Parks

We (meaning Daphne) have been able to enjoy some of the area's parks. And I think you'll be able to tell from the pictures...


Parky's Farm.
Climbing - she's not quite yet independent.


She loves the slides - look at that hair!

Do you like the cow family?

There were 3 chickens just like this one and you can bet she had to try every one.

Glenwood Gardens.

They had a cool train set that had multiple trains moving all around.

Daphne was looking for frogs and tadpoles.

And here she found some (frogs that is)

Have a great week!

Hats

Daphne has been having some fun around here dressing up! First, in a hat that used to be mine. Isn't it very Holly Hobby-esque?

Second, the Future Doctor hat. or Future Nurse hat!?
Third, okay, this is not really a hat, but here's Daphne in her princess pj's and fairy wings. She really didn't want to take them off and she just looks so darn cute. She just took a bath so her hair is kind of tame.
And lastly, my latest knitting projects. Last year, I went snowtubing and realized that my current hat really doesn't fit. So, no problem, I thought I could just whip one up. Well, of course I couldn't just knit one, so I keep trying to knit the 'perfect hat' but unfortunately, I don't have the 'perfect head' and they have mostly ended up too small for my rather large head. However, an ear wrap seemed to turn out well. And I have one more hat to try, that I'm kind of putting off because it has intarsia (which is knitting with two colors at the same time for those who don't knit). So, as odd as it may be to see knitted hats in August....and by no means am I wishing for winter, just preparing to be warm.

Slow Ride

Finally, a picture on the bike. Even though it's staged. It's still a slow ride, but she's getting more used to her bike and will stay on it for longer periods of time.

Cuteness

I may be a little biased, but isn't Daphne going to be the cutest flower girl? Ever???

Shopping IKEA Style

When my parents were here, my Mom and I finally got to go off and do something that I have wanted to do since March 12th, 2008. Go see the new IKEA store!!! Before anyone harps about how ridiculous that sounds, you must understand that IKEA is not only a store but an experience. It's 344,000 square feet of coolness. It is 48 decorated rooms and 3 completely decorated homes (albeit very small). It is organization to the nth degree wedded with cool, chic style. This is now the 3rd IKEA I've been too - Pittsburg, Houston, and Cincinnati. I have their catalogs dating back a few years too (even though I can't buy stuff from the old ones). For a person who loves to pour through decorating magazines, go to home shows and watches HGTV religiously, IKEA is the mecca of housewares and ideas. Afterall, it's where a lot of the designers on the HGTV shows go shopping anyway. It makes me believe that even all the stuff we have amassed can be organized.

After 4 hours and a minor dent in the credit card, I walked out with a really cute table for Daphne (see the post where she's playing on the computer) a new cushion for our famous Poang chair (just like the one IKEA was giving away free on the day it opened in Cincinnati) to go with my new blue color scheme in the living room and organizers for our desk - which were actually requested by Kevin and some other cute and cool odds and ends. Now, I just have to put the labels on the all the organizers - thank you, Kim, for my awesome labelmaker.

So, IKEA, when are you going to come and decorate our home or just a room - I'd be happy with some help in the kitchen!

Ride, Sally, Ride

I was going to try and get a picture of Daphne riding her new bike. It's pink and purple and so girly and cute. It has streamers off the handlebars and a matching horn. Isn't that what every little girl would want? And it has training wheels and a handle for an adult to push her in the back. Well, this is how it went the other day...

Inside the house, I asked Daphne if she wanted to ride her bike. She said yes, we scrambled to get our shoes on (and to find the camera) and she ran to the door to go out. We walked out to the garage where her barrage of riding toys are - stroller, wagon, Cozy Coupe, doll stroller, toddler ride-on toy and yes, her BIKE. She heads straights for the doll stroller. I ask her again if she wants to ride the bike and she just goes about her way and pulls out the doll stroller. So, we start a walk with the doll stroller and she makes it down the driveway and onto our sidewalk for about 10 feet and then she looks up at me and asks, "bike?". So we turn around, head back on the sidewalk and up the driveway and put her doll stroller away. Then, she points to her bike and I pull it out and ask her "Do you want to ride it?" to which she shakes her head and starts walking down the driveway. I try to leave the bike in the garage, thinking that she may want to just walk. But no she won't walk unless I am pushing the bike. She keeps pointing to the bike, until I take it and follow her. You may think that's an easy thing to do, but the bike doesn't steer well unless you angle it so it's doing a pop-a-wheelie while you "drive" it. So I follow her and frequently ask Daphne, "Do you want to ride your bike?" to which she shakes her head and constantly points to various rocks and cracks and grasses and flowers and asks, "Whassat? Whassat? Whassat?" We walked our entire street with bike in my hand and Daphne walking. Good news though, the second day we did this, she hopped on the bike twice and rode it for about two sidewalks each time (that is - two sidewalk cement slabs) and then demanded "Up! Up!" It's a good thing I was out with Daphne and not Kevin because he won't pick her up now unless she says "Up, please!" I guess I give in too easily. And that's why there are no pictures of Daphne on her bike, yet.

Although Daphne is home for the summer with Kevin, she will be going back to "School" (daycare) in the fall when Kevin goes back to school. The daycare owner loves kids and really loves Daphne - maybe because they share a birthday. So, Daphne was invited back for the daycare's water days. Kevin and Daphne have gone twice and the daycare has posted pictures on their website. Kevin says she's a little timid about going up and down the slides but she is enjoying the pools. You can check out pictures of Daphne and Kevin on their website. http://www.tlcacademy.com/2008-07-11/index.html

And, yes, Kevin, you can critique this blog with its dangling participle and prepositions without objects and probably other poor grammar examples, but this is written in my words and you aren't my teacher! So, just enjoy.

Happy Birthday Daphne

2 Years of blond curly toddler giggles. And the best part is ice cream.

And Daphne playing on her laptop, just like her mommy.