This is what Helen does...or a day in the life of a 3 yr old

...makes the best of a cold snowy day...

...models a super cute fleece hat making craft at FCC Chinese New Year...

...visits the Midtown Global Market for Wee Wednesday events...

...hangs with BFF Lily...

...and mugs for mom's cellphone camera!

  

7:30 am  Wakes up, I go in her room to open the shades, say "good morning" - that kind of thing. 

Says, "I wanted Daddy to come get me."

8:00 am  Asks "Where are we going today?"   I tell her, replies "That sounds like a good plan."

10:00 am  Playground or open gym, screams "Don't look at me KID!!!!!" at every kid who looks in her direction.

12:00 am  I bonk my elbow on the car door, gives me a tight hug to "heal" me.

12:30 pm  Picks her nose and wipes the booger on my shirt.

12:45 pm  Steals my napkin and throws it on the floor.  Eats all of my Mandarin orange slices. 

1:30 pm  Snuggles in the comfy chair with me for books before naptime, LOTS of kisses. I pretend I'm chomping on her neck, says "Why am I SO delicious?!"

3:30 pm  Everytime I say "she", yells "HE!!!". 

Everytime I say "her", yells "HIM!!! 

Everytime I say "Helen", yells "I'm not Helen, I'm Quincy (or Pablo, or Annie, or...)!!!"

4:30 pm  Says "You are my heart, my life, Mommy"

5:00 - 7:15 pm  Yells "HE!!!", "HIM!!!", and "I'm not Helen!!!" some more.  Refuses to eat dinner.

7:30 pm  Jumps around on her bed and giggles before getting changed into jammies, having "Naked Time!!!"

8:00 pm  Family group hug with various stuffed animals, says "Thanks for a nice day, Mommy."

It's a pretty wonderful, hilariously aggrivating, awesome way to spend the day.  I feel so blessed every minute of the time we spend together - even when I'm answering "WHY?" for the 100th time or wiping boogers off my shirt.  Thank you, Helen, for a nice day. 

Baby, it's cold outside.

   

Best Snowman in town, yeah?!

 

Perfect consistency for a big WALL O' SNOW.

...and CRASH! 

Perhaps some flying buttresses next time?

Too cool for school.

Everybody, ready?  CHEESE!

Ni Hao, Kai-lan with Helen at the Mall of America last weekend -

Happy Chinese New Year!

Last night after dinner

Jazz Hands - YEAH!

Recorded at Julie Andrews Fan Club HQ...our kitchen.

Thanksgiving, Birthdays and Christmas - oh my!

Thanksgiving 2009

Cousins Hunter and Chelsea (my sister's kids) with Helen.

I swear, if you don't hurry up and cut this cake soon I'm gonna...

...chomp!


A moment - sharing birthdays and birthday cake.


(Whoa - haircut girl!)
Opening a birthday gift that came in the mail.
Can you believe she's THREE?!



Helen digging her bracelet and cute sweater.


She likes her sled so much she'll nap on it, thanks Santa!

Hey, yeah hello, a little help here?

Christmas 2009

Pokorny kids with Grandpa at the farm.

Where did the time go? Wasn't it just Halloween?

I got a gentle nudge in my Inbox from a friend so I thought I better post some Nov-Dec pix by Monday morning or there might be some trouble!

So glad we were able to make it to IA to spend the holidays with our families. The weather was iffy and had to be worked around but we made it, no problems.

Helen is talking SO much. She's got a lot to say (like her mom, right?) and most of it, bless her heart, is hilarious, smart and sweet. Current favorites:

"That's CRAZY!"

"Thanks to, mommy and daddy, for a nice day."

"You're goofiest and I'm goofier."

Oh, and did I mention she's been insisting we call her Julie Andrews (star of stage and screen) going on two months now. It was funny and cute the first week. See, when we're running late and I say,

"Helen, get your coat and boots on, quick, quick! We need to go!"

My very passionate three year-old yells,

"I'm Julie Andrews!!!", and a little spot behind my eye starts to pinchpinchpinch.

"Okaaaaay. Whatever! JULIE - get your coat and boots on, now!"

She never lets it slide. She is Julie Andrews and there's absolutely no talking her out of it. The parenting books don't discuss this. Imaginary friends, check.

Not a word on acute FrauleinMaria/MaryPoppins-itis? I want to sit her down, explain that it took her dad and me YEARS to agree on her beautiful name, and that to insist 100 times a day I call her something else not only drives me crazy but it also breaks my heart a little bit each time. I want to tell her that if she really were Julie Andrews, instead of a 3-yr old kid, she'd understand what I was saying and...

Best to all in 2010! I've got a good feeling about it. I don't know anything specific or what have you, I'm just saying.

October 2009 (+ Halloween)

Crocs, definitely not made for running.

Pumpkin patch/farm visit with our travel group (Texas, we love and miss you!).
Last fall, H wasn't too keen on feeding the goats but this year...

...VERY brave!



Helen, Averie and MaryEllen messing around in the corn bin.




Our girl is a CAT PERSON.

Here's our usual shot of the girls together.

We captured the moment for sure!

Helen wasn't too interested in having her pic taken.

Happy Halloween! Helen, as friendly lion.

(I need to work on my face painting skills.)

Trick or Treat!

The night before, Stew and I could hear Helen through the monitor practicing what to say. "Trick OR Treat...TRICK or treat...trick or TREAT...yay! Trick or treat!"

Halloween After-party at Fred and Tom's - they have A LOT of wigs.

In case you've wondered what H will look like in 70 years.

Helping daddy with the fall yard work.

Fruits of her labor.

CRUNCH!

"I'm cold" face. Time to go inside.

For your entertainment

Sometimes ya hear things you weren't sure ya wanted to...

(recorded on my cell phone - lost the last part, unfortunately)

I know! And with a big finish, too.

*Working on some photos from Aug and Sept. Should have them up soon, ya'll!

July looked like THIS...

Dragonboat Festival at Lake Phalen, St. Paul, MN

FCC (Families with Children from China) Dragonboat Team.

Stew and I are middle right.

Oar Salute to our fans on shore as we head out to the start point.

Stew is third rower from rear closest to camera.

I'm fourth rower from the front on the other side.

Good start - everyone is pretty much together.

Not bad for one morning of practice!

6th out of 26 - woo hoo!

The Pokorny Family visits our beautiful city.

We missed you, Grandpa and Zach!

Aunt Mary took this cute shot of Helen at Sommerfest outside Orchestra Hall on the plaza.

We'd all just gotten off the trolley that runs between Lakes Harriet and Calhoun. It was a beautiful sunny day, oh and past naptime, perhaps. Hence, the scowl.

Children's Home Society Annual China Reunion

Getting ready to Pin the Tail on the (Year of the) Ox.

Perhaps you remember Molly (in town for the reunion)?

She was our lifeline in China.

Super deluxe double-slide action, zoom!

Hanging around the playground.

(sorry...)

1-2-3 Baby, you and me

I'm working on some photos from the Dragonboat Races a couple of Saturdays ago but until then... Here's some short, but sweet, vids to keep you movin'/ groovin'.

5:00 Dance Party 2009

Shake it, shake it, baby! EWW, EWW!

This is what June looks like

SO happy it's summer!

Fred and John in charge of bedtime.

Not QUITE cowboy boots, but close enough.



Once again...Helen working her look.

Stewart's birthday breakfast at Victor's.


Getting comfy in the Burly for the first time.

Already with the party tricks...

She's a midwesterner now, eh?

Huge Day! Finally able to climb UP the slide.