Adventureland

On Monday, I had a little idea that we should go to Adventureland this weekend.  The Thatchers were just crazy enough to agree to go with us.  Alena's favorite rides were the Ladybugs and Infant Ocean and she loved the circus.  She wasn't too interested in the bigger rides, but she did go on The Underground twice. Nora was the little daredevil and wanted to ride on anything Alena went on.  Nora and I went on the train just the two of us. "Nora ride train with Mommy," she said.  I was excited to see my old buddy Ben Ulin, the same magician I used to love when I was a kid.  Amanda and I even sneaked away and went on the Galleon, Falling Star, and Space Shot.  Daddy got to hit up the Dragon.  The kids were pretty exhausted after hours of excitement.  Nora acquired a plastic bowler hat from the carnival and was doing this silly routine where she would drop it and pretend to chase it while kicking it.  It was very similar to what she saw at the circus.  You know Nora is tired when she starts getting really funny.  They both fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Cousin Hannah's wedding

My cousin Hannah got married last month and we all went to the wedding.  All of the family was there, even Baby Alice and Baby Nina.  After the wedding, Lily organized the cousins into a wedding party.  They walked down the aisle and threw flower petals.  We even picked up another cousin, Cousin Libby.  She fit right into the pack and Nora had a contemporary to hang out with.

Fourth of July

We have lived it up for the Fourth of July week.  Monday we went to Brucemore with the Jensen family for the balloon glow.  Alena got to put on a velcro suit and stick to a wall!  Yesterday we went to the Kaufman's pool party.  Alena was really into swimming around with water wings.  Nora enjoyed floating around on a raft.  Before the party we picked and ate raspberries with Grandpa Ed.  At the party the girls ate large amounts of puppy chow.  As Alena says, swimming makes you hungry.  We then went to Hills for fireworks with grandma and grandpa.  There was quite the delay in the show starting due to a softball game, and they didn't start until 10.  This year Alena stayed awake for the beginning of the show...but fell asleep in the middle of it.  Nora was wide awake and loved her first fireworks show!  She appropriately ooh-ed and aah-ed at each firework. After it had been going on for awhile, she was more interested in seeing the reactions in her family.  Both kids fell asleep within minutes of hitting the interstate.  

Poor Alena was put to work painting the porch floor the next morning

While Nora was allowed to sleep in until 9:30

Playing dolls to wind down from all of the excitement

Jensen Sisters

The dynamic duo

We have finally reached a time where the girls get along more than they fight.  It is a much more peaceful way of life.  Alena loves to encourage Nora to go upstairs with her to play Barbies.  Frequently something strange happens while they are up there.  Some of their recent hijinks: "cleaning" the bathroom floor with half a a bottle of body wash, making a fort in our closet and trying on large amounts of sweaters including an underwear "doctor's mask", applying makeup and nail polish, and Alena changing Nora's poopy diaper (she did a great job--the only mistake was the diaper was on backwards.)  Nora is always singing or talking in an endless string of uninterpretable words.  Sometimes she will say, "Please Yaya."  Alena will say, "I don't even know what you are asking!"  Or she will say, "Tank tu, Yaya."  Alena will reply, "I didn't even give you anything."  Nora usually laughs at that point.  Nora learned how to say her name a couple weeks ago and now is no longer "mine."  If you say, "you're funny!" she will reply, "No funny, Nowa!"

Relaxing and catching up with Curious George.

We had our snack at the pond at Brucemore before sailing a boat we made that morning (inspired by Curious George.)

Only their mother can tell them apart!

Baby Alice

Nora felt really big hanging out with Baby Alice.  Don't hit, Baby Alice!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, Melissa!  The day started with cinnamon swirl pancakes and hugs from Alena and Nora.  They love their Mommy so much, they had quite a pile of gifts prepared for her to open.  We went south to visit Grandma Dee and Grandpa Ed for the day.  There was a quite a bit of playing with Barbies - Grandma Dee is very skilled at "Barbie Play".

The twins.  Melissa always wanted twins (not)

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma Dee, too.

