Party Planning

Guess who's almost three?

Evelyn!

Photograph by Molly V Photography

We're close to a month away from Evelyn's 3rd Birthday and the countdown has begun already!  In fact, Evelyn has been talking about and planning her birthday party since July!  Lately, she's been talking about the friends that she'll invite and making sure we set up playdates beforehand.  

I just confirmed the party details and have stayed up until midnight getting the invitations ready.  I delegated food organization to Ian and will have to find someone who wants to handle balloons and decorations.  I'll plan the activities and party favors.  Evelyn will have her choice of Princess Dresses to wear.  Oh yes, did I mention its a Princesses and Pirates party?

Wish me luck!  The party is three weeks away!

Growing with the Garden:

Como Conservatory

Just for fun, I thought I'd compare pictures of Evelyn's growing up.  We frequently visit the Como Park Conservatory during all times of the year - a brief retreat from the Midwestern seasons - a touch of the tropics, exotic and floral paradise!   

We love all the rooms of the Conservatory, but especially enjoy the quiet solitude of the North Garden.  The first glimpse of the Koi pond offers a great observation post for inquisitive little children.

December 2009

October 2011

The Farm: In Pictures

Autumn's Best of Weather

October at the Farm

We seem to have picked the most beautiful weekends to head up north this year.  End of September camping trip in the Porcupine Mountains of Upper Penninsula Michigan  and Apple Fest two weeks later.  The leaves were at the peak of changing color, the fields recently harvested and beautiful weather keeping us outside all day.

Autumn Amusement

Apple Fest 2011

I should also note that this marked the time for Evelyn's first amusement park rides... successfully... on her own!  It was a huge deal for her (okay... for me) to go on the mini ferris wheel all alone.  I think the enticement was that she got to ride in the PINK ferris wheel car with another little girl (also wearing pink).  After the thrill of going around and around, stealing views of Lake Superior, the Island and surrounding vistas, she was full of energy and excitement and wanted to go on every other ride possible!

New Bedroom, fit for a Princess!

Transformation and Inspiration:

Whimsical Playspace for a three year old

As our little lady approached 2 1/2 and started asking for a big girl bed and wanted to plan playdates, we realized it was finally time to transform "Ian's Office/Erin's Dressing room" (aka: Bryon/Sarah's Room, Shawn's room and Siobhan's room) into a space fit for the imaginative whims of our burgeoning three year old.

Being an architect, I lavished over the design opportunities and ideas and finally settled on creating as much open play space, framing the windows with cubbies and shelves and transformed the north wall into a magnetic surface for alphabet magnets and art.

Five coats of Metallic primer

Painting over the primer with  Springtime Peach

I'll give a few words of advice: We used Metallic primer from Rustoleum and found that it really took five thin coats to cover the wall space and perform adequately.  Shake and stir the primer constantly - the metallic sludge quickly sinks to the bottom and needs to be suspended in the primer.  Use fans - we make a concerted effort to use eco-friendly, low-voc paints in our house and unfortunately, this primer blew that practice out of the water.  It smells completely noxcious and you have to use mineral spirits to get the splatters of metallic paint off your hands.  Sigh... but it's so cool!

Magnetic Wall!

First test of the magnetic primer - it works!  It now proudly displays the latest artwork from ECFE school and her potty chart - du jour.

The Princess Playroom/bedroom is complete!

 We Did it!!  By the middle of September, we have the completed bedroom!  I'm proud to say that we've been able to keep it clean and organized and have hosted our first playdate quite successfully!

Guess who loves her new room?!!

Friendships

Sunday Birthday Party

Friendship #1

Evelyn's attended Thalia's third birthday party - her best friend from ECFE school.  You can tell how much they enjoy each other by how comfortable they are and how intently focused they are on each other.

It's interesting to observe how Evelyn has evolved socially in the last three months.  She talks constantly about her friends and what they did that day and what they were feeling/thinking/saying.  She looks forward to seeing her friends and constantly asks for playdates!

sniff, sniff... my little girl is growing up!

Play day

Saturday Play Day:
Friendship #2

We successfully hosted our first official playdate at our house!!  I think I'm almost as excited as Evelyn - venturing into the world of friendships!

First off, we now have excellent play space in our house!  From Evelyn's "little house" outside to her "little kitchen" and table in the living room to her new "princess tower bedroom" - there are many spaces to play.

Next task - invite Evelyn's "best friend" from daycare over to play... decorate and stamp a pretty little card to send along to little friend's mommy to introduce ourselves, exchange phone numbers and suggest a meeting time. Check!

