FTPDF- Part II

As I promised yesterday, here is the rest of my favorite things phone dump!

Favorite Thing #2: Visits with Christine, Gi-Gi, and Auntie Cat

Favorite Thing #3: Swimming and dinner by the pool with Boom and Bops!

Favorite Thing #4: Time for a hair trim for the 4-year-old.



Favorite Thing #5: Out and about on Thursday

Favorite Thing #6: Stroller riders

Favorite Thing #7: The Uh-Oh Game


Uh Oh #1 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Uh Oh #2 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Favorite Thing #8: With Callie going to preschool a couple times a week,
I get one-on-one time with this little squishy face.

Favorite Thing #9: Our goddaughter Christine came over to play with the girls.

Favorite Thing #10: Callie got some one-on-one Auntie Mari time.

Favorite Thing #11: Another beautiful day for a 7.25 mile run.
(Though the actual run itself was terrible...
it was a good test of mental toughness.
I failed.)

I'll post more about our Friday evening away during the wrap-up tomorrow.  It was lovely, and the girls had a great time at G-ma and G-pa's too.  Win-Win.

Hope everyone continues to enjoy their weekend!  Now I'm off to do homework...

FTPDF- Part I

You guys.  I am not going to have time to do my usual favorite things post tonight because...

WE HAVE ADULT PLANS.

For Christmas, we got a gift card to a hotel downtown, along with a bunch of other gift cards to restaurants and bars in the area.  (THANK YOU UNCLE DAN!!!!!) So Chris and I have the whole night out, just the two of us, while the girls are having a sleep over at G-ma and G-pa's house. (THANK YOU G-MA AND G-PA!!!!!)

I am wearing eye make-up.  And WHITE pants.  It is crazy.

So, for the like 6 people who actually check this on Friday because it is a usual Friday post, I'll provide you with one of my favorite things, along with the promise that the rest will come tomorrow.

Favorite Thing #1: Playtime in the basement is all fun and games...
until you get yourself stuck in an Ikea shelf drawer.

P.S. I officially hit the 10 pounds lost mark today (since May 4th), and I ran 7.25 miles today (though it felt terrible and I wouldn't call what I was doing towards the end running) so I will be tossing my calorie counter out the window and living it up tonight- gluten-free style.

TBT

Happy Thursday!

First, I have another video throwback!  Since it is summer, we're all about the POOL.  Here are the videos of the babies experiencing the water for the first time.  (Neither videos are very exciting however, neither baby seemed very impressed).

Callie- May 2010 (5 months old)


Swimming! from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Maya- June 2014 (10 months old)


IMG 3506 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

And to round out the swimming theme, here are the babies in the kiddie pool for the first time (Callie- 7 months, Maya- 10 months).

Weekend Wrap-Up

HAPPY SUMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!! 

Man, it is a lovely feeling knowing that I don't have to set my alarm for a long time.  I just get to rely on my (very reliable) human alarm clocks.  It's a good thing they are cute, because sometimes they are awake as early as my actual alarm clock.  Luckily we have taught the older one that she can't come downstairs until the first number on her clock is 7, and the younger one is content to babble to herself for awhile if it is too early.  No matter what or how early I have to wake up, I'm happy it is summer.

We had a fun weekend!  Here are some highlights:

Saturday
*The girls and I had brunch with Laura and Craig (while Chris cleaned...I got the better end of that deal!).  Maya ate everything, as usual, including brussel sprouts.

*Now that Maya is moving around more, Callie better watch out!  There was an attack of the baby that was pretty hilarious.

"Victory is MINE!" -Maya

*Our high school friend, Brent, his wife, Karen, and their two daughters Kaylee and Nora came over on Saturday evening.  They are in town from Colorado, and it was so fun to see the girls play together.  Kaylee and Callie are just a few months apart, and Nora is just about a year older than Maya.

Callie and Kaylee playing in our big inflatable wheel.

Callie and Kaylee quizzing each other on colors and shapes at dinner.

The attempts to get four girls 4 and under to smile.
I especially enjoy Callie in Maya on the 3rd picture.

And just for fun (and because Chris doesn't read this blog much), these two 15-year-old studs are the future daddies of the four lovely girls above.  (Thanks to G-ma's scrapbook, I was able to find a picture of them from a sophomore year school dance picture.  I obviously cropped myself and the other girl out of the picture, because...well...yikes).

Hahahahahahahaha.

Sunday

We spent part of the morning at the Edina Art Fair kids tent and had a lovely lunch at D'Amico and Sons.

Smoothie, art project, inflatable slide, magician...

One eats a pre-packed peanut butter sandwich on g-free bread.
One eats ANYTHING I put in front of her.

*The girls got to hang out at home for awhile and at G-ma and G-pa's house for awhile today too.

