Friday, July 31, 2015
Cool Day
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Daniel Tiger
Allison watches PBS everyday. It's usually when I'm making meals but I try to let her watch the shows she's starting to enjoy. She won't watch a full episode (or even sit down to watch it...in fact, she rarely sits) but she likes Curious George and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. I think she likes Daniel Tiger because her friend, Griffin, likes it.
Griffin's mom, April, told me last week that "Daniel Tiger" would be doing a meet and great at a local Whole Foods store. I decided to take Allison and see how she would react. She didn't do well with Santa so I wondered what would happen. We got there a little before 4 and didn't meet Daniel until 5:10pm! Every 25 minutes, the character got a 15 minute break. There were still over a hundred people behind us when we left so I doubt everyone got a photo.
Allison did great in line. I thought it would be a nightmare since we were already at one grocery store today and it was rough. But she stayed by my side and didn't complain. Thankfully, the staff of the store gave out kid kits with stickers, a mask, and a coloring page. They also gave out snacks when people started to get frustrated with all the breaks the Tiger was taking. He was only booked for 2 hours- why does he need 4 breaks? He didn't talk or have to hold any screaming toddlers.
I felt bad seeing the faces of parents who walked in at 5pm expecting to get a photo of their kids with Daniel, the line was INSANE!
Allison wasn't scared when it was our turn. She was all smiles and talked about "Ti-gy" the whole way home.
Here is a picture from our first outting of the day. Her new obsession is "MONEY" so she has a $1 bill that she carries around.
Griffin's mom, April, told me last week that "Daniel Tiger" would be doing a meet and great at a local Whole Foods store. I decided to take Allison and see how she would react. She didn't do well with Santa so I wondered what would happen. We got there a little before 4 and didn't meet Daniel until 5:10pm! Every 25 minutes, the character got a 15 minute break. There were still over a hundred people behind us when we left so I doubt everyone got a photo.
Allison wasn't scared when it was our turn. She was all smiles and talked about "Ti-gy" the whole way home.
Here is a picture from our first outting of the day. Her new obsession is "MONEY" so she has a $1 bill that she carries around.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Bad Start
Our week started out on a bad note - we had to go to the DMV.
Usually the Kansas DMV is great - there's a system called QLess and it eliminates wait times and it's so efficient, it's a joy to use. However, today the system was down and there was a ticket system. There was a 2 hour wait and it was difficult because Nathan needed to get to work, and Allison was crazy. It was 90 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside so nothing was comfortable. The woman working at the main desk was miserable (she is every time I go) and was no help. She refused to give me a ticket because I didn't have a piece of mail with my name on it (even though this wasn't required according to the website). Thankfully, another worker came to our rescue and told us that all we had to do was fill out a simple form. What if he hadn't of been there?
After we waited for 2 hours, we handed in our visas and passports only to be told that Nathan could renew his, but since I was on a "dependent" visa, I had to get an email from an upper tier on the DMV saying that I had clearance to obtain a license. I told her that I didn't have to get the email last year when I renewed and she said, "Yeah...sometimes the system lets us process dependant visas, and sometimes it doesn't, like, we don't know why."
So after the long wait, I came home, sent the email, and was told I'd get a response in 2 weeks! My license expires in 2 days! Oh well, at least I have a valid Canadian license so I'll still be able to get around - and in Kansas, if your license expires you have a YEAR to renew it before you go back the beginning (ie. test, drivers test).
Tuesday was 100 degrees so we went to the kiddie pool. It was amazing! We met up with some friends (and ran into a few more) and enjoyed the perfect pool weather...for a few minutes.
Half way through the tot-time, a kid upchucked in the water. Everyone had to clear out and then wait for 30 minutes while the pool was shocked. It wasn't too bad because the kids had their snacks and only started to get restless for the last 10 minutes or so. Allison just stood at the railing saying, "swimming, swimming" over and over.
Once we got the all-clear to get back in the water, Allison was one of the first one's in. She swam and played non-stop and took a 4 1/2 hour nap (or is it sleep?) when we got home.I had to wake her up at 5pm so that she'd go back to bed at nighttime.
Usually the Kansas DMV is great - there's a system called QLess and it eliminates wait times and it's so efficient, it's a joy to use. However, today the system was down and there was a ticket system. There was a 2 hour wait and it was difficult because Nathan needed to get to work, and Allison was crazy. It was 90 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside so nothing was comfortable. The woman working at the main desk was miserable (she is every time I go) and was no help. She refused to give me a ticket because I didn't have a piece of mail with my name on it (even though this wasn't required according to the website). Thankfully, another worker came to our rescue and told us that all we had to do was fill out a simple form. What if he hadn't of been there?
