Playing with Papa!

Papa came to play with me for a few days last week. What fun was had!

He had a tea party with me

and we drank lots of pretend tea and ate pretend cupcakes and cookies.

We played along the lake

and Papa helped me watch for sailboats.

We went to the petting zoo and practiced milking cows.

Papa held me up so that I could pet a donkey, and he tried to eat the flowers on my pants!

We fed bottles to the baby goats (they were really thirsty!).

And we fed the Mamas, too!

I love my Papa!

Incriminating Puppy Story

Upon walking into the kitchen to see Elsie's food and bottle on the floor...

Daddy: Did you throw your food on the floor, Elsie? 
Elsie: No!
D: How did it get on the floor, then?
E: Puppies threw food!
D: Puppies did it?  I don't see any puppies...
E: Puppies in Elsie's bottle.
D: They're in your bottle?
E: Yes.  Puppies came out of bottle, threw food on floor, go back in bottle.

A long trip

A few weeks ago, Mama and Daddy and I took a long (LONG!!!) ride in the car all the way to the Koch farm.   It was very hot (100+), so I didn't wear my pants most of the time.  Great-Grandma Koch showed me the calves.  They licked my fingers!  Also, Daddy showed me the swing he played on when he was little.  It was pretty nice, but even I thought it was too hot out to swing.

We stayed in a hotel for two nights.  It turns out I don't really like staying in hotels (or long car rides).  They make me not want to sleep.  The first day of our trip, I didn't sleep at all on the way to the farm (7 hours).   Then I didn't go to bed at the hotel until midnight, and I got Mama up at 4am.   It seemed like a good time to get up, plus Mama and Daddy kept telling me we could swim in the morning.

I didn't feel like napping the next day, either.  Daddy got all dressed up and went to a fancy "wedding" while Mama and I tried to nap at the hotel.  The nap didn't take, though, so when Daddy got back from the wedding we went to eat at a fancy restaurant instead.   I fell asleep in the car, but since it was so hot Daddy had to leave the car running for an hour.  It was an expensive way to nap, but Daddy and Mama said it was worth it.  They seem to be under the impression that I get crabby when I don't nap- how silly!

After that, we went to another fancy dinner.  This one was in a big room with LOTS (500+ ?) of people and VERY LOUD music.  I was pretty scared and confused at first.  I may have cried.  Loudly.  If we were there for dinner, why didn't they feed us?  It was a weird kind of restaurant.

Eventually I saw my Auntie Ellen and Uncle Adam, then Uncle G and Kristin, then Grandma and Grandpa Cooper.  Daddy also saw lots of cousins and aunts and uncles he knew.  It was nice to know the WHOLE room wasn't filled with strangers.  Then after a couple of hours we got to eat and I felt better.  Then the really fun part happened- we got to DANCE! It was lovely.   Daddy danced with me all by myself because I am a big kid.

Since I hadn't slept much all weekend, Mama and Daddy made me go back to the hotel at 10:30.  I wasn't tired, though! The next morning, I got to go swimming after breakfast, and G and Kristin Friend came to watch me.  Then we had a long drive back home, which wasn't fun, so I decided not to nap in protest.  All in all, it was a strange weekend.  I really liked swimming and meeting the cows, but I am glad to be back home.
 

Epicnic 2012

A few weekends ago while Grandma RJ was visiting, we all went to Daddy's work. I didn't realize that work was such a great place to be- no wonder he spends almost every day there!

I got to ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and I even got to drive (well, hold the reins)!

We followed the other carriages around this little lake by the Epic Farm.

After the ride was over, I thanked the big ponies for their hard work.

Next we went to the Big Rig Petting Zoo.
I got to climb into lots of trucks and tractors, sit in the seats, and even "drive" them!

Every body wanted to see the construction vehicles, but only I got to go in them!

After lunch we went to the REAL petting zoo-
 horses, cows, donkeys, llamas, chickens, ducks, geese, bunnies, kittens, pigs, sheep...
so very many animals!

