Split room start, stickers, water pitcher

My children really are beautiful - they have these souls that make my heart smile and there are things that they do that I never want to forget. This weekend, each had an experience that I want to hold onto.

Eleanor:
The children are growing older and with that there has become an awareness that they are different. Specifically that E and Ains are girls and G is a boy. We've been talking about putting the girls together and getting G into his own room but Ains hasn't been the most ideal sleeper and even worse at going to bed so we've held off. We had considered putting them together during the summer BUT when we had so many big changes already with new daycares and schools and friends and teachers that we figured it would be time for a hold off. However, my son is a boy and after a bath is in no hurry to get dressed and I decided maybe it was time to start the move in ways that we could - like clothes and dressing spaces. Here's the hold... E and G are buddies - they are total partners in crime and moving them apart will give them sadness as they like to be together (95% of the time). So I sat her down and began to explain what was going on... as we got deeper into the conversation it took a turn I wasn't expecting.

ALR: So, yes, in November, Grady will have his own room.
EER: And Ainsley will be in here.
ALR: Yes
EER: Because he is a boy.
ALR: Yes, and you are a girl and you can share a room with a boy when you are older and you are either in love or married.
Plain-faced, open eyes, earnest EER: But, I love him and I already married him. 

Later when Grady came to see what was going on, mid-move:
GRR: What's going on?
EER: We are moving your clothes into the other room because you have a penis and I don't need to see it. 

Grady:
With Matt and I leaving for GA soon so I went to Target to grab some last minute items we needed. G went with me. We shopped for 30 minutes, maybe an hour and when we were checking out, he asked the cashier with all his manners if he could have a sticker. The cashier presented him two - which kept him preoccupied for the next 10 minutes - looking the puppy in clothes and sunglasses and whatnot. When we got home, E met us in the garage to show him something. He promptly took one of his two stickers, peeled it off the paper and put it on Eleanor's shirt. She hugged him, said thanks and went to go show her dad. He looked at me and said, "I'm going to give this other one to Ainsey"

And that moment made tears sting in my eyes. This little boy was willing to give his sisters all he had because he knew that it brought smiles to their faces. He really is the best brother anyone could have asked for and his generosity of heart made me realize what a wonderful man he's learning to be... something to aspire to. I hugged him, kissed him, and told him how nice that gesture was. He almost seemed surprised for being commended... like it was a normal, everyday, unquestionable thing. 

Ainsey

Now my girls have fires in their bellies. Not the same fire but this deep conviction of personality and light. Eleanor's is this smoldering coal bed - a drive from within that runs deep and strong - not easily put out. Ainsley's is a massive fireball - with big flames and high heat, it's all show and quick to move. She's been our textbook two year old complete with "me do it" and the checklist before bedtime and the full on body drop tantrums. Well, we ran into one of those at lunch on Sunday. We've used a pitcher of water on the table - to prevent E & G from making 400 trips over to the sink to refill their glasses. Ainsey sees them and wants to too fill her own glass. 

So there she was, in a vehemently "I do it!" grabbing the pitcher and shaking it.. that is until the water came out and splashed all around, dumping on her. This creates a new level of pissed-off because now she has water all over her shirt and pants. 

Other things on the agenda - baseball, smores, cleaning, organizing, school   

Snow, Licked Tomatoes, Pheasant

It's a good thing we went to the patch when we did... the snow seems to have received an early flight in. I wasn't prepared at all! The leaves are covering the deck and under the leaves we still have flip flops out! The garden has barely been picked up... we haven't even tilled in the old, we haven't done the yard leaves or even taken the cushions off the patio furniture. I'm not ready for winter. And the past week seems that if it's not snowing, it's raining and gloomy. The sun hasn't been out for days.

With the snow, E and Matt went outside. It was the perfect occasion to show her her Peppa Pig boots - we'd picked them up a couple months ago and I couldn't remember the size - the saddest thing ever when we pulled them out. They are the same boot. We have two right foot Peppa Pig boots. I could have just bawled. I know she didn't care but now we can't take her in public with them. They even light up.

