Nanny Daddy

I had last week off for Thanksgiving and spent it with the girls. Since I was on vacation, that meant they got to go to a bunch of coffee shops with me. We went to a new one every day...sometimes two. I had a blast and it was the best time off I have had in a long time. They were great for me and it was alot of fun bringing them to new places and keeping them busy. We would run around in the morning, go out for lunch and then come home for LW's nap time. One of the afternoons NW thought it would be funny to start calling me Nanny Daddy. Needless to say, the nickname stuck and she called me that all week. I've been called worse.
It was tough going back to work this morning. I got used to changing diapers, making mac and cheese and doing crafts. I was really turning into Nanny Daddy. 

Day 2 - 5 Watt Coffee. Sitting at the bar eating cookies and talking to anyone that would listen.

Day 3 - Empire Coffee. Not very kid friendly.. we ate our cookies and we were gone. Coffee was just OK too.

NW started talking to a guy at 5 Watt coffee and he owned this restaurant. He told us to come and check it out. So we did. It was super busy the first time and we left without ordering.

So we came back on Saturday morning, but this time the whole crew came along. We were there at around 8:00 so there wasn't a line. Everyone was gone for the holiday or still sleeping.

Highly recommend this place for an amazing waffle and a cup of coffee.

The Flu

The flu is making its way though the household. NW was under the weather last weekend and mommy was down and out most of the week. The only people left are LW and dear old dad. We are on drugs, but it seems like an uphill battle.
Earlier in the week we didnt want to expose nanny Anna to the sickness. So I stayed home with the girls and mom stayed in bed all day. LW and I did alot of running around while NW was at school. One stop included coffee and cookies of course.

We went to Bull Run for this one. She told the barista that she wanted a huge cookie and she showed how big with her hands. The barista gave her a cup of frothed milk with sprinkles too. She wasnt amused and didnt even touch it. She did say thank you though, so at least she was polite.

I want to drive a Zamboni!

Last weekend NW and I went to a coffee competition. We went to watch, not compete. These guys had real skills, not some clown with an espresso machine in his kitchen. These were baristas from all over the country and they came to mpls for a few days. Since it was a coffee event, most of the coffee shops around town had special events to show off their space and product. The roastery that NW and I visited was Dogwood in NE Mpls. They had an open house so you could tour the roastery and get a cup of coffee. They even had a special drink called an Apple Dumpling Gang latte. Made with bitters and caramel. Dogwood also has a Zamboni cold press. So they had a Zamboni at the roastery directing people in. 

When I told NW that I wanted her to take my picture driving it, she said no. So here are pics of her driving it, but not me.

I Love Lucy!!

LW turned 2 last week. We had a family birthday party for her. Everyone showed up. The theme this year was I Love Lucy. The invitation looked like an old TV show, everything was polka dotted and we dressed LW up like Lucille Ball. That might seem a little cruel to dress her up, but she looked pretty cute in her dress. So it's not as bad as it sounds. She loved it and she I think she realized that the day was all about her.

AW made the cake and did all the decorating. Check it out.

She wasn't too sure about the candle. NW ended up blowing it out.

Uncle Bruce came through with a bag of cheese balls. I forgot how much she like these things.

Three at a time. If her hands were bigger she could eat them faster.

Not sure why, but she insisted on lifting her new suitcase over her head. Showing off how strong she is I guess.

Gotta have some NW stuff on here too. So here she is.

More Pre-Halloween Stuff

I dont remember Halloween lasting for weeks when I was a kid. Now there are events for the kids every weekend leading up to the big day. Last weekend we went to a party at the Landmark Center in St Paul. It was great, not much candy and tons of crafts for the kids to do.

A little pre-event running at a park.

It is amazing how they can both never look at the camera at the same time. Or have their eyes open.

Face painting at the Landmark Center. LW wouldnt let her face get painted, so had a pumpkin painted on her hand. She's happy, I'm happy.

Afterwards they had a costume parade where everyone came up on stage and got to speak into the microphone and tell everyone who they were dressed up as. There were 5 Elsa's and I know I'm biased, but NW's was the best. She didnt win and it really bothered her. When we got home she told me that she really wanted the books (the books were the prize for winning). I was so happy that she was only concerned with the books that we ended up going to get books after dinner.

Lucy's First Haircut!!

This happened a while back, but I didnt put the pics up.It was the first haircut for LW. Her hair was getting a little out of hand and needed to be cleaned up. It's amazing what a difference a haircut does. She looks like a big girl now that here hair is done.

She looks pretty serious, but from what I understand the haircut went pretty well.

