Memorial Weekend - 2011

Dear Abigail,

First, let me just say that Mommy is very proud of our country and is so thankful for all the soldiers who have given up their lives to help keep our country the way it is, and while it may seem like we did our own thing despite it being a weekend to honor said soldiers, I did stop and think more than once how lucky I am to have soldiers (and a country) to do that for me AND my family...

So, while we didn't go anywhere this weekend, we did have a pretty busy, and fun, weekend! We'll start with Thursday...

After gymnastics, we met Daddy at Pei Wei for lunch. While that in itself is a pretty special treat, Daddy decided to top it off with an even better (and sweeter) special treat - ice cream!! We walked next door to Maggie Moo's and you immediately saw a chocolate ice cream cake on display and decided you wanted chocolate! And you told us. 200 times. At least. Finally it was our turn and you very politely told the lady you needed chocolate ice cream, and so you got it. However, once you got that ice cream, you decided you needed that chocolate cake instead, or maybe in addition. I don't know... but you ate the ice cream, the whole time saying you needed that cake. This did not end well, to say the least. When we all finished and were ready to go, you figured out that you indeed weren't getting that chocolate cake in addition to the ice cream you just ate. So, you threw a fit. A lovely fit at that, including crawling under the table and being carried out screaming. You'd think after getting a special treat like ice cream you'd be content, but no no, you needed more. I guess that sweet tooth pulled through for us, huh...

After we got home and rested for a little bit you did calm down, but then you found a ring pop Aunt G had given you for Easter. Well, we both know what happened next, but because Daddy had agreed to give you the bath (due to the chocolate ice cream), I decided you could have a blue ring pop! And you LOVED it!

Friday ended up being a little chilly, so our plans for the pool got canceled, but we did make a trip to the park. And then, we finally made it to Mexican. It feels like it's been forever, even though we did just spend a whole week with the gang!

On Saturday morning, we were debating between the zoo and a walk around Radnor Lake, so we asked you. You chose Radnor Lake. Your Nanna would walk around Radnor all the time and she even wrote poems about it (and we read one at our wedding!!!). So, Radnor Lake it was. We walked around the whole lake, right at 3 miles, and while you did walk most of it, you did ride on Daddy's shoulders and even Mommy's back a little bit!

We saw several deer, and baby ducks swimming behind their mommy and lots of butterflies. We didn't really see any of these, but we heard cicadas like crazy!!!!! Unfortunately, the 13 year cicadas are out this year. They haven't been too terribly bad by our house, just a bit noisy, but apparently closer to downtown they are real bad! UGH. At least it will be over soon and they won't be back for 13 years :)

After a good hike, we ate a hardy lunch and took a good nap. Well, one of us did, the other two prepared for the cookout we were having that afternoon! That's right, the gang was coming over for Daddy's fancy hamburgers - Cheddar BLT Burgers with Russian Tarragon sauce. Told ya it was fancy - and delicious, too! The whole gang came over minus Ryan (who spent the weekend with his grandparents!), so that meant more play time with Ellie! We set up the bouncy house outside, and while it entertained you girls for about 2.4 minutes, the tub we store it in seemed to be the preferred toy of choice...

But, when Baby Grant decided to get in the jumpy house, you two girls HAD to be in there!!!
We ate burgers and veggies and all kinds of yummy foods and then all the kiddos went to sleep while the parents got to socialize (again, as if we hadn't just spent a week together).

On Sunday, we had decided to go visit Papa Rob and Gramma for the day at The Hill, but instead of going straight to The Hill, we met them in Grand Rivers, KY (and then went to the Hill). Grand Rivers is a little town, with cute little shops and a yummy restaurant, and then a few kid things, like boat driving...

And they had this big old turkey, and a llama llama red pajama!, and a couple goats and an ostrich, or emu or whatever those things are called! They also had a playground that you seemed to enjoy and so did a couple other folks...

We played and looked at the animals while Gramma and Miss Ida did a little shoppin, then it was time to eat. Both Gramma and Papa Rob commented, separately I might add, how good you were at lunch!! Hooray! And we didn't even have to break out the ipod!!!

