Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy: Now on Facebook

My new FB page! Welcome...

For the last few weeks, I had been thinking about doing something quite bold, starting a Facebook page as a companion to this blog. I weighed the pros and cons, deciding to wait a bit longer before making a decision. Why would I want to start a page? Wasn't that only for very popular blogs?

It isn't that my blog doesn't have a readership. It does. One I'm quite proud that I've been building. When I first started this blog, I was lucky to get 10 people to read what I wrote. Now, I usually have 40-50 people reading each post. Quite amazing when I think about it. But, ultimately, those types of numbers aren't anything spectacular. I'm proud of them. It means that what I'm writing is getting read. I love writing so just knowing I have an audience is a thrill. However, some of the more popular blogs out there, particularly the "mommy" blogs, probably have a readership in the 100s for each post they put out. They have lots of responses and comments on their posts. I'm lucky to get more than one or two from regular readers of mine (which I'm quite thankful for, thanks ladies!).

So, again, I found myself asking if starting an FB page would be worthwhile much less lead to any followers. Then, I noticed that a blogger that I follow started her own FB page. Mouthy Barber Mom has a great blog. She is funny and snarky. I enjoy reading what she puts out there. I would guess that her readership is around the same size as mine. When I noticed that she started a FB page, my interest was piqued. I immediately followed her and made a comment about her page. I also mentioned that the thought had crossed my mind as well about starting my own page. She told me I should go for it. Apparently, that was all the encouragement I needed.

A few days ago, I got to work and created my FB page, Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy.  I thought it would be along the lines of my twitter account, but have since decided it will be more focused than that. I would focus more on my adventures as a mommy, and it would be more in line with my blog. After all, the FB page is a companion to my blog. Duh.

Once the page was set up, I started inviting people to my page. I'm thrilled to say that I actually have followers too. I figured my DH would follow me as well as my mom and even Mouthy, but I have a few more followers than that. While my FB page isn't huge, it is mine. I'm enjoying having it and hope to make it a fun place. Hopefully, my followers will enjoy it too. :)

If you would like to follow my new FB page, you can find by clicking the following link: Adventures of a Jayhawk Mommy 

Carnita Dreams

Yummy Carnitas

My husband and I love Mexican food. And, by love, I mean LOVE!  Luckily, our small town has a fabulous Mexican restaurant, Cancun. The food there is so good! I can only think of one think I wouldn't order there again. Everything else is so delicious! Our (DH and my) favorite thing on the menu is their carnitas. They are beyond yummy! The flavor of the pork makes me feel as if I am in heaven, even for the briefest of moments.

Ever since eating the carnitas there for the first time, I have been desperate to find a good carnita recipe so I can make them at home. I keep searching and searching with no luck. I've come very close to begging the owner of the restaurant to allow me in the back to watch how they are made. (I have asked her how they are made, but she claimed ignorance.) Until I get the nerve up to do just that, I will keep trying out carnita recipes until I find "The One."

This week, I did try a slow cooker carnita recipe that I found on Pinterest.  The recipe seemed fairly easy and quite promising. While it didn't leave me in heaven, like Cancun does, it did turn out quite gratifying.  It is a recipe I will likely make again in the future, once we finish the leftovers that are in the freezer now.

The recipe calls for 3 pounds of pork shoulder/butt. I ended up getting over 6 pounds because there was no smaller size available to me at the grocery store. I bought the presliced pork butt, thinking it would be easier to cut it down in size that way. It was, but I didn't realize that each slice had a bone. So, I had a bit of prep to do ahead of time.

After all the prep was done with removing the bones, I seasoned each piece of meat with taco seasoning, rubbing it all over the meat. I did use a bit of olive oil on the meat to help spread the rub onto the meat. It made it so much easier doing it that way. Next, I seared each piece of meat in skillet before adding it to the crock pot. As the meat seared, I sliced up the onion and put it in the bottom of the crock pot. I figured this would add much more flavor to the meat than just adding it at the end. I put the meat on top of the onion.

