Water babies

Kick kick kick

Class exercises

Peyton started her 8 week swimming lessons in early February. Each week she either loves lessons or is ehh not so much.  One thing for sure is she is the sweetest kiddo in the class. She is always the only kid who says thank you and goodbye to her teacher, often unprompted by mama and dada.  So proud of you sweet girl! 

My first Disney movie

Daddy date

Peyton experienced her first movie tonite: Disney movie of course!!!

101 Dalmations Rated: G... G for great.

I have casually bought Disney movies released from the vault over the years in anticipation for moments like this. Why did Peyton get to watch a movie before her 2nd birthday? Because she has been 'sick as a dog' and needed to relax. Meanwhile dada had a long day being 'worked like a dog'.  Boy oh boy did she enjoy it!

Peyton loves playing in a basement with all of her toys- and newly constructed teepee. When dada catches a basketball game downstairs while we play, Peyton will go over to the little fridge and grab dada a beer "milk dada, milk!". The other night while we played Peyton was so sweet to grab me a beer, "milk mama!" It had been kinda a rough day at the office so I obliged. What great intuition. : )  

Lights camera action

Bye Buddy!

Miss you Hodgsons!

Peyton, mama, and dada had to say goodbye to our good friends Rebecca and Dave and their companions Buddy and Penny.  We were so lucky to have their friendship during our transition to Minneapolis and wish them well on their big adventure to Portland, Oregon!!

We were able to do all sorts of fun activities with them over the past year: weekend at the cabin "up north", paddle boards, biking, pumpkin carving, snowshoeing, sledding, boating, Packers/Viking game, Como conservatory, and many dog walks!! Since I never remembered my camera on any of our fun adventures- thought we'd pose for just one. : )

Peyton was particularly upset when she said goodbye to Buddy.  The whole way home from our last visit, she kept saying, "bye Buddy, bye Buddy" the whole way home. Kinnick can't wait to visit!

Nanny or neonatologist?

Diaper station

... I walked into this. She absolutely cracks me up. Peyton is regimented and tidy and loves to waste all sorts so diapers and wipes.  At least she puts her "used" diapers and wipes in the Diaper Dekor machine.  Sounds like the making of a fabulous daycare provider. But don't tell dada that, he'll say she is right on track to be a world class neonatologist.

Peyton also likes to put her beebees, mama, and dada "to sleeps". She emulates how her teachers prepare her and her classmates for naps. We all get to lay down on the kitchen floor and get covered by dishtowels as she pats our back... "pat pat pat... pat pat pat" or if she's feeling saucy "smack smack smack... smack smack smack". She'll give you a good nite kiss but don't you dare lift your head, you may get the smackdown. : )

Did you use up the wipes??

Peyton and Babar

Animal sounds are Peyton and daddy's thing and elephants are the favorite animal at the moment!  I think Peyton thinks her daddy is pretty special.  'King of the elephants' perhaps : )

Our sweetheart

Cupid

On Valentines Day, Peyton was very happy to take chocolates to her favorite teacher yet: Carla. Peyton loves talking about Carla! She chants Carla's name when we get close to school and includes her in our dinner prayer regularly. She also loves many of her friends at school: Annabelle, Emma, and Nora (and of course "Basti"). 

When I pick her up at school, she gallops over to me and gives me a biiiiiiig hug! On the way out she yells and waves, "Bye Carla!, Carla bye!" She then also hilariously will identify her friends' parents that are there to pick up their kids... "Mama, that's Emma's dada!"  

Peyton and mama spend a lot of time in the car of the way home. Time to belt out some songs! 

1. Old McDonald: "and on that farm there was a _______ (Peyton fills in the blank). What does a __cow__ say Peyton? "MOOOOO!!"
2. Wheels on the bus: the mama on the bus says either "shhh shhh shhh!" or "sit right down, sit right down, sit right down!" while the daddy on the bus says, "I love you, I love you, I love you!" What's up with that?
3. Itsy Bitsy spider: luckily her seat is still rear facing or she'd request mama to do the hand motions.

72 with a chance of snow

"Cheese" don't look at mama : )

Cabin fever... if you can't go outside, let outside come to you! - and warm up outside with a plentiful dose of lukewarm water : )  One blueberry for snowman, one blueberry for Peyton.  One hat for snowman, one for Peyton.

Peyton funnies:

1. During her bedtime songs, Peyton made mommy giggle by putting the sippy cup rubber straw up her nose and laughing hysterically. Kinda inappropriate during Jesus Loves Me.
2. If Peyton's really upset about something, she- in dramatic fashion- will make her lip quiver and teeth chatter. It's hilarious. 
3. Jon was trying to change Peyton when she got away while in the buff. Right then Nana called Jon to Facetime. "Where's Peyton? Oh she's pooping behind the chair, I've gotta go."   

1 blueberry-2 bluie- 3 bluie

Kiss and tell

First boyfriend

I picked up Peyton from school today and I got my usual big hug before she ran to her cubby to get her backpack and all of her gear together to brave the bitter cold...

Just then the little tike in the bottom right Sebastian (who Peyton calls "Basti") came up to her and gave her a big hug. Peyton hugged back as she gave him a big snotty kiss right smack on the lips. It was like watching a terrible train wreck right before my eyes. There was nothing I could do! We finished getting her hat and boots on and as we were walking towards the door "Basti" came up and gave her another hug. The agony! 

I had no idea how to handle this situation, so I broke the news to Jon and had a little dada daughter sit down when she got home. : )

Photo credit: Daycare