Alley's Blog

Sisters in the same boat

2012-01-22T17:17:00.001-06:00

Alley has had a lot time w her sister lately. Christmas break we went to grandma Erlys them to Fargo to grandma Helen and Grandpa Charlie. They can be the best of friends and get on each others nerves so easy - knowing exactly which buttons to push.

Alley got a lot of ponies & horses for xmas and Santa brought the Malibu Barbie Dream house to both girls - so it has fun to see them play together in Barbie's vast mansion. The My Little Ponies seem to use the dream house more than Barbie though.

Alley is growing out of that little girl - she told us that she was pretty sure we just bought the Barbie house for them - implying there was no Santa.

She almost told me one day - almost like she had to get it off her chest - "Mom I have to tell you that I have a crush on a boy". I figured out it was Elliot who is a 1st grader - since she drew a picture of herself and him with hearts all around and then even had the confidence to give it to him!

It's a girl snowman

2012-01-02T21:15:00.001-06:00

Go Bison

2012-01-02T21:12:00.001-06:00

Ferris wheel fun

2012-01-02T21:08:00.001-06:00

At Scheels Fargo

Fwd: Nothing says Advent like LEGO

2011-12-28T10:41:00.000-06:00

> The other advent calendar we did this year to help the days down to Christmas was the Lego Advent calendar. So everyday we enjoyed putting a little set together. Alley finally got her train set with Santa as the engineer. There was also a X -mas tree, skateboarder w his ramp, dog w sausages in his dog bowl, a piano, a drum set, airplane, a picnic table - lots of random things - but Alley had lots of fun putting together.
>

Alley's vanilla wafer snowman/ Santa

2011-12-28T10:40:00.001-06:00

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Future engineers

2011-12-28T10:37:00.001-06:00

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> .... A different type then their dad. At the model train museum in St Paul - just before Christmas.
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Alley meets Santa 2011

2011-12-28T10:34:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNQw8FV3OBM

Christmas recital

2011-12-13T22:52:00.001-06:00

Can't you see Alley singing? She's right there.

Snake charmer

2011-11-17T23:11:00.001-06:00

Rainforest cafe - Mall of America

Expert Jack-o-lantern designer

2011-11-02T20:12:00.001-05:00

Alley designed these both- of course mom and dad did the carving.

Halloween night

2011-11-02T19:43:00.001-05:00

Alley did her own make up on Halloween night- she was a mermaid (her tailed dress is out of thus shit).

Mason and Madison went trick or treating with them again this year.

Earlier in the day I helped host Alley's kindergarten classes Halloween party. My station helped the kids to make slime/ goo - funny how easy to please they are- it was just cornstarch and water.

A pumpkin for grandpa

2011-11-02T19:37:00.001-05:00

After we picked out a pumpkin at the Pumpkin patch hosted by the Phoenix botanical gardens- Alley designed the jack- o- lantern's face and mom did the carving.

Claire picked the flowers that were blooming at Grandpas place.

Phoenix Botanical Gardens

2011-11-02T19:29:00.001-05:00

It was hot for mid October!

Alley w her # 1 cowboy

2011-11-02T19:27:00.001-05:00

Having fun at the rodeo

2011-10-22T11:12:00.000-05:00

Up late at the rodeo

2011-10-22T11:11:00.000-05:00

Alley and Claire had a good time at the rodeo last night. Plus they got to stay up late.

Talking to the horses

2011-10-20T21:34:00.001-05:00

Alley talking to the horses, I thinking she was telling them to come home with her.

Alley and the horses

2011-10-20T21:32:00.001-05:00

Alley loves horses, and this one seems to love alley.

Take a Break Chair

2011-10-18T19:08:00.000-05:00

Rob apparently is giving Alley a bite not a break - but we found out today that Alley's class has a "take a break chair" - kind of like a time out.

We had fall conferences today w Alley's teacher. She is doing well - ahead of schedule w her letters- might be able to read by the end of kindergarten.

She however was twice sent to "the chair" today. We didn't let her know about her behavior and asked her - why would a kid get sent to the chair? She said " For being naughty- like there was one kid who danced on the tables". She did not fess up that kid was her.

For the Birds

2011-10-16T22:35:00.001-05:00

"Heeerree Ostrich - here nice ostrich, I have corn kernels for you in a soup ladel." - compliments of the exotic petting zoo at the Fall Festival.

