Hager Family Twins Trip 2010

Written by Kya

On Friday my parents took me for a very long car ride. I was strapped in this seat for eight hours. Mom, Dad and Maria were in our car and we had lots of fun playing and making funny faces at each other. Every few hours we'd stop and eat (all of us) and then we'd keep 0n driving.

We took an exit and drove into a land of big sparkly buildings. I liked looking at them very much.

My home for the next two nights was the Graves 601 hotel in downtown Minneapolis, MN. Mom and dad say is was one of the nicest hotels they have ever stayed in. I have to agree (but since this was my first hotel stay, I don't have much to compare it to).

The hotel let me stay in this neat (and very safe and clean) little crib and gave me some squeaky bath ducks to play with and take home.

I was very excited to get out of my car seat. Finally. Look at our view! The Target Center was right next door (grass roof) and the Twin's stadium - Target Field - was right next to that (you can see the upper level).

Friday evening we went to my first Twins Game. We went to another game at noon on Saturday.

The stadium is brand new and very pretty.

Everyone was so happy and I think they had fun.

I had lots of grass to look at.

The place really has everything - even a clean conference room for me and mom to go when I got hungry or needed a diaper change. Mom says it is at the Guest Services counter - just ask there and they will take you back to the room.

Oooh look pretty lights too. I made lots of new friends along the way. So many people to smile at.

This is my Aunt Maria. She's cool.

That's my head. I'm quite bald. Oh and Maria and Mom and Grandpa Gary.

I met up with my buddy Cole at the game. We were both first-timers. It was his 1st birthday. Cole's mom is Kristan - a good friend of my moms (they were bridesmaids in each other's weddings).

I got to hang out in this Ergo Baby Carrier for a few days. I had so much fun looking around, sleeping, eating, and hanging out in it.

Saturday afternoon, Grandma Andrea, Mom, Maria and I went shopping. Dad, Matthew and Grandpa Gary went for a little bus ride adventure to the Minnesota Gopher's stadium.

Matthew watched the game through the gates. The ticket office was already closed and they couldn't get in.

Those stinkers snuck past security after half time and got into the game!

And I'm pretty impressed with their free view.


Oh, and Matthew made a new friend too. This is Matt Capps. He throws the ball for the Twin's team. He stayed at the same hotel as us. We saw him many times.

On Sunday morning we went to church and then started for home.

Here I am in my red seat. Yet again.

This is my new toy. I played with it the whole way home. Even in my sleep. Good buy mom.

We had a finny face contest. I won. Mom thinks I might be getting teeth - I made some pretty strange mouth expressions and started rubbing my gums together, side to side.

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Well that concludes the photo tour. Corey and I took some photos (most of these were Corey's), but not nearly as many as we usually take. I guess we were too busy keeping track of little miss Kya :)

I will try to get copies of other folk's photos and will post them soon.

Oh - and I heard that Mandan/Bismarck got snow while we were in Minneapolis?! Yikes! Are we ready for winter yet?

Fun Morning in the Country

Ahhhh ... a morning bicycle ride in our "neighborhood" with Corey and Kya. One of my new favorite things, and yet another great thing about country life.

We only saw two cars, and both were driving slowly and were very courteous when passing us.

(Kya is sporting another Grandma Katy sweater. This one is vintage from my and Caitlyn's early years)

I got the baby/child trailer at a garage sale for only $40!

Hope everyone has happy Saturday. Is it already autumn where you are? It certainly is here.

Kya eats.

On Sunday we fed Kya rice cereal for the first time. She liked it but I don't think much made it in to her tummy. Kya was eager to get food in her mouth, but once the cereal mush hit her tongue, she didn't know what to do with it.

Anyway the past few days we have been helping Kya practice with the cereal. Great Grandma Rene even got to feed Kya (she babysat Kya for us last night during our date night).

I am happy to report that today Kya mastered the skill of keeping food in her mouth ... and less on the bib/hands/face/hair/clothing/counter/chair.

Only Kya knows if it is a coincidence to her good eating or not, but this evening I added some "spice" to her mush. It has been a joke since pregnancy, that I eat an abundance of spicy foods. A lot. Almost every meal. If it isn't spicy enough, I add extra hot sauce. Thankfully, it has never seemed to bother Kya or I. Tonight, Kya's "spice" was pureed carrots. And not just any carrots. Great Grandpa Andy's special garden carrots.

My recipe for Kya's favorite baby mush is quite simple: organic baby rice cereal prepared as normal, with some pureed carrots mixed in. I think I will call it creamed carrots.

Kya ate the first serving. The whole thing - wow this is a first!

Then she cried. She screamed as I was trying to prepare and warm the second helping.

Wonderful - I thinks he really likes this stuff.

Then I fed her the second bowl. The whole thing. I even scraped the bits from the edges of the bowl.

She fussed again.

I decided I didn't want an orange baby, so I switched to other feeding methods.

We officially have an eater. A very impatient one.

As a side note - this is the first of what will probably be many posts about my adventures in making baby food. If you have any advice or stories to share - please comment :) thanks in advance.

Kya's Fourth Month

Kya is five months old.

We fed her rice cereal for the first time this morning.


She liked the first bite or two, but she lost interest pretty quickly. I'll try again tomorrow and maybe we'll have better luck.

Here are some photos from Kya's fourth month of life. I need to start blogging more - this is a ridiculous heap of catch-up photos. enjoy!

Early this month we went 20 miles north of our house, to Cross Ranch State Park.

It is a fun and beautiful park. We'll definitely be frequenters!

Corey's dad, brothers and sister went with us to Cross Ranch.

The next day we took Kya to the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck. The tiger thought she looked yummy.

Kya loved looking around, but I think she thought the trees were more interesting than any of the animals.

Maria stayed with us for a few days and I was so very thankful for all her help - watching Kya while I was at the dentist, keeping her entertained while we closed on our house, and while I renewed my license at the DMV.

Who needs a bumbo seat when you've got boxes?!

Kya found her toes and hasn't given them up. Apparently they taste pretty good.

I think she gets happier every day.

She still loves being outside - and enjoys walks.

We went to Mandan's Grill Fest in the park. The food was delicious and I already can't wait for next year.

Corey and Kya had fun dancing to the polka/accordion music.

Grandma ReNay was here visiting, between selling her house and moving to Alaska.

Kya has lost of fun memories of long walks, exploring, sleepovers, and hugs.

Did you know that Kya is a fantasy football genius? She helped Corey and I with our drafts this year.

She wore her first pair of OshKosh Overalls - and looked darn cute.

The past week it is finally chilly enough for wearing Grandma Katy sweaters.

I think it's pretty cool that Kya has a nice collection of these super soft sweaters to wear all winter - just like Caitlyn and I had. Thanks Grandma Katy!

Kya wore her fist pair fo cow girl boots.

Of course, they are hot pink.