Spring Break Part 2

Sorry I left you all hanging there with our spring break adventures. I'm not sure exactly what happened--something about Mom and Dad having real work to do and not wanting to be bothered by helping me with my awesome blog.

Anyway, I updated Spring Break Part 1 with links for all the places we visited, in case you are interested. Now on to Part 2.

Thursday--Dad went to work at Best Buy, so we had a Mom only day. I think she was planning on it being a lazy day, but soon realized we couldn't have a whole day at home without the girls hurting each other. So, we went to the library (watch for more upcoming posts on my book recommendations--I have many) where I got to read more Carl and Thomas books, and play with the fish. The fish is my favorite part of the library. He's awesome. I also like running away when Mom is checking out books. 

After the library we went to the mall. Liana had been asking to get her ears pierced, so I guess Mom decided today was the day. Gillian then also decided she wanted her ears pierced.  I have to give Mom credit that she tried very hard to talk them both out of it. And I think she hoped that after Gillian saw Liana do it, Gillian wouldn't want to do it. But those girls were determined. So, we went to Sweet and Sassy, where all the other girls apparently go to get their ears pierced, and started looking at earrings. Now, if you know the girls, you know that Liana is obsessed with green and Gillian is obsessed with blue. We all thought they would choose earrings according to those colors because that's how they make every decision in their lives. But, they suddenly became obsessed with having their birthstone colors. So, Liana chose the yellow topaz and Gillian chose the red ruby. And they both went through with it. It was amazing. The piercers were actually very good--two of them worked together to do both ears at the same time, and they hid the guns behind their backs until the girls closed their eyes. They did it so fast Gillian didn't have a chance to be freaked out and change her mind. So, now the girls have pierced ears. They seem to regret it now because they don't like cleaning them every day--even though Mom did warn them repeatedly about it--but they're stuck with them (pun intended)!

Friday--We had another boring morning that included grocery shopping. Then in the afternoon Grandma Lynn came to visit! Liana had a previous engagement and went on a date with Aunt Louie to the Art Museum, where she brought a sketch book and spent the afternoon creating her own art based on the art she saw (I'm not sure she's really only 6 years old). The rest of us went to Kohls, where both Mom and Grandma Lynn have an unhealthy addiction, and then went to synagogue for a cappella Kabbalat Shabbat.

Saturday--Started with the usual children's services at synagogue. Then we went to Powder Valley Conservation Center where we played in the visitor center (huge fish tank!) and walked the trails. I most enjoyed seeing the huge turtles and playing with the owl puppets (owl is one of my new favorite words).

That's bear poop, in case you were wondering.

After that we had an early dinner and then went to Laumeier Sculpture Park, which is a huge park filled with lots of outdoor art.

Sunday--A final lazy day for the last day of break. We played at the park in our neighborhood and then Grandma Lynn had to go home. We played at Nana and Gaga's house in the afternoon and then headed home for an early night.

It was a whirlwind week, but it sure was fun! I could definitely handle more spring break.

Spring Break Part 1

It's been a busy week! Even though our family attends three different schools (Daddy's high school, Liana's elementary school, and Gillian's preschool) in different districts, we managed to have everyone home on spring break at the same time. So, we took advantage of it. No, we didn't go on a trip--we became tourists in our own town. And it was awesome.  Here's what we did:

Last Sunday--World Bird Sanctuary. They were having their annual Eagle Day, so in addition to seeing all the birds that are usually there, we also got to tour their wildlife hospital, see a show with lots of eagles (one of which, as we learned, likes to eat barf), and do some other crafts and activities. Afterward, we went to the wildlife park next door and saw elk and bison, plus lots of huge turtles in a lake.

Monday--Mom and Dad made us stay home to do yard work. Boo. Liana did end up going to a friend's house in the afternoon, so Mom took me and Gillian for Slurpees to make us feel better.

Tuesday--Butterfly House. Before we even got into the butterfly area, we saw exhibits with lots of different bugs. I called them all snakes, because I like to say snake (pronounced nake-sssss). And then I called them "eww" because that's what my sisters were calling them. Inside the butterfly area was pretty cool. I liked seeing all the butterflies flying around, even though Mom was freaked out by them. After the butterflies we played on the playground and rode on the carousel, plus toured the historic village in the park.

