Big Bear Zoo

A few weekends ago (I know, I'm behind...) thanks to some free tickets from Brad's work, we were able to take Tesfu to the 'Big Zoo'. I was a little skeptical, because this zoo is always busy, and Tes was already bummed that her best friends the gorillas didn't live there. But, we ended up having a fantastic time!




We saw nearly every animal known to man, enjoyed some popcorn, scared Tes by trying to make her feed the goats, walked and walked and walked, rode the monorail (aka 'bus'! according to Tes), ran into a couple who also has adopted and swapped stories, stuck our hands in the tide pool, - oh, and did I say we got our walking in? All with only one little tantrum. I'd call that trip a success.

Most Beautiful Words...

Okay... I'm fessing up. Our 'Great-Tough-Love-Sleep-Solution' from a few posts back, well, it worked for about a week. Then, Tesfu started to get two molars breaking through, and all heck broke loose in our house for awhile. The one area she sort of regressed in and just hasn't bounced back to her (more) normal self yet, is - sleeping. We not only took two giant steps back and she has decided she needs to be plastered next to Mommy to fall asleep, but she is laying in my bed now, too. Once she is asleep, I just move her to her little bed (which, by the way, is still at the foot of our bed) and slide back into bed praying she will not wake up in the night and wiggle her way back into Brad and I's domain. It is very exhausting... She is what could be labeled as a 'sleep kicker'.

Then yesterday out of the blue, while I was getting ready for nap time, she plainly said to me, "Leave, Mommy". I tried to hide my absoulute freakin' glee as I pulled up her covers and kissed her, but I'm not sure if I masked it well. Ten minutes later I took a peek - sound asleep. It hasn't happened again yet, last night and tonight I had to lay next to her for her standard forty minute toss-fest until she finally just collapses into sleep from exhaustion, but I kinda' sorta' feel like maybe possibly we may be making headway? Maybe?

Good night!

As Promised

The pictures to go along with the previous post:

Watching the seals at the Como Zoo. Unfortunately, our pictures of the Tesfu's bestest friends the gorillas didn't really work.

Waiting for the train to go to the Twins game with Brad's family. Trains are apparently not quite as fun as buses, but she still did good.

Cousin Hunter deciding he needed to hang on his own. Three years old, and already trying to pretend he doesn't know us.

I am not forcing her to clean the stadium, I swear. The kid just loves to clean.

State Fair Time! First taste of a cheese curd. Your a Minnesotan now, kid, you are going to have to just get used to it.

Conquering the enormous slide with Daddy.

Displaying her pig ears proudly.

Auntie Kimby and I showing off our love for cheese-on-a-stick. By far, the best food item at the fair.

Letting the Little One eat straight ketchup. Whatever. It won't kill her.

The only picture we took while in Iowa. What can I say, not much to see there. Unless you want a picture of a corn field.

Now, everyone close their eyes and imagine what these pictures could have been with a better camera. Do I have anyone on my side yet?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please Summer, Don't Go!

I have two good – or at least possibly bordering on adequate – reasons why the blog has not be touched in two weeks:

Number one : Summer is almost over! We have been desperately trying to shove as much warm weather activities into our days as humanly possible, before we are forced by Mother Nature to expose our Tesfu to the cold, harsh reality that is a MN winter.

This month alone we have:
- Made best friends with the gorillas at Como Zoo (or at least, what I assume is best friends, because Tesfu talks about them A LOT;
- Watched the horses run at Canterbury Park (run, horse, run!) while munching on $1 hot dogs;
- Went to a Twins game where thanks to one bored little girl who tired of the game, but will never tire of a good wet-wipe and a surface to rub, we sat in the cleanest seats the Metrodome has ever seen;
- Perused the Great MN Get Together, also known as the Great Eat-Too-Much,Step-In-Horse-Poop,Sweat-Your-Water-Weight-Gone Get Together, where we tromped through every barn, reconfirming on many occasions that yes, every animal does indeed have a butt. What is it with 2 year olds and rear ends? (oh- and p.s. – even though you promise your child there will be animals at the fair, no, there will not be any gorillas, much to her dismay);
- And finally, we took a little weekend trip for a STAR motorcycle gathering to the great state of nothing but corn, a.k.a. IA. Well, corn and a particular orange motorcycle that Tes was fairly insistent that Daddy must must bring home, because, well, it is orange, and orange apparently is the best color of all. Mommy disagreed, much to both Tesfu and Daddy’s chagrin.