Saturday - the day of the playdate finally arrives!  Friend brings two princess dresses so they can play dress up; Evelyn is excited to show the Little House since she talks about it all the time at daycare - I bring little plates and cups and juice and fruit snacks outside for a mini tea party and it's an instant hit!  It's a good thing to start outside just to get the silliness and excitement out.

Dress-up time came next and the girls put on a "Princess Show" - this consisted of twirling and bowing, dancing and singing "I'm Sleeping Beauty and my mommy is Snow White".

Finally, in fits of either hunger or exhaustion, there is a minor melt down and we know it's time to call it a day. Successful playdate ends with the girls swapping princess dresses for the weekend with promises to return them on Monday.

Next time: I think we'll have one slightly structured activity and the rest of the time for free play!  The girls got along great and us mother's found we had so much in common!

Evelyn phrase of the day: she tells me "mommy, we swapped princess dresses.  I want to swoop again!"

And they lived Happily Ever After

Fairy Tales

by Evelyn McKiel

This is the summer of the dancing princess... of fairy tales and other fancy stuff!

Dancing at the Irish Fair August 2011

The common outfit for Miss Evelyn has been her ballet dancing shoes and a fancy princess dress... gone are the day of running shoes and jeans.  Bring out the velvet, sparkles, swirling skirts and dancing shoes!  Magic wands and Rapunzel towers.  I'm reminded daily that she's Snow White, baby Mary is Rapunzel and mommy is Cinderella.  Daddy?  Oh, he's the SCARY monster that chases Snow White.  Don't worry though, we can defeat him by giving kisses...

Imagine all of this make believe and imaginative play... Evey with a twinkle in her eye, spinning around on one foot and saying "you playing with me, mommy?  Let's dance!"  Melts your heart!

Potty talk

And the potty training has begun!!!


Officially, 2 years and 7 months of diapers and we are on track to a world of "ummy-wear"!  I picked Evey up from daycare last Friday and she told me she had to go potty.  When we got home, we sat down and went through the regular charade of singing, reading and turning the water on.  This time... something happened!  It's potty time.


Evey and I  had to put together a potty chart for her stickers and so  rummaged through mommy's scrapbooking supplies until we found letters "e - v - e- y" and the perfect patterned paper to glue together.  The first sticker was a bunny sticker (shh... it's left over from Easter).  Throughout the week, we've gathered 10 stickers and just tonight had to make Chart #2 to hold sticker 11.


What's in store for us now?  We're going shopping for a new book since she filled up her first 10 stickers!


I've heard this from others... but didn't fully believe them until now: "She'll start potty training when she's ready."  I must have an independent and stubborn little girl! :)

Last day of School...

Beginning of the School Year

I'm remembering back to Evelyn's FIRST day of ECFE school... 2 1/2 years ago when she could barely hold her head up and couldn't yet roll over.  Those first few months were more for me to get out of the house and begin to build a relationship and experience with my child in this new and different life as a parent.  I didn't realize at the time that this adventure of going to school would become such an important activity in all of our lives.  Ian attended class as much as I did and together we watched our child grow and blossom socially, emotionally and developmentally!  

Evey has since built a group of friends that she talks about all the time.  She's formed precious bonds with her teachers - even affectionately listing them as her favored people during nighttime memory time.

Evey and Thalia

Looking forward to Friday class has become our ritual.  Anticipating whether Thalia, Merik and Ibraahim will be in class.  Thinking about what to play with - the kitchen, babies, play-doh, puzzles, water in the sensory table and bubbles.  Which songs will be sung and which stories will be read?

For the first time, we had to explain "letting go" and "saying "au revoir" (until we see again) as today was the last day of school before summer vacation.  Had to explain summer vacation and that we'll see teacher Alecia in three months and we will plan time to play with her friends - just not at school.  She's old enough to realize this was an end to something.  We were saying goodbye - hugging teachers and playing with friends for the last time. On the carride home, she asked for her "nooksie" - of course I answered that it wasn't bed time and she would have to cuddle with her pink blankie instead.  I asked whether anything was wrong and if she was feeling okay.  Her response "I feel sad".  How poignant and heartfelt - she felt sad that she had to say goodbye.

It's a good thing the end of school year picnic is on Monday.  Now it's upon us, as parents, to follow through with setting up play dates and chances to get together with her friends.  Until then, a wonderful year behind us and a summer to look forward to.

Hooray for Books!

We love books!  

Cat in the Hat is a recurring favorite for Evey.

Bedtime stories, wake-up stories, reading at breakfast, before dinner... Books, books and books!!  Evelyn has been more interactive with reading lately.

