Zoo

The Monday folowing Easter proved to be nice weather as well so we hit the Minnesota Zoo,

 courtesy of Gramma. It is such a beautiful zoo, we are lucky to have it so close.

We were able to enter the tiger lair and get an up close look at the amur tiger right after we were lucky enough to hear him (her?) vocalize.

The playground is tempting and distracting. Maren would have played here all day.

We were able to tear her away for the farm babies exhibit. We even made the milking demonstration. She sat through the whole 10 minute demo. I was impressed.

 The she wanted to pet the cows

 and feed the goats and sheep.

 It was quite the time.

 On to the grizzly bears.

 My grizzly bear:

Lilly wants everything Maren has (or that I have). Boy does she make it kown. She fusses and cries when she doesn't get what she wants. Argh. It's tough. She was pretty okay with just getting a cup.

It's a big zoo. We were all tired after that trip. Schwoo!

EASTER

Appologies up front for the long post packed with photos.

There just isn't as many photos of Maren these days. She doesn't like to have her picture taken. She dominated the camera for three years of her life. She deserves a break.

We went to my Aunt's house to have an Easter brunch with family to celebrate Easter. 

Great Grandma loves the girls. She eats them up every moment she can. In fact they make her so happy that Gramma brings them over once a week. It is the light of Great Grandma's week. She looks forward to it so. We are happy yo oblige.

Great Aunt Cher, Erin and Kristin did an egg hunt for Maren. That was so sweet! She found eggs filled with coins, marshmallows (her favorite), and fruit snacks (a close second). She had so much fun.

Lillian came down to help but there wasn't much she could do. She could hardly move in this dress. It was so tough for her to crawl in. She went so slow. Moving only a little bit at a time and getting quite frustrated.

Here's where it gets crazy. Each girl got a bucket of goodies in the hunt as well. A welcome change from a basket. However, Maren's bucket included a recorder. 

 Really, a recorder. A three year old with a recorder. I said we were leaving it there and she could play it every time we came over. 

(Somehow, it managed to make it home.)

Sounds pretty doesn't it, Lil?

I had this headband custom made by tootyfruitymonkeyluv to match Lilly's Easter dress. The problem, she doesn't like anything on her head. Don't even try to put her hood up! Yikes.

It is so cute! I could hardly even get a pic.

We had lovely weather. After bruch = outside!

Maren raided the garage.

You think it's hard to crawl in a dress - don't bother with the stairs. 

By the end of the hour she skipped her knees and crawled on her hands and feet with straight legs - so funny! By the time I tried to get a shot of that my battery had died :(

Trying the headband again!

I guess it works as a necklace too.

 Thanks to all who helped make it such a wonderful day!

Moon Dough?!

Anyone ever experience Moon Dough?!

Maren use her Toys R Us gift card to pick out this, what we call, "puppy mill."

So this Moon Dough claims to never dry out. In fact you don't even put it into tubs. 

For real. It just IS. You can squish it into these molds and pop beautifully detailed items.

If you press it into the top of the dog house and turn the crank, out comes a puppy, hence the name, puppy mill. It came with two colors of Moon Dough, orange and purple. That didn't last long. They don't seem to be mixing into a brown but instead they are this thin marble of orange and purple. 

This was hours of fun for Maren. There was a whole litter of pups and they all had food dishes, bones, and, yes, T-bone steaks.

Cloth Diaper Butt

I love these shots as the kids are getting ready to get into the tub for a bath. It shows their big cloth diaper butts. I am quite proud of the fact that I have been able to cloth diaper my munchkins. It's a big step for the environment and a big money saver for us. I think it's pretty slick and it certainly isn't tough. Thanks to my wonderful husband for supporting my desire to do this from the moment I mentioned it to him over three years ago. We love you, honey.

Yes I said kids. Both Maren and Lillian are pictured here. They are nearly the same age in these photos, maybe three weeks difference. Can you tell who is who?

Is it that obvious? 

Lillian Mae 5/29/2010 on top

Maren Mary 3/16/08 on the bottom

My cloth diaper butts!

