Kinderberry Hill Recap

You love Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kinderberry Hill. When I drop you off in the morning you hardly notice my departure as you greet Ethan, Kayla and Zoya. Sara, your teacher, adores you and always gives you a gigantic hug to commence the day. You undertake fantastic art projects (we love the hand ornament you made for us for Christmas) and are learning a little Espanol to boot. Your naps are brief but Sara reports you are rarely fussy. You have just too much fun at KBH to schedule time for Zzzzzz's.

Ringing in the New Year in style

It's quite obvious you're Sara's favorite pupil!

What's for breakfast?



The model student







Miss Independent

Delaney's First Christmas

The past two days have been a whirlwind and we're all quite exhausted. We celebrated Christmas Eve with Janma's family - the Rose clan: Phil, Margo, Jill, Marilyn and Paul, Karen, Cam, Sky and Cole. Jen, Matt, Hailey and Pete, Lin & Raina were missed but we're hoping they can join the festivities next year. Grandma Jan joined us for the first time and she was a great addition to the celebration. Janma and Grandpa teamed up to prepare another delectable holiday meal. Adhering to tradition, they cooked ham, Swedish meatballs, lefse, a lime-avocado salad, and Great Grandma Ann's cheesy potatoes. Margo brought the gifta (a Rose family standard and delicious taste treat) and Paul baked his homemade buns. Dad gave you a generous serving of lefse and you also tasted a bit of Margo's yummy gifta. Your first Christmas Eve dinner did not disappoint. Following dinner, we gathered in the living room for gift opening. Your first bike from Janma and Grandpa and a new laptop from Grandma Jan will be thoroughly enjoyed in the upcoming months.

Santa dropped in while you were sleeping and left you books and the cutest, most cuddly teddy bear. It goes without saying that you were a good little one this year!

We spent Christmas Day with Rachel, Jason, Cassidy, Josh, Zack, Grandma Jan and Jason's mom Kathy and sister Erika. The excitement surrounding the season of giving was ever-present at the Davis home as you and your cousins opened presents. Rachel and Jason served a tasty turkey dinner. What a perfect day! An early evening visit to my cousin Mike's put you over the edge. Though you slept all the way from Woodbury to Maple Grove, tears erupted upon arrival and fusses of discontent accompanied us on our journey home. But all of the Dixon relatives were so happy to see you, if only just for a moment. Next year we will be certain to carve out more time to relax during this busy time.

This year we received our greatest gift - you. Our nine month adventure together has been nothing short of AWESOME. We are incredibly blessed with the most precious daughter. Happy 1st Christmas Delaney!

Nine Months on the Eve of Christmas

You are nine months today and it's been a celebration of grand proportion. In honor of your birthday and because me and dad just couldn't wait, you opened one of your Christmas presents early this morning. As expected the wrapping paper delighted you more than the gift but we are certain your new picnic basket will provide hours fun in the near future.


Your vocabulary is expanding! No longer stuck on the "Da Da Da"s, you have added the "Ma Ma Ma"s, the "Ba Ba"s and the "Fa Fa"s. You also give an occasional but enthusiastic "Yeeeeaaaaa" and happily put up a high five upon request (thanks Janma). Keep the sounds coming Delaney - your voice has such a sweet ring. In addition, you've recently mastered the front-to-back roll. You now can successfully obtain all out of reach objects, so no more mobile grunts of frustration. Yeeeeaaaaaa! In dietary news, your preferred munchies include Cheerios, blueberries and yogurt. Brown Bear remains your favorite book but if I had to guess, Where is the Green Sheep? is a close second.


Thank you Delaney for your abundant smiles and laughs - each little giggle and toothless grin melts my heart.

Tubby Time

Sometimes impromptu baths are the most fun.

A little accident led to lots of smiles in Janma's kitchen sink!

