Category Archives: Outings

Train Show 2014

Every year, the model train show comes to our local mall. I’ve been going since I was a little kid and I was thrilled when Mason showed interest in trains, if only because I wanted to pass on my childhood tradition. This is the third year we’ve went together and I was really sad when he was less than enthused about going this year. Then I got to thinking and he seems to be… over trains. He very rarely plays with his toy trains (Thomas and Friends just went to the basement), he never watches train shows any more, and he isn’t even impressed to hear the train whistle blow at night anymore. Not wanting to see the model trains seemed to be the final blow and this this momma was a little bummed.

We decided to go anyway since there isn’t much else to do when it’s -20º out and when we got to the train show and he LIT UP. He was absolutely thrilled and had a wonderful time. It was so much fun. Whew.

For the first 1/2 a lap, he rode on Daddy’s shoulders, “oohing” and “ahhing” and telling us where to go and what to stop and look at. trainshow1

His favorite displays were of course, all construction/logging related.
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This has been my favorite display since I was a litle girl. I remember I use to be just MESMERIZED by the tiny intricate rides as a kid.
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After a while, we got to the shorter displays and he was able to get down off SuperDad’s shoulders and still be able to see the trains.
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His absolute FAVORITE part of the train show…

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Do you see what it is? A John Deere train hauling John Deere tractors and implements. Mason’s favorite train? Go figure!
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The squealing and cries of “AWESOME!” seemed to be well appreciated by the display operators and other train enthusiasts. So cute LOL
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Desite his dragging his heels about now wanting to go, I’m SO glad we did.

Catch the Moment #5 :: Project 365

Another week has come and gone. I had a horrible time finding inspiration and motivation to take pictures this week, I’m thinking the zillion days of below zero temps is really starting to wear on me.

Thursday, January 30
It snowed pretty heavily once again Thursday morning, so SuperDad had more plowing to do. Several inches before 11 am and a “work is slow” snow day for me!
Too Much Snow

Too Much Snow

Friday, January 31
I picked Mason up some Yo Gabba Gabba Superhero pajamas a week ago and I just can’t get over how cute they are. All pajamas need footies and a cape, don’t you think?
Toothbrush SuperHero

Saturday, February 1st
Mason has found a new passion in life – playing Wii golf. Despite his baseball-style swing, he’s getting pretty good!
Wii Golf

Sunday, February 2nd
Joe got a new bed and seems to like it. He looks sad here because he obviously has no toys.
Greyhound New Bed

Monday, February 3rd
Today was SuperDad’s birthday. We roadtripped to Minnesota which meant we passed my favorite water tower.
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Birthday pie!
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Tuesday, February 4th
I spent Tuesday home sick in bed. It was… not fun.
Sick Day

Wednesday, February 5th
Our night time play consisted of me being a friendly snowman (aka dog toy) that needed a ride on the big truck to go buy some cookies. Mason found this ridiculously amusing and would have played it all night had I let him.
Snowman Taking a Ride

Did you catch any special moments on “film” this week?

Mason Meets Llama Llama

For over a year, we read Llama Llama Nighty Night before Mason went to bed. Every single night. Mason enjoys other Llama Llama books as well (his favorite probably being “Llama Llama Time to Share”) and I’m a fan of the big camelid myself. So when I saw that Llama Llama was coming to our local (bigger) library for the 10000 Books Before Kindergarten kick-off, I knew we had to be there!

The library was set up with several activity stations to pass the twenty minutes or so before the guest of honor arrived.

Mason worked on a puzzle
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And worked at the stamping station
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He also checked out the gerbils, which were SUPER exciting this day because they were both awake and out “exercising” (aka running on their wheel)
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Then along came Llama Llama. Mason wasn’t as excited as I expected (and even twenty minutes into the visit asked “When do I get my surprise!?” #fail) but it was still fun.

They played with Playdough
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Llama Llama attempted story time but no one came. LOL
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We had to bribe him into giving Llama Llama the world’s fastest hug. This wasn’t the photo I had envisioned but that’s preschoolers for you I guess.

And then Llama Llama and Mason did a puzzle together.
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Llama Llama had such personality and she made SuperDad and I laugh way harder than she probably should have
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All three puzzles they completed warranted a celebration
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We had a great time meeting Llama Llama and are so happy our library offers such fun programs. Have your kids ever met any literary characters?

First Time Rollerskating

I grew up rollerskating. We actually had a rollerskating unit in gym class when I was in elementary school! In second grade, I strapped some rollerblades on in my friend’s basement and next thing you knew, we were hitting the roller rink every weekend. While my groups of friends changed throughout the years, the weekly trips to the roller rink lasted basically up until high school.

Today, I took Mason to that very same roller rink for his first time skating. He was beside himself with excitement all morning and by the time we had got there, I had convinced him to try “big kid skates” (aka regular rental skates) as opposed to the plastic Fisher Price skates I had brought with us.

I unfortunately brought my camera but NOT it’s memory card but I’m not sure that would have mattered as I could never get far enough away from Mason to take a decent picture of him anyway LOL

Oh well, mediocre pictures of milestones are better than no pictures at all, right?!