Searing the meat

When I had all the meat in the pot, I decided I should use the enchilada sauce to deglaze the pan, making sure to get up all the brown bits. You have to do this quickly because you don't want to lose too much of the sauce. From there, I poured the sauce over the meat then added the green chiles. I added them early into cooking for the same reason I added the onion. More flavor.

Once everything was in the pot, I placed the lid on top, made sure it was plugged in, and cooked the meat on high for the next 5 hours.

In the crock pot ready to cook.

Unfortunately, we did not eat the carnitas that night.  It was stormy outside, requiring my husband to put in some over time at work (he's a meteorologist).  So, the carnitas went into the fridge until the next night. DH and I were anxious to try them. We weren't disappointed. They were yummy! Were they as good as our local place? Nope, but we liked them all the same. I guess that is all that matters in the end.

No-No Pork Chops

It has been a while since I have tried a new recipe that I found on Pinterest. Tonight I went with a simple recipe that looked like it had the potential to be tasty, Mushroom Pork Chops. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to its potential.

The good thing about the recipe is that it was easy to make, and I even made a couple of small alterations along the way to add a bit more flavor. (I've included my altered recipe below if you want to try it anyway.)

Sauteing the onion and mushrooms

I started off by browning the pork chops, that I had seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (I was out of salt so I subbed powder instead), in olive oil. Once they were browned on both sides, I put the chops on a plate. Then I added the chopped onion and mushrooms, sauteing them until the onions were nicely transparent and the mushrooms had a bit of color to them. I then added the chop back to the pan and added cream of mushroom soup plus 1/4 cup of white wine (for additional flavor). I let the pork chops simmer in the sauce for 20 minutes or so until the pork was done cooking.

While the pork was simmering, I cooked some rice to serve with the pork, figuring the sauce would make a nice gravy.

My husband and I always approach new recipes with great anticipation and hope that we have found something fantastic. That is not what happened tonight. The pork chops were, at best, okay. There was nothing wrong with them, but there was nothing great about them either. In fact, I enjoyed the rice more than I did the pork chop. So much so that I didn't finish eating the chop but did eat all of my rice.

The rice (yummy) and the pork chop (not so yummy)

When analyzing the recipe, DH and I decided there was no point in keeping it or finding a way to redeem it. The only thing we thought could have made it better was browning the meat in a different type of pan instead of a teflon-coated one, which probably prevented it from giving it a really good sear. I doubt that would have changed the recipe enough, though, for me to want to eat it again.

Oh well, you win some, and you lose some. Hopefully, my next recipe will turn out better. Be ready for it, because tomorrow I'm trying a carnita recipe. I hope that one is much more successful.


As promised, my version of the recipe:

Mushroom Pork Chops

4 pork chops

2 Tbsp olive oil

salt & pepper

garlic salt

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 pound sliced mushrooms

1/4 cup white wine

1-2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Heat olive oil in a skillet. While heating up, season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Once warm, add pork chops and brown on both sides. Remove pork chops. Add onion and mushrooms to the skillet and saute until onions are translucent. Place the chops back in the pan. In small bowl, mix wine with soup, then pour over the chops. Let the chops simmer for 20-25 minutes until done.

Mommy Time

"Shopping!"

"Shoppppiiiiiinnnnggggg!"

Ginny grocery shopping with Mommy
when she was around 5 months old.

I hear Ginny, my toddler, in her car seat practically singing the word! For the last five minutes since we drove out of the driveway, it has been the only word I've heard come out of her mouth. It doesn't stop until we are very nearly at the store.

My fabulous daughter loves to go to stores and loves to shop. She has been this way since she was a baby. Once I recovered from my c-section from giving birth to her, she would go grocery shopping with me or to any other store I needed to shop at. She never once complained. Very often, you would see her in my cart with a huge smile on her face.