As for me and my running- my goal was 15 and I did 12.5.  Why, you ask?  Because my back totally spazzed out at me today and I didn't get my 3-miler in during my Mom's on the Run group.  Bah.  I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I'm guessing it is related to the not-so-smart choice of wearing flip flops, carrying around a 19 pounder in the Baby Bjorn and walking all around the Edina Art Fair.  Dumb dumb dumb.  My goal this week is 16.  I'll make it.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!  I must now go do homework... 

FTPDF

Well folks, I'm officially on summer vacation!

I have a couple of meetings here and there (and a 3 day trip to Phoenix for a conference in a couple weeks) but other than that...it is SUMMERTIME.

As I mentioned last week, Maya has mastered the art of standing.  She doesn't even really want to hold on to things anymore, though she definitely falls over if she doesn't.  And she usually stands on her toes with her chubby little baby feet.

Favorite Thing #1: That window is in her room- I have a feeling we may
use it to see how fast she grows...

I'd also say she is crawling.  Not very happily or willingly all the time, but she is figuring out the mechanics of actually doing it.  It is easier for her to go backwards than forwards (which I assume is pretty typical), but with the right motivation (jingly keys) she will move forward.

Favorite Thing #2: Working hard

I took two videos yesterday.  They are pretty cute, if you are in the mood to watch a 10-month-old baby sort of move around and do a couple of other tricks.


IMG 3319 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.


IMG 3320 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Sorry for the obnoxious Strawberry Shortcake soundtrack in the background.  Callie was...how can I put this delicately...spending some time on the potty.

Speaking of Callie, she started her preschool summer school program this week and it went well.  She'll be going a couple of days a week through many of the summer weeks.  People (including my husband) may find it weird that she is going so often, seeing as I'll be home most of the time, but I think it will be great.  For her, and for me.  She'll get to keep seeing her friends, do art projects, play on their playground, etc.  I'll get to have one-on-one baby time and homework time when the baby naps (in case you missed it, I'm going back to school to get another teaching license). 

Favorite Thing #3: This sweet girl

Anyway, we'll still have plenty of time to have fun together.

Favorite Thing #4: This sweet girl

On to the other favorite things...

Favorite Thing #5: It is always fun hanging out with Boom!

Favorite Thing #6: At the lake with G-ma and Auntie Cat!

Favorite Thing #7: I got done with work early (unexpectedly) so I had time
to do my long run in my favorite running spot.

 

Favorite Thing #8: A walk with Kona



Favorite Thing #9: Sisters

Favorite Thing #10: The PA Wave on the last day of school.

Favorite Thing #11: Summer food!  Corn and homemade popsicles.
Delicious.

Have a great weekend!

TBT

I've got TBT VIDEO today!

Both girls love(d) the walker at my parents' place.  They cruise around, snack and play with toys.  The condo is a perfect place to zoom!

Here is Callie in the walker (November 2010):


Zoom Zoom from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Here is Maya in the walker (June 2014):
IMG 3239 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Happy Birthday Bops! Edition

First up, it is Bops' birthday today!  

We love you Bops!  We love you!

As for the weekend- it was a great one, with two main highlights.

The first one was the 4th annual 5K fundraiser for my school.  A lot of the fam showed up to either participate in the 5K or sponsor students to participate, which was awesome.  Callie did a great job cheering (and Maya and Chris stayed home for baby nap time).  I actually ran the route twice so I could get in my 6+ mile long run for the week.  It was a BEAUTIFUL morning for a run, and the park we were at was the perfect setting for it.

After the race there was a carnival, so Callie and I stayed around to play games.  We even had (just a couple of bites of) cotton candy!

It was a super fun morning.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing at home, and also a quick trip to G-ma and G-pa's house.  My highlight was when Callie made me a card, and spelled MOM on it all by herself.

Sunday was the 2nd highlight- the big birthday day.  We headed over to the condo for lunch and birthday celebrations.

Callie has been having a tough time with lots of people being around, so she
spent the first part of the party under my parents' bed.  But soon warmed up.

Other than that, we just spent more time at home.  I had my Mom's on the Run group tonight and it was a VERY muddy trail run (we have gotten SO much rain the past 24 hours).  I pulled out my neon pink running pants for the occasion.

My brand new shoes are now full of mud.
Maya has learned to drink water from a sippy cup.  Sort of.  She also
likes to throw it on the floor.

My running goal this week was 15 miles and I did 17!  I'm proud of the fact that on Thursday I wasn't feeling that great, but pushed myself to do 2.75 on the treadmill anyway.  I'm SO thankful that we got the treadmill earlier this year.  It has been so helpful when I need to do my mid-week runs after bedtime when it is dark.  My goal for this week is 15 miles again.

I guess the other sort of big news is that I decided to go back to school to get another teaching license- in reading.  I'll be doing an online program that will take 2 years (one class per session, three sessions a year).  I absolutely LOVE teaching kids how to read, and want to learn more about it.  The class officially starts tomorrow.  We'll see how I'm able to balance parenting 2 children, being a wife,  training for a half marathon, taking a class, keeping our house clean, and having some sort of a life outside of all that.  Ha.

I have one more full week, and then school's out for the summer.  I can't wait.