Barbie Girl(s)

October 31, 2008 - Well Halloween is here and I'm ready!! It all started at Boo at the Zoo where we met up with Barbie Mermaidia and her sister the pumpkin (aka Claire and Sarah):


Next up was a party at my school. My BFFs McKenna (yes, there's another one!) and Abbey were there too:


And here's Tinkerbell herself. BTW - Tink was a last minute change. I was all set to be Ariel until we got to the Disney store and saw the beautiful costume. Maybe next year!


Tink made it all the way around the circle this year (vs only 4 houses last year) and got lots of compliments. I even told mom,"Everyone says I'm beautiful!" which was then followed by, "I'm running out of energy.".

Mom swears she only got to wear her costume once when she was a kid but I say, why not wear it as much as you can!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

October 5, 2008 - This weekend we had visitors in town all the way from Pennsylvania. Charlotte and her parents came to stay with us. As you can see, we got along pretty well!!



Hope to see you guys again soon!

Coming Down the Mountain

September 27, 2008 - We didn't even need to unpack our bags and we were off again - this time, it was camping!! We met Claire, Sarah and their parents at Mohican State Park for an overnight camping expedition. We got to toast marshmallows, throw rocks in the lake and sleep in a tent. Of course, we did have ONE modern luxury of the DVD player so Claire and I watched my current fave: Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Check Claire's site out for some more pics but here's mom, dad and I still smiling after sleeping a night in our tent.



We have to do this again!

Vineyard

September 20, 2008

It's 6 o'clock now in the morning
As I wait for my train to come
To take me somewhere just outside of Boston
As I run to find the other sun...

And this great force that takes me to the Ferry
To cross wind and water so untamed
When I'm on that ship my life just seems so very
Small in comparison to everything around...
-Lyrics from Vineyard by Jackopierce

This week, we celebrated my Grandpa's birthday on Martha's Vineyard. Here we are, inline for the Ferry.


My first boat ride! Can you believe you DRIVE on this boat?!?


Martha's Vineyard is known for it's beaches and our favorite was Lambert's Cove Beach. We made sure to get as much beach time as the weather would allow!


Amazingly, the Atlantic Ocean cooperated and gave me a brief moment of wave-free water, so I took advantage of it!


When the waves got too rough, we played at the house with bubbles!


And when it got chilly, we shopped in Edgartown and checked out the view.


It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back!! Happy Birthday Grandpa!! Two weeks next year?!?

Island in the Sun

August 2, 2008 - We were playing and having fun at King's Island today. They have a good kids area with all my favorite characters - Dora, SpongeBob, Patrick, and the Backyardigans.

It all started on Plankton's Plunge... think this ride is too big for me? Oh well, I did it anyway with only a few tears.


Next up was Bikini Bottom, where SpongeBob lives. This was where it all went wrong - no one told me SpongeBob lives in Niagara Falls! If you look close, you can see me crying for mercy. 30 seconds after this was taken, dad lifted me over the fence to safety.


After the tears, we got dried off and got to see Patrick.


Then mom and I rode the Merry-Go-Round.


After that, I went on Swiper's Sweeper. Be sure to check out Claire's site too for a great picture of Claire and I. We liked this ride a lot and went on several times!


All this excitement took its toll and I was out before we exited the gate.

Come on Ride the Train

July 25, 2008 - My beloved Zoo has added Jungle Jack's Landing and we had to go check it out.

I met my ride buddy Claire and she showed me how to work the Elephant Ride.


The Train ride was a hit too!



All this is practice for our trip to King's Island next weekend. Lookout rides, here I come! Stay tuned for results...

Go Speedracer, Go!

July 19, 2008 - The Indy Cars are in town this weekend so we had to pay a visit! Grandpa and Aunt Melissa came down too and we all headed to Mid-Ohio for lunch and to watch qualifying.

Here we are eating lunch:



Getting up close with the cars during qualifying - wearing the "earmuffins", of course:



That's not Danica's car!!


The Lowe's tent had wooden ALMS cars to build so I made a car. Acura's cutest engineer!


I did manage to get within inches of my favorite driver, Danica Patrick, but she had to go qualify and couldn't sign anything for me. I guess I'll just have to catch her at the Detroit Grand Prix!

Meet Virginia

June 28, 2008 - It's vacation time! Dad's work was shut down this whole week so we made the best of it and headed to a "real beach" - as dad calls it - Virginia Beach. Right outside our hotel with the beach!