And Alley loved the cool parakeet room, which housed probably 50 birds - so it wasn't difficult to get 1 or 2 birds to pirch upon our bird seed encrusted sticks.

Fall Festival

2011-10-16T22:26:00.002-05:00

Alley had a fun time at Sever's Fall Festival in Shakopee. We first went through the corn maze and it was made more fun and maybe less scary by goal of finding all letters in the alphabet posted along the way. Alley loved the corn on the cob and of course loved jumping in the huge pit of corn kernels.

After we went to the pig races, she practiced her cow milking skills. She then got to feed exotic animals like this camel.

Alley's Love of Horses

2011-10-16T22:17:00.001-05:00

Alley got to ride pony's twice this fall and loved the show of Cavalia! Of course Cavalia was a perfect show for a little girl into horse's and "princesses and fairies" who performed with the horses.

But after seeing the movie Dolphin's Tail - Dolphins just may be the object her affection now. She no longer says she is going to be a Vet for Horses but instead is going to be a Dolphin Trainer.

Field Trip

2011-10-16T22:07:00.001-05:00

This is actually a pic from when we went apple picking as a family over Labor Day. But Alley's Mom did get to chaperon Alley's class on their first field trip to an apple orchard last week. Alley was excited to ride the bus for the first time. She must be a kindergartner, as she was so excited to have me there and wanted to sit by me. As predicted, it was controlled chaos on the field trip. I spent most of the lunch trying to get a stubborn goat away from all the kid's food. One of Alley's classmates told me I was her best friend and held my hand the whole time. We also went on a hayride, play in a big pile of hay and of course learned how they grow apples.

Alley is really liking Kindergarten - of course she says her favorite part is Kid's Place - the before/ after school program where she gets to do most playing. She also likes music class, has an art class, library time, and a Spanish class. She is making new friends and seems to have a crush on another kindergarten boy (in a different class), named Martin. She actually seems to blush when she sees him - how is that possible, she is only a kindergartner!

Fall soccer

2011-09-17T14:51:00.001-05:00

First Day at School

2011-09-08T19:36:00.008-05:00

Alley's first day outfit

Alley and her classmates

Partying at Claire's birthday bash

2011-08-25T01:26:00.000-05:00

Zach's quite the lady man

2011-08-25T01:22:00.001-05:00

With Alley's best friend Sami getting in on the hug

Alley and Zach

2011-08-25T01:21:00.001-05:00

"Can I help you with that?"

2011-08-25T01:20:00.000-05:00

Alley was just as excited as Claire for new toys from Claire's birthday.

Obligatory souvenir

2011-08-25T01:15:00.001-05:00

Playing the bongo at the Animal Kingdom

2011-08-25T01:11:00.001-05:00

Another princess

2011-08-25T01:10:00.001-05:00

Alley dressed as Rupunzel - minus the long hair

2011-08-25T01:06:00.001-05:00

"I didn't know pigs could write?"

2011-08-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

Rosetta - one of Tinkerbell's fairy friends

2011-08-25T00:57:00.001-05:00

"I'm not doing anything... It wasn't me."

2011-08-25T00:53:00.001-05:00

Alley looks suspicious.

Treehouse of Swiss family Robinson at the Magic Kingdom

2011-08-25T00:50:00.001-05:00

Can I get your autograph?

2011-08-25T00:49:00.001-05:00

Alley and Claire collected a lot of autographs from Tigger, Pooh, Tinkerbell, Cinderella etc

Italy at EPCOT

2011-08-25T00:47:00.001-05:00

Graduation

2011-08-24T19:36:00.001-05:00

Alley receiving her diploma/coloring book.

Graduation

2011-08-24T19:34:00.001-05:00

Alley graduated day care Monday. It was silly but cute.

We are twins

2011-08-24T19:25:00.001-05:00

Going home

2011-08-24T19:20:00.001-05:00

Another of Claires photos

2011-08-24T19:18:00.002-05:00

Claire has a nack for photography

Princess dress

2011-08-24T19:05:00.001-05:00

Alley wore her princess dress all day to one of the parks and it was HOT. What a trooper.

Princesses

2011-08-24T19:01:00.001-05:00

The girls were a little scared of the princesses.

Alley and Piglet

2011-08-24T18:56:00.001-05:00

Jail

2011-08-24T18:53:00.000-05:00

Finially they added the perfect attraction to Disney, a jail.

