The Sun Has Been Shining

It was a beautiful weekend here. The sun was shining. Grandpa D. came to visit yesterday. Lil', as is customary with all visitors, took him by the hand and showed him how things are in her world. He was ushered to her room when she wanted to get something, instructed where and when to sit, take off his shoes or coat and was the recipient of many classic Lil' looks and loves. We all enjoyed a nice dinner at home.
Today Mr. Eleven got up early to dress Lil' for a date with Grandpa. She was just waking when he entered her room but immediately jumped to her feet, saying "Where Grandpa Go?" She found him tucked in his sleeping bag on the "blue couch". They were off to see the back side of the horse track and have a breakfast of crunchy bacon, eggs and peaches. Mama got to sleep in. It felt kinda weird, but very nice.
The late morning and after nap were spent outside in the backyard. One of Mama's weekend goals was to build the activity slide for Lil' that has been waiting on the side of the house for spring to arrive. Here is her first time playing with it at her house. Many thanks to Oosje's friends, B,S,I & especially H! Lil' loves her slide!

Dirt

I love Earth Day. I have since I was young. Back then I wore a t-shirt celebrating Earth day all year long. It was a favorite. There were several years when my favorite part of Earth Day was planting something with Oosje. One year it was three little evergreen seedlings that went in the front yard. Other years it was too cold and snowy for planting anything outside.

This Earth Day was the first time Lil' and I planted anything together. We planted a Mini Greenhouse of herbs that she got from her very best girlfriend for her birthday. It was fun. Lil' scooped dirt and sprinkled seeds and helped Mama do the watering out of the teapot that Grandma Barbie got us a while back. I had such a good time carrying on the planting tradition.

Later on in the day, Mama and Lil' went outside to enjoy the sunshine. Lil' blew bubbles for Belle. It's become one of their favorite sister activities. Lil' blows and Belle chases. They kept each other busy long enough for Mama to get some yard work done, with the goal of setting up the slide that we inherited from Oosje's friend, H, this weekend.

Weekend Update

Before Lil' came along Mama was often found on weekend mornings in bed with the covers pulled up over hear head to block the sunshine. Days often began at noon. This hasn't happened since Lil' lived inside Mama. This weekend she was ready to "Play!" at the crack of 5:45 and 6:15, respectivly.
Saturday morning Mama took this opportunity to get housework done, giving Lil' project like "take Mama's shoe to her closet, please". Shoes for each family member were taken one by one. She took art supplies to her desk, and toys to her bucket. She also danced and did some art. Mr. Eleven was at the disc golf course, freezing his fingers off, but practicing none the less. The day also included a walk to the park in which we left the stroller at home and Lil' walked herself, about 1/2 way before employing Mr. Eleven's shoulders to ride on. It was a quick trip due to the cold but it was fun for Mama to see Lil' order Mr. Eleven "down the slide" and "up, here" and scold him for not following on the ladder close enough.
This morning Mama tried to put Lil' in bed next to her and pretend to sleep but between Belle trying to get in the covers to seek refuge from Lil' and Lil' sticking her fingers in Mama's ears it was of no use. Mr. Eleven bought Mama a few extra minutes by getting the daily oatmeal ready before leaving for his morning round. This was followed by a day that included several pees on the potty (one for each Mr. Eleven and Mama), and a declaration by Lil' to Mr. Eleven during an afternoon play session that she was going to "play soccer".
Lil' often amazes Mama with her memory. This one topped the cake. Mr. Eleven has been talking to her about soccer since July 2005, when we still called her "Bud".

Girls' Haircuts - $21, Results Priceless

Today Lil' had her hair cut. It was the first time that she had this done at a place where people get haircuts. Lil' got to wear an animal cape which gave us something to keep her distracted. The green lollipop that she spied all on her own and asked nicely for using her manners also helped keep her entertained. Mama forgot to bring a camera. Here is a picture I took after we got home with her reward, $1 sunglasses for the store next door to the haircut place.



Belle also had a much overdue haircut at a new do it yourself grooming place in our neighborhood. Mama is super pleased with the results and liked the $5 price even better! Belle is happily roaming the backyard so pictures will have to wait until tomorrow.

Taking My Friend Andy Along!

Lil' took her new friend Raggedy Andy to Costco the other day. This is one of the few things that Mama has from when she was growing up (although a few years ago it was discovered that it was really the one that Aunt Scully had when she was young and a mixup of the Andy's and Ann's had occured at some point). Usually Mama asks Lil' to leave her "friends" in the car but on this particular morning it was clear that such a request would cause more work for Mama than she was willing to commit to. Upon getting Lil' in the cart Mama buckled her up, as usual, and off we went, all of about two steps, before Lil' shouted "STOP!". Everyone around us stopped too and heard Lil' scold me for not doing "Andy Buckles NOW!" You see, Costco has those fancy carts that have two kiddo seats up front and there was Andy in the extra seat, waiting for his buckles. Several people laughed. Mama did the buckles. For several rows Lil' and Andy sat next to each other but by the end they were sitting together, Andy out of his buckles but Lil' holding on tight to make sure he was safe. He didn't get rebuckeled until we had paid and were standing in the hot dog line. Mama didn't want anything to get on Andy since wet wipes don't work as well on fabric as they do on kiddos. Lil' was sad. It seems, in reality, those Costco carts are wide and having your friends so far away isn't as fun as having them right up close.

Sing Songs

Here are a few of the songs that Lil' sings throughout the day....
*Moolah's favorite ...."The Wheels On The Bus"...her favorite part is "all around the town".
* ABC's...she's good at the beginning and the end. The middle has a lot of 3's added to it.
* Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star sounds more like "tinkle tinkle, star, star, wonder, are"
* Rock A Bye Baby has become a bedtime requirement.
* Ring Around the Rosie...she finally falls down.
*Farmer and the Dell"....Farmer Dell, Farmer Dell, Farmer wife, Farmer nurse, farmer dell.

Today after we went to the Music and Movement class at the library we got some new CD's to listen to. I'm looking forward to expanding her selection.

Art

Mama and Lil' went shopping yesterday at the consignment sale where they have a bunch of things for sale. Mama knew when she was cleaning out Lil's toys that she could find something new and exciting instead of storing baby toys that she no longer plays with. Right in the door Lil' found an art desk of her very own for only $8.00. Mama cleaned it up during Lil's rest and it's been used pretty much non stop since then.