Wow. Such unseasonably warm weather we're having. I'm trying not to feel guilt as I enjoy the 50-60 degree days in November but rather soak up the warmth and sunshine before we are hunkering down for the winter. Our weekend was also incredibly busy.
Friday night was playing outside - here are some other photos I took before the Halloween costumes came on:
Saturday morning Lilly and I headed to the local ice rink for equipment pick up for Learn to Skate while Nick and Greta played at home.
Learn to Skate is a beginner hockey class, but not really. More just learning how to ice skate. We have no intention of letting her actually play hockey, but we want her to learn how to skate. Getting time on the ice is nearly impossible just as a family since there is one rink in town and countless hockey teams. Unaware of just how much equipment we were picking up, we thought we'd have time to get her equipment and head back home. No, not at all the case. First, there was quite a line. Secondly, we had to get pants, shin guards, elbow pads, chest pad, helmet, and jersey. Thirdly, getting a helmet to fit Lilly took quite awhile (she's got a big noggin). Of course I forgot my phone, but luckily a friend of mine was there with his daughter and let me borrow his phone to text Nick to tell him to come over. We also needed skates for Lilly, but they didn't have any in her size. Luckily, two of the organizers think they have a pair in Lilly's size at home and are bringing them to Wednesday's class. But that meant no actual skating for Lilly. Just waiting for 45 minutes, having high school students slip safety pads on her, have a stranger fit her for a helmet, and eat a granola bar. But, hopefully Wednesday she will actually get to skate and I'll have some fun photos.
Lilly and I got to the Bay Area Civic Center at 9:00 to first get registered for my race and then get her gear. My race (a 5K women's only race) started at 10:00. By the time I passed Lilly and her pounds of hockey equipment off with Nick and Greta and went to the bathroom, I made it to the starting line about three minutes before the race started. I only had a few sips of water and a granola bar before the race, so it wasn't my best race. But, it still went well. It is nice to know that a "meh" race for me was still a 10:00 mile pace. I did start out with my friend Petra and her daughter and we crushed the first mile - which probably was not smart for me. Perhaps I need to stop starting races with Petra . . .
Saturday afternoon Nick and Lilly went to the Northland College women's soccer game - they were in post-season play. It was gorgeous - in the 60s and Northland has an amazing new stadium. Then after a heartbreaking loss, they went to the Northland College men's hockey game. They stayed for all of the third period, more because Lilly wanted to stay than Nick (he was wearing shorts since they were outside in the warm sun for the soccer game and was quite cold). Greta took a great long nap for me at home, so I was able to get a bunch of laundry done. Then our friend Elizabeth came over for dinner and her husband Tim came over a bit later, after driving up from the Twin Cities. It was a fun and relaxing evening.
Earlier, Nick and I talked about perhaps taking advantage of the nice weather and driving to Duluth and going to the zoo, or going up to Bayfield. Saturday night we decided not to spend a ton of time in the car on such a beautiful day but rather hang out in Ashland. We decided to try and hit as many parks in Ashland in one day as we could. We covered six, three in the morning and "three" in the afternoon.
Before we left, the girls and I played upstairs while Nick did a few chores around the house. A few months ago we ordered a new high chair for Greta and received a giant box. Greta and Lilly both love going for rides in the box and drawing in the box. Ride is one of Greta's clearer words. This time, Lilly drew a line in the box, delineating which side was hers and which one Greta's. Of course her side was bigger. And of course Greta immediately crossed it. We also drew a map of all the parks in Ashland (minimum of nine).
Then the morning leg of the park tour. First, Maslowski Beach. This one was first on the list because it had new equipment installed about a month ago that we had yet to check out. That, and it is near a coffee shop and I wanted a vanilla latte. I walked to the Blue Wave while Nick and the girls played at the park. I returned with a scone, a cookie in the shape of Lake Superior, and coffee for me and Nick.
The water fountain at Maslowski was quite the draw and both girls spent quite a bit of time drinking from the wagon wheel bubbler.
The next park on the list, Prentice Park. This park is on the other side of Hwy 2 from Maslowski Beach, so we walked over there. Nick walked part of the way and then walked back to get the van. Prentice Park was a shorter visit but still longer than we were anticipating. We filled up water bottles at the artesian well and then headed on to Beaser Park.
