Ice Skating

Today LP finally got one of her wishes from the past year, she got to go ice skating. She has been begging to ice skate since last spring and couldn't wait for summer to end so she could try it. Unfortunately, LP Dad does not skate and I am unable to this year because of the pregnancy, so we haven't had a chance to take her. But she was invited over for a playdate at Maggie's house this week and was invited to bring skated since they have a pond in their backyard.

LP had no fear of the ice, she took right off holding onto Maggie's mom's hand with perfect balance. She started off with tiny strokes of her skates, quickly learning you have to push and glide instead of picking up your feet. She has amazing balance, I was surprised how easily she was able to catch herself and straighten out instead of falling even when she wasn't holding onto anyone.

The girls enjoyed a little bit of skating on their own, making some numbers and letters in the snow with Maggie's mom, and most of all, sitting on the ice eating all the snow. It was a beautiful day to be outside enjoying the winter sun and we both hope to do it again soon.

First Cookout of the Season

Last week Alessandro and his mom came for a playdate. The weather was beautiful and LP Dad was home for the day, so that playdate turned into the first cookout of the season. Burgers, lamb steaks, yellow squash, and corn cooked perfectly on the grill, while the kids helped LP Dad and Uncle Dave get the firepit ready. The kids were both great helpers, carrying armfuls of kindling and small logs.



After dinner was done the fire was lit and we pulled out the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. The kids had more fun toasting the marshmallows than anything else, Alessandro toasted all of LP Dad's for him and LP set her marshmallows on fire, made a s'more, took a bite, then passed it off to someone else to eat while she made another. We had a great night and can't wait to do it again throughout the summer.

Round and Round We Go

December was such a busy month that it passed without LP getting to see most of her friends. The other day she got desperate enough to leave a message for her friend Gavin on his mom's phone asking him to come play. We ended up going to their house for a playdate in the afternoon. A good portion of the day was taken up by the sit and spin and the cameras, which ended up being combined into one activity. I was surprised that both kids were able to fit on the sit and spin, LP just plopped her legs up onto Gavin's and round and round they went (and over as well!) But I think the most fun they had was taking pictures of each other taking pictures.


Taken by LP


Taken by Gavin

Fall With Friends

The sudden rush of fall couldn't stop the kids from having a great time at our playdate this week. Despite cold fingers and runny noses, they ran, climbed, batted balls, and covered themselves and us with leaves.

At The Park

Last week after Little Gym Lilypad Princess and I went to the park with Alessandro and his mom. The kids had a great time on the swings, on the slide, and climbing everything.







Things were great right up until I told her it was time to go home.

Pizza Party

Although we have been having a great summer as a family, it has been busy and Lilypad Princess has really missed spending time with her friends. Today we were able to get three-fourths of the playgroup together for a pizza/pool party (well, the toddler version of it anyway.)

Buby, Barefoot Princess, and Lilypad Princess jumped right back into play together, with LP and BP immediately getting into the dress up trunk. After a little play, it was time for lunch. The kids made their own individual pizzas, spreading the sauce across the dough and adding some cheese, mushrooms and peppers. The did a great job on them.

Once lunch was over, we headed out to the backyard for a little pool and swing time. It was a hot day, but I think that Barefoot Baby enjoyed the pools more than the other kids. Then it was naptime. All the kids were pretty tired, and Lilypad Princess fell asleep before I even got back in the house from saying goodbye. She was so happy to see her friends, she has talked about constantly since waking up from the nap.

Let's Pretend

It was a beautiful day today. Sunny and warm, the perfect day to be outside. And with my car in the shop preventing us from doing any necessary errands, we had the perfect excuse to spend the entire day in the backyard.

Alessandro and his mother joined us out there this afternoon. While the moms chatted, snacked, and enjoyed some mint ice tea, Lilypad Princess and Alessandro played with just about every outdoor toy, slid and swung, and played pretend.

The best part of the afternoon was watching the two of them playing "work" together. One would get into the police car saying, "Goodbye, I go to work now." The other would lean in through the window, give a kiss, and say "have a good day." Then the one in the car would drive off a few steps, and come back again saying "I'm home!" Then they would give each other a big hug, switch places and start all over again.



It was not only one of the cutest things I've ever watched, but it was amazing to watch them actually participating in each other's pretend universe. It wasn't that long ago they were only into parallel play, moving on to fighting over the same toys, but still not really playing with each other. Now they seem like such big kids in their play, not even needed us moms for most of the afternoon (they even took turns pushing each other on the swing.)

Friends and Sun

There is nothing better than an outdoor playdate, unless it's the first outdoor playdate of the spring. Alessandro and his mom came over to play in the backyard with us today. It was a very busy afternoon, full of cars, sand, soccer, chalk, and swings.

