Famous Quotes from Hannah

These are things that Hannah says all the time that make me laugh:

1. "Not today"
- Me: Hannah let's go peepee in the potty. "Not Today"
- Me: Let's get dressed . "Not today."
- Me: "It's bathtime". "Not today."

2. "It's not working" (when I give her the yellow sippy cup instead of the pink one that she likes)

3. "it's my turn"

4. "I slove you" (translation: I love you)

5. She doesn't, or can't say Brecklen, so she says "Beckton"

6. "Nuggle me?" (snuggle me?)

7. "I slicked you!" (sometime she pretends to be a kitty and lick our face, as gross as it sounds she is so adorable when she does it).

8. My ultimate favorite, which is not funny but embarrassing when she tries to get out of being picked up at the grocery store or anywhere where she is running around like a crazed toddler:
"You hurting me!"
I always stare off in the distance and pretend not to hear or else I know that if I did look at anyone I would get the evil eye from every person who heard her, or see people flipping open their phone to call social services. Then I would be trully embarrassed. I just laugh on the inside at myself saying " I'm just picking you up Hannah. Chill out. Someday this too shall pass."
I just love motherhood!

Tagged!

I am supposed to list my 8's in honor of the Olympic opening ceremonies held on 8-8-08. Here they are:

8 tv shows I love to watch: Smallville, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, the Today Show, Samantha Who? (gotta watch something new during the summer), Chuck , Curious Gearge ( it's so cute!), Scrubs (I don't think it's on anymore).

8 restaurants I love: Chai's (Thai restaurant in the cities) Jenpachi Japanese Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Avocados World Bistro, Any real mexican food from San Diego- in Minnesota Chipotle will have to do, Anthony's fish Grotto(fav. place to go in San Diego when my mom picks me up from the airport), Buffalo Wild Wings BBQ, famous Daves BBQ, and Newt's (best burgers in town).

8 things that happened today: talked with Aric and watched a movie when he got home from work at 1am (the Ultimate Gift, a very sweet movie, would reccommend), got a professional massage, ahhh, that was really nice(thanks Aric), took Brecklen to swimming lessons, blogged and caught up on everyone's blog, cooked dinner, played super mario bros. on super nintendo with Brecklen while Hannah napped, took Brecklen to try out a karate class, bathed the kids and read books for bedtime. Busy day, but soo much fun!

8 things I am looking forward to: Not being pregnant anymore and meeting our baby girl, not having to cook dinner while my in-laws and mom are here visiting soon, Aric graduating from residency, moving to Colorado (maybe), no more Minnesota winters, being able to wear non-prego clothes again, Aric making a "real" paycheck, going on a vacation that we can actually afford.

8 things I love about the summer: the weather, BBQ's (especially Aric's awesome hamburgers), being able to throw on sandals and walk out the door and not need 5 layers of clothes, fresh fruit, visiting all of our favorite parks in town, how amazingly green it is here, how the whole state of Minnesota is a happier place, and how I want to live here permanently every summer, and move away every winter.

8 things on my wish list: Someday... being able to get my hair cut and colored on a regular basis so that my hair dresser actually knows who I am, weekly maid service, more massages!, have the energy of my 2 year old, exercise more and be fit, have more personal time (although wouldn't trade time with my kids in the world) , go on more dates with my husband, being able to do more fun activities with my kids in the future and not have to worry that we're braking the bank.

8 people I want to tag: I don't even think 8 people read this... so your all tagged!

Our first pet

Hannah and I were swinging in the back yard when she saw this tiny frog about the size of a quarter. I picked up the frog and put it in her hand. She thought he was the cutest thing ever and wouldn't stop laughing and smiling. I love seeing her so happy. After a few times of jumping out of her hands he calmed down and stayed put. She was so excited to show Brecklen, as she is with everything. He loved it too. We decided to keep the little guy. I think I was as excited as they were to have a little pet, which Hannah called "Baby frog." I put him in a cardboard box for the night, gave him some food and water, and in the morning he was in the same place that he was when I put him in there. I didn't want to touch him to see if he was still alive because I didn't really want to know. The kids were so excited to see him and I told them he was still sleeping. Finally when Aric came home that night he touched the little guy and he was hard. Poor frog didn't even survive the night. So we had a little pet frog for less than a day. I wanted to go outside and replace him, but Aric said they needed to face the reality of death. The kids took him outside and put him under a tree in the backyard. They were sad for a little while, but those frogs are everywhere, so the kids are always picking them up and playing with them.