While the two of them were outside, Grady and I started going through winter clothes to see what I had for the kids to get them thru the season. I found hats, ponchos, coats, and some gloves. I probably need to spend some serious time going through again but I hopefully will get us through the next little bit.

We've also started processing. As a family. Which is not as fun and harmonious as it may sound. E was okay to help put tomatoes in the mill - but G was crabby because he wasn't part of the process. I ended up putting him in his chair and giving him a seat at the table for closer observation. That still didn't appease him - I had to bring in a prop so he felt part of something. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. We did huge flats of tomatoes. I lost count of how many Eleanor ate or how many she tried to have Grady eat. She would eat them like they were an apple.

MJR: Eleanor, quit licking the tomatoes.
5 minutes later.
MJR: Eleanor, take that out of your mouth.
2 minutes later.
MJR: No, we don't bite the tomatoes.
4 minutes later. 
MJR: Quit eating them!
1 minute later
MJR: Why don't you go help Mom wash tomatoes?

We are probably 1/2 way thru and still have a bunch to do. We did a TON of applesauce. We will probably make another ton just to get through three kids next year.

Opening pheasant was a good one for Matt - we went to Grandma and Grandpa's to play and he shot at birds. That night we went to Alice's birthday party, a week early.
The next night we had pheasant fingers for supper. When Matt told her what we were eating, she was shocked! Like she understood but didn't know how it was possible.

EER coming inside from the cold.
EER: I make a snowman.
ALR: You did!
ALR thinking there wasn't enough snow to do that.
ALR to MJR: A snowman?
MJR: It's going to be a long winter.
ALR: What do you mean?
MJR: Her "snowman" is making a snowball and throwing it at you. That's fine if it was just snow but it's also leaves and whatever else she grabs.
ALR: Well, that's to be expected with her coordination and mittens.
MJR: It feels less snowman-y when she takes garbage from the garden to throw at you.

England, Day 1, We need to talk

one day in November
MJR: tonight, we need to talk
ALR: nuh-uh...nope.. we aren't do that. If you want to talk, we are doing it now. I hate when people say they need to talk and then make you sit and wonder and wait through the whole day.
MJR: okay, Allegiant has tickets to Phoenix for March for $100 one way. I think we should get them and go see the Cubs at spring training.
ALR lets out a long breath.
ALR: Are you outta your mind?! We had a baby a couple months ago. We will have both babies in daycare at that time, Grady will be tiny. We have no money because it's all going to daycare - Are you fricken crazy???
Fast forward to mid February
ALR: we need to talk
MJR: where do you want to go
ALR: I want to go to England to the Royal Wedding

That wasn't where the conversation ended, but it's where I thought it would end. After he told me that I'd need an invite, I told him that I didn't expect to waltz right in but the experience of England during that time was something that we'd never forget. He said we'd talk that night and I thought it was a done deal and to be honest, that was okay. I didn't think it was realistic or right to even attempt it. We'd been talking for the past couple years of going to England at our 5th wedding anniversary OR our 40th birthday. When Grady arrived, it was mutually understood that we'd be going later than sooner. When I gone home that night, he actually wanted to talk about it. I think I may have mentioned things like 6th in line for the crown, last of Diana's boys, the People's Prince, Harry is a favorite, she's an American, we've watched Suits for the past couple years... but I wasn't saying it to convince him... I was just telling him why the idea intrigued me. Suddenly there he was convincing me of this once in a lifetime possibility and it's something that he wanted me to see.

Within a week or two, we had plane tickets. We had airbnbs booked... both in Maidenhead and London - in case one was a dive, we had something to go to instead. We started talking about things we wanted to do and see. We called Pinkerton's and asked if we could keep our vehicle at their place - even invited them on our adult getaway (more on that later). Then came the golf talk.