So excited to get started
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Hanging on for dear life
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In between laps around the rink, he tried hard to convince me to dig up change to play alllll the games.
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He conned me into paying $2 more dollars so he could play in the play land. He ran himself ragged and I now wish we could come here just for the playland.
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He then set a world record for hot dog eating in the 3 year old division
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“The shiny floor was a lot more slippery, Mommy!”
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Unlike Cole and his athletic prowess, I don’t see a future in Olympic Rollerskating for Mason. In fact, it’s possible he could try out for a part in Broadway’s production of “Bambi on Ice.” But I’m so proud of him for trying as long as he did and having a good attitude about the number of times he fell down. (And yeah, I ended up totally regretting talking him into NOT using his little kid skates LOL)

The next time we go, I’m going to be prepared to be nickeled and dimed (the frame he’s holding on to was equivalent to the price of admission!) and I’m going to make sure that I have a real camera and a third person to either walk with him or take pictures.

As for Mason? He is already asking if we can go back tomorrow.

Did you grow up rollerskating? Have you taken your kids?

Applefest

On Sunday, we drove nearly three hours to attend Applefest, a weekend festival SuperDad has wanted to go to for like 13 years now (this is the first time he’s ever had that weekend off and been available!)

Being a HUGE festival in a tiny town, it took another 45 minutes to park.

I think it was worth it though

Many marching bands seen, candy caught, craft booths perused, food trucks scouted, and dogs admired.

Food consumed – 1 tray of caramel apple slices, the world’s best piece of apple pie, an apple brat, a cup of hot apple cider, and a jug of cold cider for the road.

Ahh, Applefest, we can’t wait for next year!

Mason’s 1st Train Ride

Last month, we took Mason to Duluth to see Thomas the Train. He is a mediocre Thomas fan but a HUGE fan of everything and anything train so despite the fact that he was exhausted, the train ride beside Lake Superior was definitely the highlight of the trip for ALL of us.

Mason’s Summer Bucket List

Even though temps were in the 40s today, I guess it’s officially summer so it’s time for…

Mason’s Summer Bucket List

  • Camp in a tent (backyard counts)
  • Go swimming at the outdoor pool at least 4 times
  • Go fishing
  • Learn to like corn on the cob (a girl can hope?)
  • Go see Thomas the Train in Duluth
  • Learn to pedal his tricycle
  • Run a foot race
  • Go to Irvine Park
  • Eat an ice cream cone
  • Conquer bedtime in undies
  • Find big rocks to climb
  • Have at least 6 play dates
  • Get his face painted
  • Make popsicles
  • Draw with chalk outside
  • Go out of state
  • Play at the new splash pad weekly once it opens
  • Play with his cousin Chloe
  • See a movie at the drive in movie theatre
  • Wear his raincoat and boots and play in the rain
  • Go to a petting zoo
  • Make a friend at church
  • Go down a waterslide
  • Go for lots of bike rides
  • Play in a lake/river
  • Get a new furry brother/sister
  • Watch the fireworks (without terror this year)
  • Play in a pool in the yard
  • “Paint” outside with water
  • Go to at least three parades
  • Play in a sprinker
  • Go on a picnic
  • Go to the fair
  • Dance at an outdoor concert
  • See his Uncle Russ & Aunt Jen
  • Try three new parks/playgrounds

What’s on your summer bucket list?

Mason’s First Train Experience – (Not Quite) Wordless Wednesday 1/30/13

In December, a passenger train rolled into our town to bring a special guest and help teach everyone about train safety since a busy rail line has recently reactivated after being shut down for 15 years.

Mason LOVES trains. LOVES LOVES LOVES trains. Taking him here, even though it meant pulling him out of school and taking off from work was a total no brainer.

Behold, Mason and the train…

Getting on with the help of the train staff

Looking out the window

The train’s very special passenger! (A Santa picture at the end of January! Score!)

Me and Mason and his big bag of train goodies

He had just as much fun playing in the snow around than train as going on it…. Toddlers!

This time last year – A Typical Weekend Day / Mason Makes Words

Two years ago – Breakfast at Perkins / Reasons I Blog / Balance

Yo Gabba Gabba Live is coming to Minneapolis!

As you may know, Mason LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba and in fall of 2011, we went and saw them live and Mason had a great time!

We’re super excited to see that they’re coming to Minneapolis on January 16th! They’ll be doing two shows (At 3:00 and 7:00) at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets range from $38-$60, depending on your seating preference. If you live in the Minneapolis area, you can purchase them right from Hennepin Theatre Trust and avoid the box office fees (bringing the prices down to $25-$45)

If your kiddo is super lucky, you can get front row seats, attend a backstage party, participate in hassle free merchandise shopping, and attend the character meet and greet with the “Gabba Party Package” for $125! I’d love to get individual pictures with Brobbee, Muno, Foofa, Plex, or Toodee and I think Mason would lose his mind meeting the characters! Even without that, I know he’ll LOVE seeing his favorite show live!

So join us and Get Your Sillies Out!!

To get more information or buy tickets, visit Ticketmaster or buy party passes here.