Ever since giving birth to her sister, Grace, we don't go grocery shopping together any more. It is quite rare that she shops with me in general. It is just too difficult to manage the baby and her on a shopping trip. I usually wait until my DH has a day off or he gets home before I do any shopping.

Ginny at the Children's Museum of South Dakota shopping!

Yesterday, though, Ginny went grocery shopping with me. As I was about to leave the house, my husband staying behind to parent the girls, Ginny followed me to the door and looked sad. She didn't want me to leave without her. For some reason, I had a hard time closing the door on that sweet face as I entered the garage. I had a bit of a revelation and made the decision to take her with me. Letting my husband know that I had Ginny with me, we left.

So, for several minutes I heard her joy at the impending event, shopping! As she chanted and sang the word, "shopping" over and over again, I had a huge grin on my face. I knew I did the right thing. Once at the store, she held my hand as we walked in and found a cart. Walking through the store, Ginny smiled and danced to the music playing through the store speakers. She had a great time helping Mommy put groceries in the cart. Granted, throwing them is not always the best way to do it, but Mommy was smart enough to give her items that wouldn't break or dent on their way down.  Ginny also enjoyed seeing people, talking to them, and waving.

She loved pushing the cart!! My little shopper!

After we left the store and headed home, it dawned on me that it had been a while since I spent any one-on-one time with just Ginny and me. Grace's presence has meant no time for just Ginny. I decided that I need to rectify that and occasionally take her with me to the store, without Grace or her dad. Not all the time, because I require time on my own, but I think one-on-one time in some form at least once a month.

Driving home, I no longer heard Ginny chanting the word "shopping." Instead, I heard her singing her favorite songs, like the ABCs and Row Row. I heard a happy two-year-old who thought that she had the best time ever. Well worth taking that moment to grab her and take her with me. A moment I will cherish.

Joy and Laughter

Despite my recent grumblings on what a challenge Ginny, my two-year-old, can be, she really is quite sweet, entertaining, and funny. Ginny lights up any room when she has a smile on her face. Her giggles are quite contagious. She brings more smiles into my life than frustration. It is understandable for a two-year-old to have melt downs and tantrums. They are so little, not quite able to fully communicate, and crave independence. That combination can lead to fireworks, but it can also lead to smiles and joy as they reach new milestones and gain in their vocabulary.

My Little Helper

One way Ginny likes to assert her independence, of late, is by being a little helper around the house. Recently, she has discovered great joy in putting things in the trash. She is so proud of herself and how she can help out. The other day, she was playing with some bowls in the kitchen and decided to "set" the table, putting bowls where each of us sit at meal times. She has even tried helping us unload the dishwasher, and is learning to put away her toys every day.

Ginny bringing me my Boppy

The one job Ginny takes the most pride in is being the Boppy gate keeper. I use a Boppy when I nurse Grace. Every morning, once Ginny is awake and dressed, she comes in my room, gets the Boppy, and brings it to my chair in the living room. She started doing this job not long after Grace was born, when she was around 20 months old. Not only will she bring it to my chair in the morning, she has to bring it to me when I need it to nurse Grace. If I don't ask Ginny to get me the Boppy, even if it is right next to me, she will have a mini-meltdown. There have been times where I have taken the Boppy off of me, put it back on the floor only to have Ginny hand it to me. My only issue with Ginny's job is that she really does see the Boppy as hers and that I need to ask permission to use it. In the past week, when I have asked her for the Boppy, the following exchange often happens:

Me: "Ginny, can you give me the Boppy, please?"

Ginny (comes over and grabs the Boppy): "No, Boppy." 

She then runs off with Boppy and refuses to give it to me.

Eventually, I do get the Boppy with no ensuing tears, but Ginny now sees herself as the gate keeper of the Boppy.

