Another Children's Museum Visit

I love the children's museum. I get frustrated with it too. Kids can be inconsiderate: pushing their way to the front, butting in lines, leaving messes as they go so when little kids get to the said exhibit after them, it has to be put back together before it can be successfully played with. 

I don't want to judge parents solely on what their kids do but what's that line about the apple not falling far from the tree? or by their fruits ye shall know them? If the child is acting like a jerk isn't up to the parents to correct them? Eventually the child will decide what they want to do and go their own way but usually that happens after children museum age and then parents of young kids won't have to worry about say a little 3 year old trying to take her turn with aggressive bullies around. As parents we can just keep our distance from the older irresponsibly rude adult by not going into their territory. But I digress. Here's some pictures from her latest trip: 

Hot Wheels racing exhibit

Loves her cars!

She made orange juice:

My little percussionist

She loves making art! 

and playing with sand

and the carousel 

The green screen was new.
If you look close you can see Rebekah standing by ready to catch the falling building

She's never seen The Simpsons but I knew it would mean a lot to Joseph and Jamie:

A Box

I recently scored a pretty sizable coupon from boxed.com. I ordered some bulk items and it was shipped in this really nice Rebekah sized box. She has had so much fun. It is true: kids don't need toys, they need boxes.

 

I was invited to join.

Then Frank the Frog and Taxi Bear were invited to join.

After we were shipped in said box, box turned into a train. Then other things. Right now it is a mail box. Boxes: best toys ever.

Frank's Garden & Where Grandma Once Played

One Saturday afternoon mom asked if we wanted to come over to Frank's and help with the garden. I think Rebekah's exact answer was, "YES!"

By the time we made it over they had already done the tilling. We were just in time to plant some seeds.

And drive the golf cart of course.

After work was done mom suggested a little drive to a park where she had played as a little girl. There was much to explore:

While they played I enjoyed the beautiful green scenery. The picture quality doesn't do it justice. It is truly beautiful!

Mom and Rebe enjoyed the merry-go-round. The have so much fun together!

Dance Costume

So the dance costume came in.... 

*socks not part of said costume

She wanted pictures:

posing

Twirling 

More twirling

Striking a pose

Falling

Um... not sure what this one was 

But I got both front and back views

Admiring her pictures:

And of course there had to be a video:

She wanted to stay in her costume and play cars. 

Love that we get the frilly costumes and the cars from her.

Friends

Nothing like good friends. We love these two! 

The boy is just older than Rebekah and the girl is just young enough to be a little sister figure. Rebekah loves them both! And the mom is great too! That's what I call the perfect relationship!

Family Date Night

Can't stop at Home Depot without test driving the equipment:

These two were made for each other!

They had so much fun. Love how Rebekah makes Don smile so big!

Mother's Day

Each year on mother's day I've tried to get a picture with my little girl. Like a little mother's day present for me. However Rebekah has been officially done with pictures for almost a year. I have to bribe her to smile for me. Think the smile in this picture was fruit snack induced. 

After church we opened grandma's mother's day gifts while waiting for dad. I read Rebekah several cards before she chose this one: 

Knock knock (who's there) 

orange (orange who?) 

Orange you glad you're my grandma?

Rebekah wanted to get grandma chocolate for mother's day. Not just any chocolate. It had to be Hershey's Chocolate - grandma's favorite. For the record, I believe Rebekah ate most of it. (Also, notice the smile she has for her grandma. SIGH.

Frank showed up soon and took a picture of the three of us.

Mom made a wonderful dinner: roast with noodles and potatoes. We were well fed.

Here's what I tried to do for mom: strawberry pie. 

She told me she loves strawberry pie. I asked Don where was the best place to get it. Apparently I should have asked mom. Somewhere in Greenfield there's a place called Jim Dandies that is THE place for strawberry pie. Information logged for next year.

But the pie was "fine" and it got eaten very quick. I love how Rebekah is helping these days! Got to document it so when she is a teenager and doesn't want to help any more I'll still have pictures of when she did.

Don got me some beautiful cards and a DVD on WWI that we could watch together. Then we spent the rest of the day playing. Love family play time!

Sunday at Shadyside

Sunday afternoon Don suggested a little car ride. It ended up at Shadyside park. I didn't bring my camera or phone so these are Don's phone pictures sent to my phone then sent to my email, uploaded to my computer then the blog. Yeah, we need smart phones. 

Hot Enough for Pool Time

If finally happened! The weather was hot enough to bring out Rebekah's pool. She was so excited! It is amazing to me how much growth one little girl can do during one fall and winter season. This pool use to be so much bigger! But my little girl knows how to make the best of things. (The following pictures were taken by mom:)

After much playing I think she finally noticed I was not there with her.

Actually I was inside making 2 batches of cookies for a friend's party. Much thanks to my mom for giving me the time to do that!

So cute, I could snuggle her all day.

I really could: I asked and she gave me permission.

Ice Cream Photo Shoot

I signed up Rebekah for swim lessons thinking it would be a good thing. It's been traumatic for both Rebekah and me. Rebekah because she is nervous and scared, me because I have to watch her be nervous and scared. She loves swimming! I thought this would increase her love. Instead it has been the hardest part about every week.

This week I told her after the lesson we would go out for ice cream - something to look forward to. She did rather well in her lesson with not many tears. I was so proud of her. True to my word we stopped at the local ice cream shop. I did talk her into eating some lunch first, but she got her ice cream. And loved every minute of it.

Love her so much!