Catch Up

I can’t believe it has been over 2 months since I wrote. A lot has happened in those 2 months so I will do my best to update everything

August

Brad’s Wedding
The month started off with a bang. We all went back to NY for Brad and Merryl’s wedding. It was so much fun and I think everything went off without a hitch. Merryl looked absolutely gorgeous and so did Brad. Harrison was the ring bearer and to be honest I hoped for the best but fully expected the worst. But I am writing out of order. We arrived on Friday and the wedding was on Sunday. That Friday all the other family arrived as well. Jon, Jill, Hannah and Sophia from California and Wendy, David, Jacob and Lacey from Pennsylvania. The were all staying at a hotel except for us who got to stay at my Mom’s house. That evening we all met up at Ben’s Delicatessen. This was a great place for a large family with tons of young kids to eat. We all had hot dogs, chicken, huge corned beef sandwiches and Knishes. After a great dinner we hung out outside for a while and that is when the fun really started. There was this fountain in front of the restaurant and the kids absolutely loved watching the water. Jacob, Hannah and Harrison really get along well. They were posing for pictures together, laughing and climbing all over their Aboo and Poppy.

The next day was the rehersal dinner. That was fun as well. Brad and Merryl showed a video of their childhood and relationship together. I think it was the beginning of their wedding video. It was so much fun to watch. There were really touching and funny speeches. I was planning on giving a speech at the wedding and although I didn’t have anything written yet, I was planning on telling some classic ‘Brad” stories but unfortunately they were told by several other people so I had to rethink my speech.

Cliff took Harrison back to the house to go to sleep early because I knew he had a big day the next day so I wanted him all rested. I think he was tired, but he was having a great time with Jacob, Hannah and his other cousins that were there.

The wedding day started early. Me and my mom were getting our hair and makeup done at the house, and we had to get Brad up and dressed and off to the temple by 7:00 am. Eddie helped with getting Brad to the temple. Once our hair and makeup were done, me and my mom went to the temple to get dressed. But before I left, I got Harrison bathed and into his tuxcedo, which by the was the cutest thing I have ever seen!! Apparently after I left he was really good. We hired a babysitter to help with him while we were doing wedding stuff. She came to the house and helped Cliff with him so Cliff could get ready in his tux.

At the temple everyone looked stunning, as you would expect. Harrison and Cliff arrived about 45 minutes after me and my mom got there. We had to take pictures and do a rehersal. I feared that Harrison would through tantrums and not listen and that he wouldn’t cooperate for pictures or walking down the aisle. I could not have been more wrong. He smiled big for pictures and walked down the aisle proud and tall. Although unless you had an aisle seat in the pews you didn’t see him walk down the aisle because he is so small. Anyway, Harrison’s role in the wedding was a huge success and exceeded everyone’s expectations.

We took Harrison home ½ way through the cocktail hour and he had a great time back at Aboo’s house playing with his cousins. Back at the Wedding we all had fun. It was great spending time with my cousins. I don’t get to do that often enough. My speech was quite funny, as people told me. It was all off the cuff. I told funny stories about Brad – in the guise of how to help Merryl live with my brother – and of course got sentimental about how I love Merryl and was so happy to have her for a sister (mush mush mush).

We had one more day in NY after the wedding and we spent that day at Merryl’s house for a brunch. It was really nice to decompress with everyone and talk about stories from the wedding before they went on their honeymoon.

Thomas the Tank Engine comes to MN
The weekend after our trip to NY we had tickets to see Thomas who was at the Minnesota Zephyr in Stillwater. “The Real Thomas” as Harrison called it. It was not only a train ride on Thomas but they had all sorts of train related activities for the kids. Storytelling, tattoos, train tables, inflatable bouncy houses, music and character appearances. Harrison didn’t start off in the best of moods. He was in a very mommy state of mind. I had to carry him and be with him. He didn’t want to go in the hay maze by himself, he really didn’t want to do anything by himself. That was until it was our time to go on Thomas. He then perked right up and was super excited. We even got some great pictures of Harrison in front of Thomas. The train ride wasn’t very exciting but Harrison thought it was great. It went really slow up the tracks and then back down the tracks. The whole thing only took about 20 minutes. We did have some friends with us on the train. Barb was there with Tommy and Morgan and Anne was there with Brent and Willie. We also saw Catherine and Jack in the hay maze. So we knew quite a few people. After the train ride we waited in line to meet Sir Topham Hat but it was so disorganized we left but not before we got Harrison this huge ice cream cone. We then went to the gift shop to buy some souvineers and we tried to do some of the things Harrison was too cranky to do before but now he was tired so we just left. We did stop at “Old McDonalds” to get Harrison lunch before we went home. It was a really fun and unique day, even though he was not in a good mood for some of it.

