Making Tracks

We're getting even more stir crazy around here.

When is spring?

But the time has come to start checking out Pre-School. Also known as Rahula around here.

Aoife is about to have her baby girl at any moment,

we just lost her this week as she prepares for baby. 

But Piper can start Rahula when she turns 2, so we started going a couple times a week together to check it out and see how she likes it. 

The first visit was great - 4 boys ages 3 to 5 and Piper was comfortable in 2 minutes.

Magnets on the fridge.

Coloring (what? no eating the crayons? What magical powers does Miss Vicky have?)

I do think it may be the child sized table chair helped too.

Mental note.

Child sized stuff = good

The boys put a train together for her.

 And she was right in the mix, playing with dinosaurs and dragons.

At one point she broke out dancing and the look on their faces was priceless. 

"What is she doing? Ohhhhhhhh

She's Dancing!"

 The next visit wasn't as successful. While she walked right in without me, she had a total melt down, and I couldn't tell you why, after about 20 minutes. She kept playing saying no no no the whole time.

I think our dear friend's little boy Guthrie not being there had something to do with the melt. 

He was so sweet with her the first visit I think she associated school with him.

Early Birthday Present from Steve and Donna? 

RAD!

 Froggy Kisses

Is he not the coolest?

Molars are still on the move as well as a complete OBSESSION with Elmo.

Or as Piper says,

"Ernie Elmo" 

She loves them both to pieces.

So I've been trying to get her to play with other things so she's not sitting in front of the TV.

Even if it is educational, she needs to move around and play.

The activity cube Aunt Amy got her for her first birthday needed some further inspection.

 And then the couch.

Did you know your couch doubles as a toddler play yard?

Complete with slide?

We went exploring in the snow... 

These are the rare, lovely tracks...

Of a sweet little girl in the snow with her favorite friend.

Our Blue Valentine

Just in time for Valentines Day Piper has taken to saying, 

"I Ub Ew"

I love you too sweet pea.

She likes making a game of it - going forehead to forehead trying to say it at the same time.

We got dressed up and went out to dinner with Daddy, 

where some of my dance partners were performing.

We both wore our blue Chinese brocade for Josh, he does love it so.

Piper got a bear balloon and I an Orchid.

We're lucky girls!

 Checking out the drink menu.

  Fuzzy and dark, but beautiful - trust me. Piper wanted to dance and was getting squirmy 

so we took turns dancing with her in the back of the room. 

Every time a song would end she'd clap and clap and clap.

She's really into the washing machine. 

  Toddlers and front loaders rock!

Unless your Mom forgets and puts the secret "Second Big Kitty" in the wash

 and you catch a glimpse of it and 

loose.

your.

mind. 

Luckily I was able to get the current Big Kitty out and show her, she must have seen something else black and white in there... right? right?

 We're having some warm days here and there, but really it is still too windy 

and cold to play outside much.

So I'm still desperate for ideas to entertain this kid, she has an attention span of ...

well something with a short attention span.

So I let her draw on the bricks with chalk.

 She is loving Nori Seaweed. 

And wild rice.

 Picking it out of her soup even to enjoy on its own.

She pulled a bag of it out of the pantry and asked for it for a snack.

She's really into emotions lately.

The other day she asked Josh when he got her out of bed in the morning if he was happy or sad.

I've got some books and monster cards with emotions in them. And Grammy has some books too.

I think its a good thing for her to be talking about emotions, shes sensitive to her own and other people's emotions - might as well talk about them!

Oh, and she's really into monsters at the moment.

Her current favorite movie is Monsters Inc. 

Here she is with the "Boo" doll Aunt Amy got for her.

 Leading the way...

And rearranging my closet...

Her language and toddlerhood is exploding. 

I'm doing lots of deep breathing while she melts three sides of Tuesday on me.

Of course she's totally fine for everyone else - she saves it for me.

She told me she has turquoise shoes.

And we worked on her asking Daddy to be her Valentine.

Baba has clearly evolved to Ba-pa.

Counting, singing, climbing, tantruming, and giggling the week away over here.

Weekend In the City

 All great stories...

 Start in the middle of things

Don't you think?

 This weekend we headed to the front range.

Piper rocked the car ride, thanks to her new DVD player from Aunt Amy.

She made it half way both times just with books and music and we'd stop - and use Sesame Street to bribe her back into her seat. 

Totally Worked. 

I mean the kid can't sit still for a movie at home.

How's she going to last almost 4 hours in the car?

I don't know, but she did.

twice!

  Sandwich in the back of the car.

 Covered in dog toys at the end of the road at the Aunties' house

and some Sushi!

We even got a play date in with Aunt Jenn and Z!

As you can see they got along great!

Josh said as we pulled away - you know, I could totally see sleep overs in our future with those two.

Piper insisted on getting into Z's bed.

At which point she put out her arms feeling the sheets and said, "Niiiice!"

She likes her a good crib!

After a nap the Aunties invited Aunt Sandi's neice and her two girls over.

Aunt Amy had a cookie party planed.

 Leah and Piper were just far enough in age that they didn't really play. 

Leah played while Piper watched.

 But the cookie decorations?

Piper was eating them like crazy! But while I decorated this year, if Aunt Amy keeps this up she's going to be mighty popular in the years to come.

Conked out.

Of course it was just for her usual 40 minute car nap 

(darn I'd hoped she'd prove me wrong on of these times) but she still rocked the return drive home.

She melted into a puddle when we got home, but ah well - what can you do.

We had a great time for sure - now we're settling into the swing of being home.

So far this week the weather has been stunning - we spent this afternoon working in the yard without coats or hats.

ahhhh....