Backyard Fun at Grandma & Grandpa's

Today was a beautiful day, probably the warmest we have had so far this year. It was a perfect day for a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house so we packed up our gear and headed up the hill, ready for some more spring fun.

Sweet moments with grandpa!

My little girl is developing quite an arm already! 

We spent a lot of time helping grandpa with some weeding.  Sami is so very helpful and also demonstrates management qualities. If grandpa or I weren't working hard enough she would make sure to help us get back on task by taking hold of our hands, putting a tool in them and motioning us to get back to work!

Taking a break. Marshmellows are a traditional treat whenever we come to visit. Sami always looks forward to it and heads straight for the pantry as soon as we arrive.

Time to explore!

Good Times with Daddy

I just love it when Andrew plays like this with Sami.  She has so much fun and it burns off some of her energy supply...:)  They are like two peas in a pod!

A sweet baby kiss.  She doesn't give these out very often so they are very precious.

Ok dad, I'm tired now.

Welcome Spring

It is the first day of spring and we celebrate with bubbles. 

Funny Story

Yesterday, after a diaper change (#2), Sami got very absorbed in playing with the stack of clean diapers that I keep next to her changing pad. She was so focused on moving the diapers from one place to another (making a big mess), I couldn't help but try to break her intense concentration. (Spend a little time with Sami and you will learn how she can get into a zone of laser focus that nothing can break.) So, I started asking her a number of random questions and she would automatically respond by shaking her head no, barely acknowledging my existance. It didn't matter what the question was, the answer was always the same.  For example, I would say, "Sami, did you have fun playing outside today?", "Sami, can I have a kiss", or "Sami, do you love your mommy?".  I probably asked her 20 or so questions and without fail, she would shake her head no and continue to do her thing.  Andrew then walked into the room and I explained what I was doing and asked Sami another question to demonstrate.  Then Andrew asked her, "Sami, did you just go poop?".  This time, instead of shaking her head no, she tightens her tummy, squints her eyes, and grunts twice. LOL!

Outside Without a Coat!

Yes, it is true - Samantha and I were able to have some outdoor fun today without the extra layers of sweaters and coats.   We even had a late breakfast outside with grandpa this morning and later enjoyed some bouncy ball fun and a little yard work too.

So happy to be outside!

Giving her bunny ball a good toss.

Beating the dirt with her trusty stick

Haaaayaaaah!

Hmmm....a dried up leaf!

Cute little lady bug!

My Little Helper

So my little peanut is now almost 16 months old and the older she gets, the more helpful she gets.  For several months now, she has been very helpful in wiping down cabinets and sweeping the floor.  Lately she has picked up on wiping down her highchair and wiping out the bathtub and surrounding tile.  It is so very cute to watch her put elbo greese into her tasks.  She is very thorough and detail orriented.  In addition, she has been enthusiastic in her efforts to help me keep the weeds down in our planting areas.  The only issue with her being involved in this task is that she doesn't quite understand the difference between a weed and mommy's pretty flowers.  Oh well, that will come too I'm sure.  I'm just so very proud of my little Sami.  Thanks baby girl!

The Unusual Diaper Change

Getting her diaper changed is not one of Samantha's favorite things, to say the least.  In fact, 99% of the time, fussing, squirming, and general unhappiness is her typical reaction to this necessary action.  This morning, however, I had quite a different experience.  Just before laying her down for the change, Sami had grabbed one of her small Sesame Street picture books.  Then, as I went through the whole routine, she layed there very quietly looking through the pages of her book just as if she were an adult browsing through a newspaper.  She didn't even seem to notice or care what I was doing...she had other, more important business to occupy her thoughts with.

Family Fun at The Spotted Cow

The Spotted Cow is a charming little ice cream cafe not far from where we live.  Here they brew their own coffee and serve handcrafted ice cream.  And if that is not enough, they also have a wine menu that Andrew enjoys on our visits.  On this particular night we decided to stop in on our way home from a delicious Thai dinner.  It is a great place to relax and they also have a fantastic play area that is perfect for Sami.