State Fair

This was our third annual trip to the Wisconsin State Fair with the kids. We have a standing date to go the first Saturday it opens with Dale, Mary Ann, and my mom.  The thought is the more adult hands the better. Plus going on opening weekend tends to mean the crowds aren't terrible.  This year it was a hot day to visit but as always we had a good time.  

Taking the shuttle from the parking lot.

Dreaming of next year when she can go down
the Super Slide. Next year, kiddo.  Next year.

Greta with her favorite... Grandpa!
I absolutely love how her front two chompers look
in pictures!

Heading up the pig slide.

Enjoying the time out of the stroller to
stretch her legs.

The next picture is probably my favorite memory of this year's trip.  

Clearly all the heat and excitement was just too
much.  He couldn't even stay awake for ice
cream!! 

Yes, he literally fell asleep after two bites of his ice cream.  We tried to wake him.  He took another bit and dropped the whole thing on his lap.  Out cold. We lifted him up so he would snap out of it a little -- it worked.  He was able to finish his cone! 

Sky Glide!
Dan and his mini.  Darn it, they're both so handsome! 

Would you believe me if I told you that this was the first time I had ever rode the Sky Glide?! It's true.  I have been to the State Fair countless times and never ridden the thing. This year, Dan and I took Myles while my mom was behind us with Nora.  While we were on Dale and Mary Ann walked the length of the fair grounds with Greta to meet us at the other end. I gotta say I was a little nervous with Myles.  After I told myself not to let my imagination get away with thoughts of the worst I had a good time.  Myles loved it.  He said it was his favorite part. 

The view from above.

The following day we stopped at the club for a dip in the pool. 

Time and time again. 

And surprisingly the slightly more cautious one.

We had the place to ourselves.

An empty plastic cup filled with ice was the toy of choice for Greta.

And a love for goggles was born.

Exhausted and happy.

Myles: 3 years old

He's three! 

He's independent.  He's a snuggler. He's daring. He's very kind.  He's a great brother.  He's particular about certain things.  He's his father's shadow. He's go-go-go. He's smart. He loves big.  He's a great helper. He's funny.  He likes to make others laugh.  He's loud.  He's tender.

He's three.

Balloons in your room on your birthday! It's a tradition
they absolutely love. 

 I woke up around 3am to hear Nora saying, "Myles! There's balloons in our room and on your bed!" I was going to go back to sleep until I heard jumping.  I went in there and they were jumping off the bed and bouncing balloons back and forth. So many reasons they love sharing a room and that's one of them! 

Ready to open presents from Mom, Dad, and Nora.

He was so funny.  He wanted to close his eyes so he
wouldn't ruin the surprise as he was opening the presents. 

Sporting his new Spider-Man sweatshirt

Birthday ride to the bakery for birthday donuts with Dad!

Another tradition that's developed over the past couple
of years is sticking a candle in your donut while we
sing happy birthday.

That smile makes me smile! 

 A few weeks prior to his birthday I asked him what kind of party he wanted.  He thought for a few seconds and then said, "An American flag party" and never changed his mind.  

My chocolate chip cookie cake creatively decorated to match his desired theme.

The family gathered to celebrate three years of Myles. Thankfully it was
warmer than last year when we were in sweatshirts! 

Still closing his eyes for presents.  This kills me.

Probably his favorite present was his new razor scooter.

Playing outside all day + party excitement = a complete
daze during "happy birthday".  He really was happy
though, I swear! 

Grandma Grandma Sowinski 

Grandma Grandma Guenther

Grandma

Swinging with Grandpa 

monkeys

One of his gifts (a t-ball stand from us) turned into
a friendly competition.  

Happy Birthday, Myles! We love you.

I conducted a "Birthday Interview" with Myles on his birthday.  I'll ask him the same questions yearly and record the answers to see how he changes. 

