Farm work and farm fun

There is a lot to do on the farm, and it doesn't always involve tractors. There were flowers to pick, a giant lawn to mow (ok, so that involved a tractor), a sandbox that needed tending, and a tricycle to try out. Plus, there was a whole farm to explore! Evie helped her grandma with the yard work, mostly by waving freshly picked peonies around and hitching a ride on the lawn tractor. Mom made me a little nervous while she whipped around the lawn at a breakneck speed on the mower, but she made sure to slow down when Evie jumped on. As expected, Evie thought the lawn tractor was pretty cool.

Picking flowers with Grandma Bev














The lawn crew poses for a picture

Eventually, it was time to find her own means of transportation. Dad pulled out the old tricycle that I rode at Evie's age. Mom and I washed it up and Evie gave it a try. She needs a little more oomph in her pedaling, and ehs scoots on it more than anything. But Evie liked riding on her "cy-cycle."








Grandma coaches Evie to "push right! Now push left!"











The farm comes with its own sandbox as well, and Evie spent plenty of time getting her hands dirty. Grandpa Wayne joined in, too. Evie really just wanted to see the sand fly.


Concentration!





Evie and Grandpa Wayne build...Ok, so I don't really know what they are doing.



There are a whole series of other pictures I wish I had taken, but I was having too much fun to stop and document. Evie and I spent a lot time outside just running between the trees, spinning around until we got dizzy, and falling on the ground. It was like I was transported back to when I was a child, running this same yard on a beautiful Minnesota day spent at my grandparents. Time really moves in circles.

Evie Lu, the farmer

Before our trip to Minnesota, we had been looking at farm books and learning about the kinds of things you find on the farm. Like a lot of little kids, Evie seemed fascinated with the large machinery. She would sometimes get things mixed up, like calling all the planes on the tarmac "combines." But she certainly knew what tractors were, and when she got to the farm, she wanted to drive one. Turning me into a nervous wreck, my dad actually let Evie sit in the seat and steer the tractor. Evie kept it interesting by asking "what's that?" and then grabbing the throttle before Dad could stop her. Vrroom! Thank goodness it wasn't in gear. Of course, Dad had the tractor going very slow and always kept one hand on the wheel. Evie made a complete loop in the yard and managed to not hit anything. She talked about driving the tractor for days following.

















Evie and Grandpa Wayne walking out to test drive a tractor














Grandpa Wayne explains what everything does. Evie just wants to get to business.















"You get to do this everyday?!"

Minnesota fun!

While our blog has been on vacation, our little one has been busy having fun in Minnesota visiting family. There are lots of stories to share, so let's get started!





Our first full day in Minnesota involved, what else, a visit to one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes. We crammed everyone in the van (Aunts Megan and Kaitlin and friend Johny were visiting Grandma and Grandpa, too) and headed to Itasca, location of the headwaters of the Mississippi. One of our goals for the trip was to get Evie to enjoy swimming. Up to this point, she has been hesitant. Evidently, all it took was some coaxing from her aunts (or maybe their bribing with cheese and crackers), because Evie became a fish in the water. After wresting her into her suit and slathering her with sunscreen (or "sunscream" as Evie calls it...and it certainly involves screaming), Evie dipped her toes into the water. Then she dipped her bottom in. Then her belly, and before we knew it, she was kicking her legs while propped up by her arms on the bottom of the lake. It was such a joy to hear her say "I'm swimming!" and scream with delight. She also loved playing in the sand and we made our first sandcastles.


P.S. If you want to read the less PG version of this trip, check out Evie's Aunt Megan's blog. I'm really hoping I haven't scarred my sisters from ever raising children.

Singing With Evie Lu

Here is one of Evie Lu's favorite songs for you.

She Knows What Is Up

In the kitchen with Evie Lu


Kaia and Evie Lu are having a great time in Minnesota and I get to join them soon. Until then I have a video for you.

What Will I Do?

I know what is going to happen next!


I know that Kaia and I are blessed with a great kid even though we whine about Evie Lu's seemingly increasing whining. (I wonder where she learned it?) The fact is we have a great little girl who is learning and exploring what it means to be a little person. I say all this because two days ago I was thinking about how great it would be to have a couple of Evie free days as Kaia headed out to Minnesota. I dropped my family off at 4:30 am and by 4:45 I was at a loss. My lovely wife and little girl were gone. What will I do?

Yeah!!!!

The Beach

Are you sure you dropped your keys here?


