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!?

A day with Sidney

Although I did spend a few hours with just Regan (volunteering at her classroom is a wonderful experience), the bulk of Fridays are spent with Sidney. And today, we took advantage of the gorgeous sunshine and headed out to see the fall colors. In between pointing out trees, we talked, played and just loved being together.

That is one gigantic leaf we stumbled across, the size of Sidney's face and a little hole for her eye.

The beauty in the colors is simply wonderful. Unfortunately, about 5 seconds into our journey today, I realized that Sidney likely is not experiencing the fall colors like the rest of us. I've mentioned before that we're pretty certain she is red/green color blind and when it comes to fall colors, it breaks my heart that she can't see the magnificence.

She really doesn't seem to mind, after all, she knows nothing different.

Stopping at the old style playground for some fun in the sun and playtime.

WEEEEEEE!!

And the afternoon was complete only after a little begging on the part of an adorable 3 year old who remembered eating ice cream at this park last time. She also happens to sense that this mommy loves ice cream....and I spotted 'mocha chip' which put me on a sugar high for hours!

Thanks for a great day Sidney! I love to spend Fridays with you!

She says the darnedest things

Tonight after a shower, Sidney grabbed her PJ's and headed downstairs to dress while I finished with Regan. Suddenly I heard Sidney climbing the stairs exclaiming "I need some new jammies, deez are broken mommy". I looked down and she said "Da odder leg is lost!".

I love that super serious, but oh so silly girl.

Frosting in my mouth

We made cupcakes this week for Wednesday night dinners, fundamiddle cupcakes.

Yep, fun in da middle. Chocolate to be exact. With a little pink frosting on top.

The girls seem to like the frosting the best. They tend to lick off the frosting and leave the rest.

BUSTED!!! They'd be happiest if I let them loose on the container of frosting.

Officially fall

Happy Birthday to Papa!

That also means we've moved from summer to fall...officially. Today we headed for lunch to celebrate and then check out the nearby pumpkins, apples, and everything else fall-related.

Sidney was willing to take a couple of decent pictures, after we promised her she could pick out some candy from "Minnesota's largest candy store!".

And when Ryan came across this pumpkin, he so wanted to take it home to use as our "joe" (aka: the ugliest, most full of warts pumpkin).

The sun was shining brightly, making it tough for Regan to take a good picture, but the hundreds of pumpkins in the background were too fun to pass up!

Big ones, little ones, fat ones, crooked ones.

I love fall, I just wish it didn't lead into the next season.

2011 VanSlooten party

Today we headed up to my old college stomping grounds to hang out with some great friends at an annual "end of summer/beginning of fall" bash. Chrissy goes all out and rented a bouncy/climbing deal for the many many kids to burn off some energy! It was perfect weather and with so many other kids, the girls instantly made new friends and were off and running.

Sidney stayed nearby as more kids arrived; the bouncy place got a little chaotic until she met a 12 year old girl who helped her navigate around all the wild and crazy boys!

Half of the best group of college girlfriends (+Colten!) a gal could ask for!

Thanks for a wonderful and fun day Chrissy and Jeff!

Swimming lessons, continued

Regan continues to make great progress at her swimming lessons. We took the plunge this fall and put her in a swim school (after recommendations from friends) with the idea that she'll be finished with swimming lessons after this session. We are definitely on that track. She had confidence and abilities before, now she is gaining technique with her strokes. It's been simply amazing to watch; I would recommend this swim school in a heartbeat.

Wednesday night dinners....we've grown

This is the second year that Logan has been joining us for Wednesday night dinners. And this year, another cousin of Ryan's has moved to the big city and is joining us weekly :) We are thrilled to have her and the girls simply love her! All night we heard "save me Leigha" from Sidney as she was being tickled, squished or attacked by her big sister.

And when Logan is around, the girls are sure to get tossed or flipped or tickled (until they "toot"!). Tonight, I came into the family room hearing "do it again Logie....please?". How could she resist!? Up and over hear head she went, with Sidney landing on the couch in giggles.

We tried playing a game, but the girls, with the help of Logan of course, decided making 'boobies' would be much more fun! Clearly, Wednesday night dinners aren't just about the dinner, but a lot about the memories that the girls are making...yes "boobies" included!

Oh brother!

Duck races

The girls scored these giant ducks at a doctor's office last week (side note: an 8:50 appointment and we first saw the doctor at 10:15....we aren't returning to that office).

But the ducks make for some fun in a freezing cold pool on these crisp fall days!

Sidney's stats-age 3

We took Sidney to visit her pediatrician this week and check out her growth over the last year. In full Sidney style, she walked into the exam room, took one look at the gown and said "I'm not putting that on". We pleaded and bribed with her to at least take off her shirt so the doctor could take a peek and she continued to refuse. The poor thing is fearful of the doctor, just as she is of the dentist and any other stranger who wants to invade her space.

The doctor then walked in and smiled, as Sidney clung to me. I mentioned that we had once thought Regan was our challenging child....boy how wrong we were :) Sidney did allow the doctor to exam her, from the safety of my lap, but when it came time to do the hearing/vision test and check her color-blind status, she melted. Forget it. That was not going to happen. So we ended with a flu mist, which went much better than a shot would have gone.

As for stats: she's 30 lbs on the dot (fully clothed of course) and 36.5 inches. Growing like a weed!

Jeans?!

For years, Miss Regan has refused to wear jeans. Unfortunately this refusal has worn off on Sidney who now also refuses to wear jeans. Well, with the introduction of stretchy jeans and a neighbor girl who she just adores, Regan put on some jeans and went to school today! And boy, does she look older than 5!