Birthday Interview

Myles Daniel, 3 years old

Nicknames: Buster Brown, Milo Man 

Favorite Color: blue and green and blue

Favorite Animal: chickens and giraffes and tigers 

Favorite Book: Chuggington books 

Favorite TV Show: Dora and Blues Clues 

Favorite Movie: Frozen 

Favorite Song: Elmo Song 

Favorite Food: hot dogs 

Favorite Drink: chocolate milk 

Favorite Breakfast Food: oatmeal 

Favorite Snack: bars 

Favorite Outfit: this shirt (Adidas soccer shirt with shorts)

Favorite Game: matching game 

Favorite Toy: trucks 

Best Friend: Mallory, Claire, Benny, and Nora 

Favorite Thing to do: go on walks 

Favorite Outside Activity: baseball and bikes 

Favorite Holiday: Christmas 

What do you take to bed?: my blanket and Lenny 

Favorite Place: ice cream store 

Favorite Restaurant: "a Peed" (aka - LePeep)

Where do you want to go on vacation: drive a car to the farm

What do you want for your birthday dinner? pizza

What do you want to be when you grow up? a daddy at work 

What did you do for your birthday? gave me my presents 

Greta: nine months

No official height and weight stats -- no peds visit this month.

This past month Greta went on  her first "vacation" - a road trip up to Minocqua, Wisconsin with the Guenther side of the family.  She loved spending time outside and enjoyed the lake (the one time we let her dip her toes in... it was pretty chilly there, especially considering it was the middle of July! More on that in a different post.)

She occasionally has stranger danger.  Luckily, she hasn't gotten it too bad and never with grandparent or people she sees every couple of weeks.  Although sometimes she's a little slower to warm up to them again (a few minutes or more) she won't cry when they take her.  You'll definitely get the stink face! No no tears.  

Strangers on the other hand, she'll tighten her grip on my arm or put her head down on my shoulder if they look at her - or {gasp} talk to her!  If she's in a cart, she might start to cry.  Or if you're the sweet sample lady at Costco, she'll burst into someone-is-hurting-me kind of tears and continue half way down the aisle.  Poor woman felt terrible.  Other than that, we haven't had many issues.  Crossing my fingers they don't develop either.

Greta, I've always wondered if you'd be a 10 month walker because you started everything else early.  I could still see it happening but something tells me you'll make me wait a little longer.

Nora's First Baseball Game

June 22 was a very busy day for us girls.  Earlier in the day Dan, the kids and I all headed down to Soldier Field to participate in the Baxter Kidney Walk - a 5K along the lakefront.  (Baxter is where Dan has been working the past two and a half years - Accenture put together a team to participate in the walk.) We went with the double and single strollers.  The big kids walked some of the way but mostly took it easy.  Greta slept through some of it. Then after the walk Dan dropped Nora and I off in front of Wrigley Field.  We were invited by Lindsay to join her and Mallory in some amazing seats to the game.

Me and my first girly.

Like I said, the seats were great.  Just about 10 rows back up the third baseline.
The Cubs "tattoo" came from the festivities prior to the walk.

Besties in matching shirts.

I always love the view at Wrigley.  

As the stands started clearing toward the end of the game the girls got
a little more freedom. And increasingly silly.

We (especially Lindsay) were hoping they would make it to the end of the game because the first 1,000 kids received a wrist band.  The wrist band allowed you to walk on the field at the end of the game and run the bases! While we definitely weren't in the first 1,000 we went to fans' services and asked if they happened to have any wrist bands left.  I think it helped that there were only two kids and they're so cute. Plus we asked politely. Sure enough - we got wrist bands!

A view of Wrigley Field - FROM THE GRASS!! After this season, the
controversial renovations begin. I'm glad I got to see it in it's original state one last time.

They move the kids through so quickly, we got scolded for taking this
picture (it literally took 4 seconds to take).

 No still shots of the kids running the bases.  Like I said, they really move you through and the parent couldn't stay on the field once they started running.  We were moved off and the kids were shuffled to where the parents could wait once they were done.

Running through the empty stadium.  Neat.

She probably won't remember being able to do this but what a neat experience.  Thanks for the invite, Lindsay! 

