Trip To The Park Gone Bad

Once upon a time on a beautiful day a mama took her little girl to the park.  They played on the swings and on the slide and explored and had a great time.  Then the mama overheard some of the basketball players saying, "are we suppose to get a storm...?" and they pointed.  The mama looked where they were pointing and there were huge ominous storm clouds creeping up on the blue sky.  

So the mama as quickly as a toddler can go got the little girl into the stroller and began her trip home.  But it wasn't soon enough.  And the rain came.  And the mama went faster.  And the rain poured down.  And the little girl started to cry.  So the mama stopped the stroller, picked up the little girl and ducked into a house with a front porch.  Soon she knocked on the door and asked permission because the rain showed no signs of stopping.  At this point the little girl was shivering.  Very sad.  The mama felt so bad.  

Finally the rain slowed to a gentle mist.  It was time to go.  The mama picked up the little girl and went to put her back into the stroller but the stroller had turned into a big puddly mess.  So, with the little girl in one arm, the mama pushed the stroller down the sidewalk.  But the little girl is not so little (27 pounds, thank you very much) and with each passing step the mama wondered how she could keep this up.  But the little girl is scared so the mama finds the strength.  However, the little girl decides she can walk and the mama gladly lets her.  

The little girl finds a puddle and plays

(pause to show how wet she got)

Splash splash splash

But then the little girl fell down and the mama had to carry her again.

Finally, the mama got the little girl home.  She pushed the button on the garage door opener and it didn't work.  She tried again and it didn't work.  She tried and tried and tried.  Very sad.  Her husband wouldn't be home until 8 PM that night and her mom-in-law was gone with no indications of when she would return.  The little girl was cold and shaking.  What would the mama do?

The mama went around back knowing the sliding door is never left unlocked, but this time it was.  

Yay!

So, the mama grabbed a camera to document the wetness of the day.

This one features what was left of the storm clouds

Then the mama went into the house with the wet shivering little girl who promptly tripped on the kitchen floor and started crying again.  The mama picked up the little girl and snuggled her close all the way up the stairs.  Then the mama drew a nice hot tubby.  They played and played and succeeded in getting warm.  

The mama got nice warm and more importantly DRY clothes for her and the little girl to wear.  Then she documented the experience.

The End.

Gardening

We are still not certain what we are going to do long term, so this year we decided to do a few potted plants here and a bigger garden at Frank's.  Here is our attempt.  The rectangle were pansies (I say "were" because I'm already sure I lost those to all the rain we have received lately.)  We have two tomatoes, a pepper, two pots of peas, strawberries, and what garden is complete without a pot of marigolds?  

I'll keep you posted as what comes up.  Wish us luck!

Okay, it's later and I haven't posted this yet so I figure I'll add some updated pictures:

By the way, I did loose the pansies but I recycled the dirt and planted another tomato.  

Later...

Later....  (very behind in my posting)

Later still....

Don wanted some cucumbers, so I planted a few more pots.  At the same time I got Reka her own little watering can.  She loves to water the plants.

She also loves to water herself....

And while I'm at it, here's the garden we've got at Frank's:

 We should be eating well this summer!

First Tricycle

Reka has been eyeing bicycles.  She stares, she points, she ooo's...  So, one day I told Don and mom Walker that I wanted to get her one of those training tricycles.  They financially supported my wish and we got it ordered.  

It finally arrived and the next day I told Reka we were going to pick up her tricycle.  She thought for a minute as if to make sense of what I said and then got REALLY excited.  The whole trip to the store was priceless!  We got it home and set it aside for dad to put it together.  The next day when he got home from work (yes, I waited for him) we set out to ride.   

She couldn't wait!

Just look at her face!  Pure joy!

"I got this..."

"Come on dad, let's go!"

Setting out to explore the terrain

A Day At Frank's

Don's truck was over at Frank's house, so I drove mom over to pick it up.  Rebekah loves Frank's land!  

There was so much room to run!  I could let her go and explore.  She loved the independence.

