BIG Monkey

Minka has a purple monkey (which goes absolutely everywhere with us and sleeps with her every night and nap - as seen below a couple posts ago).

Grandpa and Grandma K surprised her with this BIG Monkey!  This one is SO big, it stays as Grandpa and Grandma's until we visit.

Bedroom - Flipped

We have had our house for about 2.5 months and we have been busy!  Jareth had a month off of work in between jobs so he had a lot of time (and ambition!) to work on the house.  I am so excited that we have accomplished so much before the little one arrives!

Here is our bedroom - Before

 In progress...

 After!

We just need some pillows and finishing touches and we are all set!  

Comfy, Cozy

Minka is usually a very healthy kid and has only been to the doctor a handful of times outside of her normal check ups.  She did catch a bit of some sickness this winter.  She made herself "comfy, cozy" before crashing for a good nap on the couch.

Hard at work

One day I had to stop by work late to pick up some things I forgot.  Minka enjoyed visiting Mommy's Big Work.  She also enjoyed riding the Alligator...it took me awhile to realize she meant elevator.

Homeowners

As of November 16th we are officially homeowners!!  

Grandma Lisa welcoming us home for the first time.

 Minka loves her house and room.  I think we will really enjoy the yard this summer.

 Running around the backyard.

 She is quite the helper around the house as we fix up and clean things up around here!

 The new house brings new rules.  She now sleeps in her big girl bed and we are working on potty training.

 Our first project was Minka's room.  It definitely needed the carpet removed and some fresh paint livened this room right up.

Before

After

 We were quick to get settled and put up the Christmas tree right away!

More home projects will be posted!

Making Minka a Believer

We are almost caught up!  

In early December we wrote Santa this heartfelt letter.

We also made ornaments for the Grandparents and our Christmas tree. 

And gingerbread houses

 And of course played outside too!

Miscellaneous Minka

Before I went to England we moved out of our townhouse in Lakeville and began the home buying process for a house in Coon Rapids.  During this time we were thankful to stay with my Grandparents and have Jareths parents move to the cities.  With our transition to the north of the cities we had to switch daycares.  Grandma Lisa now gets to watch Minka during the week.  

For her last day of daycare I successfully accomplished a pinterest recipe which Minka loved and shared with her friends.  These are super easy and very cute!

 Jareth has been taking classes at the U and Minka has heard more than once that he is working on 'homework'.  She wanted some homework for herself.  I gave her enough for an all nighter.

After staying with my Grandparents we were in an extended stay hotel with Jareth's parents until we each closed on our houses.  We made our own fun. Minka loved getting her fingernails painted.

 It was also time after 2 years to give Minka her first haircut.  Here she is getting ready for the big ordeal.

 There it is!  That's it!  Just the bangs had to go.  First haircut: Success.

 Very Cute!

Family Fun

Minka, Jareth and I enjoyed some time out as a family for bowling, arcade games, and dinner.

UK continued

Instead of expectant mother parking they have parent & toddler parking.  This is genius.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy the expectant mother parking, however, the pregnant part is the easier part.  When its zero degrees out, windy, and I have to lug around Minka while attempting to wrap up and carry the newborn with the diaper bag and keeping us all together in the parking lot - I would trade in the expectant mother parking any day.

 Beautiful old buildings 

 In my room at the bed and breakfast the chandelier was gorgeous

 At the cider museum in Hereford they displayed oak vats that were used to ferment the apple juice for some tasty cider.

 Fish and chips the size of my leg

 At a cider plant we saw how they make cider and perry (cider made from pears)

 Apple orchard

 At this particular cider factory they still use oak vats today.  They are the only local cider factory still use real oak vats.  Thousands of gallons filled these giant vats.

 Traveling through Wales

 We adventured into some caves that told stories of the young boys who used to mine in the giant cave.

Symonds Yat is a village in the Forest of Dean and a popular tourist destination, straddling the River Wye and the borders of the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, it is within a few miles of the Welsh border.  (Source: Wikipedia)

Goodrich Castle was also on the way. 

 In Hereford, I went for a walk one morning to the Cathedral.

 The Wye river bridge in Hereford.