Weekend Fun!

Everyone is in, smiling and holding their assigned toy;)

Sunday morning I was trying to get a group shot since I didn't take many pictures of the weekend. And this is why I have to take a "couple" pictures before I get the final product;)

Then Gramma, Aunt Brigett and Cousin Tyler came over too. We all hung out and played for a while then Rich and Tyler went to an ISU basketball game and Gramma and Brig took Chloe out to the mall for an Orange Julius, riding/driving in the car stroller and playing on the play scape. That left Jason and I our longest date night yet, over 5 1/2 hours! We enjoyed a very nice supper at Rinallo's and then out to the movie where we saw Black Swan, we both loved our dinner and enjoyed the thriller of a movie. Thank you so much for making the trip and spending time with Chloe. We really appreciate everything you do for us!

Saturday afternoon Uncle Rich came over and gave Chloe a huge stuffed frogger. She thought of it as more of a riding toy;) Thanks Uncle Rich!

A few funny things she has said while painting are: "Look at me and my artwork!" and "This is my artwork. No touch it! I paint more."

I asked Chloe what the name of this painting was and she said "Fireworks", perfect title, I can see it!

Chloe has become an artist! She loves to paint, that's her favorite part of the easel. She makes 2-4 paintings a day.

Back In Action!

Today we started Kindermusik Class. Chloe absolutely loved it! There are 4 boys and 1 girl, Selma, and she has the same energy level that Chloe does, so we both liked that:) The theme for this 15 week session is animals. At the end of class Chloe got her music supplies to bring home that include 2 shakers, 3 books and 2 cd's all wrapped up in Rover's dog house, related to the Rover song and activity from class. She's been carrying the dog house with her little dog in it all afternoon. Thanks for a fun Christmas present Gramma and Grandpa K.!

Just like Picasso, Chloe has a blue period:)

Using the eraser.

Drawing on the chalk board side, very cool!

She pulled out everything from the storage and climbed in!

When I asked her what she was drawing she said "mommy, daddy, Chloe and a monkey!".

Snow White is a natural artist!

Chloe making some artwork!

All of Chloe's activities resumed/began this week. What a relief, that winter break was leading to some interesting afternoons;) Monday we went to gymnastics and had a blast like usual. The lights went out and all the kids freaked out. Chloe ran around playing with some of the older kids, yelling scary monsters:) Monsters are one of her new favorite things. Tuesday we skipped open gym because of the snow/road conditions. But her easel from Gramma and Grandpa K arrived in the mail and Chloe loves to make artwork! Then Wednesday we enjoyed story time at the library.

Winter Wonderland

Back inside and ready for lunch with rosy cheeks and wild hair.

More snow angles in the back yard.

Then we went for a ride around the neighborhood. Let me tell you, walking in 6+ inches of snow while pulling a toddler in a sled is a pretty good work out:)

Chloe's favorite thing to do is make snow angels, she made 5 right in a row:)

This morning we woke up to several inches of snow. We got all bundled up and headed out side.

While putting sugar in her tea Chloe exclaimed "I like sugar!", hmmm:)

Last night we had a tea party and invited her friends Julianna and Ariel. She served tea, cereal, and ice cream.

This time she called it her purse:)

We both thought it was funny so she kept it up for the camera!

The other night I was checking my e-mail and in walks Chloe.... yes that is her potty chair cushion!

I got a quick pic of Chloe sneaking some more chap stick:)

Visit from Gramma!

