Grocery Store Gremlins

Last night I stopped at CUB on my way home to pick up a few things, cat food, kitty litter, Easy Mac, yogurt , string cheese, cereal, Kleenex,  just some odds and ends that we were out of. I strategically started on the paper goods/boxed product side of the store and progressed to dairy/fresh side, visiting only the aisles I needed something from in an effort to make my trip as short as possible. It was a good and successful plan. However, after I completed an efficient trip across the store, I realized I had forgot something I wanted, so rather then head to the registers as planned, I weaved my way back towards the aisle that contained the item I was after. It was on my to get that forgotten item when it got me, a Grocery Store Gremlin.  

What is a “Grocery Store Gremlin” you ask. It is simply a well placed product, that you really have no need for and in most cases will not be found on any grocery list, anywhere, it's an impulse item! They get me from time to time, it’s usually a treat by the register but this time it was display of cars at the end of the freezer section. I just couldn’t resist. So along with the cat food, yogurt, cereal, and Kleenex, I headed home with a Monster Truck School Bus, that I knew Avery would just love.

Avery's new Monster Truck School Bus!

Score one for product placement and the Grocery Store Gremlins! And I was right, he does love it, and it also turns out that this Monster Truck School Bus from the grocery store is actually the first toy I have personally bought for Avery.  

Homework

Some of Avery's Favorite Things

For the first time every Avery (I) had homework. Last week he was given a 8.5x11 piece of paper so I could make a collage on it, about the best topic in the world, Him!. The instructions taped to the sheet said to include pictures of family, friends, pets, or favorite things. Not a difficult assignment for most people, after all, Avery loves some many things... But I tend to over think simple art projects like this and make them more complicated then necessary...... (I know my artsy friends are nodding their heads right now because they do the same thing). Well I managed to come up with something I liked (after a few tries) and Avery confirmed that I did a good job by happily pointing out and naming all the things I included as his favorites. Sure there are more things that he likes then I got to show, but 8.5x11 is just such a small space when you love so many things! 

Twenty Months

Showing me the trick Uncle Lee taught him

20 Months! Holy Cow, the days, weeks and months have been flying by. Avery is still the greatest little boy on earth. He loves to play with his friends, and family. His favorite toys right now are Match Box cars, dump truck, buses, motorcycles, and the old school Fisher Price Barn, House and Parking ramp. He loves all animals but  puppies, kitties, neigh neighs, and kiwi are current at the top of the list. He loves to read books, Foot Book is one of his nightly favorites. He can be so silly some times, he always makes me smile. At 20 months very wears a size 4 diaper, 18month shorts/pants, 18mon-2T shirts, size 7 shoes. His tooth tally is up 1, because  the left upper K9 has made an appearance, for a total of 13 out of a total 20 baby teeth. I am such a lucky mom to have such a great little guy to love!

Back to School 2012!

Back to School 2012

Today, after a week of summer vacation, it’s back to school (daycare) for Avery. I know Avery had a great time on vacation (more to come on that) but I think he was also happy to get back to daycare, and see his friends. His friends were happy to see him too, because the second we walked into his room, one of his little friends got up from where he was playing to come see Avery, and another friend came over and gave Avery a big hug. It was hugs all around this morning at drop off. I am so happy that Avery has such a great place with such great friends, and staff to spend his days. Happy Back to school 2012!

Colorado Bound: Day 5 (Heading Home)

Day 5: After our customary breakfast in our hotel room of jelly toast, oatmeal and orange juice, we packed up the Jeep and headed down the mountain, to the Denver International Airport. My mom, Avery and I said goodbye to my brother and dad (who was staying a few more days to ride motorcycle with Lee) and headed into the airport to start our next adventure. 

Watching all the Planes

Avery was very excited to see all the planes, and people at the airport, sure he had been here before but he was only 3 months old so it was a totally different experience this time, for him and for me. This was Avery’s 3rd time on a plane, but it was his first time in first class, and boy was it was really nice having the extra room when you have a 1 1/2 traveling with you.

First Class travelers

Avery did really great on the plane, I was worried he might not be happy about being cooped up and not allowed to run, but he was fine with wrestling with me, reading books, playing trucks and having snacks.

We're Home!

To extend our vacation just a little bit we had plans to stay in a hotel  in the cities for a night with my cousin, Robin.  We went swimming and played in the hotel room and then it was bed time, the day, like the entire trip when by so fast because we were having so much fun.

Now you see me....

Now you don't....

 I can’t wait until Avery and I can make another trip to Colorado for some more fun.

The Bell Boy is here for the luggage

We had a great time but Avery was very happy to be home and play and see his Daddy!

Our silly boy was happy to be home and play

Kiwi loves to drive the Firetruck!

Colorado Bound: Day 4 (Outdoor Adventures)

Day 4: Was the busiest day of our trip. After breakfast we headed up to Tenderfoot trail to take a little hike. Lee got Avery in his backpack and off we went. 

All strapped in, hiking boots on! 

Ternderfoot Trailhead 

Off they go!

The views in Colorado are almost always great but they do improve the higher you go, and we were definitely going up, via lots of switchbacks but the general direction was up.

The View

Same View a bit higher up

We didn’t make it all the way to the top of the mountain but we did a good job none the less. Avery was an excellent passenger in the backpack, which might have had to do with his excellent nature guide, Uncle Lee, the entire hike I could hear Lee pointing out stumps, rocks, trees, flowers, and naming the mountain peaks as he and Avery went along, they even stopped a few times so Lee could give Avery a leaf or a stick.