MJR: I want to golf a true links course.
ALR: I want to meet the queen of England.
MJR: No, I'm serious.
ALR: Okay, where are they.
MJR They are on the coasts due to the topography of the land and the inability to use it for purposes of development and agriculture.
ALR stares.
ALR: You know we are in the center of the country? Right?
MJR: Right - well I was thinking you could come with me.
ALR: I don't want to walk a course... how much is it going to cost?
MJR: Well, the green fees, then the car to get there, renting the clubs, meals, and I'll have to tip the caddy.
ALR: Caddy! This sounds expensive. I don't think so.
ALR walks away.
ALR suddenly realizes that her MJR is willing to go to England for a potential 2 minute royal sighting when they ride by in a carriage.
ALR realizes that they are in England and for the day that he goes to golf there are a million and 1 things that she can do.
ALR suddenly feels very stupid and the worst wife in the world.
ALR to MJR: book your golf, I think you should
MJR doesn't ask any questions, until later.

So then the planning became real. We talked locations, tours, food, car rentals, public transportation, cell service. We talked to Michele, who said she'd come stay with the kids while we were away. And then one day, we finally finished packing, said a tearful (for one of us) good bye to the kids and left. We drove to Minneapolis - ate lunch at Kramarczuk's, a favorite of ours, before dropping our vehicle off at Pinkerton's and heading to the airport.

The flight was 8 hours and the worst non-sleeping time every. We had Delta comfort seats, but that didn't mean we were totally comfortable. We left on a Wednesday and arrived on a Thursday.

Lunch:
Cherry and Duck Sausage for Matt with pierogis and I had a krawkowska (garlic ham sausage, harvarti, lettuce, tomato, and pickle on caraway rye - signature sandwich) with a cold beet salad. Cheesecake cookies for dessert, that I shared with Oliver.


Dinner on the airplane
Matt had the vegetable ravioli and I had the chicken with roasted vegetables. I think we both agree that the best part of the meal was the cheese and fruit plate.

DITL: The one with the sunglasses

ALR: So how was drop off this morning?
MJR chuckles: Well, we have a diva.
ALR: What?
MJR: She insisted on wearing her sunglasses and through a fit, so I let her wear them to daycare and we strutted through daycare with our shades on.
ALR: She wanted to wear them to bed last night night, but I told her she could have them today. I guess she took me serious.
MJR: This was how she rode the whole way to daycare...(shows pic on phone)

The one with the childfree staycation

MJR: Where should we go?
ALR: Well, I have two goals... to eat and to sleep.
MJR: We can do GF, Fargo, Minne, Rapid, Sioux Falls, maybe Winnepeg.
ALR: You do know we can sleep and eat here, at home, and not pay for a hotel or mileage.
MJR: But that's not fun.
ALR: It's not fun to pee 15 times in one trip either... let's just stay here.
MJR: Fine, but you can change your mind.

Matt wanted a final weekend...him and I, just him and I before the baby came... and his convincing involved, "We can have one weekend in the next year that is just us." It's pretty sad when he's probably right. I love my husband and enjoy spending time with him but I had to explain to him that I'm trying to soak up this time as much as possible while she's little and growing and changing and we aren't the ones that she spends a majority of her day with. It's quite sad when I thought about it. But a full grown man begging to spend some alone time with his wife is quite sad too so I had to say yes. So Eleanor went off to Grandma and Grandpas and Matt and I did a little of what we used to.

First stop: Blarney stone for the bloody Mary/virgin mimosa breakfast. I had "slop in a pot" and he had the salmon eggs Benedict. Followed by some "downtown" shopping.

Next: A little shopping at Ulta and Dick's... I bought, he didn't.

Next: City Brew for a Lemon Velvet Frappe and Strawberry Banana Smoothie.

Next: 9 holes on Pebble Creek. I was hoping to get a few best ball swings in but we decided to play as honest as possible. I did get one hole in and got a better score than Matt so that was also enough reason to stop while I was ahead. Afterall, it's not everyday I drive the green.