Alley and dad in Italy

2011-08-24T18:49:00.001-05:00

Claire took this picture, I think it is my favorite of the trip.

Who let the dogs out

2011-08-24T18:02:00.001-05:00

Alley and her cousins with Pluto and goofy. Alley thinks the song Who let the dogs out is very funny and sings it often.

Swimming pool

2011-08-24T18:00:00.001-05:00

Despite being at Disney world the girls thought the pool was the best part of the trip.

Mr Little Guy

2011-08-07T20:10:00.000-05:00

Is the name of the Elf who lives at Lake Harriet in the base of a tree w a little door. The girls wrote letters to him and he kindly wrote them back.

Not such a good weekend

2011-08-07T09:31:00.000-05:00

This picture is from last weekend - which was a good one. The girls came with us to a wedding. They loved seeing a real princess and wondered if her husband was a king?

This weekend however is not so good for Alley. She has had a fever and headache all day Saturday and still has a low grade fever this morning. There was a GI bug apparently at her school and all of us were feeling some effects of that- but Alley got it the worst. She vomited yesterday and just watched cartoons all day.

Maybe she has a headache from thinking too hard. This past week she asked if it is possible to wash my car- like we wash dad's car? I asked why and she said because your car is electric and you can't get electricity wet.

Vacation Bible School

2011-07-28T17:05:00.001-05:00

Alley and Claire went to bible school this week at Madison's and Mason's church. They do look like cousins don't they- even if they are second cousins.

Alley's 1st car

2011-07-05T21:03:00.001-05:00

First lemonade stand

2011-06-27T18:11:00.001-05:00

First lemonade stand

2011-06-27T18:10:00.000-05:00

Zoo Visit

2011-05-30T21:50:00.004-05:00

Alley was a bit disappointed that there were no horses at the zoo today. We were able to find a couple on the carousel though on the way out.

Racing cars, talking horses, and tornados

2011-05-22T22:19:00.001-05:00

Alley enjoyed Legofest - Claire and Alley had fun making Lego cars and racing them. She also made a little square of a huge wall mural - by placing the smallest square legos on the color coded block.

Alley is still everything horses and she said her dream now is to ride a horse (and not just around in a circle on a pony ride). She got to see lots of horses on our way to ND to the Alley/Eli family reunion. Grandpa Alley's cousin Butch was wearing a cowboy hat- Alley went up to him and asked him if he was a real cowboy?!

In ND still we heard there was a tornado in St Louis Park (it didn't damage our house). But you can tell Alley is fascinated and scared about tornados. She said her other dream is to see a tornado.

Rob hoped she didn't see a tornado someday while riding a horse.

A messy kid's dream

2011-05-22T21:48:00.000-05:00

At Lego fest - there was a huge pile of legos which the kids were invited to sit and search for just that right Lego piece. Alley made a airplane.

Alley's Lego family

2011-05-22T21:45:00.001-05:00

Who's the guy with Alley???

Lost her 2nd tooth @ gymnastics practice

2011-05-05T19:57:00.002-05:00

Alley told us the next day that she saw the tooth fairy. Rob had been the one to put a dollar coin under in pillow - however fortunately she did not see him. Instead she described the tooth fairy as looking like a grandma. We asked what she meant by that and she says she had make up on her lips and white hair. She also told us the tooth fairy had tiny almost invisible wings and had silver shoes on. She did not talk to her though - Alley just pretended to sleep and caught a glimpse of her.

Egg hunt number 3

2011-05-01T17:09:00.002-05:00

Grandpa Charlie gave Alley some clues for the after Easter egg hunt- there was snow on the ground on May 1st in Fargo

Big May Day basket?

2011-05-01T17:04:00.002-05:00

Hand me downs from cousins Megan & Breanna

2011-04-30T17:31:00.001-05:00

Successful hunt

2011-04-22T23:30:00.001-05:00

Easter egg hunt we set up for the girls and AJ & Amelia who we were babysitting on Good Friday.

