A Little Slice of Shoreview

The Slice of Shoreview, our cities annual festival, was this past weekend.  I try to take the kids there each year simply because it is close to home and fun!  And who doesn't love a good carnival!  This year it was unseasonably chilly.  Chilly as in 56 and raining but we went anyway and it turned out to be very much in our favor because there were no crowds at all!  For once the kids were able to move from ride to ride without waiting in a long line, it was really nice. 

 

 

 

Both kids were excited to jump on the mini trampoline. Paige did a few flips and Quinn just had fun jumping. Last year he was a little too small and really couldn't jump very high on his own so they helped him out a little bit...which in turned scared him. He cried and wanted off. This year he loved it.

 

Next we walked along all of the art booths, that is my favorite part and reason for going.  I was excited that a favorite jeweler was there again this year.  Last year I bought a necklace from her that was personalized with my kids names, I was anxious to find her again to add one more tag!  I also had her make me a cuff ring with all three of my babies names stamped onto it. 

 

 

We tried to feed the animals at the petting zoo but quickly discovered that the vendors were very strict at all of the booths about not making any change.  We needed quarters and had dollars but each time we asked, they said no.  Very firmly.  I suppose they hear it ALL day and just have to draw the line or they would have no change to give customers.

 

As promised, I took the kids to the little midway.  This was the reason THEY wanted to go...RIDES!  Luckily Paige was able to go on nearly everything alone if necessary since I couldn't ride on most being 8 months pregnant.  Quinn was finally tall enough that he could go on everything that Paige could, with the exception of the Tilt-a-whirl.  She did that alone, and loved it!  The one ride I was able to go on was a rickety old Ferris Wheel.  My kids love those and this one seemed fine..until it started moving!  It was one of those that you are afraid to lean back because it tilts so far back when you do.  The kids had fun and that was the most important part.  We tried to take a picture of us up on top but it didn't turn out too well.  I was lucky to get the 3 of us in the picture let alone any of the scenery!  Note the sweater and sweatshirts.  It is about 4:00 in the afternoon on July 27th.  So weird.

 

 

Paige when I asked her to smile.

 

In this picture it looks like we are going really fast by the way Quinn's hair and face are.  Maybe we are?  I can't remember.

 

 

This is our Ferris Wheel.  The rickety one with the Tilt-a-Whirl that Paige loved out in front.

 

 

Next...this swings.  I was really surprised they let Quinn go on this one.

 

 

As you can see in these pictures...it was like we were the only ones there on a Saturday afternoon.  All thanks the the cold weather and a bit of rain.  The kids loved this pirate ride so much they went on it twice!

 

 

 

And then there was the Dinosaur ride.  Quinn was so excited to go on this ride with Paige and he was finally big enough to go without an adult.  The kids climbed in and I told Quinn to hold on tight which turned out to be a mistake.  You see this ride uses the disc in the center as a mechanism to make the ride spin faster and the riders control it.  Paige knew it and as soon as the ride started, she started turning it, and Quinn held on tight.  From the outside of the ride I heard a big thud, a scream and Paige yelling, "Stop the ride!".  The attendant wasn't paying attention so I had to ask her to stop it.  When the ride started to spin, Quinn held on and was thrown onto the floor of the ride bumping his head along the way.  He was just fine but was pretty shaken up and wanted off.  Paige continued the ride on her own and still had fun but it wasn't quite the same.  You can see her little face in the blue car.

 

Finally done with rides we walked over to the fire station.  Every year I forget that they have an open house and have never made it over to check it out.  I was so glad we did this year!  The kids got little plastic fire hats to wear and a ton of free stuff to put in a little bag (Frisbee, pencils, tattoos, silly bands, stickers, etc...) all fire department related.  The table behind Quinn had a collection of melted household items found in fires. 

 

These were pretty funny!

 

We were able to see how the fireman leave their bibs inside out and boots inside all ready to hop in and go in case of a fire.  I pointed out it is exactly to opposite of what we do at home.

 

Of course the fire trucks were on display for the kids to climb in and explore.  Quinn had SO many questions about all of the gadgets and buttons and what everything did.

 

As usual, it was another successful trip to the Slice of Shoreview which ended with Quinn and I coming back to see the 10 PM fireworks.  Everyone else fell asleep!

 

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

It was my birthday this past Friday, July 26th.  I turned 37 (that just sounds so old)!   Always a perfect sunny July day and this year was no exception, well the sun part was there but it sure didn't feel like July!  It was only 60 degrees for the majority of the day, it was more like a beautiful September day.  One of the perks of my job is that we get our birthday off, very nice to do on a Friday!  I was torn because I had SO many things to do at home, nesting things you know...like painting, cleaning, washing, weeding.  A day off would sure be nice.  But...it was still my birthday and it seemed pretty silly to do chores all day on my special day. 

