Overly Academic

At the Zoo!

Gretel — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:22:54 +0000

Ilyana was thrilled this weekend when she got to got to the Milwaukee Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa. Of course, she didn’t spend too much time looking at the animals. She was very excited about the merry-go-round, the train, the playground, and all the other kids around. Grandma got some great shots while they were out. The best part for us was that not only did Ilyana have a great time, Grandma and Grandpa decided to take her without us so we could have a day off. It was wonderful to have a whole day together.

This will be the last road trip until “Bob” is born. Then we’ll see how she and her big sister travel together.

Enjoy some pictures!

Reading Curious George with Grandma and Grandpa

Looking at a couple animals.

Merry-go-round with Grandma.

Train with Grandpa!

More train (have I mentioned she likes trains?)

Yep, more train!

At the playground getting help on the bars, just like gymnastics class.

A new kind of see-saw.

A view of our bluffs.

Ilyana helping dig up roots in our neighbor’s garden.

Ren Faire!

Gretel — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:06:12 +0000

Unlike the most recent couple years, we actually made it to the Renaissance Faire in Bristol this year. Last year Ilyana wasn’t at a good place to handle noise or crowds, and in years before the heat kept us away with a little one. Overall, we’re very happy to have gone back.

The only downside of this year is that we didn’t actually get to sit down for a whole show. We met up with some friends, ate great food, and headed out around 1:00. If I’d been able to handle the heat better (5.5 mos pregnant + heat + walking = tired mom), we would have stayed longer. Next year, if Ilyana has shaken her nap needs and the baby will sleep in her stroller, we will go in costume for a much longer day.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures from the Faire!

Ilyana playing in the kids area – with her favorite “rawr” picture pose.

Story time at the pirate ship…..

…where Ilyana decided the sand was much more interesting.

Ren Faire Corn!

Food on the go – the wagon made Ren Faire doable with little legs.

Gotta have the snow cone. Not quite period, but very refreshing.

Ilyana’s favorite part – Dancing to music!

On the way out, the obligatory kids ride. She had a great time despite the heat.

July Visits

Gretel — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:15:43 +0000

We’ve had some fun around the area lately, and had some visitors as well. Baba and Yiayia came to see our new digs, and Grandma Ann is just finishing a visit as well. The summer speed is pretty slow around the college, but there are plenty of things keeping us busy. A trip to Renfaire is in the works, as is a visit from Grandma Sue. Ilyana is in heaven having all her grandmas come within a month’s time!

Below are some pictures from around the area. We went to an art fair at Norskedalen’s Skumsrud Heritage Farm, and also saw the view from Granddad Bluff. The natural beauty of this area is just breathtaking.

Grandma and Ilyana being silly

One of the buildings at the farm…

…where this was the view from the porch.

Lovely farmland as well.

On the way back from the farm.

Our new favorite toy…bubble wrap!

Granddad Bluff

More bluff views.

The view from the top.

The top view of Viterbo.

Playing in the sand at the top of the bluff because, you know, it’s there.

Ilyana’s favorite pose…rar!

Car trips and more car trips

Gretel — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:52:09 +0000

So, we’ve been a little busy lately! The move to Wisconsin is complete, we’re getting closer to work being completed on the house to make it livable (read, new floors, paint, and a dishwasher), and we’re starting to get settled as a family in the area. The time we spent apart is feeling more and more distant. In some ways, it feels like I wasn’t really up here without them, and I suppose in some ways, I wasn’t.

Now that all the five hour road trips are done, we decided to relax….with another road trip. Okay, so I had a meeting up in Ashland, and decided to make a weekend of it up in Superior. It was really neat to be up in the hometown again, even if only for a few days.

From here out for the summer, we have to finish getting the dishwasher installed, get a new roof and a garage door, and do a minor amount of garden work. Other than that, we’re just going to hang out and enjoy living in the house. Oh, and get ready for Bob(by’s) arrival in October!

Here are two sets of pictures, one which Chibi took herself, and one of our time in Superior. Enjoy!

www.flickr.com

Last trip to the Zoo

Gretel — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:03:27 +0000

We took our last trip to the Brookfield Zoo last weekend. I’m sure we’ll go back and visit when we’re in the area, but it was the last chance to go as members. We have used the heck out of that membership, and really love the facilities there.

This weekend, we painted four rooms in the new house. If you are interested in those pictures, you can find them at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=234978&id=558733848&l=e6820cd773.

The peacock was on full display and shaking his feathers at a white female. It was pretty impressive.

Here’s the female as well.

Daddy and Ilyana working on a craft project (more Daddy than Ilyana )

Ilyana’s interpretation of a tiger.

Visit with Baba and Yiayia

Gretel — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:30:52 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but life has intervened. We’re currently splitting households between my new job in Wisconsin and Jeffrey finishing his work in Illinois, so the opportunity for picture taking is somewhat diminished. However, we had a visit to Baba and Yiayia this weekend, so pictures abound!

Ilyana had great fun playing outside on a trike that Yiayia found at a garage sale, and bubbles are always a big hit. You can see the whole set of pictures here, but I put a few below for your enjoyment.

Hopefully we’ll have more pictures in early May of the new house after we close. Keep your fingers crossed!

Trike!

And bubbles!

A new park to play in.

Slides too…

Lots of great sand.

And after all that sand, bath time.

Playing squirt the duckies with Yiayia.

Playdate!

Gretel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:37:54 +0000

We had our first playdate at our house on Saturday with a school friend. The highlight of the morning was playing dressup, as you can see in the pictures. Ilyana’s imaginative play has really grown over the last couple weeks, including talking to herself and her “friends” in the car, as well as telling stories with her toys.

Dressup is fun!

Time for a costume change.

February Happenings

Gretel — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:27:47 +0000

Things have been very busy here since Ilyana’s birthday. We’ve not had a free weekend since the end of January, and the events just keep piling up! In the midst of things, we had fun celebrating Grandpa Jerry’s 65th birthday, as well as some fun with friends at the Kohl Children’s Museum.

I’m having some problems with my flickr direct import, so check out the two badges below for pictures.

www.flickr.com

Happy Birthday!

Gretel — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:48:31 +0000

Ilyana had her third birthday yesterday! It was quite a lot of fun with Grandpa and Grandma Laurel in person, and Grandmas Sue and Ann on the computer for presents. Below are some pictures of the festivities. The biggest hits so far are the baby items, dress-up clothes, and instruments, though the magna-doodle is very close in the running.

The great big manga-doodle! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

A fun towel set from Grandma Sue – all ready for playing superhero.

A harmonica from mom and dad – she’s been playing harmonica for a long time, and now she has a real one.

A floor puzzle! Thanks Lilah and family!

The baby doll and stroller.

An awesome easel from Grandma and Grandpa.

A great drum set from Grandma Ann!

Birthday Candles

Yes, the hat was very popular.

See?

Very popular!

Here are a couple pictures of the holidays – Jeffrey’s birthday sword umbrella, and me carving my first ham.

Patty-cake

Gretel — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:40:12 +0000

Some days, she’s just too cute. And yes, that is a hedgehog puppet (Thanks Sharon!)