Nice Spring Day

2011-04-08T00:56:00.002-05:00

It's hard to see - but Alley is chasing a duck near the Reedy river in downtown Greenville. Alley had a habit of scaring and disturbing several animals on this trip. She and Claire were so excited they screamed and ran after Uncle Gregg's cats when we first arrived at his house. One of the cats was so scared she hid the entire time - mostly under the covers or behind the couch. So not surprising, that Alley again can't control her excitement for the beautiful day, the waterfall, and the ducks that thought they could rest in this serene environment - not with Alley around. She did not however scare Chelsea's turtle into it's shell permanently. We all went up to visit Chelsea at Erskine University outside of Greenville. She plays La Crosse and we watched 2 of her games -on not so nice spring days - windy but at least wasn't raining. Chelsea and her roommates have pet turtles - I think Alley and Claire were a little afraid to touch them but loved watching them.

Children's Museum - Greenville, SC

2011-04-08T00:44:00.002-05:00

Alley and I created her name on a huge LightBright machine at the cool Children's Museum in Greenville on our visit to Uncle Gregg's.

Alley is obsessed with horses right now - even if they are plastic ones - on the farm set at the museum.

Power Alley at Greenville Drive

2011-04-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

Class of 2024

2011-03-25T14:07:00.001-05:00

Alley and I attended the kindergarten round up this week and they had a big banner reading Welcome Class of 2024! Wow that seems so far away! Alley was so happy- skipping down the hallway. One parent who was volunteering said she was so impressed how friendly she is. They got to have a little kindergarten class w /o the parents and Alley drew a picture of herself w of course one eye that is part brown.
Alley and Claire just finished gymnastics and they both really liked it. For the spring we have gymnastics and swimming lined up.
Alley had her 5 yr old check up yesterday. She is about average in weight and height - you can tell though that she'll likely be petit. She was really afraid of the shots this time - but the dic wisely got them over right away.

Sent from my iPhone

Graduation

2011-03-23T13:28:00.000-05:00

Alley receiving her certificate of completion for her first gymnastics class

Presents, presents and more presents for Alley's 5th Brithday

2011-03-01T00:50:00.003-06:00

Mad crush for Alley handing out treat bags for her friends.

"I want that one!" She got a lot of nice gifts from her family and friends - including Barbies (Barbie vet w a mother cat patient who gives birth to kittens - seriously), Barbie faries, Barbie videos, Rumpenzel, dinosaur video, kids game for Wii, legos designed for girls with pink blocks and of course lego ponies!

This was one of Alley's first of many My Little Pony gifts - she loved them all of course. She has frequent parties and carnivals that the ponies attend. She said one of her favorite presents was the hot air baloon for her My Little Ponies.

No pony cake - so Care Bears instead.

2011-03-01T00:44:00.003-06:00

Never thought to keep all my toys when I was young to give to my kids someday - but Alley choose the Care Bears after seeing a few of their cartoons lately. She also likes Pound Puppies and Garfield - throw back to the 80s!

Alley and her friends

2011-03-01T00:26:00.008-06:00

The funny and tired faces of Alley's friends.

Madison

Sami - Alley's best friend right now. Sami is also a fan of My Little Ponies and anything to do with horses.

Lauren - Alley and Lauren have been in the same class since they were babies at Kindercare.

Eliza

Alley invited her entire preschool class and several of her close friends - to total 24 kids in attendance.

Pump It Up Party

2011-03-01T00:20:00.004-06:00

Alley and her friends have attended many Pump It Up parties - but it never seems to get old to them. Kind-of like how they watch the same cartoon episode over and over again.

1st lost tooth

2011-02-26T12:39:00.001-06:00

Alley finally lost the tooth that has been loose for a month. As you can see the adult tooth is coming in already.

Alley's Happy Birthday

2011-02-20T20:42:00.004-06:00

Alley birthday party

Riding the train

2011-02-05T16:12:00.000-06:00

Practicing for the party

2011-01-31T21:47:00.001-06:00

Alley on the trampoline at gymnastics- good practice for her party in a few weeks at Pump It Up.

2 little gymnasts

2011-01-31T21:39:00.000-06:00

Alley and Claire on their first day of gymnastics.

"Mom the tooth fairy isn't real"

2011-01-31T21:18:00.002-06:00

Alley is growing up quickly. She has been quite challenging lately - showing wisdom and drama beyond her years. Yesterday after I got upset with her for throwing a fit in McDonalds - she told me "I wish I was never born!". Where did she even get that?!?

Today she made the discovery that one of her bottom front teeth is loose. Low and behold there is an adult tooth popping up behind it. I told her we need to make sure to keep the tooth when it falls out to put under her pillow for the tooth fairy. She looked at me and kind of rolled her eyes and said "Mom - the tooth fairy isn't real."