Colorado 2008

We had such a wonderful trip visiting Colorado. We went there to scope out a town called Loveland (NW of Denver) and surrounding area, to see if it is a place we would want to call home someday. We still have 3 years left in residency, but vacation time is limited, so we are trying to take care of certain things before times runs out, like where we want to live when we finally are done with school and have to "settle down." Aric doesn't want to move to California, too expensive and too much traffic, and I don't want to live in Kansas, too flat and windy, so we have been trying to narrow down a place to live. We went to Colorado for a family vacation 2 years ago and just fell in love with the area. So we decided to come back this year to see if we still felt the same way. And thankfully we loved it even more! We spent 4 days in Loveland and were just amazed by this " jem" of a town. It is about 60,000 people, but seems so much bigger, without all the downsides of a big city. Lots of great shopping (and outlets!), a few different hospitals for Aric to do surgery, and many medical plazas in the area to own a practice. Many, many lakes! This was our favorite part about the town, there were lakes everywhere. It seemed like everyone in town owned a boat and jet skis. The town was so green and clean, and lots of commercial and residential building going on, the town is growing so fast. I think we are both getting tired of living in a semi-permanent area and are really looking forward to finding a place to call home for good.

These pictures were taken at a park in the middle of town in Loveland, right next to a huge lake.

Breck riding a mini train at the park

Grandma holding Hannah so she doesn't fall in

I think She almost fell in here.

This was one of the many amazing houses on one of the many lakes in town. I don't know why I took a picture of it except that it was pretty. We looked at many houses (just driving by) and even some oral surgery practices just to get a good feel for the area. It doesn't look that big, but it was a HUGE house on the lake, complete with 4 car garage and loading dock to the lake below. It's actually way to big for me, but fun to look at.

After we went to Loveland we stayed in a cabin for a week in the mountains with Aric's parents and his brother's family. We did lots of hiking, eating, and just hanging out. Hannah and Breck had so much fun playing with their cousins, which Hannah called her "Boys"

This was our little cabin in the woods

Grandpa and Breck sharing a moment

Breck found some "dinosaur" bones on one of our hikes

This was taken on one of our hikes that was close to our cabin

This was another hike higher in the mountains. The kids were so excited to find a big patch of snow to play in. Brecklen has been asking if winter will be here soon ever since. Me, I think I can wait for winter, take your sweet time. Here's Breck about to tag his cousin with a snowball.

Hannah and her "boys"



This was taken on another hike in a meadow that used to be a mining town. There are a few houses still standing (or parts of them). Breck had fun climbing the rocks, and Hannah was in heaven picking all the flowers.

Memories Game

A few of my friends have done this on their blogs and it was fun thinking of memories I have had with them, or about them.

So, leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

Which Princess are you?

I saw this on a friends blog and thought I would take the quiz for fun to see which Disney princess I am. Click on the link below and find out who you are and post it on your blog.

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

Art appreciation day

Today we went to a free family fun day at the Rochester Art Center where the kids get to do an art project. We've done this twice before and it's always ended up being fun. I thought Brecklen would really enjoy today's theme of "steamroller art." We cut out shapes and stuck them to a square piece of cardboard. Then we painted over the shapes, stuck a piece of paper on top and a real steamroller rolled over the art. That was the best part. In the end the art was on the paper. They turned out really cool and I am even considering framing them. Brecklen's art titled "Fish" is an under the sea theme, and Hannah's is titled "Horsey" and has a horse and butterfly on it. It was actually very official. When Breck and Hannah's art was done being steamrolled, titled and signed, they put the Rochester art center stamp on it and this art organization put their official seal on it. Each kid's art got a number, Brecklen is 700, Hannah 701. They are officially part of the 1000 print summer steamroller project. They took a photo of each child with their finished product. I forgot to ask them about what they are actually going to do with all of the photographs.

Brecklen's Art- "Fish"

Hannah's Art- "Horsey"

After we were done were were allowed free admission into the Art center. I thought we might as well take advantage of this. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be a great parent by "culturally educating" my children when I get the chance. I didn't know anything about the current exhibit, but really did it matter? Well, maybe. My first clue should have been when I walked in and sitting at the reception desk was a girl who looked like she would work in a New York City art center, or a cafe. Very cosmopolitan artsy cropped jet black hair, bangs cut straight across. She asked me if I had heard of Roman Signer. Ummm, that would be a no. Apparently he does sculptures. Well great. I guess I like sculptures. I am not really an art person. I don't quite understand the magnificence of modern art. I do appreciate it though, or at least try. I do enjoy beautiful art when it is pleasing to the eye, but don't understand why some people are highly regarded when they splatter paint on the canvas and call it "art." My kids can do that.

