While listing open jobs, I noticed that they are even hiring a unicorn slayer. Now I think that may be illegal, with them being endangered and all, but you don’t find that job to many places.

I think I’m going to stay at my current nerdy job for now, but if I ever want to fly with the blue birds, Twitter sounds like fun.

Twitter has a job opening for a unicorn slayer. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Peepin Tom

Man I had so many Garbage Pail Kids cards. A little disgusting? Yes. But not as bad as the gum that came with them. I wonder if my Mom still has my collection of cards?

And did you know they re-released some recently? All new cards, old cards, and even some holographic cards! I may have to buy a few on Amazon for nostalgia’s sake.

Blast from the past: Garbage Pail Kids originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

We’re all having more fun for Halloween this year as Lily is 2. She has a better understating of what’s going on and has been practicing her Happy Halloween and Trick or Treat.

Costume Sneak Peek

This year she’ll be going as a pink cat. It’s a warmer costume which is nice but also has quite the big belly. Trying to get her into the car seat in it sure was a lot of work.

Cleaning Out Pumpkins

Lily also helped clean out some of the pumpkins this year. She wasn’t so sure about it, but eventually stuck her hand right in.

Tonight we’re going to the grocery store for indoor trick or treating and then around the neighborhood. After that we’ll be handing out candy at the door and having some Halloween fun.

Then, after she goes to bed, Dad is taking most of the candy and hiding it away. Halloween is a lot of fun, but Lily doesn’t need a whole pumpkin full of candy.

Happy Halloween originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

I would love to do this if I had the free time and a clue as to how they did it.

This is Halloween – The best thing you’ll see all day. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

For Halloween we created spiders and pumpkins out of paper plates, painted mini pumpkins, colored ghosts, created egg carton spiders, and even made banners. We’ve painted with cotton balls, our fingers and apples and then decorate with googlie eyes, stickers and construction paper.

The best part in all this is that the paint is washable so we don’t have to worry about what she gets it on; and she gets it on everything. Everything cleans up nicely and that gives us less to worry about.

It’s not just Lily having fun either. We all join in and create something fun. Then we post them around the house. Lily loves seeing the creations up on the wall and will have a blast creating new ones for each upcoming holiday.

Halloween Arts & Crafts originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

What? This is how I beat all the video games when I was a kid.

Anyone have Game Genie cheat codes for Angry Birds? originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

It started out with Uncle Josh visiting on her birthday. That’s pretty special as he was in from California. Josh gave her some plastic food so she could feed her dolls and pretend she was cooking like Mom.

Uncle Josh

Then she had the weekend with just Mom and Dad. She got plastic plates, bowls and cups to go with her plastic food and she loves to play with them. She also got some Elmo things and other fun toys. Plus we had ice cream cookie sandwiches!

Cups and Toys

Dinner with her dolls.

Since it was her birthday weekend, we took her to Edinborough Park to play in the bouncy house and the maze of tunnels and slides. We also went to not one, but two, beaches to play in the water.

Giant Slide

A very fun weekend for sure!

Her second birthday party was this past weekend with the grandparents and family. A second birthday means more presents including a kitchen, some very cute clothes and toys. Plus what’s a birthday without cupcakes; Elmo cupcakes!

Elmo Cupcakes

Lily's Kitchen

After that, it was time to run around outside and burn off some of that sugar and play with the family.

Family Time

We also took some time and went out to visit the cows on my parents farm. Lily loved feeding them, seeing the corn and all the different things. Grandpa Tom even took her on a tractor ride which she thought was a ton of fun.

Riding in a Tractor

We are extremely blessed to have our families close enough that Lily can go and experience different things. Animals at the zoo are fun, on the farm is even better!

Lily

It’s hard to believe that Lily is already two. She’s growing up so fast and it’s amazing to see how much she’s grown and how much she has learned in just two years. She’s an amazing little girl and we are grateful to have her in our lives.

Cupcakes, Cows, Presents & Water originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

There is a free prize at the bottom of every bottle of vodka. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

I’m a fan of the Where’s Waldo books for some reason so when I came across Where’s Wall-E I couldn’t stop looking for him until I found him. It took a few minutes, but I found him; along with a lot of other cool robots!

This robot art comes via hopewellstudios.com.

Where’s Wall-E? Can you find him? originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Lily enjoying the parade.

From the horses to the floats to the candy, there was always something to look at and something to do.

When floats played music, we danced. When there was something being handed out, we wanted it. When the big vehicles honked their horns or backfired, we ran into daddy’s arms for safety.

We all had a great time, but I never realized how much work a parade was before. Keeping Lily entertained wasn’t an issue, but she was always on the move. By the end of the parade, I was ready to take a nap!

