Mama's got a brand new camera

So I got a new camera this weekend. Still a little point and shoot. And I'm not sure if I'm happy with the quality of movie it takes... and you know I love to take movies! so here are some.








We started the weekend with a fun trip for Mommy & Lea to the indoor playground at Town East Mall where Lea interacted more than usual with other children. This was fun to watch. Then Saturday we split up for lunch when Mommy met Anita the sister of my best friend from High School - Lorrie. That was fantastic catching up. I had just bought the camera and I was too overwhelmed by its newness and forgot to take a picture of the two of us together. However I did take several more pictures at Grandpa's. Dan and Lea had lunch with Grandpa and then played in the back yard. Grandpa added a bell to the play fort that can be rung from below or in the fort. That's engineers for you!
Then Grandma came for dinner and we played and went to church. Then Sunday afternoon we went over to play with Anna (age 3) and Molly (almost 1) Harris and hung out with their parents Pam & Andrew. Had a wonderful time. The kids froliced in the kiddie pool and then got to play together inside. Lea enjoyed new and different toys, while Molly and Anna liked their toys better when Lea was playing with them, hee hee. It was loads of fun. So here's some pictures with the new camera.







This last photo was actually a very sweet hug between Anna & Lea, but it was hard to capture.

Trip to Great Grandma & Gra's

Nature baby soaking up some backyard sun in Clovis, New Mexico. Pumpkin wouldn't keep her shirt on!




At the end of May we had a wonderful trip to see Grandma & Grandpa Jones. Lea enjoyed seeing her great grandparents, certainly, but she also enjoyed Sabrina (or "Bina" as Lea called her) the Dachshund.

This puppy had about as much energy as Lea so it was fun to watch them keep up with each other. Gra and Grandma J. also had a white puppy named Jake. Lea enjoyed petting Jake, but I don't think Jake much enjoyed Lea's bursts of energy. Lea was good to both the puppies being as gentle as you can imagine a 20 month old.
There was a doggie door and Lea took to that immediately, crawling in and out and in and out. Her poor little shins were banged up by the time we left, but boy did she love having access to the outside all on her own.



Great Grandma gave Lea a roping demonstration. Lea and Great Grandma both got a giggle out of it! What a smile on Grandma's face. A treasured moment!





They also have an African Grey parrot named Bart. Bart got a bath one night, consisting of Grandma J. sparying him with a misting bottle. Well Lea wanted to try so when Grandma J. gave Lea the spray bottle she couldn't squeez the sparyer unless it was facing her. Lea sprayed herself in the face over and over again and thought it was th funniest thing. She was soaked around the collar from all the water she sprayed in her face. So Lea got a bird bath on her own.
We had wonderful food and a nice visit. We were there on Gra & Grandma Jone's wedding anniversary so we took them to dinner at the Chinese restaurant... better Chinese food than we've found here in Dallas! Lea says "Chinese food" and eats soup that's been cooled down. That is one of her favorite foods. If you ask her choice you get an answer of "chinese food" or "chicken toes" (also known as chicken fingers). Here are some wonderful photos of our visit to Clovis New Mexico. It was a day's drive, but we had fun on the drive too with sticker books and a few Sesame Street videos, Lea travels well just like her Mommy & Daddy.

Camping

In mid May we camped over night at Tyler State Park. A very family friendly little park with paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, a swim beach, playground, and even a souvenir store. We stayed at my mom's in Emory Friday night so we could get an early start Saturday. That put us about half way to the camp ground. When we got there the best available spot would not be ready until 2pm (check out for the other people) so we decided to wait and run around the park while we waited for our site to be vacated. We played at the play ground, Dan did a little dock fishing, we had a picnic of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches






and then rented a paddle boat.. or peddle boat to be more exact.




That was exhausting and we were trying to fight nap time. Lea actually fell asleep on the little hump in the middle of the boat she was so tired. We peddled around the lake for a little less than an hour (and were exhausted!) It was beautiful and fun. Fortunately when we returned from our boat ride with our tired little monkey our campsite was ready.

We moved in and went down for a nap. Dan started the fire and we had a delicious stew. Lea was great about staying away from the fire. "Fire, very hot" she could say it and she knew what it meant.

We let her play in the water tub since it was a bit too late to swim. Also probably pretty cold. We warmed some water on the fire to make her "bath" more comfortable, but I don't think it ever really got as warm as bath water. She had fun though. We also collected pine-cones and rocks in our bucket.
The night was hard. It was colder than I'd imagined and darker than I think Lea was ready for. She woke a few times during the night and I recited what I remembered of our Pooh Bear night time story. I had it pretty well memorized! We got up at about 6 am and dressed warm, only to see kids across the campsite dressed in shorts. We had a wonderful fire cooked
breakfast of bacon and pancakes and packed up to head home.
First however we made our way back to the lake where there was a small foot bridge to tiny fishing island. We found a comfortable spot under the trees and threw hot dogs and left over pancakes to the fishes.

Lea could watch them eat as we sat by the water. We said in 10 years we'd return and Lea would catch a fish, say "this tastes like pancakes" and we'd know why! It was a great weekend, but we probably won't overnight again soon.

Grandpa's Playhosue

We discovered the swing set in Grandpa's backyard not long ago. And as is his generous way, he's been improving upon the fort. He got Lea a steering wheel and periscope for the fort. She really enjoys playing up there. She can ALMOST climb up by herself, but we are a long way from her coming down on her own. At least slowly and gently coming down on her own!

Elephant. Ride Elephant.

So it has been weeks since we've gone to scarboro fair. We had a wonderful time. Took Teresa, Dan's sister with us and we all had a fabulous time. But the highlight is definetly Lea and I riding the very tame, very old elephant. Teresa started the day saying we would see an elephant and thank goodness there was one, because Lea was holding Teresa to her word of seeing and riding the elephant. So we did. Lea was so excited, until she climbed on in front of me, at which time she put her stretched hand over her face and eyes and said "scared." When she climbed down the stairs from the elephant pavillion she told Dan "Scared. Again!" So she liked it. We still hear about the "Elephant. Ride Elephant." She even wakes up talking about it. There was a camel that you could ride next to the elephant. We did not ride it, and Lea will tell you there was a camel and that we did not ride it. It comes out like "camel. ride. [shake head no]"
"Pet. Bunny" is also a good story Lea tells. The last word, "bunny" is whispered as though it is one of the greatest secrets known to childhood. There was a great petting zoo that we were at for at least half an hour. Bunnies, goats, ducks, pigs, ponies. Lea got a carrot on the way in and the goats would nibble it. "What ate the carrot?" "Goat" or "Pony" also whispered.
Lea wore her fairy skirt (not bought there, but brought along so we didn't have to spend the money for a new one!) and by the end she wore that and Teresa's hat. Very cute.