Story Land

Last week while in NH we took a day trip with Gram and Auntie Jen to Story Land.  My mom had taken me when I was about MiniM.E.'s age and we have some adorable photos of me looking out of a pumpkin window, sitting with a clown, and riding the swan boats which we thought would be fun to replicate.  Not to mention, MiniM.E. is a demanding charge and having to spend an entire week at home (even if it is Gram's home) with her can be challenging.  A day trip was definitely needed.

Of course like any other amusement park, I was not allowed on many of the rides due to my largely protruding stomach.  Fortunately Gram and Auntie Jen were able to take her on everything she wanted to go on as she wasn't feeling too adventurous (not like the day at Hoffman's where she nearly gave me a heart attack riding the Scrambler!).

First stop was the Cuckoo Clock which would have made Gram sick except that MiniM.E. insisted Auntie Jen keep the cup from spinning.

Then the flying shoes which MiniM.E. was the most excited about because she had seen a photo of me riding in them:

The log flume was a little much for MiniM.E. but with the help of Auntie Jen's extra shirt to keep her dry she made it!

I was allowed on the hot air balloon ferris wheel which I made MiniM.E. go on with me even though she didn't want to because I at least wanted one ride with her:

Then it was up to Cinderella's castle:

Complete with pumpkin coach ride down the hill:

Then it was to the swan boats.  MiniM.E. patiently waited in line for what felt like hours, but enjoyed it so much it was worth it:

We ended our day at a cute fountain where MiniM.E. was so excited that rather than her normal excited -which consists of a half frown and zero acknowledgement of the fun we're having- we got a "I love it here!"  Unfortunately, the fun was short lived as she tripped and skinned her knee.  Being a little drama queen, the rest of the park must have thought she severed an arm and we had to deal with agonizing screams from the fountain to the park exit and from the parking lot to Dairy Queen (ice cream didn't even help) until she fell asleep on the way home.  

The worst part about the skinned knee episode (other than the fact that it continued on into the evening after her nap and even into the next day) was that we never made it to the pumpkin where we wanted the photo of MiniM.E. I guess we'll have to try again next year...

Another Week in NH and a Crazy Project

Last weekend after Bob finished work on Friday we left for a weekend together at my parents in NH.  We had to squeeze in at least one more trip to enjoy the heated pool before the summer came to an end.  It is always relaxing to be at my parents because MiniM.E. is excited to be someplace new and gets at least twice as much attention as usual so Bob and I got a nice break.

squirting everyone

kiddie pool

first towel toga

seal floaty AND flower tube!

ready to jump in

go!

trampoline hair

action shot

So we spent the weekend swimming, trampolining, eating good food and relaxing.  

Probably the most hilarious thing that happened this time we visited my parents was MiniM.E.'s intense desire to pick up my parents 12lb cat.  Honey Bunches is not a cat that likes to be picked up, but for some reason (thank God!) he tolerates MiniM.E. and let her carry him all over the house.  From her room to the kitchen, from my parents' room to outside, from the bathroom to the dining room.  She probably picked him up 20 times a day and each time it was equally as funny.  Maybe she's just training to hold the baby??

Bob had to go back to work Monday but MiniM.E. and I stayed in NH to swim and enjoy the break.  We went to Story Land (see next post) which was a great day trip.  For the rest of our week, I painted "Rapunzel pictures" for MiniM.E.'s room and nursed a sinus infection while MiniM.E. happily played with Gram.

Like every project I take on, the paintings for MiniM.E.'s room took me hours and hours longer than I anticipated.  BUT, I'm using the jungle artwork from her room for the baby's nursery and I didn't feel like I could take MiniM.E.'s artwork away without replacing it with something else homemade.  So if you've ever watched Tangled, here are the two paintings I made inspired by the artwork Rapunzel painted on her walls:

The good news is, unlike other projects I've taken on for MiniM.E., she seems genuinely happy with the paintings and can't wait for me to hang them in her room.  So I guess it was worth it!

Happy Birthday Baby E!

... and a lazy week of summer...

Last weekend was "Baby" E.'s 2nd birthday.  So I suppose she isn't a baby anymore, and we stopped calling her Baby E. a long time ago...

If you remember this post from last year, I was a much more involved mom-friend and not only made the birthday cake but helped with the decorations for Baby E.'s party.  But this year, being seven months pregnant and having just moved (E.'s family just moved too!) and having company a few weeks ago, I was not in any shape to be making a cake...

Fortunately, E.'s mom and dad did just fine throwing the party together themselves only a week and a half after moving into their new house.

MiniM.E. had a blast at the party.

This past week I was still recovering from MiniM.E.'s cold from the week before, and MiniM.E. was extra cranky (maybe she knows summer's coming to an end? or maybe it was the full moon??).  Also, the weather wasn't as nice as it has been so we just had a low key week with a lot of playing at home, a trip downtown and brunch out with friends.

Squeezing in More Summer

It's hard to believe it's August already.  I feel like we need to squeeze in as much summer in the next few weeks as we can, especially with MiniM.E. starting preschool in the fall and Baby#2 arriving shortly after.  

But despite my need to cram in tons of summer activities, after all the company we had MiniM.E. was SO worn out and caught a pretty nasty cold.  So Tuesday this was how she spent the day:

Of course, even though she seemed incredibly sick Tuesday, kids bounce back fast, and by Wednesday she was back in action, ready to go.

taking Flowery Dolly on a stroll down Broadway

riding the horse

snack at Starbucks

a carousel ride

with friends

just sitting around at the park

at our "old playground"

 We were out all day running around and playing until almost 4pm.  At which time, of course, she took a much needed nap... and then stayed up way too late!

Yesterday after a very involved play kitchen session, we headed to the beach, but it was one of those days where MiniM.E. needed me most of the time and I took zero beach photos...

When we got home I made up for it by taking a picture of her watching a crazy thunderstorm that popped up.

And today, Happy Friday!  Sadly, MiniM.E.'s cold is mine to deal with now, but we made the most of the gorgeous weather and went blueberry picking (should have been called blueberry eating, for the toddlers).  MiniM.E. was enjoying herself until she realized she wanted a snack other than handfuls of blueberries.  "I wish we could have gone Cheerio picking!"

After the short-lived picking we went a few minutes down the road to Hudson's Crossing Play Garden where there were slides built into the hills, tunnels to explore, stones to jump on, stumps to balance across and lots more to discover in a mostly natural play area.