There was even a pony for me to ride- not for the big people, just little people like me got to ride him!

A few hours later, face painted and belly full, it was time to go home.  I can't wait to go visit again!

 

 

I can't believe that Daddy gets to go there every day.  Boy, I want to work at Epic when I get big, too!

Singin' in the Rain

After weeks (months?) of record heat and drought, the rain finally came. And come it did! Elsie was so excited about the sudden thunderstorm that she demanded Daddy put on his rain gear and take her on a puddle walk (which he did, even though it was technically bed time!). I caught these pictures of them singing on the porch after their walk, watching the glorious storm!

Going for a walk.

Artin' like a big kid.

 

Lately I have been very into art.  Every day Mama and I do a special project.  Sometimes we cut and paste, sometimes we paint, sometimes we color, sometimes we make puppets, but we always have fun.  Mama took this picture of me using my Big Kid markers to "enhance" a painting I did yesterday.  You might also notice I am sitting at my Big Kid art table.  

Sometimes when I make art I have trouble remembering to use my good listening ears...for instance, I may tend to forget that markers are for coloring paper, not toes, but Mama is pretty forgiving as long as I am working hard at creating.  I hope you can come by for a visit to see my growing gallery!    

The Kinds

Blueberries, green beans, cucumbers, zinnias and bells of Ireland

Have we mentioned lately that we have the best neighbors in the world?  This morning, Don (daddy to Cricket and Lucky Puppy) helped a friend of mine with a car stalled on our street to remove the car's battery, and then he proceeded to charge it for her in his garage.  Later that afternoon, he brought these beauties from his garden to our door, "for Elsie."  Does life get any better? 

Fur!

"Mama's arm has freckles!  Elsie's arm has four freckles (it doesn't).  Daddy's arm has....FUR!"

A Bedtime Story by Elsie Rose (25 months)

Daddy and Kristin Friend go running.  Uncle G go with.  Elsie go running, too.  No stroller, Elsie go running.  Elsie put on socks and running shoes on tootsies.  Running shoes, FAST!  Daddy Kristin Friend Uncle G Elsie go running to Park.  Elsie swing so high!  Elsie fall down, get hurt- owwee!  Daddy give Elsie kisses, and feel all better.  Elsie all done with park.  Elsie run home.  Bedtime!   

A Bee-autiful Birthday Party!

Mama and I had the privilege of attending my dear friend Henry's 2nd Birthday Party today.  Boy, did I have a great time! We ate food, played at the park, talked and laughed, and then ate some cupcakes! Yum!

They had lots of frosting, and sugar cookies shaped like honeycomes 

and almond-n-jellybean little bees on them- so cute!

The park was very popular with me and my friends.  See me climbing so high on the ladder?  I told Mama she didn't need to stand there to help me, but she does worry so.

And there was plenty of shade for relaxing and eating!

Henry, the birthday boy!

And some shots of me being silly, too.  Thanks to Henry's Mama, Stella, for the gorgeous photos.  She is quite the photographer (and quite the hostess, too!).

Down on the Farm...the Petting Farm, that is!

Bottle feeding baby goats, hand feeding the billys, milking a nanny, holding the kitties, watering the garden (and sneaking some raspberries), climbing on the tractor, petting the sheep/horses/donkey/cows/pigs/chickens/ducks...and taking home fresh-from-the-farm watermelon? Perfect day!

My First Pigtails!

Building Houses

Lately I've been very busy building houses for my "puppies".  Each animal has to have their own room in the house- one for bunnies (with a hutch), one for kitties (with climbing trees), one for the owl (with a tall perch), etc.  Oh, and it has to be big enough for me, too!

Once the house is all complete, I usually have Mama or Daddy "blow the house down".  Then I have to pick up each animal and ask them if they are okay and give them each a kiss before I rebuild the house.  It's a lot of work taking care of so many "puppies"!