Movie Maker {401}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Goodmorning, Daddy! Time for your hair style!

Kitty, you are next!

You didn't color with the crayons as much as you tried to hook them together, somehow? Anyway, you thought they were tools I suppose. So we tried the finger painting with yogurt thing. You indulged for a few moments, then went and got the spoons to 'paint' with. Ha!

And then you got a hold of the camera...

And things went on from there...

I'm not the greatest videographer, the image was pointed your direction, so half of this video, you are cut off a bit :)

So good, we have to do more :)

I think we need to practice our animal sounds, ha! And at one point, you put the phone up to your ear :)

And guess what? Your Aunt Leslie is here!  

I love you,

Mamma <3

Cat Attack {400}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Kitty is watching a tiny object move across the computer screen.

Until...

 

You come along for a look.

Hurry, Kitty!

Run!

Too late.

I am so glad that you two have each other.

This afternoon we went to play with little Liam. Liam just turned 1 year old in January. You two both especially enjoyed playing with his giant 'penny racer' cars which drive on their own if you pull them back a little ways. Liam and his family are moving to Kansas City in a few months while they raise money to be missionaries in Ireland.

This evening we went to our community group and you played downstairs with Ian and Amsie. Two hours later you came upstairs with blue hands  :)

I love you,

Mamma <3

King Ging {399}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we picked up Paramee from Sri Lanka and went to World Friendship Meeting. We picked her up from her apartment though, not actually Sri Lanka :) If that was the case, we would have been more than 20 minutes late.

Today we (ladies) had special interest groups. Here is the water coloring group. I admire their beautiful creations, I have yet to do any watercolor!

Mrs. Phillips was back today. She is one of the women who helps out with the sewing group. She had tests done last week to see if she would qualify for a particular back surgery. She did qualify so she will be having the surgery in a few weeks. Mrs. Phillips is in her 80's and she is a very experienced seamstress (and also a wonderful singer, I've heard). We are so happy that she gets to have the surgery.

This is the posture that you and Daddy watch Veggie Tales at in the mornings. This photo was taken late afternoon, but I guess it just felt right to you :)  Yesterday you stood in front of the TV, and asked, "King Ging!?" Daddy laughed and had me come listen. Yes, it was clear! You were asking for Kung Fu Panda! Ha ha. You really like that show. It's right up there with Veggie Tales.

For the second time this week, you didn't feel as though you needed an afternoon nap. You didn't seem particularly tired anyway, so we eventually let you back out of bed, and you and Daddy went off to the Discovery Center because he wanted to watch the movie they show there, which he hadn't been able to see yet.

You came back and we went on a QUICK walk because it is COLD out. Then we made dinner - chicken drumsticks which you ate off the bone (sort of). You tried, but the pieces came off a little to big, so I cut them up. Still, I think you let most the pieces slide down your gullet without much chewing :-/ Either way, you ate it up.

I have to tell you I love love love our nighttime cuddles, right before bed, holding you and singing to. It's my very, very favorite.

I love you,

Mamma <3

Cheese {398}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning as Daddy was eating his cereal, carried your bowl over, managed to climb up on the bed, and sidle right up to him, so you two could enjoy your breakfast together.

Here you are playing with Miss Amsie later this morning. Amsie is lounging under the table and you seem to be cooking something.

This is you saying 'Bye bye' to Amsie.

Eating your afternoon snack, I said, "Dinah! Say cheese!"

You ducked...

Recovered, started acting silly like you were going to eat your snack face first...

Gave me a stare...

Got a glint in your eye...

And started spinning around in circles.

I love you

Mamma <3

Messy Day {397}

Dear Miss Dinah,

After singing, clapping and dancing around to the worship music at church, you left to go with the children

After church we went to lunch with friends. After you ate, you sat with Daddy and offered him his own drink. Mr. Tom and Daddy, encouraging you to drink your own drink too, chanted, "Drink! Drink! Drink!" Silly guys.

Some days just feel ... messy.

The bed was made this morning, usually it gets messed within a few minutes of making it due to a little girl playing on it. 

The table has our leftover snack on it.

