FROZEN!

There is a movie out there called FROZEN. It is a perfect movie for this winter. We all feel like we are living in a deep freeze! It is also a perfect movie for Linnea. She LOVES it and I won't lie I really love it as well. So beautiful, funny and a great story about sisters! We went to see it with Dylan, Jake, Erik, Lisa,  and cousin Laura. My parents watched Harper so both Chris and I could go. It was a nice fun family activity to do since the day before, on Friday January 3rd grandma Thomas/GG had a stroke. My mom got there as quick as she could from work and Erik happened to be in the area so he went to the nursing home as well. My dad and I were skiing but dad went right there as soon as he got the message. I went to visit later that afternoon/evening. She looked very different and had lost the ability to talk, eat or drink but could recognize us and hold our hand. Saturday she woke up and looked more herself and could still recognize people, give a smile and a hand squeeze. So we decided to bring the kids. We debated because we wanted their memory of GG to be when she was awake and chatty and herself. I say the memory of her because we knew this would probably be their last time seeing her since hospice dealt with GG's stroke as an end of life situation. Some went to see her before Frozen and some went after. Linnea saw her after and she was sleeping peacefully. We all ate Chinese food afterwards at my parents house. That was a food grandma loved. More on our sweet GG and celebrating her life in the next post.

A video of Linnea performing some Frozen songs will also attempt to be posted :)

Polar Vortex...extended winter break

What did we do on our many extra days off? Well we did some fun experiments outside such as bubble blowing to see if they freeze and throwing hot water up and watching it turn to vapor. We also had some movie watching, lots of playing and doing crafts. There must have a day when it wasn't quite so cold because I made a point to get out and go for a night walk and make these:

bottom of the sledding hill at the park :)

in our backyard made with daddy :)

a night walk before the super cold weather comes!

New Year's Day Christmas!

Oh I just can't catch up on this blog! Maybe by the end of January I will be all set to be more on top of it in Feb! 

Anyways...New Year's Day we spent in Bay City celebrating Christmas with Chris' side since we didn't get there Christmas Eve. Jenny and family and Chris' grandparents couldn't make it but we had a good day anyways :)

More presents! The girls got lots of new clothes and toys and opened many of them there to play with. it was a great day!

Cookies above and new duplos below :)

The farm is all set!

We headed home that evening since I had to work the next day but the girls got to be home with daddy. Turns out it was quite silly that I even went in because that day was then followed by my usual Friday off, followed by the usual weekend but then we proceeded to have MONDAY and TUESDAY off due to EXTREMELY cold temps. Polar Vortex temps like 50 below with windchilld! 

It was the never ending winter break for Linnea. She was more than ready to go back to school on Wednesday.

Happy New Year!!!

I took the girls to Como Zoo and Conservatory for their Happy Noon Year celebration! It is so much fun! They have a ball drop and a few crafts too. It was a pretty cold walk in but we made it!

She loved the noisemaker!

That evening we had Chuck, DeAnna and baby Cora over. It is becoming a tradition to have them over and we have lots of fun just hanging out, playing and visiting.

Linnea loves holding Cora! She is about 7 months in this picture.

It has also become kind of a tradition to make a gingerbread house every NYE.

And of course get a family photo by the tree! We also fondue'd and had snacks out which I guess I don't have a picture of :(

We made a Happy New Year Banner to pass some time since this one lil gal was determined to stay up and wish everyone a Happy New Year!

And she did it! With a fancy glass of lemonade/sprite punch!

We celebrate with New York at 11 :)

This was the best picture I could get of my gooofy hubby and I ;)

Harper woke up when we went upstairs...she did sleep from about 9-11:30 for us which was nice.

She quickly passed back out once we all went to bed.

This year Chris and I are setting the same goal as last year...at least 12 kidless dates :) We failed miserably last year but this year is off to a good start since we went on one this evening Jan 19. I am late in writing this New Year's Post. Along with our parents we are using our wonderful neighbors as babysitters and will return the favor for them :) I also want to read more and continue to do family outings at least once a month as well and have Mommy/Linnea dates and some Mommy/Harper time too. I also want to make a jar to fill with little notes of fun moments or things we have done throughout the year and then read those NYE :) Chris wants to read a book a month and do more fantasy baseball writing. 

Well Checks!

I was lucky enough to take both girls to their well checks. Alone. With a total of 7 shots between the two of them. There was plenty of nerves beforehand. We watched a few shows about the doc and we read a few books online and from the library to prepare Linnea for the big day. Linnea brought her new Doc McStuffins doctor kit with her and her Doc McStuffins Checklist. She also wore her Brave dress to help her be brave. 

I wish shots weren't so scary for her but they were and they are and it's normal. So after watching Harper lay down and get her "pokes" Linnea sat on my lap after doing awesome with all the rest of the appt and let the nurse do her thing while gripping her lil bear and me giving her a big squeeze. 

I took the girls to Choo Choo Bob's train store to play in the morning to keep our minds of the appt. We also went to Target to buy special band aids so she could put a strawberry shortcake band aid on the pokes. We had lunch there and then stopped at home for a few things before heading to the doc.

They got some new books, stickers and suckers from the appointment! Such big, brave and healthy girls! However, Harper didn't grow as much as liked and has been having a lot of constipation and possible digestive issues so we are trying soy milk for her. Since that hasnt helped too much we are going to a GI doctor this Friday. Linnea was 37 lbs but I will have to check her height. She was able to touch in the 3ft area of the pool this past weekend tho! Harper I think weighed about 18 lbs.

 After using a gift card and birthday bucks from Red Balloon Bookshop we treated ourselves to frozen yogurt...yes frozen yogurt on a freezing night in MN. It was delicious and yes we were the only ones in there.

 fun with mommy!

Fun with daddy's hat!

After Christmas Fun!

We spent the Thursday after Christmas at one of our favorite free events...

Lil Explores at the Como Zoo!

 We played in their playroom and fed tigers...

Walked around the beautiful Christmas flowers at the Conservatory...

 walked away from tigers...

 The theme of Lil Explorers must have been Underwater...

When we weren't out and about we were keeping busy at home with crafts, playing with new and old toys and games. 

 Trying to play catch/roll the ball with Harper.

 Harper is exploring more and more but keeps finding her fav spot in the baking cabinet.

 We brought Little People toys up for Linnea to play with and she LOVED them!

Harper continues to love sleeping on our bed and has really decided to love baths! She can nearly climb in after everything she throws in there.

 Harper really enjoys sleeping anywhere but the crib for us.

 Harper loves to sit in anything she can and Linnea and really enjoyed her new Ladybug Game!

 Goooo Vikes! I'm not sure you have noticed but Harper loves to have stuff around her neck lately...she works hard to put it there herself and takes it off when she is does and is very proud if this skill :)

 Harper is much more of a monkey than Linnea ever was. She wants to climb on anything and everything!

 glue and shaving cream snowmen!

 climbing in the dishwasher with a cute hat on.

and sleeping on our bed again. we really took advantage of sleeping over winter break :)