Hanging With Teddy

The original Teddy was back on the scene recently when G brought him to school for Teddy Bear Day. He won the award for "Most-Loved Bear." Though in reality, we don't see much of Teddy Bear these days. The Teddy Bear that used to go everywhere mostly sits on a shelf in his room.

Road Trip

We took a last-minute trip to Minneapolis on Friday afternoon. When I said to Grant, "Pack your bags; we're going on an adventure," his eyes lit up and he ran to get his Thomas the Tank Engine bag. He was thrilled to hear we would be going to a different state to spend the night in a hotel. We arrived there at about 7 p.m., checked into our hotel and walked a few blocks to the Target Center, where we got to see the Timberwolves play the Thunder.

Distracted by popcorn, ice cream and mascot-watching, the boys made it through nearly three quarters before we decided to call it a night. It was way past their bedtime. The boys looked exhausted and cute snuggled into their hotel bed. It was the first time we've traveled with Miles without a travel crib. But unfortunately he didn't sleep all that well, and we were all tired the next morning.

After breakfast and some pool time, we visited a favorite children's bookstore called the Wild Rumpus. An independent bookstore filled with beautiful children's books and cats, chickens and lizards, this place is amazing--and amazingly popular. If only more children's bookstores could do this well. 

After a few more stops for our real purpose for the trip--furniture shopping, we headed back home, arriving just in time for bedtime. It was a lot of time in the car for a short trip, but the boys seemed to enjoy the adventure.

Happy Valentine's Day

Brotherly love.

Chicago: Riding the Rails

In Chicago, entertaining G is as simple as getting on the el train, riding it a few stops and turning around. Which is what Kent and my dad did one afternoon last weekend.

Weekend Scenes

We had a relatively lazy weekend. Kent traveled for work a few days last week, so we were both tired by the time Friday rolled around. The boys even slept in until 8 a.m.on Sunday--a first that we fully enjoyed, but won't get used to. 

On Saturday we visited a pumpkin patch not far from our house. It was a small apple orchard that also sold pumpkins and offered a hay ride. G couldn't wait to get home to carve a jack o lantern.

When it came time to carve pumpkins that afternoon, I explained to him how we would scoop out the insides before carving the faces. He rolled up his sleeves, stuck in his arm and then announced he was done. Kent and I carved two very nice jack o lanterns while he played with his trains downstairs.

A leaf pile in the backyard was also a main attraction over the weekend. G led Miles out to the pile and showed him how to jump and roll in the leaves.

Teddy Bear

Meet Teddy Bear the Lion. He first came on the scene back in May 2010, a promotional gift from the zoo when we became members. He then sat on Grant's dresser for most of the next year. But it was sometime last spring that he became a regular fixture in our lives.

For as long as he's been sleeping in a big-boy bed, G has insisted on sleeping with whatever toy he most favored: trains, cars, even a toothbrush. But ever since last spring, it has been no one but Teddy Bear. He's traveled to Colorado and Chicago with us. He's been hiking and camping, on playdates and to the library.

One night in Chicago recently, we realized that we had put G to bed without Teddy Bear. "Maybe he won't notice," I said to Kent. Moments later on the monitor we heard the desperate plea: "I need Teddy Bear."

G often has long conversations with Teddy Bear. Recently overheard: "Be a good lion, Teddy Bear. Stop and look for cars before you cross the street."

Lately, Teddy Bear's fur has become matted down and his head flops without much support. He's been through the wash a few too many times. I often hear G say to Teddy Bear, "Don't worry, Teddy Bear. I'll protect you," and hopefully he will.

Grant brought home the "special bag" from school yesterday. It means he gets to bring a favorite stuffed animal to school today to show his classmates. He put Teddy Bear into the bag as soon as he came home. But hours later at bedtime, he retrieved him to take to bed. It's no secret that the real protector is Teddy Bear, his dear lion friend.

{As a side note, when I read this post recently and watched the video, I may have shed a few tears.}