go muppet yourself

Need a holiday gift idea?  Why not Muppet someone you love?  Last Christmas the girls and I ordered a muppet version of Mike as a gift for him.  Although he was surprised and tickled and thought it was hilarious, Muppet Dada has been adopted, for the most part, by the girls.

The second we opened the box, almost 1 year old Harriet exclaimed, "Dada!".  She instantly recognized that muppet as Mike.  Not sure if that is a compliment to him or not, see the pictures and decide for yourself.  Both the girls play with the muppet but Harriet is especially fond of him.  She talks to him and pushes him around in her stroller, feeds him, and asks him to please, please buy her a pony one day.
Now that she's getting older she is much more possessive in general.  She had a little friend over to play the other day and as the friend went right to the muppet, Harriet ran up and grabbed him away shouting, "No!  My Dada!"

If you follow this link to the FAO Schwarz website you can choose body, eyes, nose, hair, clothes, and go ahead and muppet yourself or someone you love.  Have fun!

Here are a few shots of Muppet Dada throughout the year.  I like to imagine an 80s pop tune playing in the background as I scroll through, a la movie montage.

it was love at first sight on Christmas morning

taking a closer look

still pals months and months later

taking a break for a refreshing beverage

going for a stroll

never enough hugs

see any resemblance?  

besides the blue nose, of course.

bike the ridge

Close to the beginning of summer we decided to get our bikes fixed.  They had been gathering dust and god knows what else in the garage for about 2+ years.  I am so glad we did.  Riding my bike makes me feel like a kid again.  I love it.

I remember on my first ride this year, hitting a little hill, which are the only kind of hills we have in Illinois, and actually shouting out, "Wheeeeeee!!" as I coasted down.

In my opinion, nothing compares to the beautiful lakefront bike path but this weekend Bike the Ridge came in a very close second.

Every year the city closes down Ridge Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Evanston to all vehicular traffic.  All morning and into the afternoon bike riders of all ages and levels of experience can ride along the stretch of road covering about 3 miles.  We headed up and down the tree lined street spotting neighbors, friends, the guys from the bike shop, former teachers, and even the Mayor.  The ride ended in the park complete with a fall festival.  We enjoyed live music, farmers' market, food truck goodies and a bounce house.

I rode with Harriet in a trailer and Eloise took to the street with her training wheeled bicycle and Mike riding alongside of her.   She has not had the easiest time learning to ride her bike and I will admit that I am the world's worst bike riding teacher.  While out practicing and lovingly teaching Eloise how to ride better I have been told I was being "too yell-y" and "super strict-like".  We had kind of decided to put the bike away for awhile because everyone was just getting frustrated.

 Riding on Ridge on Sunday with no hills, or sidewalks, or alleys, or potholes, or pebbles to maneuver around, Eloise got her confidence back and will hopefully feel more confident with her riding.  Right now there is no hurry but she told me Sunday night that she had so much fun doing Bike the Ridge and that she would like to do it again next year as long as I can "keep encouragementing her".

pumping up before heading out

cage on wheels

taking a snack break at the fall festival

biking the ridge