Happy 30th Becky!

Last night I went out to the bar (yes, the bar!) to celebrate my buddy Becky turning the big 3-oh!  Those of you who know me know I hardly ever go out to the bar.  The last time I was in Andy's (where the party was) was seven years ago when we lived in the apartment complex next door to it.  But people don't turn 30 everyday (well, actually they do, but Becky only turns 30 once) and so I decided to go out. 

Becky opening up a present from her Menards friends, wrapped in bubble wrap, of course!

Liz borrowed my glasses for a photo op

This morning we decided to go for a morning stroll.  Evan broke out his bike, which is actually brand new but a little on the small side.  We are expecting a cold front and more snow (grrr) this coming week, so we figured we better take advantage of the sunshine.

Later today we went to Rochester and on the way home we stopped at Cold Stone Creamery.  Evan loves ice cream as much as Jeremy, so after finishing his own and eating half of mine he decided that Jeremy's cone was fair game as well. 

Chocolate dipped cone with sprinkles - delicious!

Got any more in there Dad?

Evan-ism:

"Hey guys! Guess what? My pee is MAGIC!"

Backstory: On the way home from Rochester today Evan announced from the backseat that he "really had to pee bad!" We pulled over in the middle of nowhere and I got out to help him pee by the side of the road. Big mistake. Mom's aren't good at stuff like that. He peed all over himself, including on Jeremy's jacket that I was using as a wind block.  Jeremy made the comment that if he had to wash his jacket again it might not fit because every time he washes it it shrinks. A few seconds later Evan came back with "Hey guys! Guess what? My pee is MAGIC! It makes things smaller when you wash them!"

A few weekends ago Jeremy went ice fishing with a group of friends.  They didn't catch much during the day, but the fish were biting in the wee-hours of the morning.  Jeremy looks a little tired here - that's because he caught this big guy a little before 4 am. 

Car Pancakes

This morning Evan asked me to make him a "car pancake" for breakfast.  When I gave it to him he replied: "Thanks, Mom.  You're a good kid."  (This is his "eating the pancake" face.)

Evan is enrolled in swimming lessons and gymnastics at the local YMCA.  I accidentally signed him up for the first-grade class instead of the pre-school class, but it actually seems to work out better.  He listens better when he is surrounded by older kids.  Here he is on the vault (arms up - "Ta-da!")

Normally, Jeremy picks Evan up from school each day.  Jeremy has had to work the past few Fridays, so I have been the one to pick Evan up and drop him off at my Mom's house.  He was so excited to see me last week!  Here he is running to me as the kids all come back from playing down by the creek.



And, of course, here are some Evan-Isms:

Feb 24, 2011

Evan: "Mom! Daddy let me have a cookie...but they were only for girls."

Me: "Only for girls? What do you mean? What kind of cookies were they?"
Evan: "They were made out of girls... when a girls shouts."
Me: "Oh! Girl Scout cookies! Honey, that's okay, boys can eat them, too. And they aren't made out of little girls, I promise."
 
Feb 18, 2011
Evan: "Mom! Look! A black kitty with white paws is outside!...I wish I could have a kitty like that."
Me: (sigh) "You're just like your Daddy, I tell ya'."
Evan: "Yeah, Mom! You TELL us! Tell us we can have a kitty like that!"

Feb 7, 2011
Evan: "Hey, mom, can I eat my booger?"
Me: "Eww, no. Want me to get you a Kleenex?"

Evan: "No thanks, I'll just put it back in my nose."

Red Cottage Montessori School

Here are some photos from Evan's first month in school that his teacher passed on to me.  Each day the kids spend an hour outside hiking the trails looking for deer beds, animal footprints, and enjoying nature on the bike trail and bluff behind the school. 

Down by the Hay Creek, accross the street from the school.

For those familiar with the Montessori method of education, you know that the school focuses on practical life skills as part of the curriculum.  Each child is allowed to choose their own work - and on this particular instance Evan decided he wanted to choose cleaning the windows!  He keeps asking to do this at home - I think I need to buy him a squeegee. 

Evan is LOVING school!  He loves his new friends and his teacher, Kai.  Every day when I get home from work I get an earful of all of the fantastic and fun things they did that day - what kind of animal tracks they found in the woods, what Hanna's favorite colors is, what work Evan chose that day, and all of the fabulous stories that a three-year-old's imagination can come up with. 

It's Been a While...

We've been busy!  Evan started preschool the first week in January and its been going fantastic!  Evan is a bit on the wild side, so of course there have been a few issues getting him to settle down and not interrupt the other children while they are working, but all-in-all it has been a fantastic experience for him (and us!)  There was a great article in the local paper about the new school with Evan's picture in it.  I'll see if I can get it to upload. 

I'm not sure what's been the best thing about school - the fact that Jeremy gets to sleep more than 4.5 hours, that Evan is tired and on a regular schedule, or the friends that he has made!  We went to the zoo and the Children's Museum on two separate occasions with his new best friend, Mary Ellen.  She is absolutely adorable - and quiet/well behaved - so she and Evan get along nicely.  I'm hoping she rubs off on him a bit...

Here are some highlights from the past month:



Evan hiding in the doghouse at the Children's Museum 




Evan was so excited to dress up as a fireman!



Jammin' with some new friends (they were watching themselves on a TV screen while they played.)  Ever since we played Rock Band at the Dahl's Evan always wants to "be the mica-ro-fone."

Blowing some awesomely big bubbles!

Fishing with Mary Ellen

"I'm a turtle!"

Hanging out with our buddy, DJ

Ice skating at the Athletic Field with Beth and DJ.  I forgot how hard this was!

Once the sun set and the moon came out we figured it was time to head for home.  The boys had fun but were a little frustrated with their first ice skating experience.  I think Evan thought he could "run on the ice" like the hockey players he sees on television!

Two best buddies asleep on the couch together after a long day!

Happy New Year!

Some of my favorite moments from 2010 (click for larger view)