Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

I've decided to combine a couple regular post ideas from a few different blogs I read to create a Friday post that allows me to share pics from my phone from during this week as well as focus on positive things that have happened this week.

This week required some special thought because it was another doozy.

So here goes...the first ever Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday.  I didn't take too many pictures this week, but the few that I got are good ones.

Favorite Thing #1: The freedom to be totally goofy with a toddler around

Favorite Thing #2: The fact that this is as good of a picture as I can get of two toddlers and a baby

Favorite Thing #3: The sweet nature of this toddler

Favorite Thing #4: The beautiful fall weather and the sunshine on a Friday afternoon walk

NO

PHOTO

AVAILABLE

Favorite Thing #5: Listening to our chatterbox toddler who is currently playing with her toys in only her undies

QOTD: The Orange Things

While walking hand in hand through Target.  We have an agreement that if she doesn't ride in a cart, she has to hold my hand or walk really close to me.

Callie: I can walk next to you, like an adult.
Me: Oh really?  Are you an adult?
Callie: When I be an adult I can eat orange things.
Me: Orange things?
Callie: Yeah.  Like you and Daddy!
Me: Like carrots?  Do Daddy and I eat carrots?
Callie: No.  Like the orange things!

I have NO idea what she is talking about, but apparently adults eat orange things.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Aaaaaaahhhhhh, toddlerhood.  Sometimes SO amazing.  Sometimes SO frustrating.  This weekend was a little of both.

Friday
Chris had Bloomington Reserve duty so Cal and I went to grab a sandwich at our favorite sandwich shop, where I took my new favorite picture.

Saturday
We had the BEST morning at the apple orchard!!!!  We headed to the condo and then carpooled out to Pine Tree Apple Orchard with Boom, Bops, Mari, Josh, Yoda and Craig.  Who is Craig, you ask?  He is Yoda's boyfriend who we got to meet for the first time. :)

We all had a great time eating apple treats, shopping for apple goodies, and going on a tractor ride into the orchard.

YUMMY Apple Muffin!

Taste testing apples with Bops

On the tractor ride to see the orchard

Cuddling to keep warm

Look at those nice apples!

Saturday evening we headed over to Jenna, Andy, Charlie and Mabel's for dinner.

Playing with Charlie's trucks

We always have to cuddle "Baby Nabel!"

And, at Charlie's house, in Charlie's potty, THE MOST EXCITING THING HAPPENED.

Background information: You know how we had all those potty training struggles?  We gave up on the poop ones, so for the past 2 months, when she had to poop, she asked for a pull-up and we obliged. No poop in the potty had happened since the third day of potty training.

BUT SHE POOPED IN CHARLIE'S POTTY!!!!  AND SHE GOT A GUMMY WORM!!!!  AND WAS SO EXCITED SHE COULDN'T STAND STILL FOR A PICTURE OR STOP TALKING ABOUT IT THE REST OF THE NIGHT!

I POOPED IN THE POTTY, DADDY!!!!

Yep, I just used a lot of excited capital letters to talk about poop.  Sorry about that.

Sunday
Well, the coughing got worse.  We got all ready for Sunday school and then kind of realized that it wasn't a good idea.  So Chris went since we were on the schedule to teach, and Cal and I stayed home.  We had a really nice morning despite her misery and played a lot up in her room.

Blanket Monster!

All dressed up and nowhere to go.
With kitty cat slippers on.

Playing the fishing game in which she fishes and I tie up random toys/objects for her to reel in.

It was all fine and dandy and lilypads and roses until nap time.  And the screaming nap battle that commenced was one we hadn't seen in months.

And when she woke up (after only sleeping an hour after an hour long nap battle), she was not Callie, she was her alter ego, Crabbie.

HOLY COW.  It may have been the longest afternoon of my life.

Okay, I may be being a little dramatic but it was not fun in the slightest.  And that is all I will say about that.

Tonight we watched the Lynx game and she was into it for the first 10 minutes or so.

Go Lynx Go!

The bedtime battle wasn't too fun, either, but at least it was shorter.  So far. Knock on wood.  Send healthy thoughts and vibes our way... we're all getting a little tired of her not feeling well.

