Spring Portraits

It's Spring, and it's the perfect time of year to have a picture taken.You can't have too many portraits taken of your sweet pea!

Gardening Anyone?

Just when I was thinking how funny my little garden helper looked in her hand chosen gardening attire, I realized that with my neon green shirt, bright yellow crocs, and straw garden hat, I was just as funny! What a pair!!!

My Little Fairy "Helper"

So, for the millionth time, Kayli has chosen to wear her fairy costume today, and my little fairy is going to help me put together some patio furniture that I just bought. She’s having a great time handing me the nuts and bolts, and is thrilled when I let her tighten some of the nuts and screws with the crescent wrench and allen wrench that came in the box.

We finished the first chair and opened the next one, only to find that one section of that chair was defective. We had all the tools out, but we had to halt production until we could get to the store and exchange this part. As this next chair came with the same tools as the first, the last thing I remember, before leaving for the store, was Kayli standing in the sunroom, holding identical pairs of wrenches, showing me how she had one identical pair in each hand, and assuring me that she would hold these until we needed them.

After a trip to the store, exchanging the part, and coming back home, which took quite a while, I was ready to get back to work. Now, where are those wrenches? What? Wrenches? What? Tools? What mom? Hmm. I don’t know… Oh great. The search for the tools began. I think I would have to say so far,we have taken one step forward, and 3 or 4 steps backward! The tools are nowhere to be found. Kayli began looking in her toy boxes and is now completely distracted by all the re-discovered toys she has found. I looked everywhere I could imagine her “squirreling away” some small tools.

Finally I decide that too much time is being wasted, so I borrow some similar tools from my neighbor and complete the assembly. Now, with chairs complete, cushions in place, clear sky overhead, ice cold pop in hand, it’s time to sit back and relax, Ahhhhhh, for at least 2 or 3 minutes before hearing “Hey, mom, will you push me on the swing?”

The Gift of a Sunny Day and Time to Enjoy it!

Kayli had her 4 year old “well child checkup” this morning. As this was a midmorning appointment, I decided rather than stress us both out by trying to then get some lunch in her, and get her back to daycare in time to settle down for a nap, which she probably wouldn’t be too happy about, I just took the rest of the day off for the two of us to play. Kayli was a “hit” with the pediatric staff as she marched in wearing her stethoscope, holding her Kitty in one hand and her otoscope in the other. She was happy to be a “part of this medical team”! She weighed and measured at 27lbs., 37”, which puts her at the 10%tile for Americans, 25%tile for Chinese. The sunshine was calling to us to come out and play, so off we went to pick up some food and head out to the Arboretum for a picnic alongside the water lilies and waterfalls. We saw some beautiful flowers, and had a great time guessing which ones might smell good and which ones didn’t. We stopped to peer over the sides of bridges to see what was floating below, and sat by the sides of streams to watch the water rushing by.

We decided to stick with the outdoors and head over to the Deanna Rose Farm. This is always a good choice for a fabulous weather day like today, and there is never a dull moment here! The baby goats were our big source of entertainment today as they chomped down on Kayli’s dress and pulled like they were in a “tug-a-war” game. First she tried to “reason with them” talking to them like babies “No, nooo”. Then, she tried her firm voice, “Hey, let go.” Then, she just decided this was a fun game and began taunting “Na,na,na,na,na” as she came close, then ran away just as they reached out for her dress. We bought a quarter’s worth of baby goat food and fed these little chompers before we headed out to enjoy the rest of the farmstead.

Kayli took a “cat nap” in the car on the way home, and our day ended with more play in our backyard that involved barefeet, water and sand! Woohoo! It doesn’t get any better than this!

All Clean!!!

Remember the Easter Mud Splash Fun? Well, after a few days of soaking in both S pray 'N Wash and Z out, the skirt is now CLEAN!

Friday Fashion Challenge (A Blog Participation)

The last few nights, Kayli has come home from daycare and gone straight to her closet to change into her pink swimsuit with the pink rose on front. She says “I just wanna ‘tend that I’m swimming” Ok, but you might get cold. “Then we can just snuggle Mom!” But, tonight when we got home, she ran back to her bedroom, and when I came to check on her, I see that she has embellished her usual swimsuit choice by adding a hot pink skirt and a pastel pink nylon, fleece lined winter vest for that extra special touch, oh, and of course some pink water shoes that I was sure I had stored away in the summer swim bag. She obviously knew what she was looking for, and found them!

My New Lily Pads!

I recently bought Kayli some knee and elbow pads for riding her bike and scooter. I explained that these special pads would protect her from getting scrapes on the cement. She was thrilled with this “new ensemble” that also included a princess helmet! Of course she had to try them out immediately and pretend to fall off her bike, then, announce to me “I’m not hurt Mom. Good thing for these new LILY PADS!” (No comment on the turtleneck and winter boots accompanying her spring Cotton Dress. Ok, she couldn't wait another minute to wear this dress handed down to her from her cousin. It was still cold out, the turtleneck was my idea, the boots were all hers, cuz they ARE princess boots, and that is the theme here!)

A Rainy, Cold Easter; Before and After, Should've Let Her Wear the Rainboots!

Kayli wanted to wear her red boots today, but I made her wear the matching blue summer crocs. All day she watched it rain and begged to go out and play. So, as we left Aunt Marion's house, to walk to our car, in the middle of the cul-de-sac, I shouldn't have been surprised to hear a splash behind me, and turn around to find a gleeful child just stomping and splashing in the deepest muddiest puddles, wearing white tights and summer crocs, and all I could do at this point was pull out my camera! Should've stuck with the rainboots! Any ideas for the laundry?

Define Pajamas! What ARE the rules?