20 MINUTES A DAY

The experts say "read to your child... 20 minutes a day!" Well, at our house, all problems are solved with books, and 20 minutes a day is hardly enough. Most days we read every book we own... twice! Will could read for hours on end. If he is sad and we say "let's read a book!" he says "okay" if he is tired he brings us a book and his blanket. When we are walking out the door he always wants to bring either his blanket or a book. Now, after hearing me say "let's leave your blanket home so it doesn't get dirty" he heads for the door with it in tow, and then turns around, "folds" it (more like shoves it) onto the couch and "dirty" and then walks out the door. He does the same with the books, he won't just leave them by the door, he has to put them on the couch or back in his book wagon.

We love having Scott around, but poor Scott doesn't get much done, having daddy around is just too exciting for Will. On Saturday he kept bringing his recent favorite to Scott saying "read?" and then he answers his own question "okay." It's pretty cute. I think Scott read this book like 10 times in a row. I must say, there is something so fun about seeing your baby boy with his daddy and loving every minute! You can tell by the look on Will's face that he is so happy to be with Scott.

ARBORETUM

Last Friday, Scott got out of class a little early, so we took advantage of one of our free passes from the library and went to the U of M's Landscape Arboretum. It was gorgeous, we had so much fun. Will just loved being able to walk around and see all the really cool flowers and plants. He learned how to smell roses, and he kept saying "pretty!" We had a great time, we even got to have a fresh apple dumpling - it was a great way to start our Fall activities. Get ready for picture overload - I apologize in advance....

Scott took this picture - I love itYes, this is taken from the changing table - I guess Scott couldn't resist All of this is part of the Arboretum, if you look closely you can see this really beautiful red barn amidst all the green (you may have to enlarge the picture)
A better shot of the barn

No worries, if there is water - Will will find it!

Just walking with mom - I actually got him to "hold" my hand!
The Japanese garden was spectacular - we loved it Autumn is in the air!
Will showing us his trick - we didn't even ask for it!
Smelling mommy's favorite flowers - ROSES - I am determined to grow some someday

Inside an art display... I'm horrible, I don't remember what it was called
sniff sniff.... mmmmmm
Cool huh, they had a whole garden of edibles
Like I said... water = Will

MINNESOTA HISTORY MUSEUM

On Friday, our friends Kendra and Lucas invited us to the History Museum. This museum is way cool - the displays are all about Minnesota and it's unique history. A lot of it is hands on and very kid friendly. Will loves hanging out with Lucas and was having a ball just chasing him around, running through the grain elevator and climbing up and down the train-car steps at the transportation exhibit. I know Will looks like he's falling in this picture - but he's not. He's actually doing great at going down the stairs by himself. He'll still always say "help? okay, hand? okay" He never says "yes" just "okay"

SEVERE WEATHER

One thing Minnesota is famous for - WEATHER - and this week was full of interesting weather. Last weekend we went from the 40's to 80 degree weather two days later. Then, mid week, we were hit with crazy storms and tornado warnings.... the next day, calm after the storm and a muggy 78 (or so...) degrees. CRAZY. One day I'm packing my summer clothes away because I'm freezing and the next day, I'm running my AC full blast. One thing is for sure, the seasons change inevitably and Autumn is here - I LOVE it!

However, when the tornado sirens were going off here at our apt. complex, I was frantically thinking to myself, where are our 72 hr. kits, flashlights, shoes, jackets, and SCOTT? He was stuck at school, but thank heavens, made it home in the middle of the storm. He was literally soaked to the bone, he hadn't taken a jacket or anything with him because it had been so warm and sunny all day long.

GOOFY

What can I say, like mother like son. On Saturday mornings, we often go running as a family. It was really cold Saturday morning so we had to bundle Will up. He looked so goofy, but he didn't care. We just wanted him to be cozy in the jogger and he was - he loves going with us! The best part of this little eskimo outfit was that the cute slippers were from Aunt Lorinda, the jacket from Gma Hopkins, and the hat was free - we are so blessed! As you can see he loves playing with our ipod and that was the only way to get him to stand STILL to take his picture.