The Hugging Game

While we were on vacation, Ginny created a new game. It started simply enough. She was across the room from me, threw her arms open wide, then said, "Mommy." At that moment, she ran to me, hugged me, and gave me a kiss. I loved it! I loved the unsolicited hug and kiss! My heart soared. Once we were done with the hug and kiss, Ginny turned around and went back across the room. Then, she turned and looked at me, threw her arms open wide, said, "Mommy!" and ran into my arms again. She did this over and over again. I lost count, but I didn't care. I loved this game.

After we got back home, I figured the game was forgotten, and it would be just a pleasant memory. Then, yesterday after a day of ups and downs with Ginny, she started the game again. This time, after giving me a hug and a kiss, she went into the office and did the same for her daddy, then went back to me. Over and over again. I must say that the hugging game must be one of the best games in the world!

So, despite all the struggles and tantrums of my toddler, Ginny brings me so much joy! She loves so purely and unconditionally. I am one lucky and happy mommy! 

My Little Jekyl & Hyde

Some days can be a challenge with a toddler. Unfortunately, you can't plan ahead of time because you don't know when those difficult days will strike in advance. Well, at least most of the time. As I get to know my two-year-old more and more, there are moments when I can easily predict we will have a tough day. 

For example, I thought this past Thursday might be tough because my parents were leaving that morning after a week long visit. I was right. However, I had no idea how hard of a day it would be. It was a day in which my sweet daughter, Ginny, thought it was funny whenever I said, "No!" She would have tantrums when I removed objects from her or moved her away from her sister who was happily rolling on the floor. I was in misery. I expected it, but it didn't make the day any easier. She missed the love and attention she had received from her grandparents, but was unable to express it so she acted out.

The next day, Ginny was an absolute angel. She was helpful. She listened. When I said, "No!", she didn't challenge me. She accepted it and moved on. She was kind and gentle with her baby sister, Grace, and the dog, Daisy. She and I were able to play and have fun. We read books, tickled each other, played with toys, and laughed. It was a good day.

In the last 24-hours she has transformed back to the little imp, a little hellion. She is back to not listening very well and throwing tantrums. It is a milder form of her behavior on Thursday. I am thankful for at least that much. But the day has not been without its trials. While she adores Grace, Ginny doesn't understand that loving her doesn't mean smothering her, literally. I keep repeating the phrase, "Get off of your sister." She doesn't stop. This morning I needed to remove Grace's roly poly self for her own protection. Ginny kept trying to lay on her or sit on her. You might think my picking up Grace would solve the problem. Oh no, it did not. Instead, Ginny tried to climb on her sister while she was in my lap. 

In the midst of the art fair, Grace fell asleep & Ginny started
to complain she was stuck.

I was grateful that I had decided earlier in the week that we would go to the Springfield Farmer's Market downtown this morning. After fighting Ginny most of the morning, I looked forward to getting out and about. Basically, removing my daughter from the temptation to misbehave and me from getting high blood pressure and a headache. 

It was a pleasant morning at the market. Admittedly, we got there a bit late, close to 10:30 a.m. I needed a lazy morning and waited to go after Grace's nap. The next time we go, it won't be so late because many of the stalls were already quite empty if not sold out. I figured there would be more goods since the market is open until 12:30 p.m. Obviously, I was wrong.  I hoped to find some fresh produce that I could get for making baby food for Grace. It is early in the season, and there wasn't much out there beyond some lettuce, rhubarb, and green onion. Oh, there was also asparagus, but I ignored it. I hate it and won't bring it into my home. I did happen upon a stand selling fresh pecans which made me quite happy. Fresh pecans are wonderful! So much better than what you find at the store. I guess I will now be forced to bake a pecan pie. 

As we were walking along, I discovered that downtown Springfield was also hosting an art fair. I love art fairs! I enjoy looking at art and imagine buying some of it. So, I pushed the girls in the stroller through the art fair as well. About an hour passed and Ginny was getting frustrated. She was done and let me know about it, saying "I stuck." We headed for the car and then home to eat lunch.

