Where Are We Going?

'Where are we going?' Allie has started waking up and immediately asking this question. It fits. She's our all-or-nothing, girl. I remember my mom saying that she thought she was lucky snagging 'am' kindergarten for me, figuring she'd pick me up mid-day and get to spend a few hours of quite time before big brother came home, but I'd just come home and ask who was coming over for a playdate, and what was next.  Now, don't confuse wanting to do things with wanting to move quickly to get there. Allie's got spirit, but she often doesn't move through the steps of getting ready at a pace much quicker than the syrup we pour on our Mickey-pancakes. She finds a million things to stall her progress, especially, well, in the stall. In trying to give her more independence, I came in and found her ripping up toilet paper (to be fair, in total, she did only use a 'little bit' like I'd told her) into tiny pieces, tossing them in the air and shouting 'Hooray!!!'). And, if you try to pull her shorts up for her, she'll pull them back down so she can do it herself. All of this adds up to me being grateful for summer days where the only 'start-time' is usually self-imposed. It's not even been two weeks, but it's been glorious!

First, I checked out my picture downloads, and began to sense a theme for this summer...I'm sure you can figure this one out. I like to call it, 'portraits of a summer love' (a.k.a., pics of the most patient boxer ever).

This was probably following a not-so-gentle display of lovin' on Allie's part. 

But there's no furry pup that she'd rather be snuggling than her Abby dog.

Did I say 'snuggling?' I meant sitting on. This was her perch for an entire 'Mickey.'

Until she decided that this may be a bit more comfy..for her.

Caution, artist at work...

Double-caution, the artist's work-bench at work.

 But the easel paper isn't the only thing getting painted these days (and yes, as you may have guessed, Abby's fur ended up with a few highlights as well - hazards of the job). Allie has discovered the joys of nail polish thanks to her favorite neighbor, 'Ms. Kelly.'

Pink and blue. (Or green and yellow, depending on when you ask. Did I mention we're still working on colors?)

This was the calm before the storm that is trying to get a toddler to hold still long enough for her wet nails to dry.

Summer = Ponytails and hats for Suz, and Allie's never one to miss a fashion-theme.

We're hitting the farm circuit again this summer. Frying Pan Park is one of our favorites. Farm animals, ice cream, hayrides, and a merri-go-round. A tough-to-top-combo.

Next summer she may be top-rung-height.

But this ice cream is just the right size, apparently. 

The day after this merri-go-round, she wanted me to draw a picture of her on this horse going up and down...it definitely did not look like this.

And, the Mommy bonus if timed just right...the car-nap :o).

 We stocked up on arts and crafts supplies so the creativity (and washable marker-stains)could flow.

So serious...

'Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!'
(I'm totally encouraging the on-going celebration of this one. Some things are best left un-corrected.)

 Summer also means play-dates. How do you make a trip to the mall a legit 'field trip'? Add one of our favorite buddies (Brady), a train, another merri-go-round, a surprise concert from a kiddie-band, well-dressed-mannequins, and take your daughter to a toy-store with 'demonstration toys' and let her go to town at her snails pace. Mix in a Starbucks run for Mommy, and repeat.

Well-'trained'-toddlers.

Oh, I'm sorry, we figured since your mannequins were missing heads, we'd model your hatware.

Anatomy quality control, at your service. And yes, the Old Navy mannequins have fully-functioning belly-buttons .

Mall-date. (Don't tell the Daddies.)

 And, we have six sessions of Tot-and-parent-swim-lessons, otherwise known as Allie gets super-excited and yet clings like a barnacle the entire time. But, if you ask her, it's 'GREAT!' Below, please see a demonstration of her swimming abilities on-land prior to actually leaving for the pool.

And, just for comparison-sake, here's what our bathing beauty looked like about a year and change ago...

Insert parental nostalgic sigh here.

And, a few shots of the barnacle in action. Here, she's ignoring the frigid water temps (her Daddy definitely is not), and propelling them both to the wall for more jumping while maintaining a vice-grip around his neck.

Showing off her kicking skills...and her grip.

Thaaat's better. Stay close.

Wrapped up in some beach-towel-snuggles from her Aunt Jules.