COMO COOKOUT

One great thing about living in a diverse community, is having very diverse activities. We had a great time at our neighborhood (Como) Cookout. The best part of all....? FREE FOOD! They had dinner, games for the kids, and little trickets they passed out at little promotional booths. Will got his first face paint - Nemo - of course. After we ate dinner, we let the kids play at the playground, there was a train that Will thought was really great. But hands down, his favorite part was Goldy the Gopher (U of M mascot). Peek - A - BOO Will! He was laughing so hard because his friend Riley was tickling him at the same time I was playing Peek-a-boo.
Inside the train. If you enlarge the picture, you get to see that Will had been eating a sucker and then played in the sand - wonderful combination. The best part? Scott got to give him a bath and put him to bed while I went to a church meeting, so he got to do all the scrubbing and sand removal! What a good daddy.
GO GOPHERS! Here's Goldy, Will's idol. He just kept looking at him and following him and giving him 5, it was cute. Now, he walks to the door and I ask him where he is going he says "Gody!"

Weekends are great, we always get to do lots of fun family activities. Even when we don't have anything going on, just spending time together at home is fun. We really are having a great experience here in Minnesota, and in life, in general! It is so great when your best friends are the ones closest to you always!

UNDER OVER BOTTOM TOP

Like any other kid, Will has spent a lot of time at the playgroud this summer. But unlike most kids, he enjoys climbing in random places and going UNDER the playground. Maybe it is because he is the perfect size to fit underneath and he has the whole space to himself? Who knows, anywhere he can climb or crawl under or through, he just loves. Recently he figure out he can go down the slide. How fun would it be to be a kid again....? Such joy out of the simple things in life!

BRRRRRR!

Minnesota is a great state. Scott and I have REALLY loved living here. We love where we live (even though it is student housing), we love the people we've gotten to know, we love how much there is to do and what great things a big city has to offer a young family. We even like the snow - but today I realized how fast Fall is approaching. At noon today, it was 45 degrees. Yes, 45 degrees. IN SEPTEMBER! I couldn't believe it. Like Utah weather, it goes up and down, and next week should be in the high 70's, but to have a day this cold, this early in the Fall is pretty crazy to me.

Even the air was very brisk, Will and I aren't ones to stay couped up inside. We went to story time at the library this morning and checked out some books. I signed Will up to get his very own library card - mostly so we can check out more than one free museum/parks pass per week. Will loves going to the library and tearing the books off the shelves. But even more than that, he loves bringing the books home, sitting on my lap, and recieving oodles of time with just mom.

Sidenote - Will is feeling much better after having the yucky barking cough, bronchitis, and sore ears. I'm glad to have my happy baby back!

UTAH

I know it looks like Will is trying to body slam his little cousin, but he is really trying to give hugs and kisses. He LOVED taking his binki and putting it back in his mouth. Zac was such a patient little guy!

Wow - he has toes too! Will thought that was great.

This past week, Will and I had quite the adventure! My dad - Grandpa Hopkins had to come home from their mission to have surgery. So, I decided we better take advantage of them being home and go visit for a few days. It was a fun, crazy, tiring trip. Will did great on both flights to and from Utah. He slept most of the time and the rest of the time, he was showing off, playing with the people next to him and eating cereal. We were lucky to have an extra seat next to us on the way home, Will thought the seatbelt buckle was awesome! While in Utah, we ate at all the yummy places I don't have in MN, played with (carefully) grandpa and grandma, and even made it to Idaho for my nieces baptism. We stayed with my sister Krista. She is always so hospitable, I love staying at her house. Not to mention she has three adorable kiddos. Kayla (6) was Will's favorite, Matt (2) was who Will followed around and copied. Matt even taught Will to say "no way!" - thanks Matt! (j.k) and little baby Zac (6 mo.) Will loved "holding" and hugging and kissing.

Unfortunately our trip wasn't all bliss. Will got croup, bronchitis, and an ear infection all at the same time. He was not a happy camper. Luckily, with a steroid shot, and some antibiotics, he is ALMOST back to his normal happy self. We're still working on getting our rest back and getting used to sleeping in our own beds, but we'll be back to ourselves in no time.

Thanks for the fun trip everybody!!

