October 2012

Emma and her GOLD MEDAL from playing soccer this fall.  We loved, and she loved, the team she was on.  The boys and girls meshed so well and Emma now goes to school with a number of them  The other girl on her team is actually her locker mate at school, and one of the boy's, Carter, holds a very special place in her heart!

We decided to get away for the weekend Oct. 11th - Emma had Friday off -so we headed up to Duluth for two nights.  I got us a place right on the lake, in the Canal Park area, and it had a separate sleeping area with a giant whirlpool tub, plus breakfast (which is nice so if one of the girls wakes up early I can take them down to get something while everyone else sleeps!).  We had a beautiful cool and sunny Friday to spend in the "park".  Harry the Horse took us on a carriage ride around Canal Park.  Thank goodness for this picture - proof that I was actually on the trip:)

Part of the reason I love staying at Canal Park is because of the rocky shore along Lake Superior.  The shore has teeny tiny pebbles soften by years of wear from the lake, and then they have brought in yards and yards of giant boulders that you can climb on and explore, along the coast line (I am sure they are a break for the water as well!).

Olive and Daddy walkinng together.

We took Olive to the toy store at the end of our afternoon walk, so she could pick something out for her first birthday.  She has only two stuffed animals, and I thought she needed something special of her own.

What I did not mention was that by unforseen circumstances we did not get to our hotel until almost 10pm Thursday night.  The plan was 7:30!!!!  So Emma was EXHAUSTED most of the day Friday, and Olive was not in her prime, for sure.  For lunch that day Emma ate apple sauce (didn't even touch her mac-n-cheese) and could barely contain herself during dinner.  When she gets tired she is constantly on the move, because God Forbid she actually admit to being tired! :)

So when we called it an evening at 5:00 Em was hungry, and well Olive will just about always have a little bite to eat.  So we all headed in to the beautiful sitting area of the hotel, like a 4 season porch of sorts, and I walked Emma over to Caribou Coffee to get a snack.  The girls shared maple brown sugar oatmeal and a grilled cheese sandwich (Ok, I may have had a few bites too!).

Both Emma and Olive were SOUND ASLEEP in the hotel room by 7:15!  Elliott and I sat next to each other on the couch and enjoyed each other's company, watched TV - no kids programs! - for a few hours.  It was heavenly!!!!  No other responsibilities, nothing else to accomplish, no dogs to let out....  We will most certainly go again for the weekend, very soon!

 The above picture is of Emma and Olive, the morning of Olive's Birthday.  Emma LOVES being a big sister, and while they can BOTH pester the other, Olive lights up when Emma is around.

 We had planned to spend the whole day (the 13th - Olive's birthday) in Duluth, but we woke up to rain!  So, we headed back home after check-out and Elliott called my Mom and Denny on the way home to see if they wanted to come over for dinner.  I figured if we were having a small family dinner we HAD to celebrate at least with cup cakes!  So I made lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  You can see she LOVED them and scooped the frosting in to her mouth!!!

It is so fun to watch Emma start to interact with Olive, and in a way that both of them can really be a part of!  The other day I walked in to the toy room and there was Olive sitting at the kiddie table.  Emma had sat her there and given her tea, a spoon and a donut, and Olive was as happy as could be.  It is so fun - Emma is such a little mom, if not a little overbearing, I am always certain she loves being a big sister.

Cousins Landon, Olive and Emma dancing at Olive's "official" birthday party.  We were so happy to have Becca, Landon and Chris join us, with my Mom and Denny as well.  Olive received a piano from Nana and Papa Jim for her birthday and she is OBSESSED with dancing to the music!  I love it.  I seriously think it is from me dancing until I was almost 8 months pregnant.  She has a pavlovian response to music and cannot contain herself:)

She REALLY enjoyed her pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting:)  

Tired Olive, who is quite the snuggler, with Daddy and her new bunny from Grandma Loerch.

And ...  matching hat!

We had a wonderful first birthday with Olive.  It is so fun to see all that she is learning and exploring.  She has been waving goodbye for quite a while now, and she is most certainly saying "hi", usually if there is a phone involved (!).  She will stand up on her own and walk many steps unaided, so that is just a matter of time and her desire.  She still loves the salty foods, and mac-n-cheese especially, brown rice and soup, also bananas, apple squeeze packs, strawberries and waffles!

She is a bit of a picky eater, has no interest in a bottle (I've quite trying!) and does not really like milk either. 

Elliott and Emma got a little building bug over the weekend.  Elliott ended up building this beautiful bird feeder, went to the antique store to get the milk jug, and took Emma and the digs to the puppy park to get found wood for the outside!  I LOVE IT!

My mom and I took Olive out to Whole Foods for lunch the other day - eating mac-n-cheese of course!

My favorite Olive picture this far....

Oh, did I mention that she has started screaming to get her point across?  If she wants some water, she will scream until she gets it.  If she wants to play with something, she will scream until she gets over to it.  If she wants some breakfast, she will scream until the food is in front of her....  awesome.

:)