I think I’m ready to resume the weekly posts. They are now time-delayed by almost two months. I’m not sure I have the patience for adding the links back in though. Also, I’m pretty sure being in Colorado now I can’t get Amazon affiliate payments.

Monday Cecilia and Gideon were dropped off at the same place. This was kind of nice and shaved a good ten minutes off the morning routine.At the end of the day Cecilia seemed to have done well in her new environment. We got home from Gideon’s game too late for a show, but had them both rinse off in the shower along with tick checking.
Cecilia had Heather read her the Golden book Words while I got to read Olivia.
Gideon had me read him a Fly Guy book before Heather read him a Hot Wheels book.

Tuesday we went to Elk River for our last dinner at the Huisinga house before we move. The kids got to spend some time playing together and I let them watch about half of The Pirate Fairy on the way home.
It was an extra late night so no stories for the kids.

Wednesday Gideon had a game again. The relatively short season is almost done. We finished Pirate Fairy on the way home.
I read a Fly Guy book to Gideon, and I believe Heather did as well.
Cecilia had me read her a Farm animal book after Heather read her something, but I’m not sure what.

Thursday Gideon had practice and Cecilia had Gymnastics. I went to gymnastics this time. Gideon got home in time to watch a Postman Pat, but Cecilia didn’t get home in time for a show. I guess practice got called a little early when the a couple of kids caught the ball, but not in their gloves.
Gideon had us both read him Fly Guy books.
Cecilia had me start reading her a book about dragons and kindergarten. I’m not sure what Heather read her.

Friday We didn’t have a scheduled event. Cecilia got to pick a show and it was Team UmiZoomi.
The kids both got stories. I think Gideon had us both read him Fly Guy books again but I’m really not sure what Cecilia had.

Saturday We skipped church because Gideon got to go to his best friends birthday party. It was a late night for him, and he didn’t get a show. Cecilia got a show and picked Team UmiZoomi.
Cecilia got stories from us, though I don’t know what Heather read her. I read her Easter Parade. Gideon got home too late.

Sunday we had our good-bye open house at Elm Creek Park Reserve. We were there from noon to 5 and some friends came by to hang out and say goodbye. Baths and showers were had at home and Gideon picked Caillou for bedtime.
Gideon continued his Fly Guy kick. I’m not sure what Cecilia had Heather read, but I read her The Important Book. By halfway through she was disagreeing with what was important though.

Monday our last week at Love to Grow On started. The kids got their show while I was running an errand so I missed what it was or who picked it.
Gideon had Heather read him Bobcat Bootcamp and I read him a page from the Big Book of Planes.
Cecilia had Grandma reading from the Richard Scarry Collection. I missed what Heather read her.

Tuesday Gideon picked Calliu.
I read Gideon two stories, Under My Hat and another short one. I’m not sure what Brittney read him either.
Cecilia had Grandma and Brittney read to her, and I’m not sure what they read.

Wednesday we moved to the hotel. Hotel stays with young children seem to always be at least a little difficult. I like to try getting suites that include 2 beds and a couch with a hide a bed. That way Heather and I can share. Otherwise we end up doing a guys and girls split which just doesn’t usually work as well. We didn’t get shows, though we did put HGTV on at the end of the night in hopes of calming them down for bed. Cecilia in particular was so overtired, and decided to fixate on wanting Grandma.
We did books on Zoodles. Gideon picked Casey at Bat and had me read it. Cecilia picked City Mouse and Country Mouse, but wanted to listen to the Zoodles reader read it.

Thursday was the kids last day at school. They seemed ok to me when they got home. I hadn’t been the one to drop them off the last few days so I didn’t have much to go on. It was a busy day at the homestead with the movers packing and loading though. After that we had dinner out before Cecilia’s last gymnastics class. She got a kick out of the first one Grandma and Brittany seeing being the last one she had. The kids got to have Orange Leaf on then way home. They watched Dora curtesy of Cecilia and didn’t get stories. Brittany watched them while Heather and I went to try and get some last minute stuff done at the rental in Circle Pines.