• Listening: She becomes intently focused on the story and will be engaged through long story books now. 
• Repeating: With some of her simple reader books, she'll repeat the phrases back to us while reading - especially "The Eye Book" by Dr. Suess
• Creating:  We've reached the point where she'll tell her version of the story and will expound upon the images and situations presented in her books
• Engaging: The common phrases from Evey are "Why, mommy" or "What's that, mommy" as she seeks to learn more

Hospitals and healing

As a parent, we try to be strong for our children when they are scared, hug them when they need to be comforted and keep them safe and sound.

It's difficult when they go to the doctor and are scared of what is going to happen...

We brought Evelyn to the children's hospital for surgery this morning to put tubes in her ears.  She has had so many ear infections in the last two months that I'm sure she has constantly been in pain and discomfort.  However, no matter how much we tell ourselves that it is for the best and we'll be strong, it is so much more difficult on the parents then for the little one.

She didn't like having her temp taken, didn't want the anesthesia gas and sobbed and sobbed even as she got sleepier and sleepier.  As they put her on the gurney to whisk her away to the OR, the tears started to flow from my eyes this time.  Away she went, her breath regulated by a machine... the 20 minute surgery and recovery seemed like forever.  She was brought back to us, crying and held in the arms of a nurse.  Reaching out to mommy, it still took her 20 minutes to settle down and stop sobbing.

Oh... our little lady was so brave.  After 45 minutes she perked up and was busy eating Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, voraciously hungry and feeling better.

Oh... what a difference ear tubes have made.  By the time we arrived home, she was happy and ready to play.  She talked and talked and sang and sang and responded with more elaborate responses than usual.  Oh, what a difference already!

I can recover from being a parent, waiting helplessly for a surgeon to make a child "feel better".

For Every Time, There is a Season

I can feel spring in the air
There's a certain smell and electricity to the air
- it feels different than winter.
Waking up to birds chirping
- the sun streaming through our bedroom window.
Like waking from a deep slumber
- the crisp, cool morning air freshens the house
Doors are thrown open, inviting the Spring into our lives

Just last week we had to let one of our family members go
Letting her pass as the winter turned into spring
Allowing for other new life to flourish
We will visit and plant flowers and watch them grow
Wash her stones
Feel her prayers

We love you Barb

Cousins Christmas with our Aunties
Barb, Mary and Peg

Photos (a month in review

Eagle's Nest: Having a ball in the Ball Pit

Art: Stamping and gluing Valentine's

Sensory Exploration: Fun with Bubbles at the Children's Museum

Art: Our own Chick, Chicka, Boom, Boom tree

Tea Party and mini muffins!

Birthday Party: Pizza, Cake and Old Fashion Party games

Playtime Activities!

Welcome back blog-readers!

A month in review: 

Evelyn, Erin and Kristi Yamaguchi

It's been almost a month since I've found the time/taken the time to write.  We've been BUSY!  Even as the snow continues to accumulate outside and hopes of spring push further away, we keep plenty busy!

Our favorite weekend activities include:

1. Children's Museum; a grandparent membership allows us to visit regularly and we love the sensory activities, make-believe and expanding our freedom!
2. Eagle's Nest indoor play gym; a chance to release some energy, meet other kids and exercise!
3. Java Train Coffee Shop; a local coffee shop with a fabulous Boxcar Clubhouse for kids!  We like going on our own for weekend brunch or meeting friends!
4. birthday parties and 
5. Bookstores and books; From weekend puppet shows at the Public Library to book reading events at The Red Balloon!

Our favorite activities at home:

1. Tea parties for all the dollies and stuffed animals; we make cookies and muffins and even invited Grandma-ma Roxanne over for tea.  
2. Reading Books have continued to be a favorite past time, along with playing with letters (letter magnets and flash cards), numbers and shapes.  
3. Puzzles; while the chunky shape puzzles become less of a challenge, we seek out more advanced puzzles to work on.  
4. Playing make-believe;  copying mommy and daddy by cooking and cleaning (organizing and washing) in her own little kitchen
5. Art activities; stamping and pasting cards for holidays and birthdays, making collages, drawing shapes (circles, lines, "polka-pocks"), fingerpainting, painting with brushes, markers, crayons... 

Books and Bedtime Routines

Evelyn is constantly talking, observing, memorizing and learning new things!  One of her new favorite books is "Chicka Chicka, Boom, Boom" and we read it almost nightly.  However, she skips through all of the pages of the story so we can get to "letters" where there's the alphabet at the end!  She sings along with me and repeats all of the letters - being very careful to pronounce the letters correctly.  We were reading the letters tonight and instead of me saying the letters first and her repeating, I pointed to the letters and she was able to say 60% of the alphabet!!  I couldn't believe it!