Next: Ice Slushies at Mo's Ice Shack... Matt had blue Hawaiian, I had Key lime pie.. and a mess... how do people eat those without getting sticky everywhere.

Next: Stop at 3Be Meats to sample some brats and check out a new meat market.

Next: Toasted Frog from some deep fried pickles... one of my favs in town.

Next: A little drive around town followed by supper at JL Beers. Matt had a chicken sandwich, I had a classic hamburger with cheese and we split an order of pretzels.

We finished off the night with a frustrating round of mini-golf.

ALR: It's not everyday that you beat me at mini-golf.
MJR: I know, I've never beaten you at mini-golf.
ALR: That's what I mean, it's not every day that you beat me at mini-golf.
MJR sighs.
ALR: At least this time I didn't beat you with you using your own putter.

 Sunday was a bit more relaxed, I had been craving caramel rolls so we went to Krolls for breakfast. Afterward, Matt went out to the golf course and I piddered around the house with laundry and general upkeep. When we got home we had brats for lunch and went outside to work. Matt mowed, I worked a bit on the garden stuff and we cleaned out underneath the deck. I forgot how much we used to accomplish! After a snack of Italian nachos, we headed out for Sassafras.

I'm glad that they all had a good time! I did chuckle at their baby proofing methods which involved rubber bands and cases of soda... but she's a tough one to keep up with! I have a feeling that everybody, especially the dog and cat, slept well after she left!

 best meal: It was nice to have a few meals where we didn't feel exhausted afterward... she's a good girl but we left restaurants that uncomfortably full and unfrazzled!

MJR: See wasn't this nice? (referring to the weekend)
ALR: Yes it was... I had no doubts that spending time with you wasn't going to be nice.
ALR: It was also nice to wake up at 8:30 this morning.. I was so proud that I didn't have bags under my eyes... I don't know if it was because of her or because of the fancy eye cream I bought at Ulta though. 
MJR: You slept til 830? I woke up after 7 and couldn't fall back to sleep.
ALR: It's happening.
MJR: What?
ALR: You are getting old.
MJR scowls
ALR dramatically: ahhhhhhh!!! I married an old man who gets up early when he doesn't have to and looks at other people's lawns with envy and complains about loud music!
MJR: Well, they don't need to have it so you can't have a conversation!

The one with the final leg home

On Sunday, we said good bye to the hotel and Sioux Falls. This probably saddened Eleanor. She had really grown to like our Suite. She liked the two rooms, the closet, the toilet to play in (ahhhh!), she had taken her first stand up shower, and she climbed over all the furniture that she could... the footstools, the chairs, whatever she could!

We packed up and headed to Granite City for their breakfast buffet. Eleanor was midly interested in the food but I always enjoy their caramel rolls. Matt had a special omelet made - he enjoyed the alfresco breakfast.

Afterwards, we went to the aquarium and the butterfly house. The aquarium was a little lack luster but eventually she got the hang of seeing the fish in the water. We had a little with the touch/feel exhibit but the highlight of the excursion was the butterfly house. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed it. There were so many butterflies and they'd attach to you and fly around. There were also little birds running around. All Eleanor kept doing was pointing when she spotted them!

We left there, fueled up and headed north to Fargo. We did have a stop in Watertown at the Terry Redlin musuem. I had seen it once before but Matt hadn't. We wandered all three floors of the exhibits and I also scoured the place for a changing station... with no luck.

We got back on the road just in time to hit a storm at Sisseton before getting to Janice's house for the night. Eleanor had had a tough day so supper was a bit rough that night and she headed to bed early. That gave the adults time to talk that night.

After breakfast, lunch, and a gab session the next day, we headed back home. We didn't have too much trouble with our little passenger until we were about 40 miles out of Bismarck, At that time, I was required to move to the back to keep her company. I think she'd been sick of all the car time and all the miles. I will say, I thought she was a real trooper for the trip!