Water break

Avery and his Nature Guide

After our hike (and a lunch stop) we headed down to Lake Dillon shoreline (Lake Dillon is actually the water reservoir for Denver) to do some exploring and visit a fun lake side park.

Checking out the water 

Cheese!

Exploring the lakeside park

Fun spinning bowl

All that playing is bound to wear anyone out so we headed back to the hotel for a quick nap. Avery woke up ready for more outdoor fun so he showed off his Strider skills for Lee.

Avery showing off his Strider skills

When the late afternoon rains came we headed to Lee’s place to have a home cooked meal (cooked by my mom). After a slight problem with the oven, we were ready to eat a delicious  supper of meatloaf, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes. It was the perfect way to end a great day of outdoor adventures and our trip to Colorado.

Avery needed a booster seat at Lee's,
so I made him one,
a stool, a Dewalt drill case and a blanket
(for softness)
I used what I could find :)

Colorado Bound: Day 3 (Uncle Lee)

Day 3:  After getting a good nights rest Avery woke up ready to go. He started his morning off by riding his trike around the hotel rooms (we had an adjoining room with my parents), playing with his cars, and “shaving”, and all of that was before getting dressed for the day. 

Playing cars in the hotel room

"Shaving"

Once dressed, we headed outside to do some exploring. After all of Avery’s new hotel friends were properly greeted and flowers smelled, we loaded into the Jeep and drove over to my brother’s place.

Greeting new friends with a "beep" on the nose 

Another friend 

Stopping to smell the flowers

Avery has only seen Lee a few times, first when he was 3 months old, then again last September, so I fully expected him to be a little shy when he came face to face with his uncle for only the third time. 

Checking out Uncle Lee 

And I was right, as expected Avery was shy, but curious.  Uncle Lee is smart and was prepared for his little visitor, he had presents. Avery got a Lego car from a cereal box, and a stuffed Kiwi (the small fight-less bird from New Zealand (where Lee had just return from) not the fruit). Both were a huge success!

 Lee teaching Avery (with Kiwi)
to stick his tongue out 

Lee had one more surprise for Avery, a hiking backpack. When we told Lee we were coming to visit, he went out and found a “kid hauler backpack” at a used ski store, so he could take Avery on a hiking adventure. Avery loved being in the pack (but his face never seemed to reflect it in the pictures).

"Installing" Avery in the Kid Hauler 

Taking the pack for a test drive

I could barely tell he was back there.

That is all it took, Avery and Lee (and Kiwi) were BFFs, they had lunch together, went shopping, and played together and pain and simple had a great day together.

Avery and Uncle Lee going to have some lunch

Shopping with Uncle Lee 

Kicking back with Uncle Lee (and Mama)

Uncle Lee had to work but so he couldn't come to supper,
but don't worry Kiwi came along

Colorado Bound: Day 1 & 2 (Getting There)

Day 1:  With the Jeep all packed and the trailer in tow we headed West. The great plan was to leave around Avery’s nap time so he could sleep thru some of miles. No one cleared that plan with Avery. We did leave around his nap time but he didn’t nap, he was just to excited to nap. Avery stayed awake the entire drive from Mankato into Iowa. He did finally give up his anti napping ways and take a short nap somewhere in Iowa.

Playing with cars somewhere in Iowa

   Everything was going fine until outside of Sioux City,  Avery put his hand to ear and said owie, he did this a few times before dissolving in to tears of pain. We pulled off the highway and stopped in a Best Buy parking lot so we could get out and give Avery a chance to calm down. At that point I made the decision to have Avery’s ears checked out. A nice Best Buy employee gave us directions to a Urgent Care close by, and off we went.

Waiting to the doc in Sioux City

After a short wait Avery was seen by a doctor who confirmed that Avery did in fact have a ear infection in his left ear and his right ear was heading that direction too. Our next stop was a Walgreen's to pick up his prescription. After some Burger King and his first dose of antibiotics we were back on the road again, our destination, Lincoln Nebraska, where we had hotel reservations for the night.

The little bed hog got moved to his pack 'n' play
right after I took this picture. 

Day 2: We started day 2 with some breakfast at the hotel before hitting the road again. There aren’t too many things to say about day 2. This part of the trip is long and boring. We made it across Nebraska and into Colorado with toys, books, a short nap, and short stops at rest stops and parks to play (short because it was 107 and too hot to play outside).

Silly little traveler

Best way to "see" Nebraska

Playing at a rest stop in Nebraska somewhere

Colorado border rest stop (107 degrees) 

Great place to stop,  there was a great park and geese
but it was too hot to play (103 degrees)

Chasing the geese before getting back into the jeep

Avery was a great little traveler, but I am glad were flying home :)

Dillon Colorado
 (no that's not ice, it was raining)

Colorado Bound

Avery's trike is loaded up for Colorado

This is the week that Avery’s daycare is closed. They close every year at this time and clean and have their in service week and reopen after the holiday all ready for the  new “school year”. Last year Avery played with his Grandparents during this week, but this year, we have something different planed. Avery and I along with my parents are heading out to Colorado to see my brother. We’re leaving this morning, driving and Friday my mom, Avery and I will fly back, leaving my dad and brother to ride their motorcycles. It’s a short trip but I am sure pack lots of fun in while were there. So off we go, I’ll fill you in about our adventures when we get back!