Rowie

We were thrilled to have Rowie with us for a week. What a fun time we had. We did a little bit of everything - walks, wagon rides, park,Little Gym, Dr. Hobbs, Wild Rumpus (to see Pimento the chicken and the cats, etc), Creative Kidstuff/Pottery Barn Kids (got a cute little white Adirondack chair with green polka dot umbrella), Sunsets with Chris and Diane, farmers market, tin fish, gardening... It was great to have her here.

Emma Claire became pretty attached to her "Ro-ro-ro-ro". Brad was on a golf trip and I worked this weekend, so they had quite a time together. She changed so even in a week. More words and is putting her world together a little more each day. Points to her diaper with a concerned face and says "ooow" when she is wet/dirty; spins in circles until she gets so dizzy that she falls down; eats ketchup straight; jumps (attempts to); loves dum-dums; points to photos in her word book when asked; picks out her outfit for the day (usually the one with tags...new outfits are always better, of course); looks for her shoes to complete the outfit (that's my girl!).

Rowie went with us to Emma Claire's 15 month visit to Dr. Hobbs. Stats: Head-18 1/2" (79%); Weight-20 lb 7 oz (14%); Height 29 3/4" (27%). Still kinda a peanut. Made it through another round of shots.

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More Words...

Addie (which she says quite frequently), beep-beep, trying to say airplane, cheese for the camera, o-pa!

Congrats Dom!

Finally...a beautiful May day! Mild and not a cloud in the blue sky. Emma Claire and I started out the day at the Farmer's Market, played in the yard (Emma Claire giggles and squeals when we throw sticks to the dogs...she thought it was funny to walk around with a stick in her mouth like Sophie)
Also went for a nice walk with Suzanne and Addie, and finished the day at the Knauffs' for Dom's graduation party. Congrats to Dom for finishing his MBA!

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Golden Valley Days

Emma Claire attended her first parade. Golden Valley Days. It was COLD, COLD, COLD...and MAY. We braved the weather to watch the little parade. I am still learning the whole "prepared parent" thing. Have not quite got it together yet. Emma Claire and I loaded up the stroller and a coat and headed out the door. The friends we met there were all stocked with folding chairs, blankets, hot chocolate in a mug, bags for candy... Do I ever have a lot to learn!

Anyway, Emma Claire enjoyed the firetrucks, bands, etc. Found a new love for dum-dums, which is the perfect distraction at Target...went right out and bought a Costco size bag of 'em.

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Wild Rumpus

Emma Claire and I have ventured over to Linden Hills a couple of times recently to visit Wild Rumpus, Creative Kidstuff and Sebastian Joe's for ice cream.
Wild Rumpus must be the cutest children's bookstore there is (neck in neck with Square Books Jr in Oxford...although Square Books doesn't have animals). Emma Claire enjoys chasing the little hen, Pimento. Then there are the cats, the lizard, the pigeons, etc. And, of course, the books. Makes for a fun afternoon.

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Mothers Day Tea

I love everything about Emma Claire's school. The environment, the teachers, the activities, the christian based teaching... They do an unbelievable job and I feel very fortunate that Emma Claire has the opportunity to be there.

Emma Claire invited Marjorie and Diane to join us for a Mothers Day Tea. The children put on a little program of Mothers Day songs followed by a "formal" tea complete with white tablecloths and china. Emma Claire went crazy for the "tea" (pink lemonade) out of the teacup. Only fine china for her from now on!

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Mothers Day Art

Emma Claire (with a little help from Mommy) hand made our Mothers Day gifts this year. It was quite the project, but was fun. She is quite the little finger painter, a technique she has perfected at school.

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More Words...

