DANCE.

I was looking for a creative outlet for my girl, something that is all hers, that she will enjoy, look forward to, and make her feel special. She's been in gymnastics since she was an itty bitty toddler, but it just wasn't doing it anymore. I had to do the class with her, and up until Brother was born that was no problem. But it became increasingly difficult to balance a baby and assist my girl in tumbling, jumping and climbing, and ultimately my girl just ended up running around doing whatever she felt like. I wanted something that was more structured, and that didn't require me to participate. Enter dance. I teeter-tottered on this one for the better part of the summer, debating if she was ready for it. I was worried how the teacher would handle her shyness, wondered if we could quit if she just plain hated it, and really, do three year olds have to be in a recital? I wanted this to be fun and non-threatening. After a few open houses at various studios and chats with the owners, I learned the answers to my questions. All of them pleased me and seemed fitting, except one. Yes, she does have to be in a recital. Two in fact. I can already foresee the disaster that is written all over that one, but I didn't want the loom of a recital to hold me, or Nugget for that matter, back for an entire year. So, with some coordinating of schedules with a few friends, Nugget has begun dance along side two of her little girlfriends. She had her first class on Saturday, and it went amazingly well. Nick and I kept looking at each other exclaiming 'I can't believe she's doing it. Look at her! She's actually participating and having fun!'

All sassy and set for dance class...

Her shyness was present, as she was very much an observer on her first day. But she took it all in with a smile on her face and joined in when she felt comfortable. There was only one minor meltdown when she spotted me through what was supposed to be a one-way mirror (Is that what it's called?! I can see her through the window, but she can't see me...). Apparently I stood close enough to it that she could make me out, and once she spotted me, she wanted me. A few hugs and some reassurance later, she was back to it.

Three little dancing girlfriends...Abby, Olivia and Nugget.

Her favorite part of dance? 'Getting a stamp' at the end. Go figure. Anyhow, we're looking forward to next Saturday already. My girl's all stocked up on cute leotards and colorful leg warmers. She sure makes one cute ballerina. I'm rooting for her that this is her niche. So, go Nugget go. Let's get your dance on, girl.

SUMMER WIND DOWN.

There are so many pictures to share, so many words to tell the story. Days are long, but yet there is very little time for myself...and blogging. I've got about six posts just waiting to be written. In a effort to get these memories down before they escape me, words may be few, but pictures, well, they're always plentiful.

So here in a nutshell, is how we've been savoring the last few weeks, days, and moments of the hot MN summer.

CEDAR LAKE...
Nick's work schedule is always busy. Which is a good thing. He works very hard to balance being a business owner, husband, and father. Work usually trumps being home during the week, and family trumps work on the weekends. It isn't ideal, and of course we'd always love to see more of him, but he's doing what he needs to do to be successful and provide for us. We are so very proud of him for it.

With that said, I fly solo a lot of week nights. Topped with being a stay at home mom, some days I'm just plain tuckered out after dinner and am out of ideas on how to keep my kids busy and entertained until bedtime. This particular night was hot. And I didn't know how many more nights like this we were going to have, since it is after all, September. I had a grand idea to go to the beach. Nugget was thrilled, so with a quick toss of some towels, suits and toys into our beach bag, we were headed down the road to Cedar Lake. It started out beautiful. The air was warm, the water cool, and the beach quiet. But then I quickly learned how hard it is to take two kids to the beach by yourself. Nugget wanted me to splash in the water with her and build sand castles, while Brother cried when his feet touched the water, yet ate sand when parked up on the beach. It was truly a moment where I wish there was two of me, or I had the ability to grow a few extra arms and hands.

We made the most of it, me running between building sand castles and sweeping sand from Brother's mouth. When Brother quickly grew tired, Nugget was not ready to leave. I thought I'd soften the blow with a promise of swinging through the McDonald's drive through for a milk shake. Guess I should have thought that one through before I opened my mouth, because in my dash to get out the door, I left my wallet in the diaper bag. That made Nugget very, very sad. Then, I'd forgotten how sand gets EVERYWHERE. I wasn't planning to bathe the kids that night, but I just could not put them in their beds with sand stuck all over them. Long story short, my grand idea to have a fun night at the beach quickly turned hairy. But I conquered and am still glad that we seized the moment and attempted something fun.

STATE FAIR...
No summer feels complete without being capped off by 'The Great MN Get Together'. We lucked out with some cool weather and actually enjoyed the fair without sweating to death. The kids were calm and content and a great time was had by all. I probably ate my weight in tasty food, but it was worth it.

We checked out some award winning produce...

 Made a 'Jesus' necklace....

The other morning at breakfast Nugget was talking about something, I can't remember exactly what, but I leaned over and said 'Jesus loves you' and she replied 'I know, Mom.' Melted my heart.

 We paid way too much for a carousel ride that nobody really enjoyed much...

Brother couldn't take his eyes off of this sky ride...

While I went and fed Brother in the 'Lactation Station' (which was amazing by the way), Nugget and Daddy went into the Little Hands Farm and she came out with this...

We visited some fun booths...

And took our annual photo booth pictures. It was a little challenging to fit all four of us in this year, but it was fun...

Oh, and check out my sweet manicure. Nugget has been asking me for weeks if she could paint my nails. I finally caved.