Lucky for me I have an amazing sister who stepped up and surprised me with a morning at the Spa!  Ahhh, it was so relaxing.  I had an hour massage and my first ever facial.  I pushed for a longer massage but because of my delicate condition (being pregnant) the most they would do was an hour.  Bummer!  An hour goes by so quickly.  Well none-the-less it was wonderful!  I even was assigned a lucky locker for my belongings...number 26! 

After my spa morning I picked up my son and we headed to Gramma and Papa's to go out for lunch and spend some time visiting.  Quinn is always excited about going to the farm!!  Paige was on a field trip for summer school so she was none the wiser that Quinn and I were out celebrating.  Just before we left Shyan and Dakota came and visited for awhile too.

In the meantime Jeff had picked up Paige from school and they went shopping for a few birthday surprises.  I had decided with all of the summer gatherings already and Paige's birthday being just a few weeks away I didn't need a big family get together.  When we got home Jeff and Paige had made a special birthday dinner and surprised me with flowers and a Dairy Queen cake.  It was a perfect day and I couldn't have asked for more!!  Happy Birthday to me!!!!

 

If you look close the cake says "Happy Birthday!  Love Paige" with a soccer ball.  She picked it out especially for me.  And yes the 7 does look alot like a 1.  If only....31 is so much younger!

 

 

On a funny sidenote, last year Jeff bought me an angel food cake and coincidentally..I turned 37 last year as well according to my candles.  It too, was perfect, a year off...but perfect.  I will say though, I am glad I still have another year before I am 38!

Growing Up

Last night Paige and I stopped at Target after school to pick up a few things.  While we were waiting for our items to be cut at the deli Paige looked through the cake book for birthday cake ideas since she will be turning 7 in just a few more weeks.  I walked up behind her and teased her over her shoulder how every other pink cake was the perfect one for her.  The girlier the better and the princess ones were the BEST.  She laughed and laughed and proceeded to point out the Soccer cake and Lego cakes and flipped as fast as she could by any that were marketed towards girls. 

On one page she slowed down to look closer at a Smurfs cake, it was cute, not something she would like as her own but worth looking at.  Out of instinct I began singing..."La la la la la la, sing a happy song!  La la la la la la..." to which she spun around to face me with a look of panic and I immediately stopped singing.  I watched her eyes as she peered behind me scanning...and I realized...I had potentially embarrassed her.  That is...if, and only if any of the kids from her school happened to be nearby.   Lucky for her there were none to be found.  Whew. 

I squinted my eyes and called her out.  "Are you worried that someone from school might hear me singing?"  She looked a little surprised and then started to laugh and said "Yes!  Oh my gosh Mom!"  Then we continued to look through the book and she quietly started humming the Smurf song herself.  As she hummed a little piece of my heart ached.  It is happening.  My little girl, is well...a normal little girl and growing up before my eyes.  When we finished looking at the cakes she took my hand and skipped along as though we were all alone while we shopped for the rest of the items on our little list.  Her brief moment of embarrassment completely forgotten.

Everywhere we go, especially if it is just she and I.  We hold hands.  It is so easy and familiar.  We get out of the car and find each other, my hand silently reaches for her little arm and slides down to her hand and I grasp it gently as she does mine.  I have noticed that if my hand is still for too long she will rub her thumb back and forth on my hand assuring me that she is aware of our touch.  I love it.

Last night we were all sitting in the family room and I pulled up my YouTube account and was immediately sucked into old videos I had saved of the kids.  All four of us sat on the couch watching video after video of the kids when they were babies.  We laughed and smiled and pointed out how soon they would have a new baby brother who would do many of those same things.  Each time a video came on of Paige she would groan and cover her eyes or tell me to delete it.  Jeff and I laughed at her reaction knowing we were rich with blackmail for her later years.  Our faces ached from smiling. 

At the same time, we recognised that Paige has become more aware of herself.  I don't know anyone who likes the sound of their own voice or watching themselves in a home video, at least not any grown ups.  But it was just months ago that she would watch a clip over and over and over laughing at herself and wanting to show me and her Dad how funny she was and how great of a show she was putting on...and now she is embarrassed.  I guess that too is only natural, but it is happening so very fast.

