Yellow flag day

Doesn't this beach look beautiful? We heard it was great for snorkeling but didn't.

Mexican Vacation

This hotel was huge and had a long walk bridge between our rooms and the main lobby which is in the background. We got a lot of walking in which was a good thing because of the ice cream bar, mojitos, churros con chocolate, chocolate cake for lunch and tons of butter on everything. Check Xavier out wearing his swim goggles to lunch.

Part of our day was spent in one of the pools of the hotel. This pool was closest to our room and had wonderful little slides in the middle. The kids really made some headway with feeling comfortable in the water and starting to swim on their own. The inflatable vests, compliments of Target clearance, were a great help, but there was still a lot of swallowing of pool water. yuck

The first day that we arrived at our hotel we went out to check the beach. Xavier got right in and started playing in the sand and running into the ocean, which was surprising since it was a red flag day and the waves were a little rough. He is a fantastic little traveler who is very willing to try new adventures. Although he did state at one point that he would rather be at grandmas watching movies. Quinn was afraid of the ocean and would scream if you touched the tip of his toe in the water. He preferred to sit under a palapa with pops and drink fresh pineapple juice while pops sipped a beer--yet another wonderful amenities of the all-inclusive.

One of the other wonderful things of the all-inclusive was the lazy river or 'leazy river' according to the hotels brochure. Each morning after breakfast and schellacking of sun screen we would relax on the lazy river. The shot above is only of Martin and Xavier, but they also had a four person inflatable so we could hang out and look for lizards on the cement sides of the river together. One day Xavier and I just got out of our four person and behind us was a SNAKE. I hate snakes. The guy trying to fish it out of the water couldn't tell us if it was poisonous or not. We also saw many birds, a pizote (raccoon), a monkey, toucan and parrot. Oh and of course the ubiquitous street dog.

If you ask Xavier what his very favorite thing about being in Mexico he would say the ice cream. There are some very lovely amenities staying at an all-inclusive and one was the ice cream bar. Xavier hit it twice per day. We had to undo a notch in his pants by the end of the trip. Quinn also learned that he actually does like ice cream-strawberry. He didn't figure it out until day 5 so that is why he has doesn't have ice cream in the photo only a lovely monkey face.

The Shark and The Pirate

The shark, the pirate, and their mom made their way to the Johnson Street Businesses Halloween Extravaganza. This was the perfect Halloween Trick or Treat experience as it was held in the daylight on one block of Johnson St. and not at 7 pm, in the dark and cold. We were on the same path as a very scary Grim Reaper who had the ability to make Quinn scream inside every store. Quinn has a difficult time with what is real and what is not. He also had a hard time with all of the masked monsters coming to our door. I suspect he is watching too much Scooby Doo with his brother and his imagination runs wild with thoughts of monsters.

Starting them early

Quinn, Zoee and Xavier are lined up at various gambling machines at Lures n' Beer or Lured Away or something like that, a bar in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. We were celebrating Martin's 38th birthday. When we arrived Xavier exclaimed, "This is perfect grandma. This is beautiful." The bar/restaurant was full of smoke and scantily clad ladies on the screens of the gambling machines. I spent a fair amount of time in these sorts of establishments growing up, and I survived. This is small town life and also not unlike what I saw in several European countries. Kids go where their parents go. We had a good night and ended up seeing a bunch of my cousins show up with their children. :)

Quinn Deere

Quinn asked that I put this one on the 'puter.' Quinn and John Deere are tight.

Soccer Star

This is Xavier in the middle of a fast-paced preschool soccer game. Notice he is just standing there. We got plenty of the just-standing-there shots. During all games he was either too tired to kick the ball, needed a hug, or was thinking about watching Scooby-Doo. Once he was even able to get his shirt stuck over his head mid-game. Now soccer is over and he is involved in something much less competitive--yoga. At first he didn't want to try yoga because he thought it was girly(I don't know how he picks up these things) then I talked him into it because Grant (a boy) was also planning on taking it. After his first class I asked him if he did downward dog, child's pose, etc. and he said yes but he also did a stinky butt pose. Hmm haven't heard of this pose.

Oops this one is newborn Xav

I can't believe I posted Quinn's newborn photo as Xav's newborn photo. You'd think a mother would be able to differentiate between her boys. Apparently not and this photo still looks like Xavier today, a little puffy with a strawberry on his eye and above his lips but still Xav. Quinn's newborn photo, however, doesn't look like him at all.

Happy Birthday Xavier!! (two days ago)

In case you don't know there are some big changes at 4 years of age. For one, no more naps! Blankie and Beary were sent home from daycare and a daily statement is made about not needing a nap. Instead it is worktime at Miniapple International Montessori. Yesterday I found Xavier crushing crackers for the bird/squirrel feeder. Other days they trace in their number workbooks, work their art projects, cut pickles and eggs, and do bead counting. Previously he spent his afternoon snoozing away unproductively on a cot with several other 3 year olds.

