Mexico Part 3: Sail Away

Another busy weekend here, Grandma Carolyn, Grandpa Tim and Auntie Megan came down and we had a blast!  I'll have to tell you about that another time though...

While we were in Mexico Mama found a really great catamaran sailing trip for us to go on and we had a great time!  I don't know if I mentioned it, but it rained a LOT while we were in Mexico, but while we were on the sailing trip the weather was perfect.

The boat was really big and I had a great time walking around and playing on the nets in the front of the boat.  I liked jumping and rolling around, we even got splashed a couple of times!!

It was fun to lay down and watch the waves, but I couldn't do that for too long because I didn't want to fall asleep...

We sailed from Cancun to Isla Mujeres where we had time to eat lunch and play in the ocean for a while.  Mama decided to relax and enjoy the breeze while Daddy and I played in the sand.

On the island there was a place where we could get in the water and pet a shark!!  I even got to kiss him, he was pretty neat!

I loved the tropical blue water and the fantastic views.

I think the highlight of the trip was getting the drive a golf cart all around the island.  We went all over the place and had a great time.  I think Papa Tim needs a golf cart like this one...

Have I ever told you how much I love riding in golf carts?!?

Hope you have a good week!

Linden

Mexico: Part 2 - The Pool

We had the COOLEST room when we were in Mexico...You walk out the back door and we had our own POOL!!!!  Look how close this thing was!

To be honest, it wasn't just our pool, we had to share it with a couple people, but it was still amazing.  The first day we were there I spent over 10 hours in the pool, Mama even said my hair was turning green.

While we were playing in the pool Daddy tried teaching me how to snorkel, I think he looked really silly.  Mama said I was too little, and maybe next time we go to Mexico I can try again.

The main pool was pretty cool, it had a huge pirate ship with water slides and fountains!  The shark off to the right is a slide too.  I met a really fun friend named Annabelle, we played together in the pool a lot.  We had a great time!

Here is the pool from the other side

On the other side of the pool they had this big inflatable obstacle course.  By the end of the week I could walk along the wall and make it all the way without falling into the water!  In the picture below I am trying to figure out how to swing on the bar but my hands kept slipping and I fell in a lot! (See the leaves hanging down from the top, that was where Mama spent part of her day, on the covered Bali Bed reading and relaxing!)

I don't want you to get the wrong impression, Mama did come swimming too.  Here is one last picture for the road...

Have a great night, it is Survivor night!!!
Linden

Mexico: Part 1 - The Beach

I know Mama promised blog posts over a week ago, but you have to understand that blogging isn't easy!!  Especially when we had so much fun!

I decided to start with blogging about the beach because we had so much fun there!  Unfortunately, Mama didn't take a ton of photos at the beach, but you have to trust me, we had FUN!  Even Baby Katie got to join in.  It is hard to tell because I have my swimming jacket on, but our swimsuits even match!! (the only difference is the color...)

A LOOONNNGGG time ago, my Auntie Wendy started a tradition of writing your name in the sand and Mama has kept the tradition going...

The waves were a ton of fun, although Mama was a little worried that I was going to get washed away...

Maybe she was right...After I nearly died, Daddy decided to take me out further into the ocean where the waves weren't nearly as crazy.

Hi Mama!!!

After playing in the waves we had a great time making sand castles and drawing some more in the sand.  We didn't make it down to the beach every day, but it sure was a highlight when we did!

One last beach photo, to end the blog on a positive note!  Aren't we cute!!!

Adios!

Linden

On the Road Again

We have been doing a lot of driving over the past few weeks, and we have seen a lot of family.  It has been Great!!

Last weekend was Auntie Megan and Uncle Tommy's Wedding in Alexandria.  It was a busy weekend but Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Tim made sure to make plenty of time for me!

I was the Flower Girl so I had a very important job to do.  It was so great having Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Bob, Auntie Heidi, Cousin Tyler, Auntie Missy and especially Auntie Wendy there to help me to make sure I was on my best behavior and looking great!  Mama made my pretty flower girl dress, I was sure a hit!

But to be honest, Auntie Megan stole the show, she was STUNNING! (Uncle Tommy was pretty handsome too!)

The bridesmaids all looked great too.

We had a great time partying late into the night (Mama even let me stay up until after 10!!)  Congratulations to Auntie Megan and Uncle Tommy!!

After a busy weekend of celebrating it has been nice to lay low this weekend and just hang out.  We had to go to Rochester to do some shopping so we stopped by to see Grandma Nancy, Papa Bob and Auntie Heidi.

Have I ever told you how much I love my Papa's, and how much they adore me??  Mama had to run inside for something and when she came out I was snuggled up on Papa's lap.

 Today's exciting news is that Mama let me get earrings!!  Don't panic, they aren't real, just temporary tattoos, but I LOVE them!!  I can't wait until I can get real ones!

Happy Labor Day weekend!
Linden

The Place to be Seen in Twenty-Thirteen! SCFF

I don't know if it is Mama's computer, or the blog site, but something has been acting up and I wasn't able to blog...

Last week was the Steele County Free Fair.  You guys, it is a BIG deal!! Like, HUGE!!!  It is so much fun that we had to go two nights in order to enjoy it all.  I could have gone all 6 nights but Mama and Daddy wouldn't let me.  Wednesday night we went and checked out the animals.  I wanted to go through all of the barns.  We saw horses, cows, pigs, chickens and roosters.  I liked the roosters the best.  Mama was so excited for me to try Cotton Candy for the first time, but I didn't really like it.