Now, the house is calm again. Ginny isn't having a tantrum and is listening quite well. What made the difference? She is taking her nap right now. I am in heaven and enjoying the silence. 

Setting Goals

Ginny in her sunglasses saying "walk, walk!"

Last night, I dreamt that when I woke up I was thin. No, not just thin, but skinny and looking good. I couldn't believe it and kept looking at my waist line to make sure it was real. I felt a bit of a thrill. Then, I woke up. It was just a dream. Unfortunately, this dream did not come true upon waking. I was my usual fat self. Not what I was hoping for in the least.

Once I woke and thought about my dream, it reminded me that I want to get in shape and, hopefully, lose some weight. I don't believe in dieting. I believe in exercise. In the past, when I have lost weight, I did it mainly through exercise. My eating did change, as well, because my body craved healthier foods when it was getting healthy and in shape. I would naturally start drinking more water, and ate less junk and more healthy food. The hard part is just getting started and in that exercise habit again.

I want to get in better shape for a few of reasons.

•  I'm tired of looking in the mirror and seeing my fat self. I hate my double chin. I want it gone! Even if I don't get thin, at least I will look better in general if my body is in good shape. 
• After 2 full-term pregnancies, my back is pretty weak. My whole body is weaker in many ways. I want to feel strong.
• Chris and I haven't decided whether or not we are going to try for a third child. We won't make that decision for a few more months. If we decide to go for it, I want to weigh a bit less and be stronger, especially in my abs and back, so that I will hopefully have one less risk factor to face. Being over 40 is tough enough, but being obese, out of shape and over 40 will be hell on my body and psyche. 
• If we don't try to have another child, then hopefully I can be in good shape and weighing less before menopause begins. 

Now I am setting goals for myself. I am not a believer in being obsessed by numbers like weight or size, although sometimes it is hard not to be. Instead, I am focusing on a different type of number, a different kind of goal. Fitness goals. 

To get in shape, I plan on walking around my neighborhood or at a local park every other day while pushing the double stroller carrying my girls. I want to go on as many 5Ks as I can handle in the next few months. I did my first one in four years this past Saturday, the Fat Ass 5K in Springfield. I was unable to finish it. However, I did complete one lap plus went a bit further, doing about 2 miles. 

Grace was content the whole walk.

I'm quite proud of myself. I'm also using that 2 miles as my baseline. Two miles is where I started. I need to surpass that the next time. My next 5K is coming up on June 8, the Color Blaze 5K. It is a hillier course. I want to complete it, but as long as I do more than 2 miles, I will have achieved something. 

This morning I restarted my training for the next 5K. I pushed my daughters in the stroller for a mile long walk this morning. Luckily, the baby doesn't mind going for a walk, and my toddler LOVES going for walks. In fact, as I paused to take a couple of pictures this morning, my two-year-old got annoyed with me. She wanted to keep going and kept chanting "walk, walk" until I started up again. Then, she had a huge grin on her face for the rest of the walk. 

I hope to increase my distance and speed in time. I just need to push myself. I know I can achieve my goals! So, on Saturday, don't be surprised if you see me pushing the stroller again as I continue to work toward those goals.

The Perfect Mother's Day

The view from our seats!

Today I had the most fabulous Mother's Day ever because I spent it watching baseball. As I have mentioned before, I love and adore baseball! I just plain love the sport. My favorite professional team is the St. Louis Cardinals. I fell in love with the Cardinals soon after my family moved to St. Louis in 1981.  Then, the 1982 season completely hooked me, particularly after our World Series win.

Wearing the giveaway, a floppy sun hat, and Grace!

Getting to go to a game, to me, is a gift! I've never been a big fan of watching sports on T.V. or listening to them on the radio. I'll do it, but I'd much rather be at the game. My husband, who is a Brewers' fan, and I generally try to go to at least one or two games a season. Last year, we went to none. Ginny was only one-year-old at the time and we couldn't see her having the patience for staying for a whole game. We were looking forward to this season and looking for opportunities to see a game when one arose.

