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.

Snow plow

The other day when it was snowing out, M and I went out to get groceries. On the way back home we got behind 5 snow plows. The roads were mostly wet, so they didn't have much to do. But the last one nearest the shoulder had all the slush to move out of the way. I thought it was very exciting and kept pointing the slush wave out to M. She wanted to share it all with you (although I'm sure for those of you up in ND and MN, this is nothing special, but for me it was my first time!!!!)

Purse

I told you recently about the fact that I was trying to be like M and get my "purse" when I was getting ready for church. So for Easter I got a brand new purse. I love to carry it around and have taken it with me to the park, out to eat and to church. I posed for M while she took my picture with it. Don't I look good?!

Tea Party

I went to my first Tea Party last week. But it wasn't like any other tea party you usually think of. This one was a political statement (taxed-enough-already party) held on the main corner in Loveland on tax day. I went with P&G, and D. M met us there after she got off work. There were many parties around the nation, some were rallies and others like this one were just people getting together holding signs at people passing by. I dressed in my patriotic colors and waved the American flag, while P and D took turns holding a sign. There were almost 800 people within the 2 block radius.

God bless America!!

Easter Weekend

This Easter weekend was filled with many fun activities and a few late nights. Friday night we went to Good Friday service and then went out with a few friends to Perkins. It took a while to be seated and then to order, so by the time the food arrived it was already 9:30. So M&D ate quickly so that I could get home and in bed by 10 (only 2 hours past bedtime!!). As soon as I walked in the door I went over to my highchair and asked to eat. M&D just laughed at me, since I had helped eat tomatoes and onions off one salad, had my own bowl of fruit and ate some of M's pie. I just got my bottle and got sent off to bed, where I fell asleep rocking in M's arms. Then Saturday I went clothes shopping with M. We were kind of looking for an Easter dress (although I had one at home I could wear--it was just a little big for me). Anyhow M wasn't thrilled with the colors that were out this year--oranges, and greens with a lot of "loud" designs on them, so we started supplying my summer wardrobe--2 pairs of shorts, 2 shirts, jeans, sunglasses and a little cardigan sweater to wear those cool summer mornings. M had a gift card that she got when I was born and hadn't used it yet, so since we went all that way to shop, she figured she better use it for something!!. While I napped Saturday afternoon, M got busy making 3 pies (strawberry, blueberry and a bosenberry cheesecake), banana bread and an egg casserole for Easter brunch. When I woke up from nap, Cousin L came over to help me dye Easter eggs. First I colored the eggs and then I put them into the bowl of dye.
I splattered some all over myself;

luckily M was smart enough to just keep me in a diaper!! Then Daddy took us to the park. It was while we were there that I participated in my first Easter egg hunt!!

The neighbor kids in the cul-de-sac over were having it in the green belt and invited me to join them. I had so much fun we did it twice. I filled my hat up with a bunch of eggs. After supper I went to Cousin L's house to play while M&D watched a movie. But with my late night the previous evening, I was crabby so M didn't get to finish watching and took me home instead to put me to bed. However, I was having a lot of trouble breathing due to a cold I've been trying to get over, so I kept crying and M would come in and rock me again, so it was almost 1 1/2 hours later before I finally fell sound asleep (and that was only after M gave me some pain reliever medicine), but once asleep I slept soundly all night! Sunday morning D wasn't quite ready to get up, so M and I took our time eating breakfast and I helped M with the SS craft while we waited for the Easter bunny to come. Saturday all the eggs were empty plastic eggs (I got a prize when I finished), but on Sunday there were some plastic eggs with treats and the dyed eggs from Saturday.

Since the dyed eggs didn't open to reveal a treat, I decided to just leave them right where they were and focused on finding all the treat eggs. My Easter basket including lots of fun things, mostly things that had Curious George on them!We took lots of pictures at church that I was getting tired of them all. But I stood real still for M while she took one of just me. You can't even tell that this dress is a size 3T! After church, we went home so I could take my nap (M thought it was cute how I pulled my hat down over my eyes, so I could fall asleep on the way home!) and then headed over to Uncle L's house for dinner. There were lots of people there and I got to play with all my cousins. I had my third and final Easter egg hunt there in the backyard and found a dozen dyed eggs my cousins had decorated. I had to line them all up afterwards before I could go get my prize. M wanted to apologize for the long entry and lots of pictures, but I told her it was my first "active" Easter and so I had to show everything off!!