Thursday night we went back and I got to go on the rides!! I was so excited that I didn't even want to eat my corn dog, I just wanted to go play.  Unfortunately, the fair has a height limit on all of the rides so I couldn't go on the really fun ones like the Zipper, the Scrambler, or the Ring of Fire, but I still had a great time.

Mama and Daddy both took me down the really big slide.

It was a lot of stairs to get to the top, but it was a lot of fun!

Mama and Daddy wanted me to stay on the little rides...

Which were fun...

But I wanted to explore new heights!!

I had such a great time on all the fun rides.

After a while, Mama decided that I needed to slow down and eat some more supper so we headed over to the Ferris Wheel and did that together as a family.

The view from the top was pretty neat to see.

After that I told Daddy, "I want to go on a fun ride now..." so Mama took me over to the roller coaster!

And Daddy finished the night off on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Another successful year at the fair.  I can't wait until next year,

Linden

When Daddy's Away, the Girls Will Play!

Daddy was gone this weekend, and that meant a weekend with my favorite lady, MAMA!!!

We had a very busy weekend planned, it started out on Friday night at the Steele County Relay for Life.  We weren't part of any team, but we knew a lot of people who would be there.  It was really great seeing everybody out, and there were tons of activities.  It is great knowing that all this money is going to support cancer research.  

A couple weeks ago at the Farmer's Market I was able to decorate a luminary for the event in honor of Papa Bob.  After walking around for a long time we found it, isn't it cute!?!  We had to leave before they lit them all up, but I heard it was beautiful.

The next day we drove to Rochester to hang-out with Grandma Nancy and Papa Bob.  We got to take Papa's convertible to Red Lobster to celebrate our trip to Maine last summer!  I can't believe it has already been a year.  Papa was nice enough to share a bite of lobster with me, he is the greatest!

After lunch we went back home and got ready for Dinner With the Cows.  Normally it is called Breakfast on the Farm, but this year they had to change it up because of all the rain we got this spring.  I was so excited to ride the bus out to the farm, I talked about it all day!

Once we got to the farm there were all sorts of fun activities.  I think my favorite was the baby animals, or maybe the play-doh, or the jumper, and the Dairy Princess...No, I think it was the horses and baby cow!  I think they were all my favorite, but my definite favorite was the train ride!

To make it even better, Papa Bob and Grandma Nancy came over too!!  They just stayed for dinner but it was great seeing them!

Once we had done all of the activities at least twice it was time to ride the bus back home.  I was pretty mad at Mama because she wouldn't let me keep riding the bus once we got back to town.  I guess I will have to wait until next year!

Well folks, that is what I was up to, hope you had a great weekend too!

Linden

The Things You Say

Mama is going to to be doing the blog today, sorry it has been so long!!

This past year has been a crazy one, full of all sorts of ups and downs.  Have a 2 year old has been a great blessing, she fills our hearts and home with love and laughter and each day is a new surprise.  It has been over a year now since my dad (Papa Bob) was diagnosed with brain cancer.  We have been so blessed to be given so much time with him.  In addition, we have all of the normal life things going on that just keep us moving.

As you all know, Linden has always been a good talker.  She started young and hasn't stopped since (wonder where she gets that??)  The past few months have brought on some pretty funny conversations.

We were at the Lake with Grandma Carolyn when I overheard this conversation:
(Linden to Grandma Carolyn: Grandma, Can I have a cookie?
(Grandma Carolyn: I think you need to ask your mom...
Linden looks at me, looks back at Grandma: No, I think I need to ask grandma...

On our way to the grocery store she asked what we needed to buy.  I told her we needed some fruit and veggies, and when she asked Why (gotta love that phase!!) I told her that they make our bodies healthy and strong.
Linden: Mama, I think we need that (she points to some chocolate covered nuts)
Mama: How come?
Linden: They make our bodies healthy
Mama: No, I don't think we need chocolate.
(A minute later)
Linden: Mama, I think we need that (she points to some chocolate cookies)
Mama: How come?
Linden: They make our bodies healthy
Mama: Carrots and apples make our bodies healthy and strong
Linden: Nope, Chocolate

When Dave puts linden to bed I go running, I always tell Linden that I am going to a meeting so she doesn't want to come with. The other day she saw a pair of her tennis shoes and said, "can I put my meeting shoes on and go run with you mom?" She's too smart for me!!

The stories and things she comes up with amaze me each day.  When she was just learning to talk Dave and I made a point to use the correct word for things even if she didn't so that she would eventually learn it.  Now that she is older I have stopped, maybe because I think some of it is really cute, and maybe because I just want to keep a little bit of my baby girl still.  Here are some of my favorite Linden-Speaks

• Mola Bar (granola bar)
• Mogurt (Yogurt)
• Corn Chops (Pop Corn)
• Cereal Bran (Raisin Bran, her favorite cereal)
• Pochi Pochi (Chipotle)

I love my kid.  When I over hear people say "I can't wait until my baby is talking" I laugh and think, you don't always want to know what they have to say!  And some days that is true, but it adds to the adventure and the fun and I wouldn't want it any other way.  

We'll try and get back to posting more often,

Amanda