After we waited for 2 hours, we handed in our visas and passports only to be told that Nathan could renew his, but since I was on a "dependent" visa, I had to get an email from an upper tier on the DMV saying that I had clearance to obtain a license. I told her that I didn't have to get the email last year when I renewed and she said, "Yeah...sometimes the system lets us process dependant visas, and sometimes it doesn't, like, we don't know why."
So after the long wait, I came home, sent the email, and was told I'd get a response in 2 weeks! My license expires in 2 days! Oh well, at least I have a valid Canadian license so I'll still be able to get around - and in Kansas, if your license expires you have a YEAR to renew it before you go back the beginning (ie. test, drivers test).
Tuesday was 100 degrees so we went to the kiddie pool. It was amazing! We met up with some friends (and ran into a few more) and enjoyed the perfect pool weather...for a few minutes.
Half way through the tot-time, a kid upchucked in the water. Everyone had to clear out and then wait for 30 minutes while the pool was shocked. It wasn't too bad because the kids had their snacks and only started to get restless for the last 10 minutes or so. Allison just stood at the railing saying, "swimming, swimming" over and over.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Bug Before
There was a live June bug on our porch and while I took pictures I tried to get Allison to get closer but she wasn't interested. She just wanted her apron - I think she wanted to cook it.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Distraction
A few days ago I noticed mouse poop in one of my cupboards. I wasn't grossed out, but I was annoyed because that meant I needed to wash everything I wanted to use before I used it. I am quite ruthless when it comes to killing mice and after I caught 2 in the traditional snap devices, I noticed that once was smart enough to eat the cheese without setting off the trap. So I upgraded to sticky traps. I put one on the floor where I had seen the mouse emerge during the quiet of Allison's nap.
A few days ago, Nathan and I were chatting and Allison started to say, "mouse, mouse." We assumed it was because she loves Minnie Mouse and says "mouse" every time she sees a book or shirt with Minnie's face on it. Then she started to scream.
I had forgotten about the trap. We found Allison in the kitchen, she had reached between the fridge and the cupboards to pick up the mouse that was stuck to the trap and had got her hand stuck to the glue. She was freaking out. I was freaking out. But Nathan was there to save her. I felt back but at least it wasn't a snap trap!**
Here are some cute photos of Allison to distract you from that horrendous story.
*I only put snap traps in locked cupboards
A few days ago, Nathan and I were chatting and Allison started to say, "mouse, mouse." We assumed it was because she loves Minnie Mouse and says "mouse" every time she sees a book or shirt with Minnie's face on it. Then she started to scream.
I had forgotten about the trap. We found Allison in the kitchen, she had reached between the fridge and the cupboards to pick up the mouse that was stuck to the trap and had got her hand stuck to the glue. She was freaking out. I was freaking out. But Nathan was there to save her. I felt back but at least it wasn't a snap trap!**
Here are some cute photos of Allison to distract you from that horrendous story.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Pool Fun
I try to get to the Mission Pool as often as I can because it closes in a few weeks! Here in KC the kids go back to school the first of week of August so all the public pools close - and that's when it gets the hottest!
It wasn't supposed to be that hot this morning (tot time is from 930-1130 so it can be chilly in the cold water) but it quickly went from cool and cloudy to sunny and blazing while we were there.
I met up with April and her kids and spent time in the pool and in the splash pad. Allison loves to swim with her puddle-jumper in the deep end (3 ft). She is so brave and likes to go out on her own. She was exhausted by the time we got home and after eating a few bites of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich she nearly fell asleep in her chair.
While she napped I finished up a book holder that I made for Allison's room. We have a mini book shelf and while I love the look and style of it, it doesn't hold many books. I wanted something to get the books off the floor and give more space to the growing pile of BIG toys Allison has. I spent $14 on the fabric, grommets, and door hooks and it holds all of her books!
Allison woke up from her nap in a great mood (3 hours will do that for you). I took this pictures at our kitchen table while we chatted about what to do next.
It wasn't supposed to be that hot this morning (tot time is from 930-1130 so it can be chilly in the cold water) but it quickly went from cool and cloudy to sunny and blazing while we were there.