Sunday School

The other Sunday Mommy had to subsitute for the preschool class and took me with her. The next week I wanted to attend the class again, so the teacher let me join them. Here's the first project I made in Sunday School!

I also love the song B-I-B-L-E which we sing every Sunday in opening. Here's me singing just a little of it with Mommy.

I also like the song Father Abraham. Daddy and I have fun dancing to a CD of the song.

April's Fool!

M&D didn't play any tricks on me this year. Although they think my trick was being very rumbuctious at church that evening. I am always very active, but Wednesady night I was ornary along with my activity!! Anyhow, at Mommy's work one department played a trick on the YMCA President. When everyone showed up to work Wednesday morning, they found this very colorful elk staring into the President's office. It belongs to the new Craft & Design Center being built on the Y grounds. The next day, the elk meandered down to the Musuem until the Museum Dir. came back from vacation. Mommy got a pretty good laugh when she drove into the parking lot!!

New words

I have learned quite a few new words recently. When Mommy got hurt 2 weeks ago, I learned "Owie". Anytime Mommy accidently bumped her elbow against something she would say Owie. I then would repeat after her and point to a small cut I had on my finger.

My favorite word lately has been "NO". In this following video Mommy is trying to get me to say, "Bye, see you!" Finally after a few No, No's I say "See you" at the end.

I also have made up a few signs. When anything is cold, I fist up up my hands and shiver.

Anytime something is hot, I try to blow on it to cool it off. Mommy's thinks it is kind of funny when I try to blow on the stove as she is cooking supper, because she has told me "Hot, no touch." Hey I'm just trying to cool it down so I can eat sooner!!! When Mommy tells me to be quiet I put my figure up to my mouth and say, "Shhh." After Mommy sneezes I say, "Scuse You".

Everyday I am learning something new. It is kind of fun being able to get my point across. Mommy still has some trouble understanding me, but at least I know what I'm saying.

Ready for church

This morning as I was finishing getting ready for church, I grabbed my coat, hat, Bible and "purse"--which just happens to be last year's Easter basket. I guess M&D will have to buy me a real purse shortly!!!I guess Mommy thought it was just too cute. However, I was in a hurry to go, so the pictures at home didn't turn out too well. But here's a video of me heading into church.

The zoo....

We went to the zoo last weekend. But it wasn't like any other zoo I had been to. It was all made out of old farm equipment. There were some pretty cool animals. All my cousins were there also. What a beautiful day and fun adventure.

The day before the zoo adventure, M&D went ATV riding with some friends. It was lots of fun until Mommy wiped out. Luckily the elbow was the most visible injury, although Mommy complained about her hip hurting for a few days afterwards, but no bruise ever formed.

123....next track star?

The other night after supper I was getting a little restless. So M&D took me outside so I could run a little bit while they continued to talk to friends. Do you think I'll be the next track star in my family????

My aunt just recently ran in the Division III NCAA Nationals track meet 4x400 and got her team into 1st place in their heat. They ended up getting 3rd place overall. Here's two great pictures of my Aunt R. running and then her team standing on the podium.
I have learned to count to 1, 2, 3....ususally before throwing a ball or jumping off something. Although the other day I was helping Mommy peel potatoes--and by helping I mean that once she got them peeled and laid them on the counter I would pick them up and take a bite out of the end. Once there was three potatoes on the counter, Mommy pointed to them and counted 1, 2, 3...so I pointed to them and repeated. Now this video isn't very good,
Mommy didn't quite catch the 1, 2, 3...but it is still quite cute so I asked Mommy to post it for me.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This morning for breakfast Gramma made me green eggs and ham. They were rather tasty. Mommy forgot that she hadn't done laundry yet and since I wore my cute green jumper a week ago (and my other green shirt is long-sleeve and it was 70 degrees today), I had to settle for my pink t-shirt with a green kitty on it. So I still wore green--just not quite as much. This is a picture Gramma took when I was playing with my "sports" car at her house!!

On Saturday I went with Mommy to go and get car maintenance done. We got the oil changed, tires rotated and car washed. While we waited for the oil we went for a walk, then at the tire shop I got to play outside on their wall. Mommy always thinks it is cute when I come over and "ask" to be picked up--ok I just gesture that I want to be picked up. In this video I am more vocal then usual, but notice how I bend down and then straighen up to my tip-toes. That's my sign that I want UP!! I even had some time to sit and draw.