Then Rebekah, the ball, and I rode in the golf cart.

Rebekah loved playing with Grandma.  She found a big door in Frank's barn to go in and out, and in and out, and in and out... perfect to play peek-a-boo with Frank and Grandma.

Needless to say she slept all the way home. 

18!

It happened.  I officially have an 18 month old little girl!

Here she is looking at the doggie on Don's (or should I say "her") ipad.

She loves a good doggie.

Here she is clapping her hands for us all to see.  Love my happy little girl.

Had to put in the "this is how chubby my cheeks really are" picture.

She loves to run and play.  She loves the park.  She loves outside.  She loves to read and will sit the reading chair in our bedroom and look at books.  I love to watch her turn pages.  But I love more the times she sits on my lap and we read books together.  Good one on one time.  So grateful she still lets me do that.  I know one of these days my snugglely baby will not want to snuggle so much.  But until then I'll take every and all chances I can get.

I have been working on some early speech intervention with Reka.  I went back and forth saying "she is okay and she'll speak when she's ready" and worrying.  The turning point was me checking out a library book about helping your child prepare for learning.  In the first chapter it stated if you see something you are concerned about, act on it.  Don't wait and hope it fixes itself.  It may, but it may not.  Might as well act on it early.  So, I took things into my own hands.  I watched some youtube videos and looked at some blogs.  After much work and much silliness on my part, I got Rebekah to say "ahh ohh," "weee," and "mmmm."   Eventually she could tell me what an owl says, what a dog says on a moonlit night, and what a monkey says.  She would also use the "mmm" sound for yummy food.  She uses "ahh ohh" all the time.  She is even trying to say the word "sneak" - (I've been showing her how we could sneak up on dad).  Right now it comes out "sss sss sss" but, hey, it's a start.

But the really significant thing is.... 

Two days after her 18th month mark she said mama.  Actually it was more like "mum-mum."  Yay!   She has since said dada.  Double yay!

Other Places For Food

Yes, that is egg smashed into her hair.

She does make it look extremely fun, doesn't she?  

Don's Birthday

This afternoon I realized I totally missed Don's Birthday blog!  He did officially turn a year older last month.  And we did officially party.  I made cake.

Mom Walker made peanut butter fudge.  So good.  So so so good.  And so addicting!

Rebekah helped put on the sprinkles.  

Don't let the look on his face fool you, he loved it!  

We got Reka some new stickers for Don's birthday.  

Which is really nice because she loves to make art with them.  Like this wonderful happy birthday card!

Happy birthday sweet husband!  I'm so glad I got to spend the last three birthdays with you.  Hope to spend many many more.

Gene's!

On Don's list of favorite things about Indiana is a little place called "Gene's Rootbeer."  His dad took him there all the time when he was growing up.  Don took his kids there.  He took me there too.  It was only a matter of time before Rebekah went.  So, late one afternoon we ventured out.

Here's the place.

Don let Rebekah out of her car seat and gave her full run of the back seat.

We ordered.  While they prepared our food, Don and Rebekah had some special father daughter bonding moments.

Rebekah wet her whistle in anticipation.

Her first taste of Gene's Corn Dog.  

(Actually, her first taste of any hot dog.)

Then dad ordered ice cream.  And we waited again. 

Rebekah's first ice cream cone.

Rebekah and I shared.  She got frustrated with the ice cream cone.  I don't think she knew what to do with the great amount of ice cream and her little mouth.  She would open her mouth to get some and then shake her head and go back.  I finally made a little spoon out of a cup lid.  That made everything better.

Happy first trip to Gene's, Rebekah!  I'm sure there will be many many more in your future.

Ice Cream

For a special treat we went out for Ice Cream.

At first, Rebekah didn't want anything to do with it.  She didn't even want to be there! She was squirming and fighting and so forth.  Knowing she would like it once she tried it, I put a little taste on her lower lip.  She cried, then tasted, then thought, then tasted some more.  

She took the spoon and..... 

She finally decided it was so good that dad needed to try it.

Mmmm....  Ice Cream.