Apple Orchard

We spent the day with these cuties at a local apple orchard, taking in everything they had to offer: hay rides, petting zoo, train rides, silo turned playground, apple orchard, pumpkin patch and face painting. It was a glorious fall day!

At the end of the day, Sidney was quick to remind us her favorite part of the day was the train ride. She loved it.

The girls each ate 3 (partial) apples today, and only one had some fresh carmel included. In fact, when the kids all asked for home made donuts, Sidney stood crying as she wanted an apple instead. Not a problem sweetie, enjoy your apple. Regan danced around to live music munching her apple.

The entire gang, enjoying a hay ride. Thanks for a super fun day!

I busted Regan out of the hay pile to pose for a picture, I knew she'd do it without hesitation. She's a sucker for these cutout boards.

Something tells me this impromptu picture might make the final cut for a Christmas card.

Cheer Clinic '11

Regan brings home a lot of permission slips, activity opportunities and local happenings. Recently she brought home a flyer for a local "Cheer Clinic". Brought me back to days in high school when we put on dance clinics for the elementary students. It's a fun opportunity for both ages. As we do with every slip, we offered Regan the opportunity and she immediately lit up with a giant smile and yelled "YES!".

This morning, we headed to the high school, greeted by this guy:

and she put on her t-shirt, hair ribbon and grabbed a set of poms. Off she went, that brave soul. She spotted a few friends from kindergarten and was in her glory as she looked up to the high school students.

This face says it all; she loved watching all the girls show off their cheers and wave their poms.

I think there had to be 100 girls all screaming out cheers and finally posing for a picture. Regan's pretty excited to perform in front of a crowd at the local varsity football game next week.

Fire Department Open House

This morning it was just me and Sidney. Unusual for a Saturday morning. We took in the local fire department open house and picked a station just down the street from where Regan was spending her morning (more on that later). Sidney is a very shy girl, especially without her big sissy. She didn't want to climb into the trucks, despite my willingness to go with, she didn't want a cookie and she certainly wasn't about to crawl through the little house set up for all the kids. So instead, we watched from a distance as kids took turns spraying the fire hose.

And after much convincing, I got her to at least stand next to the truck (her argument was "they're going to drive away!") for a picture. And then we headed back to the car. Once in her car seat, she asked for a balloon. A balloon that I had offered to her at least on 15 different occasions. So back to the station we went for a balloon. Oh little girl, it's a good thing I love you!

Little Georgia O'Keefe

Regan amazes me with her love for art, drawing and now, spelling!

She's been working on "brave spelling" lately, writing out words that she doesn't entirely know how to spell. Not just sight words (which by the way she recites daily and today we were in the middle of the store as she yelled "L-I-K-E like! "W-E-N-T went!"), but spelling words she just has to sound out.

It's great to watch her, and although I'm not entirely sure she spelled 'Candycorn' all on her own, she claims she did and was very proud of her work.

She says the girl on the bottom is her dancing, and then she proceeds to show me the dance move she's drawing. Adorable little artist :)

This and that...

Given the amazingly warm temps we have been experiencing, I took the opportunity to have a picnic poolside tonight. The girls were a bit nuts about the idea and had a hard time sitting still....it's going to be a L-O-N-G winter if we're experiencing this already.

And after dinner, we got down to business with making fall colored M&M Halloween cookies!

Regan loves to crack the eggs. But she sure does make a mess! And then Sidney turned on the mixer while the beater was in the air...batter flying all over the kitchen! We tried to keep our composure, but Ryan and I just ended up laughing.

mmmmm....

Sidney was mid-chew when I asked for a picture, needless to saw she was not happy to pause!

New dance studio

Tonight Regan's dance class started back up, a little later into the fall than usual. The studio has moved into a much bigger space and it couldn't be more perfect! Regs is in her glory. She was literally all smiles each time I poked my head up to the window to watch. She loves both tap and ballet equally at this point and really thrives on the variety it offers to her.

Just a short video as the girls learn a little tap...

Planet Spooky 2011

Planet Spooky was today's destination at this local attraction:

So the girls got dressed into costumes, Sidney in a ladybug:

and prepared to trick or treat, ride on some rides and eat icee's.

We normally say that Regan is our photogenic child. Today it was Sidney. She hit us up with her charm, flashing a great smile and posing for some great pics.

And Regan remains a natural in front of the camera. There's no need to bribe this girl, she knows to pause, smile and then proceed when I pull out the camera and yell "look here!".

Sidney and Hudson were inseparable today. Poor Paxton was stuck riding solo until we could get Regan off the bigger kid rides.

Face painting (incredibly over-priced) when Grandma Sheri is around means you get whatever you want. And Regan wanted a kitty cat. She doesn't even look like herself?!