Parades are so much fun when you’re a kid. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Going for a drive.

My little girl is behind the wheel; buckled in for safety of course. Oh and the car is on thanks to remote start.

This could get dangerous. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Enjoying the carousel.

Look at us go!

It was mom’s idea to go for a ride and it was a fantastic idea. From the moment the horse started to move, her face just lit up.

I’m pretty sure I’m growing a child who will love rides. And, as she gets bigger, so will the rides!

Taking a ride on the carousel. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Dear Mom and Dad and the D.A.R.E. people,

I listened. I’m not addicted to drugs, instead I’m addicted to the internet.

I’m not wasting all my money on meth and crack and things like that. Though I do spend money on hosting, Flickr Pro, online backup and Amazon. Not to mention all the apps and music I get from iTunes. But that’s not the point, I’m being good.

I don’t go around, stealing things just to get a fix. Wait, that’s not exactly true. I have been known to “borrow” the internet from the library across the street when mine goes out just to send an email. And I do know where to find free internet if I need it. Again, not the point.

I’m not doing drugs. 30 years from now no one will be saying how I wasted my life and money on something so stupid. Granted I do spend a lot of time reading RSS feeds, checking email and status updates. Come to think of it, I should be doing something else right now but I don’t remember what.

The internet is totally better than drugs. I mean I can quit anytime; I just don’t want to.

Anyway… I just wanted to tell you that you raised me right. I’m not addicted to drugs. Now I gotta run. Facebook needs updating and I need to go tweet this as well.

Love
Thomas

My parents should be so proud of me because I’m addicted to the internet, not drugs. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Remember watching Dexter’s Laboratory in the 90′s? Well watching Dexter now is just not the same. He’s all grown up, has a new job and might be a little crazy. His sister is still annoying though.

10 years can really change a guy. Just ask Dexter. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Zoo Goats

Did you know that some Minnesota libraries have free passes to all sorts of MN destinations?

We were lucky enough to get our hands on a MN Zoo pass last week and the whole family got into to the zoo for free!

We got to feed the baby goats, see the fish, lions and all sorts of other animals. Lily had a great time not only with the animals but also watching all the other kids.

The program is called the Museum Adventure Pass and they can get you into:

• The American Swedish Institute
• The Bakken Museum
• Bell Museum of Natural History
• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
• Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
• Firefighters Hall & Museum
• Foshay Museum and Observation Deck
• Hennepin History Museum
• The Landing – Minnesota River Heritage Park
• Minneapolis Institute of Arts
• Minnesota History Center
• Minnesota Streetcar Museum
• Minnesota Transportation Museum
• Minnesota Zoo
• The Museum of Russian Art
• Walker Art Center
• The Works: Hands-On, Minds-On Museum

To get a pass, stop by your local library and see if they have any available. They only have a set amount each week, so you have to be there at the right time to get them.

If you need more information, check out the official Museum Adventure Pass page.

How to get free passes to the MN Zoo and other great places. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Lily loves to swing, so we looked at getting her a swing for the back yard. We went back and forth on the decision until we found the one we wanted on the clearance shelf at Target. It was such a good deal that we couldn’t pass it up.

Lily and her swing.

A few days later we were out for a walk and came across a garage sale that had a trike and a slide, two other items that we knew Lily would love. They are priced anywhere from $50 to $120 each new so we hadn’t been convinced to buy them. But when we got both for $10, it was a done deal.

Yea! A Slide!

Lily's new trike.

Lily has always loved being outside and going to the park, but now that she can just go out the back door and go for a swing or down the slide, she loves it even more.

Spoiling Lily and getting great deals. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Waconia Beach

The setup is very nice, there is play equipment and picnic tables on the grass and there is plenty of beach for everyone. There are even big umbrellas scattered across the beach to keep you cool.

It’s also free, as long as you don’t drive. If you drive, then it’s $5 to park which isn’t to bad.

Lily enjoyed it quite a bit, even though the waves from the boats pretty constant. Unlike other beaches we’ve been to, boats go buy quite often and the waves make it a bit harder for little ones. But they can also make it more fun.

We had a blast and will probably go back again this summer as it’s close to home and very nice.

Waconia has a pretty nice beach. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Looking for something to do with your toddler? Here are 101 ideas! Some of them you already do and others are a little weird. All look like fun though.