Floating Around

These are always floating around. But I like reading other people's so here goes:

1. What is your occupation? Mother, wife, friend, cleaning lady, whatever else Will manages that will glorify my mothering…..
2. Do you like banana sandwiches? Most definitely, especially with lots of PB and toasted bread
3. What are you listening to right now? The air conditioner and the sound of silence… ahhhh
4. What was the last thing you ate? Alfajores – a latin American dessert made by Kendra! They were SO tasty I think I had like 8
5. Do you wish on stars? I don’t usually think about it
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? turquoise
7. How is the weather right now? MUGGY
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? One of my VT’ers
9. Favorite T.V. shows? Oh there are so many to choose – Amazing Race, Friday Night Lights, The Office, Bachelor, Gilmore Girls…. My husband is gone a lot – I know that is no excuse
10. Favorite T.V. commercial? The Subway one where the girl orders a “side of thunder thighs and a bedonkie donk butt (sp?)”
11. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper, or diet cherry coke…. Unless I’m trying to be healthy, then it is raspberry crystal light
12. Favorite sport to watch? Tennis actually. If I attend a game – definitely football or bball… my hubby would be sad I didn’t say soccer.
13. Have you ever dyed your hair? I’m too scared
14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Neither
15. Pets? I’ve been wanting to get Will a fish, he LOVES nemo
16. Favorite month? Probably December I absolutely LOVE Christmas time
17. Favorite food? Yes – I can’t pick a fav. Maybe Mexican? Italian? I can’t choose18. What was the last movie you watched? Count of Monte Cristo
19. Favorite day of the year? Christmas
20. What do you do to vent anger? I usually let it fester for awhile, then I forget it or talk to Scott
21. What was your favorite toy as a child? Dolls
22. Fall or Spring? Fall
23. Hugs or kisses? Both – especially from Will
24. Cherry or Blueberry? blueberry
25. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes and probably dust
26. Who is the friend you have had the longest? My sister
27. What did you do last night? Watched the Count of Monte Cristo with my hubby
28. What are you afraid of? Anything bad happening, getting sick
29. What bugs you? Clutter, and people who eat really loud
30. How many states have you visited? I have no idea unless I’m looking at a map – it’s a lot though, but someday I want to say I’m visited all 50 nifty United States!
31. Favorite car? Audi wagon or Jeep Grand Cherokee
32. Number of keys on your key ring? 2
33. How many years at your current job? It feels like a lot longer considering all the stuff that has happened, but Will is only 16 months old… time flies!
34. Favorite day of the week? The weekend – Friday, Saturday, Sunday, they all have their benefits
35. How many states have you lived in? States – just two Utah and MN but I’ve lived in 3 different countries (Israel, Venezuela, Guatemala) and traveled to lots of South American countries (Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Argentina – barely). My parents live in Uruguay, so I’m hoping to add that to the list someday!

Now it's my turn to tag someone: I TAG Skipper, Amy Blake, Chrissy Jackson, and my family members

HAPPY WILL

Our little Will is and always has been such a happy baby! It is hard to resist his sweet face, even when he's sometimes naughty! Scott and I just love being around Will, he has a contagious smile!

FAMILY DAY AT COMO PARK

We had a GREAT day on Friday. Scott didn't have much going on as far as classes went, so we were able to spend lots of time together as a family. Scott went golfing while Will took a nap and then we headed for Como Park. Como park is about 5 miles from our house and has a FREE zoo and conservatory with beautiful tropical and Japanese gardens. There is also a little amusement park, water/wading park, and a beautiful lake and golf course with a little walk/bike path. We love that it is so close to our house and that we have so many beautiful surroundings here in MN.

Mom and Will at the conservatory

Bonsai exhibit - these things are awesome.

They are hundreds of years old!
Will enjoying the "walk" through the gardens
Checking out the huge fish, turtles, and sting ray in the Tropical tank
A family pic - I LOVE Will's grin, it is TOTALLY him
With all said and done, we had a fun day together. Our weekend began great and ended great. On Saturday, Will and Scott had some one on one time. Scott took Will to the Children's museum for like 3 hours while I cleaned the house and enjoyed some quiet time. We also had a great Sunday, participating and watching our friends Brandon and Amanda bless their sweet baby boy Jase. We are so lucky to enjoy the blessings of the gospel!