Abby and Tommy come to MN!

Here we are in Virginia, MN at a park that features BIG mining TRUCKS!!

Kai can't get enough speed boat!!!

Oh...SOREN!!!

When are you coming home???? Kai's best buddy here in Minneapolis (not to be confused with Kai's best buddy, Soren, in Duluth) has been in Ireland for 2 months. Today, while walking past his house, Kai just looked at me in utter exasperation and said, "Mama, Soren, home, NOW!!!"

We agree-- get yourselves back here quickly! We've missed you!!!

MN Zoo

We love Kai's Montessori School. He has grown and learned so much since attending the school since the Fall. It's an amazing group of kids and families and the staff is just unbelievable. Joe and I couldn't be more happy to have Kai go there 3 times a week.

We went on a community outing to the MN Zoo to see the baby farm animals. I actually think Kai was more excited about the tractors but this goat got him pretty excited too. Actually, he was more in awe of watching the babies nurse on their mothers.

Our boy likes to boogie...

Kai loves to be naked and Kai loves to have tatoos. I'm still laughing about this tatoo. He asked Joe if he could put it on his "pee pee" and when Joe said he had to wait until he was 18 years old to do that all Kai said over and over again was "Why?" It's actually a good question, Joe......why?

Duluth with Ella and Soren

Kai and I joined Joe in Duluth (where Joe goes weekly for work) for a few days of relaxation and fun. Kai loved the hotel. It turns out that for a social guy like Kai, a hotel is a dream come true!
He met tons of kids and figured out which room they were staying and he would go and knock on the door and ask them to come out and play. The pool was another highlight and it confirmed to us, once again, that Kai has no fear of water and he loves to jump in (with or without an adult waiting for him-- yes, I know, scary!). Sarah (Paar) and Tolga Hanhan live in Duluth and we hosted a pool party for the Hanhan kids. Kai loves Soren and Ella and here are a few photos of Kai working his magic on Ella!

Easter 2009

Finally, I'm getting back around to posting a few photos-- we lost the cord to our camera to download photos, so we are way behind.

Here are photos from Easter today. We visited my Dad's church and Kai had fun, but I think he was a bit confused as to why "Pops" was so dressed up and why he was talking to so many people. But, he did like the praying. For those of you who haven't dined with Kai recently, he loves to pray! Ever since we spent a week with Joe's family in January, our little guy keeps us on track and prays at almost every meal. If we forget, he announces it's time to pray and interrupts meal time to do so. Often, he prays about "Maxie" (our cat) or "swimming" or a new friend or truck he met at the playground. It cracks us up so much!

My Butterfly!

All of Kai's Grandparents on One Couch

MoMo and Anne

It's been with such excitement that Momo and Anne came back to town. Molly and Anne had been living in Tucson, AZ, but they packed up their lives and moved only a few miles from our home. Aren't we lucky?

A day doesn't go by that Kai doesn't ask for both of them. They both know how to really play and treat Kai like a King.

Welcome Home!

Kai's 2nd Birthday Party

Soren and Kai-- best buddies and both 2!


Grandma and Grandpa Zimsen were in town for Kai's 2nd birthday party! We had a blast celebrating two different times with friends and family. Kai spent the day telling everyone he was two and then dug into the presents with enthusiasm. We had a "green" theme to the party, so we received many recycled presents. I feel it's better to have friends test drive the toys first!

Polar Bear Swim

Reba, Bailey, Joe, and Tommy

Christy, Joe, and Kai


We dove into the New Year by doing the Polar Bear Swim (well...some of us did!)-- it was fun to start off the year with such an invigorating event.

It made it especially exciting since swimming is obviously so important to the Zimsen family. Let's see...we have Grandma Zimsen who was a Hungarian Olympian, we have all of the Zimsen kids who were incredible swimmers (including a Division 1 swimmer and an All-National title too), plus the grandkids who are in swimming teams, and the little ones who love to swim and have no fear (included in this is Kai who jumps off the side of the pool into the water without hesitation or worry if someone is there to catch him!)

Maryland!

The cousins!
Kai and Emma
Binka Susie and Kai


We had a wonderful visit with Joe's family in D.C. Kai loved his 7 cousins and he came back crying and asking for them daily. He also fell head over heels in love with his Aunt RoRo (Rosie), Aunt Duck (Christy), Uncle Tommy, Binka (Grandma) and Apu (Grandpa). I think he thinks it's awfully boring around the house now.

With all 15 of us staying under one roof, the two dogs, the two kitties, plus 2 horse and one pony-- you get the picture. It was never-ending fun and commotion and love.

Happy New Year 2009

Ho Ho Ho!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year-- Uncle Joey was Santa and gave Kai the best present. As you can see, it's a red motorcycle. You've never seen someone as excited as Kai!

Joe and I are laughing picturing him out cruising the block this summer-- watch out Longfellow neighborhood!

Uncle Joey

Reid

The first photo is from December 2008 and the second photo is from January 2008-- almost a full year has gone by. Look at how these boys grew...

















So, Kai loves his buddy Reid. Reid lives across the street from us with his older brother Henry. Most mornings, Kai gets up and says, "Reid, Reid, Reid!" Then, he asks if he can go outside to get Reid to play. The boys are very sweet together. And, luckily, since it only takes about a minute to go find him, we get to play with him often!

Kai's Montessori Teacher told me that Kai is one of the most social and sensitive boys she has ever had in class. He is constantly kissing and hugging the other kids. She says when he comes in the classroom in the morning he goes over and greets each child with a hug and a smile. I notice the same thing with other kids in our playgroups or around the neighborhood. He is a happy boy when around others! (I wonder who that sounds like :)-- hee hee)

Giddy-Up Santa!

Grand Avenue

Each December, our big city turns into a small little town with the "Grand Avenue Meander" in St. Paul. Kai enjoyed riding on the fire truck, seeing the reindeer, and meeting Santa. Although, from the Santa picture, you never would have guessed how excited he was to sit in Santa's lap while waiting in the line. Once we were up there, well, as you can see, that was another story!

Thanksgiving

'Tis the season to be grateful!

On top of Kai's list would be:

A. Deer: he loves looking for deers-- (he calls them "babies") and he even knows the difference between bucks and does. Here is one we saw yesterday on Thanksgiving at my mom's house. Kai was in heaven!
Here is the happy family searching for the "babies"-

We even have pretend "babies" at home!

B. Nonny, Pops, Nana Kit, and Grandma and Grandpa Z.
Nonny on her birthday

Nana Kit at Halloween

Pops showing Kai how to fight for social justice (just like he did for me when I was that age) at the RNC Protest

Grandma Z. back in Summer 2007

Watch for: A new photo of Grandma and Grandpa Z. coming soon when they visit in January 2009

C. Uncle Joey

D. Osa (Uncle Joey's dog)

E. Dolls


F. Snuggling with his Mama and Papi


G. Meat (the boy can eat meat!)

Halloween

So, at first, Kai didn't want to have anything to do with Halloween. He would not put on the cute dragon costume we bought, and he didn't want to even put on the pumpkin hat. But, once he got into the swing of things, with his other neighbor buddies, he was running from house to house and greeting our neighbors with a sweet and enthusiastic, "TREEEEETTT." Of course, he didn't eat any of the candy. Joe and I did--and now I'll be trying to detox all winter from the ridiculous amount of candy I've inhaled. But, it did taste oh so good.