We indulged Nugget's request to see some animals...

Whew. It was the longest amount of time we have spent at the fair yet, but the cool weather made such a difference. More fun was had by all and our feet were tuckered out by the end.

RASPBERRY PICKING...
It was a splendid, quiet day at the orchard, and Nugget kept saying over and over 'This is the best day ever. I love picking raspberries with you.' I love days like these.

 There were so many, we just kept skipping from bush to bush picking all those big, juicy raspberries. We popped too many to count into our mouths and took home five basket fulls. 



CLEARY LAKE...

Daddy got done working early on Friday afternoon, so we snuck in one more beach day...

PARADES...

We went to two parades in two different towns in two days. Jordan's Heimetfest and Northfield's Defeat of Jesse James Days...

Wow. There you have it. That was a very big nutshell. Yet I still have more to come...stay tunned.

WHEELS ON THE BUS.

Today was the first day of school. I love this time of year. I love the newness of sharp crayons, crisp notebooks and non-goopy glue sticks. I love the little kids all dressed in their Sunday best, ready to impress their teachers and make some new friends. When I was teaching, I loved preparing my classroom, decorating it with bright colors, labeling everything with my students' names, and really striving to make it a home away from home for them and me. For the most part, I am very content with my decision to hang up my school bag and take on diapers and housework full time. But this time of year has always been the hardest for me. I can't help but find myself in the back to school section at Target, resisting my urge to pick up twenty-five cent crayons and a pack of markers for a buck, because man, that's cheap. I don't need them. We have plenty. But sometimes it's really hard to pass up a good deal. Something has shifted in me this year, and I'm completely at peace. I don't feel like I still have one foot in the door of a classroom. I don't long to scour the dollar aisle for name plates and birthday certificates and casually toss them in my cart. I haven't thought of what former families now have kids in Kindergarten and if I would have gotten to teach them. Because I'm not going back. At least not anytime soon. And for the first time in three years, I am really, fully ok with that.

So instead of wearing the teacher hat today, I proudly wore my Mom hat, and set out to make the day special and memorable in our own way. This tradition kind of happened on accident the first year I stayed home. Nugget and I were out for a walk on what was the first day of school, and she, just having turned one, got really excited about all the school buses we saw driving around town. She waved and the drivers waved back, and my heart swelled twice it's size when I learned my girl loved her some school buses. So we did it again last year, and today too. We set out to have breakfast at Patty's Place, which is a treat in itself, and watch the buses as they rolled down Main Street on their way to school. School starts at nine o'clock, which is perfect. It's past the morning rush of Patty's 'regulars' and we always are able to get a window seat for the best viewing.

As we headed out this morning, we passed a small cluster of kids at a corner bus stop, a mom proudly snapping away with a camera in hand. I totally choked backed tears at the sight. I quickly pushed aside the thoughts that someday my girl will actually be on one of those buses we watch, and that she won't be sitting down at Patty's Place with me. When that day comes I'm gonna be a mess. I don't know how I'll get through that one. Thankfully, I have three years til that dreaded day. But she'll be ready. And man, she's gonna love school.

Carrying on, we enjoyed our breakfast while we counted buses, and brother happily tended to his puffs.

Sister didn't quite get her fill of buses, so we drove over to the middle school, where we parked the car and watched as the buses returned to the bus garage. She watched excitedly as some rounded the corner and pulled in, and even got to see a few fill up at the pump station.

Someday, I'm gonna have to let her go out into the world and make her mark, separate from me. But today, well, today she's still mine. I held her hand a little tighter and drank her in a little more. And I'm very, very thankful for this day with her.

PICNIC PARTY.

Nick and I agree that we want to avoid 'character themed' parties for as long as we can. There will be plenty of time for that later, i'm sure. And it isn't very often that I get to really dive into my creativity and run with it. So, when an opportunity presents itself, watch out people. This mama jumps in head first and loves every second of it.

Nugget always helps me pick the theme. We think of things that she enjoys at the time, and browse through cake books and magazines for ideas. Her first birthday was a Little People beach party. Last year we had a tea party. They were both good. But this year was my favorite. It was all inspired by this pretty little skirt we picked off the clearance rack at Target this spring, and a play picnic set we found at a garage sale. Low and behold, the Picnic Party was born.

I went a little hog wild with the decorations. It was just so cute and fun, how could I not? I picked up things here and there, searched Etsy untl wee hours of the night, wanting everything to be just right for this special occasion. I have a ton of pictures to share, so for the most part, i'm just gonna let them do the talking on this post.

THE PREPARATIONS

THE DECORATIONS

(SOME OF) THE FOOD

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL



GUESTS (OF THE KID KIND)

PARTY FAVORS

FAMILY

PARTY FUN.

Sister shyed away from the attention, so I had to open all her presents. And blow out her candles. Awesome. 

AND THE GRAND FINALE...

A bike from Mama, Daddy and Brother!

Whew! I'm exhausted just blogging about it! It was so, so worth all the effort, and I truly loved planning it for my special girl. It was amazing to celebrate her with all the people she (and we) love most. My girl felt extremely loved and special. And that's what it's all about.

Only six more months until Brother's birthday. Don't worry, i've already started planning ;)