I'm still not a big fan of the waves, and the Atlantic Ocean waves are BIG! So, we made sure to hit the pool. Here's me perfecting my Cannonball.
Step 1 - Bend at the knees.


Step 2 - Jump as far as you can.


Step 3 - Get rewarded with Chocolate Ice Cream!


The Boardwalk on the Beach also had Surreys for rent and after a little coaxing, I got the courage to get on. "Chicks and Ducks and Geese better scurry, when I take you out in my surrey, when I take you out in my surrey with the fringe on top!" You sing!


One night while strolling on the boardwalk we found some art so we stopped for a photo-op.




I fell in love with the smiley face and had to give him a kiss every night.


We also visited the Virginia Aquarium and saw lots of fish.



McKenna Cousteau diving deep.


Our last night found us at Neptune's Park enjoying another free concert.

Bye sand. I'll miss you... But we promise to be back soon!

Under the Sea

June 17, 2008 - Grandpa and went to visit Aunt Melissa and they went to Disneyland. Aunt Melissa, being the Little Mermaid lover herself, picked out a beautiful princess costume. Now I'm a princess too!! Well, I always was, now I have the dress to prove it.

Thanks Grandpa and Aunt Mo!

Finally... (A dispatch from Mom)

June 10, 2007 - Mom's reporting in today. No pictures but I have to document this for all Potty Trainer's sake... I believe it's been mentioned recently that this potty thing has had it's ups and downs. The ups happen at school and home, the downs happen with #2 in the potty and public restrooms. We're still working on the public restrooms (although I think I may have that figured out too!) but #2 may have sorted itself out today.

Tonight at dinner, McKenna made the usual request, "Mom, I need a pull-up". Dedicated readers will know that indicates a BM is coming... I finally made the comment, "No more pull-ups; you can go in the big girl potty like everyone else!" and picked her up and set her on the potty. After several cries of "NO!" Dad came in and threw me out. Cool! He can deal with it! :)

Five minutes later, the door opens and a little voice calls, "MOM! I POOPED IN THE POTTY!!!". I did the potty dance and Dad is now affectionately known as THE POTTY WHISPERER. For $50/hour, he too can train your kid. We had to call Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Melissa to spread the good news.

What's the Potty Whisperer's secret, you might ask? A bribe of Strawberry ice cream. So, we loaded everyone up and headed out. McKenna was seated on daddy's shoulders in line - the place was packed. Finally our turn came and when the teenager behind the counter asked, "Can I help you?" McKenna quickly responded with a PROUD,

"I POOPED IN THE BIG GIRL POTTY!!!".

Priceless...

Potty training in a day? I don't think so!

Sweet Dreams are made of these...

Saturday May 17 - Well, it only took mom & dad 3 years and 2 months to get up the courage (and a little bribing - thanks Charlotte!) but tonight I slept in my "new Princess bed". I made it almost all the way through the night until a "Funderstorm" woke me up and I went into mom & dad's bed. After the storm was over, I went back into my own bed for the rest of the night.

Truckin'

May 2, 2008 - Today, mom and I went to the Touch a Truck event downtown. They had lots of trucks like ambulances, diggers, snow plows and firetrucks that we could sit in and play around.

Of course, what was my favorite one?

Can we fix your cable?

And I FINALLY got to see the inside of a school bus!

There was a fun park there too so I went swinging on the tire!

What a fun day! Even though we didn't get a picture, we saw Dillon and Owen there too. Someday we'll get an updated picture of the kids together...

Someday My Prince Will Come...

April 12, 2008 - Today was Claire's 3rd birthday party and the theme was Princesses. Grandma made me a Belle costume which I was so excited to wear. Check out Claire's site for more pics but here's me in my dress, holding "Kitty" Snow White. Happy Birthday Claire!!

Where's the Party? Part 2

March 30, 2008 - It's a birthday weekend and on Sunday, my friends and I celebrated at Gym class. We had our run of the place so of course I jumped on the trampoline!

Whew, is it hot in here?!?

After an hour of jumping, we had lunch...

... And cake! Here's me with my BFF Maggie:

Thanks to everyone who came; I hope you all had as much fun as I did. Can I have another party soon?

Where's the Party?

March 29, 2008 - I want to lose control... Today's the day I turn 3. This morning, I woke up to find presents in our living room! My own chair from mom and dad. Hmmm, I can open my presents sitting in it!

And a book and Cinderella from Great Grandma D!

I absolutely REFUSE to get a professional picture taken so here's my official 3 year picture. Yes, grandma, my hair is messy but I like it that way!