Dogs

Claudia continues her love affair of the four-legged variety. In Minneapolis she dragged Playa around by her bandana morning, noon and night. Thankfully Playa was a very sweet, well-tempered dog who also appreciated Claudia's special gifts of food..Sorry, Uncle Chris!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Parenting Class 3

I had to share this bit from "Confident Parents: Remarkable Kids" from my (ahem) third parenting class I have taken at the Family Center.  

"Society's most influential and powerful people did not reach their goals with smiles and kindness alone..." -- or something like that.

That made me laugh - I guess it is to make you feel better about having a mini-General on your hands - and in fact, it does make you appreciate assertiveness in a new way. A child  who is assertive has a better chance of running the country or launching his own fashion-line -- but sure is harder to parent. 

And it isn't nice to have nieces and nephews that you can spoil and NOT worry about how to parent them.

Minnnesota Fun

Our quick visit included a trip to the local Playground (with the temp dropping to more Minnesota-like levels quickly), lots of time to cook, and time to play at an amazing indoor climbing play facility called Edinburgh. (Dom and I took our two and Dax came along with Nanny.)

If you can't make it to Europe....well, it isn't even a close second, but anyone age 2 to 12 will love it. And it is perfect for expending energy when it is below 30 degrees.

At the playground - three sillies. 

Dax and Claudia racing at the indoor play area - somehow I didn't get a shot of the climbing structure -- it kept Rhys busy for more than an hour AND exhausted him. Claudia took a few turns climbing up - with mom in tow.

Like father like son - and daughter.

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without time in the kitchen. Luckily, Claudia loves to help "cook" these days...scrambled eggs are her specialty. So she enjoyed helping Nanny make a salad and french toast this visit.

Who is that Bearded Man?

Thanksgiving 2012 was spent in Minneapolis with Chris, Jeanine and Dax (and their dog, Playa, and four chickens). Nanny and Papa jetted in as well and were able to divide their attention between three grandchildren of differing sizes and interests.

It's Uncle Chris - that's who!

On the way to the playground - on the last balmy day in MSP.

It was a wonderful visit - filled with Jeanine's side of the family and the Carlson side (my mom's sister, husband and one of my cousins and his wife and two sons).

More cousins (on the left, my cousin Peter's two boys), middle Rhys, then Claudia and Dax.

J and C know how to throw a party - and they definitely put on a grand show! Despite having a tight family bed with elbows and knees in our faces all night (Rhys and Claudia are not the best sleepers on the road), we look forward to doing it again.

And more cute photos and stories to come...

Mr California

My dad breezed in to town last Friday for a long weekend at our "new"house -  his first visit to Chez Oldham in St Louis (since we moved in to the house last September 2011). He brought lovely LA weather and we enjoyed a great day at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday, tromping all around the Japanese and Chinese gardens and feeding the large koi fish.

Our Ninja in the Rain Forest

 My dad and I also enjoyed a wine night (for charity of course), dinner out in Clayton using our walking feet, and trips to the mall and grocery store, a regular weekend. Thankfully, having my dad here meant that both Dom and I could get a work out in on Sunday - yoga for me, tennis for D - and one happier mom! And my Dad survived his 45 minutes of being in charge - perhaps next time he can be convinced to watch them overnight! 

Picking up Claudia from school - the weather got a bit chillier after Saturday.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and our visit quickly wrapped up with a trip back to the airport on Monday.  Come back soon!

Goodbye Zjou Zjou -- Rhys said he can't wait until he can drive to the airport and get on a plane by himself to see Z.

Is that a Jingle I hear?

Or a roar -- I love this photo as Rhys is charming and Claudia looks like she is coming out at you down the Rugby field. I would run...she is Fierce.

Safety first

Just like her brother and uncles, Claudia loves her wheels. And she is quickly learning that a helmet must accompany her scooter rides.

I hope you can't see too many of my "new" gray hairs! Eck.

Breakfast at the Donut Shop

Otherwise known as the coffee shop, to most of us, but to Rhys and Claudia it is the donut shop, located a few blocks away. We stopped there before "jammie" day on Wednesday. Rhys was feeling shy and put his on when we got to school. Claudia insisted on wearing a pair of Rhys's...never a dull moment getting everyone out the door.

Halloween 2012

Our third Halloween on the Lane -- and one of the best so far.

The morning started with Rhys and Claudia participating in their school's parade. It was a chilly morning - not made much better by the bagels and fruit set up - but the children's excitement didn't need coats. (Well, my wise Claudia did suggest that she could go to her classroom early and decorate pumpkins, thereby avoided the chilly wood parade as the two-year-old class doesn't participate).

Ninja in the middle (in black).

After a fun-filled morning, I picked up both kids and somehow we made it all the way until 4:30 when the activities started up again back at home.

Following a long deliberation, finally sealed by Claudia realizing just how chilly it STILL was, she changed from her Ninja T-shirt into the Oldham Family Firefighter Costume before the pizza arrived.

It's Claudia this time...Thanks to Aunt Kate for a long-standing gift.

Rhys enjoyed being with all his "big" friends and running through a haunted house, taking a hayride, eating pizza, and, of  course, trick-or-treating. The capstone for him probably was the Razor Scooter Race in the dark -- he won one race out of 11, beating the 7-year-olds.

And Dom and I enjoyed some adult conversation and cold beers - all while keeping an eye on the littles. Another successful Halloween!

The big kids - and Rhys.