Z turned Two!

And she will tell you if you ask, that she is "two!" We had a smaller party this year than last - just J's siblings (minus Mark), Z's cousins and all the grandparents - still about 15 people in the house! It was a bit more crazy with four children, presents and food! Here are a few shots of Z anticipating cake...

Then eating it...

Its a little less messy than last year (maybe?)!!

Then we opened presents - Z had a little help with that...

One of her favorites was a Mag*na Doo*dle from Mommy and Daddy. Z laid in the middle of the living room floor to draw with guests all around!

Then in mommy's hat...

All in all, it was a good birthday... and then she had a party with the P*atricks a few weeks later! (you'll see those pics next time!)

Uncle M*ark's visits from Bos*ton!

Uncle M came to visit two weeks before Z's birthday. He was in town for a week and came over on the Wed to go to the park with Z and A (and me). We talked about "Uncle Maak" coming beforehand and looked at his pictures, so Z remembered him. However, she got a little nervous when A cried upon seeing him. But by the time we were loaded in the stroller Z was good, and she had a blast at the park. 

(A warmed up to Uncle M too!) 

M stayed for dinner and Z asked him to read her a bedtime story. Now we talk about Uncle Maak a lot. We miss you, M*ark!

Let it snow let it snow let it snow...

While we did a bit of playing in the snow last winter, 

 

we have done much more this winter. The first big snowfall was Thanksgiving weekend, and D*ave took Z*oe to the park to try out the equipment. The bonus of the park in winter is that it is usually deserted - apparently not all Minnesot*ans like snow (for the record, its not really our favorite either).

(That's D's boot in the last one.)

Gma and Gpa Sund*seth also take Z and A out in the snow sometimes while their mommies and daddies are at work... sometimes just in the back yard-

or sometimes around the block in the wagon...

So if we had no winter (and maybe you don't where you live), I do have to say we would miss out a bit - sure we wouldn't have Snow Emergencies, frozen digits, extra gear, and cars that don't start, but we also would miss the joy of bundling up a toddler or two, watching them bumble through the snow bank (and always fall), or see them go shooting off the end of a slide into the snowbank! 

Oh the joys of winter... I do appreciate a bit of it (while still so excited that it got above freezing yesterday for the first time in 2009 - spring is coming! (maybe?) 

Oh Christmas tree

We debated getting a tree this year. I had heard that it can be challenging to have a tree with a toddler, and we do entertain two toddlers here two days a week. My coworker's husband's family owns a tree farm in WI and she delivers the trees to my work - so easy and such beautiful trees. So we took the plunge - both Z and her cousin A did fine with the tree. We put all the breakable ornaments up high and let Z take anything in reach off the tree at will. She could tell us that there was an "anjo" at the top of the tree when asked, and her favorite ornament was a small bell will an angel on top that she could ring. Every couple of days, she would take it off, shake it, and sing "Jingo bews" - sometimes complete with a little dance. We finally took it down last weekend (since I couldn't bear to do it the weekend before) and delivered it to the S. P*aul tree recycling.  All in all, the tree and the anjos were a huge success!