For some reason Evie Lu has been skittish around water in first couple years of her life. Kaia and I have tried to gently introduce playing in the water, but until recently she wanted nothing to do with it. This week we found the cure. If you let Evangeline spray you with the hose or splash you with water, she'll let you spray or splash her back. It is a hoot. The only worry we have now is whether she'll spray Kaia while we are tending to our garden.

This is really fun, you should try it.

This Bed Thing Might Be Okay

Can You Spot Cuddle?


Evie Lu's first night in her toddler bed was not the most restful for anyone in our house. Evangeline cried out at 1am because she had lost her cuddle. (It was just on the floor.) She fell out of bed around 3am. (Kaia had placed pillows right beside the bed expecting the fall.) But all in all it was a success.

Tonight Evie said, "Time for bed", jumped out of Kaia's story time lap, and crawled into her bed. We've not heard a peep from her since. Kaia was not happy I took a flash picture of our sleeping child, but I couldn't resist. Sweet dreams.

By the way, if you look under Evie Lu's chin you can spot a piece of Cuddle.

Great, Now She Can Kick The Wall

Mommy, what happened to my crib?!?


I am an idiot. For a couple of months I've been asking Kaia if we should transition Evie Lu into a toddler bed. Kaia, who is not an idiot, would ask me why we would change something that was working just fine. Somehow idiocy won the day.
Our neighbors had a yard sale this weekend and there was a toddler bed for sale. We bought it, painted it, and walked Evangeline through the process of taking apart her crib and setting up her bed. This was all great until Evie realized her crib was gone and started crying. As of right now she's been in bed for 30 minutes and if she doesn't kill herself by launching off the bed while jumping I'll consider the night a success.

Do you notice what is not in the bed?

I Want To Fly

Flying!

Evie Lu and I have been on vacation together for the last week and I have a healthy respect for all stay at home moms and dads. Evie Lu at two is a whirling dervish of activity. She has the attention span of, well, a two year old. This has made for some interesting days. Something I can count on to bring a few moments of fun is flying. Do you want to come over and fly? Evie Lu is ready for you!

Daddy, you fly too!

Go Cubs - Part 3 (Ballpark Food and Rally Caps)

Do you want a dog too?


Evie Lu has always been a champion eater, so it should not have surprised us that ballpark offerings would be a huge hit. We gave our little girl half a hot dog and before we knew it she was asking for more. Kaia asked me if we should give her the other half and I said we should. After all, you don't go to Wrigley every day.

I can eat and watch the Cubs.


A month before Jody and Leanne's wedding I was watching a Cubs game and they showed the broadcasters being delivered a four pound pretzel. I immediately called Jody and told him I'd buy him one at the game. It took some searching, but I found the Twist and brought it back to the bleachers. It was the talk of the 6th inning.

Behold the Twist! A four pound pretzel.


Evie Lu learned many things at the game and one of them was the magic found in a rally cap. (Well she learned that if you wear your hat in a funny way your team will still probably lose.) Evie was tickled by my head wear and was insistent on trying to fix my fashion faux pas.

Daddy, that's not going to help.


At the end of the game we had an eight game losing streak, but it was a fantastic night. Even better was the knowledge that we had tickets for the Tuesday night game as well. Go Cubs!

A happy family at the Friendly Confines.

Go Cubs - Part 2 (Mr. T and Fonzie)

Dad, Wrigley Field is cool, but you messed up on my Cubs logo.

We made our way to our spot in the left field bleachers where we were certain a Cubs home run would land. We were two rows from the left field wall and it was amazing. The ushers noticed Evie and another little kid in the stands and they did a great job of trying to keep the drunk and obnoxious from being too drunk and obnoxious. One guy got booted before the first pitch. Family friendly indeed. We were taking bets on how many new words Evangeline would learn during the game.

Mr. T is in this picture. Really.


Mr. T threw out the first pitch and led Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch. We couldn't hear him, but I know it was awesome because he's Mr. T. What else do you need?

Cheering for the Cubbies while dad keeps score.


We had a great time with Jody, Leanne, and Jimmy and all our left field friends. The highlight of the game was when Evie Lu's new favorite player, Alfonso Soriano, picked Evie Lu as the recipient of a baseball. After he tossed it up to us the crowd started chanting, "Baby Cub, Baby Cub!" It was amazing. (I can now say I've played catch with Soriano. Notice I didn't say I played throw with him. Just catch.)

Soriano is looking for the right little girl to give a baseball.


I had made the mistake of teaching Evie Lu that if an opposing player hit a home you have to throw the ball back, so we spent a good part of the game not letting Evie throw back her Soriano ball. The game didn't turn out to be a Cubs win (actually it was their 8th loss in a row), but we had a blast. A red line train ride later we were back at our hotel and an exhausted Evie fell deeply asleep. Go Cubs!