Anyway...have a great week! 

Callie Faces

Happy Weekend!!!!  Is it just me, or did this week seem like it was approximately 548 days long?

I'm thankful to have a couple of days to rest and recharge.  Sleep has been harder to come by this week due to a certain toddler's persistent night coughing, so we all need some relaxation.

Though, truth be told, a toddler's version of rest, recharging and relaxation is the exact opposite of the adult's version.

But hopefully we'll come to a happy medium and the difference in energy levels between the getting-close-to-three-year-old and the 30-and-a-half-year-olds is less pronounced than it is during the week.

I went through my "September 2012" picture folder today and noticed a trend.

The number of pictures that I take (of the previously mentioned toddler), before getting a picture that I can actually use, is VERY high.

There are many times that she makes goofy faces or refuses to smile...totally on purpose.

Me: Say Cheese!
Callie: (any of the above faces)

But my persistence pays off occasionally and, thanks to the quick shot of the iPhone, I sometimes get shots that are perfect.  They may not have the best lighting and are not the most artistic, but they capture the sweet innocence and beauty that sums up my daughter.

I love you, Punkin Pie.

#LynxNation

Cal and I went to Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tonight with Auntie Yoda, Auntie Mari, Boom and Bops.

The two of us stayed for the first half (school night bed time for a recovering-from-a-cold-toddler!) and watched the Lynx mop the floor with the LA Sparks.

I absolutely love taking Callie to the games and showing her an amazing group of women who exemplify sportsmanship, teamwork and extreme dedication.

I'm also proud that Callie can name most of the players on the team. She can also identify her favorite, Maya Moore, as she proved to G-pa last week when she saw her picture in the paper and said her name right away.

GO LYNX!!!

We tweeted this pic with the tag #LynxNation in hopes to win an autographed ball. How can we not win, right?

We. Still. Love. Prowl.

The Lynx won by 17 points and will head to LA for the 2nd game of the series on Sunday.

We are well on our way on the Road to Repeat.

Adios Fall

It sounds like our time to spend outside in this gorgeous fall weather is pretty much done after today.

So we have been trying to take advantage of it as much as we can.

But then, since our toddler is still battling a ridiculous cold, the only thing any of us could handle last night was a movie night.

So we were snuggly in our robe/jammies and mentally preparing ourselves for a nice Minnesota chill.  It will be here before we know it.  Like, tomorrow.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The ANOTHER STUPID COLD Edition

Sooooo...Callie woke up on Saturday morning with her THIRD cold in the past month.  Once again, her nose is a snot factory and boogie wipes are littered all over our house.  At some point this weekend we had the following conversation:

Callie MAJORLY picking her nose
Me: Callie, get your finger out of your nose.
Callie: But there is dirty stuff up there!
Me: Yeah, that dirty stuff is called snot.
Callie: Well I need to get that snot out.
Me: That is why you have to blow your nose.
Callie: No I want to use my finger.
Me: **Sigh**

At this point, we can't fight it.  She's just going to be that kid that has her finger stuck up her nose for the next 5 days.  Awesome. 

But we had a nice weekend regardless.

Friday
Date night!  Chris and I dropped Callie off at G-ma and G-pa's for the night and had a fun evening going out to dinner and to the first Lynx playoff game. 

And Callie had fun with G-ma, G-pa and Auntie Cat!

Saturday
We stayed downtown and had the luxury of sleeping in (Chris) and spending two hours of uninterrupted time playing and reading on the iPad (Kati).

Then we met G-pa and Callie at a flower store that was doing a fall festival.  She got to paint her own pumpkin and then got one painted on her hand.

Later that afternoon we headed down by the river and went on a leaf hunt.  It was a gorgeous day and nice to get out and get some fresh air.

Sunday
This morning I met my Cincuenta September goal, and then we headed to Dave and Cherilyn's church for Baby Kylie's baptism!  It was fun to see their families and watch Callie, Kylie and Sydney play together.

This afternoon we headed to the condo and hung out with my parents.  We took advantage of another beautiful day and went on a walk.

Looking in the mirror by the Guthrie

I'm excited to leave September behind and start October.  I love sweatshirt weather, apple cider, candy corn and all things fall!