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.

Pretty in pink.....OR....Can you see me now?

My Mommy doesn't like pink, something about it being too girly or something. However after months of being asked if I was a boy or girl, Mommy resigned to the fact that a little girl should wear pink at least some of the time; although she tries to dress me in purple mostly!! Anyhow I don't mind and the other day I was in pink from head to toe. Mommy just had to take a picture of her little girl!

I also have found a good hiding spot at Grandma's house. Just the right size for a little girl. It's a good thing that I'm not claustrophic!

I thought since I could fit in Grandma's bookcase I could try to fit in any tight spot I find. However, our TV stand at home is much, much, much smaller and I just don't quite fit, even though I tried the other night until Daddy told me I had to stop.I love music. This next video catches me dancing, playing piano and singing! M&D think I am a pretty talented little girl.

Fun in Rocky Mountain National Park

On Saturday I got to go to 2 parks. In the morning M&D took me up to RMNP to play in the snow. We were planning to go snowshoeing, but the trails were pretty packed down. So we just hiked some, went off the trail were there was a little more snow to go "sliding" and make my first snow angel.

When we got home, I took my cousin (who just moved down the street from me) to the neighborhood park. Notice the difference in temperature 40 miles and 3000 feet of elevation make!!

I was pretty wore out that night after all that playing and fresh air. But it was a well-worth the fun!

Last week we had a heavy frost Saturday night and beautiful blue sky Sunday morning. The church steeple against the blue sky, with a frost covered tree in the background just made such a striking contrast. I thought you would enjoy seeing the beauty in God's creation also!

Fun with straws

Last night, M&D took me out for supper. I had a lot of fun, especially when Daddy took his straw out. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the fun I had!

Snow fun!

It recently snowed and it was so pretty just hanging on the trees that I just had to have Mommy take a few pictures. As much as I like the snow, it is nice to have a nice warm car to ride around in!

Since it is too cold to water our new tree everyday,Mommy sometimes uses the leftover driveway snow around the tree to melt slowly and help water it. So the other day I was helping her shovel snow; until my boot fell off!!!

Mommy even got a chance to go skiing for a few hours with a friend. It was a beautiful day; no wind and plenty of snow on the ground. I stayed home with Daddy and he took me swimming, so I think all of us had a pretty good day!

Colors and things

I am learning my colors. Right before Christmas I was eating some Fruit Loops and Mommy asked me which color was my favorite and I said, "Red" and grabbed a red one. Since then I point to different colors, but tonight Mommy noticed me purposely putting the same colors together when I was playing with my Legos.

Notice at the end of the video when I have to get the yellow one next to all the other yellow ones.

I also have a new bath towel. I have mostly outgrown the pink one Grandma gave me (remember how cute I looked in it!!!), so now I have a green frog one. I was showing off to Daddy after my bath on Sunday.

I love to ride my horse every night. Sometimes I wiggle away from Mommy during my diaper change, just so I can ride. Mommy just had to take this picture of me. Reminds you of a certain Lady Godiva, doesn't it???!!!! (for those of you who don't know your folklore--she was the Lady of the Manor who rode through town on horseback naked to protest her husband's taxes in Olde England).

Mommy just had to add this video of me, since I am very talkative in it. Don't ask Mommy what I was talking about, because I kept it a secret from her!!

SuperBowl Party

On Sunday, we had a SuperBowl party. Most of Daddy's family came over, two couples from church and one of Daddy's co-workers, so we had quite a full house. Ususally Mommy and Daddy attempt to keep me "quaratined" to the floor that they are on, but with so many people the door to the basement was left open so I could climb up and down the stairs and pretty much go wherever I wanted. I was chasing after my cousins; running all over the house, until they stopped to watch a movie! I also very much enjoyed all the food. Mommy thought there was way too much, but honestly didn't have too many leftovers so I guess it was just about perfect. Anyhow, M&D set up the card table to put all the snacks on. The card table was just the right height that I could go up to it, reach my arm up, feel around a little and grab whatever I wanted. So Mommy had to make sure all the food on the edge was food I could have. I made Mommy laugh a few times when I went to get crackers and "toppings"--everyone else put cheese or meat on them--but I decided I wanted to make mine a carrot&broccoli cracker. Mommy later found quite a few carrots around the basement, ones I had taken a bite or two out of, and then decided I didn't want it anymore.

Earlier in the week I had to get ready to cheer. Mommy thought I looked like a little gangster with my baseball cap on and a medal around my neck. I didn't stand still long enough for a great picture, but here are two to give you an idea.

Daddy's Girl

Since our sickness (and two days of cuddling with Daddy on the couch), I have decided that being Daddy's girl is quite the thing. This has caused Mommy a little bit of "soul-searching." It's not that Mommy is jealous, just trying to figure out her different role. Bedtime was always Mommy's duty (and her favorite part of the day--cuddling in the dark, rocking gently,quiet time just the two of us without any care in the world!!). But all week, I have fought with her and only want Daddy. The last two nights have been better, as Mommy has figured out just to ask me who I want to rock with (plus Mommy realized that she gets an extra half-hour at the end of the day by not having to rock me). It makes for a more peaceful evening (no fighting with Mommy, and just rocking with Daddy!!). I still let her read our night-night book (toddler devotional book) and say prayers with me. But I just want to cuddle with Daddy--and I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all.

I want to be like Daddy so much, that the other evening at supper I tried to give myself a beard!!

