Happy Birthday Daddy!

Nuzzle!

Happy Birthday Daddy! Love Avery and Mommy

Carney Avenue Road Construction

Back in 2004 when we bought our house on Carney we knew road improvements would be coming, and in July the Carney Avenue construction project finally started. It is a very large project, Carney is a long street and all the pipes below the street are being replaced, sidewalks are being added to both sides of the street and they are actually making the road narrower. When the project began in July, rather then shut down the entire street for months they started at the (other) end of street and have gone block by block. As each block gets completed and they moved closer to our end of the street and late last week the crews were only a block away and there was large equipment being parked in front of our house at night. That meant only one thing, they would soon be ready to work on our block, in front of our house. 

Scooper!

Breaker!

Tuesday night when we came home to a gravel road in front of the house and no water, because they temporary water line had not been hooked up yet, and the other water had been shut off, I knew we were only days away from losing access to our end of the street and our driveway.

Our new lawn art

I was right, last night when we got home the crew had stopped working just two houses down. Happily I was able to get in the driveway, but I have admit I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to get out this morning, so I parked at the end of the driveway just to let the work crew know we were there and not to block us in. The workers (“Guys” as Avery calls them) show up every morning at 7 and start their equipment and start working for the day. Avery has been enjoying the machines and action outside his window for a week or so now, but this morning Avery could hardly contain his excitement, real diggers and dumpers were actually working 100 feet from his house!

Best Morning Ever!

Bet they will be digging in front of our house by noon

Not wanting to get trapped, we quickly jumped in the Jeep and the nice “Guy” driving the front loader waved that it was clear for us to go, and off we went. I am pretty sure I wont be able to get back into the driveway tonight and that our days of driving in or out of the driveway are over for a little while. Not sure where I will park tonight but some sleepovers at the grandparents might be in order to avoid the possible block walk to the jeep in the mornings and at night.

Uncle Leaf & Veronika

Last Friday night Uncle Lee and Veronika arrived from Colorado, and yesterday morning they headed home. Like most of their visits the time seemed to fly by, and for having no real plans we were busy the entire time. The best thing about having Lee and Veronika here was that Avery was Lee’s (Leaf as Avery calls him) shadow. It was so cute, if we went anywhere Avery had to be in the car with Lee, if Lee left the room Avery would follow,  and when Avery was done eating Avery would inform Lee he was "all done too", even if he wasn't. Avery was so very excited to have two new people to play with and read with. And Leaf is he was an old pro at playing with Avery’s toys too, since most of them were his the first time around!

Leaf & Avery reading about diggers

Avery loved having them here, and was truly sad when they left, tears and all. Not sure when the next time Avery will be able to play with his friend Leaf, hopefully it wont be too long.

Twenty One Months

Happy 21 Months Avery!

Today Avery  is 21 months old.  He is the silliest little boy, he loves cars and trucks and tractors and basically anything with wheels. He has a variety of blankets and stuffed friends but not one that he cant live without. Avery loves to read and play by himself but is happy to have someone join in on his fun too. Avery can do many thing, more then I know I am sure but lately he has impressed me with his ability to sing twinkle twinkle little star, wheels on the  bus, head-shoulders-knees-and-toes, Avery can also (when he wants too) count to 5 (which blows my mind). Avery contiues to be a talented whistler, and a good eater. Last I knew (2 weeks ago) he weighted in a 29 lbs. He wears a size 7shoe, size 4 diaper, 18-24 pants, 24-2T shirts. He is a happy, healthy little boy who is getting closer to being two, (parents who have had 2 year olds know what I mean), everyday. 

2012 Mankato River Ramble

The temperature when Avery and I got up this morning at 8:00 am was 23 degrees, so we dressed in our warm clothes (Avery was dressed a bit warmer then me) and headed out the door to Land of Memories park, for the 2nd annual Mankato River Ramble Bike Ride, our activity for the day. This was our first time doing the ride and the event couldn’t have had more perfect timing, because my brother, Lee (Leaf as Avery calls him), and his fiancée Veronica are home to visit, and they are always up for a little exercise and adventure. After getting signed in and taking a few quick pictures of our group we loaded up and headed out on our 12 mile loop around some of Mankato’s river valley.

