The zoo with friends and bad attitudes

Jenn and I met at the library when Madeline and Blake were 15 months old. Total strangers with two babies who were like magnets to each other at first glance.

That was two years ago this month.

I was the scrubby one.

But somehow this library stranger turned into one of my best friends. 

Now it's weird when it's 9 a.m. and I haven't received a text from her.

And after two years of seeing each other more days than not and an embarrassing number of McDonald diet Cokes later, I think this is our first picture together.

Better late than never.

Sidenote: She's super tan + extremely photogenic = gorgeous. My subconscious must have known we shouldn't be photographed together.

We spent today at the zoo together. I'm convinced the kids had a secret meeting before we left and decided to alternate meltdowns and bad attitudes.

This was clearly Madeline's turn.

It's always wonderful to see sadness radiating from a child who is wearing a super cute headband, stickers and her current favorite dress while in a kid-centric place like the zoo.

She might think she was taking one for the team but only the mommies lose in those situations. 

Thankfully, there were brighter moments in the day and not every shred of rainbow-headband happiness was lost.

Plus, Jenn and I got diet Cokes on the way home.

The {Happy} End

Nap Time in Naptown: 100 Acres at IMA

My friend snapped this photo of Madeline and her friend at Indianapolis Museum of Art's 100 Acres last week. I love this shot because it totally captures the excitement and low-key vibe at Indianapolis' newest art and nature park.

100 Acres is definitely our city's best place to experience beautiful art while letting the kids wear themselves out to total exhaustion.

My Winnie the Pooh-loving daughter quickly made the connection and asked if Christopher Robin would be there. Sadly, the answer is no but she had a hard time shaking Pooh off her mind.

While walking through the tunnel of Alfredo Jaar's "Park of the Laments", I asked Madeline and her friend to shout their favorite word so they could hear echos.

Her sweet little friend yelled, "Mommy!"

Madeline yelled, "Pooh!"

Ah, yes. I'm already reaping the rewards of mothering.

But without further ado and Winnie the Pooh stories, here are my thoughts on 100 Acres:

1. It's one giant game of "I Spy" because the art is just so cool.

Jeppe Hein's Bench Around the Lake was Madeline's favorite by far there because it's a series of 15 very funky and very bright yellow benches.

During our first visit, we played "I Spy" for two hours and Madeline squealed with excitement every time we turned a corner and she glimpsed the vivid yellow. Also? Best counting game ever.

I squealed in my head because I'm envisioning fall family portraits on those benches. Jenny, do you hear me??

The kids were also enthralled with Tea Makipaa "Eden II", affectionally dubbed "the pirate ship" and I want to drag Joe back to "Park of the Laments" for a romantic picnic.

2. When you first arrive, you can't help but notice this gorgeous and oh-so-tempting-to-play-on sculpture which sits in the parking lot. Let me tell you now: there is no climbing on the red and blue.

Yup, while most of the park encourages kids to run, climb and play to their hearts' content, "Free Basket" by Los Carpinteros is off limits. I know there are good reasons for this and I'm not blaming IMA for the rule.

But if your kiddos are anything like the little girl I birthed and most of her friends, it's awfully tempting.

And if you're anything like me, you might start chatting with your friends while letting the kids play and totally forget they are not allowing to climb on said sculpture. Even though it might be your second visit and you got scolded the first time.

And all of this might result in a security person telling your kids, "There's no climbing on the sculpture!"

This is all hypothetical, of course.

3. Fill your water bottles, empty your bladders and prepare to carry your trash.

There's no reason to be wordy over this one. To sum it up, there are no water fountains in the park, trash cans are sparse and I used precise graphic design methods to illustrate where the one restroom is in the park.

Image credit: IMA (all yellow edits are mine. obviously.)

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here. It's a wonderful park and you really must go there because you will love it and your littles will love it. Pinky promise and cross my heart.

But sometimes us moms like to push our limits and tell those little ones, "Just hold it until we get to the park" or "I forgot my water bottle. Probably not a big deal" or "I'll change that stinky diaper there and just throw it in the trash."

And I'm just here to say, don't do it because you will enjoy your visit so much more.

Madeline and the Cow 2010

During Madeline's first trip to the Indiana State Fair, we accidentally started the tradition of "Madeline and the Cow: An Artistic Journey Past Deep-Fried Vendors."