Twin City Model Railroad Museum

One of Dad's dreams is to have a train room in our house. Unfortunately, our two-story on Palace is much too small to dedicate an entire room much less a corner to railroad cars whirring around a track. So to satiate Dad's cho-cho wishes, we visited the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. While Dad loved every minute of our tour, the pictures below indicate you may have had different sentiments about the museum. Nonetheless, it's always wonderful to spend a little quality time together!

This is "sorta" fun!

Losing your enthusiasm the second time through...

You've seen enough.

Thanksgiving Day 2011

Your first Thanksgiving Day was one of the warmest on record. The late fall sun was shining bright as we spent the day enjoying our time together. Grandpa and Linus accompanied us to Acorn Park for a few trips down the slide and some time in the swing. Grandma Jan joined us in the afternoon for playtime and Thanksgiving dinner. Janma and Grandpa's meal was delicious! Janma made you a special applesauce lime jello concoction. You also tried a few bites of potatoes and cranberries. Grandpa and Janma's celebration was perfect. We could not be more grateful for their love and generosity.

We are thankful for a happy, healthy Delaney. Today was our best Thanksgiving ever because of you!

Not yet our little carnivore

Scoping out Black Friday deals

Playtime with Grandma Jan 

Can somebody please hand me a fork?

So much to be thankful for! 

Weeeeee!

Acorn Park in November  

Grandpa can't wait to come back in the spring

The Como Zoo

We took advantage of this warm and sunny November day with a trip to the Como Zoo. You finally had the opportunity to see some of the animals we read about in your books. We greeted a couple of friendly giraffes and cautiously observed a lion and tiger at rest. We watched the polar bears swim and dive in their pool and the ostrich preen around her pen. And we had our last little taste of summer as we meandered through rainforest exhibit on this eleventh day of the eleventh month of 2011. Thanks Como Zoo for the fun day - we'll be back.

Delaney, Delaney what do you see?

That's not the sound of a tiger.

So you don't want to support the polar bears?

Don't go summer sun!

It's the Great Pumpkin, Delaney Rose



Our Halloween festivities began last weekend as we ventured to a pumpkin truck to pick your first gourd (next year we promise to trek to a patch). On Sunday we to went to Phil and Margo's for a Halloween chili party. You and Hailey looked adorable dressed in your costumes (a special thanks to Janma for crocheting your cozy pumpkin hat). Last week at school you worked diligently on your Halloween sponge painting with Sara. At just 7 months you are an emerging artist Delaney. Check out your final creation below. Tonight you and Dad walked to the neighbor's for your first trick-or-treat outing. Maybe next year we'll travel a bit further down the block.

We hope you had a fun Halloween Delaney - we sure did!

Pondering your pumpkin pick...so many to choose from

A perfect little pumpkin

You are quite focused on your art project





Well executed Delaney!

The Pumpkin and the Ladybug



It will be a few years before we hand over the carving tools

A Photo Review

The many faces of you! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last few months. You have changed so much, so fast. You are sweet. You are kind. You are funny. You are patient. I hang on to every precious moment knowing tomorrow you'll have grown a little bit bigger. Thank you for being such a fabulous little person! I cherish our memories and look forward to all that lies ahead.

A quick call to Dad while he is at a weekend conference.

A new toy - love plastic!

Goodness, I love this face.

In your office at Janma's and Grandpa's

Janma made us these matching hats just in time for the Minnesota winter - fortunately you're too young to be embarrassed by dressing like your mom.

Three generations of Andersons

Summer swimming with Hailey

Shades and a graphic tee - too cool for school

Entertainment by Janma

So tired from all the summer fun!

Love you incredibly much!

                                     

First Day of School

Big smile on your first day at Kinderberry Hill!

Today is your first day of school at Kinderberry Hill! Though recovering from your first cold, you seemed excited and focused on your new surroundings. A "Welcome Delaney" sign greeted you on the classroom door. Your teacher Kim was happy to meet you. I felt so comfortable leaving you in the company of Kim and your new classmates - I think you're going to like KB Hill!