Fun Days - Riding The Rides

Well you can't go to Fun Days and not ride the rides, or have a corn dog bigger then you are and a snow cone!  So we did. After peddling his heart out in the Kiddie Parade how could I say no more fun for you. So with Papa, GG, and GT in tow we hit the Fun Days carnival for some deep fried food and fun! 

Ready to Ride!

First up was of course the Motorcycles, Papa's favorite.

Don't want to lose my hat.

Love this picture

Then it was the Roller Coaster.

About to ride the coaster- tight squeeze for Mama

Then Bumper Cars with GT.

Can't you see we're driving here.

Finally GG favorite, it was snow cone time!  

Corn Dog & Snow Cone Time!!

It was a great night to be out at Fun Days, next up the Fun Day's Parade!

Fun Days - Kiddie Parade

Every year as a part of Fun Days (the North Mankato summer celebration) there is a Kiddle Parade. We had planned to do it last year but didn't get it done. But this year was a different story. The Parade has a theme, it was a Farm Theme this year, and Avery has the perfect ride for this theme. So we got our Little Farmer dressed and loaded up his John Deer color Big Trike and headed down to Fun Days.

Ready To Ride!

Thankfully the parade route it self is not long (just around the block) But Avery did fantastic, he peddled himself the whole way, waving at all the people lining the street watching (but mostly looking for Papa, GT & GT as they moved along the parade route ahead of him.

Peddle Power Parade Time!

Looking for Papa, GG and GT

At the end of parade Avery was rewarded with some animal crackers and free food coupons! 

Daddy get off my trike!

Cant wait to see what next year's theme is!!!

2 years, 6 months!

Our Two and Half year old!

Avery is 2 and a half! What a difference everyday makes, he grows and learns so much everyday. At 2.5 he is a sweet funny happy little boy, who has learned to push his limits,  and like every 2.5 year old would like things to be his way. I don't know if I can even begin to list all the new things that he surprises me with being able to do these days.
He still loves to read and sing, and has started to enjoy watching movies, Alvin and the Chipmunks is a favorite, (thank you who ever invented DVD, it is so much easier to fast forward without Avery noticing then it would have been with a VHS!) Avery loves to play outside on all his bikes and trikes, trucks and cars. Tractors or trucks with trailers are is favorite toys right now. He is sleeping in a big boy bed. And is basically the greatest little boy.
He wears size 5 diapers, 2-3T shorts, 3T shirts, 3T jammies, 9 Keens, 8 flip flops, and his favorite color is blue, loves mini muffins and yogurt, fruits, and mac n cheese.

Off to the Zoo with Daddy

This weekend Avery and Daddy and some friends went to the zoo. We are lucky to have a free Zoo in Minnesota, and enjoying a Sparky the Seal show is a rite of passage for Minnesota Kids and this past weekend Avery got to see his first Sparky the Seal show. Lucky Lucky Boy.

Having some lunch waiting for the snow to start

Avery and Daddy had a great day with the animal friends (and people friends) at the Zoo.

Avery and Daddy with Mamas favorites

I see you Mr. monkey

It was a great day to be a the zoo with friends!

Silly Summer Fun

When I was little one of greatest things about summer and warm weather was playing in the hose and a kiddie pool in the yard, and that seems to be a favorite summer time for our silly little boy too!

Watch me jump!

Here comes Mr Silly!

Mr. Silly

King of the Castle

Gotta clean the pool when your done mama.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

Our Red, White & Blue Big Boy

 For Avery it isn't 4th of July unless there is swimming with Daddy and Uncle Rich.

Swimming with Daddy

Water Slide!!  Catch Me Daddy!!

And new to the mix this year fireworks!!! After a long day at the lake Avery still had enough energy to watch the fire works from the bridge.

Too busy to look at the camera

 But that was it, once the fireworks were over and we got back to the Jeep it was lights out!

Happy 4th of July!

Golden Heart 4th of July Parade 2013

There are a lot of parades this time of year but my favorite one is the Golden Heart 4th of July Parade. With all the kids dressed in red, white and blue wearing hats and crowns they made that week and waving flags, the whole daycare comes out (except the youngest babies) and parades around the block while parents wave and take pictures, and move to another spot long the route and do it again. 

Here they come!

Red, White and Baby Blues!

Some parents always have to join the parade

First Face Plant - Ouch!

 

Ouch!

Well it was bound to happen, while going really fast on one of his outside “cars” Avery got his feet stuck under him and went over the handle bars and landed face first on the the driveway.  Tears,  screaming and blood followed. First step was to get him calmed down enough to be able to look at the damage. His mouth was full of blood but his teeth were all there and looked ok, the tears and blood continued for awhile but the promise of a popsicle and a screening of Alvin and Chipmunks and the pain was all but forgotten. 

Post Popsicle

Painted Nails

Sorry Daddy, but he asked me to.  I promise I had nothing to do with him asking either. 

My toe nails are "BLUE"

What do Avery ask me to do? That would be paint his toe nails.  Promise i didn't even mention it to him as an idea. I only asked what color.Of course he answered "BLUE" so we  got out the blue nail polish and got to work. 

Sitting very still, watching.

Avery sat very still and did a great job while I so very professionally painted his tiny toe nails blue. He was so proud when we were done, he loved showing them off to everyone he saw, and with the 4th of July coming up  his color choice was perfect.

Drinking From the Sprinkler

How do you get a drink in the summer?

Best way to stay hydrated!

From the sprinkler of course!

Summer Sickness

Working on a puzzle while we wait

Avery has been trying to kick a "summer cold" for the past month, so finally after a very long sleepless night. I made an appoint for Avery to see his doctor. Ears were clear but his lungs were not, Avery has phenomena, but not to worry he hasn't noticed yet:) Hopefully his med kick in quick!

Big Boy Bed

Well the time has come that our baby no longer needs a crib. Even though he only climbed out once (and I actually watched him do it), it was just time, he was ready. 

Good Bye Crib!

So with a sad heart we took apart the crib. Avery wasn’t sad it thought it was the greatest thing ever, with the bottom out he was a supper cool climber. 

Look at me mama!

 Avery helped every step of the way with this new big boy bed (aka toddler bed) . He helped carry it into his room, move the mattress and make the bed, he was a big help!

Trying out his new Big Boy Bed

Like every parent moving their baby to a bed from a crib (cage) I wondered how many times I would have to put him back in his bed or if  I would find him passed out in his room hunched over some toys after playing all night, but actually it went surprisingly well. 
 

Perfect fit!

Pretending to Sleep

Avery got to stay up a bit later then normal while I rearranged his room, so he was a bit more tired ten usual, and with the added bonus of sleeping with my childhood stuffed animal if he stayed in bed, he did in fact stay in bed, all night long!

Sound asleep all night long!

Self Portraits

Walk Home By Avery Barbeau (age 2)

 While on our way home from the park Avery was inspired and wanted to take some self portraits. I call this body of work, Walk Home, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day

Best Daddy!

Happy Father's Day to the Best Daddy a little boy could ever ask for!

Riding Papas big Momo

Train ride with Papa GT

And to the best two Papas around!