onto the REAL cars

Watching Daddy check out cars lasted....

....about 5 minutes.

Instead, we got to look on as YOU tested out the cars. A Jeep to start.

I was instructed to get in the back and sit down.

Yeah - never buy a car show car.

Although this one was pretty nifty.



We called this one "Luigi" to tie back into the Cars theme.

This guy is teeny tiny and very cute.

Don't forget Mater!

Who's happier to see him? You or your Dad? Maybe you were still thinking about that mean old security guard. Ruining all your fun. Pshaw!

Or is your Mom happies to see Mater?  How can you not love him? I was trying to calculate the number of times that dvd or bluray has played in our house. I would not be surprised at a 100. Oops. Should I be admitting that in public?

Two buck teeth for one buck! [see "Mater the Greater"]

The Car Show

I said to your Dad this January "I'm not going to the car show". Every year your Dad likes to go. That would be fine if it were free, but it's not. Since we both have new-ish cars there is really no reason to go. That's how I see it. And I'd been unable to find any deals. I have a hard time paying full price for anything. There's ALWAYS a discount.

So it was left at that, but last week the car show was going on and quickly approaching its end. In true fashion (not just for him, but me too) there were no firm plans for visiting the 2011 show. Dad was talking about going with you and Grandma Candy. Or going with Shawn's (daycare) Mike (that would be an adult person!). Or just taking one of you. Or or or... Lots of options are out there until you make a decision, kiddos.

A few days before your Dad was online and said something to me about a Cars (the Pixar movie) exhibit.  It was probably after 9pm and at that point in the day my brain shuts off.  What I recall hearing is "Oh wow!....Cars.....interactive....at the car show". And "Wednesday was half price day". Hmm. Sounding more and more interesting to cheapskate Mom's ears.

The next morning, as I considered it I thought that it might be fun to go with you all and see your reactions.  I mean you LOVE Cars. I wasn't expecting what we saw.

NO, not THAT. Although you were pretty intrigued by that one and kept telling us it was "hiding". Yep, it was.

A full size McQueen! Oh how cool is that? I was talking to another mom who said "this is the only reason we came down here". Uh, ditto (for me at least!).

So the reactions were varied. You were largely interested in the Cars 2 preview that was playing next to the cars (see above).

And not very happy when the security guard yelled at you ("No, no no!") when you ran up to the car to touch it.  She did say she hating doing that and made another little girl cry earlier in the day. Good thing Dad was there to comfort you.

No worries, Ro was over it pretty quick. And there was more to see.

'Queen (as he is known in our house) smiling at us.

So is Zoe. "Cheese" means squint your eyes shut.

 

 And you better keep an eye out for that security guard.

  Speed. I am Speed.

And...back to watching the video.

Worthy diversion

After a day without Daddy last weekend, I decided to call him at work and see if he wanted some visitors. He did, and he appreciated the dinner we delivered to him. Of course I had to bribe you two away from Dad's food with a chocolate sundae. Otherwise, Dad would not be having Dad's food. Dad would be having half of Dad's food and you would be sharing the other half. I don't think you minded. Ice cream is a worthy diversion.

After dinner we got the nickel tour.

Man, oh man, you love your dad. And for this I am glad.

Roman was taken in, cautiously, by the motorcycles stored in back.

There were 3 or 4 of them - property of dad's coworkers. One of them looked like the one your Mom had when she met your Dad. That feels like ages ago, and no, I don't really miss it. Different time, different place.

Speaking of a different time and a different place....If you are 2 years old, even sitting in an office chair can be entertaining. Literally minutes of fun! Huh. Some would say that's about equal to what it's like when you're an adult. Some would.

Happy Spring!

The sunken garden. Wow, was that spectacular to see this time of year in Minnesota!

Checking for fish in the pond - just like at the one at your great aunt Jannie's.

Many attempts at a portrait, but usually it's the unplanned that turns out the best (in pictures, and in life).

Roman was so happy to see Zoe coming his way that he just had to give her a hug.