And since we are on comparison pictures

check this one out that my Dad reminded me of:

Maren is only about 7 months in this picture. Lilly in a previous post is 10 months.

She did everything sooner than Lilly so far. She had that one-on-one attention.

Maren has it in her mouth here. That is one thing Lilly isn't all over, paper in the mouth. 

Thank the Lord! I HATE wet paper.

Too much

Lillian Mae, You're TOO MUCH! I just can't get enough. You are so happy and so cute. 

You love looking out the screen door in back when it's nice enough out to leave the big door open. You are now starting to point. You point at me when you want me to pick you up. You point outside. You've been doing it all week. Too bad it's been rainy and cold.

See

That phase, I told you. Little Lilly thinks it is fun to find things like this and make noises. She put the funnel in her mouth and already knows how to play the trupmet. 

Dad decided she should try to wear a funnel too. I think she looks like the tin man!

That phase

Remember that phase when the kids dig in the drawers and empty the laundry basket? We are so there. The phase where you have to close the door on the bathroom so the little one doesn't play in the toilet bowl water (eeeeww gross)  or roll out the toilet paper...

tee hee mom and dad, you forgot to close the door!

Later she pulled out every wipe out of her wipes container. I love how that makes them so happy. 

Note Lillian's cheesy grin in the photo above. That is a typical grin for her. She is such a happy baby. 

Practice

Being that Lillian is almost 11 months old, the morning I made blueberry muffins I decided she needed practice. You know, for her big one year birthday. I just plopped down an entire blueberry muffin for her on her tray. Just like at the end of May I will give her her own cupcake or piece of cake. 

I am happy to report that she loved it! She did well. Time flies! 

So big!

Como

Our first trip to como zoo for this year.

It was a glorious day, back when the weather here was glorious (before the snow came back).

We met some great friends and had a great time. 

Maren and Lilly at the outdoor monkey enclosure:

Maren loves the new polar bear exhibit. Who doesn't?

I hope to continue to stroll the como zoo on a whim with my girls during the week for as long as I can.

As much as my family needs me to go back to work monetarily the thought of putting them in daycare for the first time in their lives is scary. Yes, I am ready to get back to a career and feel accomplished at the end of the day. Yes, I am ready to do something that I am good at. But no, I am not ready to leave these beautiful young girls in the hands of a stranger at the cost of my left arm. I love you Maren and Lillian. May I continue to be the best mom I can.

More bath time fun

Did I mention my girls love the water? 

 

The challenge now it trying to keep Lilly sitting down. She is always pulling herself up these days. 

I tried to get Maren to smile for me again. The cheesy grin was so bad so I said, "close your mouth and smile." I guess that is what she's doing.

Spring at Gramma and Grampa's

The guitar is a favorite. Great Gramma got it at a garage sale :)

This was the cutest thing. Lilly showed interest in the horse downstairs. I didn't think she'd be interested but Gramma said to put her on. It was SOOOO CUTE! She kept doing this little bounce on it and rode it! Amazing! It was so great (and funny).

Maren loves the exercise ball. She doesn't show interest in mine but over there we bounce her on it and roll her around. She laughs and laughs!

 Geena gets to come every week too. It is her escape from city dog life. She likes Grampa's wood pile.

Then she finds the last bit of snow to roll in.

Maren has been excited to ride all day and did pretty well waiting. Finally she gets on.

 Then a ride with Gramma. This is the longest she's had interest in being on Dawn. It was a beautiful day for a ride. Even Mom got on (and she's so glad she did).

Maren got to help Grampa wash Mom's car. 

Then we hit the sand table. She building an island.

 Then a road. Hard to believe we got married there right behind her. How things have changed!

Got some good pics of Dawn too while we were there. It is so nice to get back outside!

Not that we haven't done enough... (hard to believe we didn't even get there till 10:45am) 

now the hot tub! She likes to kick!

 add bubbles

 and Lilly's up from her nap.

Everything goes in the mouth.

She actually gave it to Gramma though when she asked for it! Wow! 

Lilly just flails when she's happy. Her arms are going so fast the digital SLR didn't even stop 'em.

Happy kid!