Arizona

I have been a very bad blogger as of late. And with the camera MIA at the moment, the only updating I am able to do is with pictures taken on my iPhone (best Christmas/house sale gift ever!).
Last week North and I were in Arizona visiting Nanny and Papa.
It was a great time and North is still wandering around saying Where Nanny Papa? I think he had lots of fun and misses them already.
I was nervous to make the flights (complete with layovers) alone with a 1 year old. Turns out my fears were entirely unfounded though. He was a great little traveler.
Here are some pictures from our trip and other recent adventures:

Up at 2:30 AM to catch our first flight--amazingly, he was in a great mood hanging out in his stroller at the airport.

airplane!

Christmas presents from Nanny & Papa!

Visiting the snakes and fish at the wildlife center.

Nanny & Papa!

Playing with toys.

He loved the toddler toilet at Nanny & Papa's -- totally uninterested in using it as a toilet but thought it great fun as a toy.

He did throw the occasional fit during our visit.

He loved an old hat of Nanny's -- wouldn't take it off.

Playing on the playground!

Bumped his head on the playground while trying to run.

Playing with and feeding the burrows in Oatman.

Plane ride home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turns out North is a bit afraid of Santa this year...

Wonderlab

We've had quite a few trips to wonderlab as of late and it's quickly become one of North's very favorite places in Bloomington now that the weather has cooled and we're less able to spend time outdoors. Here are some pictures from recent trips.

He loves playing at the water tables.

Drums

Mirror tunnels

He always loves animals

Watching the parchute men fly down

Playing with the ping-pong ball propulsion

Magnets!

My favorite is the bubble room--the bubbles filled with mist that you can hold in your hands in particular.

We also had a visit from Nana & Grandad last weekend--of course we went to Wonderlab and on our way back to the cars saw an aluminum pouring project happening at Waldron Art Center. Alan made a wall plaque for North while there.

The sand mold that Alan carved.

Aluminum waiting to be melted.

Pouring the molten aluminum into the mold.

Cooled.

Mold after.

Finished plaque.

trick-or-treat! halloween 09

Getting ready to trick-or-treat at Sam & Levi's.

North loves Lincoln's toys...

We went to our house in Terre Haute to trick-or-treat. It was nice catching up with our old neighbors.

North didn't really get the concept of trick-or-treating but was happy to follow Lincoln around.



Lincoln has a great love for all things Sponge Bob.

There was even a Patrick--North was TERRIFIED of the giant starfish. Lincoln loved him.

Some handsome guys...

We stopped by Grandma Milner's for a quick trick-or-treat on our way to dropping North off at Nana & Grandad's for the evening. Alan and I got to attend a Halloween party ourselves! It was such a nice Halloween.

viva las vegas

Last week we spent in Las Vegas--we weren't sure how wise it was to take a 1 year old to the notorious city--we ended up having a great time though. Turns out it was totally navigable with a wee one. Also, Nanny and Papa were able to drive down for a couple visits (they even stayed in our same hotel Monday night) allowing us a great opportunity to squeeze in some family visit time.

North loved this restaurant in Caesar's Palace (Beijing Noodle Company 9)--they had massive aquariums that partitioned the entire space--he was in awe.

Visiting with Nanny & Papa at FAO Schwartz in the Forum Shops.

Aquarium show at Caesar's Palace and the giant aquarium at The Mirage.

Getting ready for dinner.

Breakfast at our hotel Tuesday morning.

North and Nanny ate all of Papa's toast.

North loved hanging out at our window--he liked looking down at the lights and excitement emanating from the Flamingo & Caesar's Palace which could be seen from our room.

The "volcano" at the Mirage.

Too much partying.

Visiting the flamingo habitat at The Flamingo.


M&Ms world. We got a fun mix--North got to try M&Ms for the first time.

Paris...New York...
The Brooklyn Bridge and Eiffel Tower in the background...only in Las Vegas.

Visiting the lions at MGM grand--yes, that's a lion sleeping on the glass above North & Alan's head.
A lion sizing North up as a potential snack.

We got to eat at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. DELICIOUS!

Meeting up with Nanny & Papa before we left at Payard.

North loved the fountain show at Bellagio--he danced to the music and demanded more when it concluded.