It all started with this shot.

2007

It became one of my favorite pictures because it reminds me that, yes, I am one of those first-time parents who is eager to share everything with her child and is willing to drag her 4-month-old to the Indiana State Fair. (And bring a 5-month-old to the zoo, etc.)

I'm still that way except now I have a 3-year-old who shares my enthusiasm.

Life with a toddler is slammin'. (Shout-out to Chenille from "Save the Last Dance.")

Alas, I cannot find 2008's photo. If I had to take a guess, I would say it's somewhere on our old laptop along with a dusty to-do-list from 2009 that says, "Backup pics from laptop."

If you need proof that we went that year, let's just say you can't find a Possum Holler sign anywhere else.

Moving on.

2009

This photo makes me think "stink."

As in "Wow, those barns really do stink" and "Wow, my daughter is stinkin' cute.

The tiny pigtails and chunky baby face make me want to pull a Hermoine and use a Time-Turner. (Jen, that was for you.)

Which brings us to last week.

2010

I don't know why it looks grainy and fuzzy. I promise she really is our child and paparazzi were not snapping from 500 yards away, yelling "Jatie! Madeline! Look over here!"

(I tried to be all funny and clever by combining our names just like Brangelina but it just looks like a typo. But Koe really isn't any better.)

Despite my lack of photography skills, I still love Madeline and her cow.

I just have to include this next picture because while Madeline does love to fish and thinks the plastic fish are about the coolest thing on the planet, the background is what I would really like to discuss.

Someone at the fair thinks it's very important to illustrate the dangers of suffocating in a silo.

While I might be a city girl, I still question if it really is all that necessary to:

1. discuss this at the fair when one's focus is finding the line between satisfaction and gluttony,
   
2. physically recreating someone dying in a silo and
   
3. situating the scary dying man next to the kiddie fishing pond.

Not cool, Indiana State Fair. I know this scary dying man has been in that barn for a long time but it's time to reconsider a move.

When I first saw these next photos, the lyric "Just a small-town girl" ran through my head. I think it totally applies here.

As long as a small town can be defined as a city with a population of two million.

But I guess that's what the fair is all about.

Anyone can feel a tad more country simply by sitting on some brand-new tractors, harvesting plastic veggies and eating fresh corn with excess butter dripping off your elbow.

Now excuse me while I take Madeline to the fair for her fourth visit this summer. (If the fair had groupies, we'd be first in line.)

Nap Time in Naptown: Be Boutique

Photo Credit: Be Boutique

When I need a place to wander around and immerse myself in beauty, the Be Boutique in SoBro is my hands-down favorite shop.

It's also my favorite place to shop for a gift because I always walk out with something gorgeous, unique and, often times, locally-made.

This weekend, I bought my mom one of Kristin Hubick's vintage typewriter key necklaces. They are gorgeous and I'm now adding one to my wish list. (Sorry Mom.)

The whimsy shop is stocked with home decor, purses and clothes, jewelry, stationary, bath products and lotions and the cutest collection of kids items.

So, yes, when I say I always walk out with a gift, I mean gifts of a feminine nature. Even though they carry a few neckties and cufflinks, I think Joe would prefer his gifts come from Gander Mountain.

Photo Credit: Be Boutique

But for me and Madeline, it's Be Boutique all the way because they also have seriously adorable children's clothing and accessories.

My mom picked up Madeline's "Me and My Maryjane's" rain coat at Be Boutique last winter and it's one of my favorite pieces for her. I didn't see it in the shop when I was there on Saturday but my heart did race when I spied some brightly-colored Trumpette mocs.

Another bonus? When I came home, Joe said I smelled like a boutique. Since they stock Elizabeth W fragrances, it was definitely a good thing.
 

Note to self: next time, buy the Sweet Tea perfume. You will think about it for days and wish you did.

Be Boutique
5367 North College Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana

Hours
Monday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Soooo, about last week

Last week, my little brother, Peter, graduated from the Army's Leadership Training Course. Throughout the summer, I renamed it "officer boot camp" because it made more sense for my non-military brain.

You might remember previous pictures which captured just how much Madeline loves Peter and vice versa. Well, she missed him terribly while he was gone and planned many, many activities to do with him when he returned. Her list included (but was not limited to):

• eating ice cream
• eating Popsicles
• visiting The Children's Museum
• shopping at Aldi's
• drinking smoothies at Hubbard and Cravens

Please note that four of five included food. She's definitely a mama's girl.

