Elsie and Campbell

A belated Thanksgiving video that I just found on Andy's phone of Elsie and her Campbell cousin. In case you can't understand her, she ends the video with a question (after pondering the profound revelation that the puppies go outside to go to the bathroom), "Where IS that pooper OUTSIDE?!?"

Visiting Daddy at Work

Last week, Mama and I stopped in to see Daddy at work. What fun! Did you know he can get UNLIMITED QUANTITIES OF JUICE? Whenever he wants some! Wow! There were other fun things to see and do at Daddy's work, too- here are a couple of pictures:

This funny man has a bell that you can ring!

There were two baby dinosaurs, too!  I thought they were so funny!

First Snow!

We had our first snow of the season yesterday! It snowed all day long! We went to Uncle G and Auntie Kristin's engagement party in the afternoon, and when we got home it had finally stopped snowing. It was dark out already, but Mama and Daddy still gave me my own big kid shovel and let me help clear the sidewalk and driveway. I love winter!

Playing with Campbell

The best part of Thanksgiving was getting to stay at my Campbell Cousin's house. Boy, did we have fun together!

I liked to give him hugs

and I taught him how to play "animals" with me.

Grandma RJ, Campbell, and I spent lots of time playing Ring Around the Rosies.

Campbell had a fun camping tent in his playroom

and lots of other fun toys, too!

My favorite toy of his was his big train table!

On Friday night, we got to watch Frosty the Snowman together before bed.

Mostly, though, we just liked to be together, no matter what we were doing.

I wish I could play with him every day!

Thanksgiving in MN

Hanging out with Grandma RJ and Grandpa David on Wednesday night

Bouncing on Campbell's bed

and more bouncing

and Ringing Around the Rosies with Campbell

and falling

and helping each other up

and rearranging pillows

Bedtime stories with Grandma RJ

Friday morning cuddles with my Cuz

Getting some kitty love from Cousin Hannah's fluffy pal

At Cousin Hannah's house, watching the Daddys hard at work

How many Daddys does it take to put in a light bulb?

More cuddle time with Campbell

and climbing over mountains

and loving my Cousin time!

A quick visit to Papa's house

On a cold and rainy day, Papa took Mama and me to the children's museum. 

They had a big barn with lots of animals just like my animals at home!

Mama thought it was too cold to play outside, but Papa took me out to jump on the trampoline.

Papa taught me how to race cars down the tracks!

Grandma Julie made some gingerbread, and Papa helped me frost the special little cake she made just for me.

Yummy!

One afternoon more grand kids came over to play, and Grandma Julie read us stories.

Autumn Quotes

While trick-or-treating at a friend's house, Elsie received a full-sized Starburst package which she was VERY excited about.  Walking toward another house on the way home, we decided to "practice" the polite things to say ("trick or treat", thank you)....

Daddy:  Elsie, let's practice our manners.  Knock, knock...now what do you say?
Elsie:  Elsie wants a really, really big treat?

***

After the fifth round of Ring Around The Rosies...
 
Elsie:  Again!
Daddy (as Elsie begins to run in circles):  Okay, but you sing this time.
Elsie:  No, Daddy sing!
Daddy:  I've sung it a few times already.  It's your turn to sing.
Elsie:  No, Daddy,  I'm too busy running.  You will have to sing.

***

Elsie:  Oh, my goodness!  Mama, I think Elmo has a baby in his tummy just like you do!  Elmo has a boy baby in his tummy.  I think Elmo is pretty silly!

***

Elsie:  I want to go to Papa's house!

Mama:  What is your favorite thing about going to Papa's house?

Elsie:  Dino Dinosaur!  And Mama, I really like Grandma Julie, too.

***

I went in to the doctor to get some blood drawn, and asked Elsie to hold my hand and help me be brave (mostly to keep her out of trouble while I was in the chair).  Afterwards, this was our conversation:

Mama:  That you for holding my hand so nicely and helping me be brave!

Elsie:  Mama, you're brave all by your own self. 

Reading stories- a guest post from Mama

Tonight at bedtime, Elsie declared that she did not want me to read her any stories. 

Instead,  she decided that she was going to read to me.  She then proceeded to "read" to me (extremely accurately, I might add)  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, A Mudpie For Mother, What Will Little Bear Wear?, and Take Care, Good Knight.  After telling me that was her "last, last" book before bedtime, my not-yet-2.5-year-old explained that she has been practicing her reading very hard every day during quiet time.  I guess so!  Kindergarten, here we come.

Playing with Lila Puppy!

My first race!

Last weekend, Mama and Daddy took me here to run my first road race!  It was a 100 yard dash, and we got to wear costumes!  It was really fun because it was at a park, so I got to play while we waited for the race to start.  See the bouncy house?  Normally I really like them, but this one had lots of big kids in it, so I decided not to bounce for very long.

When it was time for the race, Daddy and I walked to the start line together, and Mama stayed to greet me at the finish line.

I was really excited until we got to the start line and two big kids with HUGE angry bird costumes started swarming around me.  I was so scared!  When it was time to run, I didn't want to be next to them, so I made daddy walk with me WAY behind those scary birds.

When all the other scary costumes were out of the way, I let go of Daddy's hand and sprinted into Mama's arms.  And they gave me this ribbon as a prize!  Hooray!