When we got to Janice's there was all sorts of teddy bears on the floor.
Janice: Will she think these are okay to play with?
EER picks up bear, hugs it, takes it Janice.
Janice takes it.
EER walks back to pile, picks up dog, hugs it, takes it to Janice, chattering the entire time.
Janice takes it.
EER walks back to pile.
Janice: What is she doing?
ALR: She's playing, she likes it.
EER trades small bear for large bear with Janice. Continues on.
Janice: How long will she do it?
MJR: Oh, you could have this for the next 30 minutes.
EER turns around points at dog in Janice's lap and chatters on.

The Tuesday after we got home, Matt and I went to work, Eleanor went to daycare. This was the picture we got midway through the day... she couldn't even make it through lunch. Vacays are rough.

ALR: Did you have a good time? Are you glad we went?
MJR: yeah, but...
ALR: Yeah, but what
MJR: It's not the same traveling we used to do.
ALR stares at him
ALR: You can't be serious... were you expecting it to be similar?
MJR: It was just harder.
ALR: Harder? What do you mean?
MJR throws hands up in the air: you and I had one bag, that we shared, together... she had 6 and a cooler!! 

The one with trip to Sioux Falls

On Friday, we woke up and hit one of our favorite Fargo breakfast spots, CJ's Kitchen. Matt had a classic breakfast, I had the burrito, and Eleanor had fruit and a little bit of whatever she wanted! We always have a good meal there! I will confess we did steal a napkin... they have cloth ones and I didn't realize that all of the bibs that we brought for the trip allow water to seep so we tied the napkin under the bib and this ensured that she was dry. I feel horrible but I call it a mom sanity step as that napkin saved us for the next 4 days!

We got in the car and Eleanor slept the entire way to Sioux Falls! What a stroke of luck. We got a bit nervous through construction but it all worked out okay. Immediately, upon arriving in Sioux Falls, we toured the airport with a colleague of Matt's. Eleanor wasn't as excited as her father but I was impressed with the artwork that they've incorporated into their terminal. While Matt checked out the baggage handling system, we sat and ate yogurt bites and stared at travelers.

Lunch was at the Diner on Phillips Avenue. Cute little place... Eleanor had the fruit with grilled cheeses, Matt had the egg salad and tuna sandwiches and I had the Spicy G Burger with spicy fried pickles on it. Aside from also almost eating the crayons, it was a very successful meal. I took a PB&J bar to go!

We walked around downtown a bit and hit some cute store, even getting Eleanor a well-timed "up"cycled bear to remember the trip. We checked into our hotel room before taking in a river walk to see the falls up close. Someone crashed hard on the walk back home.

We ended the night with pizza from Boss's Pizza & Chicken. Matt and split a Santa Fe Supreme/Rancheroni pizza and Eleanor made a mess with spaghetti. We also took her for her first pool swim... she thought it was super fun to get into a giant splashy bathtub with Dad and I.

Best meal... it's a toss up... CJ's breakfast never disappoints, the pizza and service that we got was amazing, and the atmosphere at Phillips Ave Diner was fun and unique.

Gets to hotel

MJR: I got the room, do you want to take the stuff up and I'll park the car?

ALR: I can do that.

MJR: You take her?

ALR: Okay... and I need a room key.

MJR loads pathetic little dolly with all of the items. There is squabbling on the proper placement of items between ALR and MJR because of the dolly's set up.

ALR begins to push cart while holding EER's hand.

ALR and EER get cart into the elevator.

ALR pushed floor button.

EER sees button being pushed.

In an attempt to ensure ALR and her belly can fit into elevator she pushes cart.

Cart lunges forward and cooler with EER's sustenance falls... upside down.

ALR: Noooo!

EER thinks she should push all of the buttons now.
ALR: NOOOOOO!

ALR pulls EER from buttons and attempts to pick up cooler which is now gushing milk.