Friday was the big day of course. After getting Heather to the rental in time to let in the cleaning crew I worked to load the cars and saw Grandma and Brittany take the kids off to an indoor playground for a bit. After closing everything out at the rental Heather and I met up with the rest of the group and headed out. I drove the Mini alone while everyone else was in the van. Gideon started out saying he wanted to be in the Mini, but I reminded him that the Mini didn’t have a movie screen and he changed his mind. It was after lunch and kind of rest time for them. This was a bit of a bummer since it might have been some good hang out time, so maybe the next morning would present a new chance to try it out. A late night stop at a hotel in Lincoln saw us around the halfway mark, a good spot to be.

Saturday was a long one. Gideon rode with me for the first leg of the trip. He wanted the radio off and didn’t want to talk to each other at first. He just wanted to read and do the activities he had with. After quite awhile he decided to start chatting. Then he wanted to go into the van, until he realized I had snacks in the Mini too. Then we chatted for a bit longer. Ultimately when we stopped he wanted to go back into the van though. I understand, the ride is rougher in the Mini and there was less to do. Also, he was in the back Friday. We had dinner with Heather’s Mom’s side of the family and the kids got to pick movies for the last hour or so drive to her parents house. The way we set up for road trips they each got to pick their own.

Sunday all the change started to catch up with Cecilia. She had a meltdown getting ready for church. Things eventually calmed down and the kids were hyper on the way up to see the new place. We went there to let the cable guy do the install as well as to do a bit of a walk-through. It was a little smaller then it seemed in the Skype video session, but the layout is much better than what we had in Circle Pines. Cecilia fell asleep on the way back to Monument and had a hard time getting to bed. Gideon picked Magic School Bus and no stories were read that I know of.

Monday Gideon got sent home from school again. He also had a rough end of the game at baseball. The clincher for the night was a smell of gas when we got home causing us to hang in the car watching a movie (Big Hero 6) for 30 minutes instead of getting stories. This all likely caused the late night jitters that kept the kids up for another 30 minutes after they finally got to  bed.

Tuesday. A rare (lately) day where we had nothing planned. Gideon had a pretty good day and didn’t have to come home from school. We got Cecilia’s room cleaned up and Gideon picked Arthur for a nighttime show.
Gideon finished reading me a set of his learning to read books. I think Heather read Paddington to him.
Cecilia had me read The Gingerbread Girl to her. I’m not sure what Heather read to her.

Wednesday night we got rained on at Gideon’s game after getting to watch his kindergarten graduation ceremony. The game was called early as a downpour started in the third inning. On the bright side enough game happened that it didn’t need to be rescheduled. No movies or stories though.

Thursday I took Gideon to practice while Heather took Cecilia to gymnastics. Gideon got to watch Postman Pat while I worked on getting Cecilia’s new bike put together. There were no stories or other shows though, Cecilia got home too late for any of that.

Friday Cecilia go to have a short graduation ceremony from pre-school to the school age program. There were all of 5 kids, so it was very quick. It did run long after though, with a potluck dinner and some fun for the kids. After we got home Cecilia had to try her new bike, but only for a bit. While she’s technically in the right height range for it, it’s kind of big for her. She also loves her new backpack. No stories or shows due to the late night.

We tried a short towing bike ride with all four of us Saturday. Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi for a bedtime show after church.
The kids each got to pick a shared story from Heather, but I missed what as I was working on getting a new smoke detector installed with the landlord.

Sunday we spent all day at ValleyFair, about 3 more hours than we expected to actually. Gideon picked Arthur after confirming that Land Before Time was still unavailable, Fireman Sam was no longer available, and we didn’t have any new Miles From Tomorrowland.
I read Gideon Jake and the Neverland Pirates Trick or Treasure after Heather read to him from a book about airplanes we got at Airventure last year. At least it looked that way.
I read Cecilia The Gingerbread Girl again and don’t have any idea what Heather read her.

With this entry TWB will be on a hiatus for 1-2 months. I will continue making the posts in the “background” so there should be no loss of time-line, just a delaying of it. In the interim I might post other writings if I can force myself to take the time.