Evie Lu and her prized possession.

Go Cubs - Part 1

Okay driver, let me know when we're close.


Monday after the wedding found us driving the three hours back to Chicago to catch a game at Wrigley. This was my first trip to see a home game for my beloved Cubs and Kaia and Evie Lu were great about putting up with my silliness. The game started at 7:05 and I insisted we get to Wrigley by 3. I have a patient family.

The sun isn't shining, but can we play two anyway?


We walked all around the stadium and Kaia took pictures from every angle of Wrigley. Someday Evie Lu will look at these pictures and I'll be able to say this was her first time at Wrigley. She probably won't care a lick.

A beautiful sight.


We met up with Jody, Leanne, and Jimmy and went in search of real Chicago deep dish pizza. Surprisingly, this was harder than we thought it would be around Wrigley. It didn't help matters that it started raining and the local bars were afraid Evie was an undercover cop and wouldn't let her in out of the rain. We were pointed toward Pauly's Pizzeria and got some pretty good pie. I need to go back soon to explore the other recommended pizza places.

Evie Lu eats real Chicago deep dish pizza.


Despite the rain we lined up with a couple thousand of our closest friends to take our place in the bleachers. We were told the leftfield bleachers were more family friendly than rightfield. We found out family friendly is a relative term at Wrigley. More tomorrow!

Aunt Leanne, Jimmy, and Uncle Jody before the game.

The Dance!

Elaine shows Evie how to take embarrassing pictures for future use.


With Jody and Leanne happily married it was time to dance! There was a great band at the reception, but for some reason Evie Lu only wanted to dance while they were taking a break.

Evie Lu with her favorite dance partner. Check out the grin.


Evie Lu's cousin Parker was once again the favorite. Evie didn't want to dance with Kaia or me, but Parker was the big winner. Evie's dance moves consist mostly of running around in circles. If you told me she'd run 5 miles in cirlces I would not be surprised.

Parker's not having such a bad time herself.


There was a moment when the future flashed before my eyes as a little boy started dancing with Evie. A whole chorus of folks told me that I had years of this to look forward to, but thankfully Evie ran away from him. Keep running, Evie. Keep running.

You've got to blow this one up to see the grin.


Oh yeah, Jody and Leanne were there too.

Evie Lu Gets A New Aunt!

Okay Evie you're going to have a new Aunt. She'll give you food too!


Jody and Leanne's wedding day was perfect. The sun was shining and everyone was in great spirits. Kaia spent most of the day as a single mom while I fulfilled my best man duties. (Mostly I made sure the other groomsmen had gum and made sure Jody didn't pass out.)

Cousin Parker keeps Evie Lu occupied.


Once everyone got to the church for pictures, Evie resumed her monkey see monkey do game with Parker. Everything Parker did, Evie copied. It was a riot. When Evie wasn't copying Parker she was running circles with other little kids in the entryway. Where she gets the energy I have no idea.

We clean up alright.


The ceremony was beautiful and Evie watched it all from the floor in front of the first pew eating cheerios. We are very excited to welcome Leanne to the family and to get to know her family as well.

The happy couple saying, "I do."

Wedding Rehearsal And Dinner

Mom don't take pictures, I'm talking to Aunt Becky and Cousin Parker.


The day before the wedding we gathered to make sure everyone knew what was going on. Evie Lu made sure to scope out the church for the best places to run in circles. Cousin Parker became Evie Lu's role model at this point. Evangeline wanted to do everything Parker did and sometimes the only way to get Evie to follow was to say Parker was coming too.

Okay, you keep taking pictures and I'll keep eating my hand.


The rehearsal dinner was held at the Illinois Governor's mansion. It is the third oldest governor's mansion and it hosts more events every year than all the other governor's mansions combined. The menu for the night was a Springfield culinary original, the Horseshoe. This is an open faced sandwich on two slices of Texas toast. You pile on the meat of your choice (our options were ham, portabello mushrooms, hamburger patties, or Buffalo chicken), add a layer of french fries, then top it all off with a cheese sauce. (With every sandwich you get a 15% off coupon for a cardiologist visit.) They were pretty great.

Clapping for Uncle Jody.


The evening was capped off by Jody singing a song he wrote for his bride to be and a tour of the mansion. We only made it through a couple of rooms before Evie Lu hit the wall and we had to leave. (I always enjoy it when people comment on how good Evie Lu is being and the tone of voice is like that of someone noticing how the grenade you are holding hasn't gone off yet.) Evie Lu slept hard that night and she was ready for a whole lot of dancing for the big day.

A happy family with a tired little girl.