Wednesday night Gramma arrived! Chloe was really excited but I think I was even more enthusiastic about her arrival. You see, she was here so I could redeem my birthday coupon. On Thursday we had a laid back morning, then we did a little shopping, Chloe got her favorite Ariel doll and a princess wooden magnet-marker activity and I got some Aveda products, my favorite:) Then gramma treated us to lunch at Noodle Zoo, we hadn't been there yet and it was really good and a fun atmosphere, I am definitely going there again. After lunch gramma watched Chloe while I got to go have a massage, it was amazing! When I got home Chloe was napping so that gave me a little more free time to catch up on some things. That evening gramma watched Chloe again and Jason and I went out! When we got home Uncle Rich and Aunt Andrea came over for a while. When I went to bed that night I had so much more energy than usual! Unfortunately gramma had to leave Friday morning but we had such a wonderful time while she was here. Thank you so much for everything! It was one of the best birthday "days" ever! We love you!

Mid week fun!

Today story time resumed and Chloe was so much more involved, over the break she learned all the words and actions to the songs and showed them off in session. It was a fun morning! Chloe has a bit of spring fever as she only wants to wear her summer dresses lately, so we are figuring out how to make them work:) Here she is after lunch putting up the magnets on the fridge.

Tuesday we had an Ariel themed day. Chloe got to pick out a new toy, she was looking for a Mickey Mouse game but we couldn't find anything. And when I was suggesting other toys she kept telling me, "no thank you". Then she saw Ariel's castle and that was it! She played with it all day and night. That afternoon we watch The Little Mermaid and she had to keep the castle close at hand:)

Girls Monday!

Gramma and Brig made these chocolate mice to give out to Chloe and her friends at gymnastics! We also got to enjoy the leftovers:) How creative and yummy! Thanks for coming to spend the day with us!

After class Brigett treated us out for my birthday lunch! We went to Thai Flavors and had a delicious lunch, thank you so much! It was a real treat to not have to cook and clean and try out a new restaurant:)

We are doing the Wiggle Bugs song and dance to end the class.

At the end of class all the kids get stamps, they like them on each foot and each hand. Here are her friends John and Evee.

Chloe's turn swinging on the roe swing and then she lets go to fall into the foam pit.

Chloe has discovered the drinking fountain but hasn't quite mastered it yet. It is gut busting to watch her push the button and miss the water, spray her face and get a drink:)

Chloe is climbing over the mountains, this was a new activity today and she had a blast climbing!

Here she is making towers from the foam pit:)

Here is Chloe doing the balance beam, she did it for a little while but decided it was a little too slow paced and took off to build some towers.

This is the long trampoline, another one of Chloe's faves. They were doing sprints, bunny hops and straddle jumps.

Chloe loves jumping on the trampoline during the obstacle course.

This morning Gramma and Aunt Brigett came to visit for the day! They were able to go to gymnastics with us and take some pictures at class too. They now understand why I haven't been able to take any myself, Chloe is very fast paced;) Here we are doing the warm up song and dance.

Happy New Year!

Girls rule! It was our turn and I am proud to say that we/I didn't get boo-ed off the stage. We had such a fun night cooking, eating, drinking, playing rock band, and we even spent the night and had breakfast together in the morning. What a great way to end the year and start out the new year! Thanks for a fun party!

Chloe had to move on to the real deal after a while.

I'm trying to distract Chloe but all she wants to do is jam out on rock band. It was so cute to watch her play the drums, then grab the microphone, sing then say thank you, thank you like a true rock star and throw down the mic:)

Happy New Year! And no, I didn't make Jason take 20 pictures, this was one and done;)

Jason and Tyler jamming out! Even though they look pretty serious they were having a blast!

After a delicious meal we all get ready to rock and roll! Tyler and Rebecca are experts at Rock Band and Chloe made a great addition to The Dirty Thumbs as their lead singer:)

She needed to take Cinderella's carriage in her boat of course!

Chloe having fun with Tyler making funny faces!

Chloe had a nice supper of mac n cheese at Tyler and Rebecca's, perfect way to celebrate the end of 2010:)

Chloe and I in our aprons:)

Chloe and I had a lot of baking to do to get ready for our New Year's Eve party at Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rebecca's house. Chloe's favorite part is to lick the spoon, I remember as a kid that being one of my favorite things as well:) It's so nice to have a little helper.