1. Color
2. Blow Bubbles
3. Play Hide-and-Seek
4. Peek-a-Boo
5. Play Chase
6. Do Finger-plays
7. Sing a song
8. Collect rocks in a basket
9. Make an obstacle course out of cushions and/or furniture
10. Make a fort out of cushions and sheets
11. Go for a Walk
12. Make a Car out of a Box (it’s not just a box)
13. Read a book
14. Go to the park
15. Finger-paint
16. Play with Play-Dough
17. Toss Bean bags into a Bucket
18. Play the shell and pea game
19. Dance to music
20. Download games for toddlers from the Internet
21. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags
22. Make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch
23. Roll a ball back and forth on the floor
24. Scoop dirt or sand into a child’s bucket (or use a serving spoon and bowl)
25. Practice climbing by stacking boxes on top of each other (only with adult supervision)
26. Put on a puppet show
27. Go fishing with a yard stick and yarn
28. Make a Horseshoe game
29. Make a Shape Puzzle
30. Play paper basketball
31. Run through a Sprinkler
32. Play with a bucket of water and a sponge (PLEASE WATCH CHILD AT ALL TIMES!)
33. Make a Drum out of an oatmeal box
34. Play with a kazoo
35. Wash windows together
36. Bang on Pots and Pans with a spoon
37. Brush each other’s teeth
38. Play dress-up with stuffed animals and your child’s clothes
39. Stack canned or boxed food on top of each other
40. Let child stack mixing bowls inside each other
41. Make a playhouse out of a large box
42. Let child play with a sticker sheet (make sure your child doesn’t eat them!)
43. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets
44. Play a musical instrument together i.e.recorder, piano, etc.
45. Go on a Smelling Hunt
46. Frost Cookies
47. Plant a flower or vegetable plant together
48. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket
49. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers
50. Play hide and seek together trying to find a stuffed animal or other object
51. Have a splash party together in the bathtub
52. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and walk around the house
53. Record each other on a tape recorder/iPhone/Smart Phone (great for scrapbooks or journals!)
54. Make and try on paper hats
55. Give a piggy-back ride
56. Play “Horsey”
57. Talk into an electric fan (it distorts your voice)
58. Play tug-of-war with a blanket
59. Collect flowers (felt, artificial, real…)
60. Make a camera and go on a Safari
61. Play games with frozen juice lids
62. Disconnect your phone and pretend to make phone calls to relatives
63. Leave your phone connected and really make phone calls to relatives let your child talk too
64. String large beads onto or along a shoelace
65. Squirt each other with squirt bottles
66. Glue shapes onto paper
67. Make sock puppets
68. Make paper puppets
69. Fill an old purse with toys
70. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone
71. Make binoculars and go “Bird Watching” or “Stuffed Animal Watching”
72. Put snacks in different fun containers (paper sacks, empty canisters, etc.)
73. Act out a story from a book
74. Walk on a balance beam - use a 2×4 placed on the ground
75. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk
76. Sketch an outline of your child on the sidewalk or paper with chalk
77. Paint child’s palms with tempura paint and blot on paper. Makes a great card for loved ones!
78. Put lipstick on child and kiss a mirror
79. Make a puddle on cement and splash barefoot in it
80. Let child decorate and eat an open peanut butter sandwich
81. Make a toilet paper barricade for child to go under, over, or through
82. Do the Hokey Pokey
83. Make a super-hero costume out of household items
84. Do Knee-Bouncing Rhymes
85. Play “Red Light, Green Light” saying “Go” and “Stop”
86. Make a shoe-box train for stuffed animals
87. Make a pillow pile to jump on (keep it clear from any hard surfaces, including walls!)
88. Make an easy puzzle with felt and Velcro
89. Make bracelets or collars for stuffed animals out of pipe cleaners and jingle bells
90. Learn numbers from a deck of cards
91. Play the matching game with a deck of cards
92. Make a domino chain
93. Have a picnic in the park, backyard, or living room!
94. Play dress up in Mommy or Daddy’s clothes
95. Make a tin cup telephone and talk to each other in it
96. Make a nature collage
97. Mirror each other
98. Make a “Mummy Mommy” (or Daddy) with toilet paper
99. Make a tape recording of short music selections and instructions to move in different ways
100. Make and walk along a toilet paper trail
101. TAKE A NAP!

I came across this list from Counting On Me’s site who got it from their local chapter of The Mommies Network.

101 Things To Do With Your Toddler originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Within 5 minutes Lily picked up a bag of chips and dumped them all over. Then we had to pick them all up; well most of them up. And of course eat some along the way.

Then she grabbed a bag of kettle corn and turned it upside down. It didn’t all fall out, so she shook the bag and swung it around until it was empty.

In the process of picking up the popcorn, Grandma S threw some at me. Lily saw that and decided to join in. Then everyone was throwing popcorn. It may not be a good lesson, but it sure was fun!

Indoor Picnic Mess

Indoor picnic turns into a food fight. originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com

Sky's The Limit

I’m not sure who the source is, but I’m loving it.

Calvin & Hobbs – Sky’s The Limit Wallpaper originally posted at http://www.twistermc.com