"Pre-school"

I just can't get it right when I say, "Ready to go to school (aka daycare)" in the mornings. I am immediately corrected with "No, I go to pre-school!" Geez, I need to up with the times. 

Kate continues to love her "pre-school" at Best Buy. Pam is still one of her favorites. Kate gets to spend time with her at our house when we need help at night or on the weekends. 

 Kate loves to tease Miss. Essi, her current teacher. Miss. Essi recently became a grandmother again and her daughter named her granddaughter, Kate. Kate likes to tell Miss. Essi, "No, that not your Kate. I'm your Kate." She was a special way of wrapping her teachers. Only about five to six weeks left in Miss. Essi's toddler room, and Kate will be moving up to young pre-k. Let's hope she gets on the potty chair soon!

Gopher Homecoming

We took Kate to the Gopher Homecoming Parade on Friday night at the U of M. She loves Subway and was so happy to see her Daddy when he arrived after being gone for the week. She dressed up in her cheerleading outfit to welcome him home.

 The cheerleaders were one of her highlights at the parade. She wasn't quite sure what to do with the pompoms. Mommy will need to practice with her.

 Waiting for the parade to begin, she saw Goldie ride by on his "motorcycle." She was so sad when he drove by and didn't stop. She was holding out her arms crying, "Goldie, Goldie." She knows the way to her Daddy's heart... Already a die hard Gopher fan!

 One of the house fronts on fraternity row... This Goldie pacified her for a short while.

 Kate was not a fan of this Goldie, who came in and out of "Goldy's Gym" on the float in the parade. He was a little too big for her liking.

 When Tony and I went to the game on Saturday, Kate stayed home with Pam and two of her friends from school, Sammy and Max Hughes. She walked around with her Goldie she got the night before at Gold Country and was saying, "Go Goldie Gophers." She is still walking around with him acting like he is her baby this week. 

 Showing off her parade findings ... Gopher ears and "naked," as she would say

Annual Apple Jack Orchards Visit

We had our annual Apple Orchard Extravaganza last weekend at Apple Jack Orchards. Kate had a ball this year. It was fun to see her in action this year - she is so grown up! Literally almost 3 feet tall! She is gaining on Nana!

 Penny, the cow. Kate rode in the cow train all by herself around a big open field. She must be a true Wagner Farmer at heart and felt right at home. 

 Her first face painting! What else would she pick but a flamingo?!? She loves her flamingo pj's and was quick to pick it off the chart!

 "Mommy, look at my 'mingo'!"

 Mommy and Daughter Day

 Quick, before I fall!

 Kate got right in their picking apples off the tree with me. I turned around, and she was eating apples right off the tree. It was fantastic! We picked 15 pounds of apples and are going back for more when we pick pumpkins. 

Go Gophers! (vs. San Jose State)

We took Kate to her first Gopher game of the year, and one that she actually knew what was going on. She LOVED the action at the game, especially Goldie. She thought he was riding his "motorcycle," which was really a segway. Kate thought she wanted to see Goldie upfront and in person. When she got close, she was a little scared and backed away.

Presley Albers (Kristi and Mitch's little girl) and Kate - Kate looked up to both of their girls

Campbell Albers and Kate 

Someone was a little tuckered out on the drive home!

Gymnastics

While Mommy and Daddy were in Greece, Nana took me to my first Fall gymnastics class at TAGS Gymnastics in Eden Prairie. Linda, my teacher, says that I am a jumper and this class will be good for me! 

Ellie is in the same class as me... It is so fun to be able to see her on Saturdays now too. 

 Walk up the wall... Mommy learned this week that I may listen a lot better to Daddy that her for this class. I was running all over the place from station to station out of control. 

 Two stamps for being two!

 Swinging on the bars... Nana said that I am going to be an over achiever. I was running to the front of the line to be first for everything. Not sure where I get it. 

 Walking the beam...

Trip to Nana and Papa's

While we were in Greece, Kate stayed with Nana and Papa. She was quite the cleaner.

Great Grandma Kathy and Dave visited while she was in Brookings. She also had Grandma Rose and Great Aunt Lois visit from Mitchell.

 What happens at Nana's... stays at Nana's 

 Building forts in the living room 

A visit to the Sioux Falls Zoo

 Camel ride...

Opa!

Tony and I were blessed to be able to go to Greece and Turkey for 12 days. We figured we would not have the opportunity to go on vacation as a couple for several years, or at least not one where we could be gone for so many days. My mother is a Godsend and took care of Kate for us the entire time. Kate enjoyed being at Nana and Papa's! 

The Parthenon on Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece built in 4th Century B.C. 

 Buckler was April's beer of choice on the trip (non-alcoholic, of course) versus the more flavorful one, Fix, that was Tony's beer of choice. 

 Our view of the Acropolis from our hotel room balcony at the Electra Palace Hotel. 

 All aboard...We took a 7 day cruise around the Greek Isles and Turkey on the WindStar cruise ship. 

 Our first meal on the ship. The ship was only 140 passengers... the staff, service, and food were stellar. 

Mykonos was the first Greek Isle we stopped. There was a small village named, Little Venice, that was a great place to walk the shops and have lunch right on the water.

Oia, Santorini, was one of our favorite stops in Greece. It is the view that you see in all of the pictures and more.

We experienced not only traditional belly dancing in Turkey but also Greek dancing ... Opa!

 We had beautiful sunsets on the ship...

 Traditional Turkish Rug making... It will take this one woman 1 year to complete this rug. 

 Ephesus in Izmir, Turkey was a fascinating stop. First, we went to the house where they believe Virgin Mary spent her last days before dying. Below is the Old Library at Ephesus. 

 Kusadasi, Turkey

 We played BlackJack almost every night on the ship after dinner. It was the first time I had played with real money. Tony was the big winner! 

Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

I would not do well living there, especially pregnant. It was so hot wearing a head wrap in the Mosque, but we did it to honor the faith

 No legs can be showing on the men.