Grandma got a kick out it. (So did I ;) )

And a repeat performance a few minutes later... :)
As we were leaving we paused to let someone take a picture. They got up and left, and Roman decided that it was his turn. So he sat in the same spot and waited for me to be ready for his closeup.

Okay, buddy.

We need the green!

The zoo was only half our trip.  I hadn't been to the Conservatory in quite awhile. And as it's right there next to the zoo (or part of the zoo), it was a good chance to look around. We started off in the tropical gardens. I hadn't been there at all, and apparently it's pretty new. I tried to take some picture when we first went in and my lens fogged up!

As we rounded the bend we were able to take a look at some fish. And Roman had a good time looking at the ants. Nothing new to you two backyard explorers. But still. It was fun to watch them walk with a leaf 3 times their size.

And the fern room. Not the same as when I was a kid (and when your Grandpa Jon was a kid). The old spot seems to have been a traditional spot for family phototaking (the proof is somewhere!).  But this newer one is quite nice. And I think a great place to document your wanderings.

Waterfall? Cool.

Stream? You betcha.

Rock upon which to sit? Wunderbar.

Rock upon which to smile? Even better.

But that stream is calling your name...

And one last indulgence for your mama. Yes, I'm looking at the camera, but don't ask me to smile again while doing so. Note the brother (and grandma) in the background.

TGIF

Exploring Como Zoo

Hand in hand with Grandma Jane

She with the leopard skin pillbox hat. Ok, not really. But it was appropriate for a zoo trip.  Your dad was working this particular Saturday and I enlisted Grandma to keep me sane. I do know that I'm lucky to have this option.

The building in back is one of the original buildings. There were animals in this place when I was a kid, but no more. I think it's actually zoo office space now.  What I recall from childhood is a) it smelled and b) there was a large snake in one of the displays. I didn't like them then, something I think I took from observing your Grandma's reaction to them. Oh well.

Yes, the Lion Sleeps Tonight (how could I resist?). Even though it's day. They truly are spectacular animals. Last time we were here a woman was sitting there sketching him. This day the place was pretty darn vacant.

This guy.

This guy was right up to the window. I brought Roman over. It took him about 3 seconds and he got a look on his face like "no way" and backed away. We stood back about 10 feet. Roman decided to stand behind me for protection. He still had that look on his face. Something about this creature really freaked him out. And I tell you what, it was very endearing. I don't know why, except something was going on in his little head. Maybe getting that close to something that looks back at you was just too weird. I think I'm still amazed at watching them become part of the world. For a long time they just observed, there was absorption but not a lot of connection. Now when I see 1 or 2 year olds I can recognize that vacant observation mode and it's kind of funny.

These little ones weren't as scary.

Pretty funny looking, in fact.

We were able to take part in story time. Zoe and Roman started out sitting by us on a bench, but I asked Zoe if she wanted to go sit on the carpet. She did. Roman wasn't so sure, but as soon as he saw all the kids interacting (and telling the storyteller that there was a spider on her back), he was all for it.  But then the story ended, all the kids went away and the props were taken down. Roman wasn't happy about that. He was just getting warmed up (a 10 minute adjustment period doesn't work for a 12 minute story time).

Grandpa came to visit

Beans

Someone I know has taken to shelling his green beans. Won't eat them as is, but when he's in the mood he'll open them up and take out the bean. Well, yes. Beans are what we call them, but generally little boy we eat the whole thing. Makes me wonder if he's had pea pods, or something. I just had edame at a restaurant on my last trip and those we DID take out of the pod. So, dear one you're maybe 3 decades ahead of me.

Prankster

Zoe likes computers. Well Roman likes computers, but Zoe really likes computers. We've had the battle over the mouse. "Don't touch!" And the keyboard "that's mommy's!". The other night Zoe did a quick click click (2 seconds max). This resulted in shifting the direction of my monitor 90 degrees (above).

It took more than 2 seconds to get it back. And let me tell you, when you flip the screen another 90 and it's upside down it gets a little tricky to use the mouse. My, we're conditioned to the way things are, aren't we?