Trip out East

We flew out east for a week-long trip to see friends and family recently. While the trip out took 4 hours longer than it was supposed to, Maren was very excited to ride on TWO planes.

We visited the Boston Children's Museum on our first full day there with friends. Maren really enjoyed the bubble room!

There were fast slides!

And we even discovered a water room! (Bubbles, slides, AND water? This was right up Maren's alley.)

In the art room, Maren and her friend Lily got to play with natural earth, red clay.

Maren channeled her inner construction worker and drove a skid-loader.

Daddy practiced sharing his lap with two little girls, eager for a story.

Maren and Lily were excited for Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the morning.

There was also lots of CHEESE! We loved staying with Lily's family and can't wait to see them this summer when then visit our state!

Then, we were off to Connecticut to visit our family. Maren got to go back to the beach park and was much more in to independently exploring it this time. It was a bit chillier than last time and very windy. 

You can't keep this girl away from the water. She had to throw shells and rocks back into the Sound.

We finally met cousins Grace and Leo. Grace and Maren loved eating the frosting from their St. Patty's Day cupcakes. Don't worry - Grace wasn't mad...that's a signature Grace-face.

Maren loved playing with her big cousin Bella. Bella was probably exhausted by the time Maren left. Bella even shared her room and Maren slept happily on her trundle bed away from mom and dad like the big girl she is.

An attempt to get a picture of Maren and Grace....too slow!

We finished our trip with more friends back in Boston and flew back home the next day. I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of those cuties! What was I thinking? We've had some days now to catch up at home before we are all back to the daily grind on Monday. The school year will be pushing toward summer and there is a LOT for me to do. There won't be any more traveling now on my part, aside from a short trip just over an hour away in a couple weeks, which is my choice in what's best for me and baby.  Maren's new sister's room is ready-enough for her and Lee is working hard on his Honey-Do list before she gets here (13 more weeks!).

I suppose I should put the ticker in a permanent place for a while...but I was happy to see that it's under 100 days now!

Updates

 We went to the waterpark with friends!

Then we all got sick - no one more than me and it was 2 weeks before we did anything else! But Maren finally got hair cut again. 

Last night I took this picture of Izzy with her nose pressed against Maren's door. I think she felt left out because Lee was putting Maren to bed. :) We've also worked on the new baby's room and sometime I will post pictures when we get it done!

Frosty

 We got some snow today and then had balmy temps in the low 30's, so i thought it was perfect for a little snow time. And, when you tell a 2 year old they get to go play in the snow, be prepared for screeching, circle running, and chattering about building a Frosty and needing a carrot for a nose. We couldn't find the snowman kit from Grandma and Grandpa nor do we have trees for stick arms, so Daddy improvised with golf ball eyes, dowel arms, garden gloves, and an old oil can for a pipe.

 There was a lot of snow eating going on.

Wishing you a happy winter Monday!

Weekend Project

It's big girl room time! (Yes - cue TEARS here. Yes tears. Sobbing perhaps. Pregnant lady + change in the first born's status = sobbing.) But, Maren has been asking when we could go to the mattress store for the past week since her Grandma and Grandpa brought her new (old) bed over this way.

I stopped at a consignment store on late Friday afternoon and spotted the beauty below. In a twist of fate, the store was closed when I sent my wonderful husband after it, but they were opening the next morning for their 50% of everything sale. So I sent my even MORE wonderful husband back the next morning - in fact, I shoved him out the door around 7:45 to get it for me, but didn't have too much hope that it would come home with him. What luck! So I refinished it.

Before (yellowed, green detailing, brass hardware with some green paint on them.) 

 After (freshly painted white, oil rubbed bronze hardware)
EDIT: Yes, I just realized those bottom drawers are switched around. Rest assured that has been fixed!

Now, to unveil the big girl room...

The bed was actually up the night before. 

 Izzy says: "What's that tiny lump?" and in her next breath: "That looks like an ok place for me to sleep later."

That tiny lump was a tiny little girl, all excited to try out her bed. She even kicked me out so she could go to sleep. At 5:30. No, she really didn't sleep then and was even worse to get to stay IN her bed last night. But she is so excited to have her new room! And didn't even mind that the crib and rocker went into the next room for the baby. 

Klein Christmas and...Turning 30.

We had a big weekend around here. Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Eric, Uncle Andy, Aunt Sara, Johann, and Bubba came for a visit to celebrate a late Christmas.

Maren (with a lot of cheese) hangs out with Johann on the couch. I think she was showing him the ways of Strawberry Shortcake on the mini tv.

 She was so excited to receive this larger than herself frog and introduce him to Clean Froggie.

Maren also got a cool new tent that looks like a tree!

 After this trial, it was determined that the tent was large enough for two adult men, a two year old, and a giant stuffed frog.

We had a great morning together and Maren (maybe?) got her fill opening her and asking to help open everyone else's gifts. The story continues - during nap time for the little ones, this mama was dozing on the couch when she was wisked away to pick out her birthday present and shop with the girls. When Johann called his mommy distraught without a food source, we had to return...to a house full of friends and family waiting to surprise me.

I turned 30 this weekend and got to celebrate with so many who are near and dear to me. A wonderful gift from my husband with help from our families. While 30 feels no different at this point, my heart is still overflowing.

New Year, New Beginnings