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!

Snow (Hey Oh)

March 8, 2008 - It's been snowing for 12 hours and it's still coming down. Dad and I went out to shovel the driveway.


So I get the snow from here:


And put it here:


Look how much we got!!


Storm total was 15+ inches and I loved every inch of it!

Potty - Part 2

February 28, 2008 - Can't a girl get any privacy?!?

My Girl wants to "Potty" all the time...

February 28, 2008 - Well, the time has come. In about a month, I'll be 3 and transitioning to the Preschool room. To get into that room, I need to be "trained" so mom decided that's what we're going to do. I know I can do it, I'm just stubborn. Hmmm, who do I get that from?!?

Anyway, it all started on Saturday and here's a rundown of how I've done so far:

Day 1 - 5 Accidents, no poop
Day 2 - 2 Accidents, poop in pull-up at nap
Day 3 - 2 Accidents, no poop
Day 4 - 0 Accidents, poop in the potty!!!
Day 5 - 1 Accident, poop in the potty!!!

As you can see, I was quite timid to do #2 in the potty. Mom finally caught me in the act and set me on the potty (kicking and screaming, I might add). But I did it and was so proud to show daddy (who almost gagged)!! Now, that's all I want to do even when I don't have to.

So, to all you Toddlers out there - here's to being Diaper/Pull-Up free!! Pictures (don't worry, they won't be gross) to follow...

Snow Patrol Round 3

February 3, 2008 - FINALLY!! We got a picture of everyone on skiis (Thanks Emily!). This entry is titled Round 3 because Round 2 was a bust... I was in Michigan with the Grandmas and Grandpa and even Aunt Melissa. I had just gotten into my skis as the loud speaker sounded. The noise was just too much and I was done for the day.

However, today, I was all about going down the bunny hill - FAST! Mom skiied in front as dad held on to me from the back and ran down the hill with me. I cried when we slowed down because I wanted to go fast again!! We rode the Magic Carpet up and skiied down the hill 4 times before I was exhausted and ready for lunch. Here's me, mom and dad just before lunch:


I was especially motivated to see my old daycare buddy Preston. He took a lesson while I skiied with mom and dad. Here's one of the future Ski Team member:


Can I go fast again next weekend?

Snow Patrol

January 12, 2008 - This Christmas Santa brought me some skis so we decided to try them out out the local ski hill. But first, I had to practice in the living room:


Next up was hitting the slopes. Mom never actually got a picture of me in my skis on the snow (she was too busy trying to keep herself from falling!) but it did happen. I scooted a few times and insisted on stealing mom's ski poles (how come I don't have poles?). I liked watching the chair lift and all the big kids snowboarding. Dad, can I go up there?


All this fresh air has made me hungry, so we hit the lodge for some lunch.


I'm going to go skiing again soon so I can be faster than Grandpa! Mom will try to get some more pictures then.

Holiday!

December 27, 2007 - After 2 days of being couped up in the house, we all decided to go out! First up was the Franklin Park Conservatory. I highly recommended it for Toddlers. It's just the right amount of time (2 hours) and there's lots to see.

Here's Grandma, Dad and I in the Rain Forest...


And here's me looking at the Coy Pond...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

December 24, 2007 - It's ALMOST here!! Grandpa and Grandma came down to greet us and Santa. Here's a few pictures of the exciting evening.

After a nice dinner, we all decorated some cookies:


Ole!


Just before bed, I left Santa some cookies and milk, and we left some carrots for the reindeer:


And Grandpa and Dad had some egg nog. Recognize those glasses from anywhere?


I can't wait to see what Santa brings me!

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!