These shoes were set away nicely a few minutes before.

 

 Oh and might I add...

Two hours in your crib, NO SLEEP. You climbed out 7, 8, 9 times? I lost count. 

Finally we cut it off and got out of the house. Five minutes in the stroller and you were out like a light. OOOOOOOh, girl. 

You earned your bed time tonight!!

I love you,

Mamma <3

How To Braid Toddler's Hair {396}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Step One: Veggie Tales
Step Two: Patience

The best way we have found to practice hair-styling is while watching a good video or two. Today for the second time, we tried braids. The first time, however was right around when you turned one, and it was a very, very tiny braid :) Today's were much longer.

Today while we were shopping at Target, we met our neighbor from down the street. We've only seen him a few times as we've walked by his house, though we've seen his dogs many times. We were walking into the store at the same time when we recognized each other. His name is Victor. Now when we walk around the block we can say hello Mr. Victor! And not just say hi to his dogs :)

After shopping we went out of town to visit a friend who just had her baby. Ms. Jen and her husband live on a farm out in the country. Their newborn, Annalise is just three weeks old and such a little cutie. When she started to cry, you helped get her paci, and then you offered her a blanket. What a good helper.

Here's a picture we took from their driveway, cows in the background.

And the other direction... this is their front yard!

We got home a little later than expected, and Daddy had started some dinner :)  Oh, and you know what else he did today? Drilled a hole and put a plug in your little blue bath tub, so we could drain it once we finished in the bath. What a great idea!

I love you,

Mamma <3

Snowga {395}

Dear Miss Dinah,

You are becoming very adept with utensils. Have I said this before? Probably. This morning as you were nearing the end of your breakfast, you scraped your little spoon across the bottom of the bowl so slowly and carefully and then brought it to your mouth.

After breakfast we went to Amsie and Ian's for a while. Actually we stayed so long it was nearly lunch time, and you enjoyed some cheese and crackers with Miss Amsie. One thing you like to do at meals, though I don't always let you, is pick up bowls, plates, or glasses and slowly, carefully, walk them somewhere. Maybe you walk them to the trash can, or just around a little bit before going back to where you started. Well today, Ms. Reagan gave you a big girl cup, and you would not let it go. Even as you climbed down out of the chair, and water spilled out of it, you kept that little cup in your clutches...

After lunch we stopped by the park where the yoga studio was hosting 'Snowga' - yoga in the snow! We watched, took a few pictures and then warmed up with hot drinks and doughnuts after :)

Playing with another little girl who was there. She had a few bottles filled with water and food coloring to dye the snow with - what fun!

I took this photo of the refrigerator from your point of view. Always such a good view of the cheese - no wonder!

I love you,

Mamma <3

Snow Adventures {394}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Such a beautiful morning to stop and smell the ... basil.
Outside that window the snow is falling and will continue to fall all day. Beautiful, big flakes piled up about 7 inches high :)

 

 

Kitty would like to join you this morning...

This is you saying 'cheese.' Really.

This is you saying 'cheese' again. A very strained 'cheese.' Because, well, it's cold outside. Your mittens (my mittens) are duct taped to your jacket which is a brilliant idea I wished someone had told me about sooner.

We decided to adventure out in the stroller. We went to the post office and a nearby grocery store we don't shop at much anymore. All in all it was just a couple blocks, and it was FUN! Some parts of the roads were cleared and some were not, so like I said, it was an adventure. When we got done at the store it had started snowing even more, and it really sounded like you were singing on the way home...

Back out again in the afternoon...

Everything changes when it's covered in snow. You can't as easily see the paths that we are used to, so we must forge new ones. Not always such a bad thing...

Our walk today was to just a few neighboring houses instead of the whole block.

Knocking the snow off a bush...

Exploring off of the beaten path...

Guys from the upstairs building a snow fort /igloo type structure. This will be interesting to see tomorrow as they planned on painting it green or purple? They said their goal was to get it on the internet. Well congratulations, guys!  :)

 

Helping fix dinner. I won't tell that you try and lick all the veggies before we cook them. 

 

I love you,

Mamma <3