"Ball", "Out", "cheese", "baby" (mostly in reference to "Yo Baby" yogurt), "bubble", "bo-bo" (in reference to, I think, her blankie). Most words still sound like "all done", but taken into context, we are getting somewhere with the words.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day #2. A great day. We made it to the 8:45 church service (for the second half, anyway, only to have to stand out in the lobby with Emma Claire...) then went to brunch at Rick and Diane's with Marjorie. I had a "nap" (I actually get the opportunity and could not sleep - typical). We all worked in the yard in the afternoon. Finally got the back flower bed cleaned out and some seeds in (with Emma Claire's help, of course). We'll see if flowers pop up in a few weeks. You know it's been a good day when you come in the house covered from head to toe in dirt.

I love being a mother more than I could have ever imagined. There is nothing in life I would rather do than be with my little family.

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Car Trouble

Jonah pushing Emma Claire...can't believe these two are so grown up! Friends since the womb!

Maiden Voyage

We took the red wagon out in the neighborhood for the first time (Emma Claire+Sophie+Rudy)... We made it halfway around the block before Emma Claire insisted on getting out. So we turned around, dog leashes and wagon in tow in one hand and Emma Claire on the other hip. I am pretty sure it looked every bit the fiasco it was. I wised up and put Rudy in the wagon. Emma Claire then agreed to sit with him. Rudy tolerated it for a few minutes before jumping ship. Sophie was much less tolerant in the wagon. We made it home all in one piece.

Farmer's Market

I love Minneapolis for many reasons (the Winters NOT being one of them). But one reason is the Farmer's Market. Just a few miles down the road, it is one of my favorite weekend things to do. It has become sort of a weekend tradition for Emma Claire and me.
We had our first trip of the season this weekend. Picked up some fruit, some beautiful cut fresh flowers and some kettle corn (which Emma Claire loved). Listened to the man play the saxophone and watched the clown make balloon animals. Think I will buy some flowers for the yard next weekend. They say it is OK to plant outdoors after Mother's Day here. Where to begin...???

Rosebud

We had a great time in Texas last weekend. It is always fun to be in Rosebud, with Papa, Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Sharon, Jason, Edel (met Margeta for the first time, too) and Leigh Ann.

We had fried catfish, ate good German sausage, went to the Dairy Queen, spent time at the farm and the church, visited Oma's grave and just had a good time being together. Margeta (2 1/2) speaks German as her first language and English to those that don't speak German. Amazing. Maybe Emma Claire picked up a word or two. We had a short immersion program going. Anyway, we took lots of photos. Enjoy...http://eckadue.shutterfly.com/1043

Sophie has a problem

We love our dogs (most of the time, anyway :-). Rudy is pretty easygoing and pretty smart and well behaved. And then, there is Sophie. Not the brightest bulb on the tree. Has a chronic cough and a food addiction. Sophie always acts like she hasn't been fed in weeks. If there is food, Sophie is there. She can sense it from outside that something food related is going on indoors. So, when I cook there is Emma Claire either wanting to be held or clinging to my leg and Sophie right under my feet. When I do dishes, both Sophie and Emma Claire are right there, usually trying to stand on the dishwasher door. I am trying to look it as a game rather than a pain lately. Anyway...this is life with Sophie.

Chocolate???

One of our favorite outings is Costco. What's not to like?? Lots of people for Emma Claire to wave to, buying in bulk, great meat and fish, lots of food samples, etc. You never know what you are going to bring home.
I usually get a good 15 or 20 minutes before Emma Claire loses focus and wants out of the cart. This day, they were giving out samples of Hershey bars. PERFECT! That should keep her happy until I can finish loading the cart and checking out. Rookie mistake. I look down and melted chocolate EVERYWHERE. In both hands and all over the face. Of course, no wipes with me. Fortunately, most people seemed to think it was cute (as, of course, I did) and the checkout lady gave me paper towels. Another one I didn't see coming. Made for a cute picture, though.

Pigtails

It thrilled me to no end that I was able to get Emma Claire's hair in pigtails this week. She looks like a different little girl with the new do! Endless possibilities now...ribbons, bows... The fun of having a little girl!

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