We are wrapping up our ‘Please Summer, Don’t Go!’ extravaganza this weekend with an impromptu camping trip, since Kefelen’s family has so graciously invited us to tag along with them. Though, to be honest, I am a little afraid of the restroom situation at the campsite, because campsite bathrooms are not known for their outstanding cleanliness and we are currently in the throes of a serious ‘potty scary!’ epidemic. Just ask anyone within a mile radius of the International Bazaar area of the State Fair the day we went, they will tell you just how scary Tesfu thinks those potties are.

Number two: My household is in some serious negotiations at the moment, and nagging – I mean negotiating – takes away some serious blogging time. The issue? I would like to sell everything that doesn’t run away from me in the house, so we can get enough money for me to buy a digital SLR camera. I want it so bad, my mouth salivates. I long gave up my dream on owning one of these babies, because last time I looked (like two years ago), the price was too much to bear for something I could possibly drop and break. However, after a conversation with a friend that jump started me into looking again, I see the prices are much more reasonable than the past. I know, I know, it won’t happen. But, a girl can dream, can’t she?

Pictures of all our crazy summer events will be posted (I have none on this computer), and so will a post thanking my good friend Jess for nominating me for a Blog Award (an award?! For little ole’ me?!) some time in the not so distant future. Of course, the pictures will only be so-so, taken from a regular, slow, boring old point-and-shoot, so don’t get your panties all in a bunch to see ‘em. Now, if I had owned that SLR…

Peace!

Cheese!

Tesfu has finally mastered the cheese-y smile when a camera is produced. Can you tell she is yelling 'cheese'?

Ahhh... I hope this phase passes fast, so we can start taking un-cheese-y pics again.

Toes!

Playdough has been a long standing favorite activity in this house by the Little-One, but quite frankly I think it smells funny and although I know it is a creative outlet, I always hope Tesfu, in her toddler ways, will tire of it quickly so we can put it away. The other day I was lazily smooshing the dough between my fingers, secretly wishing Tes to get bored, when I made... a foot. You would think I sculpted a masterpiece. She went crazy. The next hour was spent making feet in all different colors and sizes, much to Tes' delight. She would count the toes, tickle the soles, and play 'this little piggie'. Oh - and of course the occasional digit amputation, but a new foot was easy enough to make. It was the gleeful look on her face as the toe was disconnected that made me worry...

So, as a warning to all you possible future babysitters of the Little-One out there - if you plan on playing playdough, you better brush up on your foot sculpting first, because Mommy makes one mean set of toes. Its a lot to live up to.

Playing dough in the days before the discovery of "toes - more toes, Mommy!" Ahh... those were simpler times.

Post toes picture. Note the look of glee - she is probably plotting what she wants to do, merely smoosh the toes, or pull them off?

Because, why wouldn't you line up all your feet on your booster? I mean, really.

This kid cracks me up. Each day is something new!

Random Cuteness...

... or, 'My Kid is Cuter Than Yours'

If you are looking forward to never having to wash dishes again, you need to start them early on the appropriate washing techniques. Apparently that involves your feet getting wet.

Summertime = good.

Ice cream + summertime = even better.

Swing High!
We have a freezey-pop problem here. We are currently seeking a 12 step program to enroll her in, specializing in 'froffee' addiction.
My two favorite people! And yes, Tesfu was drinking that coffee in front of her just as much as Daddy was. What can I say, the kid loves coffee.

The random pictures will have to suffice for now... Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Peace.