Going for a ride in the jeep


Giving him a little push in the police car


Returning the favor with a push on the swings


A little sidewalk art


Time out for a permicmic


Picking some flowers


She might make a pretty good soccer goalie


The kids were having so much fun that Lilypad Princess skipped her nap today. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep sitting up while I made her dinner.

A Playdate, A Shower, and A Bath

Today's playdate was also a small baby shower for Buby's mom and little sister on the way. All the running around yesterday that led to such a special day was for pink and green plates, Bebe's colors. It was all worth it though, I was happy with the way the table came out and even the Gerbera Daisies were the perfect color pink. Blue House Mom, Barefoot Princess's mom and I all think alike, not only were all the gifts for Bebe wrapped in the same pink and green, but they all had pink polkadots as well.


As the girls arrived, the dress-up immediately began, so poor Buby arrived to a house full of princesses. They spent lots of time playing, jumping, and trying to share (although Lilypad Princess had some issues with that today) until hunger got the best of everyone and it was time to eat.

After all the food was done, it was time for the kids to create their own gifts for Bebe. Each one received a new, white onsie and a tube of fabric paint. Things went downhill quickly from there. Buby stuck to his one tube of blue, made some nice lines, took one look at the girls and quickly ran away from the ensuing mess.

Lilypad Princess, Barefoot Princess, and Munchkinetta quickly learned how much fun sharing the paint could be when you started mixing colors, especially with your hands.

LP's work in progress


BP's work in progress


LP showing off the artwork on her hand



(Thank you to Buby's mommy for this picture)

This "shower" quickly turned into a joint bath for Lilypad Princess and Munchkinetta after they decided to take the paint to their bellies as well as the onsies. Fabric paint apparently doesn't wash off of skin very easily though, so both girls still have multi-colored bellies.

Here are the final products for Bebe.

Munchkinetta                                Barefoot Princess

Buby                                                Lilypad Princess

Friends

I missed this picture when I posted the others from Chuck E Cheese. This is a perfect representation of the day, Lilypad Princess and Barefoot Princess side-by-side and hand-in-hand for most of the day.

Valentine Playdate

After a relaxing morning with her daddy, Lilypad Princess was full of energy and ready to spend some of her Valentine's Day with her friends. We met Barefoot Princess (and Barefoot Baby), Buby, and Munchkinetta at Chuck E. Cheese for a few hours of friends, games, rides, fun, and pizza.

This was LP's first visit to Chuck E Cheese and she stopped and looked around in awe when we walked in the door. For a little girl who LOVES rides (and went on amusement park swings before the age of 2) CEC must look like paradise. But first we found her friends and they spent time chasing each other up and down the slide in the toddler area. Then she realized that "coins" would unlock the magic of the rides and off we went.


The first ride LP headed for was, of course, one that would take her high up in the air. I had to pedal for her to get her up there since her legs weren't long enough to reach the pedals, but I was able to step back long enough to snap one picture.


LP is definitely her mother's daughter, she discovered her love of skeeball. Although we are still working on rolling the ball, not throwing it up the alley.


Lilypad Princess and Barefoot Princess were thick as theives all day. We had to find two-person rides that they could go on together because they didn't want to do anything separately. One of the favorites was the roller coaster simulation, there was more than one ride on that and lots of giggles and smiles exchanged. I can just imagine these two on a big rollercoaster at Six Flags in a couple of years.


Once the kids were all all played out, Buby, BP and LP sat down to enjoy some pizza together. The kids are all big enough now that they can sit together at the table without mommies on one side to help them. Thank you BP and mommy for lunch!

Friends and Cookies

Today was a playdate day. It should have been our soup swap playdate, but we decided to get into the holiday spirit and try cookies instead. So yesterday I spent the afternoon trying out a new cookie recipe.

Today we spent a wonderful morning with LP's best friends, she was so excited on the way over, she kept asking me over and over if they would all be there. Blue House Mom and Munchkinetta hosted a great morning, and we all left we 3 dozen new, different cookies. For a super sweet picture from today's playdate, check out Buby's Place.

Princess? Witch? Maybe both?

We had one final Halloween celebration yesterday, a Halloween Playdate at our house. Buby and Munchkinetta made it with their moms, we hope that Barefoot Princess is feeling better today!

It was too warm in the house for the kangaroo yesterday, so Lilypad Princess was a fairy princess in her beautiful new pink dress from Nana and Pop Steve.
Unfortunately her behavior did not match the dress, or maybe it did. She was being a bit of a drama queen instead of a princess, and not very happy to share her toys which is unusual for her. She even had to spend 2 minutes of the playdate in a princess timeout.

We hope that Buby and Munchkinetta both had fun despite LP's royal temper tantrums! The kids were all moving so fast that I didn't get any good pictures of Buby or Munchkinetta, I'm hoping to be able to steal some from Buby's mom.