of the blanket sometimes. I doubled his wages for thinking outside the box.

Chicks Dig Scars

Washing out Noah's road rash after a bike wipe out.

Noah: Thank you for being a doctor and taking care of me, Mommy.
Me: I'm not a doctor, honey.  I'm a PA.
Noah:  Thank you for being a PA, Dr. Mom.

Fair enough.  I let that one go.  Save the definition of a midlevel provider for another day.

Say You Miss Me

There are no kids here today to dress up stuffed animals as conductors for trains elaborately constructed out of tables and boxes covered with sheets and blankets.

I miss them already.

Very Girl

Too hot for clothes, but the pearls stay. Greta found my jewelry drawer and it is her current obsession.  I'm pretty sure she's my daughter. Definitely her own person. A rather fancy one.

Sugar Magnolia

Greta, during her bedtime prayers: "God Bless those boys [at the parade] who gave me candy.  That was very nice."

I Know You Rider: Finale

Today was the day.  Know that feeling when you're so excited for someone that you could explode?  Yeah.

Twist Around

Getting ready for the River Falls Days parade tonight, where the theme is "Kinnistock" (like Woodstock - get it?).  French braided pigtails complement turquoise beaded fringe dresses perfectly (Fine.  It's her Pocahontas costume).

Mom, we salute you.

Fixing a Hole

Why is our nearest mini golf nearly an hour away?  Still, very worth it. Not really very adventurous, as the name Adventure Gardens implies, but the kids got to choose their own golf balls and play by no rules whatsoever.  A great success.

I'm Only Sleeping

The kid v cat series.

Wilson naps in our room during the day.

So does Greta.

She doesn't NOT love him. She loves him so much, she wants to end nap time to play.

Not pictured: Cat does not love playtime with toddler.

From the archives. Noah v another cat, July 2007.

Bea 2

Noah's Kitty was found, but Greta's Beatrice remains "invisible". She could be out there somewhere - I am now a believer.

Natalee gave us many dollars in Build-a-Bear gift cards months and months ago. We forgot about them, actually. Until a day last week when it was too scorching to play outside (I've already been responsible for a kid's first sunburn this summer) and going to the Mall of America seemed like a good idea. Greta chose this bunny and named her Beatrice, of course.

Return to Me

The miraculous return of long lost Kitty. Summer's first backyard overnight camp out tonight. Kitty revealed himself inside the tent, where he'd been hiding out for months. Words cannot describe Noah's joy.