Happy Fourth of July!!

So why am I at home blogging on July 4th and not out enjoying fireworks? Pure exhaustion is a good way to describe it and also a bout of "things just aren't going our way." This week, Tyler has been off of work and we completed a bunch of house projects--including "finishing" the painting of the house (yes, we know there is some touch up work, but it will have to wait), and painting the downstairs bathroom.

On Friday, Nana and Poppa took the kids to Como Zoo for fun with the animals and some rides. They had a blast! Thanks Nana and Poppa!

I received this email this morning from Nana (It is too Zoey not to share. . .hope that is ok!)

BTW: Zoey must have cut about a 2.5 inch piece of hair off while she was supposedly going potty in the bathroom. I was getting lunch ready.

I found the hunk of hair in her dinner table chair and asked her where it came from and she said: "it must have fallen out of your head, Nana." I said, "but it looks like your hair, Zoey."

"Oh, it probably fell out of my hair then." says Zoey. Hmmmm....?

Ya gotta watch her all the time! (you can see the spot in the front of her hair near her ear.)

On Friday night, we went over a friend's house for a bonfire and fireworks--it was a blast and we kept our already tired kids out until way past their bedtimes. Then on Saturday, we hopped in the car and road tripped out to Mayer to spend the holiday with Roz, Kevin and Hazel (our goddaughter).

Our plan was to eat, play, nap, and then go to a huge park with a swimming pond. Here we are playing at the park before nap time. . .




Nap time went fantastically. Then we all piled into our cars, swimsuits on and ready to go play. As on cue, the dark clouds rolled in and it started to rain. . .hard. Roz called with plan B to go to the lake in Waconia where it looked like the rain clouds were gone. As we drove to Waconia, it did seem like the clouds were going away. We had settled Zoey down from her initial disappointment and said that we were going to another beach. As we pull into the lake, the rain cloud found us again and it threatened rain. Roz called again with plan C. . .we were just going to go to a park and play. Zoey by now is beyond disappointed, she is crying hard and just doesn't know what to do with herself. She doesn't want to do anything but swim. As we pull up to the park, you guessed it, it started pouring rain. Plan D is put into motion. . .let's drive to the local ice cream shop for ice cream. Zoey thought that was a great idea--her disappointment disappears. We drive to the shop, praying that it isn't closed for the holiday and enjoy our ice cream. . .



While we are eating, Zoey remembered that Roz had made cupcakes and really wanted one. Roz said that she would give us some to take home with us. It was still raining hard when we left, so all the adults were focused on getting kids strapped into carseats without getting soaked. We drove away from Waconia to head home and again, as if on cue, the sun broke free and it turned into a beautiful evening. Half way home, we realized we were cupcakeless--another diappointment that Zoey would have to live with today. Just don't tell her that we made the executive decision to skip the fireworks tonight because the kids (and I) were so tired. . .she wouldn't be able to handle it.

We will try to find a lake tomorrow to hang out at and see if we can ease Zoey's pain.

Tyler however has a ton of energy--he can even do pushups with Zander on his back. . .

Summer

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all my favorite dads! This weekend Tyler got some time to himself as I took the kids up for a Grand Forks adventure. The car ride was long, but the trip was a success and as always it was nice to be around family. Uncle Rob and Aunt Nicole and kids were there too.

Grandpa and the Grandkids sitting in Princess

Uncle Robby and Kristie hanging out in the backyard.

Zoey and Kylie take time out from their playing for a picture.

The little dude. . .just having fun at the park.

Zander's new found passion--basketball. Grandma Nyhlen found this hoop at a garage sale and Zander will be so excited when he learns that I brought it home with us. Thanks Grandma!

Zander got to play around in the Miata for a while on Sunday--he really got a kick out of that.

Kristie thinks hard about. . . something.

They don't look like they are having fun at all!

What do you think of Zander's outfit? He thinks he is such a big boy!

Other June Happenings

School is officially done for me. Tyler is back at it for the summer quarter at his school. Our summer just started and already it has been busy. This weekend we had a successful garage sale--in that we sold a lot of stuff and had a good time hanging out in the beautiful outdoors. Zoey proved to be quite the handful on Saturday as she "helped" out with the sale.

Saturday was the day that Tyler and I just kept going through the garage and our house finding more and more stuff to get rid of. We came across the dart board that we had at our old house when our basement was a game room. We haven't used it since we moved here and thought we could try to sell it. Zoey saw it and was immediately interested in this thing she never knew we always had. Tyler laid it out and we put a fair price on it. When a customer asked, "How much?" I noticed that Zoey had covered the price tag with all the darts. Later on that day, I was going around reorganizing some items and looked down at the old rugs I was trying to sell and noticed that the price tag on them said, "$25 firm." Well, no wonder no one was buying the rugs that I had originally priced at $4 for both! ZOEY!!!

We took this as a hint from Zoey and took the dart board off the market--we will hang it in the garage and hope when she goes on to win the National Dart Board Championship, she remembers all those who got her there.

Here are some pictures of our summer so far. . .

