Like a Good Neighbor...

...Helen is there.

We had the pleasure of taking our neighbor out for breakfast on Wednesday morning. We get to do this every so often. Miss Doodle loves it and so do I. I was really glad we were able to do it on Wednesday, especially after she told me that it was the six year anniversary of her husband's death. Going for breakfast probably helped get her mind off of her sadness. At least I'm hoping it helped some.

We've been good friends with her for most of the time that we've lived here in our townhouse. She loves kids, but she doesn't have any grandchildren of her own. So she often invites us over, at which point she feeds us lots and lots of yummy cookies, and tells us many things about her life. She is very kind and friendly, and we are happy to have an extra grandmotherly type around.

I'm glad I finally remembered the camera and got a picture of them together. I can't wait to give her a copy. I just know she'll love it and show it to everyone that comes to visit her.

A Lesson A Day

Keeps boredom at bay.

The Regime bought this really great book: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. He's been doing a lesson (almost) every day with Miss Doodle. Overall she is doing really well with it. It amazes me to see her learning so quickly. I also love that it is something she really wants to do.

Gotta love seeing them spend quality father and daughter time together. Great job guys!

Shoelace Skills

Last night after a fun swimming lesson and a nice bath, Miss Doodle decided to practice tying shoelaces again. (She had tried previously, but had given up in frustration.)

I'm happy to announce that, SHE DID IT! All by herself. Way to go, Miss Doodle!

I can't believe she's so grown up. And now that she's mastered this new task, she's asking for a new pair of shoes. With laces, of course.

Toddler Etiquette

Or lack there of. Somebody seriously needs to teach this girl some table manners.

Now the World is Her Oyster

I just hope she doesn't kill (or injure) herself in the process of exploring it.

I've got a serious climber on my hands and she's mastered climbing onto all of the chairs (tables, window ledges, toy cars, plastic bins, etc.) in the house. Now nothing is safe. (Especially not her, or my mental health.)

My little Bug is such a daredevil. She manages to scare me at least once a day. Sometimes (close to) constant supervision doesn't even seem to be enough. How am I supposed to get my work done around here? Everytime I turn around she's about to break her neck.

Here are a few examples. All of these pics were taken on the same day. (And I could've had even more examples for you if I had my camera permanently attached to my body.)

Bug in a Box

Sometimes the best things in life are free.

Dress, Dress

My little Bug already has very strong opinions. (Hmmm, I wonder where that came from?) She even has a favorite dress. Already. She's only 16 months old!

Every time she sees the dress she wants to absolutely must wear it. (She won't take no for an answer.) She'll point to it and say, "Dress, dress." Lots of times she digs it out of the pile of clean laundry. Like this time:


Ha ha, I found it!


A little help, please.


Success. Beautiful success.

(With mom's help of course.)

Fun at Phalen Lake Park

July 11th was a beautiful summery Saturday. We enjoyed part of it at the Dragon Festival in St. Paul. Here are some of the highlights:

Dragon Boat races are the coolest!

We also enjoyed watching the dragon wake up (but got there late...so we only caught the end...and I don't have a good pic for you), saw some Buddhist monks chanting, and performances by people dressed in traditional Asian costumes who played songs and danced. There was also lots of food. We enjoyed rice, veggie spring rolls, delicious momos, and (sinfully good) cream cheese wontons. There were also many booths set up with all kinds of interesting things to look at, buy, and win.

We went last year for the first time and had a fun time so we knew that we wanted to get there again. I'm really hoping we can make it again next summer. And that the weather will be just as nice.

This Too Shall Pass

This, my friends, is the lovely view from our front window:

If I were a little boy (or if I had little boys living here) I'd be in seventh heaven. Alas, I am not a boy and I have little girls who are not really all that interested in diggers, dump trucks, and other road work equipment. (See, I don't even really know what these things are called, I bet my mom friends with little boys can list 'em off to you like nothin'.)

The beep, beep, beep of these vehicles backing up all day is enough to make me want to shoot something (and I'm a vegetarian.) Especially when it starts at 7 a.m. (No longer do I need an alarm clock.) How can the workers stand it every day of there lives? I wonder if their dreams are filled with beeping.

The other not-so-fun thing going on around here is the Bug's new discovery. The dreaded temper tantrum. As it turns out, this girl has a very healthy temper. Here she is falling on the floor, screaming, thrashing, just plain ol' havin' a fit!

I feel bad. But what can I do. I tell her that I'm sorry she's upset and then I just try to ignore it. She just gets so frustrated that she's not all grown up and can't do (or communicate) everything that she wants to. Of course, I've been trying to get her to use her words and sign to me. But she isn't having it. Boy do I hope this phase passes quickly.

She's also getting molars. Which could be part of the reason for all of the tantrums she's been throwing these last two weeks. One has come through. And there are two on the top that are about to pop. Her gums are swollen and one spot is an awful purpley blue color. It looks so painful. My poor girl! I really hope the suffering ends soon. (For both our sakes.)

New to Her

Miss Doodle FINALLY got a bike. I'd been checking craigslist every chance I got. Bikes for girls seem to sell instantly. And I really didn't have time, energy, or (most importantly) the desire to take two kids, in and out of the car, while searching (hit or miss) garage sales.

Then last week I hit the jackpot. A bike for sale in Hastings. Which for most people, would be a pretty far drive. Fortunately, it isn't very far for us. Before we went I thought maybe we could go to Sam Kedem's to pick berries after picking up the bike, and I hoped it would be pretty close, since both spots are in Hastings. It turned out that the person selling the bike lives right next to (literally, right in their backyard) the strawberry patch. Talk about convenience! What a perfect set up.

So we got the bike, (and as I've already mentioned) we got the berries and everyone was happy. (Well, at least half of this family of four. And the people who made some money.)

Caught Red Handed

We enjoyed one of our favorite summer rituals (yet again) yesterday afternoon.

It proved to be an excellent day for strawberry picking. As you can see below, Bug started out on my back. But was very curious and just had to be set free to roam, pick and eat handfuls have a teensy weensy taste of the produce.

Her hands, mouth, and dress were stained red with strawberry juice by the time we went to pay for the goods.






















We also enjoyed looking at the chickens. I swear the rooster is saying, "You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"