My handsome husband with our baby girl, Grace. Notice
his Brewers jersey at a Cardinals game. Sigh.

My parents moved to northern Florida nearly 17 years ago. They are also Cardinals fans; Mom having been one for the last 55+ years. Since moving to Florida, they have not had any opportunities to see the Cardinals in a live season game (they have gone to a couple of Spring Training games). Every time they have come up to visit my DH and me in the last 3 1/2 years, the Cardinals have either been out of town for a game or they have come outside of baseball season.  This year, my parents decided to arrange a visit to see their granddaughters (I'm just a bonus, not the prime reason they visit. Ha ha.) around the baseball schedule. They were very sweet and tried to set up the visit so we could go to a Cardinals/Brewers game. Unfortunately, my husband has to work over those games so that wasn't possible. Instead, they came up a week earlier for the Mother's Day game we went to today.

My super mom and I enjoyed our day!

It couldn't have worked out better! I couldn't imagine a better way to spend Mother's Day than at a baseball game with my family! I was there not only with my girls but also my mom. How perfect is that? When buying the tickets, I had a coupon code that got me 50% off the price of tickets. I took advantage of that situation and used it to buy tickets behind home plate. The game would have been more perfect had the Cardinals won the game against the Colorado Rockies. We lost though, 8-2. Otherwise, the day was fabulous! The sun was shining, and the temps were comfortable to start. Our seats were perfect! I couldn't have asked for much better. The only issue was that the breeze was decidedly cool and by the end of the game, we were all feeling the chill. Had we been in the sun, I think we would have remained warm and finished the game. As it was, we were cool, and the girls were chilled so we left during the 8th inning. I noticed as we drove away from the stadium that the shaded parts of the stadium were practically empty while the parts of the stadium in the sun were still fairly full.

Ginny had so much fun!

My parents were freezing. True Floridians. LOL!

One thing I especially enjoyed was watching Ginny during the game. She danced whenever music came on. She clapped with the crowd. She even learned how to yell out "Charge" in all the right places. She had a blast!


All in all, I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Maybe I'll have to make going to a baseball game a new Mother's Day tradition. Sounds like a fabulous idea to me! :)

Walking My First Fat Ass!

After giving birth to Grace, I decided that I really need to get back in shape. Knowing it was unlikely to happen until spring, I set my goals for then. In January, I even signed up for a 5K. I figured that once spring arrived, in mid-March, I could start taking my girls for walks so that I could build up the distance so walking 3.2 miles would not be an issue. Based on the weather in the past, my plan seemed like a no-brainer and doable. Boy, was I wrong.

Grace sporting her shades and ready to go.

This spring has been very unusual. I'm happy that it didn't get hot early, like the past two springs; however, it has been unusually cold. We even had over a foot of snow on March 31. Mother Nature must have known of my plans and not liked them. She blocked me at every turn and training became virtually non-existent, only going on walks a couple of times from mid-March to now.

I also faced another hurdle a little over two weeks ago when we left for our vacation. I missed a step walking into the garage and broke my little toe as well as bruising or twisting my ankle. Oh, and did I mention I did this on my good leg? So, my toe and ankle have been in pain for the last 2 weeks. I wasn't sure if I would still be able to go on the 5K, but decided I should go for it. Then last night, I faced yet another "injury," this time my right shoulder. I pulled a muscle resulting in a lot of pain. My concern was being able to lift things, like the stroller and the baby's car seat, out of the car. My family solved that problem this morning by coming with me. I would walk while they would sit and watch.

Fat Ass 5K crowds

So, this morning I set off to achieve my first goal of walking a 5K at the Fat Ass 5K in downtown Springfield, IL. I figured with little training and some pain that finishing it was unlikely. I was okay with that though.  I modified my goal from finishing the event to at least completing one lap, 1.7 miles. Before the race, I met up with my friend, Coreen, so she and I could walk together as I pushed my girls in the double stroller.