Busytown the Musical

Big night for NW. She was whisked away for dinner and a musical by aunt Anna and uncle Brad. The musical was Busytown and it was at the Children's Theater in Minneapolis. For those of you that don't have a 2 or a 4 year old, Busytown is a TV show about a cat named Huckle that solves mysteries with the help of his friends. His friends are Lowly Worm, Sally Cat, Hilda Hippo plus Pig Will and Pig Won't. As far as TV shows go, this is one that actually teaches her something.

Pizza, pretzels and chocolate milk for dinner.

Hamming it up in front of the theater.

Pre-Halloween Festivities

Most mornings she sits up high at the counter and I drink my coffee and we talk about stuff. Sometimes she has hot chocolate that she froths on the coffee maker.

Last weekend there was an early Halloween party at Chutes and Ladders. It was a great dry run to get the costume dialed in. One of these 2 girls in the picture would not wear her costume. She was not having it. We will keep trying.

She did play the games and eat the candy though. Look how serious she is.

We planned on riding the bike and burley to the Catfish on Sunday morning. It was going to be tough, but they brought enough toys and books to last the day. They dont realize that everything they brought was heavy and dear old dad had to pull it all. It didnt really matter though. About 4 miles in, I got a flat tire. We had to call mom and have her rescue us with the truck. I fixed the tire and we ended up going back home.

I'm on a Camel!

Alisha and Aunt Anna Lisa took the kids down to Severs Corn Maze in Shakopee. It's fun to let the kids run around, get dirty and play on tractors.

NW was all about riding the camel. LW talked a good game, but when we got close to go time she backed out.

We made another run to help Grandpa John pick vegetables in his garden. NW and I came straight from dance class. So she was a little over dressed for the event.

Yup, that's Charlie again. He came over for the afternoon and I took them for a ride around the neighborhood. NW let him ride her pink trike. He was confident enough that a pink trike didn't even phase him. T

Don't tell Dave's

Don't tell Dave's, but I have found another popcorn place. I feel like I'm cheating on my favorite popcorn place. Dave's is closed for the season, but we still crave popcorn. We found a new year round popcorn place in Apple Valley. Grandma M turned us on to it and it is pretty good. Making the drive to Apple Valley isn't really that much father than heading to Daves. We just head south on Cedar instead of north. The kids couldn't care less, they just want popcorn. So do I, I guess.

LW started by eating popcorn out of a bowl, but that wasn't cutting it. She wanted the whole box. I kissed my popcorn goodbye.

I'm surprised she let me have a handful. She is very possessive of her popcorn. We might have to start getting 4 boxes, so we don't have to share.

I took her popcorn away so we could get back in the truck. The tears started flowing immediately. So I let her keep it.

She ate popcorn all of the way home and still wouldn't share with me.

Just the 3 of Us

So Nanny Anna was sick on Monday. It was just me and the girls. We dropped NW off at school, went to the doctor and went out to lunch. It was a good day. Most of the day was spent with only one kid at a time. When NW was in school, LW and I went to get a cup of coffee and went to the doctor. Then when LW was sleeping, NW and I played in the back yard and made some crafts.

Getting ready for the day.

I got a coffee and she got a cookie. I ate some of it too.

Aftermath.

Here she is flying a kite when there isnt really enough wind to fly one.

Southbrook Time Trials

Every year one of the guys in the neighborhood puts on a bike race for everyone. Anyone can race and it is a timed event. Some of the adults take this very seriously. One of the other guys in the neighborhood has been training with his family for the past few weeks. He can be found doing laps every morning going as fast as he can for the 1 mile loop. It is kind of pathetic. I'm not being a sore loser either. I felt like this before I didn't win.

The kids go off in stages and it is based on their age. NW was the youngest by 3 years and the only person in the race with training wheels. I rode with her and she did great and made it the whole loop. There were times where I had to tell her to slow down. She got going so fast that her handlebars started wobbling. She refused any help too. The hills in the neighborhood are not that steep. But they are alot tougher with little legs, training wheels and 16" wheels.

And she's off.

Look at those little legs go. She went that fast for a mile.

First Day of the Second Year of Preschool

I know I said this last year, but there has to be a better place to take pics on the first day of school. Everyone takes pictures of their kids on the front step with their backpack. That being said, I did it again this year. NW started preschool today and she will be going 4 days a week. I think she is ready for it too. She needs to talk and play with someone else than us or Nanny Anna. She only has 1 kids from her class from last year in her new class. It didn't seem to bother her at all. She ran right into class and sat on the carpet for story time. She didnt really care who else was in the class.

Getting ready. This was just a rehearsal. Check out those new shoes she picked out.

Someone is not happy for NW on her first day of preschool.

Still not super happy.