ALR: AHHHHHH, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

ALR hears elevator door open.

MJR gets onto elevator.

ALR: Everything is going wrong and WHY IS THIS ELEVATOR NOT MOVING??

MJR: You have to use your room key to validating going to room floors.

EER continues to stare at buttons.

The one with breakfasts and Go Dog, Go

It's amazing how quick the posts can start stacking up. I'm not sure what's going on with me lately. I attempt to go to bed at a decent time because I'm awakened before dawn each morning from the noises across the hall. During the weekdays my attitude is whatever but on the weekends I'd love to win Eleanor over with logic of why sleep is essential and why mommy needs it to keep sane. She will pat my cheeks, laugh and then proceed to treat her dad like a jungle gym, which is okay because that means that I'm not the jungle gym. There are some perks to playing second seat in our little orchestra. Her new thing that makes me

laugh is the morning routine. I typically am the one to go into her room first after being woken by her hand clapping against the crib. I usually sit on the foot stool and ask about how she slept, what she dreamed about, and get a sense of the mood for the morning. Some days she's all about it... other days she could care less about this interaction but every day she goes to the edge of the crib, stands up on the tips of her toes (as best as she can for being a little uncoordinated), and leans over the edge - looking for her dad in our bedroom door frame. Now, according to him, she does the same thing when he goes in... that she looks for me... that she wants us both present soaking up her attention. Either way, this little behavior makes me realize how much she has grown and changed in 9ish months. She looks for us, she knows where we come from, and she knows how to attempt to find us.

Either way, we've been busy surviving. I've continued to be sick... through the whole month of February. I think I keep getting new bugs, lucky, lucky. Eleanor has fought a few things and been into the doctor's office a few times two... once for a well baby check where they were happy with her growth and Dr. Anderson took the time to answer our/my million questions.

We've been doing projects around the house... whether it be cleaning up or straightening or playing or things on the list that never ends, we've been keeping busy on the weekends. We do take more time playing than we did before which may impede our socialness and our productivity but it's all good. We've had a few brunches too as a family. Eleanor had her first weekend of big breakfasts. One day we had blueberry pancakes with an egg yolk omelet, the next she had french toast with another omelet and cut up strawberries. We were happy with how much she ate. She was just happy with the change I think.

Matt and I managed to have another date day... hooray for state holidays. We went to Avery's AM Eatery, which was completely disappointing. I've been waiting to go there for months and it hasn't worked out and when we did, I wish we would have gone somewhere else. Other than that, it was a nice day, the two of us - hard to believe how rare those times are right now.

Best meal: I love brunch and fancy breakfast, those breakfast with little yolk omelets and cooking in the kitchen bring me the most joy.

All in the living room, playing one night after supper. 
EER crawls on top of MJR to plant a big wet, open mouth kiss on his face. 
EER falls off and teeters away a bit.
ALR wants to encourage this so she sits on MJR's test to coax her into doing it again by example.
MJR was not impressed.
EER was not interested.
EER begins to bounce up and down while sitting on her knees. Recent accomplishment that is continually practiced. 
EER is hold a small book that is perfect size for her. 
EER brings book closer to MJR and ALR, just inches from MJR's head.
EER suddenly grabs book by both arms wields it above her head, over MJR's head and lets out a war cry: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ALR loses is drastically falling off the side into a puddle of giggles.
In the meantime, EER knocked herself over due to the momentum of her own action, chuckled, and went to pick up one of her socks which she had taken off before.
MJR is left horrified as his life had flashed before his eye thanks to "Go Dog, Go"

Later that night...
ALR: Are you going to have nightmares tonight? 
MJR: Nightmares?
ALR: About our daughter offing you with a cardboard book?
MJR: Couldn't keep it together could you? What if she had lanced me in the head with it?
ALR: I don't know. (snickers begin again)
MJR: Do you think it was the funniest thing she's done her whole life.
ALR: Yes, probably.