Happy Halloween!

Don’t worry, more “real” Halloween pictures will follow. But for now, this is one to share. So far the seeds have been very tasty.

Bath in the Sink

I thought baths in the sink were over. I was mistaken.

This morning I was finishing up some client e-mails and heard the water running in the bathroom. For those of you who don’t know the layout of our apartment, I sit at the kitchen table with the laptop, only about 3 feet from the bathroom sink. Coen likes to climb on the toilet and play in the water. Usually I stop him, but our water never gets warm enough to burn (I never am completely warm in the shower) so I wasn’t worried about him washing his hands. He realllly enjoys washing his hands.

So after finishing the e-mail (maybe 2 or 3 minutes max), I turned, expecting to see wet sleeves. Instead, I turned to find him sitting in the sink, water on and spraying off of him all over the bathroom. We just laughed. (Until I tried to change his clothes, then he cried.)

Kisses

Coen has been more affectionate on his own accord lately. Just a few days ago he was playing behind me in the chair we were sitting on in the dining room and he grabbed my shoulders and said “num num num num”. I turned to see his face next to mine and he kept saying “num num” until he gave me a kiss on the cheek with a big “mmmmmah!”. It was so cute and so thoughtful that he did it all on his own.

Then we went to play in the living room and he was back to being a rough-and-tumble boy.

Children Inspire Design

We got Coen’s new alphabet wall cards from the above-mentioned company. You can see their website here: www.childreninspiredesign.com. If you’d like, enter their October giveaway and mention me! Then I may win.

Fall Time Activities

Now that we’ve entered fall, we’re finding lots of autumnal activities. Well, here in New Ulm it was over 80 for a few days and got up to 90 one day, so it felt more like summer with WAY more bugs. Box elders, noseeums (apparently they’re called that), and ladybugs. GROSS.

We also found other things to do besides trap bugs and kill them with fingernail polish remover fumes and flush them down the toilet (I don’t like to crunch them).

Coen and I went to the park in Lomira one morning. It was pretty crisp outside, but beautiful! He loves to climb up the stairs, climb up the slide (already learned that…), and climb on the curbs. Basically anything with climbing. 

Giving the camera a wave!

Coen’s new room decorations from Children Inspire Designs. They’re his Christmas present. I couldn’t wait to put them up.

Coen & Daddy having fun around the table.

Coen knows he’s not supposed to stand and eat snack, but it’s an improvement over him being on the table.

Eating applesauce all by himself and actually getting most of it in his mouth! Hurrah!

Dancing on the coffee table. When he stands on a table, he is inclined to dance.

Makeshift peach smoothie dispenser. Yum.

H2O

Coen and I took the Megabus from Milwaukee to Minneapolis on our way back from the Lomira/Fond du Lac area. Coen was a very good boy and it was actually a relaxing ride. Mostly. Coen cried for a little but then fell asleep.

FYI, if you ever take the Megabus, don’t expect a bus station. Expect a random sign by the side of the road. Not easy to find.

When we arrived, we were waiting for Enterprise (they pick you up) to get our car to drive down and Coen was entertaining a couple women; one my age and one my mother’s age. The one my age was talking with Coen while the young-grandmother-age woman and I were talking about people picking us up late. Coen was drinking out of a normal water bottle and loving it. (And spilling it.) The women who he had been entertaining said “Oh, you are so lucky to have water. Do you like water?” and Coen stopped drinking, looked at her sternly, and told her “agua.” Not water apparently. She was shocked and said “Agua? Is he speaking Spanish?” I told her we speak both languages at home, but English more. She was very impressed and after calling it agua, Coen felt compelled to keep entertaining.

Asi es la vida.

Zedland’s Pumpkin Farm

 

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Today Maggi, Miriam, Coen, and I went to Zedland’s Pumpkin Farm. It’s just a five minute drive from the Vilski’s here and it’s a family they know fairly well. Justin went to school with and worked with one of the Zedlands so we gave it a try!

It’s a great place! Children were free, so we just paid $10 admission which meant a hayride, feeding the goats, petting the animals, and going through the corn maze. We also got some pumpkins, of course, but unfortunately Coen and I won’t be able to take them home since we’re going on the Megabus.

Coen has a cold right now, but I’m hoping he gets over it soon so that we can go over and help Katrina with Isaac and the household chores and meals by Tuesday. Matt will be gone Tuesday and Wednesday so we’re going to try and be there for both of them in case they need something!

Love to all! If we’re not with you right at this very moment, then we miss you!!

The Misadventures & Shenanigans of Coen & Owen

Blackmail someday…. Also how Coen got his cold. :)

 

 

Owen showed Coen the workings of the drinking fountain. A delicious meal of hotdog, peas, and grilled cheese compliments of the Ehlke family.

Steph (my good friend and former fellow co-teacher) and me!

Baby Isaac

Isaac was born on September 21 around 4 AM by c-section. He weighed 8 lbs 15 oz, and was 21 inches tall, just like Coen. They hit it off right away. We told Coen to give Isaac a kiss so Coen walked over with a puckered mouth, making his “mmmm” kiss noise and leaned over Isaac’s head….and licked it. It was hilarious.

He also welcomed him to the family by almost slicing him in half with a light saber. Luckily Grandma Ide was there to save Isaac. Close call.

Why Stay on the Floor?

Coen lately has taken to climbing. He likes to straddle the kitchen chairs while reaching for things on the counter, and he really enjoys a good table climbing. If he can’t quite reach the table from the chair, he flops forward and catches himself on his elbows. We need an inside jungle gym for the winter. Seriously.

 

My New Job Description

Hello! It’s been tooooo long. Sorry.

For my job working for ECELA (Spanish immersion schools in South America, www.ecela.com), I’ll be moving out of client/prospect e-mails and into marketing. I think I will really enjoy it. I’ll manage the Facebook page, edit articles written for PR Web stuff, write newsletters, and other such things.

Also, I’m going to a conference in Boston (ACTFL) in November for an extended weekend. Justin and Coen are going to have some quality time while I’m away. Fun stuff!