Sever's Corn Maze - 2010

We made the venture to Sever's Corn Maze again this year. Tori was really able to get into this year since she is able to walk around herself and explore a little more in the corn pit. She didn't like the corn pit at first (it's literally a pit full of dried corn kernels that all the kids jump around in similar to a ball pit). She didn't like the corn getting in her pants and her sleeves but when she saw Elizabeth (or "Sisters" as she calls her) jumping all over the place and having a blast, she didn't think it was so bad either.

Tori also got to ride her first pony as well. I think the pony ride operator wanted to end it more quickly than he did because she rode the whole way saying "pony, pony, pony". It was cute and she was so excited. She is probably going to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

Elizabeth just plain had fun with the friends we went with. She wanted to feed all the animals in the petting zoo (except for the ostrich - those guys are violent eaters so I don't blame her at all). She spied the mini donut stand and wanted those from the minute we got there but we managed to convince her that a cheeseburger would be a better option for a starving young person.

All in all, it was a success again this year and we are actually talking about going back before they close for the season, schedule permitting. If we do, we will probably have to spend the entire visit in the corn pit.

Elizabeth's first MVC Junior's year 2010

Here is the video from Elizabeth's dress rehearsal at Minnesota Viking's Cheerleading practice. It took a whole week for me to figure out how to get this off our camera. It was not cooperating and I am now very wise in the way of video.

As you can see on the video, she was a little more interested in what the pretty, sparkly cheerleaders were doing but she had a great time and really loved wearing the costume more than anything. The first run through (which is the first video) occurred as we were walking in the door so we missed the first part, then we got the second run through in it's entirety (the second video). They did this dress rehearsal because on game day, it's really difficult to see the junior cheerleaders from the field and they are facing the opposite direction than we actually are waiting to collect them when it's done. The second take, she was really quite tired.

On game day, she did great in the warm up before the game started but when half time came around she wouldn't let me go and wanted me to go out on the field with her. One of the cheerleaders came and talked to her and the sparkly cheerleader made her feel better. She went out and performed but because I was on the field, I couldn't see how she did and Jason was too far to see her as well. We only know that she enjoyed doing and said she would do it again.

When Tori is the minimum age, I am sure she will do it too since we had to get another set of pom poms so they wouldn't fight over the set that came with Elizabeth's costume. They definitely love shaking pom poms around and Tori said "ooh, pretty" when she saw Elizabeth in her costume. We pretty much had to bribed Elizabeth out of her costume. I probably have to hide it now so we don't fight about wearing it to school every day.

Sisters!

Sisters! Elizabeth is so excited to have a sister! She is so helpful with Tori but sometimes she is a little too impatient with her. It seems she would like to play with Tori now but doesn't understand that Tori is still too little to play with her yet. She does like to check on Tori when she is sleeping and likes to see what Tori is squaking about when she starts to cry.

Victoria (Tori) Marie Acker

Victoria Marie Acker, or Tori for short, joined our family on Tuesday, October 28th at 3:08 pm. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is doing great and is a real joy to her big sister!

A new sister!

It's been a long time since we have updated this site but we have finally added the newest Acker to our family! Victoria (Tori, for short) was born on Tuesday, October 28th at 3:08 pm, weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Elizabeth wasn't so sure about her new little sister but in the past week, has really learned to love her. She is very concerned when Tori cries or makes little noises. She likes to help feed her and hold her little tiny hands. We really think she is waiting for Tori to get a little older so she can play with her since it seems she is getting bored playing with Daisy.

Elizabeth is quite the big sister trying to help when she can or checking on Tori when she feels it has been a while since she has checked in with her. The only bummer is that Ellie likes to go outside to play and that time is a little more limited with the new baby in tow. She is really adjusting well and we think they will be a combined force to be reckoned with soon!

More to come soon.

A True Little Girl

One of Ellie's favorite things to do is go through the cabinets in our bathroom. Normally she likes to pull everything out and pack nail polish back into Q-tip boxes or tampon boxes. Sometimes she will take Mommy's lipstick bag, take everything out, and fill it back up with nail polish bottles. This time, she seems to have figured out how to take the lids off and then how to use lipstick. Luckily she gets it in the right area but just not on her lips. She is also very fascinated with painting her nails but can't seem to keep the nail polish on before it dries. We seem to have a girly-girl on our hands!

Ellie and the Beach!

Elizabeth spent the Fourth of July weekend up at Great Grandpa's cabin. She had a really good time and played herself silly. We took her out on a couple of pontoon rides and she didn't mind her life jacket at all! She did mind the cold lake and the big waves that all the boats made on the shore so she stuck to playing in the wet sand...and eating the wet sand. She had a blast playing with her cousin Claire and learning how to eventually share. Daisy was a little worn out after the weekend as well. She slept for two days straight and is back to her old self now.

Baseball with Daddy!

Ellie finally got to enjoy her Father's Day present with Daddy at a Twins game. They were on a 10 game winning streak at the time and lost the game against the Milwaukee Brewers. She had her own seat and did so well watching the game, clapping when everyone else did, and eating her ball game pizza! We left at the end of the sixth inning because it was past bedtime but she was so good!

The Monkey Pool!

Elizabeth has a new summer pool for the front yard...so does Daisy. It's pretty cool because it has monkey's on it and there is a canopy that goes over the top in the shape of palm tree leaves and then sprinkles water down over the top the of the pool. Our hose runs too fast though and it just lets the water collect in the top of the canopy and then sags down over the top of the pool. That's fine though because Elizabeth doesn't like the water raining on her the whole time she is playing in the pool and Daisy just dives at the sprinkles and we are kind of afraid she will drown in the 6 inches of water trying to get the raindrops.

Riding the Puppies...Wait...Ponies

Elizabeth got to ride the ponies at the petting zoo at Canterbury Park Sunday. She was so excited! She thinks any animal is a puppy so she was saying puppy over and over both while she was petting some of the animals and while she was riding the pony.

She and her cousin Claire had so much fun looking at the chickens and the ponies in the little pens. They were so cute and so curious! We can't wait to take them to the zoo this year to see all the animals!