ariel – Kumquat & Peanut

expressions, family, friends, outings, play

Zoo!!

November 27, 2015 No Comments

This morning, we went to the zoo and met up with Rowan, Isla, and Ariel. We got there pretty early and saw lots of animals before they arrived. It’s nice to have the hippo all to yourself. Janie was delighted!

Our baby hippo was awake and posed with the bigger hippo floating in the water.

Mama likes it when it’s empty and there aren’t random people photo-bombing our pictures.

peacock

giraffe

At 11:30, we went to see the bears for their feeding time.

Janie got a spot right at the window and was watching the fish (lunch) swim around before the bears were released.

When the bears were released, one of them quickly caught the fish and the kids watched the bear eat the fish. It’s funny how none of the kids felt bad for the fish and they also didn’t get grossed out.

Next was a ride on the train. We took full advantage of the zoo passes and got all 4 kids on the ride for free!

As usual, Peanut sat out with Mama and watched the train go by.

Uncle James got to meet Peanut for the first time and helped hold him while Mama was putting things away.

Janie scored another smushed penny and chose the bear today. How appropriate.

She also wanted to take a picture with this statue at the entrance. She usually doesn’t want to take photos but when she does, she cheeses-it-up really well.

Here are all four kids together. By the end of the morning, they were all chasing each other around and playing.

What a fun day at the zoo! What’s even better is that Janie took a long 2-hour nap afterward. Hooray!

eating, fine motor, friends, outings, play, self-care, videos

Ariel’s House

May 30, 2015 No Comments

This evening, we went to Walnut Creek to visit our friends in their big new house and to meet their new baby girl. We hadn’t seen them since our last trip to Tahoe! In their new home, Ariel has her very own playroom stocked with a play kitchen and so many toys!

It took a few minute for Janie to warm-up to everyone but she was playing with Ariel in no time! They played with her toys and even built and placed in a fort together.

We stayed for dinner and Janie had lots of corn and fruit before dinner arrived.

She loved sitting at the kiddie patio table and practiced her knife skills.

She had dinner with Ariel while the grown-ups sat at the big table. It was cute to hear their little conversations as they ate and shared the peanut sauce.

After dinner, we all went in the back to feed the chickens. It’s hard to see but that’s Janie running down the hill after Ariel.

Initially Janie wasn’t so sure of the chickens but then learned that you can feed them seeds through the wire cage.
http://youtu.be/wbPnslOlYpQ

The girls ran up and down the hill gathering more seeds and played together so nicely. It was so warm outside that we stayed out until 8pm!

When it was time to go home, Janie didn’t want to leave. Hopefully, we can see them again soon and the girls can have more fun together.

eating, expressions, family, friends, gross motor, outfits, play

Last morning in Tahoe

August 12, 2014 No Comments

We had one last breakfast in Tahoe this morning.

I was also noticing how independent Janie has been this weekend. She wasn’t nearly as needy for Mommy as she usually is at home. There were so many times over the past 2 days where I glance over and she is happily playing, reading her books, singing, and talking to her stuffed animals.

Here she is chilling out on the couch with her snack and milk while waiting for Ariel to finish her homework.

When Ariel was done, they played with Janie’s jewelry and we had another lesson in sharing.

By the end, they were both wearing jewelry and Janie was able to share a bunch of pieces with Ariel.

“Pretty!!”

‘

We also took a short “hike” to find Auntie Sylvia who was playing tennis nearby.

We quickly realized that we weren’t ready to do any kind of hiking with Janie yet.

expressions, fine motor, friends, outings, play

Zephyr Cove

August 11, 2014 1 Comment

Daddy figured out how to stay another day so Janie got to have another day at the beach. This time it was a beach that was closer to the condo, had really nice sand, and had very gentle waves. We also had LOTS of space to roam because it rained part of the day. There was no need for warming up to the water today. She was ready to go before we could even put our stuff down. She went straight to the water and waved, “HI OCEAN!!”

We dug a hole and scooped lots of water today. We also found a rock to play with all day. Our tent (in the background) was so close to the shore that it was easy to get to the water any time we wanted.

She went everywhere with that bucket and shovel.

Janie practiced making sand castles all day. She called them “happy birthday cakes”.

Here was her first birthday cake that came out the right way. She was so proud and then destroyed it immediately after I took this picture.

For a snack, Auntie Sylvia bought nachos and Janie LOVED the chips, cheese, and olives.

Then it was back outside for more fun.

This kid had such a great time. I wish I could store that happiness in my pocket.

Under the shade, she played with her bucket of water.

Each time she ran out of water, she would start walking down to the shore on her own. Mommy would have to chase after her every time.

We had a couple of thunderstorms but that didn’t stop these two beach bums. They continued to play in the sand as all the adults were huddled under the tent. By 3 pm, we were the only ones left on the beach.

Eventually it started to rain so hard they had to come in to dry off and have a snack. What a fun day! It makes using up another 8 hours of PTO so worth it.

fine motor, friends, gross motor, outings, play, videos

big slide

August 10, 2014 No Comments

This morning the girls were up early so they had breakfast first while the dads were still sleeping. Janie “played” Connect Four with Ariel at the dining table.

After breakfast, we went to the playgrounds. We started at the toddler playground and on the way there we had to pass through the mini golf course where they had a baby bear that Janie fell in love with.

This playground was just her size but it was getting hot out there.

We moved on to the big kid playground where Janie tried out the play structure. She climbed up really high and liked the lookout bubble.

Then she went down the big slide all by herself! She did it over and over again and had so much fun!

Here she is in action.

eating, friends, outfits, play

after the beach

August 10, 2014 No Comments

When we got home, Janie took a shower with Mommy and then put on her new Puma dress that Daddy bought for her at the outlet.

Here she is watching the rain come down. Big G is waving to the rain. Haha.

Then before dinnner, Janie and Ariel played together.

They had a little tea party with their friends.

For dinner, Janie had chicken and broccoli first while Daddy and Uncle James went out to pick up dinner.

Then she joined us for second dinner – pizza and pasta!

eating, expressions, fine motor, friends, outings, play, self-care, sleeping

Thunder in Tahoe!!

August 9, 2014 No Comments

When we arrived at the resort, it started out sunny but then the clouds were getting gray and dark. As we walked up the hill to the lobby, we saw lightning and then heard a big boom. That was Janie’s first experience with thunder and once we explained it to her, she wasn’t scared anymore. It just startled her every once in a while as it does with anyone who doesn’t see the lightning first. It took a little while for us to get our keys so we hung out in the lobby area with Uncle James and Ariel.

At the condo, Ariel shared her magnetic blocks. How fun!

This is Janie’s bed for the weekend. It’s a yoga mat with a squishy comforter and two beach towels underneath a bedsheet. Looks super comfy! Ariel had one set-up in her room too so Janie was excited and tried it out before dinner.

I think Janie was inspired by all the scenery because she drew this picture and called it “Trees and Rain”.

2014_080914

For dinner, Daddy made beef noodle soup and she had quite a feast!

Afterward, Janie and Ariel took a bath together and had a good time.

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