Niana is 2!

Niana will be 2 years old on Friday (the 24th). We went with Auntie Amy to take some pictures last week. After 100+ shots, we came out with a few good ones. Here is a brief glimpse of what we got. (Pictures by Amy K Photography).

We have had a busy summer. In June, we went to the Chaffee Zoo, Bob the Builder at the MET, swimming at friends' pools, getting lots of books from the library, and to the coast for Father's Day weekend.

In July, we celebrated 4th of July with sparklers and noise (fireworks), ate lots of ice cream, discovered that we love soccer, went to the water park, the mountains, and sat through a movie at the theater. We also discovered that Storyland is a scary place, that we love watching Nemo, and that being independent is the way to go. We even attempted camping in the backyard, but the giant bounce house was not going to lull her to sleep.

Niana has been playing with imagination (see previous post), coloring beautiful abstract pictures, and helping Mommy clean the house.

This week the heat has picked up, so we have tried to stay cool. Grandma Sylvia will come visit for a few days, Mommy goes to Summer School in the mornings, and Niana will go back to play with her friends at T-Toddler Daycare. Then we will be off to Shaver Lake for a week to rest and relax before Mommy's school year starts. Daddy is still at Butler Church and Niana loves playing with her buddies Hannah, Josiah, Ella, and Paige. She usually likes taking their toys, but often takes turns when prompted.

Overall, we have had a great summer and are looking forward to the days when we can go outside and play in the sand and on the slide/swing toy.

In two years, Mommy and Daddy have discovered how Niana is very much like the both of us, but also is very much herself. She is silly, energetic, bossy, shy, likes to sing and dance, messy but likes to clean up, and has no fear of anything. She has embarked on her new journey of the pre-school age and is learning letters, numbers, colors, and how to SHARE and take turns. It is amazing how much they can grow and learn in 2 years! Now, are we ready for the next 2?

YEAH!

Morning Play this week

On Wednesday Morning, we went "shopping". I wasn't sure exactally what we were shopping for, but Niana came home with her bags packed. Don't you love her hat and striped PJ's?

On Thursday morning, I discovered what all the shopping was for. I was putting away some laundry and she was "helping". She pulled out a blanket, laid it flat, and yelled, "It's Tea Time!" I encourged this of course by pointing her in the direction of her cookware for her kitchen. She started "serving" us and poor baby doll, looks like he had so much fun, he fell asleep in his food.

2 more week and she will be two! What a big girl! It is so much fun with her pretending and playing now. :)

Bob the Builder

This morning we went with our friend Mary, her daughter Olivia, and her nephew Dylan, to the Met to see the Bob the Builder exhibit. It was a blast. Niana stopped to take a picture with Bob, then proceded to run all around the exhibit playing with all of the fun stuff they had to offer. She really liked the slide and spent 20 minutes there. We then moved on to the "water pump" where they showed us how a pump will work using balls as water. She loved playing in all the tractors and then with the golf balls vacuum exhibit. She could have stayed all day, but we were getting hungry. So after seeing the Mother Goose exhibit and the OSMI puzzlers, we went to the world famous, IHOP, where Niana ate up her lunch and some of Dylan's GINORMOUS chocolate pancake.

Thanks for the fun Mary! We should go again!

Happy Father's Day

This weekend we went to the Pismo Beach Car Show. We stayed in a home in Cayoucous, just north of Morro Bay. On Saturday evening, we all took a short jaunt down to the beach to snap some family pictures. I had the grand idea of walking out onto a raised mound of sand that looked fairly dry, while all around was wet from the incoming tide. Well, we got a few good pics out there, then Scott said, "We should roll up her pant legs." Just seconds later, the only thing that could happen, happened. Yes, it unexpectedly came right at us as we were all looking down. It rushed all around us, and got our pant legs and feet all cold and sandy. But Auntie Mayme (Amy) had a great time snapping great candids of us running away.
Hope you had a good 2nd Daddy's Day, Scott!

The Garden

We have been working on our yard for the past 3 years. (Since we bought our new home). On the side of the house is about a 15 X 8 area that we left open for a garden. Last summer was our first attempt. We harvested our Salsa Garden without any salsa. We had bought all of the plants at the same time. First, the cilantro shot up and we had plenty of that while the chile peppers and tomatos began to bloom. Once the cilantro bloomed, it was done. Then we had an over-abundance of chiles. I guess that happens when you plant 5 different types of plants. Finally, around September, our tomatoes came in. No salsa to speak of :(

So this year we tried it a bit differently. First, we planted to tomatos (only one plant mind you). Then came the choosing of THE pepper plant. Not to hot, but on the tangy side. We opted just for jalepenos. And just yestereday I planted the cilantro plant. Salsa? Maybe in September ;)

We also found some great finds at our local Big Lots store. Our kitchen window faces the garden, but it wasn't much to look at, so Scott said he had seen these window boxes and trellises. I said, yeah! Let's go fo it. So this weekend while he planted more plants in our Gi-Nor-Mous backyard, I planted more in the garden. It is coming together and is looking a little more welcoming rather than foreboding. If you get a chance, just walk up the path and through the gate. Maybe by Christmas we will have an arbor to greet you into our summer yard!