I'm pushing the stroller as we complete the first lap
(#101 is Coreen)

The Fat Ass is a hoot! It raises funds for local charities, and people have fun with it. There were people walking and running dressed as Elvis, pigs, in tutus, and so much more. As Coreen and I walked, we ran across entertainment as well, such as bands, belly dancers, hip hop dancers, a German musician, clowns, and a roller derby team, all encouraging the participants. Additionally, there are stops along the route, the first being a beer stop. Keep in mind that the walk started at 10 a.m. Many of the participants stopped and had their first beer of the day by 10:20 a.m. We also got to eat some donut holes that were passed out to us, something my two-year-old enjoyed. There was a station for corn dogs, but I don't like them and Coreen wasn't interested so we passed on that. 

I was unable to complete the 5K, but I did go a bit farther than just one lap. I was feeling good and pushed myself a bit more. After a few more blocks, my body let me know it was done so we ended the race by heading back. In the end, I walked about 2 miles. Overall, the Fat Ass was great fun. I'm looking forward to next year's event. Maybe I'll wear a feather boa and a tiara to it. We'll see. Until then, I am signing up for my next 5K, the Color Blaze 5K, in early June. Looks like I have some training to do because my goal is to finish it!

Done! I walked at least 2 miles! 

Toddlers Are Exhausting

Playing hoops! She scored every time! ;)

Last night and this morning were rough times with our lovely toddler, Ginny. She woke up around 10:20 p.m. in sobs. I guess she must have had a bad dream. It took a while to calm her down. I did my best, but nothing I did worked. Why? Because the only person she wanted was Daddy. In some ways, that crushed my heart a bit, but it also made me smile knowing how much she loves and depends on her daddy. Eventually, she fell back to sleep as my husband watched over her until she was clearly unconscious.

This morning started with a bang from her as well. She woke up coughing and in tears around 7 a.m. Daddy got her up while I was taking care of the baby. By the time we were getting her dressed, Ginny was clearly unhappy. We tried several things to get her calm. Eventually she settled down. Thank goodness. I'm pretty sure the issue stems from teething her two-year molars. We ended up giving her some Tylenol™ plus some cough medicine (a honey elixir, not true medicine).  Soon after that, her mood seemed to improve.

Going down the slide for like the 100th time.

While all these issues were going on we found ourselves debating if we should do what we had planned for the day. Would Ginny be up for it or would she have problems all day? Ginny helped make the decision for us when she went to the door and kept saying, "car seat?" Her way of letting us know that she wanted to go for a drive. Deciding it was worth the risk, we loaded the girls up in the car and drove the hour up to Brookings, SD to go to the Children's Museum of South Dakota.

We arrived soon after it opened, around 10 a.m. Right away, we noticed a school bus and took a deep sigh, hoping that the school field trip that was taking place would not interrupt Ginny's fun.

Grace & I watching Ginny play.

Ginny loved the place from the moment her feet hit the floor in the museum. There was so much for her to see and do. She got to play with gears, blocks, musical instruments, and stuffed pumpkins. She was able to throw balls, which she LOVES to do, into hoops as well as down a slide and into water. The only issue with the water was trying to pull her away from it after she got pretty wet. Ginny was able to explore a play farm, go grocery shopping in a play store, and crawl into a tepee. Sitting still was not an option today. She was on the go and didn't stop until it was time to leave.

Checking out the nursing pig.

Going to the children's museum has to be one of the high points of this trip so far. I really enjoyed watching the joy on Ginny's face as she explored everything. The only down side we had was dealing with that field trip group of 7th graders. A lot of them tended to be rude and unaware that there were little ones in their path. I found that a bit frustrating, but Ginny didn't really seem to notice.