Sidney choose Hello Kitty and thoroughly enjoyed the part.

Regan (5.5 years old) and Paxton (he's 1.5 yrs old) with his arm around her. A picture from the front would show you that her arm was resting on his leg, in a protective manner :)

See what I mean?, inseparable!

Thanks Grandma Sheri! It was a great day.

Three Rivers Park District

Tonight the girls and I ventured to Mt. Gilboa for the chairlift rides. We've been doing this for 5 years (technically longer if you count the year before we had kids!) and the girls love it every year. Click HERE for our 2007 trip.

We're minus Ryan tonight as we lost him to another concert...such is life!

The girls loved the chair lift "ride", until the wind gusted to around 40 mph and Sidney got a little nervous. She even asked me "can we get off now?", as we were suspended way up in the air!

The colors were simply amazing. Just breath-taking!

This guy, or whatever owl shows up each year, mesmerizes the girls. Sidney surprised me by getting up close and even asking questions about the "bird". We all love to watch him turn his head all the way around, man alive that's something that would work nicely when the girls are fighting over a toy!

While playing a ring toss game, the volunteer stepped backwards almost right onto a salamander that had ventured into the area. Sid immediately asked if she could touch it! Where is this brave girl coming from?

Regan was interested in learning about the "dead animals" this year. Ryan keeps reminding me that they have a nicer name like 'skins' or something. Sure, whatever. Look like a bunch of flat-as-a-pancake-dead-animals to me!

I couldn't get a picture of me/girls as I've done in previous years, so this one will have to do!

Leaves!

Sidney and I had the opportunity to do a little raking, running and jumping in the leaves today. It's funny to look at these pictures because she's in a summer outfit during these 80+ degree temps, but it's the middle of fall in MN where we are used to 60's this time of year.

We're loving it!

Wii-Just Dance

Regan continues to be in love with playing Wii-Just Dance on my computer, courtesy of YouTube. Whatever works; though she will be getting one from Santa this year! Recently, she's been able to convince both myself and the neighbor girl to play along with her. It's sure a lot of fun and great exercise!

Overcoming fears...dance 2011

Sidney put on her brave face today. For weeks she's been wanting to take dance classes, just like her "big sissy". So, we signed her up. And then upon arriving, she bounced down the stairs, turned the corner and instantly got cold feet. Yep, right there in the middle of class, she froze. Clinging to me for dear life, crocodile tears welling up in her eyes and a quivering bottom lip decorating her precious face.

Amazingly, I talked her out of her fears, enough to grab a name tag and stand next to her new friends. She obliged, but only if I promised to sit in front so she could see me. As for actually "dancing", well, she did a lot of watching, but towards the end, she really got into it! She gets embarrassed if we look at her, but yet she wants us to recognize her work.

I'm a tad bit afraid that we will have the lone child in the winter show who stands there, not moving, for the entire 2 minute song.

It's just a good thing she's cute :)

Bent Creek

Today my mom and I were fortunate to play a local private golf course. Not only was the golf a great experience (I have played only 9 holes in the last 6 years), but the company was wonderful! And golf courses are a great place to take in scenery. And today, we did just that.

Thanks again mom! I had a great time!

Fall photo shoot 2011

Every year, we head to a local park to see the changing leaves on this tree and take pictures of some amazing colors. Click HERE (2007), HERE (2008), HERE (2009) or HERE (2010).

Regan was my little model, willing to pose for picture after picture.

Sidney on the other hand, took over an hour of convincing and playing before she was willing to stand even for one picture.

Regan found this branch and again, acted like my little model. When the girl is cooperating, she can sure be fun to chase after with a camera.

After some play time at the playground, Sidney was willing to sit still and let me snap some pictures of her.

The number of geese at this place is overwhelming, but that also means the amount of geese poop on the ground is tremendous! All four of us walked away with "treats" stuck to our shoes.

Regan becomes mesmerized by water....my 'water baby'!

Regan lately

Regan is now a month into Kindergarten and continues to learn and amaze us. After spending a couple of hours in her classroom helping out yesterday, I think I'm just as amazed with the patience of her kindergarten teacher as I am with the amount of information Regan has learned. That lady has some ability to keep up her energy level and patience for 6.5 hours/day, 5 days/week. She's a saint. Regan came home practicing the Pledge of Allegiance yesterday and at one point, it went something like this...."I pledge allegiance to the flag"...."one ninja, under God".

Um, ninja? Oh yea, she means nation! It's clearly a work in progress.

I've been taking her to swimming lessons for the last 4 weeks. She knew how to swim, but she lacked technique and wasted a lot of energy in getting from point A to point B. Just look at her go now! And we have 10 more weeks of swimming left, what on earth will she learn!?