I'm sure I've mentioned before that Evelyn goes to bed really easily.  We are very lucky parents!

1. We pick out pajamas (jama-jamas), 
2. read three books, 
3. say goodnight to ducky (a wall hanging in her room), 
4. "good night lights, 1-2-3" and turn out the lights.
5. Evey snuggles in to my shoulder for a few minutes before laying down in bed
6. I now have to say goodnight to Dolly Mary, Dolly Sinead, Giraffe, Doggy Keya, Elephant and Bear... then tuck each of them in... then give kisses to everyone!
7. Tonight, Evelyn went through the entire routine with her stuffed animals/dolls - rocked them, kissed them, tucked them all in...

Tropical escape!

It's that time of year again where the snow and ice and frigid cold become (almost) too much to handle... but just when it seems as though Minnesota winters will last forever, a glimmer of hope arises in the form of tropical, exotic orchids!  Welcome to the Como Conservatory Orchid Show!

Creativity:: Baby gifts

Creativity and Design:

Newborn Baby Gifts

So many friends have had babies in this past year.  I suppose that comes with the territory (my friends are all in that stage of life).  I wanted to do something cute, creative and handmade to give as gifts.  Elephant's became my creative inspiration along with coordinating taggie blanket.

Getting crafty!

Creativity and Design:

Custom Recipe Collection

This is a post I meant to write back in the summer!  I put together a heritage recipe collection for my cousin's fiancée for her wedding shower.  I contacted all of the Aunts and cousins to write down their favorite recipe along with a story of the recipe's origin.  I put together a graphic design for the recipe card and backed each card in lime green, pink or silver (Katie's colors).  The theme was "Katie & Cole make quite a Pear".

I love doing crafty and creative things!  Let me know if you need something fun and creative for an event - invitations, cards and specialty items!

Catch up to the New Year

Happy New Year!

And continuation of Christmas

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year... We are now halfway through January and I realized that I have so many great holiday pictures that I meant to share and blog about!  Oh well!  Here is one.

This is one of my favorites!  Santa brought Evey a kitchen set and she spent all of Christmas morning playing with the kitchen.  Every package she opened (or didn't open, for that matter) was dropped down the hatch!  I like to think that in this picture, Evelyn is giving baby a bath in the sink rather than throwing baby out with the bath water.

Rant alert!

Did I mention that Evelyn is enthralled with Dora?  I don't really know how it happened.  

• The backpack is her version of a Dora backpack and she walks around filling it up with favorite objects and sings the backpack jingle from the tv show.  
• The only thing she asked Santa for Christmas was a pair of Dora socks.  
• She demands to only wear "Dora Ummywear" (Dora pull-ups) 

Like I said, not sure how it happened that she has been pulled in to the world of commercialization/disneyfication/nickelodeon.  On the other hand, Dora is a decently educational show.  Case in point: Last night, Evelyn wanted me to peel an orange for her. She handed me the orange and said "abre" which is "Open!" in spanish.  Other foreign words she knows and uses are: "de nada", "merci" and "ciao".

And now we are TWO!

And now we are TWO!

So quickly the time flies... It was just yesterday that I remember still waiting in anticipation of Evelyn's birth.  Here, she is now TWO!  It's amazing how much she has blossomed in the last three weeks since her birthday.  I took 10 days of vacation over the holidays and spent almost the entire time with Evelyn.  I think that special time together really helped her explore her new freedoms in communication and play.

Top new things:
2011 Milestones

1. Make-believe and tea parties
2. The Nuk isn't as important (not needed as much anymore); As Evelyn has learned to say "I no need nooksie" and later ... I need it, I need it"
3. Talking, talking, TALKING!  She can carry on a full conversation - whether we understand her or not.  Her words are more clear and she's been using multiple word sentences!
4. Big Girl Bed - it took a little convincing at first for her to fall asleep in the new bed.  I thought back to my own growing up and remembered how mom would read to us, tell stories, sing and cuddle  before we'd fall asleep.  That's what our new routine is!
5. Next steps towards potty training - she's loves to wear Dora "ummy-wear" and is very particular about it. We can't do diaper changes anymore - must refer to it as underwear change.  The diaper must be pre-fastened together so she can pull it up herself while exclaiming "I did it"!   She sits on her potty and reads, but hasn't yet done anything on the potty.

Playing with Duplos at LegoLand on her Second Birthday.