Awesome preschool playdates

Isaac has a couple of buddies that he loves to play with.  These guys were in ecfe class together and preschool together.  They do their ninja moves, super hereos and star wars imaginative play and turn everything into swords and fighting.  Typical boys.  Over the past weeks Isaac has had the opportunity to hang out with his best buds separately and have two special playdates.  One was even 8.5 hours long and the boys NEVER fought once.  what?!  I am so glad that Isaac has great friends and that I love hanging out with the mom's of these boys too.  Win win for everyone!
First playdate was with his friend Blake at the Monkey house:

Addy singing at the Monkey house

Isaac and Blake in the gladiator jump house

Tons of jump houses and she wants to stack blocks

climbing the rope like monkey's fitting for being at the monkey house

jumping off the rope

 2nd playdate was at our house.  Brady and Isaac played all day long.

slip n slide fun

water shooters

water shooters

Bike Helmet = Ice Cream

Isaac has been waiting all summer for a police officer to stop him for wearing his bike helmet to get ice cream from dairy cream.  We found out about this program at a library story at the beginning of the summer when a police officer came as a special guest.  If children are caught wearing their helmets by police they issue the children coupons to dairy queen.  Well...it finally happened.  Isaac was riding his bike through como park before the zoo opened one morning and a very friendly police officer stopped him and asked if he liked ice cream.  That was it, Isaac didn't even need to go to the zoo anymore his day was made.

We rode our bikes to our local dairy queen this weekend for the special treat.  He was thrilled!  He has never been to dairy queen before so it was extra special.

Isaac with his cone

Addy got a certificate too for ice cream

They loved their first dairy queen treats

Karate Kid

Isaac has been expressing interest in taking karate and we decided it was time to try it out.  He did AMAZING!  He so far has had two private lessons and really liked it.  I am truly hopping that he likes it and sticks with the program.  The respect, and confidence gained while working through the program would be incredible for him.  We will see how he does tomorrow with his first group class but we are hoping it will go just as well.

Beginning bow

At the end he has to face his parents, bow and say thank you

Daddy Daughter Date

A few weeks ago Seth took Addy on a very special date to go see two of her favorite people.  Choo Choo Bob and Charlie Ratt were doing a very special story time at a book store close to home so of course it was a no brainer that Addy needed to attend.  She got all dressed up and was thrilled to death that she got to go with only Daddy on this special trip.  She didn't even fuss doing her hair!  Those who know Addy know how big of a deal that is.  The two enjoyed a very special evening together complete with sharing a plate of dinner back at home before bed.  The smiles on her face speak to how special she felt and how much she loves her Daddy.

All ready for her date complete with a new purse

choo choo bob and charlie ratt

when they got home she showed Daddy what was in her purse

Ignore seth's face and look at that little girl.  she is thrilled to death.

eating supper with dad

Hidden Falls Bike Ride

Last weekend we went on a family bike ride and this time a little further still.  We drove our bikes and grill (for lunch) to hidden falls park in St Paul.  It was pretty awesome all the cool things we found.  The kids were like explorers the whole time wondering what else we would see.  Isaac did FANTASTIC riding his bike through the park on all the trails, across the ford parkway bridge and all the way to the lock and dam on the Mississippi river.  It was GREAT!  Here are some pics from this adventure.

Small Hidden falls

another look

walk up from the water falls

Lock and dam from a distance

rock "mountains" at the lock and dam

over view of the lock and dam...the bridge in the distance is the one we rode across

waiting to see the boats go through 

Look at all that hair...she was running on the brdige

the doors opening for the boats to come through

almost all the way open

Mississippi beach area

throwing rocks in the water while Mommy made lunch

lunch time

picnic in the trailer!  They love our traveling park!!!

Mixed Nuts

Mixed Nuts is a local comedy duo from North St Paul and they performed at our library story time last week.  It is a little hard to tell if Addy is afraid of clowns or not.  Her reaction was not a good one but the noise level in the room was insanely loud so for now I am blaming that.  Isaac thought they were hilarious and loved it.  Addy sat curled up on my lap, watching but deep down I know she just wanted to go home.

The clowns are very funny.  They have no face paint or funny hair so kids sensitive to clowns should be okay.  They are performing at the North St Paul care show this summer too, so if you want you can check them out there.

Two munchkins watching together before Addy ditched Isaac for a seat on my lap

All the kids were rolling in laughter!!!  Good show if your kids can tolerate the noise!