This exhibit was of Roman Signer's "art sculptures". He is apparently "regarded as one of the most important contemporary artists working in Europe today." We walk upstairs to see the exhibit, and Brecklen and Hannah start to go over to this pan sitting on something so it is off the ground, in the middle of the hallway. I don't have a clue as to why it's there, but wanted to leave it be incase the owner comes back. I told them not to touch it and escorted them into the exhibit room. So we walk into where I thought was the art and immediately think "oh no, kids, don't touch anything. Is THIS the art?" It was a mother's nightmare. Hazards everywhere. 6 shiny metal fans on high speed blowing air up toward the ceiling. Above each fan was a very large glass whiskey bottle hanging by string from the ceiling blowing around because of the fan below it. They wanted to touch everything. Brecklen started to grab one of the whiskey bottles (well within his reach might I add) and I asked him not to. I am really not a freak about child hazards, but we are in a museum and I wasn't exactly sure if this was the exhibit, but I certainly don't need my kids getting their fingers chopped off by sticking them in one of the many accessible fans, nor trip on one of the multiple cords lying everywhere, nor reach up to grab a very large and what would be heavy glass bottle of whiskey (for a child) hanging by string from the ceiling only to have to take them to the ER and explain why they smell like alcohol, have no fingertips, and have glass stuck in various parts of their body because of the glass shards that flew everywhere. Plus I didn't want to have to pay for breaking any part of an exhibit. Although I could just stop by Walmart and pick up a new exhibit and set it up myself.

Needless to say we weren't in that room for too long. We go back out in the hallway, past the pan on the ground. I still wonder why it is there. Then I know when I see the next "exhibit". It looks like someone is unpacking their stuff in a garage. There is random stuff everywhere. I wasn't sure if we are supposed to be there because it seems they are right in the middle of unpacking an exhibit. There are no signs anywhere to suggest what these things mean. I shoved all of the papers they gave me at the front in my bag as I chased my kids into the museum, so I didn't realize what all this stuff was, not until I got home and read it, and then it was more hilarious. Again I have the same feeling of panic as we entered this room. I Asked them not to touch anything. There is a riffle on the ground as soon as we enter the room, and Hannah runs right towards it ready to pick it up. I am freaking out. Don't need to test that to see if there's no bullets in it. So what we see is a riffle just laying on the ground with a long runner in front of it thats pushed up in the middle so that if you shot the gun the bullet would go through the "hole" under the carpet pushed off the ground and hit the target also just sitting on the ground. Hannah wanted to run on the carpet, which would completely ruin the "art sculpture." I couldn't believe this is what they were calling sculptures. None of this stuff he sculpted. These are things already in existence. For example. A bike. He is calling that his sculpture. No, that's quite offensive to the person who actually came up with the design of that bike. A solar-panelled suit case Again, not really a sculpture. My personal favorite was a large walk-in freezer just sitting in a random room. Brecklen asked what it was. I told him I didn't know (when we first saw it). He said that if you walk in it your brain will explode. The way he said it was so serious, like aliens sent it here as a device to kill mankind. It was very funny. Then I looked inside (it didn't open-thankfully) and there above all things beautiful and inspiring was a lone bicycle wheel stuck in a block of ice. I just started laughing and showed the kids what was inside. All I could envision was someone getting their bike wheel stuck in a Minnesota snowy winter. Hey, atleast it was true art though. Not some pot, or bike just sitting there.

As I read a little more about him, he really shouldn't have been in a museum. He does things with these props he is calling "sculptures." He really needs a Vegas show instead. On the way out we saw a few clips of what he is renowned for. Riding in a kayak on a gravel road being pulled along to me isn't really art, that's science. Or sitting in a chair with a rocket strapped to his arm making him go in circles isn't exactly fascinating or artsy either. Well, Kudos for something, but I'm not sure what. These things never had any explanation behind it. Now I know he probably used the bike for something, but to call that his "sculpture" is just not right to me. It was just poorly done. It just seems to me that any 15 year old boy could have his own exhibit if he video tapes himself on a skateboard, and then puts his mom's pot on the ground alongside his own fan with his stash of beer he has in his room.

So, if your not bored already, and have actually gotten this far, this prompted me to reach deep down and find my inner artist that has just been waiting to be unleashed. I would like you to check out my first ever attempt at art, inspired by Signer. Now I would like to hear comments back from you like "truly amazing", "one of a kind", and "humorous, yet innovative."

"Superheros"

"Potty in the Kitchen"- my personal favorite

"Chair"

"Bear with ears "

"Shoes as they lay "

"Quiet and Efficient" AC that cost so much it just deserves to be here.