My mom, Leaf (Lee), Avery, Me, and Veronica

Avery all ready to ride

The route

Although the day seemed cold before we left the house, it was perfect weather for a bike ride, it was just the right amount of cold once we got going. Our loop only had one rest stop, which we took full advantage of. Sure it was only like 3.5 miles into our route but it had cookies, coffee, juice, live music, and places to run and explore.

Having a cookie with Grandma

Lee captured our little ridder 

Exploring with Uncle Leaf

After our rest, we got back on our bikes and continued on our way.  There were some hills to go up and some to go down but for the most part it I thought it was a relaxing ride.  Avery thought so too, he decided to take a little nap as Uncle Leaf peddled on.

Peddle, Peddle

 It really was a great ride, I am so glad we all got the chance to do it. When we got back to Land of Memories Papa met us to enjoy some hot chocolate, coffee, bagels, fruit and more live music.

Happy to see Papa at the finish 

Veronica, Avery and Leaf post Ramble

Playground Grand Opening

Golden Heart flag on the new playground

Today was a big day for Golden Heart, it was the grand opening of their new custom built playground. The new playground is in the pre-school section, so it will be a few year before Avery gets to play on it everyday, but prior to the grand opening all the toddlers and preschoolers did get a chance to give it their seal of approval. But today was the grand opening, which meant it was open to the public, so of course  we had to invite all the grand parents and aunts and uncles to come out and see and play on the new climber.

Taking Uncle Lee to see his new playground

 It was cold and windy but that didn’t stop Avery from showing Uncle Lee, (soon to be) Aunt Veronika, Papa, Grammy, GG, GT and me how much fun the new playground is. It is a very fun place to play, stairs to climb, a tunnel, slides, houses and castles on the corners, and lots of room to run.

Up we go. 

Check out the bridge!

So fun!

See ya later mom, my friends are waiting

up and down... round and round

checking out the playhouse

What a fun castle! It has flags and everything

Avery really had great time, I know the kids are really going to love playing on their new playground.

Good Advertising

This week Hy-Vee had a pet product sale and an ad was included with the paper to advertise the sale, just any other week. What made this ad so special? The ad was die cut with a row of puppies and kitties on one side and the sale items on the other. 

Pointing out the Puppies and Kitties

Really well done, really caught the eye and really cute, and I am sure you can guess who else gave this ad two thumbs up..... and lots of kisses!

Kisses!

Mr. Fix It

Patching holes with Daddy

As Avery has gotten bigger so have the toys he plays with (and the amount of toys he has to play with), and rather then pile them all up in the living room, were he usually plays, we decided to turn the computer/ski room into his toy room. After moving out the computer desk the room was ready for toys, with the exception of a little ‘Mr. Fix It” work. When we removed the shelves that once held my printers there were some large holes that needed to be patched, so Avery and his daddy got the job of patching. Avery is an excellent Mr. Fix it, always willing help Daddy with any project, so they got right to work on the holes. They did a great job, now all I need to do is paint the room, I might not have Avery help me with that project :)

Center Creek Orchard Fall Festival

It’s officially Fall (even if the weather has yet to get the memo) so to celebrate we went to Center Creek Orchard for some Fall Festival fun. Center Creek Orchard is a nice little place, perfect of young kids. The orchard has Storytelling, a Corn Pile (aka sand box filled with corn!), Scarecrow building,  Miniature Golf, mazes, goats, a Barrel Ride, a hayride, Bounce houses, a Trike Track, a Haypile, a Super Slide, and Pumpkin Patch. We started our fall fun in the Corn Pile. 

Dumping out the corn was fun 

Filling the dumper

Avery had the greatest time playing with all the diggers, and dumpers and tractors. After we finally convinced Avery that there were more fun things to do besides to play with the diggers and dumpers, we headed to the Trike Track, where he did a few laps before the “Hay Wagon” (there was no Hay) showed up to take us for a ride. After our ride, we headed down to the pumpkin patch via the goats and super slide. 

Gotta stop and pet (kiss) the goats

Ready to go on the Super Slide!

Weee! Again...

Playing with Mommy

Avery loved every activity, it was hard to convince him that there were other fun things still left to do. While we were in the pumpkin patch Avery spotted a lawn mower pulling a train of barrels. The driver stopped so Avery could get in and away he went, round and round. 

Barrel Ride

Hold on Avery!

Ringing the bell! Way to go Avery!

It was a perfect day to be outside and have some fall fun (even if it was 80 out). I think we will have to visit the orchard again next year.

