JENNY FROM THE BLOCK

Baby Moon! February 2015

So this blog is a wee bit overdue...like 9 weeks over due.

It slipped my mind. You could say I had a blond moment.

Maybe I was just busy. I am always on the go. I love winter , but it was a long winter and time for travel to some place warm.

When they say it's not about the destination but the journey...they might be far off. Snowstorms and airlines do not make for speedy travel

Shout out to O'Hare and SFO for having mini childrens' museums in the airport.

Our perseverance (with a 3 day late arrival ) to get to Maui paid off.

I hiked, splashed, and laughed the entire time.

I also accessorized with great delight. Those are not floatation devises...the are pool jewelry. Gee! Get it right.

Hawaii really is great for everybody. My Mom went running before dawn each morning. My Dad rented a surfboard, and I took advantage of every opportunity for fun.

I love the beach.

Our family is going to expand this spring and by that I don't mean stuffed animals count, even though my George is truly family. We are not getting a puppy either.

I'm getting a baby brother so I guess that makes this trip my baby moon.

Bring On 2015

I booted up and headed out to the hill to finish out 2014 with a bang.

I'm a little bit into pink these days in case you were wondering. When it's hot wear pink, and when it's cold wear more of it. A lot more of it. My Mom and I spent a good few hours tromping around the ski hill. When you are 35 pounds, the sliding down the hill is the easy part. More impressive than skiing is my ability to trudge up and down a huge flight of steps to the bathroom without falling, getting pee on my snow pants, or dropping any of my winter apparel on a slushy floor. My Mom was darn proud of my efforts and outcomes.

2015 You are my oyster...as soon as I finish my lunch and have a nap.

New Year's Eve we partied big around my place. Preschool style. The ball dropped at 12:00...P.M.

In 15 years, if this is the aftermath from a NYE bash there will be some happy parents around these parts. In truth, it was meant to be an outdoor party with sledding and exploring the backyard/back country, but the thermometer read -1.5....so indoors and sans cocoa we wee ones played...It does seem some others successfully bundled and found some happy places to close out the year.

There is no place like home for the holidays!

Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas time. The snow, the tree, the lights, the cookies, the caroling, the family. It is a wonderful time of the year.

Grandma Judi came to spend Christmas with us. She is one of my BFF's for sure.

I delivered all the presents, delivered them with great cheer I might add.

My Grandpa Bruce got me an awesome gift. My very own head lamp. If the days are short, light up the nights. Did you know Strider makes a ski attachment for Strider bikes? Santa did. So yes, I am a snow biker at age 3 and with my head lamp illuminating the snow I can even ride at night. Soon people will call me "The great snow rider" or "The great night rider" I haven't decided which has a better ring to it.

Back to delivery of gifts....Special delivery was upgraded to speedy special delivery when I got my beloved pink roller skates.

I wanted them so, so, so bad and I knew I would only get them from Santa if I was on the good list.

No, I am not wearing a helmet or pads because I'm just skating inside. Yes, I am allowed to skate inside the house. What did you think I was going to wait until May to try these things outside? Please!

Christmas is about the birth of Baby Jesus. Guess what, the rest of my family's Christmas will not ~~to my Mother's chagrin seamlessly be delivered Santa's sleigh~~ come until late April when we will welcome a Baby Boy to our family.

Christmas Prep

The time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas is so exciting. I was a big help with decorating the house, the tree, and unwrapping gifts.

Yes, unwrapping gifts. Especially edible ones. True to form, when all is quiet in the house something has gone wrong.

This is a classic case of failed redirection. My Mom was wrapping some gifts and I attempted to sneak off with this premium chocolate bar. My Mom caught me and I asked if I could have it. She gave me some line of "Oh ...you wouldn't like that. It has spices in it, unless you have changed your mind and now like spicy things. That line so did not pass the sniff test, Mother dearest is always lamenting about broadening my palette and such. I agreed and swiped the candy bar with the stealth of a Wall Streeter. A few moments later I gleefully gave myself away announcing I did in fact like spicy things. Yum! My Mom didn't actually lie there was cinnamon and cayenne pepper in the chocolate bar. See...I ate pepper, that counts as a spice and a vegetable.

Honestly, I don't know what she was so worked up about. I mean it was 100% organic. Doesn't she know the latest research has shown you should stock your pantry with healthy choices and let children graze like free range chickens. What? You don't believe me...I have links to the article. This hoarding and hiding of food it could lead to ~~dinners that are actually eaten~~ obesity and ~~crumb free floors~~ unhealthy relationships with food. Think of the years of therapy I saved by pilfering somebody else's Christmas present.

I must have been forgiven for that act or my parents realized the error of their ways. The next day we were off on a trip to Minneapolis. It's a long car ride. I was prepared for a park stop on the way. Ankle deep powder is know match for me. Why these days I can manage post holing to my waist.

The long car trip was worth it as I got to star in a music video at the Minnesota Children's Museum.

Ok..so everyone gets to star in the video, but whose counting.

I also got to meet a good friend. Clifford. It was so cool. Bones for steps and a tail for a slide.

I love reading books. I think I spent the next hour reading books.

After that it was time to stock up on non perishables at Trader Joes's. Our cart was overflowing all our favorites. I spent a lot of time looking for the monkey I was used to finding in the So Cal stores but it turns out it is Edgar the Eagle in Minneapolis. I found him and instead of the So Cal issued stickers, I earned a sucker for my efforts. Awesome! My Mom must have been so thrilled because she is always complaining about stickers being a sticky mess.

After that it should have been nap time ~~especially since I partied at 0300 last night~~ however in a one room hotel room there is just so much to do and no way for parents to effectively ignore their precious child soooo Mama cut her losses and we headed to the Barnes and Noble adjacent to our hotel.

Books and toys under one roof. My favorite place for sure ..except for home of course

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a pretty great holiday. Politically, it's very correct. I mean who could possibly be offended about giving thanks except maybe a turkey or two.

Thanksgiving is a great time to relax by the fire enjoying books with loved ones.

It's also a lot of handwork preparing a feast for all.

Judging by the above photo...Ah hemm

I was hard at work in the kitchen, while my Mom was out playing. I think we were cursing her name and her farm to table attitude and about ready to open a can of Libby's pumpkin pie filling. The idea of getting to mash a pumpkin seemed like such a good idea at the time.