Camp Begins
Also right after we got back from the wedding, Harrison started camp for 2 weeks. This was at the same place where he would be going to Pre-School in September. I was glad that camp was right before the start of Pre-School so he would get used to going. He really liked it. He went swimming, rode ponies, did art projects and played on their outdoor playgrounds every day. He even made some friends that are in his class this year. I had to get used to packing his lunch every day and giving him breakfast in the morning. I didn’t think he would eat so early in the morning because usually he doesn’t eat until 7:30 – 8:00 am and now I was asking him to eat at 6;30-6;45. He adjusted to camp and the new schedule really fast and we were really looking forward to starting school in the fall.

Annual Crab Feast
At the end of August was our annual crab feast that Cliff and I host every summer. We invite about 25 people over and fly in a bushel of crabs from Maryland. It is so much fun and this year was no exception. By now everyone knew how to eat the crabs so I didn’t have to give any lessons. We also got an assortment of brats for those who didn’t eat crabs to enjoy which were very yummy themselves. Many people brought chips and dip and desserts so we had plenty of food for everyone. Harrison was there and got a kick out of seeing the crabs or crabbies as he calls them. He even had a friend over to the house to play with, Abby. I got a babysitter to watch them so we all could enjoy ourselves and not have to run around after the kids. My mouth is watering talking about the crabs…I really can’t wait for next year.

September

Harrison Starts Pre-School
Right after Labor Day Harrison started pre-school. He goes 3 days a week, MWF and he goes to Carol’s the other 2 days. He adjusted pretty fast to this schedule and he even made up a song to sing…which is really just chanting….”Pre-School Carol’s Pre-School Carol’s Pre-School Carol’s” and just keep repeating. He already knows his teacher, Sara, from Camp so that adjustment was pretty easy. We dropped off all of his stuff, school supplies, change of clothes, nap blankets, pictures – at orientation so on the first day we just had his lunch and his bag to bring with us. He hasn’t cried when I drop him off there, just a bit clingy. He even has 2 girlfriends…Betsy and Megan. He talks about Betsy the most. She is another little girl in the Pre-School I program but not in his class. Apparently they all have lunch together and take naps together and do some activities together so he sees her a lot. Megan is older than him and he sees her after school. They had a back to school night last week and Harrison showed off his cubby and his artwork on the walls and even brought us to see the science room. I am so excited that we found this school.

Mom Camp Boot Camp
Last week was the first Mom Camp Boot Camp. It was at the mall of America. We got to choose 2 break out sessions. I choose a cooking one at the California Café and a makeup one at MAC at Nordstroms. I had a blast. I even got to be a makeup model at the MAC breakout. Barb, Janie and Megan came with me to this event. It started off with snacks and a great show with radio personalities from FM107. It was very funny and was held in the routunda. We all then went over to our first break out. Ours was the cooking at California Café. I wasn’t feeling well so I just sat and watched and didn’t taste anything but Barb and Megan both said it was very delicious. We then went to our 2nd breakout at MAC. I volunteered to be a makeup model and usually I think they do my makeup too think and heavy but this time I thought I looked great and I got a lot of compliments. Of course I bought the blush and lipstick, how could I not with all those compliments. After that we all met back at the Rotunda for prize drawings. I didn’t win anything! I was very bummed. I love getting free stuff and winning prizes and I came away with nothing. The next Mom Camp is in November so I hope I will be lucky then.

Vikings Season
Vikings games have started. I haven’t been to any yet. Cliff has used the tickets for the first 2 games. I am going with Barb to the next game against Detroit and I am so excited to go. I want to go to another game with Shannon but I am having a hard time finding a game to go to. I think if Brad doesn’t come in to go to the Jets game, that will be the game I go to. I am trying to find a sitter for the Packer’s game…that one Cliff and I will go to together.

Harrisonisms
Harrison has some funny names for things – especially animals:
Okapi – a horse like animal – he call this a “Rollercuppy” – don’t know where he got that one but we like it
Flamingo – “Wafingo” – This one is hilarious.
Elephant – “Enyo” He doesn’t say this anymore but he did say it when he started talking and we really love it.