Summer Lovin' -- Week Five

Little Lolabug,

This week, we started with a visit to see Auntie Lindsay and cousin Ryan at their home. So fun! Your auntie had a big birthday, and we got to celebrate with cake and not-so-baby play.

The next day, we returned to one of Ryan's favorite parks. You had a good time exploring side by side...

...and your Momma had fun watching a little girl try to adopt you. She took care of you on a dinosaur...

...and then led you to one of the slides.

So very cute :)

Then, we took a trip to the children's museum. Before finding your cousin to play, you did your best to start a tea party with a new friend.

Then you and Ryan played cars...

...and explored the outside deck. This was your best play together.

And you sure had fun with that popper.

Back inside, you made your Momma chuckle. Sometimes you seem like such a thoughtful big kid...

...and then you do something baby-like.

(And let's face it, a little inappropriate :-)

Back at Ryan's house, you became a little obsessed with Ryan's big dog, Bonnie. (Or, as you yelled to her, "BAH!")

Bonnie even became part of your cousin Thomas train watching time:

Whoa :)

We also spent time among Ryan's books, and I laughed at the difference a boy's house makes:

After a few days of play, we came home to spend July 4th with Daddy. We tried out a new park, with a kiddie train and a slide and ice cream. Oh my. 

You tried your hand at bean bags (minus the "toss")...

...and pointed out sights.

We came home for some fruit fun...

...and some rest.

A sweet week with some of our favorite people.

'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai

Summer Lovin' -- Week Four

My Lolabug --

Another week, another chance to explore. Not such a bad life, hmm?

This week, a friend let us know about a park playscape with a canopy, and since this is Texas, and this week saw 3-digit temps, that sounded like a necessity! 

So off we went to Trailhead Park. Um, it's totally cool -- a castle of play. 

I mean, someone really fun came up with that, for sure.

And since it has lots of railings and side walls, you largely puttered around on your own -- up stairs, across bridges, and down slides.

For some reason, you get the concept of "on your bottom" on a traditional slide but insist on face-first, on-your-belly army crawl in the tube slides. I find this endearing.

You also do your best to climb the slides instead of going to the steps, but you're not quite able to do this. Soon, I bet.

Then, a big adventure. A small group of moms from our church planned a visit to Crowe's Nest Farm. We were lucky enough to go with our neighbors, Mrs. Beth and Taylor, and it looked fun from the start.

I have to admit your mommy wasn't too keen on the first part of the tour -- the snake room. (Blech.) But we hung around while the nice farmer took out 2 snakes, Show-n-Tell style, and then invited kids to touch one. Um, no.

And anyone who knows me well should understand why I felt a little proud that I not only stayed still for the snakes but also the wasp flying in and out of the rafters above our heads. (Your momma's a wuss, sweetie.)

But then on to see Bella, the cow, and learn about milking. Better :)

And then a group hayride to see buffalo and ostriches.

Fun -- but honestly, you liked the hay best. 

Then the farmers turned us loose to meet the animals. House rules: any animal that comes to the fence can be petted, don't pretend to feed them, and watch for llamas with their ears back, because they're about to spit. (I heard that last one as "Avoid the llamas at all costs.")

So we met donkeys...

A bellowing cow...

Ponies...

Pigs...

A headbutting goat (eek!)...

And various birds. You weren't sure what to make of that turkey.

So many animals. So many memories.

Then, some fun at home as we tried to keep from melting in afternoon heat. You still love your books -- even though you don't always take them so seriously:

My funny yoga baby.

And we tried our hands at a 4th of July craft -- it worked!

It will be fun to let you wear your handiwork :)

And finally, a couple of Saturday outings. First, we ventured off to a little puppet show -- your first one. 

You were a bit in awe.

Or disturbed. Or both.

Then later a birthday party with Daddy for a 4-year-old who likes the Ninja Turtles. You tugged at the balloons hanging from the ceiling...

And then the birthday girl's mom made you a ninja turtle balloon. Very cool.

Come to think of it, we had a big week, little one! A good week, a good summer.

'Til next time, Love to my Lorelai :)

Summer Lovin' -- Week Three

Little Lolabug, 

Another fine week, sweet girl. We started the week by celebrating Father's Day. Your daddy mostly likes quiet time with his girls (good thing), so we made sure he got it. Pasta and pizza at home -- and one of my favorite pics ever of you two:

Then, as the week started, you and your momma had some time to explore. I decided to try Baby Bloomers at the children's museum (3 yrs & under). We went once last year with Ryan and Aunt Lindsay, me carrying you from place to place, and of course this year, you were more ready to roam and act on your own. With me nearby, you were off!

Play tunnels,

Ball drops,

Mini-slides,

...and the room with all the tracks for dropping golf balls. I helped you try the ski jumps, the roller coaster, and the loopy ones -- but you liked the rotating buckets best, because you didn't need much help. Such a big girl :)

We took a quick pic together...

...and then you found one last cubby of fun things to see. The best? A color-changing board and -- no surprise -- fish!

A sweet trip :)

Later, we returned to the mall play place, and you seemed more confident after your trip with cousin Ryan. 

But my favorite part of this trip was the pair of sisters (ages 3 & 4) who decided you were a point of interest. The younger one, Emory, followed us around, cracking me up with her announcements:

"I wanna play with that baby." (She meant you.) "She's cute."

"If she wants to slide, I'll slide first and then she can slide."

"I think she wants to hold my hand."

Then she clambered into the toy car with you to show you how to drive.

I'm not sure you really "got" her.

Her big sister asked if she could take a picture, too -- but then you three were so into staring at each other that you ended up looking mad.

Those were pretty much our little local adventures this week, but you have also been having some in-house fun. 

You're so focused on a little mess-free drawing board I got. You can sometimes spend 10-15 minutes "drawing," and this week, you decided to cozy up -- mid-June, no less -- in a big fleece blanket to draw.

And you're quickly learning to love Daddy's iPad -- especially one "Where is the ____?" app that periodically plays a congratulations song while instrument-playing animals cavort on-screen. I caught you & Daddy dancing to it more than once this week.

Such infectious joy :)

'Til next time and next little adventure, Love to my Lorelai