A wonderful day for the pool! Zoey jumped right in, Zander was a little more hesitant. Although, he was all for posing for the camera. (Dad, I know he doesn't have his hat on, but this is a darn cute pose.)

Zoey and Zander enjoyed some cupcakes in honor of Uncle Rob's birthday. (OK, fine they were left over cupcakes from school, but they were eaten on the 5th of June!)


Zoey has been testing every limit out there since she turned four. Here is a picture of her after a typical night of refusing to stay in her bedroom at bedtime.

Zander is in the mist of a language explosion! He is putting together phrases and really getting the hang of this communication thing. . .

Just some of his phrases include:
Dadda go?
Ba, where are you?
Mama sleeping!
Thank you
All done milk.
My turn (my gurn)
Dadda juice, please
baball baball tins (Baseball, Twins!)


In the video you will hear: I did it! and Bug, bug, bug. . .

Dance Recital

Showing off her medal with ice cream all over!

Zoey had her Show Day for dance and gymnastics at the beginning of June. It was fun to watch what she has learned and enjoy her excitement of performing. If you know Zoey at all, you know that she isn't shy! In fact, she seems to crave the attention most of the time. As always, a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds showing off routines is an event to witness. Zoey was most proud of the medal she received.

Random Zander Picture

Happy 4th Birthday Zoey!

Happy Birthday, Zoey! In the four years we have been blessed with you in our life, you have amazed us with how you have grown. Your sweet smile greets us each day and your humor makes us laugh almost constantly. We can't imagine life any differently. We love you so much!

Today was Zoey's real birthday. Tyler and I treated her to a movie at the theatre. We saw Pixar's new movie UP in 3D. It was very well done--a crowd pleaser. At the end of the movie as everyone is silently taking in the beginning of the credits, Zoey says, "Wow, that was a great movie. I have to go potty!" And away we went.

Last Friday was the Fun Fair at my school. We took the kids and Zoey had a great time. Zander was mostly just along for the ride. Here is Zoey riding her horse Candy Kisses.

We took the kids to the park last weekend. Zander took some time to contemplate life. . .

Two Goof Balls

Hulu Girl

Friends, Family, and a Four Year Old

Well, almost a four year old. Even though Zoey turns four next weekend (the 31st) we kept to our traditional Memorial Weekend party and celebrated with family on Sunday. If left to Zoey, she would have invited everyone she has ever said hi to. It was an absolutely gorgeous day!

We started our Sunday getting ready for the party. Chef Zoey was in charge of making her own surprise birthday cake. We didn't tell her what the cake was suppose to be until we finished it.

"Tah-Dah!" it's a Carousel Cake--in honor of Zoey's love of the carousel.

We took some pictures of the birthday girl before she had fun getting all messy.

Zoey with Uncle Eric and Auntie Tammy.

Nana and the Princess!

Zoey kindly telling Baby Owen, "It's time to open my gifts now."

About a week ago, Zoey wanted to have some bubble wrap to play with. Bubble wrap that I didn't have. So I found some at work, wrapped it up and gave it to her as a gift. You would have thought she won the lottery. It was a hit.

Owen enjoying the swing set.

Zander woke up on Sunday morning with an ear infection. So he was quite crabby for the first part of the day. But after a good nap and some antibiotics, he was ready to party with the fam.

Kiera had a good time in the sandbox.

Hazel loved the pinwheel.

Godmother Lisa and Zoey

It was a great party and it was awesome to see everyone. As soon as everyone left, though, I looked at Zoey and noticed that she had "goop" in her eyes--and since Zander had just recovered from pink eye, we knew what we were dealing with. So we got the prescription over the phone and went to pick up the eye drops.

You would have thought we were torturing the poor girl. To say that she despises the eye drops would be an understatement. She saw through all of our tricks. It took 2 adults each time to pin her down and force her eyes open for the drops.

She went to daycare today and had to get two sets of drops at daycare. Tonight when it was time for drops, Zoey told me that Mary had a secret about getting drops. "All I have to do is stay still and look up!" Is that all? Wow! I should have thought of that. . .stay still and look up!

Unfortunately, she was only brave up until the time that I tried to put the drops in. But, I had to once again call in reinforcements and tackle her to get the drops done. I hope we only have a day or two left of this.

Como Zoo

As a favor to Tyler and I, Grandma and Grandpa took the kids for an entire day so that we could work on projects around the house. As you can see by the pictures, all involved had a good time.

This was Zander's first chance to ride any of the rides at Como Town. He seemed to enjoy them. Zoey got to go on more rides than last year too. Stop growing, Zoey, would you?

Grandma told me that Zander had a blast on this ride, steering the tea cup and making it go round and round.

Zoey told me that this was her favorite ride.

A lot of time was spent here, digging in the sand and climbing all over.

Here is the turtle that Zoey said "caught her eye."

Zoey and Zander in a whole new world.

Grandpa on his favorite train ride. Grandpa is with Zander and Zoey is riding solo in the back.

"Ca! Ca!"

Zoey also really enjoyed the bear.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen for keeping the kids safe and sugared up all day long. We got a ton done on the house and I know the kids had a blast!