T-ball Begins

Wednesday night was our first t-ball game. Unfortunately, only Eli was able to go and play as Ian was home sick. But, the season is young so we'll have more opportunities to get out there and have some fun.

 Playing in the outfield, or "gloving" as Eli calls it.

Two different socks. It has been MONTHS since either boy wore a matching pair of socks.

Gymnastics Fun

We went to a gymnastics birthday part recently, and the boys were ready to party. Their favorite part? Dropping from the high bar at the very end. I think Eli dropped about 20 times, and Ian had so much fun in the pit o' foam that he just kind of stayed there.

It's hilarious to watch kids drop 12 feet into a pit of foam blocks.

Ready to drop.

Ian is that orange blur in the pit right below the end of the balance beam. That's not a spirit orb.

There goes fearless Eli as big brother climbs out of the pit.

Ready...set...

let go!

Step 1: Turn on griddle

I sometimes joke that the only difference between public school parents and private school parents is public school parents track the school year by quarters while private school parents track the school year by remaining tuition payments. Tuition sucks, mkay? But, what is it that keeps me writing those checks month after month? It's all about the Montessori, baby.

I profess my love for Montessori education on here all the time, but I can't help myself. I just love, love, LOVE it...because it's awesome. Why is it so awesome? Because it's the exact opposite of helicopter parenting. It's raising children who are strong, independent, confident, fearless, self-sufficient, self-starting, internally driven and motivated. It's about making sure your children are adults when they leave the nest, not overgrown kids. And to see young children doing "grown-up" tasks and taking pride in their ability to do so...it's just a beautiful thing. Kids are capable of SOOOOO much more than adults (especially me) realize.

Case in point: Ian's newest skill from his Montessori education is frying eggs. Before touring his school, I never in a million years would have been able to imagine a five-year-old frying eggs! And, I don't know how to cook eggs, so it was never a skill I was going to teach him. But, here we are. A mom with an extremely confident little boy, and Ian with a desire to share his new skill with his mom.

We got four eggs from a friend of mine who raises her own flock (is that the right term?) of chickens. Oh, I forgot to mention that Ian is now a social activist who is strongly opposed to factory farming and will ONLY eat eggs that come from "happy" chickens who are free to run about in the grass. He will gladly tell you all about it, and I love that he feels a curiosity about where his food is coming from.

Step 1: Turn on griddle.
Step 2: Wash hands.

Step 3: Oil

Spread the oil all around.

Step 4: Crack the egg

Step 4.5: Celebrate your awesome egg-crackin' skills while your little bro, who is mastering cream cheese sandwiches, snaps a pic or two.

Step 5: Regroup when egg gets away from you.

Oops!

Step 6: Crack a new egg

Step 7: Flip egg

Now, the best part of the entire process is the end. At school they teach the kids to set the table with plates, silverware, salt and pepper, and a flower in a vase. Ian was very concerned about the lack of flowers in our house, so he ran out a picked a dandelion and since we didn't have a vase the right size, we used a little Pyrex bowl. Then we sat down together and ate our fresh, happy chicken eggs. It was lovely.

Minneapolis

Cole and I are big fans of the "long weekend getaway." Since we've been married we've gone on several, and every time we are amazed by what we find and how much we always love about our destinations. We have yet to take a "bad" trip. Sometimes the trips are a flight away like Las Vegas, or quite a long drive like Savannah, GA (twice), and sometimes they are close-ish like Milwaukee, WI...which, to date, is still one of my favorite cities we've traveled to.

Our latest trip was all the way to Minneapolis for a three day weekend. We went to visit Cole's friend and former coworker who recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with his master's degree in Engineering. It was a great trip, and I am ready to go back and take the boys with us!

St. Anthony falls on the Mississippi River

This is a naturally occurring waterfall that was "contained" to help run the mills when the city was new.

The dam right before St. Anthony falls.

The Lego store at the Mall of America. Yes, we went there. I was curious!

Outside Barbie's Dreamhouse. It's an exhibit you can walk through for $23.95.
I didn't do it, and now I wish I would have. Oh, well. Next time.

This isn't us, but we rented a bike built for four (and two small children who can ride on a bench on the front.) It was pretty fun until we realized we had missed our turn on were on the wrong trail. We had to get ourselves turned around by literally picking up the bike and walking it in a circle. Well, Cole and his friend turned the bike. I "supervised."

Minnehaha Falls
So, so, so awesome! And right in town, which was really weird.

If you are going to Minneapolis, you HAVE to go to Minnehaha falls and hike the trails.

Ian does this pose all the time, so Cole had to do it, too, in his honor. When Ian saw the picture he said, "Hey! You're doing what I do!"

Snapping turtle just hanging out by the trail.

Okay. So I'm not a food picture takin' kind of gal, but O.M.G. This was AMAZING! We ate at a place called Chino Latino, and if you are in Minneapolis you MUST go there. This is nachos with chorizo and black beans but instead of tortilla chips, it was served with plantain chips. Best. Nachos. Ever!!!!

And then we finished the trip with a stop at The World's Largest Culver's. (It wasn't an intentional destination.) 

Quite a change from Chino Latino, but I love me some Culver's so I was happy...as you can see.

And beside the Culver's parking lot was this weird apple on a tower. So, I took a picture.

Room Mates!

The boys have been asking for MONTHS to move into the same room. I resisted at first. I had to share a room until I was 14, and I hated it. I wanted my own space, and with three sisters, there was none to be found. But, Cole and I realized the sincerity of the boys' wishes, and decided to finally make it happen. The boys left our house on Saturday to stay the night with Nina and Poppy with no inclination of what they would come home to on Sunday, and believe me when I say, it was worth every second of our seven hour, round-trip drive to make the room mate dream become a reality. I guess when your kids are accustomed to the simple life, a new bed seems like a thousand Christmases rolled into one, and for that I will be forever grateful and more determined to keep on keepin' on, just as we always have.

It's soooooo cozy. I just love it!