"Bike on lawn"

"Weedwaker in neighbor's yard"


"Light "


"Babies"

"Pile of Shoes"

"Monster trucks"

http://rochesterartcenter.org/

Mommy and daughter day

I have just been the blogging fool lately. Aric has been gone alot for work since we've been back from vacation so I've been spending more time at night blogging instead of cleaning my house, like I should be. No jury duty today, yeah!!! One week over with, and one week to go.

Today Brecklen was going to play at a friend's house for much of the day, and I didn't have to do any errands for once, so I decided to take Hannah out to do something fun. She always gets dragged around on my errands, and she takes the brunt of it because I always try to do errands when Brecklen is gone playing at a friend's house. So I realized that I don't think that Hannah and I have ever really had "fun" together. Yes we've been to the park and so on, but not really any set aside bonding time out of the house, just the two of us alone. I go out with both kids all the time to do fun little things, but never with just Hannah. I thought that was kinda sad, but then I realized that she's barely two, and wouldn't have really comprehended the idea of a mommy and me day. This was last minute, so I decided we would go to a storytime at a bookstore that I thought she would enjoy. I know, fancy huh? She was really excited though and kept calling it "party time." Sadly enough we arrived and no storytime today. So we played around the toy store with all the puzzles and dollhouses around. She had so much fun playing with the dolls and the dollhouse that I was tempted to get it for her. A little too pricey to buy on a whim, but I'll keep that in mind. We had alot of fun playing in the toy store, and when I said it was time to go so we can get lunch she just stopped and came with me. I was so proud of her. I was expecting a huge fight. I have to say Brecklen was never good at that, it was always a struggle to get him to leave the fun. So I learned that Hannah is a really good listener. And then I realized that she has always been this way. So we both left happily out of the toy store.

Next to do was to eat. I asked her if she wanted McDonalds or go to the mall and find something there. McD's was right across the street from us, which she noticed, so wanted to go there. I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted. So she got her fancy happy meal with the polly pockets toy and was very happy. We parked in the parking lot of McD's and Hannah got to sit in the front seat to eat with me. She never gets to do this, I am sure Brecklen would have snaked that spot, so it was special for her. She got to play with all the controls in the front, play with the windshield wipers, and honk the horn. She was having the time of her life. She sat on my lap and we snuggled for a bit and I told her I loved her and she got a big smile on her face and snuggled into me. She felt special, she had such a sweet look on her face. So then we went to Barnes and Nobles at the mall and read lots of books there. Then topped it off with some ice cream of her choice at Coldstone, our favorite. I think my kids could find that place with their eyes closed. Then she got to play at our little play area in the mall. That was our fun and exciting adventure. By that time it was past three, and we had been out partying all day. So she fell asleep in the car on the way home.

We both just had the best day and I am so glad we had the opportunity to do this. I think I will make time to do something special with my kids alot more often. It was easy with Brecklen, when he was an only child. We would have lots of fun together, and when Hannah's napping we get to spend time together then reading or playing a game, but I guess I didn't realize how little quality time I actually get to spend with Hannah alone (doing something other than the dreaded shopping and other errands). She is such a sweetheart and is different alone, and I didn't realize how much she craves my attention. We have no exactly been getting along lately and she has often been saying "I don't like you" since I was sick back in May and June. And even though I know she doesn't mean it, it is still not fun to hear. I think what she has been trying to say is "I need you" but didn't know how to say it.

It wasn't like I planned anything fancy, but it didn't matter to her, she just wanted to do something that was just for her. I look forward to doing this again in the near future.

Colorado 2006

I am trying to figure out how to upload my pictures of our vacation onto my computer. We got a new camera and I have only uploaded pictures once. Aric always does this, so our pics are still sitting on our camera. I spent about 5 min. trying and have given up because I am impatient. But I have some pictures of our Colorado trip two years ago that we never really got to share since I just started this blogging thing, so I will share now. Some of these are my favorite pics because they are so beautiful, and others because they are so funny. Namely the one of Brecklen peeing in the lake on our beautiful hike. Classic. This will be the picture that I will always want to bring out to show people and he will hate me for it. Also a favorite moment from this trip two years ago is when I asked Brecklen what he wanted for his 3rd birthday. "To smoke" he says. I will never forget it. Aric and I started laughing immediately because we had no idea what he was talking about. It took us many months to figure out that he must really have meant to say, to smoke, as in cigarettes. He must have seen grandpa smoking on this vacation and was curious.

After this initial trip to Colorado two years ago, we fell in love with the area and decided this is possibly where we want to raise our kids. This is what spurred our summer vacation this year. Pictures of recent vacation soon to follow, but here are a few from 2006.

Pre-hike, still happy, before the application of sunscreen and bug spray most likely

Brecklen in the lake...

taking a potty brake

Enjoying the scenery

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on the way to Colorado