Just One More Reason to Love Playmobil!

When Mark & I were first discussing potential birthday presents for Allison we checked current Playmobil offerings online. We noticed a new 'Noah's Ark' set in the Playmobil 1,2,3 style but we became distracted with other ideas and the idea was put on the back burner. Then we visited our local toy shop just before Allison's birthday and saw it in stock in the store. I went back later and in looking at it a bit closer realized it was designed to be used in water. I decided right then & there it was going to be one of Allison's birthday presents.

Both Mark & I have decided it was a very good move. Our little Alli-girl, for all her normal sweetness, has been anything but sweet about bath time for a few months now. We have no idea why as it seems most toddlers like bath time. However, ever since we demonstrated how her new Noah's Ark could go in the tub the girl has loved bath time. What a relief! Now she has a little ritual after bath time where she pulls each animal out and dries them off with a towel and then packs them all away. And we sing endless renditions of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' while she is in the tub rocking the ark around. Someday I'm sure she'll learn the actual 'Noah's Ark' story, for now we're just thankful bath time has become a pleasure again!

The Balance Bike Babe

Last summer, while my Dad was in town we first saw balance bikes at our favorite local bike shop. Since then we've gone back several times to see if Allison was big enough to ride one. Gradually she got taller and finally, when my Dad was in town, it was time to go get one!I still remember my first trip to a bike store to buy my very first bike, a silver Schwinn dirt bike! It was a special day. As I was growing up every bike that was purchased for me meant a trip to Anchorage with Dad to try out bikes. It was pretty fun to have my Dad along to go get Allison's first bike (even though she probably won't remember the day!). My parents also bought the bike - Allison's birthday present! Pretty special!

She rode the bike out of the store and to the car but once we got home she wasn't particularly excited about it. She would have rather gone for a ride in her Chariot. But we didn't give up.

We took the bike with us pretty much everywhere we went for a whole week. Some days, like the one above, she wasn't particularly thrilled to be riding. She'd rather be looking for ducks!

But she loved 'working' on her bike! Just like Grr (my Dad) did in the garage. On this morning (above) Dad & Mom were getting ready for a ride into town and Allison was sure she was going along. She got her helmet on and pumped up her tires. She was disappointed when they rode off without her. Perhaps that is what she needed, though, because later that day, when we met up with my parents at the park she had her first 'good' ride. Just her and Grr hanging out in the park with no agenda and she gradually got on and started taking longer steps.

By the time her birthday party rolled around she was riding with confidence. She was quite the show off for Nana and Papa. There is nothing quite like a 2-year-old with a tu-tu on a spiffy balance bike!

And by the time my parents left Allison was quite the pro. She still hasn't learned to pull her feet up and just 'ride' but she sits back, puts her weight on the seat and takes long strides. It is only a matter of time before she'll be flying. Until she stops to wave. Or drops down to investigate a troop of ants. In the meantime we should get better at putting her helmet on her!

Busy Week

I'm hoping to get back into blogging soon. We're still recovering from a crazy fun week with my parents & a fabulous 2-year-old birthday party. I did attempt a photo-shoot of the special 2-year-old. She was not particularly cooperative for her mother. Despite her lack of cooperation I did manage one decent shot (although it isn't as sharp as I would like!). I have lots more to share so stay tuned!

The Unplanned Garden

I am enjoying spending a lot of time outside this spring. I've been taking on some small scale gardening projects this year. In previous years I decided I was much more interested in quilting than gardening. This year, although I love quilting, it is not something that can be done while a certain little girl is awake so my yard & garden are getting a lot more attention.

I'd like to say that attention is well planned and focused and knowledgeable and experienced but that would not be true. I take random trips to Bi-Mart and look at the different flowers and decide what I want. Then I bring them home and hopefully find a pot for them. I also decided to try to fill in my front flower bed with some flowers. It seemed like a good idea until I started planting. I found that all of my calla lily bulbs had greatly multiplied and were all over the bed....but I had no idea where. So I cautiously dug holes for the new flowers and filled in. There definitely is no rhyme or reason to how that bed is organized right now!

The two plants I did 'plan' on (and actually spend some real money on!) were two tomato plants. We're pretty sure a certain little girl is really going to enjoy picking cherry tomatoes off of these two plants this summer. She's dying of anticipation, can you tell?

Getting Ready for the Big 0 - 2!

We have a busy few weeks planned. First, my parents fly in, then we're planning a little 'family' party for Allison's birthday. Mark and I busy working on all sorts of things. I've been having more fun than I ever imagined making fun things for the party! One pack of decorative paper & some digital paper to match and I've been having a blast. I have to make the most of these years when Allison doesn't have opinions about what her party should be like. Mark has been busy, too. He's making a present for Allison's birthday....hopefully it will back from the painter's by the end of the week. Until it comes home and I snap a picture you'll just have to believe me that Mark is a.m.a.z.i.n.g.l.y talented!

Picnic Season

Spring has been pretty slow in this part of the country. In order to make the most of any dry & somewhat sunny days we've had around here we've been enjoying lots of picnics. Last week we ate dinner in our back yard. Someday we'll hopefully have a real outdoor dining set. For now our camping table and folding chairs works great. Oh, and yes, Baby had to join us for dinner as well. She joins us for most meals!

On Sunday Allison & I were on our own for lunch. I made her lunch while she played on the patio. She came to check on me regularly (the bottom photo). We're working on learning not to push on the screen. And the first photo below? I wanted to post it to show off how good she is getting at drinking out of a real cup. I still only trust her with water in a real cup but for the most part she is pretty good at not spilling. I can't believe how grown up she is looking!

Finished in 2011 No. 5

My part in this quilt is complete so I'm adding this one to my 'Finished in 2011' List. My friend, Natalie, made this quilt (with my assistance) for her new niece, due in June. We had a great time making this quilt, again using a crazy quilt pattern. We found perfectly matching borders, which were probably a bit flowery for our original intent - but they give the quilt a nice vintage feel. I didn't take a picture of the back, it is a very nice lavender polka dot. And we used left-over block fabric for the binding. Natalie is finishing up the binding this week so the quilt can be given away next weekend.....and hopefully her new niece will be snuggling in it before too long!