Update

2011-01-24T16:11:00.003-06:00

I feel like we really haven't updated everything that has been happening in Alley's little life. Starting around Christmas - which of course Alley was looking so forward to. Grandpa Alley was her for Christmas day and stayed a week. We got to go to Mall of America and ride a few rides and the movie Tangled. Grandma Erlys and Virgil were here for Christmas Eve and were able to stay a few days. Over New Years's weekend we traveled to Fargo in a certified Blizzard. The interstate closed down shortly after we arrived there. Alley loved playing with Megan and Breanna. On New Year's day Rob's parents had their yearly spaghetti supper with family and Alley had fun making a gingerbread house with Claire and Breanna, while Megan made a whole village by herself.

Alley of course was spoiled and got lots of fun presents - I am sure I won't be able to remember them all. Playdoh cake maker, barbie mermaid, barbie dog trainer with a training pool(from Santa), my little pony, a pretty red outfit w matching scarf from Grandma Helen, cool outfit from Grandma Erlys, hat and gloves, barbie dresses, big barbie puzzle, sprinkles, cookie cutters, cupcake pans and her very own camera - that she has had fun taking pictures.

Alley is now planning for her birthday. She has gone to several Pump It Up parties hosted by her classmates - there seems to be one every weekend. So not surprising, we couldn't convince her of anything other than a Pump It Up party. So we booked one today and got invitations with Horses on them - which is the latest thing she is into.

Alley and Claire both start gymnastics this week. They are going to take a break on swimming class - since they seem to be doing well with that and resume in the spring. Alley also continues to take soccer. She has proven to be a pretty good goalie - but tends to skip down the playing field when she is playing offense. She has also started a beginning reading class. Her parents aren't the best about having her practice reading at home - but we read plenty of books to her.

Cowgirl

2011-01-16T16:53:00.000-06:00

Cupcakes w grandma

2011-01-06T18:48:00.000-06:00

Matching girls

2010-12-30T15:17:00.001-06:00

Matching outfits from Grandma Erlys - hard to get both girls together though.

I don't want to wear an apron

2010-12-28T18:42:00.001-06:00

Bowling

2010-12-28T18:38:00.000-06:00

Alley and Claire had a ton of bowling last night.

Soccer medal

2010-12-19T19:30:00.000-06:00

Alley and Brady got their soccer medals for participating in fall indoor soccer. Alley had a lot of fun often skipping across the field - however it's hard to be a good soccer player while skipping.

Blizzard

2010-12-11T11:56:00.001-06:00

There is a blizzard outside nothing to do but put gloves on our feet, socks on our hands and slide around on our bottoms.

Christmas Concert Video

2010-12-06T17:29:00.003-06:00

Visiting Santa

2010-12-06T17:27:00.001-06:00

Alley's singing debut

2010-12-05T22:03:00.002-06:00

Alley and AJ (just behind her) sang Christmas carols on Saturday morning for the St Joan of Arc Christmas program. Alley seemed to do well - singing most of the time. She really got into Deck the Halls - pumping her fists every Fa La La La Laaa La La La Laaaaa. She got so into it that she tired herself out and sat down for part of the last song.

Prelude to Christmas

2010-12-05T21:37:00.002-06:00

And prelude to Thanksgiving in Arizona. We all went to Arizona to visit Grandpa Alley from the Sat to Wed before Thanksgiving. It was only in the 60s, but the kids still swam of course.

No sleep till, no sleep till, no sleep till Minneapolis?

2010-11-24T19:55:00.002-06:00

The girls went nap less at grandpa Alley's. But could not stay awake a few minutes in dad's jeep.

Catching scarves

2010-11-24T19:52:00.000-06:00

Alley's turkey leg hat

2010-11-24T19:45:00.000-06:00

Feeding the ducks

2010-11-23T10:44:00.000-06:00

Alley and Claire love to feed the ducks while visiting grandpa Alley in Phoenix. While at the lake Alley said I think I know the one of the other girls at the lake. Skeptically, we said she could say hi, sure enough they go to school together in Minnesota. Small world.

Decorating for the big party

2010-11-02T19:27:00.001-05:00

One tired horse

2010-11-02T19:24:00.000-05:00

And little girl after trick or treating and a Halloween party at our house the day before.