In addition, there is no need for caregivers to wipe a 4 year old's butt after going to the bathroom. This was an announcement on the morning of the 4th birthday. Hopefully there is also a dutiful washing of the hands.

Xavier has come a long way in 4 years. He is starting to calm down and learning to handle his energy a little more constructively (and so are we). We are going to try to set up an obstacle course in our backyard for him next summer--climbing wall, running between tires, ropes course etc. He continues to be very creative and inventive. He is headed to become my little traveler. He is already talking about an upcoming trip to Africa to see hippos. He loves to look at the map and for some reason seems focused on getting to Siberia. I am planning a career for him in medicine where he will spend some time with Doctors Without Borders. So far he thinks this is a great idea and I am sure he will continue to think his mother is all knowing.

Weekend in Wisconsin

Quinn rides a John Deere and Xavier drives a retro police car that Grandpa found at a sale.

Quinn loves John Deere. He spent a good bit of time sitting around on the lawn mower. Whenever Quinn was missing from view he could be found in the garage on the John Deere.

Xavier and Quinn spent last weekend on the farm while mom and dad roadtripped to Madison for a wedding. Xavier got to bring his class mascot, Barnaby the Bear, and document his adventures with pictures and journal entries. Here Xavier is protecting Barnaby from an eager calf. Xavier is being trained to be a farmhand. He learned to feed the cows, while Quinn learned to run the tractor. What does a proper mother like myself think about this? Newspaper articles like, "Farm boy loses arm in harvester" or "Farm hand rolls off the tractor; both legs severed." I think I will keep them in the city where life is much safer.

Cabin a la Lanners

So McGregor is a town of 400 in northern Minnesota and their chief attraction, aside from the lovely lakes,appears to be the emus which strangely enough belong to the local Dairy Queen. We heard they had buffalo too but when I asked at the Dairy Queen where the buffalo were I was told they killed them. That was it no explanation.

This isn't the greatest shot but I erroneously took a video instead of pictures and this is what was leftover. Quinn had his hand in the fence which was a little nerve-wracking because we had been feeding him french fries (yes it was ok to feed him fries and he really enjoyed them much more than the grass Martin tried to feed him) and I didn't want the emu to think his little fat salty fingers were fries.

This goes along with the previous post. I think our almost 4 year old was upset because Quinn was playing with the always popular John Deere harvester this weekend at "Cabin ala Lanners." We enjoyed nuclear family fun at our friend's cabin in McGregor, MN.

Is this telling of the type of teenagers we will see in 10-12 years? Xavier has already shown open mouth adoration of GWAR. You know the "shock rock" band who's costumes are of a strange battle style. He accidentally had the pleasure of viewing them while I tried to find something nice and wholesome for him to watch. In addition, when we are painting pictures he opts to paint his fingernails black.

Quinn looks like an eager easy-to-please caddie. I am on the search for pair of knickers to go with his hat and possibly an argyle vest. He looks like a proper lad except he seems t be missing his pants.

Ahh finally a weekend at home

Instead of taking the kids to the Picasso exhibit at the Walker after the sculpture garden we decided to visit Loring Park. The kids were much more entertained chasing squirrels and watching strange men wade into the disgusting duck pond than a sterile museum anyway.

Sunday was a fantastic day to play tourists in our lovely city. To the left is the classic Minneapolis tourist photo. The children were captured by a strange bug looking woman. (I guess the $9 Mexican sunglasses were not as great of a deal as I had thought.)

Happy Birthday Quinn!

Quinn is 2 years old today! I found a picture of him at 11 months old at my mom's house this weekend and didn't know who I was looking at. His babyhood went by so fast. He was the chubbiest little baby who was known at daycare as having a huge butt and a fat roll over the top of his ankles. He weaned himself at 11 months and all of his chubbiness disappeared. I think I was so sleep deprived and just completely spent at all times that the chubby factor was erased from my memory. I feel guilty. The second one always gets the shaft.

It was an eventful year for Quinn. Learning to walk, run and jump has catapulted him from baby to toddler. And in 9 short months he will move up to preschooler. Wow this stuff does actually go by fast. In addition Quinn's hair has turned blonde and we have found his ankles. He continues to be an extremely happy and sweet child, who has recently discovered stranger anxiety. When a stranger walks towards

him he runs and says, "People, people Mommy!" He loves all things motorized and is so happy to ride with his Grandpa on the tractor, riding lawn mower or 4-wheeler. He also loves to climb things and when he gets to the top he proclaims himself, "Prince Charming" or "Pirate."