I met up with April and her kids and spent time in the pool and in the splash pad. Allison loves to swim with her puddle-jumper in the deep end (3 ft). She is so brave and likes to go out on her own. She was exhausted by the time we got home and after eating a few bites of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich she nearly fell asleep in her chair.
While she napped I finished up a book holder that I made for Allison's room. We have a mini book shelf and while I love the look and style of it, it doesn't hold many books. I wanted something to get the books off the floor and give more space to the growing pile of BIG toys Allison has. I spent $14 on the fabric, grommets, and door hooks and it holds all of her books!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Wagon Ride
Allison and I went for a long walk in her red wagon. She didn't even try to jump out! We walked 15 minutes to Meadow Lake Park. Allison loved to play in the sand.
She enjoys playing on her own but a few times she tried to move closer to a couple of older girls that were also playing in the sandbox but they weren't interested.
We have so many bunnies in our yard. I know there's a burrow under our deck and we always have at least 6 bunnies in our yard. Allison loves to point at them and yell, "HOP!" as she (tries to) jump around. The rabbits aren't spooked by us and come right up to the windows or porch even when we're sitting there.
The only draw back of the rabbits is that they enjoy eating plants.Many of my hostas have been eaten to the ground. I often hear our neighbor, Lois, yelling at them to get out of her garden.
**I just wanted to share this garage sale find. I passed a sale on a walk with Allison and they had these Rainbow Brite dolls in a ziploc bag for $1! I happened to have a dollar in my pocket and Allison played with them the whole way home.
We have so many bunnies in our yard. I know there's a burrow under our deck and we always have at least 6 bunnies in our yard. Allison loves to point at them and yell, "HOP!" as she (tries to) jump around. The rabbits aren't spooked by us and come right up to the windows or porch even when we're sitting there.
The only draw back of the rabbits is that they enjoy eating plants.Many of my hostas have been eaten to the ground. I often hear our neighbor, Lois, yelling at them to get out of her garden.
**I just wanted to share this garage sale find. I passed a sale on a walk with Allison and they had these Rainbow Brite dolls in a ziploc bag for $1! I happened to have a dollar in my pocket and Allison played with them the whole way home.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Mr. Stinky Feet
I don't like "kid music" but I had a local librarian recommend Jim Cosgrove to me about a year ago and now every time I take books out of the library I get one of his CDs and keep it on repeat in the car. The songs are catchy and silly but not annoying. Jim Cosgrove is from Kansas City and mentions the Royals and Kansas City in many of his songs.
Allison was a little confused at first, but once she got comfortable she danced for a couple of songs. We met up with several friends and Levi and Griffin were brave enough to get up and play some instruments. Allison and I both had so much fun.
Having gone to two very different concerts in three days made me think about how hard musicians work to make a living, make a name, and stay true to what they love. I could never be brave enough to get up in front of people and perform. I give a lot of credit to Mr. Stinky Feet who has been entertaining kids for 17 years!
Monday, July 20, 2015
OH ALLISON
Today I took Allison to JoAnn Fabrics to get some fabric and foam for the inside of her wagon. Allison was wild in the store but I managed to get a 1.5 yards of fabric and 3 pieces of foam for $11.
While Allison napped I made a simple cross pattern and inserted the foam pieces into the sleeves.
Once Allison got up from her nap I showed her the new padding and she promptly crawled in and got comfortable.
It had rained all morning but by the time Allison woke from her nap it was very hot. We spent the afternoon on the back patio waiting for Nathan to come home. He worked in the small town of Garnett, Kansas today.
While Allison cooled off I was pulling weeds and cleaning up when I found this bug shell. It brought back so many memories of finding these on the trees at my parents house. I think we called them June Bugs.
Nathan was home by 6pm and after dinner, he took Allison on a walk to the playground so I could clean up without Allison "helping me." Nathan puts the floorboard in Allison's Cozy Coupe, then pushes her to the park. She loves it and she is willing to stay in it longer than a stroller. I was thankful for the quiet time.
Allison is getting over a cold and has been doing some major boogie-picking lately. It's still cute even though it's disgusting and usually ends up on my pants.
While Allison napped I made a simple cross pattern and inserted the foam pieces into the sleeves.
Once Allison got up from her nap I showed her the new padding and she promptly crawled in and got comfortable.
Allison is getting over a cold and has been doing some major boogie-picking lately. It's still cute even though it's disgusting and usually ends up on my pants.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)