Wednesday--Museum of Transportation. The best day ever, as I told you about in my post yesterday. In the afternoon the girls and Dad went to see The Lorax, while I slept and Mom worked.

I'll end there for now (you didn't think I was going to go through the whole week in one night, did you?). Stay tuned for more!

A Dream Come True

All my dreams came true this weekend. We finally went to the Museum of Transportation when everything was open. It was as awesome as I wanted it to be and more. We played with thousands of Thomases and his friends in the Creation Station, we rode the train which took us around the property where we could see all the old trains waiting to be restored, we rode the tram to the train yard, and we got to play around all the huge trains in the yard. I "woo-woo"ed until I couldn't "woo-woo" anymore. And then I learned how to say "all aboard" and said that for the rest of the day. It was so awesome I took a 3-hour nap when I got home--and this is a guy who hasn't been taking naps everyday and when I do it's only about an hour and a half--I just have too much to do to take time for naps. I'll explain the rest in pictures (we don't have as many as I would like, but I guess Mom and Dad were too busy chasing me as I ran from train to train to actually take pictures of me).

Sitting in the brakeman's seat, trying to figure out if I can reach the cord to ring the bell (p.s. I couldn't, but my sisters rang it plenty).

You would be nervous if you were sitting behind Gillian in the driver's seat too.

Woo-woo!

All aboard!

All aboard! Woo-woo! So many trains, I don't know what to do!

Inside the oil tanker.

Playing with Chuggington at the Creation Station.

I don't know why Gillian doesn't look happy. She has the best seat on the tram!

How do I make this thing go?

What's that?

I want it! Woo-woo!

Best. Day. Ever.

Watch for posts about all my spring break adventures coming up this week--the World Bird Sanctuary, Butterfly House and Carousel, ear-piercing at the mall (my sisters, not me), weekend with Grandma Lynn, Powder Valley, and Laumeier Sculpture Park...and that's not including whatever adventure we have tomorrow. For a week off, we sure were busy!

My Friend Carl

Tonight I want to tell you about my friend Carl, or Good Dog Carl, as I call him. I first met Good Dog Carl several months ago at the children's library at my synagogue. I was being whiny, so someone handed me the first board book they could find. It had a dog on it, so they figured I would like it. I didn't just like it. I loved it. Or, as Liana says, I didn't just like it, I thought it was spectacular. (Yes, that's a new saying she came up with today.) Here is that book. In the story, the mom needs to go out, so she leaves Carl the dog as a babysitter. The baby climbs out of the crib and then rides around on Carl as they make messes and clean them up around the house. At one point, the baby is swimming in the fish tank. And then the baby goes down the laundry chute. Carl gets the baby back in bed and asleep before the mom comes home, at which point she tells him what a good dog he is. It's awesome.

Recently I have learned from my time at the library that there are many Good Dog Carl books. Carl goes to a mall, has a birthday party, plays at the park, and helps find a baby duck. Carl is one busy dog. And I love him. The only thing I love more than Carl is trains. My bedtime song that Mom made up and sings to me before bedtime and naptime is all about how much I love trains and Good Dog Carl. Good Dog Carl is awesome.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I'd rather be riding Good Dog Carl, but all I have is this sheep.

St. Pat's 24hrs.

Now I am just a little boy, but even I know that some things can get taken out of hand.  This Saturday I was overwhelmed by people who must have been very excited for the release of The Muppets on DVD.  Everyone was wearing green.  It was crazy.  I was taken aback by everyone's devotion to Kermet.  Apparently, it is easy to be all in green.

This Saturday was a lot like other Saturdays.  Nothing special, nothing extraordinary.  Friday though began a whole family Spring Break, so that is very exciting.  We have been busy.  Friday we were a whole Shabbat Family at Gillian's school and then went and had FroYo.  Saturday was the Gog in the morning and normal stuff in the afternoon.  Today we have been really busy.  We went with Dad's friend John to the Wild Bird Sanctuary for Eagle Days and then went to Lone Elk Park to look at Bison and Elk (we saw a bunch of both) and had Subway for dinner.  Tomorrow (Monday) Dad works but I am sure that Mom has something big planned for me and my compatriots.  This is going to be an awesome week that will result in at least one visit to the Museum of Transportation.  It is like I am a visitor in my own town.  This is going to be great!