How tall this fall with Mommy 

How tall this fall with Daddy

Avery's New Ride

Back in March Avery started driving his Cozy Coupe Car. It was hard first he could make it go without siding off the seat and running himself over. I worried that he would not love the cute little foot powered car as much I did. But as his motor skills improved he was able to get the cozy coupe to go backwards, then forwards, and then there was no stopping him. The Cozy Coupe car became one of his favorite outside playthings. But as cute as the Cozy Coupe Car is and as much as he loves it, I knew there was something he would love even more, a Cozy Coupe Truck! 

Avery and his New Truck!

Trying out the tailgate

During the Mankato city wide garage sale this year Grandma scored, she found a Cozy Coupe Truck. A rare find indeed, I have only ever seen them in a catalog, never in a store or a driveway, or anywhere. This little Truck had Avery's name written all over it, I was so excited to show him his new truck. And as expected it was love at first sight. I think one of his favorite features of the truck is the additional cargo space in the bed of the truck!

Look I fit back here too!

So if you need some help moving or some building materials from Menards, you can call Avery, he's got a truck now!

Your need directions? The fun is thata way!

Tubes

Ready for surgery

Our day started a little earlier then normal this morning, scheduled for a 7:10 am surgery, to have tubes put in both ears, we had to be at the hospital at 6:00 am to check in so we up and out the door by 5:40 am. Like the trooper Avery is, the hour earlier wakeup didn’t phase him. We got to the hospital and checked and only had to wait a few minutes before we were taken back to get Avery ready for surgery.  Dressed in a gown Avery had a great time doing laps around the nurse’s station while we waited for the doctor, anesthesiologist and other nurses to stop in.

Enjoying his pre-surgery wagon ride

 At a little before 7:00 a nurse came and got Avery so he could be put under, having been given a small dose of a sedative Avery was very calm and relaxed (aka goofy drunk and a wet noodle). It was maybe 10-15 minutes after that his doctor returned to tell us that the surgery went well, and she was very glad we put tubes in because he had a lot of fluid in his ears and actually saw a recently healed rupture in his right ear. By 7:30 Avery was back with us, he shed a few quick tears and fell back to sleep. After waking up Avery had some apple juice, water, and a cherry popsicle before he was cleared to go home. To my surprise we were in the car headed home before 9:00.  Avery was a excellent patient, and everything went so well, by the afternoon you wouldn’t have know he had surgery that morning, except he was still wearing his hospital bracelet.

ENT Appointment

This is my double ear infection face :)

Avery had an appointment with an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Doctor this afternoon, where we found out that he currently has a double ear infection. Avery has had 3 prior ear infections and 2 ruptured ear drums so because of that Avery is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning (to have tubes put in both ears). The surgery it’s self is quick, 5 minutes or so. He is the first one on the surgery schedule so we will arrive at the hospital at 6am, his surgery should be around 7am, then he will be in recovery for 2 hours, and if all goes well we will be home before long before lunch.

Mankato Mud Run 2012

Jess, Matt, Me & Nate before for the Mud Run

Yesterday I did my first Mud Run. Not familiar with what a mud run is? Well, basically its an obstacle course with mud and messy obstacles. The 2012 Mankato Mud Run had obstacles like logs, a creek run, tunnels crawl thru, a wall to climb over, a cargo net and 3 mud pits. 

Mankato Mud Run Course 2012

I have to admit I was a little nervous about the event, but not for the obstacles, I am not much of a run for fun type of person and was worried about how hard the running part was going to be, especially since there were two large hills in the course, but luckily I had some great friends to run with and we battled thru the course together.

Jess & I Running down Thompson Ravine....

At the end of the Creek Run, and no the water was not warm

Under, Over, Over, Under, Under, Over...

Made it thru the tires 

In the mud pit

Trying to get out of the mud pit 

Rope swing into the next mud pit. Opps i slipped...

Crawling out of the mud pit,
totally blind for all the mud in my eyes 

Still cant see, but  I am almost done!

Jess & Me After! 

We didn’t win any awards for our times, but we did come in faster then our goal, and that and having a good time was all we were really there for.  Over all it was a great day, it could have been a bit warmer, and less windy but other then that it was really fun. Cant wait for next years run, but I think I'll bring some swim goggles to keep the mud out of my eyes!