Monday we finished our long weekend with a trip to an indoor playground due to poor weather. Cecilia likely picked Team UmiZoomi. There were stories but I have no idea what they were.

Tuesday Gideon was on a liquid diet so I went and hung out in his class for the day. I might as well not have been there for the most part. If I would’ve planned ahead better I would’ve logged into work and made a half-day of it instead of a full day. Gideon probably picked Arthur. Again, I forgot to take notes so I don’t have the stories down, but we did have time for them.

Wednesday Gideon insisted on going to play baseball even after his procedure. He also took himself out of the last inning as he recognized he needed to rest. No show due to the late day and no stories either, I think.

Thursday was a rough night for some reason. After practice for Gideon and gymnastic for Cecilia they just didn’t want to settle down for the night. No show and almost no stories for the evening. As to what those stories were, not really sure.

Friday the show was the Twin’s game in the cold and rain. That was our show and there were no stories.

Saturday we did not go to the airport for the open house. I did get the Trail Gator installed and Gideon and I tried it briefly. It seemed to go well. After church Gideon picked Miles From Tomorrowland for a show.
Gideon had Heather read from Paddington Bear while I read him the hidden picture book filled with kids, each page containing him.
Cecilia had me read her Easter Parade from the Berenstain Bears while Heather read her Sailor Dog.

We spent the majority of Sunday at the Blaine Airport for Discover Aviation Days. After a laid back afternoon we started America’s Got Talent for the year after which Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi.
Gideon read to Heather and I from some of his learning to read books. He’s doing very well. I remember him getting mad at us trying to coax him through the first few pages of them at the beginning of the school year. Now he can read most of them himself with very little help.
Cecilia had me read her a small book that was essentially a silly poem about animals and Christmas stockings. I’m not sure what Heather read her, but it wasn’t a book from Gideon’s room which is what she was asking for when I walked out of her room.

After next week This Weeks Bedtime is going to take a short break while we prepare for and do a move to Colorado. I will double down my efforts to get daily notes down though. The idea is that when it comes back the coverage will not be lost for those weeks taken off, but the series becomes time-delayed. This has the advantage of not telling random internet people that we are out on vacation until we are actually back from said vacation. I have thought about transitioning to a time-delayed style a couple of times in the past year and honestly this seems to be the right time to get it done.

Monday Gideon had a game in the cold. Very cold. It was probably the least pleasant game of his we’ll be seeing this year. I don’t remember any show’s or stories, only the cold.

Tuesday Gideon made it through the whole school day, if only just, without being sent home. He wanted to pick The Land Before Time as a rest time show, but it was unavailable on Amazon now. Instead he picked Team UmiZoomi.
Gideon and Cecilia had us read them Gideon’s latest class book about Leprechauns. Both of us, to both of them.

Wednesday brought another game day. No show due to getting home late again. While Gideon had a rough time as early as getting home from school Cecilia did fine until it was time to get ready for bed. In the end, neither of them got stories from Heather. I read Gideon his newest school library book, and the last one, Hooray For Snail. I read Cecilia a story from the Richard Scarry book.

Thursday I took Cecilia to gymnastics while Heather took Gideon to baseball practice. There was no show waiting for them at home. They did get stories though. I just don’t remember which ones.

Friday Heather and I had a date night after we dropped the kids off at the Huisinga’s. The next time we saw them they were asleep in their beds.

Saturday we enjoyed a BBQ and bonfire at the Sturm’s. We visited with some people we don’t see but once a year and got home very late. The kids got to see the start of Big Hero Six in the car.
At home Heather read Splat the Cat On With The Show to both kids while I read them both I’ve Seen Santa.

Monday Gideon had a game that the coaches agreed to cut short. It was cold and rainy to the point the kids (the ones that showed up anyhow) were no longer having fun. That got us home early from the game for a fairly calm night. We also started an experiment letting the kids sleep a little longer in the  morning. Gideon picked The Land Before Time when we got home. He has gotten to the point of wanting to get shows going via the remote on his own instead of having us get them going.
I’m not sure what Heather read to Gideon after I read him more from the First Book of Space.
I am sure that Heather read Richard Scarry to Cecilia before I did the same because Cecilia told me.