Stay tuned!

And now, a bunch of pictures to make up for this boring post and my lack of posting in general.

This is how I roll.

Purr.

Why wasn't I involved in this? A. There wasn't room. B. Cotton candy is gross.

Could I please have some more?

I am the cutest bee you've ever seen.

Finally Gillian has found her pony.

Liana's llama. Say that ten times fast.

I want you, chicken.

What you can't see is Dad holding her up to the monkey bars.

How did Liana's legs get so long?

Like Dangling a Donut in Front of a Fat Man!

Saturday morning before the gog I had a great experience that became full of temptation and tribulations.  The Museum on Transportation has a room called the Creation Station.  Think giant transportation themed play room.  In this room were many toys I enjoyed playing with such as tons of Thomas trains and tracks, trucks, tables, cars, crayons, costumes, Pirate Ship, puppet show, and other lots of cool stuff.  We got an e-mail they they were moving to a new center.  Mommy took me to the new room and I loved it.

In this above mentioned e-mail, Mom saw that they were selling all of the old stuff in the old Creation Station.  We had to be there and we were.  There were about ten people in line in front of us.  Dad was to go straight to the train stuff.  As he walked in there was already a crowd of kids and parents picking through the buildings, tracks, and trains.  Dad could not get in.  He waited patiently until there was a crack.  He started grabbing trains, and tracks, and buildings while defending his pile.  I kept seeing things I wanted him to grab but he was in the moment and I still do not say full words.  While Dad was getting intimate with Thomas, Mom was watching Liana and Gillian pick things that made no sense for us to take home.  This included a Pirate ship that had two stories, a full kitchenette, a play table that was over a 10' square, and puppet theater.  Eventually, they agreed on a box of instruments and a few books.  I got 14 pieces of track, two buildings, and five officially licensed Thomas trains.  The whole haul was under forty dollars.  That part was awesome.

What was not awesome was that Mom chose to wear me during the whole thing in her baby backpack (home made by Mom and sold through her line of fine baby products called Picklemomous Creations). I could not play, pick, or plunder the toys.  I just had to yell out what I wanted and be ignored by everyone who was there to get me what I wanted.  SOOOOOO MAD!

And what was worse, I could see all of the giant trains but the park was closed except for the sale.  Again, I have been unable to see the trains.  Two times and two times shot down.  This is a lot of disappointment to swallow for someone with such a small torso.

Happy about the new stuff, angry about the trains and not being able to play.  I guess I will deal.  Have a great week everyone.  Here comes Purim!

A Day in My Life, Part 1

I woke up to find Gillian staring at me.  It would be one thing if she snuck into my room and was looking at me through the lattice of my crib.  No, I found her three inches from my face in the the crib.  Like a giant spider in waiting, she is perched, waiting for me to twitch my eyes open so she can yell to Mom, "Asher is awake!"

This is how my days start.

I find Chuck the Truck, Zig the Big Rig, Pillow Pet Mater, and the rest of my wheelie friends where I left them.  I grab what my little T-Rex arms can hold and charge into Mom and Dad's room.  Gillian is back, turning on the lights and is picking out clothing for me.  I know it is not going to match, and probably won't fit either (it's time for Mom to clear out my drawers).  That is her thing.  I run into the room, throw the wheelies, and put my stinky diaper butt in Mom's face.

This is how Mom's day starts.

There are showers, and breakfast, dressing, and delivering girls to schools. Next is my favorite time of the day.  I love spending one on one time with Mom.  We do lots of fun things and there is no Gillian to steal mom from me.

More will come later.  I got Ken Burns's Civil War from the library and want to watch it all tonight.  Just because I am two does not mean that I do not apprecaite a fine documentary.  I wish Grandma and Grandpa did not give away "Cane Toads."  I really want to watch it next.  Sad.