Minnesota Zoo with the crew

Tessa shares Daddy's dream of one day having a pet tortoise.

Mima just might make that happen...

Tessa loved the otters. "He will be my pet! I'm going to bring him home!"

Hangin' with Aunt Jessica. Tessa's faves were the fish and the baby dolphin.

Aaron and Tessa made some coyote friends.

Classic Tessa

"This bear is cold, Mommy!" (And not very cuddly)

Hey now, you're a rock star

Uncle Aaron (aka Doug in Rock Band world), taught Tessa some Wii skillz. It's a true family favorite.

Women of many hats

 

Daddy is a princess

Neither of us were quite sure what to think of this...

One night, Eric came into the bathroom like this while Tessa was brushing her teeth. Tessa thought it was a hoot. (It was.) But when he left...

Me: "OK, my strawberry princess, let's finish getting ready for bed."
Tessa: (In a sad tone) "I'm not a princess, Mommy (she put her head down in her hands). Daddy is the princess. He has my tutu!"

When you sing, you begin with do-re-mi

The Von Trapps called. They want Gretyl back.

Lately, Tessa has been...

Celebrating

Practicing her surprised face

Playing games on pbskids.org

Taking care of Baby Brynn

Smiling

Making Play-Doh cookies

Making "snow angels" in the house

Making her mark on the world our walls

Eating cheese and crackers

Every day, I tell her to stop growing. Every day, she tells me she will keep growing. It's a harsh reality for me. Not only that, but also, I can no longer put words in her mouth. She has more than enough to say. The other day, she informed Eric and me that when she is 3, she'll go to preschool (true) and when she is 4, she'll go to college. Hmmm...not so much. On Valentine's Day, she told me that her conversation heart said, "Don't be naughty" after I told her mine said, "Be mine." I'm sure there's a market for those.  

Happy Friday!

Fun in a fort

Last weekend, this was Tessa's incentive to stay in her room at bed time. If she came out, the fort came down. We really wanted it to stay up, and even gave her a second chance, but to no avail.

Tessa has started doing "homework" just like Daddy. Only her homework usually consists of playing Candy Land or with a puzzle. I could handle that homework. While Eric is studying to be a principal, apparently Tessa is studying to be a Minosaur. Wish us luck with that.

Eric ditched his book to join the ranks of the up-and-coming Minosaur.

Christmas part II

Tessa chats with Grandpa and Thomas

Chillin' on her gorilla, which she named Greta.

Playing blocks with Matt, John & Natalie

Tessa & Thomas

Tessa, Matt and John's signature pose. I'm pretty sure Tessa is always in the right arm, and John in the left. I'll have to review the collection.

The cookie crew

Fun with sprinkles

Cookie crew part deux

Tessa was super excited about the Disney Princess kitchen from Matt, Natalie & John.

Cutie patooties

Proud Daddy and happy little girl


Thanks for a great celebration, everyone!

All I wanted for Christmas was a tonsillectomy?

Well, Tessa got it, and then some. Adenoids were removed, too...BONUS! (Sometimes I wonder why God made us with all these extra parts that, evidently, we can live without.)

Back to topic, Tessa is recovering well after her surgery on Dec. 28. I accompanied her to the OR, where the nurses had chosen Disney princesses to display on all the screens. (Because Disney princesses make everything better.) Tessa was too scared to notice them. It took the anesthesiologist, two nurses and myself to hold her down. But, most important, the surgery itself went well, and we made the best of the overnight hospital stay.

Today was Tessa's first day back at the Y, and all the kids were excited to see her. She'll be done with the amoxicillin after tomorrow, and hopefully the pain medication soon. (Don't tell her I told you this, but the plethora of bacteria makes her breath smell like dog food.)

Post-recovery room

Tessa was happy to have visitors.

No, she didn't vote in an Iraqi election. Back at home, she finger painted with the set she received as a get-well gift from Matt, Natalie & John. Thank you!

Breakfast: popsicles. Lunch: popsicles. Dinner: popsicles.