At Beaser Park (park number 3 on the day) there was another family with children who were almost 3 and 1. The big sister was also named Lilly. Nick made small talk with the dad, pushing kids on the swing, while I twirled the two Lillys on the spinny thing on the playground. Our time there was shortened because Lilly had to go to the bathroom (see fun with the drinking fountain and the trip to the artesian well to fill up the water bottle).
We stayed at home for snacks, cleaning, lunch, and nap. While Greta was napping, Lilly and I worked on cleaning the play room - even sorting and getting rid of some old books and toys that aren't played with anymore. Nick spread the compost, tilled the garden, and mowed the lawn. When Greta woke up from her nap, there were snacks and then out for playground tour afternoon edition.
Nick drove to the park and met us there after finishing up some chores at home. There we met a colleague of Nick's, an art professor and his two kids. We played there for a bit then it was time to move on. This time to the purple park. Everyone got in the van and headed to the park. There, Nick dropped us off and then went grocery shopping.
He came back to join us, then we headed to the park adjacent to the purple park. There is question as to whether or not it is a stand alone park, or if it is part of the purple park, but for our purposes, we are calling it a park of its own.
Then, home for baths, dinner, craziness, and bedtime. Lilly has been strongly against sharing a bath with Greta. When we were wrapping up our time at the park, we asked Lilly what it would take for us to convince her to take a bath with Greta. Lilly said, "when she's two. Then she won't poop in the tub." Good point, Lilly. But, bribery happened so both girls had a bath while Nick made calzones for dinner. They were delicious. A few last minutes of playing (and rides in the box upstairs) and then bedtime snack.
I feel we made great use of the extra hour this weekend. And now to bed!
Friday night was playing outside - here are some other photos I took before the Halloween costumes came on:
Saturday morning Lilly and I headed to the local ice rink for equipment pick up for Learn to Skate while Nick and Greta played at home.
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| Pushing the duck through the tunnel. Repeatedly. |
Learn to Skate is a beginner hockey class, but not really. More just learning how to ice skate. We have no intention of letting her actually play hockey, but we want her to learn how to skate. Getting time on the ice is nearly impossible just as a family since there is one rink in town and countless hockey teams. Unaware of just how much equipment we were picking up, we thought we'd have time to get her equipment and head back home. No, not at all the case. First, there was quite a line. Secondly, we had to get pants, shin guards, elbow pads, chest pad, helmet, and jersey. Thirdly, getting a helmet to fit Lilly took quite awhile (she's got a big noggin). Of course I forgot my phone, but luckily a friend of mine was there with his daughter and let me borrow his phone to text Nick to tell him to come over. We also needed skates for Lilly, but they didn't have any in her size. Luckily, two of the organizers think they have a pair in Lilly's size at home and are bringing them to Wednesday's class. But that meant no actual skating for Lilly. Just waiting for 45 minutes, having high school students slip safety pads on her, have a stranger fit her for a helmet, and eat a granola bar. But, hopefully Wednesday she will actually get to skate and I'll have some fun photos.
Lilly and I got to the Bay Area Civic Center at 9:00 to first get registered for my race and then get her gear. My race (a 5K women's only race) started at 10:00. By the time I passed Lilly and her pounds of hockey equipment off with Nick and Greta and went to the bathroom, I made it to the starting line about three minutes before the race started. I only had a few sips of water and a granola bar before the race, so it wasn't my best race. But, it still went well. It is nice to know that a "meh" race for me was still a 10:00 mile pace. I did start out with my friend Petra and her daughter and we crushed the first mile - which probably was not smart for me. Perhaps I need to stop starting races with Petra . . .
