Super Mom? A guest post from Mama

There is something about woodworking, using one's own circular saw and assorted power tools, that truly makes one feel like a Super Mom. I had this lovely experience over the last few days while creating a pair of racks for Elsie's room. She has been needing a place to hang her things- a bag of doll clothes, her "jewelry", her hat and coat- and I think she will enjoy being able to do it her self and organize her toys. Yes, I probably could have gone to the store and purchased something similar for not much money, but the experience of picking out my own piece of lumber (Cherry!), planning, measuring (twice!), and cutting the wood, sanding, staining, drilling, and hanging the finished project is very empowering. Mostly, it's just a wonderful change of pace for a mom who's artistic endeavors of late have been limited to knitting and sewing. Be warned- when I finally get around to buying a new electric sander, the saw dust will really fly!

Tricycle!

Last time I was in MN, Mama and I visited Grandma RJ's house 

and I found a tricycle.  I brought it upstairs to use.  

First I made my Paige Baby try it out to see if it was safe.

She thought it was fun, so I tried it out (with a little help).

 

I was pretty confident in my skills, so Grandma carried me outside 

to practice riding on the open road.

 

 I COULD have ridden the tricycle really far if I wanted to, 

but I thought I might still be a little bit too small for such a big bike. 

Grandma and I helped Paige take a ride instead.

At the zoo

Up close and personal with a friendly orangutan. 

The giraffes just seem to really like me, and come in for a close look whenever I visit them.

Playing in tunnels.

Feeding the goats.

Bedtime Conversation Transcript

Mama: We had a fun day today, didn't we?

Elsie:  Yeah!  Yoga class.  Park.  Baby Finn's house.  Played.  Pet Callie Puppy.

Mama:  That's right! We went to Baby Finn's house and you petted his puppy.

Elsie:  Elsie pet chickens!

 Mama: Such a fun day! You petted Callie Puppy, and you petted the chickens. We'll have another fun day tomorrow, okay? Good night!

 (Mama starts to leave bedroom)

Elsie: MAMA! Chicken made BIG POOPER!

Miscellaney Post

In which I learned it is not a good idea to rub one's eyes while playing with chalk.

In which I send Daddy out of my room so that I can have Quiet Story Time with my babies in my room before bed.

In which I am utterly adorable.

In which Mama proudly demonstrates her ability (after three years) to use her camera's self-time function.

In which I am busy cutting and pasting together my very first home-made birthday card.

Edie's 2nd Birthday Party!

Park, friends, swings, geese, CUPCAKES! What a wonderful day!

Chickens!

Mama and I have an important job taking care of my friend, Baby Finn, every week. I really like going to Finn's house, because he lets me take care of him (like pat his back, hold his cup, and help change his pants), he has fun new toys, he has a dog (Callie Puppy), and he has CHICKENS!

I love the chickens, but I am not sure that they like me. They don't lick me or purr like cats and dogs do, and they don't seem to be very good at wagging their tails, either. I tried to play catch with them by rolling Callie Puppy's tennis ball their way, but they just ignored it. I thought they might not be able to see the little ball, so I threw a big blue beach ball to them. They pecked at it a few times, then ignored that ball, too. Maybe they don't know how to play catch yet?

Luckily, they seem to like it when I pet them, so I do that a lot. I also like to open their coop door, herd them into the yard, then herd them back into their coop and shut the door again. They must like that game too, because they are very agreeable when I want to play it.

 Here are some pictures Mama took of Finn and I playing with the chickens last week. Note the beautiful chicken coop- Papa, can you make me a play house just like that for my yard???

More tea parties.

Mama posted a few weeks ago about how much I like to have tea parties for my babies. Here are a few more pictures of the fancy parties I have set up lately:

The little carrot chair isn't around any more, though, because I tried to sit on it a few days ago. Turns out I must weigh more than my babies do, because it smashed to pieces. Oh, well.

Last year my David friend won this amazing table and chair set for me, and I have recently decided that it is better to eat meals at my table with my babies than at the big table with Mama and Daddy.

Sometimes I have trouble finishing my meals, though, because I spend too much time feeding my babies and never get around to feeding myself. Mama tells me that's a problem all new parents have.

A conversation before bed...

Mama: We're going to have a fun day tomorrow! Daddy gets to stay home and play with us. We'll go to the park and go to the zoo. We'll even see some of our friends there!

Elsie: Garage sale?

Mama: Honey, I don't think there will be any garage sales tomorrow.

Elsie: Please, garage sale???

On my way home...

My favorite place to go is the Goose Park in Middleton. On my way home from Minnesota a few weeks ago, Mama let slip that there is a Goose Park in Rochester, too. I asked very nicely if we could please visit the geese before going home, and Mama said yes! Here are a few pics of me enjoying my new friends at the playground.

Family Time at Miss Adah's 2nd Birthday!

Cupcakes! And butterfly art projects! And stickers! AND CUPCAKES!

Trading secrets with Campbell

Bubbles!

Oh, how I love them!

Piano Lessons!

Showing my Campbell cousin just how to hold his hands:

And getting some tips from concert pianist Auntie Manda:

Elsie likes trucks. A lot. Last night, while getting ready for bed, we heard a loud truck drive by the house. The following conversation ensued:

E: Truck! BIG truck!

M: It did sound like a big truck. What do you think it was carrying?

E: Babies.

M: Really? Just babies?

E: No, babies and mamas.

M: Oh, babies AND mamas. Where is the truck going?

E: Mmmm...the park!

M: Really? To the park?

E: Yes! Mama truck!

M: You want Mama to ride on the truck?

E: YES! Tomorrow! Mama and Elsie ride! To the park!

And there you go- I guess our plans for today are all set!

EDIT: Monday pm- While we didn't go for a truck ride this morning, we did meet friends ("Mamas and babies!") at the park for a play date and picnic.  And it just so happened that a carnival was arriving to set up in the parking lot for later this week- dozens of huge trucks with carnival rides on their flat beds.  Elsie thought it was just about the coolest thing she had ever seen.

Happy Mama's Day!

Mama and I were TV stars this week:



 And after all the screen time Mama got, I wanted to say a little something, too:

Mama and I made a long sojourn to Minnesota last week to visit with family. We took lots of pictures, so I have a full photo montage to walk me through all the highlights! Here is a pic of my Campbell cousin chasing bubbles at the park:

And me exploring the park:

Some of me see-sawing with Papa Todd:

And one of the whole Murray family enjoying bubbles:

Me and Papa Todd playing on the cool boat:

and crow's nest:

and sliding:

Playing in the sandbox with Campbell and Auntie Manda:

And here is one of me and most of my second cousins at a family reunion (five of us will be two this year!):

Later, back at her home, Auntie Manda let me use her chapstick:

Campbell and me having fun with boxes:

Here's one of me stealing a kiss from Papa Todd when I got up REALLY early in the morning, and no one else did:

More about my trip later- I have a few more posts to make with my favorite pictures!