I am strangely sad about him turning 2. I don't know if it is that I am not going to have anymore babies or if it is just sad that this baby is turning 2 and I feel like I missed a lot of it. Or maybe it is just PMS.

One year ago.

Straight out of the womb Quinn.

Coupla Cowboys

Quinn is a real fashion plate. He picks his own outfits. Xavier has never really cared about what he wears, except for one white with blue striped polo shirt which he refuses. Now Quinn is a different story. He is very particular as to what his ensemble will be each day. Usually it consists of something with a ball on it or possibly a piece of machinery like a backhoe (only mothers of boys know of backhoes). Every morning I hide the cowboy boots or he will have a fit if he can't wear them, and it is a bit too hot to wear them to school everyday.

Short Bus?

Xavier as Bob the Builder.

Como Cafe

After visiting some of our favorite animals at the Como Zoo like the unenthused gorillas and the depressed lions, we headed to the Como Cafe for lunch. Here you will notice Quinn's love for ketchup (he takes after Grandpa Chuck). He scooped the ketchup into his mouth with a wafflefry. The regular fries just don't cut it.

Comotown

Last weekend's fun adventures included a visit to Comotown. Xavier is enjoying himself on an Aladdin ride. Before Aladdin Xavier, Quinn and mommy rode the Comotown train while Grandma looked on Feeling fortunate that she wasn't squished on the caboose with 4 little children.

The boys got spiffy new haircuts tonight. Both were behaving swimmingly with lollipops in their mouthes. Xavier's haircut is like the kid from Jerry McGuire. Both did a good job hiding their privates in the bathtub for the photo. When I said goodnight to Quinn tonight he said "See ya."

Maisy

Maisy has been neglected thus far on this blog because she has been vacationing at the Horwitz household. She has enjoyed her days running with Brandy and Ginger and snacking on tasty tidbits tossed out of the refrigerator by Mr. Horwitz.

Vacation in Rhinelander

Martin got to see his boyhood vacation spot after
25 years. Despite not catching any fish and being
rained out a couple of days a great time was had by all. Xavier got to reel in a baby duck and Quinn learned to love cheesepuffs.

Boys standing at attention. I was surprised to see how quickly they lined up against the wall when prompted. This most be a tactic used at their school. Notice the matching shorts.

Xavier and Zoee bonding, meanwhile Quinn standing to the side saying "no way" to Zoee. Quinn is unsure of Zoee due to her joy in hitting him in the head.

Quinn's new love ahhhhhh cheesepuffs. He had about 3 in his mouth at all times and two in his hands. Grandma, Xavier, and Quinn almost polished off an entire bag before bed.

Adam decided to bury Xavier in the sand. The design is of a train. I believe the placement of the smokestack was a coincidence.

Mud Puddles

It was a long, long rainy day in Park Rapids. The boys were tired of watching movie after movie, so we decided to get outside and lucky us we brought our rubber boots to jump and splash through all of the mud puddles. Unluckily, though, for Aunt Karyn as her new BMW was getting aslo getting in on the splashing action.

Xavier tries fishing with his brand new SpongeBob fishing pole. When he first sees the leeches he immediately thinks they are aliens and I think he is right.

Mr. Cool is sporting his Ramones t-shirt and to the left of him is a collection of Cars (the movie) cars. I suspect Martin is having the most fun locating all of the not so popular cars on Ebay. Xavier carries all of his cars in his Go, Diego, Go rescue pack. All the cars and the rescue pack go to bed with him every night. He is also joined by a lamb, monkey and his bear blanket.

Faves

Quinn shows off Scoop the Digger (from Bob the Builder). This is one of the four things that he carries with him at all times. The others include Beary (his satin bear blanket), a mini soccer ball and a little fuzzy raccoon. If he drops one of the items it is possible that he let out a two year old tantrum.

Quinn Update

Just wanted to drop an update that Quinn is doing much better today. He is still pretty stuffed up but he will be ready to take on the world tomorrow.

Quinn's Surgery

Thought I'd load a couple pix. Yesterday Quinn had surgery to put tubes in his ears and have his adenoids removed. We were told that the recovery was quick and he may even be ready to go to day care today...Well as doc was in there mucking around he noticed that Quinn's sinuses (?) were swollen so he performed a sinusectomy(sp), basically cauterized some stuff up there. Needless to say, that don't feel too good and it took quite a while before the little guy's nose would stop bleeding. Daddy stayed home today with Q and he is big time stuffed up. No good.

Rudnicks Little Chickens

WELCOME to Rudnicks Little Chickens!! A devotion to our pieces of the future has led us to present some of the day to day/week to week/month to month/year to year trails, tribulations, activities, learnings, teachings, successes and failures. With that said...On with the Blog!!