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| Petra and Cora finishing |
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| Me finishing - I had to kick it to beat the woman behind me - she passed me a few blocks earlier |
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| Attempt at a photo |
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| The sun was so bright and Greta wanted . . . |
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| To be in the batting cages |
Saturday afternoon Nick and Lilly went to the Northland College women's soccer game - they were in post-season play. It was gorgeous - in the 60s and Northland has an amazing new stadium. Then after a heartbreaking loss, they went to the Northland College men's hockey game. They stayed for all of the third period, more because Lilly wanted to stay than Nick (he was wearing shorts since they were outside in the warm sun for the soccer game and was quite cold). Greta took a great long nap for me at home, so I was able to get a bunch of laundry done. Then our friend Elizabeth came over for dinner and her husband Tim came over a bit later, after driving up from the Twin Cities. It was a fun and relaxing evening.
Earlier, Nick and I talked about perhaps taking advantage of the nice weather and driving to Duluth and going to the zoo, or going up to Bayfield. Saturday night we decided not to spend a ton of time in the car on such a beautiful day but rather hang out in Ashland. We decided to try and hit as many parks in Ashland in one day as we could. We covered six, three in the morning and "three" in the afternoon.
Before we left, the girls and I played upstairs while Nick did a few chores around the house. A few months ago we ordered a new high chair for Greta and received a giant box. Greta and Lilly both love going for rides in the box and drawing in the box. Ride is one of Greta's clearer words. This time, Lilly drew a line in the box, delineating which side was hers and which one Greta's. Of course her side was bigger. And of course Greta immediately crossed it. We also drew a map of all the parks in Ashland (minimum of nine).
Then the morning leg of the park tour. First, Maslowski Beach. This one was first on the list because it had new equipment installed about a month ago that we had yet to check out. That, and it is near a coffee shop and I wanted a vanilla latte. I walked to the Blue Wave while Nick and the girls played at the park. I returned with a scone, a cookie in the shape of Lake Superior, and coffee for me and Nick.
The water fountain at Maslowski was quite the draw and both girls spent quite a bit of time drinking from the wagon wheel bubbler.
The next park on the list, Prentice Park. This park is on the other side of Hwy 2 from Maslowski Beach, so we walked over there. Nick walked part of the way and then walked back to get the van. Prentice Park was a shorter visit but still longer than we were anticipating. We filled up water bottles at the artesian well and then headed on to Beaser Park.
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| Out on the canoe launch |
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| Placing rocks on the stumps. Fun? |
At Beaser Park (park number 3 on the day) there was another family with children who were almost 3 and 1. The big sister was also named Lilly. Nick made small talk with the dad, pushing kids on the swing, while I twirled the two Lillys on the spinny thing on the playground. Our time there was shortened because Lilly had to go to the bathroom (see fun with the drinking fountain and the trip to the artesian well to fill up the water bottle).
We stayed at home for snacks, cleaning, lunch, and nap. While Greta was napping, Lilly and I worked on cleaning the play room - even sorting and getting rid of some old books and toys that aren't played with anymore. Nick spread the compost, tilled the garden, and mowed the lawn. When Greta woke up from her nap, there were snacks and then out for playground tour afternoon edition.
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| Ready for winter! |
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| Riding her bike - Greta apparently doesn't trust my stroller driving |
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| Lilly stopped to get a drink, so Greta had to as well. Today was very much a copy whatever Lilly does day for Greta |
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| She kept the helmet on the entire time at the Ketchup and Mustard park. |
Nick drove to the park and met us there after finishing up some chores at home. There we met a colleague of Nick's, an art professor and his two kids. We played there for a bit then it was time to move on. This time to the purple park. Everyone got in the van and headed to the park. There, Nick dropped us off and then went grocery shopping.
He came back to join us, then we headed to the park adjacent to the purple park. There is question as to whether or not it is a stand alone park, or if it is part of the purple park, but for our purposes, we are calling it a park of its own.
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Then, home for baths, dinner, craziness, and bedtime. Lilly has been strongly against sharing a bath with Greta. When we were wrapping up our time at the park, we asked Lilly what it would take for us to convince her to take a bath with Greta. Lilly said, "when she's two. Then she won't poop in the tub." Good point, Lilly. But, bribery happened so both girls had a bath while Nick made calzones for dinner. They were delicious. A few last minutes of playing (and rides in the box upstairs) and then bedtime snack.
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| Easiest bedtime snack ever - Halloween candy |
I feel we made great use of the extra hour this weekend. And now to bed!
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