Go Bucks!!

Our little buckeye is ready for the big game tonight! Go Bucks.. beat Penn State!! She has a full afternoon ahead of her as we are off to a Halloween party after nap time. 4-6pm, she will be a ladybug and starting at 7pm... back to a Buckeye!!   Hannah had learned to say Buckeye pretty good now, and she loves walking around the house with Brutus playing to Ohio State fight song.  Unfortunately, she also enjoys walking around the house with Albert the Gator too.. One day, she will learn :) 

Hannah's 1st Haircut

And finally, Hannah had her first haircut tonight. There she is, right before the big event. She did such a great job. We went to a kids hair cut place where they have curious george playing for the kids at each station (smart of them) the keep them still. Hannah was very serious about the haircut.. she sat still, I think just wondering what in the world was going on. We got just a little bit cut off the back, after all, I didn't want to lose that one little curl she has..... because everything else is coming in pretty straight. The whole experience was cute, and made me realize how fast she is growing up. Not a baby anymore...and about to be a little girl.  I am sure we disagree on her hair style of choice in 10 or so years, but in the mean time... little pink bows and pig tails are pretty fun :)  

More fall fun...

Last weekend, we had more fall fun. Hannah went on yet another pony ride. She isn't scared anymore... just wants to hop right on! She is hilarious to watch riding the pony, very serious :) And, her favorite thing to eat.. corn on the cob. She can't resist it. Hannah and Dad enjoyed some fall corn on the cob on a sunny day. Dad was excited he ran into 3.. yes 3 FL gators at the corn festival... who knew they were taking over MN :)

The simple things in life...

really are the true reward... often said by Dad. Today we went to the park to get some fall pictures with Jason, Kim and Eleanor. A goreous fall day... what could be better?   The above picture captures Hannah's essence so well lately. Fun, loving, and melting your heart every second she gets, with just a small twinkle in her eye, and a smirk to go with it just to make you wonder what it is she is thinking.   Wherever we go lately, Hannah puts both hands out and makes sure she is in the middle of mom and dad. She loves to swing in between us. Sometimes, it is a little hard to get anywhere fast when you are out and about... but she makes everyone we walk past smile and laugh. I often think about all the fun things we as a family do together from the petting zoos, trips to the park, playing in the leaves... and then I think how Hannah will never remember this when she is older.. it is then when I remind myself that I will.  While these experiences will shape her into who she is one day, these are the memories that I will cherish for years to come.   

The Best of Fall...

We made our annual trip to the Minnetonka Apple Orchard on Saturday. Hannah had a nice time seeing all the pumpkins and picking apples. There was a petting zoo, hayrides, fresh apple cider and apple doughnuts.... mmmm. A beautiful sunny crisp day. 

Her favorite part was picking the apples off the tress... She was very serious about it :)

And later that day, Hannah rode her first pony!! The city of Plymouth had a fall festival with a petting zoo, bounce arounds, balloon making and face painting, and of course, pony rides. Hannah kept saying she wanted to ride one. I was sure it would last about 30 seconds, but she loved it. When the pony stopped, she said "more, more". I said it was time to get off and Hannah was then saying "no no, no" I am seeing more pony rides in our future :)

"Up North"

And Finally, adter 10 years of living in MN, we have made it "up North". The picture above is of Split Rock light house, about 40 minutes north of Duluth.. Or can you can see about 3.5 hours north of Mpls. It was beautiful. And the fall colors were just about peak. A gorgeous fall day, mid 60's and not a cloud in the sky. 

A family picture in front of gooseberry falls. We went to the lower level of the falls, we were a little scared to go to the top of the falls with Hannah, you just never know when the little ones take off :) 

The view from the top of split rock looking down.

Mom and Hannah outside of Gooseberry falls

Daddy and Hannah also outside of Gooseberry falls. 

We had a great day. We started our day at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth. It was great, and the best part was we were pretty much the only people at the zoo, we felt like we had our own private day. No lines, no people... it was perfect. Then we went and had lunch in Duluth, over looking the lake.. which pretty much looks like the ocean. We watched some vessels come in as well as the trains go by.  Then we headed off to Gooseberry falls and Split Rock lighthouse. It was pretty much half of "up north" in  day. 

We were surprised how much there is to do and see in Duluth, we are looking forward to going back. There is a children's musuem, aquarium, railroad museum etc... Todd referred to Duluth as the Savannah of the North :) Just a nice weekend getaway. 

Hannah and Cousin Julie..

On Sunday Afternoon we picked up cousin Julie ( Todd's cousin) and went to a park. Hannah had such a great time. She ran, and ran, and ran... as well as climbed on everything should could. Hannah loves Julie, and they played together with some sand. Later in the evening after dinner, we dropped Julie off at her and her husband's new apt right here in Plymouth!  We told Hannah to say "Bye, bye Julie" as we were leaving and all of the sudden Hannah's little lips started to quiver and her eyes welted with tears. She was sad to end the day with Julie :(  But we had such a great time and can't wait to see her again soon.. ( with Micheal of course too... even though he is a LSA fan - boo!!)

Two Peas in Pod

I thought these were too cute not to share. Last weekend Todd had gotten back from San Francisco working and visiting a friend. Hannah was sleeping then he got home. Shortly after he was home, we heard Hannah up... Dad peeked in her room after being gone for 4 days and Hannah starting shreeking with excitment and jumping up and down in her crib yelling Daddy!!  As many times as Todd has referred to that moment, I am pretty sure his heart melted a little with her excitement over seeing Daddy. Later that day, we went to our favorite park by our house. It was the last time for the season Hannah was able to play on the beach and in the water... we took walks and played on the playground as well. The leaves are starting to turn... and made for just a beautiful afternoon.  Note... on the first picture, when Hannah rides on Daddy's shoulders she holds onto his ears, it is pretty darn funny and cute. I tend to think it is cuter than Dad does :) 

No need to cry over a little spilled milk...

As grandma Dice would often say when I was a little kid.... "No need to cry over spilled milk". Well, that is exactly what I thought when little miss independent decided she would only drink her milk in a real cup.. apparently she thought she was too big for a sippy cup.   I told Hannah she had to stay in the kitchen if she was going to drink out of her cup. She decided of course the newly carpeted family room would be a better option. So.. that is when I told her that horrible two lettered word "no". She instantly jerked her milk to the side trying to hide it so I wouldn't take it away... and well, look what happened. I honestly couldn't help but to laugh. The instant tears, the instant drama... I found it pretty hilarious.  Oh Hannah... little does she know, worse things in happen will eventually happen, even more dramatic than spilled milk :) 

James J Hill Days in Wayzata

Last weekend we went to the James J hill Days in downtown Wayzata, just a few miles from our house. They had a kids carnival set up, arts and crafts, and some good ol'e minnesota style fair food. It was a beautiful fall day to just be outside and  walk around. Hannah got her very own balloon alligator made for her. She even tried to feed her alligator later when we had a lunch. After we walked through Wayzata, we headed to  Wayzata West Middle School ( where Hannah will attend one day) and they had their annual Doxin Races. Yes, you heard it right. I had no idea how many people had Doxin's... and how many people had special outfits for their doxin's either.  It was hilarious to watch, and I am something we will make an annual trip out of... more so for the people watching aspect. Too funny!