Tuesday we went to the Huisinga’s for dinner. The kids got to play together and had fun. We watched Micky Mouse Clubhouse on the way home and didn’t get stories.

Wednesday we went to the wrong field for the game. Turns out they may get changed throughout the year and the website should be checked before each game to verify where it will be. the good news is that we ended up at the right field before the first pitch in spite of our blunder. There was no show after, but we did get ice cream to celebrate Gideon having a good run when he took his turn at first base getting three outs on hits close to him. (He got player of the game on Monday for a reason I missed.)
Gideon had a new library book from school the Heather read him as well as four new class books we went through.
I’m not sure what Heather read to Cecilia, she has about 20 books on her bed. I read her Arthur’s Baby which is the library book Gideon picked up.

Thursday Gideon wanted to join me and Cecilia at her gymnastics again. He made the decision when he found out I was bringing her so I guess I should be flattered. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse played on the way home again.
I read Cecilia Baby Dear from the Golden Book Collection. I’m not sure what Heather read her.
Gideon had us both read him Arthur’s Baby.

Friday was not a good day. We were called to get Gideon basically as soon as the school day started. He also wasn’t welcomed back to school until Tuesday. The Huisinga’s got to drop their kids off for a date night. Summer is definitely here and the kids were bouncing off the walls. Times like this we miss having the big yard from Elk River. Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi for everyone to watch. After the show I brought the other kids to their house where I waited for my car to arrive so I could go home.
I’m not sure what Heather read to the kids.

Saturday Grandma and Grandpa Nelson surprised Gideon by showing up to his baseball game. We had a low-key afternoon before church and watched Amazing Race followed by Gideon picking Miles from Tomorrowland.
I read Gideon Arthur’s Baby again followed by reading Cecilia two of the Tonka Learn to Read books. I missed what Heather read to Gideon from the Richard Scarry Collection, but she didn’t read to Cecilia due to Cecilia’s actions which was a whole different level of problems for the night.

Sunday Cecilia had a gymnastics program we got to go see. It was about what you would expect from a preschool group. That is to say, cute, fun for the kids, enjoyable for the relatives, and not too long. After eating lunch out at Cecilia’s choice (“the place we went with Grandma Reed”) we watched some Amazing Race for dinner and wind-down. Cecilia picked Team Umizoomi for the night.
Cecilia had a rough night again but managed to get both of her stories. They were both from Richard Scarry’s stories again.
Gideon had me read him 500 hats. Incidentally I’ve been doing the weekly night-time routine posts for about a year, started partially to vent over how often I’d been reading 500 hats. Heather read to him from the same Dr Suess collection, but I’m not sure which story.

Monday Gideon had a game and Heather made the rough choice to skip it and attend the final MOPs meeting of the season. I picked Team UmiZoomi for Cecilia as we had a lack of time before the game.
Due to getting home after 8 there were no stories, and there weren’t any expected.

Tuesday Gideon picked Team UmiZoomi after a fairly uneventful day.
Heather and I both read Gideon Arthur’s Tooth as it was due back.
I read to Cecilia from the Richard Scarry Collection again. I’m not sure what Heather read her.

Wednesday there was no show. Gideon’s game got us home too late. The kids didn’t take kindly to that. They’ll survive though, they’re tough.
Gideon and Cecilia both had Heather read them his newest library book.
I read Gideon a couple of pages from his First Book of Space after reading The Pirate Fairy to Cecilia.

Thursday the weather dictated a cancelled practice for Gideon. Cecilia still had gymnastics, and Gideon wanted to come with. That gave Heather some time alone at home which I think she needed.
We watched Micky Mouse Clubhouse in the van on the drive home.
Heather and I both read to Gideon from his First Book of Space, I think.
Cecilia had two stories. I read to her from the Disney Christmas Collection and believe Heather did as well.

Friday Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi after a relatively slow evening.
Gideon had us both read from the First Book of Space again and Cecilia wanted the Disney Collection again.

