Homemade Play-dough

Momma and I made some “play-dough” today.  She got the recipe from my teachers.  I like to use the cookie-cutters.  Daddy showed me how to use the rolling pin.

This recipe makes a lot, so you may want to divide it before adding food coloring.

2 cups water
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
3 tbsp oil
food coloring

Mix in a pan and cook until thickened over medium-high heat.  Knead until cool.  Store in a ziplock bag.

Iron Horse, Fiberglass Horse, Real Horse

Today was Saturday.  We needed to get our family act together and get out some Christmas cards, so we headed to the arboretum to do some location photography of your’s truly being cute in the winter for the card photo.  Well, that part was easily done- but it happened that there was a holiday model train exhibit, so we checked it out.

I was already familiar with trains due to my bathtub toys.  I can summon a respectable “choo choo”.  Seeing the trains and the little town and ice skaters was neat.  I watched for a long time as the trains went round and round.  Then Momma got the idea to follow-up with lunch at the diner in town that serves up your meal via a train that goes round the restaurant on tracks.  While we were waiting for a booth, Daddy popped a quarter in the horse ride and I went for a slow trot.  That was fun!

Then… when we walked outside there was a horse-drawn carraige on the street with two REAL horses.  They let me pet thier noses, and I hoped they would make some horse noises.  They were big!  Much bigger than Tony the Pony.

Halloweeeeeeeen!

This year was my first real Halloween experience.  And I resisted at first.  I wasn’t “down” with the whole costume thing.  At first bought a pug costume and forced me into it.  I cried.  It was too small anyway, so it went back to the store. In exchange, Momma brought home a witch costume, figuring it was more like normal clothes and that I would be more accepting.  But normal clothes are not made of cheap, crunchy fabric.  They spent a week trying to warm me up to the witch hat.  When it came time to put on the dress, I protested.  I relented, but demanded to be allowed the comfort of my bink and blanket in order to wear it.

Since it was so nice out, we just sat on the porch and waited for the kids to come.  Daddy showed me how to hand out candy and I got a real kick out of doing that.  I was afraid of some of the scarier costumes, Darth Vader in particular, but eventually warmed up to the whole costume thing.  I even wore my hat and danced some.

Momma and Daddy had decorated the house earlier today with spiderwebs and creepy lawn installations.  They thought it was pretty funny when the cackling witch scared me to tears.  Here is a photo of me just before the witch screamed at me.  I don’t like those decorations and stayed clear afterwards.

We sat on the porch past sunset.  I figured out the the pretty foil wrappers have tasty tasty treats inside, and I got a little sugar high.  I stood on our sidewalk, a piece of candy in each outstretched hand, and hollered “HI” “HI” “HI”, hoping to bring in more customers.  But it was bedtime.

Anyway, it was a good time.  Next year I might try the trick or treat thing myself, but handing out candy was alot of fun.

Waterpark Weekend

This past weekend Momma took me to Wisconsin Dells to stay at a Waterpark resort with Grandma and Grandpa G, and Auntie Mandy and Uncle John and cousins Jack and Ryan.  (Daddy had to work.)

We went to the waterpark on Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning.  Even though I can’t go on most of the slides and things, it was still a whole lot of fun.  Just standing in the water is fun.  Momma did take me down a slide, put me on a turtle’s back, and we swam and played water basketball.  My favorite was sitting at the edge of the wavepool in the very shallow water and letting the waves lap over my legs.

Seeing the family was also good.  I had Grandpa read each of my books several times, and I played in the kitchen with Grandma.  I also hung with cousin Ryan quite a bit.  We shared some good times.  He pushed me around in the laundry basket, and I fed him some raisins.  We also fought a lot.  If he looks pained to be sitting next to me in this picture, it’s probably because he’s afraid I’m going to steal one of his toys or start screaming because he gets too close to Mommy.

Daddy Shoes

I feel like I’m growing really fast.  Some of my pants and shirts are too small for me now.  But, when I put on Daddy’s shoes I realize that I am still pretty little compared to him.

I like to walk around with his shoes on and pretend I’m a circus clown.  I make Mommy and Daddy laugh when I “pretend” to fall down.

When do I get to put on my clown paint Mommy???

This Morning’s Activities

I was the first one up this morning. I decided to work on a little project while I was waiting in my crib and suprise Mommy when she came to get me out of bed. So I took off my diaper and went to work.

Just as I was putting the finishing touches on my face, Momma came in. The first thing she noticed was my diaper on the floor. She looked puzzled. Then she sniffed and looked at me and my crib for about 3 seconds. She was so thrilled with what she saw… with my creation… that she screamed for Daddy. She started saying, “Oh no no no no no no no no, no!” (This was confusing because I am sure that what I did was a good thing, but I thought “no” was for bad. She must not know how/when to use that word yet.)

When Daddy came in he stared at me too. Just to make sure that they knew that what I did was for them, I gave them a little smile.

The rest of the morning is a blur. They both started moving very quickly. Momma ran and started the bath. Daddy lifted me out of bed, making sure I came nowhere near him, and took me into the bathroom. I heard the washing machine start and Momma running around the house while Daddy gave me not one bath, but two! When we went back into my room my creation had been removed, my bed was stripped, and it smelled faintly of disinfectant.

Party Time

Here’s some video of Grandpa Denny and I doing the “Party Time” at the Tap House.

My Favorite Things: Shoes

Oprah has her favorite things, and so I shall have mine.

I know that shoes belong on my feet. But like socks, they are much more fun off my feet. This video shows me taking part in my favorite shoe-related activity: walking around with them in my hands. I do this with socks on occasion too.

You’ll learn how to pick up shoes (one per hand is easiest), hear Momma interview me about my shoes, and see that while I know where the shoes go, I can’t quite get them on my feet yet.

Click her to View the video

Foiled!

I had it timed perfectly. I quick guzzled down 5oz of milk right before Momma picked me up from daycare so that my stomach would be well-primed. Then, when she lifted me above her head in the parking lot for a little pre-carseat game, I let loose some curdled stuff from my mouth. It was big, it was thick, and it was stinky. My aim was good, but Momma was too quick. She musta heard it bubbling to the surface because she quickly ducked out of the way. Instead, the concrete floor and my own pants were the unfortunate recipients of my milky regurgitation. Drats!