We left the museum after nearly two hours of energetic fun. My DH and I looked at each other and decided that experience was exhausting! Keeping up with a two-year-old is tiring on a good day, but in a place like a children's museum it takes a bit more energy than normal to keep up with one.

From the museum, we stopped at a KFC for lunch. They had a buffet which was perfect for Ginny. Knowing what she will eat on a given day is like playing a game of roulette, really hard to predict. After lunch we headed back to Chris's aunt's house. Now, Ginny is taking a much needed nap. Just before I left her room I told her I loved her. I heard her little voice, with the paci in her mouth, say "I love you." My heart soared!

A happy face after fun at the museum while eating some mac & cheese.

While a toddler can be exhausting, they sure can make you smile! What a wonderful day it has been.

Sioux Falls Adventures

The Corn Palace

Doing touristy and cheesy things can be great fun. Of course, it is more fun when temperatures are at least in the high 50s. Yesterday we didn't have that luck. A cold front moved in and the high was in the mid-40s. Brrr! Of course, we did not pack for that type of weather. Our girls were in good shape since I packed warmer stuff for them; however, I did not pack warmer stuff for me. In fact, the only shoes I brought were sandals. I love my sandals and live in them from March to November most years.

Anyhow, we left the farm after breakfast and headed toward Sioux Falls, SD. We went a bit out of the way so that I could see the Corn Palace. Talk about cheesy and touristy. There isn't much to it beyond what you see on the outside. The Palace is used as a concert venue. Inside of it, they do have pictures of the palace over the years. The earliest photo I saw was from 1902. It only took us about 10-15 minutes to wonder about then we got back on the road. 

We then drove east to Sioux Falls. We stopped at IHOP for lunch. Anytime I eat at IHOP or Perkins or even Village Inn, I have to order breakfast. From there we went to my DH's Aunt Elaine & Uncle Duane's house. We will be staying here for the next few days. It was nice getting here so soon after lunch because it meant that our toddler, Ginny, got a much needed nap. Ginny does not nap in the car and never has, not even when she was a baby. I guess there is too much to see that she doesn't want to miss.

This morning, after getting the girls up and ready (who knew what a project that could be!!), we headed into downtown Sioux Falls to go to the Washington Pavilion. The Pavilion has a CineDome, performing arts center, visual arts area, and a science center. We hoped the science center would be entertaining for Ginny. We didn't think the baby, Grace, would care either way. Right now, there is an exhibit at the Pavilion called Seuss Falls: Discovering the Art and Science of Dr. Seuss. We went through the art exhibit for that first then made our way over to the science center.

My DH & Ginny in the tube experiencing high winds.

While many of the interactive exhibits were made for children at least 4 and older, Ginny had a good time. In the science center she seemed to really enjoy an exhibit that blew balls up in the air. Ginny loves balls! She also enjoyed getting into a contraption with DH where they got to experience the winds of a tornado. We also found a play area for kids 7 and younger. She enjoyed playing with the toys in that room. At the end of our morning at the Pavilion, Ginny even had an opportunity to pet a turtle! She was bold as usual and didn't need to be encouraged more than once. The poor turtle got a bit frightened though as Ginny tried to pet it's head first. She eventually learned that she needed to pet the shell.

Mommy & Ginny playing with a game where you can "make" a Truffula tree.

Petting the turtle

Ginny's legs turned into spaghetti and the tears started flowing once she realized we were leaving. She was having fun and didn't want to leave. My husband ended up carrying her to the car as she started to wail her displeasure. Luckily, she calmed down once she was outside and then in the car.

Now, we hope that Ginny takes another nap because we will be going to visit with another family member this evening. I'm not sure the nap will happen. I hear her in the other room talking to herself. One can only hope and dream!

Tomorrow we plan to go up to Brookings, SD to the Brookings Childrens' Museum. They even have a special exhibit for toddlers. I can only imagine how tough it will be to get Ginny to leave then. :)