When she was 2 and 3 and 4 and even 5 she would run to me and JUMP into my arms every time I picked her up from daycare or school.  Even in Kindergarten I would have to mentally prepare myself for the fact that as soon as she saw me, whether I saw her or not, she was going to come at me with all of her might...and I had better be ready!  This past year she still holds my hand walking into school as well as out but as the school year progressed the morning good bye hugs and kisses were shorter and the afternoon pick up surprise attacks were less frequent.  Every time she would surprise me with one my heart would leap and my eyes prickle with happy tears.

I have been making mental notes for years to cherish her hugs and kisses and sweet embraces knowing that sooner or later she would become more aware of the other kids, and who may be looking.  If only she knew that some of the looks were out of admiration.  One day she will know that not all parents are as affectionate to their kids.  And to be honest, her affection at school has lasted much longer than I expected, I am so grateful for that.   

So, when she needs to act a little bit older and as though she doesn't need me quite as much, I will respect her feelings.  I will give her a bit more space and I will know that I am so very lucky to have a little girl like her to love and be loved by.  But as soon as we are out of sight..all bets are off.  She better watch out because those hugs and kisses and tickles are coming!!

Superhero

When Paige was younger she loved Superheros and Spiderman was her favorite.  When she was three she wanted to be Superman for Halloween, and she was. Her love of the masked heros continued on through her 5th birthday when she had a superhero themed birthday party complete with a Spiderman pinata and Spiderman bike. 

You can see the post here:
http://shehungthemoon.blogspot.com/2011/08/happy-birthday-baby.html

For a fun birthday treat she and her friend Dylan went to the zoo and had their faces painted like Spiderman.

One day her Granny made her a cape, a Superman cape.  It was made of reversible satin, red on one side and blue on the other.  Paige wore it for awhile, but never got too excited about it.  She has always been very particular about her clothing and the cape didn't fit quite right in her mind.  Sadly it didn't get the use Granny had hoped for. 

Well that cape came out to play just occasionally over the next few years until recently when Quinn took a liking to it.  And to Superman, and Batman and the Green Lantern and Spiderman and all other things superhero.  The cape bacame a staple for play..and a necessity to jump from couch to couch and table to table.  How we have made it so long without a trip to the ER is beyond me.

Anyway, since the Superman cape had become such a hit with Quinn, Granny decided to give her cape making skills another go and whipped up a Batman cape.  She hit the jackpot this time, or maybe it was Quinn who did.  Every single day since we brought it home, Quinn has worn that sweet little cape as he flew from couch to couch and table to table.  Each day that he goes to his Granny's house he makes sure to pack it the night before into his kitty cat back pack for safe keeping.  Last week he even insisted on wearing it to the grocery store. 

There wasn't a man in the store that didn't get a twinkle in his eyes and a small nostalgic smile as he watched my little Batman run by.  See for yourself how awesome a cape can me in a store... http://youtu.be/kNKIzpDowhY

 

And here are a few pictures of Quinn proudly showing off his cape for Granny!!!

Boom Boom Day 2013

We should probably tell the kids that the colorful explosions that are shot into the sky on the 4th of July are called fireworks and not "boom booms".  That is what Paige called them when she was really small, and it stuck... so when Quinn was old enough to care we told him too, that they were "boom booms".  Oh well.  They will figure it out sooner or later...probably.

 

This year, just as we have the past few years, my Mom and I took the kids to the Forest Lake 4th of July parade.  The kids had alot of fun despite the heat.  The parade is pretty long, at least an hour, maybe more and they throw a ton of candy which the kids always love!  It opens with a little air show, definately gets your attention!  Quinn thought it was pretty cool.

 

Here are a few photos of the parade!!

 

Grandma was not a big fan of the sirens...

 

Quinn and Paige were excited about the USA flags they got!!

 

 

After the parade we stopped for some lunch and cooled off in the shade...

 

Paige made this awesome wind sock at school that we flew all weekend to celebrate!!

 

After the parade we stopped and picked up some fireworks for our "pre-show" at a pop up tent nearby.  Then we went home and got Daddy and our beach stuff and headed over to Turtle Lake to swim for a few hours before dinner.

 

Later, after we were all cleaned up from the lake and had eaten dinner we lit off our fireworks at home for the kids before heading out to the Blaine soccer fields for the big show.  We had alot of small stuff since it was MN bought...sparklers, fountains, etc...the kids still had alot of fun.  Their favorites were the smoke bombs, we like them too as they help keep the bugs away!

 

 

Here is Quinn all ready for the show!  In the background you can see a few kids playing soccer.  Paige jumped right in on their friendly game and had a blast.  She would have played right through the fireworks if we would have let her.

 

As usual, the fireworks were fantastic!

 

It was a great day with family! 

Happy Independence Day!!!