Saturday we went top my brother’s place for a bonfire after church. We also spent some time outside at a park beforehand. Due to how late we got home there was no show and no story time.

Sunday. Mothers day. Also a gloomy day in Minnesota weather-wise. We watched some Amazing Race, then Team UmiZoomi. Heather also played about three games of Life with the kids. It got to be kind of a long day as the kids were getting overtired, but we made it through.
Gideon continued his First Book of Space.
Cecilia, I think, was back to her Richard Scary collection.

Monday Gideon had a late practice. Heather also had a late meeting. That meant I got the kids and we worked together to make dinner. We chatted a little while we ate and then Gideon got to head out with Heather to practice. He didn’t get any shows or stories though.
Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi and had me read the second chapter in Little House in the Big Woods.

Tuesday the Huisinga family came by for dinner. The kids had some time to play together. They weren’t as loud as they could’ve been and definitely didn’t make as much of a mess as they have in past times. After they left Cecilia picked Doc McStuffins.
Gideon had a book from his class we read about crunchy foods. Cecilia had me read another story from the Richard Scarry collection.

Wednesday Gideon’s practice was an exhibition game with another team. Cecilia ended up coming to the practice due to unforeseen circumstances and ended up staying the whole time. We had dinner while watching Gideon’s choice of Miles From Tomorrowland because of how late it got.
I read Gideon his school book about the letter D while it sounded like Heather read him the Weights and Measures book.
Cecilia had Heather and I both read her I Love You Forever.

Thursday Gideon had another field trip. This one was a little last-minute so I was able to chaperon it again. Once we were all home we had a relatively quick dinner at the table together before Cecilia headed out to gymnastics. Gideon wanted to spend some time outside when it was just the two of us. It gave me a chance to get the bikes and trailer ready for some family riding. After that Gideon decided to watch Sheriff Callie. He specifically was looking for something they hadn’t watched in a while.
For stories I read Gideon a little bit of his big Hotwheels book after reading The Robot Book.

Friday was date night and we are blissfully unaware what the kids may have read/watched or not.

Saturday after Gideon’s first official coach pitch game and church we watched some Amazing Race during dinner and then Cecilia picked Creative Galaxy.
The kids both had me read Weights and Measures while they both had Heather read an animal book.

Sunday felt longer than it should have. After rest time we rode our bikes to the park. Cecilia was in the trailer but Gideon was riding his. Gideon picked Land Before Time after we made it home and calmed down in our over-tired states. (He likes the intro song to this one a lot.)
I read both kids Arthur’s Tooth. I’m not sure what Heather read Gideon, but she read Zara Zebra Draws to Cecilia.

Monday started rough due to everyone being very tired, and me still being sick. Gideon’s practice was cancelled much to his delight. It worked well for us though, we needed the time after such a long weekend. We had already promised dinner while watching their show though. Gideon picked The Land Before Time.
Cecilia had Heather read Ho Ho Tucker and me read Camilla and friends.
Gideon had both of us read his new book The Book With No Pictures. (Thanks aunt Erin and uncle Mike!)

Tuesday the Heather and the kids got home a little late among snowflakes falling from the sky. After some picking up Cecilia choose to watch Team UmiZoomi.
Cecilia got to start hearing Little House in the Big Woods from Heather after which she asked me to read about an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick.
Gideon was kind of tired. I read him Arthur’s Thanksgiving as it has to go back to school and we hadn’t found the kids names in it yet. He asked Heather to read him The Book With No Pictures again.

Wednesday Gideon’s practice wasn’t cancelled. I rushed the same way that Heather has in the past to get him there on time. When we got back Gideon picked The Land Before Time again, likely not realizing there was a new Miles From Tomorrowland.
Cecilia and Gideon both had Heather read them his latest class book.
I read Cecilia There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick again and Gideon read most of The Book With No Pictures as I helped him with the harder words.

