Elmo's Healthy Heroes :)

Brynn's friends invited us to Elmo's Healthy Heroes at the Target Center two Saturdays ago. I wasn't super excited about going because Elmo, along with Dora, drives me batty. However, I knew Brynn would have fun with her friends. So, we loaded the van up and met two other friends and their moms at the Target Center.

Brynn, Abbie, and Miranda on their way to Elmo's Healthy Heroes!
Before the show started we all pulled out our cheap (that place is a rip off) snacks that we packed to try and entertain the ladies before the show started.

I was pleasantly surprised that the show was a musical. It was actually quite entertaining. After it started I wished we had brought Cara along with us--she LOVES singing and dancing. I also immediately thought of cousin Nolan, he adores Elmo.

After the show we all went out to lunch at an Applebee's that is right in the Target Center. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from the show. Of course we had 5 hungry and tired kids with us and to our luck a huge mix up occured and we were there for over an hour before our food came. When it did come they brought anything and everything we could have wanted (they took care of our bill too)--Brynn even got french fries and applesauce with her grilled chicken sandwich because they couldn't remember which she had ordered. She was more than excited--I don't think she has realized french fries were an option as we have never ordered them. Slowly but surely she is learning really how good life is :) We have gone out to dinner one other time since then (not at Applebee's) and Brynn told me, "I'll just have french fries with my hamburger, Mom." Luckily, I'm still the mom and I can say, "Oh no you won't Brynn." It's a good thing she is so sweet and will go along with whatever I say. Gotta love her easy going personality!

The cutie pies on their way home.

Megan (5), Brynn (almost 4), Jason (4), Miranda (3 1/2) and Abbie (4).

Sleepover with our favorite ladies!

Darren left us last weekend to go ice fishing with some buddies so we decided we better have a little girl time with our favorite ladies. Jen and Claire came Friday after school and stayed until after naps on Saturday. We had so much fun!

Claire loved Brynn's dress up clothes and camera.
After we had some squeaky clean kids we FINALLY were able to capture an adorable picture of the three. Nice work, Jen!

Buddies!
Before bed we read some good books. Unfortunately, bed really wasn't Claire's thing. I'm not sure if Jen will be up for another sleepover any time in the near future...Claire sleeps (or should I say doesn't sleep) a lot like Cara when she is not in her own bed.

Saturday morning the girls played a little Ring Around the Rosie before getting ready to go bowling.

Someone's pretty excited to get started :) We began our bowling experience with having each girl pick out their own ball...until we kept finding Cara and Claire walking around with bowling balls every time we turned around. Since we didn't want to lose any toes on our first bowling experience together we decided we would stick with one ball so we knew where it was at all times!

Brynn was very insistent in setting up her ramp and getting her own ball without any help. By the end she was doing really well!

Cara LOVED bowling. It will definitely be on our calendar in the future!

Claire starting out excited about bowling, unfortunately, her lack of sleep caught up with her and after about the 3rd frame she was done. Her mom turned out to be a really good bowler with bumpers and a ramp though. Claire came in the lead!

LOVE these girls!

These ones too!

Thanks, Jen and Claire for spending the night with us. We had so much fun!

Swimming

Cara started swimming lessons two Tuesdays ago. The first day was very unsuccessful. She cried for the first 20 minutes and attempted to get out any time they came close to the edge of the pool. We ended up getting her out and leaving before swimming was even over. I am not sure what put me over the edge more, Cara crying because she was in the pool or Brynn crying because she was outside the pool. Darren was sure the crying was because I was there watching and not in with her. Per his request I was not allowed to come to the next session. According to Darren she loved it! We'll give her a few more weeks of going without me then I want to go watch. Hopefully she'll be okay with me not being in the water with her..and Brynn will be okay with just watching and not being in the pool.

The BIG spoon...

...4 deep!

Bath

Lately the girls have been such good buddies...I LOVE it. Cara is developing such a sweet little presonality and is beginning to love playing with her big sister. Sunday night baths are my favorite. We have plenty of time to just sit and play in the tub. This Sunday we made a typical bath even more fun by adding Dora (yes, Dora) bubbles that Santa brought for Brynn.

Playing Santa.
Sweet sisters!

What sweeties!

Some REALLY old Stats...

I have been meaning to get some stats up from the girls' appoinments for a really long time. For some reason they ended up in our bedroom and I don't blog in our bedroom often (or ever for that matter) so they never made it.

Here are Brynn's 3 year stats taken on 3/13/10:

Weight~ 26.8 lbs (10th %ile)
Height~35.5 inches (14th %ile)
BMI~14.95 (25th %ile)

Cara's 9 month stats taken on 4/01/2010
Weight~17 lbs. 6 oz. (19th %ile)
Height~27.5 inces (40th %ile)
HC~16.5 inches (3rd %ile)

Cara's 12 month stats taken on



Cara's 15 month stats taken on 9/17/2010:
Weight~18 lbs. 14 oz. (3rd %ile)
Height~29 inches (12th %ile)
HC~17.3 inches (6th %ile)

Cara's 18 month stats taken on 12/10/10:
Weight~19 lbs. 10 oz. (2nd %ile)
Height~30 1/4 inches (14th %ile)
HC~17 1/2 inches (5th %ile)

New Year's Eve 2010

We headed down to Rochester on New Year's Eve. Since Darren and I have been together (as long as Melissa and Jeremy have been married) we have been getting together with the Eckhoffs for New Year's. It sure takes on a different look these days. In the past we worried about how much beer we should bring. These days we worry about how tired we are going to be the following day and how we don't want to take care of two small children with hangovers. Apparently, our age and the number of children are wearing on us because none of us made it to midnight. I am pretty sure I was the first to peter out, followed by Melissa, then Darren...sorry Jeremy. I promise next year I'll make it to midnight with bells on!

We had delicious home made pizzas for dinner. It was a big hit amongst everyone.

After dinner Cara and Landon played with his Nuk. Cara thought it was hilarious to take Landon's Nuk out of his mouth, and Landon thought it was even more hilarious to have it happen to him. Needless to say it was as much fun for us to watch as it was for Landon and Cara to play.

Melissa and I figured out how to pour margaritas with babies on our hips. I'd like to say that nothing can stop us, but honestly the thought of Cara keeping me up all night since she wasn't sleeping in her own bed really kept me at bay. HOWEVER, she did fabulous and only made one quick peep and then went back to sleep. THANK YOU, Cara!

After dinner we opened up a few gifts.

Then checked everyone's throats to assure no one had step. According to Dr. Eckhoff and nurse Brynn we were all clear.

Before bed (after we had been there for hours) Cara decided Jeremy wasn't too bad after all.

Before hitting the sack Brynn and Peyton played a little Uno Moo.

Since Landon was in bed when we all opened gifts he got to open his up New Year's Day.

Thanks, Eckhoffs for having us down. It's always a good time to get together...even if we don't make it to midnight!