We left Grand Rivers and headed to the Hill where we were greeted by Grandaddy and 4 yappy dogs!!! You were not too crazy about those dogs but by the end of the day you had gotten used to them. We didn't sit still too long at Papa Robs, but instead got our bathing suits on and headed to the water hole! Now, the normal water hole we go to had about 50 people hanging out at it, so we looked across the street and found a very quiet, non people lurking area, that was perfect! We all assumed the water would be to cold for you to get into, and Daddy wasn't even going to wear his bathing suit (until Mommy yelled, I mean, convinced him to) so when we got there and Papa Rob got straight in (as he always does) we were shocked to see you just wade on it!!! Now, it wasn't like you just jumped in - Papa Rob had to do some persuading, but he convinced you and before we knew it you were on the other side!

And let me tell you, that water was COLD! Oh, and your country girl definitely came out. You had to go potty and well, there was no potty. At first you said never mind, but once those toes hit that water you HAD to go, so, well, you got your first country girl badge!! After we waded and swam (or at least you and Papa Rob and a little bit of Daddy), we headed back to the house. Papa Rob (and a little bit of Daddy, too) tried to talk you into letting them ride you around on the four wheeler, but you got enough sense not to get on that thing! And Mommy ain't stoppin ya!! We played around the house, including you and Papa Rob climbing onto the roof!!!

And then we ate some dinner and headed back home. It was late, and you fell asleep in the car, but it was a good day and we were all happy that you had a good time at the Hill!

Monday morning came and we ALL slept in!!! I guess that is the advantage to keeping you up later, huh! After a little breakfast, we were ready for the pool! It was 9:30 and we were sitting pool side, by ourselves, too! We felt like we owned the pool (it was the neighborhood pool!) so we called up Aunt Steph and told them to come on over and swim with us. Before they could get there that place filled up!! But it was still fun. You and Ellie loved the kiddie pool and everyone loved playing with everyone's toy, minus your Arial, who you refused to share with anyone but did make a fairly even trade with a little boy who picked it up :) After swimming for a pretty long time, we brought Ellie and Aunt Steph back to our house for a little lunch, and then a special snack!!!!!! (i.e a popsicle!). It was delicious and perfect for this hot hot day! After a quick nap, we got our bathing suit back on and you headed to the back yard for a little sprinkler action!!!

The highlight of this was of course you getting to wear your mermaid bathing suit! I'm not too crazy about it, but, see, I do give in sometimes :)

We, of course, played bubbles...

And of course Daddy grilled us some yummy dinner and we topped it off with WATERMELON, to which, I might add, you ate like 4 huge pieces!!!

We also danced a little, played with the bouncy ball, played on our neighbors swing set, and even got a little reading in...

Now, maybe you can't see what that book is so I'll just tell you -it's "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems". Yes, you are reading the one book that had taken up my last 2 days. Yeah, that's right, no improvement whatsoever on the sleep. Beach trip was awesome, but we went straight downhill after that, like downhill then further... BUT, after we ended our fantastic weekend with a nice warm bath, we headed to the bedroom for an intervention. You were NOT too crazy about the intervention and insisted you needed to watch 'a little tv in Mimi's bed' but Mommy did NOT give in, and after only having to check on you twice, you are sound asleep. Now, I will say, you took EVERY SINGLE book off your shelf and I'm pretty sure tore a couple of them up, and of course every sock from your sock drawer is on the floor and somehow you turned your sound machine on thunderstorms, BUT, you are asleep my friend, and asleep by 8:15. I cannot complain. Please PLEASE continue this to tomorrow and on and on. We aren't getting our hopes too high because this happened a couple weeks ago BUT that doesn't mean we don't have faith in you boog! We KNOW you can sleep in your bed, all night, like a big girl - you just got accustomed to pushing your limits, that's all :) SO, intervention, Day 1 = success!!!! Now, back to our awesome weekend - did I mention it was awesome??? Fun fun fun!!! Love you baby girl. Happy Memorial Day - always remember those who served for us!