Thursday after some time working on a puzzle Gideon picked Miles From Tomorrowland. Cecilia was at her gymnastics class.
I read Gideon Jake and the Neverland Pirates Trick or Treasure. I’m not sure what Heather read him.
I read Cecilia Zara Zebra Draws while Heather read her something about counting animals.

Friday was family fun night at the elementary school. Gideon did a pretty good job considering his dislike of crowds. They were really riled up when we got home, close to an hour after their regular bedtime. They did eventually fall asleep though.

Saturday we went to the indoor playground in Edina again. The kids enjoyed it and after our “picnic” lunch we headed home. After church and some Amazing Race Cecilia picked Arthur.
Gideon had us both read him Hot Wheels books. Mystery Race and Extreme Stunts I believe.
Cecilia had me read to her from the Richard Scarry Collection book. Based on how she was looking through it when I came in I’m assuming Heather read it to her as well.

Sunday we had a low-key day. It was still a tad cold in the morning, but the afternoon was spent outside. Gideon picked Miles From Tomorrowland after some Amazing Race.
Cecilia had me read her a Hot Wheels nook after Heather read her The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Gideon had me read him an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly book before he had Heather read him Hungary Little Caterpillar.

Monday saw the start of what was to be another long week on a wonderful note. The kids had turned the volume on our alarm off while playing over the weekend, so it didn’t wake us up. That put the whole day out of whack of course. The evening was going a little slow as well and Gideon didn’t get to see a show or get stories before he left for a late practice with Heather, where the other team parent didn’t make it. Cecilia picked Team UmiZoomi for a nighttime show.
Cecilia asked me to read her two stories, so we read both Gideon’s latest class book and Barbie Secret Door, A True Princess.

Tuesday the kids got to get new bike helmets fitted at Blaine City Hall. Cecilia was a little leery of it at first, not wanting to let the fireman help her. After finding the right helmet she warmed up though. Our night-time show was Land Before Time courtesy of Gideon. Heather was getting a haircut and didn’t read to the kids as they were almost asleep by the time she got back.
Gideon had me read his class book.
Cecilia had a rough time after the show. She ended up not getting a story, and accepted it surprisingly fast. Oh, she was mad and crying, but she didn’t spend a long time trying to change the outcome.

Wednesday I surprised Gideon by being a chaperon for his field trip to the Children’s Museum. We went to practice as a family and the other team parent still wasn’t there. Turns out her child has been sick. We treated the kids to Orange Leaf thanks to the 4/15 sale. Cecilia Picked Team UmiZoomi to watch while we ate.
Gideon had me read a Fly Guy book for his story, and Cecilia had Heather do the same for hers.

Thursday I brought Cecilia to gymnastics after a fast diner and show. Gideon picked Land Before Time.
Cecilia had me to read her Arthur’s Thanksgiving. I didn’t read to Gideon and am not sure what he read with Heather.

Friday we flew out to Colorado for the weekend. The trip to the airport was immediately after work. We let the kids use their tablets on the plane. Gideon actually surprised me a little with how much he wanted to watch outside instead of play. Cecilia had Heather read to her a little bit. Both of them fell asleep on the car ride to the grandparents. (It was past 10 on their internal clocks.)

Saturday we had a wedding in the afternoon. With Heather’s parents helping and the wedding a good distance from her parents place we ended up spending a good deal of the day there. The kids did exceptionally well considering. The wedding ceremony was nice and the celebration was enjoyed by all. Cecilia picked Bob the Builder from the available choices at the grandparents place. After this was a pretty huge meltdown by Cecilia. I held her and talked to her until we were able to get through it.
Gideon had Heather read to him from Pinkalicious it sounded like. Then she read to Cecilia from the same book. I read to Cecilia from the Little Critter Collection.

Sunday we didn’t do much in the first part of the day. This was fine by me as I had been sick all weekend. After Toy Story 3 for a rest time movie we headed out to meet up with Heather’s grandparents for dinner before catching our flight. This was a flight destined to get us home extremely late. The kids both stayed awake the whole flight playing on the tablets. They also both fell asleep pretty quickly on the ride home after a landing time of around 11pm. Neither one really woke up getting put into bed, which is good.