New Things

I have been busy learning lots of new things. Sorry Mommy has been so slow getting them shown. About 3 weeks ago we had a nasty flu bug. I got sick Sunday morning, then Daddy Monday afternoon, and Mommy Monday night. We were all home sick on Tuesday. It was Saturday before I finally kept food down. M&D got better faster than I did, but that stomach bug was nasty to me. Then I decided that I didn't have quite enough teeth, so I have been trying to push a few more through. (over Christmas I got my molars, but now I am working on the teeth in between my four front ones and my molars). Anytime that I am teething, I tend to get a runny nose which usually turns into a little bit of a cold. Luckily this time around, it has stayed in my nose and hasn't migrated to my chest.

Anyhow, back to the new things I have learned recently. I discovered that walking backwards is quite fun.

I also learned to build a tower out of Legos. Ok, I still need help with that one, but I do love to play with them.

I have started taking a big interest in my stuffed animals and dolls. I usually carry George wherever I go. Two of my babies play piano duets with me every night also (Mommy hasn't got that on tape yet, though!) I also try to feed my babies or as this video shows change their dirty diapers.

George

I have a new best friend--Curious George!! D bought me George just before Christmas and I have grown attached to him like no other toy I have (except maybe my singing Elmo I still have from my infant carseat days!). Anyhow I love my George. He's even on TV. D started taping his shows and I always ask for "more" when it gets over. I took George out to NJ with me and tried to teach him a few things. For instance I tried to help him go potty, but he fell in!! He got a very quick trip to the laundry machine after that accident! I also tried to get him to do things once M&D told me I couldn't. They never said George couldn't, so I would take George's hand and try to grab what I wasn't supposed to have. It's nice to have such a good friend. I hope you all have a good of friend as I have in George. He even sleeps with me, what a pal!

"Want to Be Like YOU!"

M&D have begun to realize that I want to be just like them and so I try everything I see them doing. It makes them think just how much they have to learn and how they need to always be doing the right things. Daddy sang about this at my baptism--the song "I Want to Be Like You" by Philips, Craig and Dean--the fact that parents need to be just like their Heavenly Father because their children want to be just like them! The copying does lead to some pretty cute and funny incidents though.

I told you about going to the Japanese steakhouse in Vermont...well I wanted to be just like the Hibachi chef and so I grabbed the only utensils I had at the moment--2 straws and tried to chop up my food like he was. The fire was pretty cool, too!!






Then when Aunt R. was using the chopsticks to eat, I decided to try myself and feed her with them; she claimed I even actually gave her a piece of rice!

When my aunts & uncles got into a snowball fight after church Sunday I just had to join in.
M&D weren't sure if I was "getting" my uncle or giving him ammuniation to use!!!

Grandpa got a new pair of gloves for running and both M and Aunt M. tried them on, so I just had to also. I admit I have a little more growing to do before they'll fit me perfectly!

Then the last night we were at G&G, everyone was playing cards. I got my own deck and played soltaire under the table. That way no one could disturb me!!

Christmas

For Christmas, I got to go visit G&G out in NJ. I had tons of fun (once we got there). My adventure started Christmas Eve morning after opening presents from Santa (he came a day early to our house!) and after a quick visit to my doctor for my 18 month check-up (i'm well just in case you are wondering--20 1/2 pounds and 32 inches tall). Anyhow we made it to the airport quickly and in plenty of time for our 12:30 flight. However, the plane wasn't there in plenty of time. I got lots and lots of time to explore the airport while we waited for clearance to take off--due to ground delays at Newark airport because of freezing rain. I walked up and down the escalators, and moving walkways. I even got to ride the tram between all 3 concourses. M&D were trying to delay my nap until we got on the plane (although I got a very short one on the way to the airport), but after being delayed 3 hours with no end in sight, M&D finally let me sleep. FINALLY after being in the airport for almost 7 hours we boarded our plane. M&D were very proud of how well behaved I was on the plane--hardly a peep out of me, except when I was laughing so hard at M playing with my water bottle like a top and she got distracted by our neighbor who was also laughing at me and so I tossed the water bottle at D and ended up spilling his pop all over him and the aisle! We ended up landing about 5 1/2 hours later than we were supposed to; so instead of arriving to a big Christmas Eve dinner we got there almost at midnight. I fell asleep on the way to G&G house (since I had been up the whole plane ride!), so I didn't get to see everyone until Christmas morning. I got to open presents after church. M&D have taught me to be very clean as you can see from this video!




After opening presents we had dinner and then headed up to Vermont for a few nights. I did really well on the 6 hour car-ride. I even entertained myself with Patty-Cake.




However, M made the mistake of telling me about the pool at the hotel about 10 miles from town and I couldn't understand why I couldn't swim right this instance!! I made up for it the next day when M, my aunts & uncles and Grandpa went skiing. I took Grandma to the pool and spent the whole day there (ok so only 4 hours in 3 different shifts!). That night we all went to a Japanese steakhouse. I was so enthralled with the Hibachi chef. We also toured Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory before leaving Vermont and saw three covered bridges. Anyhow, once we headed back to NJ I spent the next few days just sightseeing around G&G house. We went for a few walks, took all my naps (trying to push Aunt R. off M&D's bed one time when she napped with me--hey a girl needs her space!), had a snowball fight, went into NY to Coney Island to get a hot dog and to see the window displays, played with all my new toys (and some old ones as well!) and just hung out. With being the only grandchild I got plenty of attention!! I had tons of fun with G&G and my aunts and uncles. Isn't Mommy's family wonderful?!

And aren't I a cutie in one of my new outfits?!