Playdate with Luca

What a great day for a playdate! We met up with Luca and Melanie at one of our favorite places - The Eagle's Nest. . . and guess what?? Luca was fearless - and showed Alice how to go down all the slides! (It only took once for her to take the lead and get off one slide only to run right back up for more!)







The slides, ball crawl, and rock wall were awesome (even tho they got stuck twice - and needed Carrie/Mel rescuing. . ) but also a good time. . . sharing snacks! :)


We love The Eagle's Nest!

Rock On, L3!

If my brother ever posts a video of L3 rockin' out in his Jumparoo. . . I'll link it - but for now - you'll just have to IMAGINE how much fun he. . I mean they. . I mean WE were having!!

Alice's Winter Gala

For WEEKS - Alice has been talking about her Winter Gala. She has been singing her songs - and talking about all the practice they've been doing at school! Everyone in the Big Blue House was totally excited for this fun fun week! (Sesame AND Gala in ONE WEEK?!?!?) We all got in the Family Car (THE FAMILY CAR!!) to head to the Gala. WOW - was it packed! I think just about every family had to be there! The kids went with their teachers to practice - and the audience traveled around the school. (school=tiny one room - broken up into 5 smaller rooms with no adult sized chairs) We (the audience) started in the toddler room. Wow - do these teachers rock! Of course there was a mixed level of participation-ness by these little folks - but those teachers kept engaging them! Then we all moved out to the pre-pre school?? room - well - we couldn't see a thing - so we headed to Alice's room - to get a good square of floor - and plopped down.


With so many people there - it's totally understandable that these 3 year olds weren't too interested in performing - except for this curly haired little girl next to Miss Katie. She was a rock star for one night!! :)


After the performances - there were cookies and juice (natch) - which of course, was Alice's favorite part! :) . . . guess I'll have to break out the not-plugged-in PS2 microphone at home to hear Alice's Gala songs. . AND just about any other song she loves to belt out with that mic in her hand! :). . . yes, this can be arranged

Sesame Street Live . . .2010

So, we're getting to be pretty good at these "Kid Shows." We met up with Zach and his parents (and Grandma) again. Zach and Alice loved the show - and even L3 was totally engrossed with what was happening down on the stage! Another great show by the people at Sesame Street Live. . .

Marin Gloria

Welcome to the world Marin!! Marin was born Jan. 8th - but I was sick, Becky was busy being a new mom and stuff - so I finally got to meet her today! Mom and baby are doing WELL!!

The View From Our WIndow

I love to watch them - as they love to watch the world go by outside our front window. . . and they will love it even more when that pesky in-the-way Christmas tree comes down!

Happy New Year!

Another great NYE party at my place! Traditional folks (Jerome/Olesens, Benicks, The Nordin) . .and traditional fare (wayyyy to much food .. . including yummy homemade Chinese!) Added this year . . .Little Alice stayed up 'til the ball dropped in NY! (11:00 our time!! Holy Kamoley!!) She helped me shop for food for our party - and for decorations. She had a blast blowing up balloons with Julie - and then serving cookies to "our guests" as she called them :) :) Too too cute!! Another new thing this year - Wii's Just Dance. W.O.W! This is a workout AND it looks COOL! Like the people playing are REALLY dancing!! I did a bunch of these pics in my camera's athlete mode - and am dying for my brother to make a bunch into a gif file (little movie!) Whew! A great night - and a great way to ring in the New Year . .with my best buddies!

Alice agreed to let me buy these decorations. . . as long as she got to get the big-ol'-bag o noisemakers!


The Spread


Alice loved the "noise makers"


Cutest Family Ever likes to party!


Heidi and Alice loved playing with the balloons. (I think Heidi enjoyed it a little more)




True Dance Fever! (note Alice Chair-dancin' in the back!)


Can you see that we ROCK!!?!? (note the door open behind us . . we got SWEATY!)


Go, Jaime, Go!


Heidi and Alice take a turn.


Here's what the game looks like for the player.


Happy New Year Alice Mae!


The Morning After

Eagles Nest

Alice and I finally checked out New Brighton's Eagles Nest - and it's awesome! If anyone wants to make a playdate - give us a call!! Alice has a "punchcard" - so she can go whenever she wants to! For now - she prefers to hang out in the little kids area. . but is really ready for a "big kid" to join her - and show her the ropes in the big kid area. (Auntie Carrie can't fit up in the tunnels to save her if she gets stuck! :) - but I CAN help her climb up the climbing wall - which has become a new love!) Here are a few pics from one of our new favorite places (including when she taught this little girl how to go down the slide the wrong way. . . even tho her mom tried to not let her go that way. . oh well. . . .:) :) :)



This was literally a pose - she was running - and then came to a dead stop in front of my poised camera for this pose!

Me and My Little Brother

Me and my brother. . . who also happens to be one of my best friends. (Aren't we adorable?!?!?). . .and silly :)

Movie #2 - Up In The Air

Continuing with the coolest Christmas gift (24 movies at AMC)!!

So - I plan to blog about the 24 movies that I will see at AMC this year! Before 2009 is even over - I'm already on to #2!

Up In The Air

Julie and I planned to go to this Sunday Matinee. We couldn't get together early enough - so we thought we'd make the 4:something show. Did you know that movies after 4pm on a Sunday are no longer matinee?? Yeah - so we paid wAY too much for this movie. (minues the $5 I used from my GIFT!) :)

And did you also know that the price of snacks also change depending what time of day you're there??

So - the movie was good. If you noticed - I chose the original movie poster for the picture for this entry. I like that the IMAGE of George Clooney isn't prominent here. However, he did a great job - and so did Twilight star Anna Kendrick! (earned her some award nominations!)

No spoilers here . . but I was impressed with the ending - even tho it was not what I was expecting. :D


Grade for the Movie = A
Grade for the Experience = C-