Anyhow, after getting all the car stuff done and grocery shopping it was time to get home and eat lunch. Then after naptime we pretty much spent the rest of the day outside enjoying the 65-70 degree weather in the middle of March!! We played at 2 parks, went out for ice cream, played in the backyard while Daddy grilled supper and went for a bike ride with Mommy, Aunt S. and cousin L. By that time it was nighty-night time. What a fun-filled adventurous day!

Being cute

I am rather cute and most of the time I know it! I just wanted to share a few photos with you. Last week after my bath and getting my pajamas on, Mommy and I took a walk. Even in my pjs, crocs and with wet hair I am still cute as a button!!
My new favorite phrase is "Uh oh". Anytime something is out of place or isn't just as it should be I use that phrase. In this video I am playing with my letter puzzles and near the end one of the pieces just isn't right.

You can hear my saying "uh oh" about 3 or 4 times. Later as I am playing with another piece, I somehow get the Q stuck around my neck like a necklace!!

I have watched Gramma too much. Last time M&D went out to eat with some friends,I grabbed the sugar packets and "poured" them into the cup--just like I see Gramma do every morning with her tea!!

Cleaning

I have always been a big help around the house. I try to do my fair share of the workload. In the last week I have decided to help Mommy clean. Well, first of all I have to get a little messy or dirty in order to make the cleaning worthwhile. Last week Mommy made French toast for me and since it was bath night, she just let me eat however I wanted. When I finished up I noticed my hands were quite sticky. It was kind of fun clapping my hands together and making them stick!!

Then it was off to a bath (ok this happened a week later!!). Mommy started the water and then we went to get a washcloth from my dresser and to take off my diaper. However, when Mommy turned around from getting the washcloth, she realized I had run back to the bathroom. (I just learned how to open doorknobs this week (i had already learned the door handle ones--those were easy--you just had to push down), which means I can open all the doors in the house, which means that I can get into anywhere/anything and can no longer be contained anywhere!!) I got to thinking--why should I have to take a bath and then later wash my clothes?! Why couldn't I just do it all at once? After Mommy finished laughing (and taking a picture), she made me take a "normal" bath. Hey, I was just trying to save Mommy some time!

This past weekend I also helped Mommy clean the house. My favorite part was when she let me dip the mop back into the water bucket.

Girl's Ski Weekend

I will let Mommy talk about her fun weekend she just had. Even though I'm a girl, I decided to stay home with Daddy and had lots of fun too--playing in the park, going to the swimming pool, going out to eat with friends and just hanging out with Daddy. But this entry will be all about Mommy's great weekend.

Aunt M and a few of her friends flew in to go skiing with Mommy. Mommy picked Aunt M up from the airport Friday morning and then headed to Winter Park to meet up with the 2 girls who flew in Thursday night. Just as we turned off interstate the snow started falling. Good news for those heading to go skiing, but bad news for those who are outside in the wind and cold. So needless to say Friday was a miserable day of weather, but Awesome Snow!! We were the few brave ones to stay on the slopes all day long. By 2 pm the snow stopped and the sun started peeking out. Once you could actually see where you were skiing (aka the bumps&moguls!) it was much better. On the last run of the day, as we were resting we happened to look up and behind us as the sun was setting. The clouds were racing across the sky and were reflecting the setting sun as a rainbow in the clouds--not in the sky, just in every cloud as it raced by in front of the sun. It was the most amazing, beautiful thing I had every seen.

Friday night after getting down off the mountain we went grocery shopping and then headed to A's friend's cabin to cook supper. It was a nice, relaxing supper and conversation. 2 others joined us LATE Friday night after their concert. Saturday morning we slept in, then got up to go sledding.

Sisters on the tubes!

We attempted to take a shortcut across country, but as you can see from this video it definintely wasn't the fastest way!

After a few times down the slopes and back up by way of rope tow, we decided it was time for lunch. Since it was such a gorgeous day outside--blue skies, no wind, about 30-40 degrees, we had a picnic outside our lodge room.

After lunch it was time to head snowshoeing!!

What a beautiful walk through the woods of the Snow Mountain Ranch property. Since K&K weren't with us in the morning, we headed back to the tubing hill for another go at it.

The day ended with a steak dinner

and soaking in the Hot Sulphur Springs nearby. What a great ending to a perfect day.

Sunday we headed out to the ski hills again. This time no wind, just a few clouds and fairly warm weather. The snow was still mostly powder and the top runs were open, so we spent most of our time on the upper slopes.