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! 

Z' wants her own room!

Z is trying to get Mommy and Daddy out of her room, so she started to get our new room ready for us. We rented the sander because Z's credit is a little sketchy. (She made some bad investment choices last year.) So, anyway, Z had some pretty bad flooring to start with, but she powered through it and they came out gorgeous.

No child labor laws were violated, I think, but

we gave her grapes for a fabulous job.

Hangin' with Au*ggie

Z and A have so much fun together these days. When we get in the car in the mornings before I go to work, I tell Z we are going to auntie's house and she responds, "Aug*gie!" Z is very fond of giving kisses and hugs to more people these days than she used to as she has shed much of her "stranger anxiety" - or redefined "stranger" to more closely align with Webs*ter's definition. However, no one gets a kiss from Z quite like A does! (I took this with my sister's camera when we visited the cemetery where my grandma Ne*lson is buried in ND this summer. )

 

But mostly, they just like hangin' together:

Snack time on my kitchen floor (we have to sit for snacks - a very difficult task for toddlers!)

Trick or treating - Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead for the actual trick or treat, but you can see pics of Z and A in costume at my sister's blog here.

Watching for grandpa (see the red truck? he just pulled up!)

At the Children's Mu*suem this past summer

Z has P*atrick genes

This is a shout out to the Pa*tricks, who are cat lovers (we just received our second Christmas photo card for the season in the mail from one of you - a picture of the new cat, of course!). Here is Z with that same cat at a family party a month ago or so. Z is so excited about kittys - hers, yours, ones in books, etc. When you ask her what the kitty says, she sounds just like M*ilo (her kitty). When mommy puts her to bed at night, she needs to kiss and hug M*ilo before daddy - and the same is true when daddy puts her down. M*ilo, like all house pets, is rather annoying at times, but is really patient with Z - he takes it like a champ - or like a C*huck, for those of you who knew that very tolerant cat. Oh yeah - that's what we Patric*ks do too (I guess I am now one of them!) - talk fondly about those felines who have passed on. 

Z and M*ilo a few months ago

Z and M*ilo a year ago