Another weekend . . . of rain??

We had a nice weekend, despite a forecast of rain, rain and more rain. In between rain, the kids played outside in the sandbox. They really enjoy being outside and playing, plus they sleep better at night. Everyone benefits!

Louie decided he wanted to quench his thirst with a little Premium after climbing in and out of the sandbox about 10 times. Apparently, it's hard work. Emily thought she needed to try some too, she looked at Dan and said "YUCKY." Tell him that in about 16 years too! On Sunday, Louie and I were outside playing while Emily was napping. He figured out how to climb up the slide of the little play cube, very daring little guy. He got so close to the top and then fell over backwards, laughing. We went around to the front just in time for the "frozen dairy musical delivery truck", as Dan calls it. It was like watching a sea turtle crawling to the ocean, he knew which way to go. Maybe later in the summer we'll try it. It won't become a regular, expected stop like across the street. The truck slows down and backs up and stops, just waiting for the girls across the street. Everyday! It's funny to watch. . . .

We ended the day with delicious "beer can chicken." Fabulous!

More Cathedral at Night

The second night of the Cathedral being lit up, Dan travelled around downtown St. Paul looking for the perfect spot to take pictures. There were LOTS more out photographing that night, than the previous night. First he went back to the other side of the High Bridge, but from a different spot on Cherokee Parkway. Very nice.

Second, he travelled all the way over to the other side of downtown, up by Mounds Park. It was ok, St. Paul has more taller buildings than I thought.

Third, and my personal favorite, the top of the parking garage at St. Joe's Hospital. Great idea, very nice pictures from there.

Last, from the side street just below Summit Avenue. Also, a nice vantage point.

He really took some nice picture. All of the pix were taken with the 70-300mm zoom lens with the f11 stop setting on the camera. I'm so glad he's learning how to use the camera!

The Cathedral at Night

The Cathedral of St. Paul is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this weekend. A surgeon at United Hospital has always wondered why it has never been lit up at night. So, he arranged to have it lit up for a few nights this week.

Unfortunately, the City of St. Paul recently built a huge "transit hub" right down the hill and it now blocks the view of it from many vantage points. Thank goodness for the cropping tool!

Dan went across the High Bridge and took a few pictures of it and then a few from right on Summit Avenue. It looks very beautiful at night.

Memorial Day

We spent the Memorial Day weekend around the house. There was lots of things to do and jobs to finish up. Emily and Louie played in the back yard the whole weekend. On Saturday night, we had a fire in the fire pit and burned up lots of the wood piled up out by the garage. The yard is starting to look good back there.

As you can see, Lou really likes to drive the car. Sometimes, Emily even lets him. Although, she always wants it to be "my turn."

Lou said his first few words this weekend. Whenever he is sitting in his highchair eating, he say "hot." I'm pretty sure that is from his sister who says that everything on her plate is hot, all the time. He also said "Ted" and "cat." He is so different from Emily in every way, it's amazing.

Grandma's 70th Birthday!

Grandma turned 70 on May 24! Grandpa treated to dinner at Casper's Cherokee Sirloin Room. It was a fun time and dinner was delicious. Grandma brought some delicious and fresh cake for dessert. We all had lots of fun celebrating.
Maryhelen is preparing for when she is 70 and trying out the cheater glasses now, very fashionable.

New Toys! Yeah!

On the afternoon of Mother's Day, Emily and I went over to the Tapio's and picked up all their little people outdoor toys. They still had the fun kiddie play cube that Grandma and Papa gave to Nick when he was 2 or 3! Billy dug out one of their old Cozy Coup's from the shed and also the little red ride-on. Emily had so much fun playing with everything at their house. She didn't understand that we were taking it home with us, she cried "car, car, car" the whole way home. The first thing out of her mouth on Monday morning was "car, car, car" she loves to drive the car and beep the horn and open and close the door.

All the toys were a little dirty, so we had a car wash. She helped wash everything with the soapy, bubbly water. Then it was time to play.

She and Louie had so much fun! Emily pushed Lou around the yard in the car, she screamed "wee!" going down the slide. Auntie M and Uncle Scooter are going pass on the big wooden swing and climbing tower next summer.
Thanks for everything, we're having fun!

Oh and I almost forgot! When I got the sandals that Emily is wearing out of her closet, she got all excited and screamed "BEACH!!!!" Clearly, she remembered that these were the shoes that she wore to the beach in Florida. I guess they do have memories like elephants and never forget things. . .

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a beautiful mother's day this year. The weather was great, for once. The brunch at Fabulous Fern's was delicious and all the mom's were together. It was a fun time.

I got pansies (and a completed screen porch, it's what I really wanted) for mother's day this year, they are so pretty. Emily is fascinated with flowers and was trying to smell them. She was also trying to show her doggie how to smell the flowers too.

The Sound of Silence

Finally, Lou is asleep and it sounds like a spring concert up at St. Kate's is over. Peace and quiet . . . We might actually get to sit down and watch a movie. "The Queen" is waiting to be seen, I can't wait. I'm sure that Dan could skip it.

Fun at the Coffee Shop!

Dan took the kids to the coffee shop today, there is a nice outdoor and indoor play area there. They met Audrey, Isak and a couple of their friends from the mom's club.

Louie must have had too much fun and is way over tired. As I write this, he is in bed crying. He never cries to sleep at night. This is a first for him . . .

The Screen Porch

Dan finished the screen porch just in time for Mother's Day this year. I told him that all I wanted was a porch with screens on it, early enough to enjoy it all summer long.

He and Don worked very hard on it and voila, all done. It's so nice!