ECFE 2008

Hi, still trying to catch up on a few things since last fall's computer/scanner issues. For the last two years, Daddy and I have attended Saturday morning classes at Roseville ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education). It's a great way for me to interact with other kids (and play with different toys!) and Daddy has had fun meeting other parents. This picture of me is my school photo. This was the best smile I could muster. Mommy cannot remember if this was taken before or after my diabetes diagnosis...I'm guessing before since I'm not as beefcake as I am now.

Here's the class photo with many of my buddies. To this day, I enjoy looking at my friends and naming their names. Maybe I'll see them again this fall and, if not, hopefully in kindergarten in a few years!

June Trip to Iowa

I've been wanting to tell you about this trip for nearly a month, but Mommy publisher has claimed she's been "tired" and unable to help me out until now. I also heard her say it has something to do with my new brother or sister growing in her belly. All I can say is my sibling better know that I'm still number one in this family!

Anyway, about a month ago, we traveled south to Council Bluffs for our annual Family Fun Festival with Daddy's side of the family. The ride down was long, but I did really well. Mommy was the one who had to stop more than I did. Something again about my sibling. This kid is needy already. Hmph.

Mommy and Daddy bought a twin sized blow up bed for our adventure. Yeah, that expected me to sleep on it...whatever, I don't think so! Cousin Ellen did show me the joys of bouncing on the bed and my vertical has improved immensely since her lesson. Thanks!

It was really hot in Iowa, hotter than we've seen in Minnesota this summer. I hadn't had a chance to enjoy the sprinkler yet at home, so we tried it in Iowa. Not so interested. I kept trying to run away until Auntie Beth was nice enough to chauffeur me through the sprinkler. I decided to be grumpy for the whole experience. I am the
Decider.

The next day we went to a gigantic playground near Lake Manawa (or Manaswamp as Aunties Beth and Brandy so fondly call it). The playground was HUGE and lots of fun! I got hot really fast and Mommy and Daddy were afraid how my blood sugars would react to the sweaty hotness that was this day. I ended up being fine but playing in the hot sun really is not my forte. I am a Minnesota boy at heart, I guess.

Later on we enjoyed running amok in Grandma and Grandpa's house and generally being crazy. I loved being able to run up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms and down the long hallways. It was fun! I also got to stay up waaaaay past my bedtime and got up at the same time in the morning. For some reason I was so very tired by afternoon, don't know why. Mommy didn't mind laying down with me for an afternoon nap. I guess she was using her tiredness excuse again.

The next day we had a blast at the local pool. Last year we were able to get the pool to ourselves for two hours, but this year it was much too popular and we had to share with others. If you remember, last year I abhorred the pool. This year, Mommy and Daddy were sure I would like swimming, what with all my swimming lessons and such. They were scared when I started whining upon seeing the pool (trickery by me, hee hee hee), but I quickly warmed up. I even went down the slide by myself!

After several hours of swimming, we were all hungry and hurried back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for some KFC. I decided not to eat. Ha ha. I'll show them.

After eating (or not eating in my case) we grabbed the sleds and promptly made our way to the steep hill in the backyard. I had so much fun sledding and was heard from miles around laughing and giggling. Mommy and Daddy sure got a kick out of my giddiness and I definitely had fun, I didn't want it the fun to stop!

But, alas, the weekend fun trip was over before we knew it. By the end I was tired and somewhat cranky according to Mommy and Daddy (I may or may not admit to this). Here I am with Grandma and Grandpa and all my cousins.

And finally, my family. I think my cousins and I are the only ones not in need of mental evaluations. Paging Dr. Jekyll...

Oh How My Garden Grows

Doo da doo doo doo, what to do what to do. Let's see what's growing in the garden today. Wait a minute, what the heck is that thing?!? Awesome, it's a little playground!

But, where did it come from? Did Daddy mold the plastic himself with his stealth engineering skills? Did Grandpa tow it over in his Grandpa Tractor? So many questions, who will answer them, who?

Let me up on the slide to ponder. Wait, I think I know where this wonderful contraption is from. I seem to remember seeing it at Jakie and Lily's last year at their old house in South Minneapolis. Turns out they outgrew it since Devin also needs a swing and there's only 2 on this one. Auntie Rasa and Uncle Donnie were nice enough to let me borrow the playground for a while. THANKS!

Let me give you a tour. As I told you before, it has a slide. Well, it also has two swings. Here I am doing my best Terminator on the swing impression. I really, really, really hate the swings. No one can get me on them (this photo happened by a miracle). If anyone asks if I'd like to swing, I promptly reply, "Nope!" and run away swiftly. 'Nope' is my new favorite word. I say it even when I mean 'yes'. Stupid Mommy and Daddy can't figure out when I actually mean 'yes' and I get mad. Hmph.

On with the tour. There's a little clubhouse underneath the slide that is pretty cool. Unfortunately, it's not meant for tall drinks of water like me. But I'm learning how to duck my head and have lots of fun opening and closing the door.

Thus concludes the tour, please make your way to the exit, thanks.

Time for a nap, I'm pooped!

Freezing Cold in June?

It was a very cold first half of June this year. On the 6th we traveled north to G and G T's house fora fun family get together. I thought I'd be able to run rampant in their huge yard, chasing butterflies and catching toads.

Turns out the toads and butterflies were smart and must have been hibernating (or whatever they do in freezing weather). The stupid weatherman decided to order up freezing cold rain and cloudy skies. I am not voting for him as man of the year, that's for sure.

The weather really doesn't matter, though. We cousins are a tough bunch of kids, as evidenced by our choices in cars. Joe and Nate took the Jeep for a trip while Jakie contemplated how he could jump on, too.

Uncle Ed and Auntie Kristina had some fun activities planned for us. We all made stepping stones out of cement. Fortunately no one's hand became permanently stuck in the cement. That would have been embarrassing.

My masterpiece. Brilliant.

On a side note, I've rediscovered my love of Play Doh and Mommy's rediscovered her loathing of Play Doh and the ensuing mess. Whatever Mommy, it's just a mess, it's not the end of the world. Plus, don't you like cleaning up the floor seven times a day?