My parents, Madeline and I spent two days at Fort Knox in Kentucky for his graduation festivities and when we finally were able to drive off with him Indiana-bound, Madeline was beside herself with excitement.

But if I wasn't concerned about brevity, I would totally title this post: "The One in which Katie Learns She Will Never Join the American Military But is Daggone Proud of Those Who Do."

Because, folks, you will never hear me announce that I'm signing up.

The push-ups.

The discipline.

The push-ups.

The MREs.

The push-ups.

The yelling.

The push-ups.

The powdered eggs for breakfast.

And good golly Miss Molly, THE PUSH-UPS!

While we were in Kentucky, we were allowed to steal Peter away for eight hours. His only requests were good food and sleeping. We managed to squeeze in Applebee's, The Cheesecake Factory and a good nap before we took him back to Fort Knox with promises of more food and icy blended coffees the next day.

What can I say? We are a family who like to meet and exceed expectations.

And while other cadets were spending time with their family as well, I am 100 percent sure Peter was the only one who could say he also spent time watching Judge Judy and playing with princesses. He's a very tolerant brother and uncle.

I have to say, my first impression of the military was extremely good. I've never spent time around soldiers or army bases and I expected to be intimidated out of my mind by tanks, guns and men who drop and give 20 push-ups at a single command.

I didn't expect to find an abundant sense of humor like Peter's drill sergeant who barked at his squad to do the Crusty Crab walk. (Peter is fourth from left)

I know that they worked hard, slept little and ate poorly but there was a lot of joking around and laughing and an unexpected lightness in the environment. Ah, my kind of people.

The whole time I was there, I was very inspired by the military history of our country. Millions of men and women serve our country and while I'm making fun of myself in this post, I'm not making fun of them.

Because I am incredibly proud of that elite group of people who now include my little brother. (Y'all better take care of him, ya hear?!)

Madeline loves the military too. She sat in a tank, watched a Black Hawk helicopter take off, heard cannons booming and received a tiny foam football with the Army logo.

The football might have been the highlight. Sorry Black Hawk pilot.

She also yelled, "There's a soldier, Mommy!" every time she saw someone in uniform. This would be a good time to mention that Fort Knox is home to about 12,000 soldiers.

Peter was home for five days before leaving again for school. At a military institute. Where he will to be yelled at to do more push-ups without a break until Thanksgiving.

Since he loves all of that so it will definitely be harder on Madeline, despite copious amounts of ice cream and Popsicles.

Nap Time in Naptown: Indiana Fever

Growing up in Indiana meant my knowledge of basketball revolved around Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers. Eight points in 8.9 seconds? Yeah, that was my team.

But for Madeline and her generation, they will grow up knowing that women can play too and here in the best state for basketball, our women are the Indiana Fever.

Last weekend, my family went to our first Fever game and I left wondering why I waited so long.

I've been to nearly every professional sporting event in Indianapolis but that game convinced me that the best Hoosier fans are wearing Fever gear. That crowd knew the team, knew the game and knew how to scream, cheer and stomp non-stop.

I'm also pretty convinced I will never again hear "Defense! Defense!" that many times in a two-hour span. You might be thinking, "Dude, go to a Colts game and you'll hear it" but to that I say, "Been there, heard that, go to a Fever game."

The Fever know how to play good ball which was incredibly exciting to watch but I also loved that Fever games are truly family-friendly. There were rows and rows of families and kids and even the people without kids were super friendly to and conscientious of the kids around them.

Also, unlike other local professional cheerleading squads, the Inferno Dance Team didn't make me blush and scramble to cover Madeline's eyes. 

Huge points there, Fever folks. Huge points.

And because I'm totally a spectator and not an athlete, I feel an obligation to also say, "Get thee some Conseco Fieldhouse chicken fingers." It's a good thing those aren't sold in Broad Ripple because I would be tempted to eat them every day.

If this were Madeline's blog, I think she would recommend the pink cotton candy.

Buy some tickets, have some fun and eat some chicken fingers for me.

** Disclaimer: I was provided Fever tickets through the One2One Network but as always, all thoughts and opinions are mine.