Griffin has been into dancing to whatever music comes on the radio these days. Even the short musical interludes on NPR get a little hip jiggle from him. Today, he was really into the classical station but not so sure he wanted me watching!
Liz and Kevin Visit
Our friends Liz and Kevin visited us from St. Louis this past weekend. We actually know them from Oakland, but they’ve been living in St. Louis for a few years now and we’re all excited to be living in the same time zone! They came to see us, but also to run the beautiful Nerstrand Big Woods Half Marathon located about an hour south of the Twin Cities. The weather could not have been more beautiful, and we were thankful to them for giving us the excuse to discover a new part of the state. When they weren’t running 13.1 miles, we hung out, laughed, walked around St. Paul, and ate great food. Kevin brought his amazing camera and Griffin ended up the star of the show. From the pictures, you’d think all we did was sit around and admire the one-and-a-half year old! While there was definitely plenty of that, we really just had a wonderful weekend of being with great friends. Thanks again to Kevin for the fantabulous pictures (and you can click on the image to take you to the whole album)!
18 Month Checkup
This was Griffin’s first appointment in Minnesota. Â We loved our new doctor. Â Below are his current physical measurements with percentiles. Â (By the way, we don’t take these very seriously, but figure we might as well record them.)
- Weight: 23.08 lb (20-25%)
- Height: 32 7/8 in (70%)
- Head Circumference: 19 in (70%)
Where did this tall, skinny boy come from?
First Bouncy House!
This weekend we were at Gustavus for Grandma Pam’s birthday (and the homecoming football game) and Griffin got to enjoy his first bouncy house. He was definitely the youngest kid going into it, and Sarah and I were both worried that he wouldn’t be able to handle it. (Lots of bigger kids were freaked out.) But never ones to shy away from experimenting with our child, we tossed him in and watched.
He was in hog heaven! It was such a joy to see… he could barely stand up, but every time he fell down he just laughed and laughed. He eventually made it to the side where he could hold on and jump, shrieking with glee, but then he would head back into the central mosh-pit to be pummeled by larger kids, still cracking up hysterically. We weren’t sure if he would be able to find his way out (the entrance was covered by a flap), but after about 15 minutes he bounced over to the flap and slid right out, still grinning. We’re definitely going to do this again!
Minnesota State Fair
We headed to the great Minnesota get-together, otherwise known as the State Fair, on Sunday! Getting there bright and early at 9am was the way to go as we beat the massive crowds by a few hours and eased into our day of looking at and eating all that Minnesota has to offer. Â We certainly saw a lot. Some highlights included the Princess Kay of the Milky Way butter sculptures, the birthing barn, seed art, and of course, the food. Foods tried: mini-donuts, deep-fried cheese curds, pronto pup, Twisted Sister, chocolate malt, jalapeno poppers, salted nut roll, Haralson apple, minty lemonade, chicken gyro, and shrimp on a stick. You know, your typical Weight Watchers day. Griffin was a total champ (he even napped in the stroller) and made our trip all-the-more enjoyable. We’re definitely looking forward to next year!
Rookie Mistake
This is what happens when you leave your lipstick on the bedside table where certain toddlers can reach it. Thankfully, I got to him before he started coloring on the bed! I’m going to have to tell Andrew to be a little more careful next time…
Things I Like About My Job
It has been a great first week so far! As I walk to and from school every day, I have time to really think about what I appreciate. Here’s a partial list in no particular order:
- Walking to work every day (it’s about a mile, so not too far, but it lets me get my head on straight)
- Seven days of paid orientation, department meetings, and planning time before the first day of classes
- A week-long professional development conference for all new faculty about classroom management and how to run a fabulous advisory program
- Block schedule (fewer, longer classes)
- Recess and snack every day for all middle-schoolers!
- First day middle-school assembly was filled with laughter
- Canoeing down the Mississippi with the eighth grade on the third day of school!
- Conferences with advisees and their families on the fourth day of school
- I have only received two things in my physical mailbox since I started… everything else is handled via e-mail and various on-line tools.
- Delicious, healthy food at the cafeteria every day (for students and faculty)
- First faculty meeting had only one item on the agenda: discussing specific, individualized strategies for helping students who struggled last year get off to a good start
- Twice-monthly meetings with my principal already scheduled from now until May
- Did I mention recess and snack??!?!
Scottsdale
Andrew and I felt like true jet-setters this past weekend as we flew down to Scottsdale, Arizona for a friend’s wedding at the Four Seasons Resort. Griffin stayed with Grandma Pam and Grandpa Jeff Friday night through Monday morning. While we knew it would be a fast trip, we were hoping it would feel like a mini-vacation. Boy, oh boy, did it ever!
As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m not historically a resort and spa kind of gal. I tend to camp my way across the country, and while I’ve been known to indulge in a massage or pedicure, I have always poo-pooed resorts. Especially ones out in the middle of the desert. But it looks like I’m going to have to revise my stance. I’m going to tell you a tiny little secret: it was fun to be pampered for a weekend. Orange infused water, chilled towels, frozen treats every hour while I sit by the pool under my umbrella for uninterrupted reading time? Don’t mind if I do! Giant king sized bed with luxury linens, sleeping in ’til eight? Twist my arm. The wedding was beautiful, the resort was fantastic, and it felt like we escaped for longer than the 36 hours we were gone. It was FUN!
Up North
With the busyness of moving this summer, we haven’t really had much time to kick back. The cabin was the remedy to our desire for a bit of a getaway! We managed to escape for a few days in the middle of the week before Andrew started his new job at SPA (and the move into our new apartment!). Since it was a bit on the cool side, we filled our days with picking the last of the blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, reading, napping, exploring the woods with Griffin, listening to the loons, and watching the lake. It was a perfect trip, and we weren’t even sad when we left this time knowing that we can zip up there any weekend we want! Ahhh…
(Click on any photo to link to the whole gallery)
First Leech!
Griffin had his first encounter with a leech this weekend at the Stocco cabin. He liked wading in the shallows which, as this photo attests, is not without peril. The sucker (ha ha) didn’t actually get a good bite, so Griffin’s little foot was unscathed. (And, once you get beyond the ick factor, leeches are pretty harmless.)
More photos will follow in due course (most of which aren’t gross). Tomorrow we’re moving into the new apartment which doesn’t have internet yet, so there will be more of a delay than we’d like. We’re pretty excited to finally settle into the new place!