Camping!

For Memorial Day we went camping up near Red Feather (about an 1 1/2 hours away). The first evening was terrible because I smashed the same finger twice! First as M&D were setting up the camper, I was playing near the hitch and got my fingernail stuck in the hitch lock. Then 2 hours later, while D was cooking supper, M headed out of the camper and told me to stay, but I wanted to follow, so I went to catch the door and got my finger caught on the inside. That one really hurt and I got a pretty deep cut. M put ice on it and gave me some medicine, but in the middle of the night I woke up crying, "Owie, owie, owie", so I got more medicine for it. The rest of the weekend, I talked of nothing else but the owie and the door I caught it in.

But once morning came, everything turned around for the better. I got to play outside for 4 days straight, I rode ATV's (both the little one with P

and D's big one!). I played with my cousins and chased them around. I also fell numerous times on the rocks and uneven ground as I was chasing cousins or dogs. But I'm resourceful...if M or D aren't around to kiss my owies, I will do it myself!
I made new friends (mostly with dogs, but also a few kids I hadn't met before---there were 6 campers, 2 tents, 7 dogs, 35 people, and 16 ATV's around our campsite!!!) Mostly D's family, but also some friends.

(notice in this video with the dog, I am singing my new song....M needed to remember to buy ice before we left, so she started singing "Ice, ice, baby" and I picked up on it really quick. I sing it twice in this little clip!)

It was a little chilly out, but the rain only interfered Sunday afternoon (the other times I was already in the camper asleep, so it didn't matter!!). We didn't have any heat the first night though, because both propane lines were leaking. So while I played the next day, M&D headed back down to the valley to get it fixed. Finally they came back and we had heat the rest of the nights. Since it was so cold, we had the fire going from dawn to after dusk. This was the 3rd pile of wood that was gotten and only lasted less than 2 days!

I entertained myself a lot also. If my cousins were busy and everyone was out ATV'ing I would hang around the campsite with M or G. I played in the dirt a lot,

hosted my own cooking show, lounged around some and just had all sorts of fun.

One night, a bunch of the people had a crab boil. Here's a picture of them with all their food. The one ride I went on with both M&D was to a mud pit to watch Uncle B try to conquer it. It was actually a fairly nice day, so M took my coat off when we arrived. When I saw the pit, I tried to take my shirt off also...I thought it was a swimming hole!!

Church activities

M hosted a picnic about 2 weeks ago for all her SS teachers as a way to say THANK YOU for everything they do. It was a beautiful evening, so after supper we started a little fire and just enjoyed the night. I got bored sitting around the fire, so I started playing hide and seek. (M had told me it was too cold to put water in the pool, so I found another use for it!) I'm definitely not afraid of small, dark spaces!

It was lots of fun. (notice in the background our "neighbors" I've told you about before!) We noticed some new neighbors out front that morning. M tried to get a picture,

so if you look closely you should be able to see the 3 baby birds that made their home in our little evergreen bush by our front steps.

The next day at church, Uncle S and D sang a late Mother's Day song. They said it was for their Mommy, but I know my M really likes this song. It's just a fun little ditty.

Hope you enjoy it as much as they did!

Playing catch-up

I just want to apologize in advance for the marathon of posts we are posting tonight. The weather has turned nice, so I've been asking M to go outside after supper every night. We spend time either out in our backyard or at the park most evenings now. That gives M limited time to work on the computer.

Also we have had some sad news in our family. Last week Papa's best friend passed away very unexpectedly (and very young--only 55). The rest of the week was a whirlwind of friends & family, funeral arrangements and mourning. We weren't home in the evening for 3 nights straight. I didn't really understand what was going on--all I knew was that I had a new backyard to play in and a ton of new friends. But M&D, and especially G&P were very sad! I gave lots of hugs to Papa those days.

So tonight we are playing catch-up from the last month of activities and photos.

Outside fun

We have cows in our backyard!!! Ok, maybe in the hay field right behind our house, but close enough that it feels like they are in our backyard. I like to go outside and "moo" at them after supper.
I also had fun chasing a bunny rabbit who was just staying far enough away from me on the other side of the fence.

While we were outside I found the car that I played with while camping all last summer. It had been stored on our back patio all winter. I am a litte big for it, plus it has seen better days (that's what I get for being the 9th grandchild and getting hand-me down toys!!). Anyhow, I was determined to have fun with it, but the backyard grass was a little too tall for proper riding. So I carried the car around to the front of the house where I learned about the effects gravity

has in our driveway! Then I convinced M to let me ride it to the park--by riding I mean that I rode less than half a block and then M carried it the rest of the way!!! But I had fun playing with it in the rocks.

Here's a comparsion--Memorial Day last year riding the car (remember my very first step was taken on this camping trip). And me the other night....a little bit taller and much more mobile!

When I am inside I wish I was outside. Life would be good if I could spend every waking moment outside! So I sometimes sit on the coffee table by the front window and watch the neighborhood go by. This particular evening I was there and watched D pull into the driveway.

Food fun

For breakfast the other morning M started to peel a banana for me. I got very upset with her, because I wanted to do it myself. However, once she handed it to me I decided to eat it like corn on the cob. M thought I looked funny so had to go grab the camera.

We had wings last night for supper. The ranch came in a little cup, so M just gave me my own cup rather than pouring some on my plate. The fact that it was in a cup confused me and I tried drinking it several times. This is what I looked like after M&D finished laughing at me and took away the cup. I still wasn't completely convinced that ranch wasn't something that could be eaten completely by itself and actually threw a fit when M&D told me I had to eat my chicken with it (and not just ranch by itself).

Being silly

D and I have lots of fun together. On nights we can't go outside and play because of the weather we play chase up and down the halls.

This particular evening D chased me into the corner of the living room and then just kept running at me. I was having so much fun.

I am definitely becoming more independant and want to do things my way....all by myself! I can to dress myself.....almost. The undressing part is easy...I can get my pants off, and my shirt over my head(although my arms are still in!). I can even get my diaper off. G found me the yesterday on the kitchen counter with my diaper off and the dishrag in hand cleaning myself up. When asked if I needed to go potty, I ran to the bathroom and put the training sit on the toilet. However I didn't get it quite on good enough, so when I went to use it I fell in. G said I looked like a little accordian with my head and legs out of the toilet, but my bum in the water! However, no compromising pictures were taken, so you will just have to envision for yourself how funny I looked. M has found me in a similiar position--in my rocking chair with my diaper off and putting A&D ointment on. Today, G found me on her bed, with my dirty diaper off and the wipes trying to clean myself up. I think maybe I am almost ready to completely potty train?!

I put my own pants on the other morning, backwards but they worked! In this instance I was ready to head outside--I have my vest on and shoes.....what more do I need?! The other morning I didn't want M to comb my hair, so this is me with a good full head of bed hair!

I help out whenever I can. I helped M carry my bag up to G's house.

Even though it only had a blanket, fussy and cup in it, it was hard getting up the steps with that big bag!

G was in the mood for Christmas about a month ago. So Cousin L. and I helped G make gingerbread houses. G mostly decorated mine, but I helped eat some of the frosting off the roof.

For mother's day I decorated GB's card before sending it in the mail out to NJ.