Mmmmmmmm

My wonderful husband also has been making dinner more often, I say to make up for my slack. It was a busy couple of weeks as the school year was winding down. I am grateful for such a wonderful husband who doesn't mind cooking, cleaning, picking up and dropping off James, washing clothes and towels, and just making sure the house is running generally!

One great dinner that he made recently was Oven-Fried Honey Chicken Nuggets. They were great with a little BBQ sauce and Honey Mustard! And what a cook Jim has become- we didn't have bread crumbs prepped (I usually have some in the freezer) so he improvised with some corn flake crumbs. Turned out well, Jimmy!

Friend

James' friend Ali was outside again last weekend. James was golfing, Ali was zooming past on his bike. Ali has great bike skills! We have to get James on his bike too.

Ali stopped eventually to play with James. Ali is not shy about running into our house with James to grab toys. He would have stayed and explored but I made the boys go back outside. I didn't think Ali's Mom would appreciate if Ali was missing.

It was last weekend that we bought that great rhubarb at the Farmer's Market. My wonderful husband made a rhubarb crips all by himself! I was so proud of him and it was wonderful! I mean, really wonderful. The vanilla bean ice cream was just the right thing on top of this sweet/tart crisp.

Como Zoo, I mean, Golf

Como Zoo/Golf- last weekend, May 30th

I think James would enjoy the zoo if he let himself. I don't remember if he saw the mini golf course or if we mentioned it too soon, but as soon as he had it in his head there was nothing else. We walked through the zoo to get to the golf course. Poor animals. Like this orangutan, so cute, but unnoticed by Master James.


We did make a quick stop at Como Town to ride one ride. James was willing and it was Jim's turn to take him (I took him last time we visited). Por Jim stuffing his long legs into the train car. I almost felt bad :)

Golf, at last! This course is always pretty fun with James. He loves mini golf. He follows the rules pretty well, but never keep score. We just let him make his shots until he makes the hole. I think he does very well for a 3 year old!

I made it! This pose/shot never gets old :)

I realize that you've seen these pictures before, but it's just so much fun each time we go. Again, these shots never get old (to me).

I don't know what James is doing here...

I made it (again)!

Daddy made it too!

My boys :) Jim offered to take my picture too but I said no, the moment was theirs! They golfed a great game.

Sad

One of my former students was killed last night. I was called to the high school to help tell his friends and then to help with their grieving. It was a hard, long day. I had to deal with my own grief as I remembered the sweet, shy boy from middle school. I saw him a lot over the last couple months and he was excited to graduate from high school. I don't think everyone expected (hoped, yes) him to finish. He ended up just a few credits shy but would have finished after a quick summer school session.

I don't know what else to say :(

Lucio celebrated his 18th birthday on the Cinco de Mayo. I saw him after this, maybe a few times, but I remember hugging him that day and telling him how proud I am of him. He wasn't all that "hard" with me. I loved this kid. His funeral will be tough.



http://wcco.com/local/fatal.stabbing.fight.2.1743620.html

June 6

Grandma Rosie and Grandpa Larry returned James to us safe and sound. He had a great time with them!

Yay!

Another accident free day! No poop again but who cares?! Actually, there was a poop but it was overnight/morning when he was still wearing his overnight diaper. He told me right away that he pooped in his diaper this morning.

We are moving out of the overnight diapers this summer. That's my goal.

And yay for Grandma Rosie! She is babysitting overnight tomorrow so the Tauers can let loose a little. Jim and I both have separate plans for Saturday night but maybe we'll have a nice breakfast before we pick up our SBN.

June 4

I happily am spending this Friday night with my Boys. Watching a Star Wars cartoon, sharing a blanket (cozy), and eating ice cream cones.

Booty

(picture from yesterday)


A no accident day! (Okay, no poop either but it still counts!)

June 3

James and his new teacher Miss Kathy. They have a mutual love going on!

Busy, Busy Day

We have been lucky to have long, long days with James. He has been starting these long, wonderful days at 5:15 a.m. some days! We wish he would sleep in just a little longer :)

On one such early morning we went to our favorite breakfast spot on Saturday and then headed to the Mill City Farmer's Market. (Jim had rhubarb on his mind.) We didn't stay long at the farmer's market, it was pretty crowded for such an early season, but we found the rhubarb and admired some other things there (pancake balls- $5 for 3! outrageous!, herbs, grass fed meats, homemade/organic bakery items, etc.)

We left the farmer's market to look for a bathroom. I was concerned that James hadn't used it for such a long time, and so we went inside the new Guthrie, hoping they wouldn't mind that we were just going in for the facilities. I did explain to the information desk guy that we are newly potty training, and he seemed to understand. We found the upstairs bathrooms and a cool observation deck/bridge kind of area. It was such a great view of the river and then the farmer's market below.






This is one of my favorite pictures lately! James even looks like he's happy/smiling :) And he's holding his beloved Lego "spaceship".



Bird's eye view of the farmer's market

This little girl set up her own little spot outside the Guthrie to play her violin. We gave her a dollar and paused to listen. We thought it was very cool that she played the violin!

Our busy day continued at the playground. We stopped at Caribou for some refreshing drinks (iced mocha for Jim, NL coffee cooler for me, and a chocolate milk for James) and then played. James is very expert at climbing.

We all "ran" back to the car.

While we made lunch James watched his favorite show- The Golf Fix.

I think we only got James down for a nap because of the promise of playing in the pool afterwards. It was a hot day and the water was nice! This is the pool that Tia Kiki gave James. James has popped the inflatable slide but we improvised with his plastic slide. It worked well and James loved it!

James was a little scared of the sprinkler but he became brave enough to throw one of his water toys in that direction and then would sneak up on the water to retrieve it. He's a funny kid.

We put our feet in the water too. I can imagine myself doing this all summer :)

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May Art

James has brought home the most adorable artwork lately.











Jim brought James some SW magnets from his last business trip. They are helping to hold up the art! Smart Daddy :)