Summer Vacation Day 1: Pat the Bunny

First stop the first morning of summer...the library! We were there when the doors opened. Yay! Riley turned in her Halloween books and picked out a few new Disney ones. Isaac got a few of the best looking options from his summer reading list. I picked up the play I requested for my audition in July and then we colored for a bit before we left. We were off to visit Grandpa and his baby bunnies!

We said hi to Grandpa and his dogs first. After a nice visit inside we went out to see the bunnies and chickens. Grandpa's bunnies had three babies. They're adorable. They're also without forever homes, but Mike says I'm not a lot to bring any home. I so want one with every irrational little kid part of my being. I think it would have to be the little brown guy whose ears point opposite directions. He came right up to me while his brothers/sisters huddled in the back of the cage. Sigh...

We had a lovely visit. After a long, fun morning Roo insisted on taking her nap "in a nest." It was a dinosaur nest!

End of Pre-School Picnic

When you're a parent you often find your life revolving around your kids milestones. I felt like everything was leading to this big day. The day we celebrate all the pre-schoolers moving up. There were hot dogs, chips, lemonade, kites, face painting, a wet sponge fight and moth release. A few weeks ago we gave Riley's class a caterpillar for a leopard moth that we found in the backyard. Her class watched it and even named it, Spot. The night before the picnic Spot emerged from the cocoon! At the preschool picnic they released him back into the wild! So. Much. Awesome. It was a good time for everyone.

Beach Day

The beach is not my favorite. I'm not ungrateful to have it as an option, but physically it's less than easy for me. It's about as easy for me as bowling is for a T-Rex. It's not impossible and I do appreciate the atmosphere. Probably slightly more so than the dinosaur in the bowling ally. My crutches and fused ankle don't appreciate sand. My bad balance and fused back do not appreciate the waves. It makes my beach trips infrequent, but not completely out of the question.

I had a horrible illness and several days in bed. It was time for fresh air. Everyone gets stir crazy when Mom's that sick. Riley had announced the week before she wanted to learn to swim. Even if I just laid on the towel snapping pictures it was time for the beach.

click any picture to enlarge

Pumpkin Patch Picnic

We have a yearly tradition of gathering our Mommy group friends together for a picnic in the pumpkin patch every October. This was our 3rd annual pumpkin patch picnic. I made pb&j's and cut them into pumpkin shapes for the occasion. Cute and delicious (if you like peanut butter). Last year I was only up to bringing fruit snacks so I felt really good about my sandwiches. I can't believe they're all 3! We met when we still gave these kids ages in weeks and now...well they're growing up.

I think traditions are important. Many of my fondest childhood memories are centered around our annual adventures and goings on. When I met these ladies and their then very tiny babies we saw each other once a week at least. Usually more frequently since everyone was still "home with the baby." As they've got older we still all keep in touch, but it's harder now that the kids have busy schedules as well as the moms. This is the event every year where all the kids are together at the same time. It's a wonderful and simple little event.

This year was really special for me just as a benchmark in my healing process. I shopped in the morning, then made sandwiches and then successfully enjoyed the picnic. It was a vast improvement from last year. Don't get me wrong at the end of the day I was feeling it, but it is progress. I just love my friends so much and being around their kids makes me happy. They really are a sweet, smart little bunch. I hope they stay in touch when they're too old for pumpkin patch picnics.

We even learned a song this year. We happened to be there on a day when classes were visiting and in between groups the nice lady came over and taught us "I'm A Little Pumpkin." It goes like this:
I'm a little pumpkin (point to yourself)
Look at me (point to your eyes)
I am as happy as can be! (smile big and sway with your elbows bent and hands bent at the wrist facing up)
Put a candle in me (hold an imaginary candle)
Light my light (light your imaginary candle)
But don't be afraid on Halloween night (shake your finger)

Boo!

At that point the audience says "AAAAAHHHH!" and everyone claps. It's great fun. They had sandwiches, cheese, fruit, crackers and then cupcakes in cones. They explored and even measured pumpkins. They gave each other wagon rides and sang. It was an amazing time. It was totally worth a late nap. Until next year, pumpkin patch.

Riley's Day: Brought to You By the Letter H

How to Play Hamster

Step One: Run excitedly from your closet stash of crazy forts pieces to the living room saying "Mommy I need a hamster home!"

Step Two: During assembly (aka Mommy fumbling and the whole thing collapsing several times) run to get more pieces several times. Warning: The toddler union guidelines state you may never carry more than two pieces at a time. Once sturcture is complete fetch a cuddly blanket for walls.

Step Three: Climb in! Make sure Mommy builds a "bedroom" and "bathroom" area. Note: Hamsters wash their hands, wash their face and dig, dig, dig!

Hamster Home! See the little hamster hand peeking out?

Wash your hands!

Wash your face!

Explore!

When the hamster game had run its course it was time for heart adroned play clothes.

Something about this picture totally reminds me of Wednesday Addams (besides the hair do). Broody Cutie. After pictures, she ran out into the yard. She knealt down in the grass and said "Clover by clover by clover with care..."

My little Horton.

Back inside for lunch. If I had seen the "H" pattern emerging it would have been hotdogs, but she had chicken nuggets and corn. How about healthy lunch? I'm stretching it was really just hamster, hearts and Horton.

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Nap time.

Go! Dog Go! One Last Time

We took it literally this time. We took Leeloo to the dog park. She was beyond thrilled. It would have been perfect if it hadn't been 800 degrees. Yup, that tiny silhouette down there by the tree is my dog who took off like a shot when I unleashed her. The dog park is a Golden Retriever's idea of heaven. Room to run and fetch and lots of dogs and people to socialize with. Leeloo made an adorable little friend.

Riley meeting Leeloo's friend the 3month old Pitbull Terrier, Heaven.

Riley "gardening."

Leeloo and her friend playing.

Leeloo wore herself out playing mainly with her little buddy, but she had a kiss for every single dog there. We went out the "back" way when we left so we could walk around the lake to the little playground. After begging me to take her to "Riley's Playground" the entire time we were at the dog park I couldn't get Riley to follow us. There were ducks! Very friendly ones who erroneously assumed Riley had bread.

I convinced her to leave the ducks for the playground by promising next time we came we would bring bread.

We when got home we had one pooped puppy.