VBS: 2014

Vacation Bible School.  The kids were excited about it.  Even though Myles wasn't quite three yet, we got special permission to enroll him.  I had a feeling there was going to be some tears on the first day but he seemed so excited to go I was hoping he would prove me wrong. Just in case I had to stay with him, I dropped Greta off with Jeff and Katie.

Day 1:

Nora grabbed her name tag and quickly sat down.
So quickly, I couldn't even get the picture to focus.

He was all confident until we pulled into the parking lot.  I could tell his nerves kicked it.  He couldn't be more than two feet away from me as we went to find his group.

Myles had a nervous and tentative smile. This was
the best day one looked.  It was all down hill from here.

The tears started as I tried to have him sit with his group and wait for the songs to start. He asked me to sit with him.  I tried to have him at least sit off my lap but he would cry and literally crawl back into my lap.

On my lap while the others were singing.

When it was time for the groups to go to different classrooms to start the activities there was a meltdown.  A big one.  I went with him and even with an enticing snack waiting in the room, he just wouldn't.  I ended up taking him home with me.  

Echo prayers to finish day one. 

Day 2. Tears outside of school.

Day two came with a different plan.  He said he wanted to try again which was a good sign.  He was excited until we hit school grounds.  He didn't even want to get out of the car.  Lindsay was helping lead the big kids in song throughout the week and today she didn't have her own little guy there to watch so she could be free to help with Myles and offered to do so.  Much appreciated -- Greta had a pediatrician appointment I had to get to.

Once we were inside, it seemed like it was going to be alright.  He fought tears on and off during songs - wouldn't sit by his group but he was there.  Then when it came time to go to the classrooms he even took his group leader's hand! Going through the doorway was another question.  Another meltdown. Lindsay came around the corner and told me to go.  She would stay with him.  

With a little time to spare, I took Greta to the park across the street before her appointment.  I wanted to stay close in case I had to go get him again.  After a couple updates from inside I knew he was going to be okay. Lindsay gave him the choice of staying in his group or going into Nora's.  He, of course, chose to be with Nora (and Mallory).

When I got this picture from Lindsay I could relax.  He was having a blast.

An hour later, still doing great.

When I came back to get him, he was sitting with all the other kids.  Not on a leader's lap.  Participating.  Dancing.  I knew he had fun.

SO proud of him!  

Him staying was reason to celebrate.  Corn dogs and ice cream for lunch!

Who says you can't take three littles out to lunch by yourself?

By Friday, there were no tears.  Not even a sniffle. He came a very long way throughout the week.

As a matter of fact, he's started to ask if it's time for him to go to school yet.  

Greta: eight months

16lbs 5oz (30%)

27.25 inches (60%)

This girl is something else.  The pediatrician joked about her 8 month visit being her 18 month visit.  She's doing so well - crawling, pulling up to a stand, already (slowly but surely) cruising on furniture.  What amazes me is that she doesn't even need a ledge to pull up on.  She'll crawl over to a wall and pull up.  She'll walk when you're holding onto her hands but not if she's behind a walker toy. 

Greta will eat just about anything.  Broccoli was her least favorite so far.  She still ate it, just not a lot.  Her favorites include blueberries, blueberries, and blueberries (I mean so much so that she'll get all excited, arms flailing type of thing, when she sees me carrying the container of blueberries toward her) mandarin oranges, rotisserie chicken, and sweet potatoes. Honestly, I need to step up my veggies game with her.  She likes them and I'd like to keep it that way.  Maybe she'll be as good of an eater as her brother.

Probably the most fun development is how interactive she's becoming.  When you say, "no no" to her she'll shake her head which is the cutest.  Even if she hears "no" in conversation you'll suddenly see her shaking her head.  And whether she's doing it on purpose or not, she'll shake her head no occasionally when  you ask for a kiss.  That's always funny. Which also reminds me, she gives kisses now too.  Big, open-mouth, tongue out kind of baby kisses.  The start of lots and lots more babble has been entertaining as well.  We are often hearing ba, da, ma type of sounds from her.  Sometimes she'll have this raspy deep voice.  A clerk at the store today just said to me, "Who is that talking down there?  It can't be the tiny little thing that strolled up!"

As always, looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us during the next month.