The Graduate

Alena had her preschool graduation ceremony yesterday.  All grandparents, Mommy, Daddy, and Nora were on hand to witness the big event.  Alena loved her time with Ms. Michelle and Ms. Coralie and made some new friends.  Her best friends are Maya, Kashmala, and Peter.  I am sure she will miss them all as she moves on to a new preschool next year!  The ceremony kicked off with a goofy song then a poem.  They weren't too vocal of a group, but when we got home, Alena recited the poem for us and it was very good.  While the other rooms were performing, the fours changed into their graduation attire.  Pomp and Circumstance played, and they each were presented a diploma then asked what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Alena answered, "astronaut."  Some of her classmates' responses: work with my dad, doctor, a mom in a big house, firefighter, and power ranger.  The previous week, Daddy visited the class and showed them how to make pots on the wheel with Alena as his special helper. All of the kids worked very hard glazing plates and making pinch pots, and they gave them to their moms after graduation for Mother's Day.

Baby cousins

We had a great time last weekend visiting new baby cousins!  Alice Louise Hostetler and Nina Ruth Penniman are the two cutest babies in the Twin Cities!  They spent most of the time we were there eating, so they will fit into the family well.  Alena was excited to hold the babies, but she quickly lost interest when Lily and Finn were around.  Lily went through her closet and gave Alena her clothes that no longer fit her.  It was good timing because it got up to 80 degrees and I had only packed long sleeves.  Nora got to hold Baby Alice and was very upset when she had to give her up.  She was also upset when I held a baby.  "No baby, my mommy!" 

A good looking bunch of cousins

Alena and Alice, Nora and Nina

Daddy hasn't lost his touch 

It was all fun and games until the kite got stuck in the tree.  Then it was even more fun as a picnicking family came to our rescue and got the kite out.

The four-year-old pair had a great time together.  One of their favorite things was rubbing leaves in each other's hair (this seemed better than their earlier game of hitting each other with sticks.)

We are going to have to come back this summer to swim in this cool pool.

Happy birthday to Nora!

Nora celebrated her second birthday on Saturday.  Both sets of grandparents came as well as her local cousins.  Some of the present highlights were a marble run from Grandma and Grandpa Jensen, a pull behind puppy from Gisele, and a rocking chair made by grandpa Ed.  Our neighbor Kory brought over a new pink and white dress that Nora immediately wanted to try on.  Alena claimed the Furreal puppy and named it Sophia.  Ruby is freaked out by the puppy.  Nora loved opening her presents and Alena and Tillie were very excited to try to help.  We had pizza for supper and a special chocolate puppy cake for dessert.

Easter

The girls had a fun Easter hunting for eggs around our house and then at Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house.  Alena woke up and saw the eggs and was excited to get to looking for them.  We went to wake up Nora first.  Nora didn't want to get out of bed, but when I handed her an egg full of coins she was eager.  Not many eggs were collected before they started opening them and eating jelly beans.  Nora's favorite find was Reese's eggs.  She was unwilling to share them (I don't know how she knew they were the best candy.)  Alena was excited by the money. "How did the Easter Bunny know I wanted money?"  She was also impressed that the Easter Bunny knew she wanted a hula hoop.  Other Alena quotes: "That was a funny place to hide an egg" (on the toilet paper roll.)  "Yay, matching dresses!" (these were Lily and Alena's dresses three years ago.)  "I will help Nora get eggs that are too high for her to reach."  Both girls got rainboots and chalk and a kite to share.

Alena gets crafty

Alena has been getting into art more lately.  We were at the grocery store this morning and they had pictures for a coloring contest.  As soon as we got home, Alena got her crayons and headed up to her room and shut the door.  Half an hour later, she came down with this masterpiece.  She does not want to take it back to Hy-Vee.  Alena and I also made a lego garden.  I made flowers and and hearts and she made stems for the flowers and arranged them.  It was a pretty cool garden!

Annie Nora

Nora has picked up the Annie bug from her big sis.  Her favorite book is Alena's Annie book, she is constantly singing "Tomorrow," and she calls my cell phone "Annie" because the background is Alena in her Halloween costume.  This has been going on for several months.  This picture sums up Nora's loves: Annie, Puppy, puppy outfit, and baby dolls.  Nora's nicknames right now are "ya do" and "me too."  Anything that Alena does or eats Nora says, "me too!"  She is lucky her sister is a pretty good sport about it.  She is always saying "Thank you, ya ya," or "No, ya ya," depending on how nicely her sister is treating her. She still is referring to herself as "me" with no attempt at saying "Nora."